Carter High Students Participate in Livestock Special Awards Show at N.C. State Fair

At the N.C. State Fair, students from Carter High School participated in the Livestock Special Awards Show.

Claudette Goodwin, the agriculture teacher at Carter, was among the people who went with the Carter students. Goodwin asked both Carol Turner and Callie Carson, who serve as associate superintendents for the show, about some of the history of the show and their feelings about it.

Here is what Turner had to say:  

“One of our beef cattle exhibitors brought a family member, Mike, to the state fair every year. Mike has some intellectual and disability challenges, but he always was a big help working with the cattle behind the scenes.  In 1996, he told Chuck Miller, director of livestock, that one day he was going to show at the state fair. Chuck came back into the office and we put together a plan to start a special show for special- needs exhibitors the next year.

“The Livestock Special Show started in 1997 showing a beef heifer and a lamb or goat. Starting with a couple of exhibitors, we now have 40-50 exhibitors every year. This show has been so well-received that later we started the Dairy Special Show the last weekend of the fair showing a dairy goat and a dairy calf. Many of the county fairs have also started a special show.

“I retired as office manager in the livestock office after 26 years. These special shows are close to my heart and since I helped get them started, I still wanted to be involved. So now I am assistant superintendent of the two special shows.  Also, our youth exhibitors let us use their animals and are helpers in the show ring to the special show exhibitors. Agri Supply has been the sponsor for many years and have been actively involved helping hand out the medals and giving the exhibitors their awards.  This show has special exhibitors, special helpers, and many special folks helping behind the scenes to truly make these shows a very rewarding experience for all.”

Here is what Carson had to say:

“You are correct that there is no age limit on the show. Exhibitors can keep coming back for as long as they want. Some of the exhibitors – your kids and others – have been coming back for 15 years plus. Mike Smith, the original exhibitor and reason for the show, is now 53. He has Down Syndrome. Every year we try to make the event better for the special exhibitors, more efficient and more meaningful.

“Agri Supply sponsors the N.C. State Fair Special show and has for about 15 years. They provide the hats to all the participants.

“Carol Turner with the N.C. State Fair handles sponsorships and awards. Dorise Utley handles entries and paperwork. The rest of the ladies in the fair office put together packets of information. The State Fair also provides sponsorship for the trophies and prize money.

“My favorite part is seeing how happy the special exhibitors are, and when they make a true connection with the helper and the animals. You can see absolute, pure joy on their face. The same thing when they win the medals and prizes. It’s also pretty wonderful to see the friendships that start to develop between the helpers and the special exhibitors, some that have grown and are now true friendships.

“My responsibility is to coordinate that there are enough animals and helpers for beef and sheep/goat shows. I also pair the kids with the special exhibitors, break the groups and ensure the flow of the event. I manage all volunteers who are in the show ring and helping with the special exhibitors. I make sure the helpers have the name of the special exhibitor and know when to be available for the show.

“2015 was the 18th year of the Special Livestock Awards Show! We started in 1997 with one exhibitor, and, in 2015, we had 49 entered, with around 39 showing up. That’s tremendous growth, especially figuring that now there is a Special Livestock Show on both weekends! The kids who own the animals love to assist, and many look forward to it at the fair and the opportunity to help someone with an animal who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Even if the special exhibitor they are assigned doesn’t show up, all the kids ask if there is something else they can do to help. It’s a group effort!”

Southeast Middle School Celebrates Unity Day

Oct. 21 was Unity Day, a day to wear orange to show that you are against bullying and all for promoting kindness. At Southeast Middle School, they had special T-shirts made. Some students also made paper hearts that they placed on lockers as a way of promoting kindness. 

A Fine Morning for Sherwood Forest Families to Walk to School Together

It was Walk to School Day at Sherwood Forest Elementary. For the story, go to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools  

Carter High Students Have Big Fun at the Dixie Classic Fair

During the Dixie Classic Fair, students at Carter High School entered a number of competitions.

Working with other students, they showed lambs and heifers. They entered vegetables they had grown in the garden at school. They decorated a Christmas tree and created Halloween decorations.

Claudette Goodwin, who teaches agriculture at Carter, said: “I think, if I said anything about the Dixie Classic Fair, it would be ‘thank you to April Bowman for her continued patience and support.’ I kept having last-minute entries and she kept trying to accommodate them.

“I would also have to say thank you to The Farm Bureau.  They are kinda like heroes to the rescue. This year at the lamb show they gave the participants jackets with both the 4-H symbol and Dixie Classic Fair on them. Most of the students attending C. Douglas Carter High School have worn them every day. They have been so proud.

“The students who showed at the Heifer Special showmanship received a tote bag; inside there was a friendship bracelet, a first aid kit, and a tee shirt. Again, they were all very proud. I was proud of them, too…All of them did such a good job.  They made me very happy and very proud.”

April W. Bowman is an agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center who specializes in livestock, forages and 4-H Youth Development.

The Forsyth County Farm Bureau sponsored the special show through donations, Bowman said. 4-H used the donations to purchase the jackets, first aid kits, UV silicone bracelets, and sunglasses for everyone. 

"The Special Show is the most rewarding, gratifying event that we do at the fair,” Bowman said. “The children's smiles when they hear their name called over the microphone and receive their prizes are the highlight of the entire fair. I appreciate all of the livestock owners for their support of the program and letting us borrow their animals for the show."

Carter’s entry in the 4-H display won first place and its entriy in the Christmas tree competition came in fifth place. Having entries in that and other competitions, gave the students something of their own to focus on when they visited the fair.

“All and all, it was a wonderful experience and we loved every step of the way,” Goodwin said.

Teachers at Career Center Receive Award for Working with Students with Disabilities

Francis Manns, Darlene Owens, Sherry Billings, Claudette Goodwin

On Oct. 16, the Winston-Salem Mayor’s Council for Persons with Disabilities (MCPD) gave its Advocacy Award to Sherry Billings and Darlene Owens who teach in the Culinary Arts program at the Career Center.

Billings and Owens were nominated by Claudette Goodwin and Francis Manns, who teach at Carter High School, which shares the Kennedy campus with the Career Center and John F. Kennedy High School.

In nominating the women, Goodwin and Manns wrote: “Chef Billings and Chef Owens have opened their doors and encouraged children with disabilities to take an active role in cooking in the classroom as well as participation in public and social events. They are both always encouraging and supportive.

“They encourage the students to be as independent as possible, often giving them assignments meant only for them to do. Then they step back, watch, and observe. In other words they grant them the gift of time, infused with patience. 

“They both set excellent examples of how students with different abilities should be treated.”

After the awards luncheon, Goodwin said, “I loved everything about the experience and had the opportunity to meet many new people. I was very proud of both chefs. This was a recognition earned and deserved by two incredible women who work hard to build bridges.” 

The Mayor’s Council is a “non-profit, volunteer organization that advocates improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities and promotes an environment free of architectural barriers. Through special projects and events such as Barrier Awareness Day and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) celebrations, MCPD involves community leaders and individual citizens in understanding both the physical and attitudinal barriers facing persons with disabilities.”

Kernersville Mayor Visits with Students at Southeast Middle School

Each month at Southeast Middle School, assistant principal Aaron Bailey invites someone from the wider world to drop by the school for “Breakfast with Bailey,” a time to visit with students so they can learn more about  what’s going on in the community.

For the October "Breakfast with Bailey" conversation, he invited Kernersville mayor Dawn Morgan.

“Students were treated to breakfast from the local Harris Teeter and Chic-fil-A while participating in the discussion centered on the topic of leadership,” Bailey said. “Mrs. Morgan spoke to a small group of young ladies at Southeast Middle School on her perspective on what makes a great leader and her own personal processes in regards to decision-making.”  

Pictured from left to right:

Makayla Kennedy, Tammy Wang, Emily Romero, Caila Bynum, Amaria Rankin, Jordyn Dishman, Michelle Meiji, Kernersville Mayor Dawn Morgan, Sydne Sawyer, Desiree Brown, Gabriele Winters, Meagan Blair, Chelsie Clark and Assistant Principal Aaron Bailey.

Exceptional Adults Serving Exceptional Children

In recent months, the Exceptional Children (EC) Division has been inviting people to suggest colleagues to highlight in the “The Exceptional Times” newsletter.

Those highlighted in October newsletter are Rufus Couch, Cessily Evans, Zane Gibson, Lori Tincher and Carolyn Woods.

Here is what the people nominating them had to say about their colleagues:  

In recommending Rufus Couch, Peggy Dickey, the principal at Lowrance Middle School, wrote:

“I would like to recognize Rufus Couch as Lowrance’s EC TED representative for October. He is an assistant in one of our ID-Severe classes. He is a CPI (Carolina Placement Inc.) employee (at this time-hoping to make him permanent when he puts in his time!).  He came into our school not knowing really what he was getting into.  He hit the ground running-working with the children, changing diapers, holding hands when they were crying, working on their academic skills.

"Every time I walk into the room he is engaged and focused on the students. The students react positively to him and look for him to be there with them. One student in particular has latched herself to him and makes sure that he is around when she is eating or sitting or just waiting for the bus. He does all of these things with a smile on his face and a gleam in his eyes. The impact he has is amazing-he is able to soothe upset students and make sure all of their needs are met. The classroom teacher and other assistant speak very highly of him and are glad that he was assigned to their classroom."

In recommending Cessily Evans, Donna Horton-Berry, the principal of Carter High School, wrote:

“Carter has many amazing folks but I was particularly amazed by a teaching assistant’s Pledge of Urgency. It summarizes the feeling that we wish we all had. 

“Cessily Evans wrote: ‘I pledge to be readily available to my students to accommodate their needs, nurture their interest, and glorify their accomplishments. As a team member I will make sure I am diligent in my attempts and efforts to affect positive change in the workplace. I will be consistent in assisting my teacher in any way conducive to the goals and expectations of the classroom and to the students. I will start and finish each day at Carter with optimism and avoid negativity at all cost.’

“She is an exceptional person to work with and has many talents that make our program richer.  She also has quite a way with words.”

In recommending Zane Gibson, Donald Wyatt, the assistant principal, at Sedge Garden Elementary School write:

“Zane Gibson is a teacher assistant in a Map-Core III/IV classroom at Sedge Garden Elementary School. He began working with us in October of 2014. He is currently adding on a degree and licensure in Special Education: Adapted Curriculum through the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

“Zane comes into school every day with a positive outlook and enthusiasm to work and learn. He is interested in understanding student behaviors and finding solutions to keep them on task throughout the day. Zane is willing to help out throughout the school at any time and has been moved around to different classrooms in order to meet different student’s needs. Any time any of our staff needs a laugh, he is there to pick us back up again. Zane has a true gift for working with students with special needs and we are so lucky to have him!”

In recommending Lori Tincher, an Exceptional Children assistant at Wiley Magnet Middle School, Heather Dirks, an EC case manager at Wiley wrote:

“Ms. Tincher is new to Wiley, but she is not new to supporting students based on their needs.  She hit the ground running the first day she started at Wiley, and she has not slowed down a bit. She is my ‘yes’ person who works tirelessly on student evaluations, advocating, communicating, and documenting necessary components in order to progress monitor and reflect student needs. 

“She supports our resource room during ELA (English language arts) and math for our sixth-grade group.  She continues to support our resource students in science and social studies classes when they travel to a regular education teacher.  She teaches two classes of Corrective Reading, and she is also able to support our inclusion students in seventh grade during science instruction. 

“She asks every day ‘How can I help?’ It is so refreshing to have her energy, her compassion, and her knowledge at Wiley within our EC Department.  I am beyond excited to see how she will continue to positively impact and encourage our students throughout the year.” 

In recommending Carolyn Woods, Susan Battigelli, the EC lead speech pathologist, wrote:

“Not only has Carolyn Woods been a speech-language pathologist with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools for over 35 years, she has coordinated the Sertoma Speech Program since 1989. This program provides speech-language therapy to over 100 children each summer.

“On Sept. 14, Carolyn made her annual presentation to the Winston-Salem Sertoma Club to thank them for their continued financial support and to highlight the positive impact these speech-language services make on the lives to children. Thank you, Carolyn, for all you do to advocate for and serve the students and families of Forsyth County!” 

Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Awards Its Annual Teacher Grants

Each year, the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce awards grants to teachers.

Earlier this month, the chamber awarded 54 grants. 

Andrea Smith and Cindy Eubanks

Key to abbreviations:

KMS is Kernersville Middle

KES is Kernersville Elementary

EFHS is East Forsyth High 

EMS is East Forsyth Middle

CES is Cash Elementary

SFE is Smith Farm Elementary

UCE is Union Cross Elementary

GHS is Glenn High

SEMS is Southeast Middle

PGE is Piney Grove Elementary

CCES is Caleb's Creek Elementary

NCLA is North Carolina Leadership Academy

Kimberly Conrad

Brierley Ash

Angela Watt

Pamela Nichols

Here the list of teachers and what they are buying with their grant money:

Teacher	School	Grant request
Dave Boyer	KMS	Earthquake Shake Tables-supplies
Cathy Musci	KMS	IDEA(R) Erase Paint
Lisa Wood	KMS	Ipad mini
Michael Lineberry	KMS	game-based learning supplies
Jeffrey Shu	KMS	Exercise Balls
Josh Bechtel	KMS	Microscopes
Sarah Kessler Prouty	KES	"Tale of Despereaux"
Carolyn Faircloth	KES	"Swish" book and basketballs
Kathryn Moody	KES	School Garden
Theresa Murphy	KES	Play Center Enhancement
Kathleen Lewis	KES	Reading for English learners
Stacie Beeson	KES	Active Play Kit
Farrah Hilton	EFHS	books
Jennifer Cresimore	EFHS	treatment instruction Level II,III/equipment
Allison Weavil	EFHS	Forensic Kits
Kimberly Conrad	EMS	Pulse Oxymeters
Sue Wood	EMS	Ipad minis
Tammy Kasserman	EMS	Hipstreet Tablets
Susan Andrews	EMS	Ipad Air Tablet
Cheryl Tilley	EMS	IPAD Air 2 and Otterbox
Ashley Plaster	EMS	Math Mysteries Series
Nathan Kottlowski	CES	Reading Enhancement headphones
Andrea Smith	CES	Brain Pop
Jennifer Jones	CES	Ipad mini and case
Pamela Nichols	CES	Brain Pop
Cindy Eubanks	CES	Storyworks
Angela Watt	CES	Bouncy Bands
Thomas Wesley Payne III	SFE	"NoteKnacks" Music  Manipulatives
Melissa Edwards	SFE	Ipad Mini and software
Brierley Ash	SFE	Novel Sets
Michelle McDowell	UCE	AIMSweb Seat licenses
Jennifer Edgerton	UCE	Ipad air/Case/Game system
Angie Tippett	UCE	Ipad/Game System
Rebecca Costa	UCE	Science/Literacy books
Christi Joyner	GHS	Dissolved O2 Meter
Erin Jones	GHS	DSLR Nikon Camera
Virginia Browne	GHS	DJ Deif Kit
Carol Earnhardt	GHS	Musical Instruments
Ron Black	SEMS	5 year Atlas book subscription
Jenny Watson	SEMS	Group project
Robin Douglas	SEMS	I Pledge Anti Bullying
Deana Jones	PGE	accessories for Jeapordy game
Natalie Rempe	PGE	Reading Sets
Trish Edwards	PGE	Read a-louds and Readers Theatre
Ashley Brown	PGE	Climbing Environment
Betty Wallace	SGE	Matinee'-Study Skills
Sara Melder	SGE	Fiction/Non-Fiction Books
Oakley/Melder/Lloyd/Weavil/Blankenship	SGE	Moby Mack Subscription
Heather Robbins	CCES	Natural Outdoor Classroom
Holly DuBois	CCES	Books for Bag of Books
Kemp Baker	CCES	Kidsplay bells
Jayne Thompson	CCES	Detective Kits
Jayne Grubbs	CCES	Books, Music , Wall of Fame supplies
Jennifer Frame	NCLA	Literacy Education Kits in Music
Total Grants	54

20th Annual Marching Band Jamboree

On Oct. 12, marching bands from 11 high schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools performed at the 20th annual Marching Band Jamboree at West Forsyth High School. Bands were judged by a panel of regional music professionals — not for awards, but for feedback in improving their routines.

Superintendent Beverly Emory directed the combined bands’ performance of “America the Beautiful” in the finale, which included eighth-grade students from the school system’s middle schools.

For a gallery of photos from the event by Journal photographer Walt Unks and video of the West Forsyth band, go to Winston-Salem Journal

Celebrating Hispanic Cultures at Rural Hall Elementary School

On Friday, students at Rural Hall Elementary School kicked off their festival celebrating Hispanic cultures by talking via Skype with someone in Brazil. For 10 years, Benny Sprouse was a missionary in Brazil. He still has friends there and set it up so that students could talk to one of them.

When Bryant, the speech therapist who was serving as mistress of ceremonies for the festival asked students to say “thank you,” they said “THANK YOU!” with enough enthusiasm to have powered a small town for a day if their response had been hooked up to an electric generator.

What followed in the Rural Hall gym/auditorium was a high energy festival that included groups of students performing Hispanic dances that they had learned with physical education teacher Ashley Chunn and singing Hispanic songs that that had learned in their classes with music teacher Erin Farmer.

Some of the younger children had studied illustrated books with a Hispanic theme. In Amy Allen’s kindergarten class, they read and illustrated Poncho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale. In Robin Chunn’s kindergarten class, they read and illustrated The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred. The Cazuela (rice pudding) book included Spanish words, and Chunn said she had enjoyed learning new words as they read the book.

Another class had made artistic letters of the alphabet in a style inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Another had made flags. During the festival, the students who had made art paraded across the stage to show everyone else in the school their pictures.

At one point, Sprouse got up on stage at helped students learn to sing the Portuguese version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Given that the song includes opportunities to clap and stomp your feet, it was no surprise that the students thought that was big fun.

The festival included lots of extras including some students wearing Hispanic clothing. In the case of students such as Kennedy Wells and Michael Bailey, they had made their costumes starting with paper bags and adding decorative touches with construction paper.

Every student in the school had participated in the festival in one way or another, and on display in the old gym was art, tri-fold posters showing research that students had done into different Hispanic countries and passports that students had created. ESL teacher Yamile McBride and her teacher assistant Criseida Blancas organized the festival. 

  

A Day of Caring at Ward Elementary School

On Thursday, 130 IMG employees spent the day volunteering at Ward Elementary School.

To read the story, go to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Here are some more pictures:

Amy Lytle and Dudley Commander

Page Hall

Mike Tingle

Ken Leak