East Forsyth Students and Teachers Sort Toys at Salvation Army Christmas Center

Members of Family Community Leaders of America with teacher advisers

After school on Thursday, seven members of the Family Community Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) at East Forsyth High School and three of their teachers headed over to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Center on Peters Creek Parkway to help sort toys that will become holiday gifts for local children.

Their job for the afternoon was to sort through bins that had come into the center that were filled with a jumble of donated toys and to separate them into toys for boys and toys for girls and, in the process, to come up with a tally of the total number of toys. A couple of the students, armed with clipboards, took charge of keeping a tally while the other students and teachers went to work sorting.

Nikki Carmac, the club’s president, said that she was happy to be there. “It just makes you feel good knowing your are putting your hands on someone’s Christmas present who might not have gotten one.”

Looking around at the room filled with donated toys and clothes, she said, she was also impressed by how much people had donated. “It’s nice to know that our community gives.”

“I have learned people are very generous,” said club member Shamaya Crosson.

By the time the season is over, more than 7,000 children in Forsyth, Yadkin and Stokes counties will have received presents through the center. This is the third year that the club has supported this particular project. “This is something the kids ask to do each year,” said Greta Hegstrom, one of the three family & consumer science teachers joining the students at the center. The others were Jolie Gregory and Bethanye Carrigan.

Club member Alexis Gentry said that she had been looking forward to the volunteering at the center. “This is exciting,” she said.

“This is my second year doing it,” said Sherry Clark. “I enjoy helping out the community.”

The other students – Ladaisa Dow, Victoria Rivera and Khadeeja Johnson – offered similar reasons for participating. Johnson said that participating in the club has been a good experience. “It helped me build friendships and get close to people,” she said.

  

WS/FC Graduate Living in China Talks with Students at Philo-Hill Magnet Academy



Heather Scales, John Tackabery, Lan Liu

Still recovering from a 17-hour flight from China and a disorienting 12-hour time change, John Tackbery dropped by Philo-Hill Magnet Academy today to meet with the eighth-graders in Lan Liu’s Chinese class.

Among other things, he talked about what a good idea is for students, as these students are, to start learning Chinese while still in middle school. “There are a lot of opportunities if you are an American and speak Chinese,” he said.

Liu pointed out that also means the opportunity to make good money. Heather Scales, the school’s magnet resource specialist, talked about how, for the students who already speak English and Spanish, adding Chinese would make them particularly attractive to businesses looking to do business internationally.  

Tackabery, who graduated from Mount Tabor High School in 2008, is the son of Jill Tackabery, who is a member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education. Tackabery became interested in China while he was a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A minor in entrepreneurship and study abroad sent him to Beijing to work with a British company that put together specialized travel packages. Deciding that he wanted to learn the language, he took a language immersion program in Shanghai.

Tackabery graduated from Carolina in 2012 and returned to Shanghai to work for a company that imports such foods as Hershey’s chocolate syrup. He is home for the holidays and to renew his visa.

Piney Grove Elementary Students and Superintendent Hop in a Model T and Motor to 1925

Don Martin and Natalie Strange with Piney Grove Elementary Students

When Superintendent Don Martin dropped by Piney Grove Elementary School this morning to read the first chapter of The Secret School to the students gathered in the gym, he made a point to stop along the way and talk about any words he thought some students might not know.

He made stops at such words as “privies,” “miserly” and “humiliated.”

“If you are humiliated, how do you feel?” he asked the students.

“Embarrassed,” suggested one student.

“Embarrassed, exactly,” he said and returned to the novel by Avi. Set in rural Colorado in 1925, it tells the story of a 14-year-old girl named Ida Bidson who secretly keeps a school going after the head of the school board decides to shut down the one-room schoolhouse when the teacher has to leave before the end of the school year.

Afterward, students said they appreciated Dr. Martin making sure that they understood all the words.

“I think he was good at explaining the words we didn’t know,” said Jacqueline Inscho, a fourth-grader.

“It was good,” said fellow fourth-grader, Tyler Williams.

Natalie Strange, the media coordinator at Piney Grove, was dressed for the day as a teacher might have dressed in 1925. She invited Dr. Martin to read the first chapter as a way to kick off a reading project for third-, fourth- and fifth-graders. In the coming days, they will all be reading The Secret School.

“I really want to start,” said Jacqueline.



Joe Huygens with his 1917 Model T

 The chapter that Dr. Martin read opens with Ida, who is in the eighth-grade, and her younger brother, Felix, driving a Model T to the one-room school house. Ida has sit on her knees to get high enough to see out of the car, which means that Felix has to crouch in the floorboard and operate the pedals. So he can’t see where they are going.

The students had no trouble visualizing that Model T. Strange invited Joe Huygens, a member of the Old Salem Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America and of the Tarheels Model T Club, to visit the school on Monday with his 1917 Model T. So they had just spent time with a real Model T.

Before he began reading the chapter, Dr. Martin talked to the students about how much he enjoys reading. “I read every night before I go to bed,” he said.

They were suitably impressed when he told them he was more than 900 pages into his current book. (Winter of the World by Ken Follett, he said when asked later.) “All the people in the book are my friends now,” he said. “I’m going to miss them.”  

W-S Prep Principal Recognized at Wake Forest Basketball Game

Richard Watts

At the Saturday basketball game between Wake Forest and Seton Hall, Wake Forest Athletics presented Richard Watts, the principal at Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy, with its Community Service award.

During this season, Wake Forest Athletics has been honoring heroes in the community by asking the fans to nominate those who have exemplified extraordinary service to any of our local Triad communities.  At each home men’s basketball game, Wake Forest Athletics presents the award to someone.

At the Seton Hall game, Watts was honored, and Assistant Athletic Director Mike Odom presented him with a commemorative certificate.

Watts was the 2011-12 Principal of the Year for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. It was the second time he has won the award; he was also named Principal of the Year in 2001 when he was principal of Gibson Elementary School.

Watts has been principal of Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy since 2007 and has worked for WS//FC Schools for almost 30 years as a teacher, assistant principal and principal.

Community Supports Operation Santa at Kernersville Elementary

Lisa May and Becky Carter

 

In the Thursday Dec. 6 of Kernersville News, features & news editor Wendy Freeman Davis writes about Kernersville Elementary School’s Operation Santa, an annual program that helps families in the school’s community during the holidays.

School social worker Lisa May and guidance counselor Whitney Frack are coordinating the program this year. Support for the program is coming from the Triad Blackhawks youth and adult lacrosse program, Kernersville Medical Center and other community businesses and organizations. Last week, Blackhawks representatives presented Principal Becky Carter with a check for $3,500.

“The Kernersville community working together – that is what makes our community so different and so special,” Carter told Davis.

“We really have a special ‘something’ that happens here in Kernersville..not only at Christmas but all year long!” May said.  “I am happy to be a part of such a giving community!”

Carter and May volunteered at the Blackhawks’ “Stick It to Hunger” lacrosse tournament. Operation Santa operates under the school’s Christmas Relief Fund. Anyone interested in donating to the Kernersville Elementary School Christmas Relief Fund may get in touch with May at (336) 703-4100 Ext. 51214 or LCMay@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
 

Hanes Student Speaks at Exceptional Children Conference.

Sam Dempsey introduces Asha Gandhi

Asha Gandhi is a girl with an extraordinary brain. She is also a girl with limited vision and hearing. Her exemplary approach to dealing with the challenges she faces prompted the N.C. Council for Exceptional Children to give her its Yes I Can! Award earlier this year.

At the time, Asha was a fifth-grader in the highly academically gifted program at Brunson Elementary School. She is now a sixth-grader at Hanes Magnet School, and, in November, she spoke at the council’s annual conference. When asked how she felt about speaking at the conference she said, "I felt like I was making a difference by changing the thoughts of teachers about the deaf-blind."

Asha’s parents are Sanjay and Lauren Gandhi. “Sanjay and I were excited that Asha had this opportunity and were pleased that she was willing to address a group, especially one this size, about what is often a personal topic for her,” said Lauren Gandhi. “Opportunities like this help her learn to be a better self-advocate, and hopefully an advocate for others with challenges as well.”

In her speech, Asha talked about the particulars of her disabilities and some of the ways in which she uses equipment to help her. She talked about Ashley Bristow, the teacher assistant in the exceptional children’s program who works with her. “Without her I probably would not even be here right now,” Asha said. And she talked about all the others who also help. “I have had countless people help me and get me to where I am today.”

She went on to say: “But still being deaf/blind is a challenge.  Sometimes it is very hard for me to understand what people are saying and I do not hear an important comment.  I may miss out on something cool that is being shown to the others.  This makes me feel a bit lonely and left out. So I may respond inappropriately because I may not have heard what you said correctly.  That can cause a huge social difference sometimes.

“Deaf/blindness makes everyday a challenge. But I have risen above it successfully.  Even though it is a challenge, I live my life much the same as you do.  I live my life thinking about my abilities not my disabilities. But even though I am proud of who I am, the problems that come with it are stressful. But thanks to God and the lasting support of friends, family, and school, I have overcome deaf/blindness and am fulfilling my potential.”

After she finished her prepared remarks, she said, "One last word.  I do not need to be shown pity or sympathy--only commitment, praise, and positive encouragement.  If you do show pity or sympathy on me--fine--but, I will do something!" 

You will find the story we wrote about her after she won her award at Asha Gandhi

 

Socks, Songs & Elves

Holiday Tree in Lobby of Adminstrative Building

We invited people in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools community to let us know some of the ways in which students, staff and others in the school community are reaching out during the holidays. Below are some of the activities that we have heard about so far. If your school or organization is doing something, please let Kim Underwood know. You may reach him at rkunderwood@wsfcs.k12.nc.us

Reagan High School, Mount Tabor High School, Reynolds High School, West Forsyth High School - Last year, Reagan student Nick Nictakis – along with the Hanesbrands and the Josh Howard Foundation - organized The Forsyth County Sock Exchange challenge in which students at Reagan and Mount Tabor worked to see which student body could collect the most socks for people who are homeless. This year, Reynolds and West have also accepted Nictakis’ challenge. Hanesbrands will provide a $500 donation to each school that collects at least 150 pairs, with $1,000 going to the school that collects the most.

The Children’s Center – The Children’s Center shares the grounds of the Graylyn estate with Graylyn International Conference Center, and each year everyone in the school heads over to the conference center during the holiday season for a sing-along with their neighbors. This year, they will be making their visit on the morning of Dec. 14.

Southeast Middle School – SRO (School Resource Officer) Officer D.M. Brown of the Kernersville Police Department, Media Coordinator Lisa Turner, the members of the Jaguar Book Club and the Music Department are coordinating a toy and book drive. After the drive ends on Dec. 12, the toys and books will be turned over to Impact Triad, a Kernersville nonprofit, for distribution.  

Forsyth Middle College – Through the G.I.V.E. (Give, Initiate, Volunteer, Encourage) Initiative, students will participate in the Salvation Army Stocking Stuffer Program. Students will be filling stockings to be given to children in the community. Each student has the option of designing his or her own stocking. “The G.I.V.E. Initiative allows the Forsyth Middle College Community to give back in a variety of ways which not only benefit Forsyth County and the world beyond, but the entire student body as well.”  

East Forsyth High School - On the afternoon of Dec. 13, student volunteers from the Family Community Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) will be heading over to the Salvation Army distribution center to help box toys for families in Forsyth County.

Southwest Elementary School - On the morning of Dec. 17, kindergarten students will be going to the Kaplan Early Learning Co. and to a retirement home to sing Christmas carols.

Sedge Garden Elementary School – In partnership with TE Connectivity and First Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, the Sedge Garden Elementary community will be providing gifts and food cards to families in the school through its Angel Tree. This is an annual program that, in the past, has helped 30 or more families each year.

Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce & Hall-Woodward Elementary School – Each year since 1999, the Chamber of Commerce, which provides tutors at Hall-Woodward, has bought a book for every kindergarten student and a pencil/candy for every first- and second-grade student there. Santa and his trusty elves (Rodessa Mitchell, Jennifer Cobb and others from the Chamber) visit the school and give the students their presents. This year, they will be dropping by on the afternoon of Dec. 12.

Central Office - The Forsyth County Chapter of the Association of Educational Office Professionals (AEOP) has been collecting toys, clothing and other items for the Love Out Loud Gift Mart at Old Town Elementary School. It is also providing volunteers for the Gift Mart. The Gift Mart is sponsored annually by Bridges Church, the partner organization for the BackPack program at Old Town, which supplies weekend meals for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Woman Uses Stuffed Animals to Help Students Learn about Emotions

Karen Cuthrell

In the Wednesday Dec. 5 issue of the Winston-Salem Journal, reporter John Hinton writes about Karen Cuthrell using 12 stuffed-animal characters to teach children at Kimberley Park and Ashley elementary schools about healthy ways to express emotions. Her long-term goal It help them succeed and to stay in school.

Cuthrell’s pilot program, called The Feeling Friends, will last through May 2013. Each animal character represents a human emotion such as love, joy, nervousness, angriness, and sadness. She is instructing 300 kindergarten students and fifth-graders at Kimberley Park, and 15 second- and fourth-graders at Ashley.

Journal photographer Lauren Carroll took the photos. For the complete story, go to Winston-Salem Journal

Spotlight on Guidance Secretary at Winston-Salem Prep

Thomasine Malloy

Each month the Classified Advisory Council puts the Spotlight on a classified employee. In November, it recognized Thomasine Malloy, the guidance secretary at Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. 

Malloy has been employed with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools for 16 years.  Before coming to Winston-Salem Prep, she was a second secretary/local assistant at Gibson Elementary and a kindergarten assistant at Kimberley Park Elementary.

Mrs. Malloy is widowed. She and her late husband have three children and two grandchildren.

“Although her job title is that of Guidance Secretary, Mrs. Malloy wears many hats!  The school nurse is only on campus on Mondays and Fridays at WSPA. Mrs. Malloy assists students with their medical needs in absence of the school nurse. She also assists the assistant principal with transportation appeals and bus stop requests.

“Mrs. Malloy’s dedication to helping young people is evident in everything she does at Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy

on a daily basis.” 

You can find the Classified Advisory Council page at Classified Advisory Council

Student Art in the December issue of Forsyth Family Magazine

By Roselyn Hernandez-Chavez, Speas Elementary School

By Yi Yi Ma, Hanes Magnet School

By Abby Gomes, Kimmel Farm Elementary School

By Violeta Clavell, Parkland High School

In the December 2012 issue of Forsyth Family Magazine, you will find art by four students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Roselyn's art teacher is Robbie Disher. Yi Yi's art teacher is Barbara Butryn. Abby's art teacher is Marsha Thrift and Violeta's is Melissa Moore.

The Artist's Corner appears on page 88.