Good News, September 2022
Employees from six schools in the Dallas area – North Gaston, W.C. Friday, Carr, Costner, Highland, and Woodhill – were treated to a back-to-school breakfast on August 16 at Rankin Lake Baptist Church. The breakfast served as the church’s “thank you” to teachers and other school employees for their hard work and commitment to ensuring student success. Board of Education members Dot Cherry, Lee Dedmon, Dot Guthrie, Steve Hall, and Robbie Lovelace as well as Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker attended the event. In addition to the opportunity to win one of 60 door prizes, each attendee received a treat bag.
The following students were selected as a College Board National Recognition Program award winner: Zahria Cannon, Stuart W. Cramer; Ainsley VanderMeer, Stuart W. Cramer; Isabel Suarez, East Gaston High School; Abigail Armstrong, Forestview; Andrew Boohene, Forestview; Nana Segua Eshun, Forestview; Rennie Liu, Forestview; Brianna Maga, Forestview; Yash Patel, Forestview; Emma Taylor, Forestview; Ariana Tsehaie, Forestview; Mary Whatley, Forestview; Jerome Butler, Highland School of Technology; Kennedy McGruder, Highland School of Technology; Adalberto Rodriguez-Cruz, Highland School of Technology; Gabriela Ruiz, Highland School of Technology; Angelo Sherrill, Highland School of Technology; Malasia Friday-Scales, Hunter Huss High School; Dawson Bice, North Gaston High School; Ajah Harris, North Gaston High School; Jenna Mason, North Gaston High School; Nia Ulli, South Point High School; and Kierra Wilcox, South Point High School. The students earned recognition because of their academic achievements in school and outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and/or Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
The following high schools were recognized by Jostens as a National Yearbook Program of Excellence award winner: Forestview High School, Bronze; Highland School of Technology, Silver; and South Point High School; Silver.
Bessemer City Primary received several boxes of school supplies from the Bessemer City Church of God.
Carr Elementary received school supply donations from Dixon Quick Coupling.
Classroom Central provided a free mobile store for teachers in Gaston County Schools on August 22. The mobile store was set up at Carr Elementary and teachers were able to stop by to pick up supplies for their classroom.
The Charlotte Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi donated 120 book bags filled with school supplies to students in need at Chapel Grove Elementary. In addition, the school received school supply donations from Crowders Creek ARP Church and Southside Baptist Church.
East Gaston High School student Zoe Gambino represented Mount Holly in the Miss North Carolina’s Outstanding Teen competition, which was held in June in High Point.
East Gaston High School seniors Gracelyn Gaddy, Ashlyn Lewis, Taylor Wright, and Emily Cerilli completed the Certified Nurse Aide I state exam. Now, as a licensed CNA, the students have a professional advantage as they work toward a career in the medical field. In addition to the four students who have completed the state exam, three more students are scheduled to take the state test. The students are enrolled in the Health Sciences Academy at East Gaston, which is presented by CaroMont Health.
The Forestview High School boys soccer team won the Gaston Cup championship. The Gaston Cup was a three-day tournament held at Ashbrook High School and Stuart W. Cramer High School.
The following Forestview High School students in the Class of 2022 earned the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma: William Barnes, Susan Christy, Margaret Lu, and Jessica Normile. To earn the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of three or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP exams.
Forestview High School freshman Matthew Heilig will travel to Argentina in October to compete in the World Roller Games Championships. He qualified for the USA Junior World Team during the U.S. Artistic Roller Skating Nationals competition in Nebraska this summer. Matthew is the first figure skater to represent Team Kate’s of Lowell at the international championship event.
W.C. Friday Middle School teacher Jennifer Bumgarner received a $15,000 grant to create an outdoor classroom/learning space. In addition, she was named a 2022-2023 North Carolina Center for Advanced Teaching (NCCAT) Honored Educator Scholarship recipient.
The following Gardner Park Elementary teachers received a $500 grant from Tindol Subaru to support classroom activities: Rachael Stoller, Kennedy Devine, Briana Currence, Myla Hoey, Amy Hurley, and Carly Edge.
Gardner Park Elementary student Carmen Martell painted artwork that helped spruce up the storm drain covers along the Lineberger Park Greenway. Keep Gastonia Beautiful organized the program.
As part of exposing students to a variety of colleges and career opportunities, eleventh graders at the Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences participated in an admissions information session at Appalachian State University and got an opportunity to tour the campus.
Hawks Nest STEAM Academy fifth grade teacher Allie Kleinheinz was selected as the 2021-2022 North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) Outstanding Elementary School Mathematics Teacher of the Year for Gaston County Schools.
In an effort to show support and appreciation, the Hawks Nest STEAM Academy PTO surprised the school’s teachers by giving them a vacuum cleaner and an electric pencil sharpener.
Lingerfeldt Elementary received a generous donation of notebooks from First ARP Church of Gastonia. The notebooks were distributed to students in grades 2-5 to use for standards-based grading.
Lingerfeldt Elementary started the Wildcat Lifelong Learner program with a group of 12 families. Each month, the group meets at least three times to learn English as a Second Language. In addition to learning English, the parents have an opportunity to discuss educational topics and skills to help their children at home.
WCNC meteorologist Larry Sprinkle spoke to McAdenville Elementary students about his work as a TV weatherman and shared information about what to do in the event of a weather emergency.
In an effort to bring attention to Mental Health Awareness, schools conducted a variety of walking activities for students and staff during the 2021-2022 year. Collectively, participants walked a total of 12,880 miles. New Hope Elementary School led the way with 4,126 miles.
Park Street United Methodist Church donated school supplies to students and teachers at Page Primary.
Sherwood Elementary received a donation of school supplies from Myers Memorial United Methodist Church.
Members of the South Point High School football team and cheerleading squad took time to greet students as they arrived at Belmont Central Elementary one morning.
South Point High School senior Preston Howell was one of 12 athletes to represent Team USA at the 2022 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation Men’s Under 23 World Championship.
South Point High School hosted a practice and performance session for the North Carolina A&T State University marching band on September 3. The band played in front of more than 100 spectators. South Point graduate Garvin Collins is a drum major for the band.
South Point High School started a peer tutoring club to give students a chance to be leaders outside the classroom and support students who need a little extra help with their schoolwork.
As part of an Eagle Scout project, Tucker Ballard, a former Stanley Middle School student and current student at East Gaston High School, built an outdoor classroom and seating area at Stanley Middle School.
Webb Street School received school supplies from the Christian Fellowship Assembly.
York Chester Middle School received school supply donations from First United Methodist Church in Gastonia and Loray Mills.
