Chadbourn Elementary

Information may not be reliable

On November 17th, 2010 all schools will dismiss at or before 1 PM so that parent conferences can be held. All parents/guardians are encouraged to meet with their child's teacher(s) at this time.

A special thank you to the faculty and staff of Columbus County Schools for making a difference in the lives of our children.

The students are completing a special social studies unit on local government. This unit includes a study of the mayor and his responsibilities. Mayor White explained his duties and answered students' questions.

Students at SCHS are participating in Artsonia, the worlds largest online student art gallery. Students upload images of their work allowing visitors to make comments. Visitors to the website can also order prints of the work on coffee cups, mouse pads and other items. Over 1000 pieces of art from SCHS have been uploaded in the last year. The art instructor at SCHS is Joy Lewis. See the gallery here.

Congratulations to the SCHS football program for winning Conference Championships in JV and Varsity Football. Click the above photos for a larger view.

Acme Delco Middle School FBLA students attended the Regional Leadership Conference at SouthView High School in Hope Mills, NC on October 29, 2010. The conference was very informative and the students received valuable information to help them succeed in FBLA. Each student also received a gift bag. Acme Delco FBLA's advisor is Mrs. April Snowden.

Congratulations to the Hallsboro Middle School Tigers, who finished the season undeafeated and have won back-to-back conference championships.

Students sitting with books purchased through the generous donation of the school's Mustang Club.

Dr. Strickland recently met with students from Nakina Middle, Chadbourn Elementary, and East Columbus.

Students from Cerro Gordo Elementary School recently had breakfast with Dr. Strickland, discussing the importance of education and the exciting things happening at CGES.

Columbus County Schools was notified last Friday that there was an issue with one of the EOC testing forms used last spring. West Columbus High School was one of the six schools affected. Please join us in congratulating West Columbus High School as an official 2009-2010 School of Distinction. West Columbus now joins South Columbus, Williams Township and Old Dock Schools with this level of high achievement.

Deuce Niven photo, courtesy Tabor- Loris Tribune.
The National Association of State Title I Directors and the United States Department of Education are again sponsoring the Title I Distinguished Schools recognition Program. North Carolina will be permitted to select a maximum of two Title I Distinguished Schools. We are proud to announce that Tabor City Elementary School is a semi-finalist for the National Title I Distinguished Schools Award for closing the achievement gap among subgroups. If Tabor City is a finalist, the school will be recognized during the 2011 National Title I Conference in Tampa, Florida. Please join us in congratulating Tabor City Elementary School for their success with closing the gap.

The North Carolina Symphony, the state's preeminent classical music performance organization, will be performing at Bowers Auditorium on the campus of Whiteville High School on October 16th, 2010 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students with an ID.

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers are currently taking applications for students located at the following schools: Acme Delco Elementary, Acme Delco Middle, Chadbourn Elementary, Chadbourn Middle, Tabor City Elementary, Tabor City Middle
You may pick up an application from your child's school office. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program offers FREE tutoring services in reading, math, and writing. In addition, each center has a 4-H chartered club membership and offers programming which encourages students to become positive leaders. Students will also receive FREE transportation home.
The program will host Open House Registration on November 8-10. Students will start tutorial program on November 15. Please call Sherri Simmons if you have additional questions or contact your child's school office for an application.

Do you remember when we were kids and on Saturday mornings during the few hours cartoons ran there were all types of toy commercials? If you were like most of us, we wanted almost everything they advertised. Of course, those requests were met with the response, Do you think money grows on trees? Well, the students of Acme Delco Elementary School will be able to answer that question. In addition to knowing where money comes from, they will also understand the value of earning and saving their money. This financial literacy is thanks to the collaboration of The Sigma Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Acme Delco Elementary School and the Riegelwood Federal Credit Union. The Sorority approached Acme Delco Elementary and Riegelwood Federal Credit Union about providing students there with financial literacy. As a result of this collaboration, the ESP Kids Club was born. Students in grades k-5 can make deposits at the onsite credit union twice weekly. In addition, beginning September 25, 2010 from 9:00 -10:00 a.m. the Sorority will be providing financial literacy workshops at the school for members and parents of the Kids Club. The workshops will run for four weeks and the schedule of planned workshops will be provided at the first workshop. If you are interested in starting an ESP Kids Club at your school, please contact Cassandra Gaddy, President of the Sigma Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at 843-813-6020.

Cerro Gordo Elementary Stingers recently participated in a fundraiser for the March of Dimes. Students donated $1 to wear their favorite hat while helping prevent birth defects. The school donated $180.75.

Great news! For your convenience and good health, (Columbus County Schools) has partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and Maxim Health Systems to host a flu shot clinic right here onsite. You and your family members, age four (4) and over, are invited to participate, because vaccination is the best protection from the flu. (Children under age four (4) must receive shots from their primary care physician.)
Flu Shot Clinic Information Date(s):Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
Thursday, October 21st, 2010 Time(s): 3:00PM-6:00PM Location(s): Tuesday, Board of Education & South Columbus High School
Thursday, East Columbus High School & West Columbus High School
Participants will be required to have proper identification and sign a consent form before receiving a flu shot. We cordially invite all employees and their family members to participate because vaccination is the best protection from the flu.
Cost per family member: $30.00 if not covered employee insurance plan.

Q: Will I get the flu from the flu shot?
A: No. Flu vaccine is created from dead or inactive viruses that are not contagious.
Q: Do I need a flu shot every year?
A: Yes. Influenza viruses continually change every year. A new vaccine is used annually to fight the most current influenza virus. In addition, the antibody a person develops from the vaccine declines over time.
Q: When should I get a flu shot?
A: Influenza usually occurs from November until April, with activity peaking between late December and early March. The optimal time for flu shots is during October through November, however it is clinically beneficial to be vaccinated through December and January.
Q: Why get a flu shot?
A: Influenza usually leaves its victims unable to function for several days and is responsible for an average of 140,000 hospitalizations each year.* Getting an annual flu shot is your best protection.
*National Coalition for Adult Immunization, April 2000.
Q: Can children receive a flu shot?
A: Maxim will immunize children 4 years old and older. Children between the ages of 4 and 17 will require parental consent in order to receive their flu immunization. Parents of children under the age of 4 will be asked to check with their primary care physician about flu immunizations for their child.
Q: Should women who are pregnant receive a flu shot?
A: Flu shots are recommended for women at all stages of pregnancy. Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy may receive the flu shot without a prescription.
Q: How effective is the flu shot?
A: Flu vaccine has been determined to be about 75% effective in preventing the flu and is your best method of protection.
Q: Who should get a flu shot?
A: The CDC recommends that you receive a flu shot if you fit their criteria of high-risk or one of the following categories:

People with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, a history of stroke or heart attack, a chronic disease, diabetes, a
compromised immune system, anemia, asthma or other breathing problems

Those who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic, kidney or blood cell diseases

Q: Can I still get the flu after I get the flu shot?
A: Yes. Like other vaccines, flu vaccine is not 100% effective and does not take effect until one or two weeks after it is received. During this time, you will be just as susceptible to contract the flu as individuals who have not received the vaccination. Still, the best option to prevent flu is to get a yearly flu shot.
Q: Am I classified as high-risk?
A: You are classified as high-risk if you fall under one of the following categories:

A household contact of persons at increased risk of influenza-related complications

A resident or employee of a nursing home or other chronic care facility where some of the residents have chronic medical conditions

Have a chronic medical condition such as: asthma, or another lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, blood disease

Have immune system problems caused either by disease (e.g., HIV or lymphoma) or by medication (e.g., chemotherapy or radiation therapy)

A woman who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during flu season (You must bring a physician's written prescription to the clinic location)

A child or teenager, 6 months - 18 years of age, who is receiving long-term aspirin therapy (if under 18 years of age, see management at the clinic location for minimum age requirements)

Q: What are the side effects of getting a flu shot?
A: For most people, vaccination causes no side effects. Less than 1/3 of those who receive a flu shot will experience some soreness at the vaccination site, and only 5 to 10 percent will suffer mild side effects such as low-grade fevers and headaches. Anyone who is allergic to eggs should avoid being vaccinated, since the virus used is grown in hens' eggs.
Visit www.bcbsnc.com/flu for more answers to your flu-related questions.

The Columbus/Whiteville Retired School Personnel Association in conjunction with AARP donated items to Old Dock Elementary School. The donations included 600 pencils, 40 pens, and 150 composition books. Shown making the presentation to Principal Cassie Cartrette and teacher Lindsay Orem are Pearl Freedman, Reba Singletary Smith, and Esther Collier from the Retired School Personnel Association

Teachers from Williams Township recently participated in a professional development session titled "Teacher Data Notebooks and their Role within our Professional Learning Communities".

A group of educators recently visited East Columbus High School as part of the Center for International Understanding's outreach project. This is the second phase of the project; the first phase involved educators from ECHS traveling to China; the third and final phase will take place next year with students traveling to China from Columbus county.

New Teachers beginning work in Columbus County Schools were treated to four days on information and inspiration by Beginning Teacher Support Coordinator Tammy Dorman. Teachers had an opportunity to learn about procedures and expectations, and those new to the profession were able to meet with their mentors.

Dr. June St.. Clair Atkinson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, visited Columbus County School recently. Dr. Atkinson spoke to Early College High School students about the importance of education in the 21st century and the need to believe that all are capable of greatness. Dr. Atkinson said that "One of the joys of my job is getting to visit places like Columbus county where the students are given many opportunities to succeed." Afterward, Dr. Atkinson answered questions from the students and was interviewed by Dr. Strickland for an upcoming episode of "Inside Columbus County Schools, that will air next week, and can viewed online at SCC Educable's website.

This past week members of the Class of 2014 descended on the halls of WCHS to participate in a three day Viking Exploration Camp. Parents and students began the week with a class meeting in which administrators and faculty held an information session to orient the new Freshmen Academy members of school and academic expectations. Students returned over the next few days to learn about code of conduct, academic standards, and gain exposure to the campus prior to the first day of school. The GEAR UP program, led by coordinator Tara Haynes, co-sponsored the week long event and members of the BETA Club served as escorts and guides for parents and students that attended. Participants were involved in group activities, team building efforts and games led by teacher and parent volunteers. Daily break out sessions allowed the students to discuss their concerns about entering high school and gain knowledge about courses they will be involved in their Freshmen year. The week ended with each participant receiving a certificate of completion and a T-shirt entitled "ROPE-Reaching Our Potential Everyday" the motto for the WCHS Freshmen Academy. All Freshmen and their parents are encouraged to return to the school wide orientation on August 23rd at 6:00pm to receive their class schedules and greet the entire WCHS Viking faculty.
The class of 2011 at WCHS started their Senior duties early this year. On August 2, both students and their parents gathered in the Media Center to learn valuable information about their exit standards for Columbus county Schools. Among those mandates were the components of the Graduation project that each Senior is required to complete to be eligible for a high school diploma. The Camp, entitiled "By Invitation Only" was a huge success. Parents and students returned over the next few days to begin working on the four key components of the project. GEAR UP sponsored the daily sessions in which faculty and administrators provided opportunities for students to ask questions, practice research techniques and participate in group activities. Students learned of current updates regarding the requirements and how to execute each successfully.At the close of the camp, every participant received a T-shirt with the motto " I have a ticket waiting on me" indicating their personal goal of earning a ticket to graduation ceremonies.