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inside nhcs April 21, 2023

On Their Way: Landfall Grant helps students with disabilities reach new experiences | Educators of the Year: Finalists Announced and Flip Book Released | Budget Allotments Explained | Graduation Grandstand and Updated Ceremony Dates | 'Leader in Me' at Porter's Neck | Board of Ed Meetings Announced | CTE Fair and Job Expo | Carly Rae Scholarship Application | Contribute to Inside NHCS

On Their Way: Landfall Grant helps students with disabilities reach new experiences

In the turquoise waters at the YMCA pool, Anmar is waging negotiations with his swim instructor, Marie.

The young adult with disabilities first declines to let go of the pool wall until Marie coaxes him into her arms.

He really doesn’t care to be on his back, but she manages to get him belly-up with some encouragement.

“I know you’re doing things that are scary, but is anything bad happening to you? Are you surviving scary things?” Marie asks. “The more you do it, the easier it gets.”

And in the final spurt back to the wall, he swims on his stomach, water bubbling from his mouth, the panic in his eyes receding as he realizes what’s happening.

“I did it!” he tells his teacher, then his friend, then maybe himself. “I did it, I did it, I did it.”

Anmar high-fives his friend and they join in an embrace.

“That,” says teacher assistant Russell Minnear, “was one of the most awesome things I’ve ever seen.”

The swim lessons are an apt metaphor for the Transitional Program for Young Adults, which for 20 years has ushered vulnerable young adults with disabilities into the community.

For Valarie Simmons, teaching TPYA students job and life skills so they can be happy, independent adults is a dream come true.

“I just saw they were not part of society like they needed to be,” she said. “They have potential to do all sorts of jobs that other people don’t value, and they want to work and they want to be contributing.”

At school the students practice bagging groceries so they can work at Harris-Teeter, or stocking shelves so they can work at Ace Hardware, or wrapping silverware packets so they can work at Walk-Ons.

Their learning takes place as much in the community as in the school.

But the hurdle, Ms. Simmons said, has been getting them from the Career Readiness Academy at Mosley to their jobs and volunteer sites throughout town.

Last year the Landfall Foundation awarded Simmons a community grant to buy tickets on the DART van, which offers door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities for $4 each way.

The grant has been a game-changer for her students, Simmons said, launching them safely into opportunities not just to work but to pack lunches at NourishNC, plant gardens at the Arboretum, or receive occupational therapy from students at UNCW.

“There are so many places they can’t get in the community on a city bus,” Simmons said.

“Some of our students have never been to a restaurant; their parents only take them through drive-throughs. Now we can take them to iHop and teach them how to be appropriate in the community, how to order, how to tip.”

Students “DART” to the YMCA and run a donation-based coffee stand there, and in exchange the Y offers them swim lessons and personal training.

“I want them to know everything that’s available to them in the community and to be healthy,” Simmons said as she watched students Joe and Nyla prepare the coffee stand for the day.

Joe reads from the checklist:

"Say, Good morning, would you like some coffee, tea or hot chocolate?

If yes, say regular or decaf.

Tell them we are a transitional program for young adults with disabilities.

We accept donations for our coffee counter."

“You’re good at reading body language, aren’t you, Joe?” Simmons says. “You can tell if people want to stick around and talk.”

A few minutes later he has a confident, friendly transaction with a woman who just finished her workout, and he nods and pumps his fist in the air a bit as she walks off with her coffee.

“It’s tremendous,” Simmons said. “They know community members. We’re recognized in the community now, and we’re part of the community now.”

The Landfall Foundation granted nearly $500,000 to 88 Wilmington area non-profits and schools last year.

Is there a special project or program you'd like funding for at your school? Applications for Landfall grants are open now through May 15. CLICK HERE for more information.

EOY Flip Book

To see a flipbook of all of our Educators of the Year and read inspiring quotes about their teaching philosophies, CLICK HERE.

Finalists Announced

It is Educator of the Year season, and we were thrilled this week to pay surprise visits to our 11 EOY finalists. Congratulations to the following educators, who represent the finest that NHCS has to offer:

Clary French, 6th grade ELA/SS at Williston Middle School
Gayle Woodcock, CTE at SEA Tech
Danielle Smallwood, 4th grade at Ogden Elementary
Tara Mulvey, AIG at Winter Park Elementary
Jennifer Booth, 6th-7th grade SS and 8th grade Science International School at Gregory
Lori Roy, Roland-Grise Middle School
Kevin Murphy, Mary C. Williams Elementary
Fatima Sail, Ashley High School
Kimberly Houser, Anderson Elementary
Nikki Karnes, Masonboro Elementary
Taylor Henderson, New Hanover High School

The annual Educator of the Year banquet will be held May 4 at the Brooklyn Arts Center, where the elementary, middle, and high school teachers of the year will be announced, along with the Principal of the Year and the Overall Educator of the Year.

NHCS Insight: Budget Allotments Explained

Dr. Chris Barnes, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, breaks down the "perfect storm" of declining enrollment, waning school funding, and rising expenses that is influencing the current budget cycle.

Reagan Mauk is State Gifted Educator of the Year

Congratulations to Reagan Mauk of Myrtle Grove Middle School for being named the 2023 North Carolina Gifted Educator of the Year! Watch this inspiring educator at work and hear how she ensures every student she works with is growing to their full potential.

Get Ready for Graduation: Grandstand and Updated Schedule

If you have a success story to share this graduation season, we want to hear it! CLICK HERE to fill out the Graduation Grandstand form about any member of the Class of 2023.

Dates and times for several graduation ceremonies have been adjusted. Please make note of the updated schedule.

'Leader in Me' at Porter's Neck

Students at Porters Neck Elementary School hosted their first ever Leader in Me Day, where they gave tours to local district and business leaders and educated them on the 7 habits of leadership.

The Leader in Me program is a nation-wide initiative to teach students about leadership, create a culture of student empowerment, and push for greater results in student academics.

Board of Ed Meetings Announced

The New Hanover County Board of Education will hold the following upcoming meetings:

  • Agenda Review on Monday, April 24 at 2 p.m. at the Board of Education Center, 1805 South 13th Street.
  • May Regular Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 2 at 5 p.m. in the Board of Education Center. Call-to-audience signup will open on Monday, May 1 at 8 a.m. and the signup form can be accessed here.
  • Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee will meet Tuesday, May 9 at 5 p.m. in the Board of Education Center.
  • Policy Committee will meet on Tuesday, May 16 at 10 a.m. at the Board of Education Center.
  • Curriculum Committee will meet on Monday, May 22 at 3:45 p.m. in the Board of Education Center.

The capacity for all meetings is 150 and the general public will have the option to view all meetings remotely on NHCS-TV Youtube.

CTE Fair & Career Expo

The NHCS Career and Technical Education Department put on an amazing career fair in partnership with 100 local businesses and organizations in order to give 1,500 students from across hands-on experiences with future careers.

Carly Rae Scholarship Application

The Remember Carly Rae Scholarship is given in honor of Carly Rae Baron, a 2016 Eugene Ashley High School graduate. Carly Rae tragically lost her life in October 2020 to gun violence.

The Alex Highsmith Family Foundation proudly sponsors this scholarship program, which will award eight $1,000 scholarships, one to an eligible applicant at each of the eight New Hanover County High Schools. NHCS graduating high school seniors, who will be full-time students attending a 2-year or 4-year college or university, will be eligible for these scholarships. Merit and financial need will be used to determine the scholarship winners.

Do you know a student who would be a good candidate for this scholarship? Send them THIS LINK to apply.

Contribute to Inside NHCS

Our staff are the heart of our district, and we know great things are happening in every division and school across the county. We wanted to create a space to share news and stories with one another, to cheer each other on, and to lift each other up. We look forward to showcasing your great work.

If you know of someone who should be featured in Inside NHCS, please email Christina Beam at christina.beam@nhcs.net or call ext. 4109.

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