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April 24, 2015
BCS Insider
September 2014
Newsletter Date
Top Scholars Honored: 99 Students Celebrate Great Accomplishment
Ninety-nine students were honored at a banquet on April 16 at the Renaissance Hotel in
downtown Asheville.
Top students from each district high school,
including Early and Middle College, were
honored with a certificate noting their
achievement.
Top Scholars are determined based on
weighted GPA calculations at the end of the
first semester of their Senior year, and students are attending great colleges next year,
with Dartmouth, UNC Chapel Hill, and Davidson College being among the more notable.
Anna Sydorsky, a senior at Enka High said,
Top Scholars continued on page 6...
See this photo from the event, and more, at the Asheville Citizen-Times.
Fresh Water from Old Wells
By Mary Catherine Bones, Communications Intern
Cindy McMahon is the Board member for the Reynolds District, and she also writes a regular column
for The Fairview Town Crier.
Board Member and Author, Cindy McMahon
“It was like a splinter coming to the surface, it needed
attention,” Cindy McMahon describes her influence to
write a memoir of her childhood. Fresh Water from
Old Wells is McMahon’s first book about her early
childhood experiences, and the journey that took her
to the places her family lived during the 1960s and
1970s to find forgiveness and acceptance.
Fresh Water continued on page 5...
Page 2
April 24, 2015
Buckle Up, and Enjoy the Ride!
Spring Break is always a
welcomed opportunity to
rest, relax, and recharge
one’s inner batteries. The
return from the break signals a realization that another end of another school
year is just around the corner. I once heard someone
describe it as a time for
teachers and administrators
to buckle their seatbelts for
the 90 MPH downhill slide
on the rollercoaster!
Budget planning is in full swing for the 2015-16 school
year. Governor McCrory’s budget was released in late
February and is a primary resource for building our local funding request to the County Commissioners. State
law mandates that our budget request must be submitted
on or before May 15th. The challenge for building our
budget is that the General Assembly’s House budget
model is not projected to be available for viewing until
the third week of May with the Senate’s version following sometime in June.
That said, the governor’s state budget contains an allocation of $235 million more for K-12 funding as compared to our current year. This 2.8% increase includes:
1) Increased starting teacher base pay to $35,000 annually; 2) Identifies recurring funding to maintain existing
teacher assistant positions; 3) Provides increased funding and flexibility in purchasing instructional resources
such as textbooks, instructional supplies and technology
equipment; 4) Institutes a step increase in salary for eligible school based administrators; and 5) Funds a onetime bonus of $1000 to teachers who received a similar
bonus within this current year.
While the governor’s budget represents positive news in
several areas, it is important to keep in mind that the
final budget model is the result of negotiations among
the three state governing bodies (Governor, House, and
Senate) and their versions of how and where state funding is allocated. Likewise, it is important to follow the
pathways of any education related legislation that could
have an impact on the budget.
April 30th will be a key date as the deadline for
bills to be passed by one chamber or the other to
remain eligible to become law within the current
session. Several areas of interest are represented
by bills presently on the table in Raleigh. These
areas include: 1) Driver’s education funding; 2)
Personal education plans being repealed; 3) School
board members required to be elected on a partisan
basis; 4) State retirees return to work adjustments
regarding insurance coverage; and 5) School calendar flexibility.
With one eye on the budget and strapped into the
roller coaster it is easy to miss out on the many
wonderful activities and accomplishments taking
place in our schools. I continue to marvel at the
consistent focus on instruction as I visit classrooms
across the county. The quality of classroom instruction is likewise blended with exceptional
school-wide activities and programs such as the
Top Scholar recognition dinner; STEM celebration
day at the Nesbitt Discovery Academy; Heritage
Day at Leicester Elementary; a book character parade at Avery’s Creek Elementary, and the science
festival at Owen Middle School.
So as the pace of acceleration continues, don’t forget to enjoy the ride!
Page 3
Page 3
Pisgah Elementary Students Get an Out-ofthis-World Experience
BCS Insider
Erwin High Names Gym in Honor of
Retiring Athletic Director David Ball
Retiring Erwin Athletic Director, David Ball
Former Astronaut, Duane Carey
Former NASA Astronaut Duane Carey shared his
stories and experiences with students at Pisgah Elementary this week. Carey’s mission was the last
successful mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia.
Tragically, its next mission in February 2003 ended with the loss of seven astronauts. See more photos from the event here.
Erwin High School held a dedication and ribbon
cutting ceremony this week to name its gymnasium
for retiring Athletic Director David Ball. Mr. Ball
dedicated over 30 years to athletics in Buncombe
County Schools.
Come help support the High Flying SHV Jets in the first annual Jet Jolt 5K and 1 mile fun run! Sand Hill-Venable
students and staff are increasing community relations along with promoting health and well-being. Be a high flyer
on April 25th at the Enka High School starting at 8:30 am. You may register at http://communityfitnessevents.com/
jet-jolt-5k-1-mile-fun-run/
Page 4
April 24, 2015
BEST STEAM Powered Mini-Conference Coming Soon!
On August 10 and 11, Buncombe County Schools will
present the following miniconference: BEST STEAM
Powered. This Mini Conference will be for all K-12 staff
and all content areas. Learn
more about blended, personalized, online, and mobile learning, assistive technologies,
STEAM, Makerspace, and
more! Take time to collaborate, share, and and connect
with other Buncombe County
Schools educators in a fun,
relaxed learning environment.
Be a Presenter: The miniconference will showcase innovative lessons developed by
BCS staff, poster sessions
highlighting outstanding student projects, and hands-on creative workshops. We invite you to share your insights
and knowledge with colleagues as a presenter of an educational session at our BEST STEAM Powered Conference. Presenters and participants will earn trade days and CEUs. Submit your presentation proposal here.
Be a Participant: The mini conference will be held on August 10, 8:30-5:00 and August 11,
8:30-3:00 at the Nesbitt Discovery Academy. Please register to attend here. For more detailed information visit:
http://bit.ly/BESTSTEAM15
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is created and distributed by the BCS Communications Department as a means to inform the community of the events, announcements, and highlights of the
Buncombe County School District. Permission to reprint
unaltered photos and/or stories is hereby granted, provided
the Buncombe County School District is cited.
E-mail us
donald.porter@bcsemail.org
jason.rhodes@bcsemail.org
communications@bcsemail.org
Connect with us on the web
Twitter: @BuncombeSchools
Facebook.com/BuncombeCountySchools
Website: buncombe.k12.nc.us/communications
YouTube: Buncombe County Schools
Business Cards Made Easy!
Employees can order business cards any time
through this link. Purchases are paid for with school
or department funds and must be authorized by the
employee’s supervisor.
Page 5
BCS Insider
Fresh Water continued from page 1…
On April 30, Reynolds High will host a book reading with McMahon, who
also has a successful career with nonprofit organizations and serves as Senior Consultant for WNC Nonprofit Pathways. She hopes to bring inspiration
to students who might be suffering through adversity, encouraging them that
they too can find success.
Her journey began once McMahon decided to start a new beginning from her
non-profit career, and sadly after the passing of her father. She then found
the need to recover the stories left untold by her family.
McMahon’s father, a former Baptist minister, created a turbulent childhood
for her, while also being an active member in the Civil Rights Movement —
a peacemaker for others, yet not for McMahon’s mother and family.
McMahon’s memoir discovers how her father’s volatile history and absence
shaped her in becoming a strong and resilient woman.
Fresh Waters is a fascinating journey of self-discovery and awareness.
McMahon shows that waters are constantly flowing, shifting, and shaping,
not just our lives, but also the lives we touch every day. McMahon shares in
her memoir that gaining an intimate understanding of the dynamic events in
her life prevented her from being swept away with resentment and anger.
“We can all be successful and leaders to rise above circumstances that we
might come from,” says McMahon.
Fresh Waters intertwines McMahon’s unsettled childhood with monumental
historical moments during the Civil Rights Movement with her father being a
participant in the march on Selma. McMahon’s adverse childhood of moving
through alternative communes and dealing with her father’s tragic abusive
legacy led her to finding forgiveness and strength through returning to the
places of her childhood.
The book reading at Reynolds High will be one of many, and McMahon hopes that students will be inspired by her
story. McMahon will have a public book reading at Malaprops Bookstore on June 2. For more information about her
book, visit her website, and check out the Prologue to her book as well.
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Page 6
April 24, 2015
“Top Scholars Honored” continued from page 1…
“Being a Top Scholar is quite an accomplishment; it took four
years of hard work to be here today. I am proud of my work and
determination throughout high school, which has set me amongst
some of the best students.”
Ben Alexander, 2015 Enka District Teacher of the Year, praised the
students’ accomplishments. He spoke of Odysseus and his journey
to Ithaca, and encouraged the students in their lives, saying,
“Some of you will find yourself in a hurry to get to your Ithaca – thinking that once you have reached it you will
have attained the life that you have always wanted to live and that you can now fully begin to appreciate life.
Yet, in doing so you have passed by so much life along the way. Some of you will be just the opposite and will
go many years into your life ahead and find yourself thinking that you still do not know where your Ithaca is or
if you will ever get there – do not be fearful, you will find it and the beauty in life is that there isn’t just one Ithaca and you may find that in your travels it has changed. Yet for all of you it is in getting there you have become wise, with so many experiences, with so much knowledge and triumphs, and perhaps a few failures along
the way that you have understood that it was not the ultimate destination that was your life achievement, but the
journey in getting there that was.”
For more pictures of the event, click HERE.
For a presentation noting student achievements, click HERE.
Heritage Day at Leicester Elementary
Students learned about the rich culture of the mountains through presentations of local artisans at Leicester Elementary. These artisans presented their talents of pottery making, clogging, quilting, jewelry making and many
more.
Page 7
Schools Celebrate Earth Day in Special Ways
W.D. Williams planted a purple magnolia tree in honor of Wanda Hart, a former teacher assistant. She worked for BCS
for 27 years and loved children. She was a very dedicated employee, friend, mother and wife. A plaque in her honor was
placed next to the plant, and those pictures can be seen left of the Earth below.
Students in Mr. Worley's classes at Avery’s Creek Elementary participated in an Earth Day lesson with Mitch Mull
from Snow Creek Landscaping supervisor and employees from Borg Warner. The students learned what was required
to plant a tree and all the necessary components of taking care of them. After assisting with the tree plantings, they
moved to the other end of the playground where they got to help set up the new bird watching area where Snow Creek
planted beautiful Holly Berry trees. The owners of Wild Birds Unlimited, Heidi and Steve Muma, installed beautiful
bird feeders of different varieties, and benches will be installed soon to make this an observation/outdoor classroom for
students. Avery's Creek would like to extend their deepest appreciation to Borg Warner, Snow Creek and Wild Birds
Unlimited for this project making Earth Day most memorable. Principal Denise Montgomery said, "The people make
our school extremely beautiful on the inside and the exterior is quickly catching up!"
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” -- Albert Einstein
Page 7
April 24, 2015
2015 BCS Top Scholars