TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS TALK ABOUT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Students aren't the only ones who look with anticipation on the first day of school. Teachers and principals alike are excited to get back into the classrooms.
Amy Quigley, a teacher at Englewood Elementary school said, "The first day of school is always so exciting!! I love getting back in the classroom, laying the foundation for the relationships I will build with my students, and facilitating rigorous and relevant instruction! The possibilities for this school year are endless thanks to NRMS providing our students with one to one technology! I look forward to having technology at our finger tips and opening my students' realizations of new and broader horizons in learning." Quigley's thoughts are echoed by many in NRMPS.
Shelia Wallace, Principal at Hubbard Elementary, spoke to overcoming challenges and the school system's iConnect digital learning intiative, "As Hubbard's staff embark on a new school year we are committed to the district's motto, 'No limits...possibilities 2.0'. In lieu of the budgetary reductions, our staff is dedicated to our school's vision and ensuring that ALL of our students will receive a rigorous and relevant education. The opening day for the staff began with team building activities aligned to the strategic plans for NRMS. I am most excited about the technology initiatives and the endless opportunities it will provide for our 21st Century learners. Hubbard Hornets are prepared to accept the unforeseen challenges that this year may bring as an undivided force. WE=POWER!!!"
For the teachers and principals of NRMPS no challenge is to great and this will be the best year yet!

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ICONNECT PARENT/STUDENT MEETINGS A SUCCESS

Students and parents from across the school district gathered at schools in August to learn just what they can expect when they receive iPads or MacBook Air laptops in September. The iConnect orientations were held across the district to prepare students and parents for the transition.
“We have been very pleased to see the number of parents and students attending the iConnect sessions,” said Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Schools. “The excitement is building, and we want to ensure that our students and parents are ready for this new learning environment.”
Sessions were offered for every school participating in the iConnect digital learning initiative, which serves students in grades 4-12. Each session lasted about an hour and was designed to address any concerns students and parents had regarding digital learning, digital citizenship, device care, security, and instructional resources.

Tanisha Clanton, a mother of three with students at Edwards Middle, Williford Elementary, and Nash Central High expressed her enthusiasm for instructional technology. "[I’m] excited because my children can get their hands on technology and can access it at home to look up information for reports and other things," said Clanton.
NRMPS has been preparing for the iConnect digital learning initiative since 2011. Several schools participated as pilot schools during the spring semester of last school year to prepare the district for the full-scale implementation. Orientation sessions for this year included several ‘lessons learned’ from the pilot schools.
Jane Finch, Chief Technology Officer for NRMPS, said she was pleased with the level of participation and engagement of parents, many of whom asked detailed questions regarding the initiative. “We appreciate our parents for working with us,” said Finch. “This is a major shift in the teaching and learning process, and we will be counting on parents to be critical partners with us to make iConnect successful.”

As they attended the sessions, parents were given the opportunity to pay the usage fees for the devices, which stand at $40 for the year, per student, for the iPads, and $50 for the year, per student, for the MacBook Air laptops. A process is in place to assist families with financial hardships on a case-by-case basis. Payments can also be processed online through the NRMPS website, nrms.k12.nc.us. Cash, debit card, and credit card payments are accepted.
Students will receive their devices following the Labor Day holiday. School officials chose to start distribution after enrollment patterns had settled for the year. “Typically during the first few days of school, there’s a lot of movement and transition.” Finch said. “We want to be sure that students’ schedules are finalized before we begin the deployment.”
For now, students and parents can look forward to the possibilities that will come with the opportunities to learn in a digital environment. "I think it is a wonderful idea, and I feel good about it,” said Gale Chaffin, a mother of a Nash Central High student. “The kids need to be connected to technology. It will make it easier for homework assignments."

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NEW SECURITY PROTOCOLS IN PLACE

Visitors to Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools can expect a new process as they prepare to enter school buildings. Access control systems have been installed at every school in the school system, and the changes took effect on the opening day of school, August 26. “School safety is our top priority,” said Dr. Eric Cunningham, Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Operations. "NRMPS has worked diligently this summer to install access control units at each school. These new protocols are designed to not only keep our students safe, but to make all students feel safe. This safety starts at the front door. Keeping these doors locked throughout the day will enhance the feeling of safety that must be in place for learning to occur."
All visitors will be required to enter the school through the main entrance. If doors are locked, visitors must press the push button on the access control device located near the front door of the school. When prompted, visitors will be asked to state the purpose of their visit. Once access is granted, visitors must proceed to front office to check-in, show photo ID, and receive a visitor’s badge.
The visitor’s badge is required to be worn during the entire time of the visit. “Again, we believe safety begins at the front door. Locking all doors provides a strong deterrent for unwanted visitors,” said Cunningham. “The access control system will assist school administrators in traffic control.” NRMPS staff members will also be required to wear ID badges during the day so that other staff, students, and visitors can easily identify them.
Dr. Cunningham mentioned that he expects a transition period, as visitors adjust to the new protocol. Although the district is working to make sure the community is informed, it will likely still take time. “We have taken a proactive approach to inform our families and community members of this change through several ways including our district website, local educational channel, phone calls home, and social media sites. We anticipate some minor inconveniences due to the change in culture. We are asking parents and visitors to be patient with us in these efforts to maintain a safe and orderly environment in all of our schools.” The access control systems are part of the school district’s commitment to safe and orderly schools. “Student learning is dependent upon school safety,” said Cunningham. ”This is a responsibility that we take very seriously. Ultimately, we are charged with making every effort to ensure that our students and staff feel safe and protected in our schools.”

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TEACHERS RETURN

 While August 26th marked a return to school for students, August 21st was the arrival day for teachers. 
With much anticipation teachers readied their classrooms and attended meetings and sessions ranging from updates on the new school security system to emergency procedures. 
Unfortunately, with only two full teacher work days in advance of the students, a traditional convocation was not on the schedule. However, teachers did get to watch a not-so-traditional convocation dance video that encouraged them to "get up off that thang" and a video welcome message from Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson. The theme of Jackson's message to staff this year was "No Limits...Possibilities 2.0," and in it he thanked teachers for the work they do everyday and encouraged them to "go beyond where we have before."

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NRMPS NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION A SUCCESS

Whether a first time teacher or one who has taught for ten years elsewhere, all new teacher hires at NRMPS were required to attend the New Teacher Orientation in mid-August. For the 2013-2014 school year, NRMPS hired a total of 72 new teachers with 57 of those being first time teachers. The creation of the 3-day training was a result of collaboration between human resources, professional development, curriculum and instruction and the technology department. Topics for each day were Basic Needs and Expectations, Beginning with the End in Mind, and Maximizing Learning. The sessions included personnel matters, licensure, school safety, iConnect, communicating with parents, assessments and many more.

Ella Batts, NRMPS Director of Licensed Personnel, talked about the sessions and why the district requires this type of training. "Overall, it was very successful. Basically, we try to give them enough to get them acclimated on each of the days. We do this because it's very important that new teachers have an expectation of what they will face. We want to invest in them so they will invest in our children, and hopefully, by doing this they will want to remain in our district." 

According to Batts, the learning for new teachers doesn't stop with the sessions. NRMPS has built into the calendar monthly meetings to help "continue developing their skills and confidences as they grow as teachers."

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NASH CENTRAL MIDDLE QUIZ BOWL TEAM PLACES 4TH IN NATIONAL BETA CLUB COMPETITION

Nash Central Middle School (NCMS) students, parents and staff recently welcomed home a Junior Beta Quiz Bowl team that ranks among the top in the nation. Bradley Leasure, Austin Luper, Adam Moore, and Trina Phan, made up the foursome that represented Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools and North Carolina during the National Junior Beta Club Quiz Bowl Competition held June 15-16 in Mobile, AL. Team members said they were very pleased with how well they matched up against the top quiz bowl talent from across the country.
“Not many teams get to compete at the state level, let alone the national level, and we never expected to place fourth,” said Leasure, a rising 9th grader at Nash-Rocky Mount Early College. “Our biggest challenge was going against the champions and facing defeat, because we were unbeaten this year.”
The NCMS team dominated local contests, and won first place at the state-level Junior Beta Club Quiz Bowl competition in February, beating out nearly 80 teams from other schools, and earning the chance to represent North Carolina in the national competition.
The National Junior Beta Club Quiz Bowl competition brought together 28 teams of the best and brightest quiz bowl students, all vying for the top spot. Teams of four competed in rounds, during which they had to answer 10 questions that increased in difficulty level as each round progressed. In the first round, NCMS defeated Pottsville Middle School of Pottsville, AR. In the second round, NCMS defeated Nandua Middle School of Onley, VA, the school that was last year’s champion. In the third round, NCMS defeated Arab High School of Arab, AL. NCMS then advanced into the semi-finals, and was defeated by River Trail Middle School of Johns Creek, GA, the school that was eventually named the 2013 champion. NCMS then lost the third-place match to Lee Middle School of Sharpsburg, GA.
Adam Moore, rising 9th grader at Nash Central High School, said all of the teams were well-prepared for the competition.

“We really felt challenged, and it was much more difficult than we expected,” said Moore. “We were disappointed that we didn't get first place, but we felt good about making the top four. The entire team had a huge part in our success. We worked together really well to get that far.” Team coach and NCMS educator, Stephen Tobie, said he was proud of the resiliency shown by team members, especially given the level of competition. Tobie said he admired the spirit of the players, who were always ready to give their best effort and were “gracious,” even in defeat. “The NCMS Beta Club Quiz Bowl Team -- Bradley Leasure, Austin Luper, Adam Moore, and Trina Phan -- showed great competitive heart and exhibited great sportsmanship throughout,” said Tobie. “I could not be more proud of them. They represented our school, school system, and community in the most positive, uplifting way.”
Trina Phan, a rising 8th grader at Nash Central Middle School said she enjoyed having the chance to compete, and she hopes the team’s performance will set a precedent for other students participating in quiz bowl. "I really enjoyed competing with our team," said Phan. "It was challenging, but a really great experience. I hope that other students at our school in the future will also get to do it."

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NRMPS CELEBRATES HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE ON RECORD

Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools celebrates the highest four-year cohort graduation rate on record, of 79.4 percent, which was released August 8, as part of North Carolina’s 2012-13 Cohort Graduation Rate Report.
The NRMPS graduation rate jumped nearly 10 percentage points, from 70.8 percent in 2010 to 79.4 percent in 2013. The increase represents nearly a 3 point jump from 2012, when the rate was 76.7 percent. The cohort of students represented in this year’s data started high school in the 2009-10 school-year and completed high school in four years or less. Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Schools, attributes the increased graduation rates to what he called the deliberate actions of educators and administrators at all levels across the district to prepare students for a changing world. “We are proud to share this year’s graduation rate and trend data with everyone in our community.” said Jackson. “As educators, we are committed to preparing the students of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools for a competitive and global economy. Our graduation trend data demonstrates that students recognize the investment and the rewards of completing their K-12 education, by earning their high school diplomas.” Jackson cited several factors for the increase including innovative school programs such as Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School and Tar River Academy. He also acknowledged the impact of increased relevance of academic subjects through the Common Core and the Essential Standards curriculum. Jackson also cited the changes in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program such as the increase the number of high school CTE academies and course offerings. He also accounted for the impact of student support services, increased use of instructional technology, and stronger communication between students, families and educators.
“We are consistently building our capacity to make critical connections with our students in the world they live in,” Jackson said. “Regardless of background or various abilities, our top priority is to empower all students with the opportunity to experience success.” In nearly every subgroup, the graduation rate increased from 2012 to 2013. One of the largest increases among subgroups was for students with disabilities, which jumped from 45.7 percent in 2012, to 61 percent in 2013. The percentage of students classified as economically disadvantaged who graduated on time also increased from 73.1 percent in 2012, to 76.1 in 2013. 
“We are impressed with the gains we see from this year.” Jackson said. “The Class of 2013 had 117 North Carolina Scholars, and earned more than $11.3 million in scholarships funds, the highest amount ever. Our 2013 graduates will travel to more than 13 states to continue their education, jump start careers or join the armed forces. But, we recognize that we still have a long way to go. As we have outlined in our strategic plan, our goal is have 100 percent of our students graduating from our schools by 2018. We believe that our efforts will make this vision a reality for our schools and our community.”
For more detailed cohort graduation data, and the full state report, please visit the NRMPS website, www.nrms.k12.nc.us.

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DR. ANTHONY JACKSON NAMED REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR

Members of the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education gathered with school administrators and community supporters July 29 at Rocky Mount High School to learn that Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools, had been named the Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance (CCRESA) 2013-14 Superintendent of the Year.
Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education Chairwoman Evelyn Bulluck said school board members were excited to nominate Dr. Jackson for the Regional Superintendent of the Year honor. "In our letter to the selection committee, we shared the numerous ways Dr. Jackson has been a champion for public education in our school system," said Bulluck. "He always emphasizes the critical importance of rigorous content, relevant experiences and meaningful relationships in preparing the students of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools. Dr. Jackson is firm in his commitment to excellence, and he believes in the power of public education to uplift our community."
Dr. Neil Pedersen, Executive Director of the CCRESA came to the school to present Dr. Jackson with the award during a special ceremony held as part of the school district’s administrative retreat. “We congratulate Dr. Jackson on receiving this honor,” said Pedersen. “We are fortunate to have him serve as chair of our region’s superintendent council, and we have seen the tremendous impact of his leadership in the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools system.”
Dr. Jackson’s family, close friends, school administrators, along with community supporters from the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce, United Way Tar River Region, and Nash Community College attended the ceremony and reception.
Jackson became Superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools in 2011. Prior to joining NRMPS, he was the Superintendent of Henry County Schools in Collinsville, VA. His career in public education spans over 25 years, serving several districts in VA and NC as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, central office administrator, and superintendent. Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from East Carolina University, a master’s degree in Education from North Carolina Central University, as well as a doctorate in Education from Walden University.
During his time with NRMPS, he has led the way for the implementation of a 1:1 digital learning initiative for students in grades 4-12; as well as assisted the school board with prioritizing school facility needs through the development of a comprehensive 10-year capital improvement facility master plan. He has also implemented several two-way communication strategies, while navigating the educators, administrators, students and families of NRMPS through a new curriculum, new assessments, and a new accountability model.
Jackson said he appreciates the support of the school board and their decision to nominate him for the honor. “I’m truly humbled and honored to have received this award,” said Jackson, “My work as superintendent would not be possible without the support of our school board and without the wonderful students, parents, educators, staff members, and administrators who make up our school system. I am so proud to be the leader of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools. We have a great team, great schools and a great community.”

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NRMPS CUSTODIAL STAFF RECOGNIZED DURING ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY AND TRAINING

Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools custodial staff recently spent a day at Rocky Mount High School completing their annual federally mandated training and receiving some well-deserved awards.
The Clean School Awards were presented to NRMPS staff by Daniel Rich, Frontline Manager for Aramark Facility Services. “Custodians are the backbone that keeps things flowing in the school system,” said Rich. “There is nothing a custodian doesn’t do, from unloading a truck to cleaning floors and everything in between. They do it with humility and dedication to our students, staff and district.”
The awards are determined by a point system, with first and second place honors being separated by only one one-hundredth of a point in some cases.
During the awards presentation, Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools, discussed the important impact that custodians have on student learning. “If our schools aren’t clean, if our classrooms aren’t clean, learning cannot take place,” said Jackson. “You are the grease that keeps this engine running, and your efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do, everyday.”
Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools employs 114 full and part-time custodians across the school district. Dr. Eric Cunningham, Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Operations, also saluted the custodians for their diligent efforts. “Our custodians provide a clean environment for the more than 16,000 students that attend our schools daily,” said Cunningham. “Their work is second to none.” The training included seminars on blood-born pathogens, handling asbestos and cleaning for health.

CLEAN SCHOOL AWARDS
Elementary School with fewer than 500 students
1st Place – Baskerville Elementary: Fred Cherry, Michael Smith and
Sylvia Jones

2nd place (tie) – Pope Elementary: Della Perry and Fred Silver
                            Fairview Early Childhood Center: Alesandro Abrahams and Linda Warren

Elementary School with greater than 500 students
1st Place – Bailey Elementary: Carolyn Burgess, Bettie Mercer, Hattie Orozco and Jeremiah Strayhorn

2nd Place (tie) – Spring Hope Elementary: Dorothy Battle, Larry Dew, Leo Jones and Deborah Perry 
                          Williford Elementary: Isaac Campbell, Johnnie Lyons,
Raymond Pittman and Terry Sessoms
3rd Place – Englewood Elementary: Charletta Kelly, Robert Nicholson and Garriet Richardson

Middle School
1st Place – Red Oak Middle School: Vincent Cyrus, Norma Harrison, Jerome Harrison and Donald Howell 

2nd Place – Parker Middle School: Bobby Lucas, William Washington and David Rogers

High School
1st Place – Rocky Mount High: Anthony Baker, Felicia Boddie, Carl Carey, Michael Debreaux, Williams Grimes, Jr., Sonya Jones, Quinton Lee, Bertha Myrick and Stanley Thornton

2nd Place – Northern Nash High: Carolyn Avent, Linda Bryant, Herman Jones, Jr., Ronnie Joyner, Carolyn Pittman and Keith Roberson

Miscellaneous/Alternative Schools
1st Place – Tar River Academy: William Jones and Linwood Warren

Office/Administrative Facilities 
1st Place – W.L. Greene Campus: Helen Richardson and Dorothy Baker

2nd Place – Teacher Resource Center: Angela Arrington
3rd Place – Family Resource Center: Terry Sessoms

MOST IMPROVED AWARDS (The certificates were presented to School Principals)

Elementary School with fewer than 500 students
Red Oak Elementary – Principal Eric Mitchell

Elementary School with greater than 500 students
Nashville Elementary – Principal Sharon Huneycutt

Middle School
Red Oak Middle – Principal Margaret Sharpe

High School
Northern Nash High – Principal Chad Thompson

Miscellaneous/Alternative Facility
Early College High – Principal Christine Catalano

Office/Administrative Facility
Oak Level Annex – Janice Arrington, custodian

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