In an effort to better serve the worldwide community, the Cumberland County School system is offering a live Webcast of the 2013 CCS’ graduation ceremonies that are being held at the Crown Coliseum.  Participating schools will receive a user name and password which will be shared with the Class of 2013 for distribution to their intended guests.  To view graduation ceremonies, please visit the following link and enter your user name and password.  Graduation Ceremonies at the Crown

Note: User names and passwords must be obtained directly from the school.

Graduation ceremonies that take place at Fayetteville State University and at the Cumberland County Crown Theatre will be available for viewing as archives (following the event).

This summer the Cumberland County Schools Child Nutrition Services is sponsoring the Summer Food Service Program June 17, 2013 – July 26, 2013.  This program provides a free lunch for children, age 18 or younger.  Disabled children over age 18 who participate in a school program are also eligible.  Meals will not be served July 4, 2013.
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Memorial Day Observance

In observance of Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 will be a student and teacher holiday. Cumberland County Schools’ Central Services offices will also be closed.

In May of 2011-2012, Armstrong Elementary was asked to participate in an international group project that was organized with the Art Council in London, England.  The project included 12 countries and 24 schools.  Each school created a story using art, dance and animation that showed the Olympic torch traveling through the world and back to London for the opening of the Olympics and the Paralympics.  

The film titled “Light Up the World” recently won first place in the youth animation class at the International Family Film Festival in Hollywood, California.
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The first grade teachers at Lake Rim Elementary recently hosted the second annual Mother’s Day Tea.  Women who are special to the first graders were invited to visit their child’s classroom for light refreshments.  Students created cards and handprint art to present to these special ladies.  The ladies were served pastries donated by the PTA and sweet tea donated by McDonald’s.  The ladies enjoyed visiting with each other and the students. 

Alderman Road Students Experience “Wonders of the Rainforest!”

Many parents may well remember watching the television show “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” with Marlin Perkins and Jim Fowler. The students at Alderman Road Elementary had the great opportunity to experience the magic of this show when Tim Davison brought his vast array of animals to the school recently! The students were scared yet excited as they watched Mr. Davison handle a boa constrictor, rub the backs of “hissing cockroaches,” a pretty macaw and iguanas.
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Rockfish Girls on the Run!

Girls are on the run to learn at Rockfish Elementary School. Girls on the Run® (GOTR) is an inspirational and motivational program that teaches third through eighth grade girls skills that will help them build self-confidence and navigate life experiences particular to their age. Utilizing creative lesson plans that integrate running, GOTR promotes healthy choices in life through character development, community involvement, exercise, and physical activity. Under the direction of Rockfish teacher Ms. Lynda Brooks, 15 Rockfish girls participated in the program this school year. Program lessons taught them how to celebrate their unique gifts and appreciate the beauty of being a girl. During learning sessions, the girls discussed crucial issues such as peer pressure, gossiping, and how to choose friends wisely. The girls also discussed their community and how they can connect with and impact their world.
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April’s ‘Amazing Acts of Character’ Honorees

During the May 14 Cumberland County School Board Meeting, Betty Musselwhite, the associate superintendent of School Support, introduced the April ‘Amazing Acts of Character’ honorees, Laine Maples from E. Melvin Honeycutt Elementary School and Kaitlin Shenberger from Gray’s Creek High School. The students were chosen from individual school nominations for displaying ‘acts of good character.’ Personal congratulations were extended to both students from members of the Board. 

Sunnyside’s Family Science Night a Big Hit
Sunnyside recently welcomed about 100 parents and students who enjoyed fun-filled, hands-on science activities during its annual Family Science Night. Parents and students participated in activities such as learning how sound is created by playing songs using Boom Whackers, whipping up a batch of GAK, and discovering how air pressure works by attempting to keep a cup of water overturned with only a piece of cardboard holding back the water.  Students can’t wait to see what the amazing KARO will do as a demonstration next year.
 

Gray’s Creek Elementary School Holds Beautification Day!
Gray’s Creek Elementary School recently held its first beautification day. With the help of their staff, parents and community volunteers they were able to accomplish a great many things to help beautify their school.

Special thanks to donors; Lauren Cooper, Lowe’s, Sam’s Hillside Landscaping, Fayblock, Owen Nursery, Melvin’s Nursery, and Karen Graham who made it possible to do the following:

• General grounds weeding, trimming, mulching and planting
• Planted trees, flowers and a garden area in the back of the school.
• Cleaned around the school, power washed the building and sidewalks.

Stoney Point Students Take First Place
Stoney Point Elementary School’s Varsity and Junior Varsity Science Olympiad teams recently competed at South View High School in the Cumberland County Regional Science Olympiad competition.  For several months, students and coaches have stayed after school every Thursday to study and practice events, which included: bottle rockets, genetics, insects, earthquakes and volcanoes, weather and many more. The competition included more than 30 teams (comprised of third, fourth, and fifth grade students) from across Cumberland County.  The students’ hard worked paid off, with both the JV and Varsity teams finishing the competition by taking first place overall in their divisions.

First Grade Students at Rockfish Take a “Fancy” to High “Solar” Tea!

A British style “Solar” Tea Party, complete with crumpets and other snacks, was the fare of the day as Dukes, Duchesses, Earls, Viscounts, Barons, Baronets, Knights, and others from Rockfish first grade aristocracy, nobility, and gentry gathered for high tea. Tea for the event was sun brewed to celebrate Earth Day values and in support of Rockfish’s “Green School” status. Rockfish’s first grade aristocracy prepared a unit of study to teach an important Earth Day lesson and expose their students to British culture. Appropriate dress was requisite for this most dignified occasion, and students received proper British names for the day. This High Tea was also a very suitable occasion to demonstrate apt usage of the first grade vocabulary word, “fancy.” As the posh affair signaled cheerio chaps, it was evident that gents, lords, and ladies had taken a “fancy” to a “fancy” tea with “fancy” dress and “fancy” names—“fancy” that!!

A Pie for Positive Behavior 

Six Ashley Elementary students were recently recognized for consistently making great choices. Each of the students selected their favorite staff member to “pie”. Ashley Elementary is part of the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) initiative. PBIS is a school-wide system of support that includes proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create a positive school environment. Students are given dolphin dollars when they get caught doing the right thing and following school-wide expectations. Students know what behaviors are expected of them and strive to demonstrate those behaviors each and every day. Dolphin Dollars are earned starting the first day of school. When they reach 200 Dolphin Dollars they can “pie” a staff member.  Students get to pick three staff members at Ashley they would like to pie.  As part of a PBIS assembly students are celebrated for their excellent behavior and get a turn to “pie” the selected staff member. What great sports Ms. DeCarlo (Principal), Mrs. Miller (5^th Grade Teacher), Mr.  Fenton (EC Resource Teacher) and Mr. Fields (Media Coordinator) were to be a part of our celebrating student achievement.

A group of fifth grade students from Rockfish Elementary School had the wonderful opportunity to venture into the future as they recently participated in “First Look,” a program designed by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) to inspire and motivate students to set their goals on a college degree.

During their tour of the UNC campus, students visited the Frank Porter Graham Student Union; dreamed of victories at the football field and Basketball Museum; took photos at the Old Well; and had a bite of tasty college cuisine in the Ram’s Head Dining Hall. In addition to experiencing the culture of college life, students participated in an interactive question and answer session with current UNC students who challenged them to fulfill their hopes of attending college and earning a college degree.

Motivating and inspiring elementary students to plan early for college is a goal of Rockfish Elementary’s administration and staff: mission accomplished! As students returned from the future to the present on the Rockfish campus, it was obvious that their heads and hearts were filled with dreams of the many wonderful opportunities that await them. 

Brentwood Kindergarten Students Recognized for Their Writing!

Owen Elementary Students Partner with Fayetteville State University for Hands-On Science!

Miss Latreicia Allen’s 1^st grade class at William H. Owen Elementary School recently partnered with Dr. Jonas Okeagu of Fayetteville State University’s Biology Department to explore the fascinating world of plant life. Through informal discussions and small group presentations, the first graders acted as “botanists” while learning about the parts of the plants and their designated functions. Dr. Okeagu provided several plant samples, including a Mimosa pudica (better known as a “Touch-Me-Not” plant), for students to closely explore and document their observations in their scientific journals. The first grade students were also afforded an opportunity to ask questions about pursuing a career in biology at Fayetteville State University. The students enjoyed partnering with a local university to do hands-on science experiments! 

Cumberland International Early College Hosts Community Cultural Night

Cumberland International Early College High School (CIECHS) recently held a Cultural Night for the school and the community. This event took place at Lilly Gymnasium at Fayetteville State University. The Cultural Night was an opportunity designed to help the community learn about the many ethnic groups represented in the area. The guests were entertained with dances and music, tasted foods and viewed showcases filled with artifacts. There were 29 different backgrounds represented at the event; Hawaii, Caribbean, Italy, Scotland, Spain, Colombia, Lumbee, Coharie, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Morocco, Panama, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Greece, England, Mexico, West Africa, Belize, Thailand, India, Lebanon, China, Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, Honduras and Peru.   

The entertainment portion was a combination of 13 organizations from the community and CIECHS students. The CIECHS students performed The Cumbia (Colombia), Old Hawaiian Way (Hawaii), Jarabe Tapatio (Mexico), El Seis (Puerto Rico) and Dabke (Middle Eastern). The guests spent a lot of time checking out the displays and asked numerous questions.  The event was most successful in educating the public.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Westarea Elementary School recently held its annual Career Day. Professionals from the areas of education, medicine, law, military and various others took time out of their busy careers to speak to the students of Westarea. During this fun-filled day, students got the opportunity to explore many different career options by listening to a variety of presenters. Visitors came from all over the county to share with students their expertise and information about their careers. Students chose which sessions they wanted to attend by basing it on their future career aspirations.  

John Griffin Middle School Students Support the Wounded Warriors Project

The seventh grade Blockade Runners Team from John Griffin Middle School (JGMS) recently presented a monetary donation to the Wounded Warriors Project totaling $2,850.00. In addition to the monetary donation, the team purchased a paver stone at the Airborne Special Operations Museum. In order to raise money, the students on the team participated in a Volleyball Fundraiser Tournament and held two Zaxby’s nights at the Hope Mills and Fayetteville locations. Generous monetary donations from teachers, staff, and clubs from JGMS, parents, local businesses, friends, and families helped further support the Blockade Runners Team. The Blockade Runners are extremely thankful for the support given in order to make the team’s efforts a huge success!

Huck’s Lost Mine Comes to Glendale Acres Elementary

K-2 Discovery Students Fascinated Again!

The Academically Intellectually Gifted K-2 Discovery Department recently held its 2nd annual Discovery Night at Fascinate-U Children’s Museum in downtown Fayetteville. This year’s event, held in conjunction with the North Carolina Science Festival, boasted approximately 200 second-grade Discovery students from schools across Cumberland County. The Arts Council of Fayetteville generously provided an Artist in the Schools grant to host Birdman Dave and his feathered friends as the featured performer.
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