FIRST THURSDAY VOLUM E 5, ISSUE 7
Franklin County Schools Our Future, Our Commitment, Our Students
JULY, 2010
Healthy Ways
Taking Shape
Long Mill, FES, BES receive national recognition for healthy initiatives. 3
Teens Selected for Workshop FHS’ Fuller, BHS’ Sanders to learn about conservation Two local high school students have been selected by the Franklin Soil & Water Conservation District to attend the Resource Conservation Workshop in Raleigh. Sponsorship for the workshop is paid by the District and students are required to submit an application expressing their interest in natural resource conservation issues. Jared Fuller, a rising junior at Franklinton High School, was selected after board members reviewed his application. Jared stated, “Disasters such as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico provide reinforcement to my (conservation) interest as it really highlights the impact man can have on the environment and importance of SEE WORKSHOP PAGE 10
The new Franklinton High School is taking form. The new campus is on schedule to be ready by July 4th of 2011.
FCS Construction Projects at Full Tilt
A
drive through Franklin County will easily reveal school construction projects currently taking place. Currently, there are several ongoing projects that are funded through the $53 million school construction bond. The biggest of the five projects is the new Franklinton High School. The site, located in Franklinton at the intersection of Cedar Creek and Lane Store Roads, is coming along nicely with several buildings already taking shape. The new school will be open for the 2011-2012 school
year with a capacity for 1,200 students. The current FHS, located on North Main Street in Franklinton, is at capacity in terms of classroom space. The student population has long since outgrown the current core facilities including the cafeteria and the media center. Not only will the school open with a capacity for 1,200 students, it will have the ability to be expanded to 1,600 students. Additional advantages include having all of the school athletic fields located on the main school campus. Currently, the school gymnasium for FHS is
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Reality Check Healthy Habits LOMES, BES, FES Receive National Praise for Healthy Ways Long Mill Elementary, Bunn Elementary and Franklinton Elementary were recently honored in New York City by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for taking strides to help students eat better and exercise more. Long Mill received the Silver Award, while Bunn and Franklinton each received a Bronze Award. Former President Bill Clinton praised all 179 schools throughout the nation that were recognized for strong efforts to express the importance of living a healthy life. Kim Ferrell
Carol Davis
Jewel Eason
Long Mill Long Mill Elementary School’s efforts to create a healthier school community prove that success begets success. After reading about a similar fitness program in an Atlanta school, the wellness council decided to create its own “Morning Moves” program. Now, instead of mingling in the gymnasium before the first class begins, students perform 30 minutes of physical activity coordinated by physical education teacher Terry Alston. Each month there is a new theme or activity, such as ballroom dancing, jumping rope, soccer and stretching/aerobics. The program proved so popular that students started skipping the cafeteria breakfast in favor of joining their friends at the gym. The program also received praise on TV last year on the Rachel Ray show. To enable all students to begin the day with a healthy breakfast, FCS Child Nutrition Director Jama Stallings and Long Mill Child Nutrition Manager Melissa O’Neal created the grab-and-go Long Mill Café. Thanks to this new innovation, students can now participate in “Morning Moves” in the gym and still help themselves to a healthy breakfast on the way to their first class. The school engages students by enlisting “Student Wellness Ambassadors.” Teachers select students that are not involved in other clubs or groups to help provide feedback to the wellness council and to share ideas and concerns. Community members are invited to speak to the students SEE HEALTH PAGE 6
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JULY, 2010
Parent Fair Success
Early College High School Principal Jim Harris (left) entertains questions regarding the Early College program. Each school in the district was represented at the FCS Parent Information Fair.
More Than 300 Attend FCS Parent Information Fair More than 300 parents and children with an interest in Franklin County Schools recently took advantage of a good opportunity to learn more about the school system as well as other county agencies that are funded through state and federal funds. FCS Elementary Education Director and Title I Coordinator Linda Frederickson led the effort to hold a Parent Information Fair in Louisburg on the FCS Central Office campus at Riverside. Each of the 15 schools that make up FCS was represented with booths of information and people on-hand to answer questions. A
variety of information was available from kindergarten registration to high school graduation. This event was specifically designed to increase parent awareness and participation. “I was very pleased to see so many parents and agencies participate,” Frederickson said. “I hope this was informative for everyone and that we can have an even more successful event in the future.” In addition to the 15 schools participating, other organizations and departments that took SEE PARENTS PAGE 10
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JULY, 2010
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located two blocks away from the school. Many athletic events are played at a park a few miles away in the town of Franklinton. Those inconveniences will come to an end with the new campus. The new campus is slated to be ready on July 4th, 2011. Louisburg High School is receiving some much-needed classroom space and an additional physical education building. The eight-room classroom building is easy to spot on campus, as is the new PE room. Another addition to LHS is a new Career and Technical Education building. These buildings could all be ready by the start of or just after the start of the new school year. Bunn High School is receiving a similar addition. The Wildcats’ new 10-room classroom building
The Edward Best Cafeteria will have a new look and feel this fall.
is well underway, and construction has also begun on a new PE room. The projects will be ready by the middle of this coming fall. Edward Best Elementary is a
Louisburg High School’s new classroom building is well underway.
tradition-rich campus. The campus has served all school levels from k-12 at one point in time or another. The gymnasium, which was originally built as a high school facility, will now better fit elementary activities. Part of the gym is now a stage and will serve as a perfect spot for school assemblies. In addition, the gym now has a new wooden floor and upgraded bathroom facilities. The cafeteria has been expanded to better serve the more than 500 students who walk through the lunch line each day. The old shop building has been renovated and will be used as classrooms. Gym renovations are quite popular. Youngsville Elementary, Franklinton Elementary, Bunn Elementary and Laurel Mill Elementary are all receiving gymnasium upgrades. In addition, FES is reSEE CONSTRUCTION PAGE 5
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Bunn High School is receiving a new 10-room classroom building as well as a wrestling/PE facility.
Construction
Cedar Creek are slated to get multipurpose fields. By November of 2010, all projects from the 2008 bond, with the exception of the new Franklinton High ceiving paving improvements and a new round-a-bout School, are scheduled to be complete. to improve the flow of traffic when students arrive and leave the campus. Royal Elementary is receiving an additional parking lot and a new school entrance. Youngsville Elementary’s old shop building is receiving some much-needed attention. The building had been converted to classrooms several years ago and will continue to be used for classrooms, but the rooms will be upgraded and to look new. It will house art classes and a computer lab. Cedar Creek Middle and Bunn Middle will both receive modular buildings that will contain six classrooms each. Those projects should be ready by the start of the 2010-2011 school year in August. One of the final projects funded by the 2008 bond is Here’s an inside view of the progress of the auditorium just reaching developmental stages. Terrell Lane and for the new Franklinton High School. Continued from page 4
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JULY, 2010
Reality Check
Coe Honored at BOE Meeting
The Franklin County Board of Education recognized Franklinton High School Athletic Director and soccer coach Deran Coe recently for receiving the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association's Girls 2A State Coach of The Year award. Coe, who started the boys and girls soccer programs at FHS 10 years ago, thanked the BOE after FHS Principal Charles Fuller praised him for his efforts.
lines are published in the handbook and posted throughout the school for all to see, students now Continued from page 2 participate in daily energizers, and “mass distribution” of cupcakes about their profession and talk and other unhealthy snacks has about developing leadership skills stopped. When asked about the to encourage their peers to lead success of the policy efforts so far, healthy lifestyles. one school PE teacher Geoufrey Long Mill Elementary received Anderson said, “We made it the bronze National Recognition through Christmas parties and Award in 2009. School Principal Valentine’s Day with our policy Kim Ferrell is pleased to see the intact.” That is not the only evicontinued progression. dence of success at the school. This year Bunn saw an increase in Bunn Elementary the number of students meeting at Bunn Elementary School is no least 4 out of 5 standards in the stranger to promoting the health of Presidential Fitness Test. its students; in fact, they have had School Principal Jewel Eason is a walking program in place for pleased with the program’s proover eight years. This year, the gress and hopes to see continued school decided to do more to pro- growth in the future. mote physical activity throughout Franklinton Elementary the school day as well as address the problems with unhealthy snack “Small changes can bring about foods being shared during class participation and then excitement parties and other celebrations. from staff and students. Most Now, you see evidence of changes are possible with very healthy changes through the enlittle funding such as changes in tire school. Wellness policy guide- schedules and snacks brought
HEALTH
into the classroom,” Franklinton Elementary School Principal Carol Davis said. With this philosophy in mind, the school wellness council set out to create a healthier school environment, one small step at a time. Participating with their students in JAMmin’ Minutes (students lead these exercises every morning during announcements), incorporating more health education into their curriculum and including information about healthy snacks in their parent/school newsletters are just a few of the changes staff members have implemented. Parents have responded positively by providing healthy snacks to classrooms and modeling healthy behavior through a school walking program. “Our students have become excited about these changes and have inspired others – they proudly share nutritious snacks with their classmates and look forward to speaking over the intercom to lead JAMmin’ Minutes,” adds Davis.
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Summer Cruising
FCS CTE teachers and administrators found the three-day Summer Cruisers Program to be very informative.
CTE Summer Fun
State Education Superintendent June Atkinson address CTE teachers from Franklin, Vance, Warren, Person and Granville Counties at VanceGranville Community College in Henderson.
Career and Technical Education teachers and administrators recently spent three days learning more about CTE related jobs and processes. The group traveled to Advanced Metal Processing in Louisburg, Franklin Regional Medical Center in Louisburg, Southern Tilapia Farm (Franklin County), Vance Granville Community College, Novozymes North America in Franklinton, CaptiveAire in Youngsville, Century Link in Youngsville and the FCS Central Office Technology Lab. In all, 28 teachers, counselors and central office staff participated. The event was funded through a grant provided by the Kerr-Tar Region Council of Governments.
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New Inductees The Gamma Tau Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma inducted the following FCS educators into their organization this spring: Wanda Keith (Laurel Mill), Kim Heller (Cedar Creek), Monica Headen (Youngsville), Linda Frederickson (Central Office), Terry Alston (Long Mill), Freda Clifton (Louisburg High), Amy Leonard (Franklinton Elementary), and Hilda Parle'r (Bunn Middle). The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.
FCS FIRST THURSDAY
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Graduation 2010
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JULY, 2010
WORKSHOP
ing about the environment and what we should do to preserve it was one of the highlights of my year.” Aimee is the daughter of Jamie and Lynn Sanders of Zebulon. The week-long workshop will be held on the campus of North Carolina State University from June 20-25. Ninety-eight Soil & Water Conservation Districts in NC select a student(s) in their respective districts who have demonstrated an interest in natural resource conservation. While in Raleigh, the students will participate in outdoor study trips where they will learn about soil characteristics, soil conser-
vation, wildlife and fisheries management, forest management, non-agricultural uses for soils, water quality, and watershed management. An examination will take place on the last day of the event and the student with the highest score will be awarded cash and scholarship funds. An additional $1000 scholarship will be awarded to the highest scoring student if they attend NCSU. Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all of Franklin County citizens and businesses.
Reality Check
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finding ways to preserve and protect the world in which we live.” Jared is the son of Charles and Veronica Fuller of Franklinton. Aimee Sanders, a rising junior at Bunn High School, was selected based on her interest in conservation and participation on the Bunn High School Envirothon team. Aimee says, “I was on the team this year and I truly enjoyed everything we did. Learn-
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part were the Franklin County Library, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Health Department, Franklin County Girls Scouts, Partnership for Children, More at Four, FCS Technology, FCS Public Relations, FCS Career and Technical Education, North Carolina Parent Information Resource Center, Franklin County Social Services, FCS Before and After, Safe Schools, FCS Transportation, FCS Academically Intellectually Gifted, Community Back Pack Program, Bridge for Learning Tutoring, FCS Creative Education Center, FCS Exceptional Children’s Program, FCS Child Nutrition, Gethsemane Baptist Church Tutoring, Hardy Dental Clinic, FCS McKinney Vento Program, FCS Testing and Student Accountability, FCS Nurses, and the FCS International Center.
Well Informed A member of the Franklinton Area Community Theater explains the program to a couple of parents during the Franklin County Schools Parent Information Fair held June 10th. The event proved to be quite successful as more than 300 people came out.