Monday, December 13, 2010
Pepsi Voting
I just want to remind everyone to continue voting for the NCSSM food drive in the Pepsi Refresh grant project even after the students leave campus for winter break. For all the details on how to vote and to see the other projects in our voting coalition please visit http://www.my10votes.com/. We have a chance to win $50,000 as well as the media support and other financial support of Pepsi. This will be a huge help and could make the difference between us breaking the record this year or not.
Community Service Projects
In December, we decided to focus on appreciating what we have and giving to others in need. As part of this we decided to take on 2 community service projects as a hall.
First, we will be participating in the Angel Tree program where we get the name of a local child whose family is not able to provide Christmas gifts. The child provides a wish list and we use that list as a guide to shop for gifts. Our angel this year is an 8 year old girl whose dream gifts are a black bratz doll, a monster high doll, clothes, and underwear. We will be going shopping Tuesday after school to get her gifts, and I have encouraged all the students to make a small donation to help make this girls Christmas better.
For our second community service project, we partnered with 1st Beall to take stockings to the Carter Community School. This is a grade K-3 school that is just up the street from NCSSM. We will be going Tuesday at lunch to deliver stockings and visit with the students, and we have invited Dr. Jon Miller, a humanities teacher at NCSSM, to come with us as a special guest and read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to the children. We hope to make a positive impression on the elementary school students and give them something special and fun to remember.
I hope that you all will continue to support us in our efforts to serve other people in out community. I think it is very important for the student on hall to learn to give back and be good community members and it is my hope that these projects will give them an opportunity to do that.
First, we will be participating in the Angel Tree program where we get the name of a local child whose family is not able to provide Christmas gifts. The child provides a wish list and we use that list as a guide to shop for gifts. Our angel this year is an 8 year old girl whose dream gifts are a black bratz doll, a monster high doll, clothes, and underwear. We will be going shopping Tuesday after school to get her gifts, and I have encouraged all the students to make a small donation to help make this girls Christmas better.
For our second community service project, we partnered with 1st Beall to take stockings to the Carter Community School. This is a grade K-3 school that is just up the street from NCSSM. We will be going Tuesday at lunch to deliver stockings and visit with the students, and we have invited Dr. Jon Miller, a humanities teacher at NCSSM, to come with us as a special guest and read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to the children. We hope to make a positive impression on the elementary school students and give them something special and fun to remember.
I hope that you all will continue to support us in our efforts to serve other people in out community. I think it is very important for the student on hall to learn to give back and be good community members and it is my hope that these projects will give them an opportunity to do that.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Winter Favorites
I asked each of the girls to tell me their favorite thing about winter, and these are the responses I got. Winter break seemed to be the clear winner, but I am going to believe that it is only because all the girls are so excited to get home and see their families. Can you guess your daughter's favorite before you look?
Our Favorite Things about Winter:
Catherine-Winter clothes
Reena-Getting to see her family
Brittany-Snow
Natalia-Fireplaces
Eunice-Apple cider
Brooke-Presents
Kerstin-Hot chocolate
Rebekah-Her birthday and watching her brother open Christmas presents
Paulina-Winter break
Jenna-Christmas lights
Axita-Christmas decorations
Denise-Cold weather
Alice-Christmas carols
Nishkala-Smells of Christmas like pine trees
Chuchitra-People are nicer
Elizabeth-Snow
Shannon-Snow, Christmas, and being able to see her breath when she is outside
Hannah-Salvation army people with the bells and red buckets
Abagail-Waking up early enough to see the sun rise
Meaghan-The weather and winter break
Tina-Winter break
Andrea-Making seasonal foods
Janice-Peppermint mochas from Starbucks
Grishma-Decorated pine cones (the painted gold sparkley ones)
Lauren F-Christmas cards
Lauren L-Spending time with family
Peitong-Winter break
Tolu-Snow
Emma-Winter break
Deveney-Scarves
Connie-Spending time with family and friends, candy canes, and Christmas carols
Linsey-Gingerbread houses at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville and getting to spend time with family
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
December Calendar
Friday, October 29, 2010
Herald-Sun Article
Below is an article written for the Herald-Sun about the new chancellor. You can also read it at http://www.ncssm.edu/drupal/?q=news/new-chancellor-takes-helm-science-and-math.
New chancellor takes helm at Science and Math
By Matthew E. Milliken
The Herald-Sun
DURHAM - English majors, take note. One of your own has now become leader of the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics.
Todd Roberts, 46, began working Monday as chancellor of Science and Math, a tuition-free, state-run residential high school for juniors and seniors that is one of 17 University of North Carolina system campuses. Although he has no formal science or math training, the Durham native says he has enough of an appreciation of the fields to lead the school.
"While I certainly couldn't go in and teach computational chemistry, I certainly understand the importance and the value [of] these courses and the type of education we offer students here at Science and Math," said Roberts, who was appointed chancellor by university governors in August.
Since then, Roberts has spent around nine days on campus during multiple visits. He has also been in regular contact with Tom Williams, the former Granville County public schools superintendent who has been serving as interim chancellor.
Williams will remain at Science and Math the rest of the week as Roberts picks up the reins as the fourth chancellor of the 30-year-old high school.
Roberts spent the past four years as superintendent of the Ann Arbor, Mich., public school system, which educates about 16,000 students.
"This obviously in size is a smaller scale ... and I think I'll be able to be more directly involved in the day-to-day of the school in working hopefully more closely with the faculty and staff and students," Roberts said.
The former English teacher would also like to continue the current cordial relations with Science and Math's neighbors, who have at times been suspicious of the school.
Roberts said that the $7 million Reynolds East building could begin construction almost as soon as the state appropriates funds for it. The mixed-use structure, labeled "Reynolds addition" in some plans and slated to go in the campus' southeast corner, is the first part of a projected Discovery Center expansion.
But it is not clear when funding might become available. Like other UNC institutions, Science and Math is preparing for a 10 percent cut to its 2011-12 budget, a potential loss of about $2 million. While Roberts' priority is to maintain academic excellence for students at the school and in its distance-learning programs, he did not sugarcoat the implications of a reduction of that size.
"It would definitely have an impact in what we can offer in terms of our academic program as well as the student life components that we have for the school," Roberts said.
He noted that the school does not charge tuition or fees, which other campuses have the option of raising to offset at least some of state funding cuts.
Roberts may fight cuts in part by reminding legislators that his school's mission involves more than educating its 700 on-campus students and 900 or so video-based students scattered across 21 counties. The new chancellor will continue Science and Math's endeavors to train North Carolina public school teachers.
"As the state looks at bolstering STEM education across the state, I think we clearly have a role to play in helping to do that," Roberts said, using an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
On a personal note, Roberts has moved into the school-furnished off-campus apartment once occupied by his predecessor. Gerald Boarman left this year after a decade in office to become head of a private Maryland school.
But Roberts' family will remain in Ann Arbor until next summer. That will keep their four children, who range in age from 3 to 8, from having to switch schools midyear. It will also allow the couple time to sell their home and Roberts' wife time to find work in Durham. Arleen Song is an obstetrician and gynecologist who has a University of Michigan faculty appointment.
For the chancellor, a Northern High School alumnus, his new job is literally a return to his birthplace -- the old Watts Hospital, which now houses the School of Science and Mathematics.
"It's hard to know exactly where that place was with all the time and renovations," Roberts said when asked if he had visited the spot where he was born. He intends to make his way to the old nursery over the coming weeks.
Roberts holds a bachelor's degree in English from Duke and master's and doctorate degrees in education from UNC Chapel Hill. He and his wife were both interested in returning to the Triangle in part because of health issues involving their parents.
As superintendent, Roberts was credited with bringing stability to an Ann Arbor district that was plagued with turbulent board meetings and also struggling to complete a new high school that was over budget and one year behind schedule.
New chancellor takes helm at Science and Math
By Matthew E. Milliken
The Herald-Sun
DURHAM - English majors, take note. One of your own has now become leader of the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics.
Todd Roberts, 46, began working Monday as chancellor of Science and Math, a tuition-free, state-run residential high school for juniors and seniors that is one of 17 University of North Carolina system campuses. Although he has no formal science or math training, the Durham native says he has enough of an appreciation of the fields to lead the school.
"While I certainly couldn't go in and teach computational chemistry, I certainly understand the importance and the value [of] these courses and the type of education we offer students here at Science and Math," said Roberts, who was appointed chancellor by university governors in August.
Since then, Roberts has spent around nine days on campus during multiple visits. He has also been in regular contact with Tom Williams, the former Granville County public schools superintendent who has been serving as interim chancellor.
Williams will remain at Science and Math the rest of the week as Roberts picks up the reins as the fourth chancellor of the 30-year-old high school.
Roberts spent the past four years as superintendent of the Ann Arbor, Mich., public school system, which educates about 16,000 students.
"This obviously in size is a smaller scale ... and I think I'll be able to be more directly involved in the day-to-day of the school in working hopefully more closely with the faculty and staff and students," Roberts said.
The former English teacher would also like to continue the current cordial relations with Science and Math's neighbors, who have at times been suspicious of the school.
Roberts said that the $7 million Reynolds East building could begin construction almost as soon as the state appropriates funds for it. The mixed-use structure, labeled "Reynolds addition" in some plans and slated to go in the campus' southeast corner, is the first part of a projected Discovery Center expansion.
But it is not clear when funding might become available. Like other UNC institutions, Science and Math is preparing for a 10 percent cut to its 2011-12 budget, a potential loss of about $2 million. While Roberts' priority is to maintain academic excellence for students at the school and in its distance-learning programs, he did not sugarcoat the implications of a reduction of that size.
"It would definitely have an impact in what we can offer in terms of our academic program as well as the student life components that we have for the school," Roberts said.
He noted that the school does not charge tuition or fees, which other campuses have the option of raising to offset at least some of state funding cuts.
Roberts may fight cuts in part by reminding legislators that his school's mission involves more than educating its 700 on-campus students and 900 or so video-based students scattered across 21 counties. The new chancellor will continue Science and Math's endeavors to train North Carolina public school teachers.
"As the state looks at bolstering STEM education across the state, I think we clearly have a role to play in helping to do that," Roberts said, using an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
On a personal note, Roberts has moved into the school-furnished off-campus apartment once occupied by his predecessor. Gerald Boarman left this year after a decade in office to become head of a private Maryland school.
But Roberts' family will remain in Ann Arbor until next summer. That will keep their four children, who range in age from 3 to 8, from having to switch schools midyear. It will also allow the couple time to sell their home and Roberts' wife time to find work in Durham. Arleen Song is an obstetrician and gynecologist who has a University of Michigan faculty appointment.
For the chancellor, a Northern High School alumnus, his new job is literally a return to his birthplace -- the old Watts Hospital, which now houses the School of Science and Mathematics.
"It's hard to know exactly where that place was with all the time and renovations," Roberts said when asked if he had visited the spot where he was born. He intends to make his way to the old nursery over the coming weeks.
Roberts holds a bachelor's degree in English from Duke and master's and doctorate degrees in education from UNC Chapel Hill. He and his wife were both interested in returning to the Triangle in part because of health issues involving their parents.
As superintendent, Roberts was credited with bringing stability to an Ann Arbor district that was plagued with turbulent board meetings and also struggling to complete a new high school that was over budget and one year behind schedule.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
November Calendar
Here is the November hall calendar. I will be posting the list of needed supplies in a few days. Though November is short, we have several activities. I am especially excited about the hall beach trip the weekend of the 12th. I encourage all of the students to take advantage of of this great opportunity, and I would like to say thank you once again to Kathy Boyd for donating the use of their beach house to the hall. Please let me know if you have questions about the calendar.
Miniterm Planning!
I wanted to give you all a heads up that students are now beginning to prepare for miniterm. There was a required miniterm course fair today during the meeting block where students had to look into different options. Basically, miniterm is a week and a half long period in which students do not take normal classes and instead focus on a special study option. There are 3 basic options for students--they can either participate in a course on campus (teachers offer a wide variety), participate in an off campus trip, or propose an independent project to study a topic of their own design. Some of the courses and all of the off campus trips involve an extra expense, so please be sure to talk to your daughter about what she is interested in doing for miniterm and a possible budget for her miniterm experience. Miniterm in general is a little more relaxed than normal and can actually be a lot of fun, so it is something to look forward to.
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