We Have a Winner!

Once each school in the district, (elementary, middle and high,) submits two Holiday Card Designs, the School Board and Superintendent review the cards and choose their selections.  These cards become the Top 10 Cards for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.  They are on display at the Central Office Education Building, aired on Cable 2 for the month of December, and printed in the "Inside Info" Newsletter for December for the WSFCS School System.  The student artists are invited to a school board meeting, recognized on stage, and congratulated by the School Board and Superintendent who gifts the students will a set of cards printed with their design.

Congratulations to 5th grader, Alyssa Young, for being chosen as one of the Top 10 Holiday Card Designs in all of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.  She was selected by School Board Chair, Dana Caudill-Jones.  On November 27, Alyssa, her family, and Art Teacher Mrs. Gordon attended the School Board Meeting for this annual recognition celebration.  

View all the photos from this recognition here in our online photo gallery.  

Superintendent's Holiday Card Contest

Each year, the WSFCS System along with the Art Department and Superintendent hold a Holiday Card Contest.  Art Teachers at each school decide how many students participate, sometimes certain grade levels and other times the whole school.  For our contest, all students grades kindergarten through fifth have the opportunity to complete a black and white pen and ink drawing to enter in the contest.  During this unit, students learn pen and ink techniques, such as how to use hatching, crosshatching, and stippling to create shadow, texture, and dimensions.  Once the contest is complete, cards are sorted, and those cards that are completely finished, include all pen and ink techniques and followed the guidelines during class move on to the next round of the contest and are considered honorable mention winners.  After the judging process, two designs are sent on to Central Office to compete in the official Superintendent's Holiday Card Contest.

Congratulations to Shirley Mogollon Mendez and Alyssa Young for being our Top, Grand Prize School Winners and competing at the Central Office Level for the Holiday Card Contest.

Student Artist: Shirley Mogollon Mendez

Student Artist: Alyssa Young

Each member of the administrative team chooses their top 3 winners.  

Principal Burcaw's 1st Place Choice Winner becomes the official school card; this design is aired on Cable 2 during the Month of December, and this design becomes the front cover of the school card that we send out to our business partners, coaches, and Central Office personnel who support our school. 

Student Artist: Danielle Kilby

Congratulations to Danielle Kilby whose design was chosen as the Official School Card and Principal Burcaw's 1st Place Winner.

All school winners for the Holiday Card Contest will be announced at the annual Sing-a-long on the last day of school before winter break.

We are Champions!

Operation Zero Exclusions

"The Operation Zero Exclusions (OZE) Steering Committee was developed in order to reduce the number of 30 day exclusions occurring in WSFCS.  A 30 day exclusion occurs when a student does not have up to date immunizations and a health assessment on file with the school nurse. The OZE steering committee consists of multiple child serving community partners.  In an effort to increase awareness, while decreasing exclusions, the committee developed an incentive program for school based collaborative teams consisting of the following stakeholders: kindergarten teachers, principals, school support staff, and school nurses.  Previous experiences have shown that schools who create teams to increase communication among all stakeholders have the highest success rate with 30 day compliance."

The Committee offered the following incentives this year to increase kindergarten medical form completion:

Advocate Award – At day 10 of school enrollment, schools with 90% of Kindergarten students having documentation of immunizations and a health assessment form will be entered into a drawing for $750. Up to three recipients will receive this award.  

Champion Award – At day 30 of school enrollment, schools with 100% of Kindergarten students having documentation of immunizations and a health assessment form will be entered into a drawing for $500. Up to five recipients will receive this award.  

Innovator Award – At the conclusion of the incentive program, schools that feel their strategy was incredibly innovative or feel that they should be considered for an award regardless of performance targets can submit a project report for the possibility of earning $250. The OZE Steering Committee will review the project reports and select 1 recipient for this award.  

We are very pleased to announce that Nurse Kim Hall completed the Champion Award application, and our school was chosen as a recipient of the $500 Champion Award!

Our school level Zero Exclusions Team consisted of Gwen Wolfe, Data Manager; Jane Bullin, Kindergarten teacher; Deanthia Powell, Kindergarten Teacher; Julie Wright, Kindergarten Teacher; Cleopatra Morrison, Social Worker; Diane Castillo, Spanish Liaison/Interpreter, and Kim Hall, RN.  At Day 30 of the School Year, all of our Kindergarten Students were compliant.  The team plan for achieving this goal included informing parents in person upon enrollment, posting signs throughout the Kindergarten hallways for Open House, speaking with parents and give them written information with resources for immunizations/health assessments at Open House, and sending letters and making phone calls weekly.  The award money will be used to provide supplies or materials for kindergarten students.

Congratulations to Nurse Hall for leading this endeavor as well as the whole Family/Child Service Team and Kindergarten Teachers for receiving this award. Thank you to Nurse Hall, Social Worker Morrison, and this Zero Exclusions Team for all they do for our school, students, and staff daily.

P.L.A.Y. Music at the Conference

A couple weeks ago, our students involved in the P.L.A.Y. Music Afterschool Program, (Piedmont Learning Academy for Youth,) of the Winston-Salem Symphony had the privilege and pleasure of performing for attendees of the North Carolina Association of Music Educators at their annual conference.  The conference was held in the Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem. 

Students in the P.L.A.Y. Music program meet on Monday and Wednesday afternoons after school.  Students may begin participating in the program as early as kindergarten and remain in the program through fifth grade.  Our orchestra teacher, Mrs. Lisa Morris, also works with the P.L.A.Y. Music program as an instructor and performed with a group of students at the Music Educators' Conference.

Visit the online photo gallery here for more photos of the performance.

We Support United Way

On Tuesday, November 20, as part of the annual United Way Fundraiser, fundraiser chairs Ms. Sidonna Brown and Ms. Krystal Simmons, planned a soup luncheon for faculty and staff.

Several staff members volunteered to prepare soups or bring sides such as crackers and drinks to support the luncheon.

Staff members paid $4 to sample any or all soups, and all proceeds will go toward the annual fundraiser total for the United Way.

Fundraiser Dinner

It definitely takes a village.  Our volunteers, community partners, supporters, and sponsors are vital parts to our Learning Community, School Family, and Educational System.  Each year in the fall, Home Moravian Church plans and holds a fundraiser in their fellowship hall, and proceeds from the dinner go to support our school. 

They prepare homemade soup and breads with salad, dessert and drinks to finish off the meal.  Some years our students and teacher perform and other years they pull talent from their own congregation.  This year, the dinner ended with a performance by a local harpist and soloist. 

Principal, Mr. Ted Burcaw, also had the opportunity to speak with the congregation to thank them for their continued, generous support as well as talk about our school, particularly how their support is an integral part of our Arts Integration and Performing Arts Magnet Program. 

Music and Band Teacher, Mr. Rick Sigler, led the group in a 'Welcoming Song' he sings with his students as an introduction to Mr. Burcaw's talk. 

Proceeds from this fundraiser will provide each classroom and teacher with a $50 gift card to buy supplies for their classrooms.

All-County Dance 2018

On November 17, 2018, our 5th grade Dance Honors students, under the direction of Mrs. Amanda Nelson the dance teacher, met with dance groups from all over the county at Reagan High School to showcase the dance program at each school.  Our students were one of only two elementary groups to participate in the event.

The performance was original choreography by Mrs. Nelson and incorporated some techniques related to tumbling and gymnastics.  Students were dressed in black and utilized brightly-colored stretch bands to emphasize the physical movements in their routine.  The piece, "Persistence of Vision," performed to the song "Rods and Cones" by Musical Artist, Blue Man Group.

Congratulations to Mrs. Amanda Nelson and her 5th grade Dance Honors group for a wonderful presentation.

View more photos of the show here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GKZGLEuqd478guyo9

Magnet Fair 2018

On November 17, 2018, all Magnet Schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School system gathered at the Annex Building of the local fairgrounds to open the official window for Magnet Choice and applying for Magnet Schools for the coming school year.  During the annual WSFCS Magnet Fair, each school assembles a booth or table to showcase happenings, events and the program at their school. 

"Our table showcased photos, artifacts, tools and instruments that we use in our visual and performing arts classes," said Mrs. Gordon, our Magnet Coordinator.  "As parents visited our table, I hope they also saw and felt the passion and excitement our students and teachers put into our A+ Magnet Program."

The official event lasted from 10am-2pm, and our band, dance, and orchestra honors students performed a 15 minute "Nutcracker Remix" as an introduction to our big holiday musical presentation of "The Nutcracker."  Orchestra Honors started the show with traditional music, 5th grade Dance and Art Honors student, Zaree Fulwood, interrupted with a few words to praise the orchestra but also ask our students to show what else we have to offer at our school.  The performance continued with band and dance joining orchestra along with band instructor, Mr. Sigler with his DJ equipment, to add a little hip hop to the traditional "Nutcracker" songs and beats.  It was a fantastic collaboration between Mrs. Amanda Nelson, Arts Team Chair and Dance Teacher, Mr. Rick Sigler, Music Teacher and Band Instructor, and Mrs. Lisa Morris, Orchestra teacher.

As a follow up to the Magnet Fair, perspective parents and students are now scheduling tours of the school as well as being invited to Arts Night on Thursday, November 29 for a hands-on Open House of the Arts classes.

Check out the Magnet Fair Story from the school district blog here: https://bit.ly/2AoAahp1  We are featured with our school mascot, Taz, the tiger.

To see more photos and a couple video clips, visit the google photo site: https://bit.ly/2P0aZXD

Magnet Week

In preparation of the 2018 Magnet Fair, we declared the week of November 12-November 17 "Magnet Week."  Throughout the week, we celebrated, reviewed and reflected on the opportunities and history of A+ and Magnet Schools.  Each morning during morning announcements, students and teachers heard facts about the history of A+ and Magnet Schools as well as reviewed the 8 Essentials of A+ Schools and the 5 Pillars of Magnet Schools.  During morning arrival each day, band and orchestra students performed and rehearsed in the hallway.  Art students created posters to hang around the school advertising Magnet Week, and teachers participated in interactive activities such as a 'photo booth' and poster collages of images and words describing our A+ Magnet Program.  Teachers planned specific integration moments and projects.  For the Magnet Fair, our Band, Dance and Orchestra Honors students will perform an introduction to our upcoming musical and Arts Night event.

Pre-Kindergarten "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" Reading and Follow Up Art Activity

DLES A+ Magnet: An Overview

WE ARE Diggs-Latham Elementary A+ Magnet School for Arts Integration & Performing Arts.  We are a public, elementary school in the Historic, West Salem neighborhood.  We serve students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth.  Our kindergarten through fifth grade students take daily specials and have a weekly class in Art, Band, Dance/Drama, Orchestra, Physical Education and Technology.  We are pleased to have strong community partnerships with the Winston-Salem Symphony's P.L.A.Y. Music program as well as the University of North Carolina School of the Arts ArtistCorp program.  Our core classrooms integrate as well as utilize alternative seating and problem-based learning to unhold the 8 Essentials of NC A+ Schools and the 5 Pillars of the National Magnet Schools of America.  For a closer look of our school, check out our latest promo video.

https://youtu.be/y3t6lS-8OTo

"Music & No Lyrics" A Third Grade Dance Concert

Our 3rd graders completed a unit in Dance Class investigating how different instruments and instrumental groups inspire types of movement and dance styles.  

"We all have songs we love, but when you take the lyrics away and hear the song played with one type of instrument, it can inspire a whole new experience for the listener," says dance teacher and Arts Team Chairperson, Mrs. Amanda Nelson.  

Third graders specifically studied the use of violins, guitar, saxophone, and piano in several modern songs and danced a series of original choreographed creative movements by Mrs. Nelson.  Students ended the unit with a Dance Concert for students, teachers and parents in which they danced to songs they studied in instrumental form.  The Dance Concert ended with students sharing some 'freestyle' dance moves during a song with lyrics, "Get Your Body Moving."  

Special thanks to Mrs. Amanda Nelson, choreographer and the supporting Arts Team: Mrs. Gordon, Mr. Sigler, Mr. Friedman, Mrs. Morris and Ms. Pullen for a successful concert.

Teacher Academy Teacher Leaders in the House

We are pleased to have two of our teachers serving as Teacher Leaders in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Teacher Academy Program.  This program was piloted last year and currently is made up of 75 teachers from across the district and across grade levels, subjects and schools.  These teachers have a variety and several years of experience as well as strong teacher evaluations, references/recommendations, and school involvement.  Teacher Leaders choose to serve in one of three capacities: professional development writers and deliverers, quality colleague similar to a mentor program, and model classroom for observations.  Teacher Leaders meet monthly for continued professional development, and are compensated for their time working with fellow teachers or "mentees/partners."

Congratulations Mrs. Amanda Gordon, Art Teacher and A+ Magnet Coordinator and Mrs. Megan Shoaf True, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher for being accepted into the Teacher Academy as Teacher Leaders.

Teacher Academy was made possible through a grant from the Winston-Salem Foundation as well as continued support from the WSFCS School Board.  Each fall, the Winston-Salem Foundation hosts the Teacher Leaders, School Board and Executive Cabinet for a special Reception.

 Scenes from the 2018 Teacher Leader Reception at the Winston-Salem Foundation

Mrs. Gordon & Mrs. True with Superintendent Dr. Emory

Mrs. True & Mrs. Gordon with Instructional Superintendent, Mr. Rusty Hall

Mrs. Gordon & Mrs. True with Instructional Superintendent, Mrs. Donna Cannon

Winston-Salem Foundation

Check out the WSFCS Headline Story on Teacher Academy  https://bit.ly/2RAq5ow

New WSFCS Magnet Director

Welcome to the district Ms. Christina Turner Forney, the new Program Manager for AIG/ IB/AP & Magnets for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

Ms. Forney is a native of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County.  She attended UNC-Charlotte earning a Bachelor's Degree in English and later a Master's in Special Ed. This mother of three sons and her precious granddaughter is an avid reader and learner.  She spent 25 years in Charlotte-Meckenburg Schools in multiple teaching and leadership roles.  She is thrilled to return home to give back to the district that helped build the foundation for her success.

Christina Turner Forney. M.Ed.,NBCT, AIG & Admin. Licensed

Program Manager-AIG/IB/AP & Magnet Programs

Our Art Teacher & A+ Magnet Coordinator, Mrs. Gordon with Ms. Forney

Thanks for visiting our school recently, and we look forward to working with you.