OUR STORY - Shout Outs!
WCS Weekly Highlights - March 4-8, 2019
Beddingfield & WAAT Health Clinic Opens
The Ribbon Cutting for the Wilson Area Student Health Clinic (WASH) at Beddingfield HS was held March 5. The new WASH facility will serve as a health clinic for all WCS employees as well as students at Beddingfield HS and the Wilson Academy of Applied Technology. There is also a clinic at Forest Hills MS. At WASH, parents can give consent and pay for their child to be provided with health resources so the parent does not miss work and the child remains in the school building. WASH is staffed by a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse and an office manager. Referrals are made to other health providers as needed. Large portions of the clinics were funded through grants from the Healthcare Foundation of Wilson and staffing is provided by the Wilson County Health Department. A school-based health clinic was one of the many ideas that originated in 2014 when WCS and Wilson Forward led the community in the development of the Youth Master Plan.
Celebrating Seuss
Elementary schools across the district spent last week and this week celebrating and remembering Dr. Seuss, the beloved children's book author whose birthday was Sat., March 2. Students dressed up in Seuss related outfits and local leaders were invited to read to students. We are grateful to everyone who read about green eggs, red fish, foxes in socks, wacky Wednesdays and having duck feet!
Facility Needs
WAAT Projects
Wilson Academy of Applied Technology (WAAT) Biology students participated in a Project Based Learning Showcase on Feb. 22 where the students discussed a "super cell" that they created to solve a specific problem. Guest judges were Lisa Skinner, Mandy Flowers and Michelle Villaverde from Wilson Medical Center and Robin Williams with the Wilson Education Partnership. WAAT appreciates the judges lending their expertise.
Tech Fair & Tours
The Hunt HS Technology Student Assoc. Club attended the Tech Fair at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. They had an opportunity to experience hands-on learning using the latest technology, which included a Dancing Robot. The Tech Fair also encouraged female students to consider a career in engineering and technology. After the fair, the group toured the stadium, the press room and stayed to watch a basketball game.
NC School Heroes
Shout Out! to the NC School Heroes program that is providing a way to recognize and reward heroes in our schools! Nominate and vote for your WCS Hero today - we already have a TON of amazing folks listed online! You could win $1,000 for yourself, $10,000 for the hero you nominate and another $10,000 for the hero's school. There will be a total of 10 winning NC School Heroes, and you can vote each day. The deadline is March 31. Here is the link - NC School Heroes.
Severe Weather Awareness
Gordon Scholar
Gentlemen at Wells Elementary
The Gentlemen's Agreement is a highly successful mentoring program in our high schools that targets African American males. The program is easily tailored to support younger students and many of our elementary and middle schools have a program. Shout Out! to Wells ES for its new Gentlemen's Agreement program for third- through fifth-grade boys. We love how they dress for success!
Social Workers
It's National School Social Work Week! We are so incredibly lucky to have Tammie Yates, Annette Thomas and Karen Morton as our school social workers. They devote their lives to meeting the basic and emotional needs of our students so that they can succeed academically and socially. These amazing women deserve our thanks each and every day.
Why I Teach - Maggie Murphy
Current Position: First Grade Teacher at Hearne ES
Total Years Teaching: 9 years
First Teaching Position: Kindergarten Teacher in Scotland County
Colleges Attended: Presbyterian College (Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Ed.)
Why I Teach and Why I Love Wilson County Schools: Throughout my career as people have asked me why I teach, my answer is and will always be that teaching is my calling. As a young child, I knew I wanted to teach elementary school. There is no doubt in my mind that I am in the right profession. I love working with my students day after day and watching their progress as they find success. It's amazing how their little smiles and laughter brighten the room when they feel proud and loved. The joy I get from teaching is a blessing. While never easy, teaching is incredibly rewarding. I love working for Wilson County Schools because of how welcomed I have felt since coming to Wilson in 2017. I feel truly appreciated, respected and supported in my journey by administrators, the school board and community partners. I look forward to teaching in Wilson County for years to come.
More Shout Outs!
- HUGE thanks to everyone who donated school supplies to our classrooms during the Wilson Education Partnership's It Takes a Village Supply Drive! The garage of Executive Director Robin Williams was packed with items after the drive ended. Pictured are staff members who also serve as Partnership Managers in their schools picking up the items.
- From Barton College Assistant Dean of Student Success Angie Walston (also the parent of a Toisnot MS student)- "I just wanted to share my appreciation for WCS Principals. Less than 24 hours after sending an email requesting volunteers for our Education Mock Interview Day, I had nine volunteers. Amazing!"
- Congrats to Beddingfield HS Custodian Brandon Trevathan and Forest Hills MS Exceptional Children's Teacher Kari McCollough! They were the Top Two Fitbit Steppers for February in our WCS2Legit2Quit Fitbit group! They will receive a FREE membership for one month at the Wilson YMCA! On the last day of school, the monthly winners will be placed into a drawing to win a free membership for a year. To join the group, you have to own your own Fitbit. Then you can login on your computer at fitbit.com (NOT the app on your phone). Select Community, Activity Groups and search WCS2Legit2Quit. Add yourself and email amber.lynch@wilsonschoolsnc.net to let her know you are in!
Important Events and Information
WCS Teacher Job Fair
WCS Principal of the Year Nominations
Connect with Wilson County Schools
Email: askwcs@wilsonschoolsnc.net
Website: www.wilsonschoolsnc.net
Location: Central Office 117 NE Tarboro St., Wilson NC 27894
Phone: 2523997700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilsonCountySchools/
Twitter: @WilsonSchoolsNC