Charter School to open in downtown Wilmington in the fall of 2013
WILMINGTON, NC – “It was very gratifying to hear the State Board of Education unanimously vote to approve our application for Douglass Academy,” said Barbra Jones, Director of New School Development, and Community Relations at The Roger Bacon Academy.
John Hood
By JOHN HOOD
RALEIGH — Spending tax dollars on preschool intervention for at-risk North Carolina children may be a worthwhile idea. In fact, I have long favored a carefully designed, carefully targeted early-childhood program as part of a comprehensive strategy for education reform. But this policy is not required by the state constitution – as a N.C. Court of Appeals panel has just ruled in a case about the program that used to be called More At Four and is now called North Carolina Pre-K.
WHITEVILLE, NC – “I love math!” stated Izzie Rogers, a kindergarten student at Columbus Charter School. She was referring to all the fun she was having shopping and calculating groceries at the K-3 Math Night at Food Lion in Whiteville.
“One of the most important ways we can improve instruction is to make learning fun and relevant,” said Columbus Charter School (CCS) Headmaster Steve Smith. “What better way to see how math is used on a daily basis than to visit the grocery store and use those skills to shop!”
John Hood
By JOHN HOOD
RALEIGH — Along with most other states, North Carolina is in the process of adopting new Common Core national standards for reading and mathematics. The good news is that the Common Core is much better than North Carolina’s previously reading and math standards. The bad news is that, at least in the area of math, the new standards are inadequate to the task of raising North Carolina’s math performance to that of the highest-performing states and nations.
LELAND, N.C. – As students arrived for the much anticipated first day of classes at Charter Day School in Leland and Columbus Charter School in Whiteville, a few changes on campus greeted them: a record number of students, continuation of major new curriculum enhancements, and a new Headmaster at Charter Day School.
Monday, July 23 marked the beginning on the new academic year, and Charter Day School topped previous attendance records with 922 students on that first day. Its sister school, Columbus Charter School also opened with an attendance record of 722 students.
Global Schools Network Leadership Conference accelerates international education in N.C. and beyond
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Top education leaders from throughout the United States gathered this week to discuss opportunities, ideas, and best practices on global education and 21st century learning during the Global Schools Network (GSN) Leadership Conference in Chapel Hill.
SOUTHPORT, N..C – The Walmart Stores in Leland, Shallotte, and Southport are working with Communities In Schools of Brunswick County, Inc. (CIS) to collect school supplies for students attending Brunswick County Schools. The Build-A-Backpack campaign runs July 17 through August 21, 2011.
“Walmart strives to provide opportunities that improve the lives of students in our communities,” says Jimmy Creech, manager of the Southport store. “This program will assist in ensuring that our students are prepared for school.”
SHALLOTTE, N.C. — ATMC has presented $1000 scholarships to three Brunswick County high school seniors.
Taylor Hewett is the daughter of Heath and Becky Hewett of Ocean Isle Beach. Taylor plans to attend Clemson University, where she will major in Biology. Mackensie Pless is the daughter of Timothy and Susan Pless of Bolivia. She plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill and major in English Literature and History. Anna Zeng is the daughter of Ray and Meg Zeng of Shallotte and plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, where she will major in Global Public Health.
John Hood
by John Hood
Because education is by far the most expensive and extensive service provided by state and local government, disagreements about education policy will always play a leading role in North Carolina politics.
In the budget debate in Raleigh, for example, most of the charges and countercharges involve education policy. Democrats say Republicans are cutting school funding too much. Republicans say Democrats didn’t spend education dollars efficiently when they were in charge. Separate measures to change school governance, reform testing, expand charter schools, and provide tuition tax credits have all provoked controversy among lawmakers and the general public, as well.
RALEIGH – Seven North Carolina high school seniors have been awarded a total of $112,000 in scholarships by the North Carolina Bankers Association. The scholarships are awarded annually, in the amount of $4,000 each, and are renewable for three additional years if the students maintain the predetermined scholastic standard. As a result, each student’s total award will be $16,000.
John Hood
by John Hood
It was a dark time in the history of North Carolina education.
Grossly underfunded public schools struggled just to keep the doors open. Tens of thousands of teachers lost their jobs, while tens of thousands of neglected students simply wandered out of their schools to form the core of a new socio-educational underclass. Ignorance bred unemployment, civil unrest, and widespread book-burnings – although perhaps North Carolinians were just trying to keep warm by burning discarded textbooks.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Bev Perdue announced Friday that 63 North Carolina college, graduate and law students, including several from southeastern North Carolina have been selected for summer internships with state agencies. Now in its 41st year, the N.C. State Government Internship Program is coordinated by the Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office in the Department of Administration.
The following students from the Cape Fear Region were selected for internships:
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Cape Fear Community College Foundation raised over $185,000 for student scholarships during its seventh annual “Changing Lives through the Gift of Education” luncheon on May 19. This brings the CFCC Foundation’s yearly fundraising total to more than $1.2 million.
In his keynote address, Dr. Mike Wilkinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of PPD, outlined the merits of community college education to an audience of more than 600 businesspeople gathered at the Schwartz Center in downtown Wilmington.
LELAND, N.C. — Communities In Schools of Brunswick County (CIS) awarded $1,000 scholarships to five graduating seniors at North Brunswick County High School during this year’s senior awards ceremony. Recipients were interviewed and scored based on academics, school activities, community involvement, financial need, and interview presentation.
CIS partners with local businesses, industries, civic clubs, agencies, communities of faith and individuals to provide these scholarships.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a press roundtable yesterday, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue joined Margaret Spellings, former Secretary of Education and current president of the U.S. Chamber’s Forum for Policy Innovation, to release a “Statement on Reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA): Guidelines for Strengthening the Law.” These principles will strengthen and update ESEA, better known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Progress Energy Foundation will invest more than $400,000 in the Carolinas this year to support energy education and workforce development in public schools.
“The new energy economy demands skills that were not attainable, or even known, a generation ago,” said Lloyd Yates, president and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas. “To increase awareness and build the energy workforce of the future, we must introduce energy concepts and related skills to students early in their education. Supporting education in our local communities also helps to ensure that students are given the opportunity to succeed and continue their education beyond high school.”
SOUTHPORT, N.C. — January is the 10th Annual National Mentoring Month nationwide, and Communities In Schools of Brunswick County, Inc. (CIS) is looking for mentors for at-risk Middle School students.
According to a CIS press release, mentoring provides positive adult influence for children who may otherwise receive none.
“They need someone to talk to and they come to realize there are adults in their lives who care” said Linda Rumsey, CIS Dropout Prevention Director.
SHALLOTTE, N.C. — ATMC recently awarded $25,000 in grant funds to 15 educators and community organizations serving Brunswick County students and residents.
The cooperative honored the recipients with a reception on November 9th at ATMC’s corporate headquarters in Shallotte. Representatives from each school talked about the programs for which the grant funds are earmarked and how these grants will positively impact area students.
Those receiving funding were:
LELAND, N.C. – Pioneer Strategies, a Brunswick County-based public relations agency, has signed on as a Bronze Sponsor of Communities in Schools of Brunswick County’s Ninth Annual Benefit Gala for Children, which is set for Thursday, Oct. 21 at the Sea Trail Conference Center in Sunset Beach. Tickets are available for the gala. For more information about the event, please visit http://www.cisbrunswick.org/gala.html.
John Hood
by John Hood
Every passionate reader has a first literary love – that first book that captured your attention and inspired your desire to explore and understand.
For me, it was a true classic: A Child’s History of the World. First published in 1924, the book was the product of the innovative mind of Virgil Hillyer, the Harvard-trained headmaster of the Calvert School in Baltimore. After many years at the helm of the school, Hillyer realized that there were many children whose families couldn’t afford tuition but who would benefit from high-quality instruction. So he convinced Baltimore booksellers to sell his curriculum directly to families.
SUPPLY, N.C. — Brunswick Community College’s Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWD) recently announced its upcoming schedule of courses and seminars. Upcoming business-related courses and seminars include:
Career Readiness Certification/Human Resource Development – Pre-registration required for all classes in this section
(Fee waiver available for classes in this section)
Career Readiness Certification
Supply
Monday, August 16
1-5
$30.00
Employment Readiness
Supply
August 24 – September 9
Tuesday & Thursday
SHALLOTTE, NC — ATMC has presented $1000 scholarships to three Brunswick County high school seniors.
Nicolas Merritt is the son of Jay and Diane Merritt of Leland. Nicolas plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, where he will major in Bio-chemistry. Kaili Adloo of Oak Island is the daughter of Lona Kolb of Oak Island. She plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill as well and major in Medicinal Chemistry. Shanae Frink is the daughter of Andrea and Lyndon Frink of Ash and plans to attend North Carolina State University, where she will major in Political Science.
SOUTHPORT, N.C. — Communities in Schools of Brunswick County will hold its 3rd annual “Stuff The Bus” event on tax free weekend. The event, which is sponsored by the Leland, Shallotte and Southport Wal Marts, will take place on Aug. 7, 2010 and runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
John Hood
by John Hood
Almost everyone agrees that improving the quality of the educational workforce is an indispensable element of any program to improve school performance.
I use the term “almost” because there is a significant player in North Carolina’s school-reform debate that doesn’t agree: the North Carolina Association of Educators, the state’s largest teacher union.
Frank Williams
RALEIGH, N.C. – Frank Williams, president of Pioneer Strategies, Inc., facilitated a public relations workshop Monday at the N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ inaugural conference in Raleigh.
“Public charter schools are an important and underrated piece of our state’s education puzzle,” says Williams. “We are pleased to support the N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ inaugural conference by facilitating this workshop, which focused on communication tools and strategies to increase awareness and understanding of public charter schools in our state.”
SHALLOTTE, N.C. — Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) announced the two winners of the 2010 Scholarship Highway Program, Anna Fairfax of Chadbourn and Rebecca Sidelinger of Shallotte. The BEMC Scholarship Highway Program awards two (2) scholarships of $5,000 to high school seniors, one each from Brunswick and Columbus Counties. Scholarship applicants were judged on a combination of academic achievement, participation in the community and school-related activities, SAT scores, letters of reference and submission of a 1,500 word essay on “Renewable Energy: The Realities.” Educators from Brunswick Community College and Southeastern Community College judged the competition.
Brunswick County, NC – As part of the Communities In Schools (CIS) After School program, students are being introduced to the ABC’s of tennis: Ability, Balance, and Coordination. Through the efforts of John Keilman, the US Tennis Association and PTR Foundation have supplied the equipment needed to continue the pilot program started last year with the Brunswick County Tennis Assoc. “We are thrilled to be able to resume this activity. Tennis is a great way for the students to get exercise, but it’s so much more,” says Kathy Smith CIS After School Director. “We want to teach them the importance of control, safety, and respect as well.” For more information, contact Kathy Smith at 754-9515.
Shallotte, NC – ATMC has begun accepting applications for its 2010 community grant program, Community Connections. This program addresses the needs of Brunswick County residents in a variety of areas including: emergency and disaster relief, arts and culture, civic service, and health and human services.
Brunswick County – Communities In Schools of Brunswick County, Inc. (CIS) will award a $1,000 scholarship to graduating seniors at each of the county’s three high schools as well as the Brunswick County Academy and Early College High School.
Applicants will be interviewed and scored based on financial need, academics, school activities, community involvement, and interview presentation.
Shallotte, NC – ATMC will be offering $1000 scholarships this year to three deserving Brunswick County seniors. One scholarship will be awarded to a student from each of the three Brunswick County high school districts: north, south and west. Seniors in public schools, private schools and home- schooled students are encouraged to apply based on the district in which they reside.
