PSRC Monthly Newsletter
Your source for PSRC happenings
October is Principals Month, Arts and Humanities Month, Bullying Prevention Month & Physical Therapy Month.
Learning in action
Students in kindergarten at Rowland-Norment Elementary School recently explored toy centers and discussed with their friends what they could make or how they could play with paint, puppets, Play-Doh and blocks.
After exploring the stations, they completed an assessment of what toy they prefer. The students could define the word prefer and the majority of our students preferred paint over the other choices.
PSRC Science of Slime Family Night was a success!
Students and their parents worked together to make slime by mixing ingredients together and following the directions of 10-year-old entrepreneur Ava Simmons, also known as Ava the S.T.E.M. princess during the district's Science of Slime Family Engagement Event.
Attendees also heard from Martica Bacallad author of “Becoming Bicultural.”
Martica spoke to everyone in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month about the messages we all carry with us from our backgrounds.
This is one example of how our family night events will look this year. We will also include books for students this year at the events.
Thank you, Ava and Martica, for a wonderful family fun event!
We look forward to even more family fun this year at our Family Engagement Events!
News around the district
Multilingual Learner Program Family Night is October 5
The PSRC Multilingual Learner Program would like to invite our multilingual learners and their families to participate in the program's first family engagement session of the school year to be held in the Student Center of Robeson Community College on Thursday, October 5 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
During the session, multilingual learners will hear about Gustavo, The Shy Ghost, during an interactive bilingual read-aloud of the book written by Mexican author Flavia Z. Drago from Ciudad de Mexico. The book will be read in English and Spanish.
Students and families will learn about the characters of the story and how it leads to a happy ending. Additionally, this will be an opportunity for multilingual learners to make friends from other countries and enjoy a Mexican meal together.
To register, please scan the QR Code on the flyer attached.
Driven 2 Excel returns, offers qualifying high school seniors a chance to win a 2023 Honda Civic!
Beasley Media Group’s “Driven 2 Excel” program, sponsored by Lumberton Honda and Piedmont Natural Gas, is a community enhancement campaign designed to reward high school seniors in Robeson County who achieve high levels of academic achievement and exemplary attendance records throughout the 2023-2024 school year.
In conjunction with the Public Schools of Robeson County and other community partners, Beasley Media Group has joined with local dealerships and businesses to reward qualifying students with fantastic incentives for scholastic performance.
Robeson County Schools students should reach out to their guidance counselor for more information on how they can qualify to win a 2023 Honda Civic, just by having great grades and attendance!
Click here for the official Driven 2 Excel Robeson County rules.
PSRC encourages parents to get involved in their child’s education
The Public Schools of Robeson County invites parents to partner with the district to support student learning and success.
In fact, many parents have already taken the pledge to do so during PSRC’s 2023-2024 Back to School Celebration. Hundreds of signatures were gathered on a banner displaying parents’ desire to partner with the district and support their child’s education.
The pledge is part of the School-Parent Compact, which outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and the students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the district, the schools and parents will build and develop a partnership that will help children achieve the state’s high standards.
PSRC Early College High School student Emma Hinson, left, stands with school principal Mr. Andrew Davis and Guest Speaker Madelyn Evans during a recent suicide prevention program at the school.
“Let's stop hiding from each other behind a mask and start showing what’s truly going on under the surface. And instead of judging or being uncomfortable or embarrassed, let's lift each other up!”
Those were the words spoken by Emma Hinson, an 11th grader at PSRC Early College High School at RCC, during a recent event she planned to raise awareness and help prevent suicide during Suicide Prevention Month.
“After all, we’re just a bunch of scared people trying our best to figure out the ups and downs of life,” she said.
The event was the school’s first Suicide Prevention assembly for students, staff and visitors. Her goal was to create a program where everyone gained a greater understanding of the impact of suicide and the importance of asking for help, she said.
Williamson receives Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award
Public Schools of Robeson County Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson was presented the 2023 NCHSAA Region 4 Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award Monday at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Region 4 meeting.
Dr. Williamson said he was surprised to receive the award and honored beyond words.
“Anyone who had the honor of knowing and working with Charlie Adams understands how much this award means,” Williamson said.
(Photo Courtesy of NCHSAA)
PSRC Board of Education approves 2 new assistant principals
Two assistant principals were recently approved by the Public Schools of Robeson County Board of Education.
Zach Jones was approved to serve as an assistant principal at Lumberton Senior High School.
Also approved to serve in an assistant principal role was Joshua Locklear, who will serve in the role at St. Pauls High School.
The positions were among multiple personnel positions approved during the closed-door session of the September Board of Education meeting.
Spirit Riders biker group donates more than $15,000 to UCES PTO
Members of the Spirit Riders biker group stand recently with Union Chapel Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization President Scottie Locklear, Robeson County Commissioner Judy Sampson, middle, and UCES Principal Antonio Wilkins during a check presentation to the school’s PTO. (Photo Courtesy of Robbie Locklear)
The Spirit Riders biker group recently presented its largest monetary donation of $15,910 to Union Chapel Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization.
Author encourages local students to use their voices to make a positive difference
Students at Piney Grove and Oxendine elementary schools received a visit from award-winning author Carole Lindstrom on Sept. 19.
Carole Lindstrom is the author of “Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior,” a book about two Indigenous rights activists committed to keeping their water clean and providing clean water to Indigenous people in Canada. Lindstrom is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe and finds joy in telling stories that feature American Indian characters. She also is the recipient of the Caldecott Award for her book “We Are Water Protectors.”
PSRC receives the Cognia Values Driven Award of Excellence
The Public Schools of Robeson County school district was awarded the Values Driven Award of Excellence recently during the Cognia IMPACT Conference.
“This award recognizes schools and school systems that: dream big; stand for the learner; are bold and daring; drive potential by creating and initiating change, growth and innovation; tenaciously and relentlessly pursue their mission; and build connections by explaining and nurturing internal and external relationships,” said Debora Williams, director for the Mid-Atlantic Region with Cognia.
Dr. Windy Dorsey-Carr, assistant superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability for PSRC and PSRC Board of Education Member Henry Brewer received the award.
Lumberton Teacher's Innovative Teaching Program Gets $2,000 Boost from Voya Financial
2 PSRC educators awarded FOCUS Broadband Grants
Two local educators were awarded grant funding through FOCUS Broadband Grants.
East Robeson Primary School ESL educator Philippe John Sipacio and Lumberton Jr. High School EL educator Silvia Guajardo Aragues were both awarded $2,500 FOCUS Broadband Grants.
PSRC students make gains in 2022-23 school year
Parents, please join our Parental Advisory Committee!
This is your invitation to join our District Parental Advisory Committee, affectionately known as the "Robeson County P.A.C."
Our Parental Advisory Committee will represent the voice of PSRC parents/caregivers and students in our district. Collectively and individually, this committee will act as a sounding board and resource for our district's initiative to build and maintain family-school partnerships in alignment with the strategic plan and our Title I Parent and Family Engagement Plan.
The role of the committee is to provide advice and assistance to the district regarding any matter relating to programs and services in order to help the district attain its goal of providing all students with the best education possible. It will also serve to inform, encourage, and provide opportunities for parents and community members to be involved in the planning and improvement process.
I am very excited to get the ball rolling with the P.A.C for the upcoming school year, if you accept this invitation please complete the Google form here.
Should you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me.
Sincerely,
Brendalyn Thompson
Family Engagement Specialist
Public Schools of Robeson County
Office Number: 910-671-6000 ext. 3560
Upcoming Events
Monday, Oct. 2 - Custodian Day
Tuesday, Oct. 3 - Child Health Day
Tuesday, Oct. 3 - Special Needs Day at the Robeson County Fair
Wednesday, Oct. 4 - Taco Day
Wednesday, Oct. 4 - Walk to School Day
Thursday, Oct. 5 - Multilingual Learner Program Family Night
Thursday, Oct. 5 - World Teacher's Day
Friday, Oct. 6 - World Smile Day
Friday, Oct. 6 - Instructional Coach Day
Saturday, Oct. 7 - Last Day of Robeson County Fair
Monday, Oct. 9 - Indigenous People's Day / Columbus Day
Wednesday, Oct. 11 - Half Day for Students/Required Half Day Teacher Workday (excludes ECHS)
Oct. 9 - 13 - National School Lunch Week
Thursday, Oct. 12 - National Farmers Day
Friday, Oct. 13 - Breast Cancer Awareness Day
Friday, Oct. 13 - US Navy Birthday
Saturday, Oct. 14 - Solar Eclipse Event - PSRC Central Office - Noon - 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15 - Last Day of Hispanic Heritage Month
Monday, Oct. 16 - Boss' Day
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - Unity Day
Oct. 16 - 20 - College Application Week
Oct. 16 - 20 - School Bus Safety Week
Oct. 16 - 22 - Digital Citizenship Week
Oct. 23 - 31 - Red Ribbon Week
Tuesday, Oct. 24 - United Nations Day
Friday, Oct. 27 - World Occupational Therapy Day
Friday, Oct. 27 - Required Teacher Work Day - No School for Students (Excludes ECHS)
Saturday, Oct. 28 - First Responders Day
Saturday, Oct. 28 - Make a Difference Day
Tuesday, Oct. 31 - Halloween
Athletics Schedules
Please click the schools listed below for full listings of sports schedules. Schedules are subject to change.
High School Sports
Fairmont High School Sports Schedule
Purnell Swett High School Sports Schedule
St. Pauls High School Sports Schedule
Testing Information
School Calendars
Public Schools of Robeson County
"One Team, One Goal"
We serve more than 20,000 students across 39 schools, including PSRC Early College at RCC and the Robeson County Career Center.
To keep up with PSRC district happenings, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and our district website at robeson.k12.nc.us.
Email: webmaster@robeson.k12.nc.us
Website: robeson.k12.nc.us
Location: 100 Hargrave Street, Lumberton, NC, USA
Phone: 9106716000
Facebook: facebook.com/PublicSchoolsofRobesonCounty
Twitter: @PSRCEDU