Benson Elementary: We’re going Flakes over Technology (New) The kindergarten students learned about snowflakes and Wilson Snowflake Bentley in their classroom. They also visited: http://snowflakesbarkleyus.com/ and made digital snowflakes. To follow-up, the students made snowflakes from coffee filters and their pictures were taken and posted in the middle. The snowflakes were displayed in the breezeway at school. This was a cross-curricula activity to learn more about technology and snowflakes. Freedom Quilts on Freedom Way (New) First graders learned about famous black Americans with their teachers. Using QTL strategies, the students researched and gathered their information and created their own Freedom Square using PowerPoint. The squares were combined and each class displayed their quilts on Freedom Way at Benson Elementary School. These students celebrated Black History month and how to integrate technology into the first grade curriculum. Black History Trading Cards in February (New) The second grade students, at Benson Elementary, designed trading cards in Word from information gathered from the Media Center and the World Wide Web. They were celebrating black history month in February. These cards were compiled in a three-ring binder and displayed in the Media Center. Famous American Brochures (New) Benson Elementary third grade students researched famous Americans on http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/biographies/. The students created Famous American Brochures using Publisher. These brochures to celebrate Famous Americans are hanging on the third grade classroom bulletin boards in the hallway. My Favorite Green Thing…Shamrock (New) The fourth grade students used a digital camera to take pictures of their classmates. They printed them and typed, “My Favorite Green Thing is a …because…and it was placed on a green shamrock. The students were using technology to further their learning about St. Patrick’s Day. These shamrocks are displayed on the grade 3 and 4 breezeway. For more information, please call Rene’ Vanek at BensonElementary School at 919.894.4233. STAR DEN Member at NorthJohnstonMiddle School (New) (photo) Elizabeth Gainey, EC teacher at NJMS, has completed the process to become a STAR DEN member of the Discovery Educator Network. DEN members are committed to sharing technology ideas and resources within a global community of educators. She can now access thousands of shared resources such as PowerPoint presentations created by other teachers. As a member, Elizabeth will be required to share at least two resources she has created as well as facilitate workshops on integrating technology in the classroom. She presented at the 2004 NCETC and has led a unitedstreaming workshop at NJMS every year since 2004. She was presented a plaque, flash drive, and pin from Discovery Education. Elizabeth said, “My students enjoy lessons that are integrated with technology. Technology is a challenge for me, so I am excited about learning from other teachers.” For more information, please call Elizabeth Gainey at NorthJohnstonMiddle School at 919.284.3374. Embryology Project at PrincetonSchool (New) (photo) The first grade classes at PrincetonSchool completed an embryology project. Over a period of 21 days the children rotated the eggs, observed the hatching of the chicks, and are now caring for them. It has provided the opportunity for the enhancement of reading and writing for the Princeton first graders of Mrs. Mercer, Mrs. Tart, Mrs. Creech, Mrs. Quinn, Mrs. Culbreth, and Mrs. Gamble. For more information, please call PrincetonSchool at 919.936.5011. Students of the Month Honored by Market Street Advisors (New) (photo) Market Street Advisors recognized students from Smithfield-Selma High School, North Johnston High, and Princeton for a strong work ethic, striving to achieve their fullest potential, and going above and beyond what is required or expected. The Student of the Month receives a $50 Saving Bond and a trophy. Honored were Whitney Womack, Student of the Month, Smithfield-Selma High School; Kenneth Dunston "KJ", Student of the Month, North Johnston High School; and Riley Boyette, January Student of the Month, Princeton. For more information, please call Phil Smith, Market Street Advisors at 919.989.7055. SSS Student Places Second in FFA Contest (New) Brandon Poole, President of the Smithfield-Selma High School Future Farmers of America (FFA), has won 2nd place in the FFA Public Speaking federation contest held at South Johnston. He will have the opportunity to compete regionally in April. For more information, please call Kristina Brake at 919.934.5191. SSS Percussion Ensemble (New) The Smithfield-Selma Indoor Percussion Ensemble (SSIPE) placed first in the novice category with a record setting score of 90.0 with a performance entitled “The Haunting” for a first time in competition on Saturday, February 24th at Green Hope High School in Cary, North Carolina. Of note is that the second place percussion ensemble recorded a score of only 69.8. The event was sponsored by the Atlantic Indoor Association, a competition circuit for indoor activities that encompasses three states: North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. Other area schools that are members of AIA include: West Johnston High School, Clayton High School, Cary High School, Green Hope High School, Broughton High School and several other Wake County Schools. The Smithfield-Selma Indoor Percussion Ensemble competed in the novice category as this was the first time Smithfield-Selma High School had fielded such a performance group. Atlantic Indoor Association honored the SSIPE by promoting the group to the “A” classification, a distinction shared by many of the top percussion ensembles in the country. On Saturday, March 10, the SSIPE debuted in the “A” classification at an AIA Competition hosted by Clayton High School. The Smithfield-Selma High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble posted a score of 88, a score good enough to place the SSIPE 1st in the “A” classification. The current mark set by the SSIPE is the highest recorded score this season by an “A” class percussion ensemble in the Atlantic Indoor Circuit, as such the SSIPE is currently ranked 1st in this 3 state region. The SSIPE will continue their season with an AIA competition this Saturday, March 17 at Wakefield High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. The season will conclude with the Atlantic Indoor Association Championships at Broughton High School on March 31 and April 1. The SSIPE will be honored at the championships for their promotion to the “A” classification as well as for their performance at the championships. Friends and family are encouraged to attend and help support our students as they look to set new records with their incredible performances. SSIPE is a newly formed performance group offered to students through the band program at Smithfield-Selma High School. Performers play various percussion instruments while moving in the non-traditional venue of a gymnasium. For more information, please call Brian Jones, Director, or Shane Benson at 919. 934.5191. Every Body Dance Program at West Clayton Elementary (New) On February 12, Mr. Potochney and Ms. Spivey, PE teachers at West Clayton, offered a program to parents of 3rd through 5th graders called Every Body Dance. This activity enabled the parents and students to work together to promote dance and fitness within their family. The program was held after school in the gym. The students and parents performed three different line dances during the 45 minute lesson. Everyone worked hard to learn the dances and despite being a little tired afterwards, both students and parents had a fantastic time! For more information, please call Jeanne Rogers, School Counselor, at 919.553.7113. Dance Away the Fear at Four Oaks Elementary (New) (Photo) On Thursday, March 8, fourth grade students at Four Oaks Elementary received a huge surprise. What began as an information session about the North Carolina Writing Test with Assistant Principal Kristina Specht soon turned in a "Dance Away the Fear" rally. Fourth grade teachers dressed in quirky hats and attire serenaded the students with "We Love Writing" to the tune of Queen's song, "We Will Rock You". Soon all the fourth grade students, teachers, Mrs. Specht along with Principal Kim Wellons were "dancing away the fear". A good time was had by all and students left feeling much more confident about the North Carolina Writing Test. For more information, please call Kim Wellons, Principal, at 919.963.2166. Irish Step Dancing Performance (New) (photo) In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Ms. Meg Lawrence, second grade teacher at Cooper Elementary School, wanted to share her special talent -of Irish Step Dancing - with all of the second grade classes on Friday, March 16. Ms. Lawrence not only performed three Irish dances (two Irish Reels and one Irish Jig), she also talked about her experience, the different types of shoes that an Irish Step Dancer wears (soft shoes and hard shoes), and taught the students a few steps! Ms. Lawrence became a member of the Burke School of Irish Dance in the second grade and danced throughout most of high school, and picked it up again in college. Also at Cooper, Spring Cleaning at Cooper Elementary School (New)(photo) All of the Kindergarten classes went on a hike through Cooper's nature trail on Tuesday, March 20, to pick up any litter that has made its way onto the trail during the winter months. The kids had lots of fun and were very proud of themselves. In total they collected 9 garbage bags and one bike tire! This was to support a school grant that has been given to Cooper to enhance our unique trail. For more information, please call Debby Tutt at Cooper Elementary at 919.553.0256. Polenta Cares (New) Each class at Polenta Elementary School has been collecting pop tabs this year for the Ronald McDonald House. Fifth grade student Karen Hall has been storing pop tabs in her garage and will present them to Polenta at 9 a.m. on April 18. The winning class will officially donate the tabs to a Ronald McDonald representative and receive a McDonald’s lunch party. For more information, please call Nancy Nettles, Principal, at 919.989.6039. Get ready, get set, Kindergarten, here we come! Johnston County Schools presents: “Get Ready, Get Set...Kindergarten, Here We Come”, a free informational session on kindergarten transition. In this session, parents will learn about the daily experiences of a typical kindergarten student; find out specific types of activities you can offer your child to give him or her a “jump start” on kindergarten; children will begin the transition to the school setting by meeting their teachers, asking questions about kindergarten, and meeting other students...all while having fun! Several sessions remain: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 @ Meadow Elementary Thursday, April 19, 2007 @ Glendale Kenly Elementary For more information, program times, or to register, please call Sarah Thompson at 934-4361, extension 376. Human Resource Services will host the annual Job Fair The annual Johnston County Schools Job Fair is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2007, in the Smithfield-Selma High School cafeteria. For more information, please call Kay Gardner at 919.934.6031, extension 251.
