This month's newsletter features:
(jump to the following in-page links)
Third Grader Reads Over One Million Words
Luke Hege, a third grader at Wilkesboro Elementary School, read every day over the summer. Luke's dedication to reading helped him meet a personal goal of reading over ONE MILLION words! Luke was honored on the twelfth day of school with having met this goal. Wilkesboro School would like to congratulate Luke on being such an avid reader. They look forward to watching Luke achieve many more goals. Wilkesboro Elementary's PTO helps honor each student who reads a million words with a t-shirt that reads "Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader."
Fourth Annual English Learner Family Night a Success
Monday, September 17, Wilkes County Schools held their 4th Annual English Learner Family Night! EL students and families that attended enjoyed a night of information, celebration, and appreciation! EL teachers and interpreters provided information and answered questions about the EL program, and each student who exited the EL program was recognized and provided a certificate by Superintendent, Mark Byrd and Associate Superintendent, Anna Lankford. Special guest, Jodi Province from KidPower, also spoke about building cultures of caring, respect, and safety for everyone, everywhere!
Top Readers in Wilkes County Schools
Wilkesboro Elementary School had 36 students who participated in the Appalachian State Summer Reading Program. Wilkesboro Elementary School would like to congratulate Vandyn Atwood (2nd Grader) and Julie Hayes (4th Grader) for being the top readers in Wilkes County for their grade level! Vandyn and Julie are being honored at Appalachian State University on September 29, 2018. ASU is celebrating Education Day and recognizing top readers during the ASU vs. South Alabama football game. Both students were given three free football tickets and a fun packed itinerary celebrating all their hard work over the summer.
NWHS Student Speaks at NCHSAA Region 7 Meeting
On Wednesday, September 19, Wilkes County Schools hosted the NCHSAA's Annual Region 7 Meeting. Principals, athletic directors, superintendents, and other office personnel who work with athletics attended to be updated on NCHSAA sports regulations, eligibility rules, emerging issues, and have question and answer sessions. North Wilkes High School student, Morgan Tribble, got to speak about her experience being on the NCHSAA Student-Athlete Advisory Council and did a great job representing Wilkes County Schools!
Wilkes County Schools HOPE Award Winner
Congratulations to Wilkes County Schools 2017-2018 HOPE Award winner, Jeannie Stinson, school counselor at West Wilkes Middle School! The HOPE Award stands for “Helping Other People Excel”. It recognizes professionals who possess a true spirit of “servant leadership” in all aspects of their work, make significant contributions to their school, and demonstrate a commitment to professionalism by always being respectful and compassionate toward others. Jeannie was recognized and presented her award at the September Board of
Education Meeting on Monday, September 10th.
MFES Hosts Professional Development
Moravian Falls Elementary School hosted teachers from C.C. Wright Elementary and Wilkesboro Elementary on September 19th for a Central district after school meeting. Teachers spent time examining the first three of twelve ELA Instructional Practices, looking at the VIK online, and sharing how they already use Instructional Practices
within their classrooms. Teachers worked in either a Kinder-2nd grade or 3rd-5th grade cohort to dive deeper into the practices. The meeting concluded with teachers having the opportunity to walk through MFES to gather
instructional ideas from one another!
WWHS Peer Tutoring Program Continues to Soar
After only one year of providing service, the West Wilkes High School Peer Tutoring Program has become one of the school’s strongest student-led initiatives. Volunteering their time, expertise, and enthusiasm, this group works to move their school forward--academically and socially. Peer Tutors are available during SMART Lunch to assist with homework and encourage their peers. The atmosphere in Peer Tutoring is all-inclusive, non-judgmental, and always positive. Not only do the Peer Tutors focus on building academic progress, but they strive to be a positive force in expanding relationships on campus and boosting students’ self-esteem and confidence. True to their motto, “We are better when we fly together!”
Facelift for the Community Learning Center
For years Communities In Schools has been holding “Homework Haven”, an afterschool homework help program at the little mobile unit in the community formerly known as County Square. The mobile home park’s new name is Wilkes Mobile Home Park. Many Hispanic students from Moravian Falls Elementary live in this community and are served there by CIS. The mobile unit that was placed there over a decade ago was falling into disrepair. Communities In Schools wrote a grant to Lowe’s seeking funds to give the beloved place some TLC and were awarded the grant this past spring. Work on the unit began in May. The YMCA, Carolina West Wireless, Wilkes Community College, CIS staff, CIS volunteers and countless other community Facelift for the Community Learning Center professionals and members volunteered their time to repair and paint the exterior and interior of this one room school house. The students and the families whom CIS serve there having lovingly called the place “La Escuelita” meaning “Little School” for many years. So it seemed fitting to change the name. CIS
ordered a new sign and painted the building red and white like the one room school houses of old, complete with a bell tower. The bell tower was built by a WCHS student for his senior project. CIS is there every Monday and Wednesday from 3:30-5:00. The building will also be utilized at the end of October for a 16 week Play 2 Learn Program sponsored by Wilkes Community Partnership for Children. For additional information contact:
contact: Sarah Webster, Communities In Schools at (336) 903 6700.
La Escuelita | 124 Kitty Lane |Wilkes Mobile Home Park
RCES Donates to Hurricane Florence Victims
Ronda Clingman Elementary School families collected items for Cape Fear Hospice home the week of September 24th. Teacher Amber Bryant said, "We wanted to show our support for fellow North Carolinians who were affected by severe flooding."
Seventh grade students celebrated National Pancake Day by finding the scale factors of pancakes. Envirothon students visited Stone Mountain on September 22 to look for aquatic insects. Mrs. Thomas's 7th grade science class did an escape room to review for scientific method. The two teams were successful in solving all eight clues!
MFES New Playground Update
Moravian Falls Elementary's Media Coordinator, Paula Farmer's hard work has paid off. Last year, she spent countless hours writing several grants to build an additional playground at Moravian Falls Elementary. Mrs. Farmer raised $110,000 to make it happen! Installation of the playground began this summer and it opened for students on the first day back to school. The playground is located near the 3-5 building, and was designed and installed by Beanstalk Builders of Morganton. It is a non-traditional playground space, featuring ropes course type activities and slides from a mini-tower. (The custom made slides have not been delivered yet, but anticipate them to be installed later this month.) Students had a blast trying to work their way through all the balance activities on their first day out!
What's Happening Next Month?
October 1 - Board of Education Meeting
October 9 - C.B. Eller Foundation Reception
October 12, 13, 14 - The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe Performance
October 22, 24 - Substitute Teacher Training