WSFCS School Showcase

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools School Showcase, formerly known as the WSFCS Magnet Fair, was held on Saturday, November 16 in the Education Building of the fairgrounds.  For the first time, the fair became a showcase of every school in the district, arranged by levels, (elementary, middle and high,) and grouped into zones.  The School Showcase, especially important to Magnet Schools, kicks off "school choice season" and "magnet application season." 

As an A+ Magnet School, the school showcase is an important part of marketing for us.  At the showcase, we offered a display, brochures, social media info cards, make-and-take activities, and more to share information with parents about our A+ Magnet Program.  Students and teachers performed at our table and around the showcase, sometimes with orchestra and band students following our mascot, Taz the Tiger, around the table and fair. 

Taz the Tiger was excited to meet Superintendent, Dr. Hairston!

Faculty and staff represented our "Tiger Pride" by wearing black and orange as we greeted visitors and perspective parents, even signing up several folks on the spot to visit and tour our school.

Thank you to everyone who attended the showcase.

You have not yet signed up for your tour, give us a call to schedule it; a few slots are still available.

For more photos from the WSFCS School Showcase, visit: https://photos.app.goo.gl/U7r69SLRt11Rvvct7

All-County Dance

On November 16, dance students from all over the district gathered in the new Paisley Middle School auditorium to perform for parents and other members of the community.  The performance included approximately 14 dance pieces with original choreography by the middle school and high school dance teachers.  Our own dance teacher, Mrs. Amanda Nelson, along with her 5th grade Dance Focus group, was the only elementary group to attend and perform in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools All-County Dance Program. 

Our students performed "Inspired," a piece set to the music "He Lives in You."  It included a 'lift' that awed the crowd, and each movement leading up to the climatic moment was emphasized by the dancers' liturgical skirts.

"This is the second time I have staged this piece.  I have to have a special group of dancers that trust and tackle the challenge and then really connect to the story line of the music.  I had a feeling last year that this would be the group to rise to the occasion and they didn't disappoint." ~Mrs. Amanda Nelson, dance teacher

The story line of the music reflected much of our school Social and Emotional Learning as it encouraged the dancers to overcome, climb mountains and live... illustrating their faith and growth in their craft.

The evening ended with the All-County performance, choreographed by visiting dance artist, Danah Bella, with approximately 38 high school dancers involved.

"We believe in the power of dance to educate, inspire, empower, and engage our students." ~WSFCS Dance Departmen

North Carolina Art Education Association State Conference

Each year in the fall, Arts Teachers, Educators, Administrators, Professors, and Supporters gather for a state conference.  The meeting is held in different places around North Carolina; this year, the state conference was in Raleigh.  The 2019 conference offered a one-day Pre-Conference and a 3-day main Conference full of workshops, presentations, meetings, and other opportunities to meet, network, learn and grow with Arts Educators from all across North Carolina.  Also as part of the conference, attendees visited an exhibit hall of vendors, artists, and arts advocacy groups that offered brochures, information, and art supply samples.

During the conference, art teachers also spent about 3 hours at the North Carolina Museum of Art progressing through parts of the permanent collection to work on critique practices as well as spent time in the traveling exhibit, which included work by well-known artists, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Our Art Teacher and A+/Magnet Coordinator, Mrs. Gordon, attended the state conference and had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion for pre-service teachers.  Other members of the panel included the Music Consultant from the NC Department of Public Instruction, a Professor from East Carolina University, and the Arts Administrator from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  Mrs. Gordon helped answer questions about interviews, first-time teaching positions, and best practices for beginning a teaching career.

The NCAEA Annual State Conference is a great opportunity for networking and learning as a large group of Art Educators as well as an energetic and refreshing time to come together with Arts Educators and Art Supporters from around North Carolina.

"I enjoyed the NCAEA state conference.  I came back with sample art materials and a even a new apron.  It was great to see A+ Schools and Reynolds House as vendors during part of museum experience.  It was also my privilege to sit in on the panel discussion; it was a good time of reflecting on my own practice and being able to help new art teachers to the profession." ~Amanda Gordon

Home Moravian: A Strong Community Partner

Home Moravian Church Members continue to support our school, staff, teachers and students.  They volunteer throughout the year, particularly as proctors and hall monitors during testing times.  They donate to our school, such as school supplies in August and non-perishable food items around the holidays. 

One special gesture of volunteerism and generosity comes in the fall with their annual fundraiser dinner.  Each year, the dinner has a different theme and a variety of menu themes.  Staff and teachers of Diggs-Latham are guests, and church members or visitors make a donation to attend the dinner in support of our school.  Funds raised during the dinner purchase a gift card for each certified teacher and staff member to purchase classroom supplies. 

Thank you Home Moravian members and volunteers for your continued support of our school and your annual generosity.  You all truly make a difference in the lives of our students.

Teacher Academy 2019

Teacher Academy is a program developed by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools District and funded by The Winston-Salem Foundation Peer Project. The program’s main function is to support teachers and improve student outcomes by utilizing top quality teachers throughout the district from all grade levels and subject areas. The Teacher Academy program has two distinct pathways of support for teachers: Quality Colleague Pathway and Professional Development Pathway.  Each pathway utilizes high-quality teachers from our system as Teacher Leaders.  Instructional Superintendent Donna Cannon heads the program for the school system.  Teachers from a range of school make up the now 100 Teacher Leaders from across the WSFCS System.  Teacher Academy offers Teacher Leaders the opportunity to plan, write and lead Professional Development as well as opportunities to serve as model classrooms, mentors, peer coaches and otherwise support for teachers across the district.  

Our very own Megan True, School Improvement Team Chair and one of our Pre-Kindergarten Teachers, as well as Amanda Gordon, our A+ Magnet Coordinator and Art Teacher, are among the 100 Teacher Leaders in Teacher Academy.  They both serve as Quality Colleagues to teachers, which means they observe the teachers and have the teachers observe them, discussion lesson planning, work on classroom management procedures, meet regularly, email, and much more.  Mrs. True and Mrs. Gordon are also leaders within our building and have a range of skills that make them mentors among teachers in our own school.

Teacher Leaders recently celebrated their successes and accomplishments with a reception at the Winston-Salem Foundation on the rooftop terrace.  Guests included members of the Winston-Salem Foundation, the 100 Teacher Leaders of Teacher Academy, School Board Members, and Assistant Superintendents.  

To read more about Teacher Academy, visit the:

WSFCS Teacher Academy Webpage https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/112714
WSFCS Blog Story https://bit.ly/37kmJyB

To see additional photos from the reception, visit https://photos.app.goo.gl/dk9mtFdRKaVXLiJX8

Kindness Campaign

This year, our Kindness Campaign was a month full of daily announcements, reflections and writing about quotes related to Social and Emotional Learning, wearing orange, signing Kindness Campaign bookmarks, and completing a Kindness Campaign Poster Contest.

Students in all grades Kindergarten through Fifth grade thought about and sketched what kindness means to them and considered symbols, shapes and colors that could be used to illustrate kindness.  Once posters were complete, they were sorted and critiqued according to quality, use of art elements, completion, and neatness.  The final posters were judged by members of the PTA, (Parent Teacher Association,) and then the top winners were named. 

Congratulations to 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Winners: Tony, Lea, and Raghd, who received gift cards to Walmart along with their choice of a prize.  Congratulations to Makeala, Sarah, Braylan, and Zoe for receiving Honorable Mention and their choice of a prize.

The winning posters are currently on display on the front hallway bulletin board in B Building.

Fall Festival 2019

Fall Festival is always a well-attended and exciting event for our staff, students and community.  Over the last couple years, our Parent Teacher Association, along with a small committee of staff members, plan, organize and coordinate this event. 

Fall Festival included games and activities for students to win small prizes and candy.  Other popular stations included the Spooky Room, the Dance Party Room, Face-painting, and the Cake Walk.  Pizza and drinks were served for dinner, and Fall Festival Attendees also had a chance to visit the annual Fall Book Fair. 

Fall Festival 2019 was an exciting evening full of decorations, fun, costumes, and more.  Special thanks to our PTA, Crosby Scholars, Parent Volunteer Group, Staff and Students for making this such as successful night!

Check out more photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/La45dSofffkxvPBi8