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Good News from Gaston County Schools, October
Good News from Gaston County Schools, October 2021
The Gaston County Board of Education received the following "good news" for the month of October 2021:
Representatives from Gaston County Schools and Gaston College came together on September 28 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences. They joined with partner organizations Belmont Abbey College and CaroMont Health to celebrate the opening of the county’s newest high school that features a healthcare focus.
Gaston County Schools received a $2,000 grant from the Gaston Community Foundation. The funds will be used by school social workers to assist with their efforts to support students.
Four students were honored as the “Do the Right Thing” award winners for October: Bill Glover, Tryon Elementary; Savana Royston, Robinson Elementary; Samantha Munoz-Hernandez, Cramerton Middle; and Kalib Smith, South Point High School. Sponsored by Gaston County Schools and The Gaston Gazette, the program recognizes students for “doing the right thing” and exhibiting character education traits such as responsibility, generosity, caring, perseverance, respect, and cooperation.
Students at W.B. Beam Intermediate had the opportunity to participate in the Charlotte Hornets Book Bus experience. The students toured the bus and were able to select a book to take home with them.
W.A. Bess Elementary, Pinewood Elementary, and Rankin Elementary were recognized by ArtsNC during the Arts in Education Week observance. The three schools are the only ones in Gaston County to earn the North Carolina A+ School distinction for efforts to infuse or add the arts across the curriculum.
Fourteen teachers were chosen for Gaston County Schools’ new partnership with Gardner-Webb University that will help develop the next generation of school leaders. The teachers will be involved in a 20-month program of study that leads to obtaining a master’s degree in school administration.
W.A. Bess Elementary hosted the NED’s Mindset Mission program, which is a live streaming event that makes it possible for students to enjoy an interactive educational journey filled with storytelling, illusions, yo-yo tricks, and humor.
A select group of Bessemer City High School choral students had the opportunity to attend “The Little Mermaid” production at the Gaston School of the Arts.
Bessemer City Central Elementary teacher April Bridges was recognized by Curriculum Associates for outstanding use of the iReady online program. During the 2020-2021 year, her students achieved more than a year’s worth of academic growth and were proficient in reading by the end of the year.|
Brookside Elementary third grade student Josie Norris had her poem titled “Snow” published in the Young American Poetry Digest.
Carr Elementary teacher Zackery Splawn was selected as a FSI Office/Carolina Panthers Top 10 Teacher of the Week.
Cherryville Elementary received a $625 community donation that allowed every student in the school to purchase one book during the school’s virtual book fair.
The Stuart W. Cramer High School marching band competed in the Jaguar Classic at Forestview High School and received the following recognition: first place color guard, first place drum major, and first place overall in the Class 2A division.
Stuart W. Cramer High School sophomore Rich Wills earned the Mike Taylor Low Junior Award at the Gaston County amateur golf tournament. Wills placed in the top 10 with a three-day total of 220.
W.C. Friday Middle School celebrated its 50th birthday on September 27. Each student received a birthday cupcake, and students and staff celebrated the school’s golden anniversary with various activities during spirit week.
Forestview High School student Keana Abrams was selected to serve as an athletic training student aide for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas game. She is the third student from Forestview to be selected for the honor. Although there will not be a Shrine Bowl game this year because of the pandemic, she is being recognized on the Shrine Bowl website and social media channels.
Gaston Early College High School held a canned food drive and collected approximately 800 items, which were donated to the United Way of Gaston County.
Gaston Early College High School senior Nathan Vasquez was selected to serve as the 2021-2022 president of the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association. As president, he will act as a student representative on the North Carolina Board of Community Colleges.
Gaston Early College High School students wrote positive notes of encouragement for the staff at Carr Elementary School.
Rankin Elementary third grade student Brenton Clark was featured in a Discovery Education “Hands on STEM” special. He was included in a four-minute video segment with a Microsoft program manager and was able to ask several questions.
North Gaston High School teacher Milton Villarroel Navajas was selected to present during the International Observe the Moon Night program, which is an annual event to observe and be inspired by the earth’s natural satellite. His two presentations focused on Inca cosmology and myths about the moon.
North Gaston High School’s marching band received the following awards at the Maiden Blue Devil Tournament of Bands: second place music, second place marching, second place general effect, first place color guard, second place percussion, and second place drum major. In addition, Rhiannon Eason, Peyton Davis, David Trujillo-Gomez, Jasmin Umanzor, and Ben Jordan won best soloist awards. At the Jaguar Classic at Forestview High School, the band received the following awards: third place music, second place marching, third place general effect, third place percussion, first place color guard, and third place overall in Class 1A.
North Gaston High School is the only school in North Carolina to be recognized as a member of the United Nations Global Schools Program. Milton Villarroel Navajas, the school’s foreign language department chairman, was instrumental in helping the school earn the honor.
McAdenville Elementary received a new spirit rock, which was donated to the school by John E. Jenkins Grading and Paving Company.
Stanley Middle School received a donation of 24 buckets of dowel rods from Lowe’s Home Improvement for use by the percussion STEAM club. In addition, Keter donated five large storage cabinets for the school’s makerspace.
The South Point High School marching band received the following awards during the Jaguar Classic competition at Forestview High School: first place music with an excellent rating, first place marching with an excellent rating, first place general effect with an excellent rating, first place percussion with an excellent rating, first place drum major with a superior rating, second place color guard with a good rating, first place band in Class 1A with an excellent rating, and grand champion silver division (Class 1A and Class 2A). In addition, the marching band participated in the Hickory Ridge Festival of Bands competition and received the following awards: second place music with a superior rating, second place general effect with an excellent rating, second place visual performance with an excellent rating, second place percussion with an excellent rating, first place color guard with an excellent rating, second place drum major with a superior rating, second place band with an overall excellent rating, and second place Division 1 (Class 1A and Class 2A).
Webb Street School students in Susie Rutherford’s class are in charge of operating and running the “One Can Make a Difference” food pantry. Orders are placed through a Google form, which is used by students as a shopping guide to sort and package each order. Ashbrook High School student Eli Poulsen completed the installation of the pantry as part of his Eagle Scout project.