• GOOD NEWS from GASTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
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Good News from our Schools

  • National Board Certified Teachers recognized   
    Teachers earn prestigious National Board Certification 
    The following teachers earned National Board Certification in 2016-2017: Susan Brittain, Catawba Heights Elementary; Jessica Harris, Highland School of Technology; Matthew Hipps, Ashbrook High School; Elizabeth Leonard, North Gaston High School; Kristy Newton, Brookside Elementary and Dara Presnell, Brookside Elementary. Additionally, 25 educators received their 10-year renewal of National Board Certification. They were honored during the National Board Certified Teachers Reception on March 28.  
     
    Glynis Brooks receives award at middle school conference 
    Brooks receives award at middle school conference 
    Glynis Brooks, executive director of K-12 instruction for middle schools, received the Central Office Administrator to Watch Award given by the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education. The award was presented at the Association’s state conference in Greensboro.  
     
    Students @ Work Day Program   
    Putting the focus on careers 
    More than 2,350 middle school students were given an opportunity to explore future career possibilities during Students@Work Day, a partnership between Gaston County Schools and the Gaston Regional Chamber. Each of the county’s 11 middle schools was paired with an area business or organization, and all eighth grade students had the opportunity to tour the facilities, hear from business representatives and community leaders, and discuss career options. 
     
    aleigh Guenther received the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s (NCHSAA) Performance of the Week Award.   
    Softball player receives Performance of the Week Award
    Bessemer City High School sophomore Haleigh Guenther received the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s (NCHSAA) Performance of the Week Award. She managed 20 strikeouts in a game, which is a school record for a Bessemer City softball pitcher and ranks her seventh on the all-time NCHSAA list. 
     
    The Belmont Middle Battle of the Books team will compete at the state competition in May.   
    Battle of the Books team wins third straight regional championship 
    For the third consecutive year, the Belmont Middle School Battle of the Books team won the county and regional championships and will compete for the state title in May. Team members are Catherine Armstrong, Riley Bradley, Simran Chahil, Lydia Crawford, Matthew Dalton, Will Durham, Meghan Kimbirl, Abigail Miss, Grace Nehring, Asher Neumann, Joseph Norris and Emily Rollins. The coaches are Linda Cathcart and Angie Alexander. 
     

Shout-Outs

  • Gaston County Schools had several students to earn N.C. Student Academy of Sciences and N.C. Science and Engineering Fair awards for their outstanding science projects. The student winners were Jordan Abernathy from Belmont Middle School and Nikki Hendrix, Alexandra Thomas, Grace LaBue, Julia Short, Andrea Esparza, Alex Klasing, Emily Mobley and Rebecca Nixon from Stuart W. Cramer High School.
     
    Tryon Elementary third grader Brayden Moss won the “Proudest Kid in Gaston County” essay contest sponsored by Gaston Together, Gaston County Schools and the Gaston County Education Foundation.

    The following schools earned top honors in the Battle of the Books competition. The East Division winners were W.A. Bess Elementary, first place; Pinewood Elementary, second place; Belmont Central Elementary, third place; and Kiser Elementary, fourth place. The West Division winners were North Belmont Elementary, first place; W.B. Beam Intermediate, second place; McAdenville Elementary, third place; and Brookside Elementary, fourth place.

    The following schools earned top honors in the Math Masters competition. The East Division winners were Belmont Central Elementary, first place; Costner Elementary, second place; Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, third place; and New Hope Elementary, fourth place. The West Division winners were Woodhill Elementary, first place; H.H. Beam Elementary, second place; Brookside Elementary, third place; and Lingerfeldt Elementary, fourth place.

    Belmont Middle School captured first place in the Math Elite countywide competition. Cramerton Middle placed second and Southwest Middle took third place.
     
    Students from Ashbrook and Forestview high schools earned scholarships to participate in an educational summer trip to Gotha, Germany, which is Gastonia’s sister city. The German Language and Culture Foundation donated $12,500 to fund the study abroad experience. Students earning scholarships are Christopher Zinna, Loxley Motes, Kevin Baker, Kaitlyn Hoffman, Luke Shuler, Josh Forbes, Caroline Cabe, Caroline Swaim, Jack Eisenhuth and Madelyn Brooks.
     
    Forestview High School senior Summer Glisson won the President’s Volunteer Service Award, which was presented during the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

    Rankin Elementary School held its annual Read-A-Thon and challenged the students to raise $8,000 and spend as much time as they could reading. In addition to exceeding the fundraising goal, the students totaled more than 400,000 minutes of reading during the week-long event. The students did what they were so supposed to do, which meant principal Kristin Kiser and assistant principal Donna Kelly had to make good on their promise. They spent some time on the school’s roof dressed in funny costumes.

    The following middle school bands participated in the Music Performance Adjudication (MPA) Festival at Wingate University: Belmont Middle, excellent rating; Bessemer City Middle; excellent rating, Chavis Middle, excellent rating, Cramerton Middle, excellent rating, Friday Middle, superior rating, and Holbrook Middle, superior and excellent ratings.  
     
    Students from H.H. Beam Elementary, Mount Holly Middle, and East Gaston High School earned top awards in the Arbor Day poster contest sponsored by Keep Gastonia Beautiful. From H.H. Beam Elementary, Christopher Kease earned first place, Emily Pantoja earned third place, and Mackenzie Eaker, Addy Tran, and Miley Hill received an honorable mention. From Mount Holly Middle, Taylor Auten earned first place, Hunter Peach earned second place, and Aaya Asmart received an honorable mention. From East Gaston, Austin Dean earned first place, Melissa Schleicheer, earned second place, and Kindyll Killian and Elizabeth Burleson received an honorable mention.
     
    Chapel Grove Elementary sponsored a “Jump Rope for Heart” fundraiser and collected $2,222.82 for the American Heart Association. 
     
    Through an effort to support the community and promote the importance of community service, the North Belmont Elementary Bible club raised $414.21 for Holy Angels.

    During a recent educational trip to Washington, D.C., eighth grade students at Cramerton Middle School had an opportunity to have their picture taken with Congressman Patrick McHenry. The students met the congressman while touring the U.S. Capitol.

    Gaston Early College High School juniors Cynthia Garcia and Kyra Rhyne were inducted into the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society at Gaston College. The honor recognizes them for their outstanding academic achievement in college-level classes.

    Students at Pinewood Elementary enjoyed a visit from Miss Mount Holly’s Outstanding Teen Chloe Clary. She talked to the students about kindness and friendship and what it is like to be a pageant queen and involved in community service.

    As part of National Children’s Dental Health Month, the HOSA club at the Highland School of Technology collected 2,224 oral care products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss and distributed the items to homeless shelters, elementary schools, and nonprofit organizations.
     
  • "Good News" is compiled by the Gaston County Schools Communications/Public Information Department.