News Archives 2008-2009

FCS Substitute Teacher Training

6.26.09 - A combination of seventeen FCS level II volunteers and substitute teachers received valuable substitute teacher training this week. The event was organized by Dr. Elizabeth Keith (Director of Secondary Education) and Linda Frederickson (Director of Elementary Education and Title I). Participants learned more about district policies, school procedures and effective classroom practices. Click here for a group picture.

Is Your Child Registered for Kindergarten?

6.25.09 - If you child turns 5 on or before August 31st, then he or she is ready to enter kindergarten. If you have not already registered your child, please call the elementary school in your district to receive information on how to sign up. Not sure what district your child should attend? Locate your child's school by clicking here.

Learning Continues In The Summer

6.25.09 - Students who signed up for a summer learning camp at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Louisburg are getting lengthy enrichment this summer. Members of the FCS International Center and other volunteers are helping students in grades K-6 improve their academic skills. Focus areas range from English proficiency to math. This program takes place once a week for three hours for seven weeks throughout the summer.

Camp Invention at Long Mill, Royal

6.24.09 - Long Mill Elementary School will host Camp Invention for students in grades 1-6. The camp will take place July 20-24 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. The same camp will also be offered at Royal from July 13-17. The science-based event includes problem solving, physics activities and inventing. Base price is $215. Register before June 24th to receive a $20 discount. For more information, click here or contact Long Mill Camp Director Lisa Fischer at 554-0667 or Royal Camp Director Beth Denton at 853-2347.

FCS Testing Results

6.23.09 - The 2008-2009 school year marked another period of overall improvement in testing for Franklin County Schools. Click on the corresponding link below to view the chart of your interest.

EOG Math  |  EOG Reading  |  EOC Results  |  Writing Results

Destiny Bus Visits LHS

6.19.09 - Louisburg High School teachers got a first-hand experience with the Destiny Bus this week. The Morehead Planetarium (UNC) mobile science lab allowed teachers the opportunity to conduct a few science experiments which they will be able to bring information about into the classroom this coming fall. For more information on Destiny, click here.

Hard at Work

6.19.09 - Middle School teachers throughout the county didn't take much downtime before preparing for the 2009-2010 school year. Teachers from a variety of subjects worked together on the Riverside Campus to prepare curriculum pacing guides to help ensure a smooth upcoming academic school year.

Dedicated To QTL

6.18.09 - School hasn't even been out a week and many FCS teacher's are already preparing for the next school year. A classroom full of dedicated teachers took part in the Quality Teaching and Learning program in hopes of improving classroom instruction this week. The QTL program is an engaging approach to teaching that increases student achievement through a variety of different methods. Members of the FCS Technology Department provided instruction for those who attended the week-long event.

Long Mill Students Honor Dads

6.18.09 - As the school year was coming to a close, Long Mill Elementary Kindergarten students in Ms. Edwards' class got a jumpstart on Father's Day by treating Dads to some delicious donuts. The group held a similar ceremony for Mother's Day. Father's Day is this coming Sunday.

LTSA Grant Yields $37.5K For FCS

6.17.09 - Louisburg High School, Louisburg Elementary School and Franklinton High School will each get a $12,500 grant from the State Library of North Carolina. The grants are to buy books only, and are not offered to replace existing funding for the library. The grant funding, made available through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), must be used during the current school year. Media Coordinators working with the process were Becky Frisbie (LHS), Doris Davis-Williams (FHS) and Michelle Robinson (LES.

Boone Sets Mark at Bunn Elementary

6.16.09 - Joshua Boone has set a new Accelerated Reader (AR) record at Bunn Elementary. Boone totaled 1,462.8 points during his K-5 career at BES. Pictured in the front row are BES Librarian Christy Tharrington, Jerry Boone (father), Joshua Boone, Gaye Boone (mother) and BES Principal Jewel Eason. In the back row are Betty Oakley (library assistant) and Joshua's former teachers Renee Adams (3rd grade teacher), Jackie Crudup-Evans (kindergarten teacher), Janine Wood (4th grade), Robin Bell (2nd grade) and Mike Diaz (5th grade). Not pictured is Joshua's first-grader teacher Elizabeth Martin.

CCMS Benefits From Project

6.16.09 - Richard Patton, an eighth grader at Cedar Creek Middle School, recently completed his Eagle Project.  As part of his requirements for this honor, Richard's Eagle Project focused on three areas of the school that need to be improved.  His project was the garden, fossil pit, and the nature trail.  The garden started out as a spot with nearly dead plants.  When he finished, the garden had roses, elephant ears, shamrocks, lilies, and a bench.  He completed the project with a total of 148 hours with the help of his family and friends.  He also completed the improvements of the other areas.

2009 Graduation

6.15.09 - 2009 graduation is now history. Franklinton High, Bunn High and Louisburg High seniors graduated Saturday morning at the Louisburg College Auditorium. Pictures are available from each ceremony at the corresponding links below.

Bunn High School

Franklinton High School

Louisburg High School

Grant Celebration at Edward Best

6.12.09 - Students at Edward Best celebrated "Another Year Around the Sun" by singing "Happy Birthday" and decorating cupcakes.  The celebration was the culmination of a year long calendar study incorporating literature, art and math.  The project was made possible by a grant from the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation to Donna Jones, Media Specialist at Edward Best.

June First Thursday

6.11.09 - The June issue of First Thursday is now available. The June issue features student writing, FCS Honors Day information, the story behind 2009-2010 FCS Teacher of The Year Brandy Carter (right) and much more. Click on the link to download your copy or click here to subscribe or to view the archives.

FCS Retirees Honored

6.10.09 - FCS recognized 14 employees for their hard work and dedication during a retirement dinner Monday night. At right, Brenda Parrish shares a laugh with Royal Elementary School Principal Shawnee Perry-Manley, Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Lynn Henderson. Retiring from FCS this year are Jeanette Alford (LHS), Lahra Anderson (BHS), Carol Cummings (YES) Marian Green (FHS), Preston Green (FHS), Ray Gupton (BMS), Tom Harris (LHS), Annie Lee (FES), Donald Rose McGhee (LES), Alice Moore (BES), Judy Moore (FES), Brenda Parrish (RES), Hazel Perry (YES) and Synthia Richardson (FES). Click here to view a dinner photo (left to right) of Parrish, Moore, Lee, McGhee, Richardson and Alford.

Tripp Tracy Speaks at Cedar Creek

6.9.09 - Carolina Hurricanes hockey analyst and broadcaster Tripp Tracy was the guest speaker at the annual Eighth-Grade Recognition program at Cedar Creek Middle school Tuesday. Tracy emphasized the importance of character, education, energy conservation and more as he held the attention of the capacity crowd with stories from his playing days in the National Hockey League and adventures covering the Hurricanes. Tracy, 35, played in the NHL after standing out as a college player at Harvard.

Robotics and Programming Fun at FES

6.9.09 - Even though End-of-Grade testing is complete, students are continuing to learn. Franklinton Elementary students in Ms. Ayscue's class spent last week getting more familiar with robotics and computer programming.  Also guiding the event was Betsy Bryan, a FCS Technology Facilitator.

Who Is Going Where?

6.9.09 - As graduating seniors gear up for college, it can be difficult to keep track of who is going where. Louisburg High School guidance secretary Betty Wright devised a plan to help people. There's a bulletin board outside of the guidance office with information posted about students heading to college. School colors and mascots draw attention to particular points of the board and those points are covered with details about the particular student.

Athletes Compete On Grand Stage

6.8.09 - Joshua Rogers (LHS), Samantha Munson (LHS) and Arie Purvis (home school) represented Franklin County in the annual state wide Special Olympics held this past weekend. All three competed in multiple events at the Ravenscroft Campus in Raleigh with several hundred athletes. In all, more than 1,000 competitors participated at several sites throughout the Raleigh area. More details will appear in the upcoming issue of First Thursday.

Living Up To A Promise

6.5.09 - Royal Elementary Principal Shawnee Perry-Manley lived up to her end of a promise Friday afternoon by kissing a snake. Two months ago, the Principal challenged the student body to read enough books to earn 10,000 Accelerated Reader points. As you can tell, the students met the goal and Perry-Manley kissed the snake. In all, Royal collected 26,620 points this school year.

Entire TLMS Algebra Class Nets Perfect Fours

6.5.09 - Nineteen Terrell Lane Middle School students (eighth graders) took the End of Course Algebra I test and all 19 earned Level IV - the highest level possible. TLMS math teacher Debra Frary (right) was obviously extremely proud of the her student's accomplishments. In addition, 39 of 40 students taking the test at Cedar Creek Middle scored Level IV.

More Hardware For Camara

6.5.09 - Louisburg High School senior and state 1A/2A 135-pound wrestling champion Mamour Camara continues to collect accolades. Camara, who now holds a school best 164-24 record, received the James Johnson Award for eastern North Carolina this week. This award is given to the top wrestler in the region according to the publication The Takedown Report. Camara displayed equally impressive results in the classroom this year, scoring a perfect score on the math section of the SAT. Camara posted a 58-0 record during his senior year.

Leaping Ahead

6.4.09 - Eddy Check (bottom right in photo) completed the entire eighth-grade curriculum for reading, math, science and social studies while enrolled at the Creative Education Center. In addition to earning high marks on his EOG tests, he finished early. At that point, Check began working on some high school curriculum. As a result, he will enter Franklinton High School this coming fall with high school credit in his pocket. Check's CEC teacher Cheryl Dement (bottom left) along with CEC Principal Dale Byrns, father Steve and FCS Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme are very proud of Eddy's accomplishments.

Long Mill Students Receive Special Visit

6.4.09 - Long Mill Elementary students in Christy Ferrell's second-grade classroom received a visit from Miss North Carolina Contestant Molly Deans (Miss Goldsboro). Deans offered a lesson involving acting and drama. The students enjoyed the event, as they got the chance to act out different stories using props and costumes.

FHS Honor Students Take On Canada

6.3.09 - Franklinton High School students who are members of the National Honor Society experienced a thrilling trip to Niagara Falls recently. The trip was a first-time flying experience for many of the members as well as the first time leaving the country. In addition to exploring Niagara, the four-day event featured a stop at the Guinness Museum, Bird Kingdom, IMAX Theater, The Greg Frewin Theater, Whirlpool Jetboat Tours, Maid of the Mist, Rainforest Café and time on the town. The photo at left was taken during the trip.

Board Names Ingram Interim Superintendent

6.2.09 - Beginning July 1st, Dr. Eddie Ingram will be the FCS interim superintendent. The Franklin County Board of Education came to the decision on June 1st. Ingram has a rich background in education and is currently the FCS Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction. He taught high school English and Latin for 11 years prior to making the leap to administration. For the past 17 years he has spent time as a principal, DPI section chief, personnel director and county athletic director. The search for a fulltime superintendent continues, and applications are being accepted through June 19th. Information regarding the search is below.

Setting Their Sights On Administration

6.2.09 - Five FCS employees have earned a Master of Administration degree from North Carolina State University. This group includes Louisburg High School Assistant Principal Falisa Carter, Laurel Mill Elementary School Assistant Principal Wanda Keith, Long Mill Elementary School teacher Dean Reed, Cedar Creek Middle School teacher Geoffrey Hawthorne and Bunn Elementary teacher Randy Kargarise.

Educational Videos at FCSTube

6.2.09 - The FCS Technology Department has officially launched a new teaching resource - FCSTube. This resource is loaded with educational videos that can be found on YouTube that have been carefully reviewed for content. You can view FCSTube simply by clicking here. If you would like to add a video to the site, please contact the FCS Technology Department. Currently, this service is only available through the FCS network.

Senior Art Show Held

6.1.09 - The annual senior art show was held last week at Louisburg College. The artwork will remain on display through high school graduation on June 13th. At right, LHS student James Kearney poses with his sign-language interpreter in front of his award winning drawings. Kearney and other senior winners were praised by Louisburg College Art Professor Will Hinton during the annual ceremony. Kearney will attend Campbell University on a scholarship this coming fall.

Jaguars Honor Top Athletes

5.29.09 - Cedar Creek Middle School put an official cap on the 2008-2009 athletic season with a year-end athletic banquet last week. Earning the coaches' award were Miles Davis and Savanna Styers, while the top scholar athletes were Gabriella Davis and Devin Hoffman. The Jaguar Athletes of The Year are Rhonique Clemonts and Demetrius Burke. In addition, the school honored participants in the Special Olympics (Michael Parker, Kevin Mitchell, Maleek Cooke and Chante Kearney. Click here for a picture.

LHS Students Endure Climbing Wall

5.29.09 - Last week, Louisburg High School students enrolled in the ROTC program got to test their rock climbing abilities as a portable climbing wall was set up on campus. Students used their legs and arms to scale the multiple story structure, which was similar to what people enrolled in military service would encounter during physical training. Not only did students enjoy the challenge, a few teachers topped the wall as well.

Long Mill Students See Exotic Animals

5.29.09 - Dan the Animal Man visited Long Mill Elementary last week  He brought exotic animals and talked about many wonderful things about each animal.  He also integrated many character traits into the program and encouragement to the students to continue learning as much as they can. The Animal Man presented Eugene the Eurasian eagle owl, Prickles the African crested porcupine, Maddy the black/white ruff lemur and Auggie the alligator. Students enjoyed learning the many new animal facts and were very excited about seeing these unique animals. 

BHS Freshman Sets State Record, Earns Title

5.28.09 - Bunn High School freshman track and field standout Marissa Bellamy is known for being a nice person with a great attitude - now she will also be known as a state champion. Bellamy's time of 24.69 seconds in the 200-meter dash earned her the state 2A individual crown last weekend at the NCHSAA Track and Field Championships held at NC A&T University. She beat the old record by .05 seconds.

FHS Volleyball Skills Camp Slated For July

5.28.09 - Franklinton High School volleyball coach Lindsay Dehart will conduct a volleyball skills camp on July 15th from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for girls ages 6-13.  Cost is  $35 before July 1st and $40 afterwards. Basic skills, including passing, setting, blocking, hitting, and serving will be taught and team play will take place in a camp tournament. For more information, contact Coach Dehart at 336-266-0564 or click here to download an information form.

Battle of The Bands Returns Friday

5.27.09 - The second annual Bunn High School Battle of the Bands will be this Friday night from 7-10 p.m. in the BHS auditorium. Four high school rock bands will perform, including Failure of Mankind, Screaming Crayons, The Sacred Code, and Anatomy Project. The audience will vote for their favorite band to win a cash prize. In addition, local recording artist TO THE REPUBLIC will perform, and concessions will be available. Tickets are $5 in advance (email melodycausby@fcschools.net) or $7 at the door. All proceeds benefit the Bunn Middle School and Bunn High School Bands. 

Concerts On Tap

5.27.09 - The Louisburg High School Concert and Symphonic Band Concert will be held on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in the LHS Auditorium. Both events are free and open to the public. Cedar Creek Middle School will perform this Thursday at CCMS at 7 p.m. The event also includes a $5 hot dog dinner that begins at 5:45. The concert is free. Also on Thursday night, Bunn High School will perform at 7 p.m. in the BHS Auditorium.

Let's Twist

5.26.09 - Bunn Elementary students and staff recently got to put their dancing skills to work at a Sock Hop held in the school gymnasium. At right, Bunn Elementary School Principal Jewel Eason joins in on the fun by performing The Twist.

Last Day Of Class June 10th

5.23.09 - The last day for students attending campuses that operate on a traditional calendar is set for June 10th. High school students will take exams on June 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th. Those days will be early-release days for high school students. In addition, the final day is an early-release day for all traditional calendar schools. Students attending year-round school will complete the year on June 15th. 

K-11 Art Show Held

5.22.09 - The Franklin County Schools K-11 Art Show was held recently at Louisburg College with a host of winners in a variety of different categories announced in a ceremony conducted by Louisburg College Art Professor Will Hinton On May 14th. The senior art show will take place May 28th at 7:00 p.m., also at Louisburg College. To view the list of winners from the K-11 event, click here.

Squid Dissection At Bunn Middle

5.20.09 - Students enrolled in Mrs. Holland's science class at Bunn Middle School recently got to learn a great deal about squid. Students dissected squid as part of a science experiment. In addition to identifying the many different parts of a squid, students tracked the process using scientific data collecting techniques.

Improvements at Edward Best

5.19.09 - Edward Best Elementary students will have more room to operate next year with the addition of five new modular units. These units are reaching completion and will be ready for the 2009-2010 school year. In addition, a new wastewater treatment facility is being built at Edward Best and is near completion.

Applying What They've Learned

5.19.09 - Franklinton High School students enrolled in the Civics and Economics classes of Kim Burnap and Savannah Dobbins took part in a project in which teams developed their own business from the ground up. All aspects of the business were put to test when the stores opened (using Monopoly money) Monday morning. T-shirts, food and other items were for sale during store hours. Classes throughout the school visited the stores during allotted time slots. This project was funded through a grant received earlier this school year.

National Children's Book Week at FES

5.19.09 - Franklinton Elementary students celebrated National Children's Book Week this past week with a variety of guest readers. In addition to reading to the students, guests expressed the importance of continuing to read throughout life and offered details on his or her particular profession.

EOG Fair Held at Laurel Mill

5.18.09 - Laurel Mill Elementary School held an End-Of-Grade Testing Fair last week in preparation for this week's EOGs. LMES set up a reading station, a math station, a positive thinking station, and a rest and relaxation station among others. The students and parents really enjoyed the positive event. Testing takes place at 11 of 14 schools this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Wildcat Band Members Tackle Disney

5.18.09 - The Bunn High School Band went to Disney World in Orlando, Florida recently, where they went to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MGM Hollywood Studios. Students participated in a leadership conference where they learned about communication and other skills necessary to work together in building a successful band program. Students also observed many top-notch music performances and of course enjoyed the rides. A few band seniors outside the Rockin' Roller Coaster.

Students, Parents Ready For EOG Tests

5.18.09 - Youngsville Elementary, and other schools, held EOG night last week to prepare for annual End-Of-Grade testing. More than 230 people attended the event in Youngsville to review exam strategies. Testing begins Tuesday and runs through Thursday for grades 3-8.

Bunn Elementary Student Honored

5.14.09 - Caroline White, a first-grade student at Bunn Elementary School, has won radio station G105's Bob's Good Kid of the Week award.  Caroline is a compassionate and caring child, and she demonstrates these qualities on a daily basis.

Excited About Calculus

5.13.09 - Taking an AP Calculus exam is serious business, but that doesn't mean students can't have a little fun along the way. Bunn High School students enrolled in Armenia Davis' class prepared special T-shirts to wear for the exam that was taken last week. A qualifying score on the test will result in full college credit for the course. Click here for an enlarged group picture.

Bunn High Students Set To Perform

5.13.09 - Bunn High students will be on stage this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. to perform A Midsummer Night's Dream. The event will take place in the BHS auditorium and entry fee is $5. Light concessions will be available.

FES Students Meet AR Goal

5.12.09 - Franklinton Elementary administrators challenged the student body to reach an Accelerated Reader goal of 11,000 points. Students earned the point total by checking out more than 26,000 books throughout the school year. If the students met the goal, Principal Carol Davis and Assistant Principal Onnie Mitchell Burrell agreed to pucker up and kiss a horse. As you can tell by the picture at left, the students met the expectation.

Community Helper Week At BES

5.12.09 - Last week, an entomologist professor. Dr. Abney of N.C. State University, visited Bunn Elementary kindergartners for Community Helper Week.  Dr. Abney took some extra time to stop at BES and teach students about the characteristics of an insect.  The children got see different insects and touch a walking stick that looked like a leaf from a different country. In addition, students observed a huge cockroach that hissed from Madagascar.

Memorable Mother's Day Gift

5.12.09 - Louisburg Elementary student Alex Young gave her mother a gift that will probably be remembered forever in the Young family. Alex earned first place in a writing contest sponsored by a commercial jewelry store. The top prize was a diamond necklace, and Alex followed up by giving it to her mother for Mother's Day. The contest was open to all fourth and fifth graders.

Grease Performance Set at FHS

5.11.09 - The Franklinton High School Drama Club will perform the classic Grease this coming Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. each day. This play features 16 seniors who have developed their acting skills over the past few years. Many of the seniors are going on to study film or theater in college. This year's performance will include new costumes as well. Entrance fee is $5.

LOMES Wellness Program Goes National

5.8.09 - The Long Mill student wellness program, founded by LOMES parent Tonya Peele, was featured on the nationally televised Rachael Ray show Thursday morning. Peele was a guest on the show with former President Bill Clinton to discuss the success of the Long Mill activities to promote student fitness and healthy eating. A film crew from the show visited Long Mill May 1st to capture the program in action. To view the segment that aired, click here.

State of The System Delivered

5.7.09 - Franklin County Schools' Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme presented an overview of FCS at the annual Franklin County Chamber of Commerce State of The System Luncheon. In addition, Franklin County Manager Angela Harris presented information pertaining to the current status of the county. Pictured at right are Superintendent L'Homme, County Manager Harris and Chamber President Laureen Jones. Click here to view L'Homme's presentation.

Long Mill Wins Challenge of The Chapters

5.7.09 - Long Mill Elementary School made a big statement by winning the Challenge of The Chapters competition in the school's first try. The annual event was held at Long Mill Tuesday morning. LOMES students participating and holding off the seven other elementary schools within the FCS system were Kayla Allen, Joshua Bass, Phillip Bunton, Nehemias Colon, Michael Smedley, Sydney Williams, Luke Woessner and Matthew Woodcock. Long Mill was coached by Cindy Walker and Cheryl Wright. Click here to view a team photo. At right, LOMES participants discuss a question during the second round.

National Teacher Appreciation Week

5.6.09 - May 3rd through May 9th marks National Teacher Appreciation Week. Franklin County Schools is proud of to have a strong, talented and dedicated teaching staff to prepare the children of Franklin County for the future. If you see a teacher this week, don't hesitate to thank them for his/her hard work.

FES Holds Parent EOG Night

5.6.09 - End-of-grade testing is just around the corner and many schools, including Franklinton Elementary, are making sure parents are using helpful strategies to help their child perform well. Charlotte Turpin from NCAE presented strategies to parents in addition to each grade level offering EOG tips. Many schools still need volunteers to help with the testing process. If you are interested in helping, contact your school of interest.

Tdap Vaccine for Rising Sixth Graders

5.5.09 - North Carolina Law now requires that all students entering sixth-grade in a public school must have a booster dose of the Tdap vaccine. This vaccine will be available for free during the last week in May at your child's elementary school. Forms have been sent home. If you have questions, please contact your child's school. For more information, visit www.ncdhhs.gov.

More Than $200K Raised

5.4.09 - The people of Franklin County proved how seriously they take the fight against cancer, raising more than $202,000 for this year's Franklin County Relay For Life. More than $17,000 came from Bunn Elementary School. The annual campaign proved to be as memorable as ever at Bunn High this past weekend. While the event got off to a rainy start, spirits remained high. Click here for more photos from the event.

Swine Flu Precautions

Colonial Camp Visits Laurel Mill

4.30.09 - Laurel Mill Elementary School fifth-grade students have a better grasp of life during the U.S. Colonial period after a school visit from the Colonial Camp. The organization describes life in great detail as students participate in several related activities. Students had the chance to make candles, sample food, try on clothing, shop and their faces painted.

Student Whistlers Excel In  Convention

4.30.09 - Franklin County Schools was well represented during the annual International Whistlers' Convention held in Louisburg last weekend. Bunn Middle student Cassidy Osgood (far right) finished second in the female teen category, while Edward Best Elementary students Cory Wester (3rd grade) and Caroline Sanderford (4th grade) competed in the children's category. The annual event literally draws contestants from around the world.

Novozymes Grant Nets $25K for Lab

4.29.09 - Franklin County Schools' Career Technical Education Director Laureen Jones (left in photo) gladly accepts $15,000 on behalf of FCS for a biotechnology lab at Franklinton High School. Jones' effort with the grant also resulted in Novozymes donating $10,000 worth of equipment to be used in the new lab. Also pictured are Novozymes representatives Kevin Potter and Paige Donnelly.

FCS Superintendent L'Homme Resigns

YES' Tharrington Earns $500 Grant

What Does An Owl Eat?

Week of The Young Child Celebrated

4.27.09 - Last week, FCS elementary schools, including Laurel Mill (left) celebrated The Week of The Young Child. During the national celebration, students participated in various educational and fun activities. Laurel Mill students enjoyed a field-day type activity last Thursday, in addition to a trip to Louisburg College for a live performance. Students also began early planning for education after high school.

TLMS Half-Price Book Fair

4.24.09 - Terrell Lane Middle School will hold a half-price book fair from April 24th through April 29th. Books, toys, pens, etc. will be on sale daily in the school media center.

Camp Invention at Long Mill, Royal

4.24.09 - Long Mill Elementary School will host Camp Invention for students in grades 1-6. The camp will take place July 20-24 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. The same camp will also be offered at Royal from July 13-17. The science based event includes problem solving, physics activities and inventing. Base price is $215. Register before June 24th to receive a $20 discount. For more information, click here or contact Long Mill Camp Director Lisa Fischer at 554-0667 or Royal Camp Director Beth Denton at 853-2347.

FHS Booster Club Raffle Set

4.24.09 - Want a chance at winning $10,000? The Franklinton High School Booster Club is holding a $10,000 reverse raffle. Only 300 tickets will be sold for $100 each. The price includes two dinner tickets for the day of the drawing which will be held Saturday, May 30th, at the FHS Gym. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with the raffle starting at 7:00 p.m. Visit redramraffle.com for more information, or click here for a flyer. All proceeds benefit FHS athletics.

Autism Walk Scheduled In Franklinton

4.24.09 - The Franklinton High School HOSA club will host a Walk For Autism this Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. at Franklinton Park. The event will include a balloon toss, concessions, face painting, and a raffle for various gifts including. There will also be a ceremony held at 3 p.m. that will include guest speakers, speeches from HOSA members, as well as the drawing for the raffle. All proceeds will be donated toward the Autism Speaks Foundation. For more information, contact FHS HOSA advisor Mr. Winn Clayton at (919) 494-2332, ext. 247.

County Spelling Bee Produces Intense Battle

4.23.09 - Spelling Bee enthusiasts who witnessed the 2009 FCS Spelling Bee at Louisburg Elementary will remember this year's competition for a long time. Bunn Middle seventh-grader Nathan Anderson outlasted Terrell Lane sixth-grader Sandy Williams to take the 2009 county title. Anderson and Williams were both on the brink of elimination multiple times, but fought hard for nearly 30 minutes before the champion was crowned. Terrell Lane's Gregorio Llamas won the eighth-grade title, while Franklinton Elementary's Kimberly Ross collected the fifth-grade trophy and Laurel Mill's Latiya Williams pocketed the fourth-grade title. The finals consisted of all five grade-level champions.

FCS Students Participate In Earth Day

4.23.09 - Students throughout FCS took part in annual Earth Day Wednesday. Activities ranged from planting flowers, cleaning up trash to weeding gardens. At left, Franklinton Elementary Students take a short break after sprucing up the campus.

Nine Students Inducted to NTHS

4.23.09 - A total of nine students were inducted to the National Technical Honor Society Tuesday night at Franklinton High School. The annual ceremony was highlighted by guest speaker Dr. June Atkinson, State Superintendent of Education. At left, FHS students Gilbert Wheeler and Olivia Williams receive pins and certificates from Career Technical Education Administrative Assistant Nicole Marshall. FCS CTE Director Laureen Jones expressed how proud she was of this year's inductees. Entering this year's class were Marina Ang (BHS), Elijah Batkoski (BHS), Amanda Davis (BHS), Kristin Hedrick (FHS), Hana Metzinger (BHS, Kayla Penrod (BHS), Carrie Reavis (BHS), Gilbert Wheeler (FHS) and Olivia Williams (FHS).

Kindergarten Registration In Full Swing

Kindergarten continues through the month of April. Registration requirements have changed for this year. Students must be five-years-old on or before August 31st. For a complete list of registration dates and guidelines, click here. Interested in early registration?

Bunn High Football Players Read at BES

4.22.09 - Several Bunn High School football players took part in a reading event in which the players read to Bunn Elementary students Tuesday morning. Wildcat coach Chris Miller was excited about the opportunity for his players to give back to the community and hopes to repeat the activity again in the future. Miller will also conduct the annual Wildcat Football camp from June 22-25. The camp is available for children in grades 1-9. For more information, contact coach Miller at 919-496-3975 (ext. 236).

More Relay For Life Events

4.21.09 - The Bunn Middle School Relay For Life Team is sponsoring a Spaghetti Dinner in coordination with the drama department’s presentation of the play, “If the Shoe Fits”, for April 30, from 5-7 p.m. The play begins at 7 pm.  In addition students up to age 18 can still sign up for the Kids Relay Walk on May 2nd at Bunn High School. The event runs from 9 a.m. until noon and cost $5 which includes games and an armband. Students can pay $10 to enter and receive a T-shirt and an armband. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Linda Frederickson at 556-4981 or by e-mail at frederickson.linda@yahoo.com.

LHS Band To Appear On CBS Early Show

4.21.09 - As part of a trip to New York City, the Louisburg High School band will be the live audience for the CBS Early Show this Saturday morning (4.25.09) and will tour the studios when the program is complete. This is just one activity slated for the three-day trip which begins on April 23rd. In addition to touring New York City, the group will experience a chartered tour of the Hudson and East Rivers, attend a Broadway show and listen to a performance by the Blue Man Group.

Password Changes For FCS Employees

4.20.09 - All FCS employees will be required to change their computer login passwords this Tuesday (4.21.09). In order to prevent problems that could take considerable time to resolve, please be sure to follow the directions carefully. You will be prompted when you log on to your computer at the start of the day. Since your system login and email login are through the same account, the change will affect both.

Red Ram Soccer Camp Slated For June

4.17.09 - The annual Red Ram Soccer camp will take place from June 15-19 (9 a.m. to noon each day) and is open to all boys and girls ages 4-14. Cost is $80 and includes camp tuition, T-shirt and picture. Payment is due by may 15th. Registration received after May 15th is $100. For more information and a brochure, click here or call coach Deran Coe at 919-494-2332 (ext. 285).

Relay For Life 5K Run/Walk In Bunn

4.15.09 - Bunn High School is organizing a 5K Run (or walk) on April 25th with all proceeds going to Relay for Life and the BHS marching band. The cost is $25 if you register before April 20th. Cost is $40 after April 20th. You may register on the day of the event. The race begins at 10 a.m. (registration at 9 a.m.) and will take place at Vollmer Farm in Bunn. For more information, call 919-496-3076.

Franklin County Special Olympics

4.14.09 - The Franklin County Special Olympics were held last week with even more participants than 2008. The event had not been held for nearly a decade prior to 2008, but area volunteers, including Franklin County Schools and Franklin County Parks and Recreation, have brought the Special Olympics back to life. To see more pictures from the 2009 Franklin County Special Olympics, click here.

Otis Nixon Returns To Louisburg College

4.14.09 - Louisburg College alum and former Major League Baseball standout Otis Nixon will visit Louisburg College April 17th. He will be on hand in Holton Gymnasium Lobby from 4:45-5:30 p.m. to sign autographs. The public  is invited to meet him.

29 LHS Students Inducted To NHS

4.13.09 - Twenty-nine Louisburg High School students were recently inducted into the National Honor Society. Students earn a spot in the prestigious group through strong academic performance, positive character traits, essay writing and recommendations from multiple community leaders. Click here to see pictures and names of the latest inductees.

Distinguished Flags Fly at FES

4.13.09 - Franklinton Elementary has a distinguished set of flags flying. Last week, FES students, along with Carol Davis (principal) and Onnie Mitchell Burrell (assistant principal) hoisted a NC flag that has flown over the the state capital in Raleigh (donated by Senator Doug Berger). In February, Congressman Bob Etheridge donated a US flag (currently flying at FES) that flew over the nation's capital in Washington D.C.

Good Friday Marks Start of Spring Break

4.10.09 - FCS will be on Spring Break starting April 10th (Good Friday) and will return to normal operation on April 20th. All campuses, including central office, will be closed during this period. At left, Louisburg Elementary School students scurry for hidden treasures during the school's annual Kindergarten Easter Egg Hunt. 

TLMS Students Begin EOG Focus

4.9.09 - Students in a Reading Exploratory class at Terrell Lane Middle decided to take EOG preparations into their own hands.  The students created Peer Tutoring sessions that involved working with students to help increase their fluency rates to normal reading speeds. Student volunteers from other exploratory classes participated in the two-day sessions.  The tutors instructed peers with reading strategies such as the Direct Reading Approach, and Flip-Its.  The tutors invented additional reading fluency strategies. For motivation, the students chose reading materials from a wide range of categories. 

FHS Student Qualifies For State Math Event

4.9.09 - Franklinton  High School student Cole Arendt finished third at a recent math competition sponsored by N.C. State University and held at Chowan University in Murfreesoro. His bronze performance in the comprehensive division earned him a spot in the upcoming statewide competition. Red Ram math teacher Clayton Ramsey was pleased with Arendt's performance. Members of the FHS math team took part in the regional event.

Bunn High Football Camp

4.8.09 - Bunn High School varsity football coach Chris Miller will conduct the annual Wildcat Football camp from June 22-25. The camp is available for children in grades 1-9. Grades 1-5 will focus on the fun and fundamentals of football, while rising 6th-9th graders will participate in the position camp, which will focus on the specific skills of that position. Cost is $60 per child and includes T-shirt, certificate, prizes, awards and a final-day Punt / Pass / Kick contest. For more information, contact coach Miller at 919-496-3975 (ext. 236).

Bunn Middle Retains Quiz Bowl Crown

4.7.09 - Bunn Middle School swatted off a hard-charging Terrell Lane club and a talented Cedar Creek squad to win the annual FCS Junior Quiz Bowl for the third-straight year. Bunn Middle went undefeated in the event and prevailed 315-300 in the final round against Terrell Lane. Participating for Bunn Middle were Henry Neal, Walter Snead, Jenna Perry, Elliott Thomas, Logan Rigsbee, Katie Wagner and coach Myra Bridges. TLMS was led by Ivan Cockman, Max Cockman, Mark Denton, Quint Hester, Zoe Hinton, Claire Johnson, Colleen Leonard, Maia Quinn, Joshua Stein, Sandy Williams and coach Valeria Battle. Cedar Creek's team consisted of Albany Dale, Curtis  Duncan, Randi Gibbs, Devin Gorman, Devin Hoffman, Wil Hoffman, Tiffany Nguyen, Jordan Perry and coach Ronald Kirby. Click on the appropriate school name to see team photos: BMS TLMS CCMS

National Board Certified Teachers Honored

4.7.09 - The latest group of National Board Certified Teachers in Franklin County Schools was recognized last week at a dinner ceremony held at Louisburg College. Those being honored - Amy Bryant (TLMS), Barbara Stephens (LOMES), Rhonda Tharrington (LMES), Amanda Lynch (LMES), Beth Wolz (FHS), Juliana Walsh (BMS), Katie McCracken Reed (BES) and Kristen Hensley (BMS) - received gifts and pins. In addition, North Carolina Teacher of The Year Cindi Rigsbee told her uplifting life story. To view more photos of the event, click here.

News Archives...

FHS Spring Showcase Date Changed

4.6.09 - The Franklinton High School annual Spring Showcase will take place on May 11th from 6-8 p.m. at the FHS Gymnasium. This event is an opportunity for parents, students and community members to familiarize themselves with some of the activities taking place at FHS. Exhibits, projects and interactive activities will be presented to showcase specific courses, academic departments, sports and clubs available in Red Ram Country.

Special Olympics Postponed Again

4.6.09 - The Franklin County Special Olympics have been postponed for a second time. The event will take place on Thursday, April 9th. Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. at Franklinton Park. For further information, contact Wendy Vavrousek at 496-2457.

Terrell Lane Sixth at Regional Event

4.6.09 - After sweeping the county for the annual Battle of The Books championship, Terrell Lane Middle School qualified for the regional tournament in Selma. Terrell Lane put forth a strong performance, taking sixth place in last week's event.

Now Showing - The Wizard Of Oz

4.3.09 - The Louisburg High School Drama Club presented the Wizard of Oz Thursday night and has two more showings coming up. The group will perform Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the Louisburg High School Auditorium. Admission is $5. LHS Band Director Brian Miller will play the music for the event on both the organ and the piano.

Cinderella On Tap In Franklinton

4.3.09 - The Franklinton Area Community Theater will perform the classic play Cinderella for their annual spring performance. The cast consists of FCS students from a range of grade levels. The event takes place on April 3rd at 7:30 p.m. and again on April 4th at 7:30 p.m. in the Franklinton High School Auditorium. Admission is $5. FES students (left) thrilled a crowd last weekend with a presentation of The Little Mermaid.

FHS, LHS Chorus To Perform

4.2.09 - The Louisburg High School chorus, Franklinton High School chorus and alumni will conduct an Easter Cantata, on April 8th at 7 p.m. in the LHS Auditorium. The event is free to the public and will be directed by Mrs. Edith Anderson. Mrs. Anderson is a retired chorus and music teacher who spent her career with Louisburg High. In addition, Ms. Glendora Powell, a retired music/chorus teacher from Warren County and retired professor of Louisburg College, will be the guest accompanist.

LMES Student Is Queen For A Day

4.2.09 - Trinity Lamm, a Laurel Mill Elementary student, is putting forth a courageous battle against cancer. In her honor, Laurel Mill staff and students made her queen for a day on March 24th. They treated Trinity like royalty that day with a full-fledged parade through the school. To view the event, click here.

Cedar Creek Student To Be Featured On TV

4.2.09 - Randi Gibbs, a Cedar Creek Middle School student, took part in a local production of Dragon Fly TV last year, and it will air on UNC-TV on April 3rd at 4 p.m. Dragon Fly TV is a national sitcom program that focuses on middle school students exploring how daily life activities impact science and math.

BMS Students Aiming to Save Water

4.1.09 - It wasn't too long ago when this area was dealing with widespread drought. Even though we've had plenty of rain, it's always smart to conserver water. A group of Bunn Middle students have been taking part in a nationwide contest to conserve water. The group has been distributing bottles of sand to place in toilet tanks in effort to essentially reduce the amount of water flowing through the tank. How much progress are they making? Click here to view video of their project.

Having problems with the download? Click here.

FCS Students Earn Teaching Scholarships

3.31.09 - Four Franklin County seniors were awarded North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarships last week. Brianna Cooke and Krislyn-Kiara Tyler from Bunn High School along with Robert Bell from Franklinton High School and Cameron Gupton from Louisburg High School all earned the highly acclaimed scholarship for their outstanding performance both in and out of the classroom. Just 500 students earn the award each year. For more info, visit the NC Teaching Fellows webpage.

Career Opportunities

3.30.09 - Sharon Cannon of the FCS Career Technical Education Department organized another well-run career day. This time area businesses and services flocked to the halls of Bunn High School for the first career fair in Wildcat Country. Students got a chance to learn more about potential career paths during their lunch break. A wide variety of options were available and students were thankful for the opportunity to clear up questions about certain professions.

Bunn Band Nets High Marks

3.27.09 - The Bunn High School Band attended the North Carolina Bandmasters Association High School Band Festival on Wednesday where they performed three prepared pieces and a fourth piece that they had never seen before. Four judges evaluated their performance, and Bunn received a "II - Excellent" rating. The rating scale ranges from I (Superior) to V (Poor), and this is the highest score in BHS Band history.

Conserving Energy

3.26.09 - If you happened to be walking around central office last week, you probably noticed FCS maintenance crew members hard at work changing light switches. The traditional switches were replaced with sensors that automatically shut off when there is a period of no motion in the room. This is a proven method to conserve electricity, thus lowering electricity bills. All FCS employees are encouraged to continue to save electricity when possible.

Snow Make-Up Days

3.3.09 - For traditional calendar schools, March 13th and June 10th are scheduled make-up days for the days missed due to snow on March 2nd and March 3rd. For year-round schools, March 30th and June 15th are the make-up days. Please adjust your calendar accordingly.

Still Time to Donate To Relay For Life

3.25.09 - Still holding out, or wanting to donate more to the fight against cancer? You have plenty of chances coming. Long Mill Elementary will hold a benefit basketball game between parents and staff on March 27th at 7 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for students, and children under five get in for free. There will be a 3-point shooting contest at halftime ($1 entry fee) as well as student-led entertainment. Bunn Middle School will auction off a special autographed football. The football is signed by former Bunn High players who are now playing on the college level. BMS is also raffling off a hand-quilted lab robe. Tickets for both are $1 each or six for $5. Contact Suzanne Perry at 496-7700 for more details. Franklinton High School will host a dinner on April 2nd at  6 p.m. in the school media center. Dinner is $10 and includes roasted pork, twice baked potatoes, and crème brulee for dessert. Tickets are available at the high school or by calling LuAnn Corsale at 919-494-2332 ext. 292.

A Taste Of Costa Rica at Bunn High

3.24.09 - Bunn High students in Katherine Sanders' Spanish I class and Leslie Pate's Foods I class experienced a true cross-curriculum activity Monday. The Spanish class visited the Foods class to offer information concerning culture and cuisine in Costa Rica, while the Foods class showed the Spanish students how to prepare some of the Costa Rican food, including smoothies shown at left.

High School Exam Schedule Unchanged

3.23.09 - The snowstorm at the beginning of March extended the school year for students at traditional calendar schools until June 10th. This does not change the high school exam schedule. High school exams will conclude on June 9th. June 10th will be a required student day. High School graduations will be held June 13th at Louisburg College. Franklinton's ceremonies are at 10 a.m., Louisburg 2 p.m. and Bunn at 6 p.m.

Hands-On With Circuits

3.20.09 - The Franklin County Division of the N.C. Cooperative Extension 4H Club has been volunteering at Franklinton Elementary over the past few weeks to give students a better sense of electricity and electrical circuits. Students in Mr. Gentry's class built continuity testers with the guidance of Crystal Smith of the Cooperative Extension and 4H volunteer Alesia Moore. In addition, two home-schooled students helped out with the activity. This lab was designed to help students prepare for upcoming End-Of-Grade testing.

Warriors Hold Concert To Prep For Competition

3.19.09 - The Louisburg High School band held a free concert Tuesday night in preparation for an upcoming competition on March 27th in Cary. Both the concert and symphonic bands performed a variety of classic pieces for a supportive crowd of several hundred.

Franklinton Elementary Play Nearing

3.18.09 - Franklinton Elementary students have been practicing on their version of The Little Mermaid and will present the play March 27-28 in the Franklinton High School auditorium. The show begins at 7 p.m. on March 27th and 1 p.m. on March 28th. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students. For the Saturday showing, all proceeds go to Relay for Life. This play not only features students in grades 3-5, but also puppets.

Terrell Lane Poetry Slam

3.17.09 - Terrell Lane Middle School students packed the school media center throughout last Wednesday (3.11) for the annual Poetry Slam. This popular event draws a great deal of attention and takes place while Boston University students visit for their Alternative Spring Break. Thirteen students visited for a full week this year to help out in many different ways around the school. The university students took part in tutoring as well as helping with after school activities. A complete story will appear in the April issue of First Thursday.

Dr. Seuss at Youngsville Elementary

3.17.09 - Youngsville Elementary students recently celebrated reading with Dr. Seuss Day. During this event, students read famous Dr. Seuss books and dressed the part. Students throughout FCS elementary schools held similar events throughout the week.

Wizard of Oz Production at LHS

3.16.09 - The Louisburg High School Drama Club will present The Wizard of Oz on April 2-4 at 7 p.m. each day. LHS students continue to work diligently on this project as they prepare for opening night. The public is invited to attend. Admission is $5.

Extra Fun For LES After School Students

3.13.09 - Louisburg Elementary Library Assistant Betty Wrenn has been entertaining students enrolled in the Before and After program each Thursday by reading selections such as The Tortoise and The Hare and The Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion. Wrenn puts a strong emphasis on reading and her passion to do so is spreading to the students. Wrenn has been named Teacher Assistant of the Year three times at LES.

LHS Band Concert March 17th

3.13.09 - The Louisburg High School concert and symphonic bands will perform on March 17th at 7:30 p.m. in the Louisburg High School auditorium. Of particular note to band alumni who played in the Louisburg Band during the tenure of Mr. Bob Watson, is the march that the concert band will be performing.  “Thunder West March”, suggested to current band director Brian Miller by an alumnus of Mr. Watson’s, was performed by the band in the 1970s.

Unique Opportunity For Bunn High Student

3.12.09 - Bunn High School student Brittany Pearce enjoyed teacher Michael Grover's Anatomy class so much she wanted to continue to learn about the human body. While many people cringe at the idea of dissecting cadavers, Pearce jumped at the chance to do so at a camp held at Appalachian State University in early February. The camp featured students from other schools in North Carolina and surrounding states. Pearce plans on attending N.C. State University and becoming a zoologist. 

Queen Returns To Edward Best

3-12-09 - Monday, Edward Best Elementary students were informed Queen Elizabeth of England would come to the school in hopes of finding out what happened to the Lost Colony. Students prepared their theories and reported to the Queen in a formal fashion throughout Wednesday. The Queen was thankful for the help, and entertained questions about her royal lifestyle. This annual event is drawing more and more interest at EBES. Media coordinator Donna Jones played the part of the Queen.

Students Teaching Students

3.11.09 - Franklinton High School students participated in an annual Read Across America event at Franklinton Elementary School last week. FHS students, as well as Dr. Seuss, traveled to FES to read to future Red Rams. This spring event is growing in popularity as more and more FHS students want to participate.

Relay For Life Hoops Event at YES

3-11-09 - Youngsville Elementary School will hold a Relay for Life basketball game on March 13th at Cedar Creek Middle School. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. between YES fifth graders and staff while the doors open at 6:30 p.m. ($1 admission fee). In addition, there will be concessions and a free-throw contest at halftime. A king and queen will be crowned at the cost of $.50 per vote. The event will also feature recognition of cancer survivors.

Cedar Creek Math Night

3-10-09 - More than one hundred students and parents showed up for Math Night at Cedar Creek Middle School last week. This event gave parents a grasp of what exactly goes on in their child's math class. Parents and students participated in hands-on activities such as the one at the left. At left, Ashley Reed plots points with her father and brother. In all, there were six math stations for participants to complete. After successfully completing all six stations, participants earned a free hot dog dinner.

Bringing The Supreme Court To Life

3-9-09 - Louisburg High School students enrolled in Ms. Kerry Donahue's Civics and Economics class recently got an in-depth experience with landmark Supreme Court cases. Students took on the role of plaintiffs and defendants in famous cases such as Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education and Texas vs. Johnson. LHS Media Coordinator Becky Frisbie, LHS English Teacher Joe DeSantis and FCS Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme served as honorable justices for the event.

Making Healthy Choices

3-9-09 - The FCS Child Nutrition Department held its annual nutrition fair last Thursday for second-graders throughout the district. Royal Elementary hosted the popular event while multiple outlets, including FCS nurses, Franklin County Parks and Recreation, The NC Cooperative Extension, Winnie the Cow (Pet Milk), a dental hygienist (Lori Hawkins) and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, were present to offer information on living a healthy lifestyle. Students concluded the event by shopping for their own healthy items.

TLMS Cruises To Battle of The Books Title

3-6-09 - Terrell Lane Middle School claimed the 2009 Battle of The Books title with 61 points. Bunn Middle finished second with 45 points and Cedar Creek captured third place with 27 points. The annual middle school showdown is a competition based on popular reading material for middle school students. Terrell Lane, host of the event and coached by Nancy Shaffer, opened with a strong round of 18 points and never looked back. Participating for Terrell Lane were Brandon Basnight, Jared Bohan, Quint Hester, Claire Johnson, Kera Ktul, Hunter Morgan, Maia Quinn, Joshua Stein, Phoenix Spivey, Sandy Williams and Jessica Zepeda. Click on the corresponding links below for team photos from each school.

TLMS     BMS     CCMS

Long Mill Elementary Girls Night Out

3-5-09 - More than 50 people participated in the the Long Mill Girls Night Out event held during the final Tuesday of February. LOMES counselor Pat Dodson and Dawn Stallings of Safe Space led the activity that focused on relational aggression among girls. The event was funded through a United Way grant.

Special Meeting With Commissioners

3-4-09 - The Franklin County Board of Commissioners will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2009 for the purpose of a joint session with the Franklin County Board of Education to discuss projects associated with the 2008 school bond. The meeting will be held in the Board of Commissioner’s Meeting Room, Second Floor, County Administration Building, 113 Market Street, Louisburg, North Carolina.

Bunn Bands Benefit Yard/Bake Sale

3-3-09 - A community yard sale and bake sale will be held at Bunn High School as a fundraiser to benefit the Bunn Bands. The sale will be held Saturday, March 7 from 7 a.m. until noon. Rent your own space (two parking spaces) for $10 and bring your own tables to sell your own items and keep your profit. You may donate your items to the band and let the band sell them.  The band will keep the profit on all donated items to help pay for uniforms. For more information or to donate items for the sale, please contact Melody Causby, BHS Band director at MelodyCausby@fcschools.net or (919)496-3975.  Items may be dropped off at the office at Bunn High School March 2 through March 6.

Moving Assembly at FHS

2-28-09 - Franklinton High School freshmen assembled Friday morning for a Black History celebration that featured Larry Andrew's recreation of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech (left). In addition to the moving performance from Andrews, students listened to equally compelling stories from FHS Assistant Principal Ernest Wheeler and senior student Olivia Williams. Williams spoke about her experience at the recent inauguration of President Barack Obama, while Wheeler explained how much it meant to him to see Obama elected.

FES Treated With Talented Storyteller

2-27-09 - Mark Daniel, who has visited a handful of schools in the FCS district, put on a show for Franklinton Elementary Students this past Tuesday. Daniel's "Magical Story Telling" captivated both students and teachers in addition to bringing big smiles. At right, Daniel gets assistance from a student to help hold a special egg. The interactive program is designed to build reading skills, as well as encourage students to read for fun.

Black History Month Celebrations

2-27-09 - You don't have to look very long to find Black History Month celebrations throughout FCS. Door decorating contests, exhibits and student reports have been a common theme throughout February. In the March issue of First Thursday, many of the events will be highlighted. In addition to the displays at Bunn Middle School (right), there will be information on the door decorating contests at Cedar Creek Middle and Franklinton Elementary School. There will also be pictures and information from the former BF Person School which is now Franklinton Elementary School. There is an archives room from Person Albion on the campus of FES.

Staying Fit at Laurel Mill Elementary

2-26-09 - Laurel Mill Elementary School Principal Genie Faulkner (far right) and Curriculum Resource Teacher Maria Collins provide a jump rope demonstration for students in Grace Edwards PE class as part of the Jump Rope For Heart program. Faulkner and Collins are also taking part in a school wide competition to see who walks the most while at school. LMES staff are taking part in the competition and the distances are being recorded using pedometers.

School Level Teachers of The Year

2-25-09 - FCS is proud to announce this year's school level Teachers of The Year: Monica Brodie (BES), Brandy Carter (BHS), Freda LeMay (BMS), Geoffrey Hawthorne (CCMS), Patricia Richardson (EBES), Shonda Malone (FES), Susanne Harris (FHS), Nicole Sheldon (LMES), Dean Reed (LOMES), Deborah Carlson (LES), Janet Taylor (LHS), Maureen Lalino (RES), Susan Barnes (TLMS) and Judy Tart (YES). This teachers will be officially recognized at the end of May in the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet. Also at that time, the countywide winner will be announced.

Jim Harris Voted AP of The Year

2-24-09 - Cedar Creek Middle School Assistant Principal Jim Harris (left in photo) received a surprise visit from FCS Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Lynn Henderson Tuesday morning. It was good news for Harris, as he was informed he is the Assistant Principal of The Year. Harris has been AP at Cedar Creek since the fall of 2005 and has worked with FCS since 1992 after retiring from the Air Force. CCMS Principal Brooke Wheeler was voted Principal of The Year a few months ago. Voting is done by school and district administrators.

TLMS, BMS Excel In Math Competition

2-24-09 - Terrell Lane Middle School finished first in the annual Regional MathCounts competition, while Bunn Middle earned third place. As a result, TLMS has qualified for the state team competition in Durham on March 20th. Representing TLMS were Max Cockman, Quint Hester, Sandy Williams, Ivan Cockman, Ashley Cargill, Mark Denton, Zoe Hinton and Colleen Leonard. Cockman, Cargill, Leonard and Denton will represent the team on March 20th. Hinton finished third overall as an individual and earned a spot in the state individual competition, also on March 20th. Bunn Middle’s Jenna Perry was second overall and will also compete as an individual. Helping the team earn the bronze medal were Perry, Cassidy Ingram, Sara Mylin and Natalie DeFruscio. Terrell Lane’s Colleen Leonard (left with Vance Granville Community College President Randy Parker) was the top individual. As a result, Leonard earned a $500 scholarship to Vance-Granville Community College. In a special afternoon competition that emphasizes speed, Denton was first. Debra Frary and Helen Davis coached Terrell Lane, while Bunn was led by Brent Perry. More details and photos will appear in the March issue of First Thursday. Photo provided by VGCC.

LHS Wrestler Nets State Championship

2-23-09 - Louisburg High School senior Mamour Camara completed his perfect senior wrestling season by winning the state 1A/2A championship in the 135-pound weight division Saturday. Camara, coached by Phil Mueller, fashioned a 15-9 triumph in the final match to remain undefeated for the entire season (58-0). For his career, he was 166-24. Earlier this school year, Camara proved his strength in the classroom, scoring a perfect score of 800 on the math section of the SAT.

High School Hoopsters Set For Playoffs

2-23-09 - State playoff basketball begins tonight for area boys squads. Franklinton (14-9) hosts Tarboro (12-11) at 7 p.m. in round one of the 2A bracket. Bunn, also a 2A school, takes its 12-12 record on the road to East Duplin (18-6) at 7 p.m. Louisburg High School (15-10) travels to Creswell in the 1A bracket for another 7 p.m. tipoff. Creswell holds a 20-5 record. The Bunn High girls squad (10-12) travels to Southwest Onslow (22-3) Tuesday in the opening round of the girls 2A championship.

Congressman Etheridge Visits FHS

2-20-09 - United States Congressman Bob Etheridge visited Franklinton High School Thursday afternoon to discuss the recent economic stimulus package that was passed and how it relates to school construction. FHS students, FHS staff, FCS staff, Franklin County Board of Education members, county staff and county commissioners were also present for the round-table discussion. At left, FHS senior Jazmine Thomas tunes into Etheridge's opening comments. In addition to local officials, students also asked questions.

Wynn Delivers Powerful Messages

2-20-09 - Nationally known author, speaker and educator Mychal Wynn spent the better part of Thursday delivering powerful messages concerning student achievement and parent involvement. Wynn spent nearly two hours with FCS teachers and staff in an afternoon session and focused more on parents in an evening session. Both sessions took place at Louisburg High School. After the parent session, Wynn took time out to talk with those in attendance and to sign books. This event was made possible through the newly formed District Parent Involvement Council, which is led by Linda Frederickson - FCS Director of Elementary Education and Title I.

BHS Horticulture Class Tackles Project

2-19-09 - When Bunn High School vocational teacher Bob Frisbie contacted builder Chad Ray about having his Horticulture II class conduct the landscaping work at the new Bunn Crossings shopping center, Ray was quick to say yes to the idea. The class came up with a budget and design to create a pretty landscape around the center. Frisbie and Ray were very pleased with the work of both classes that participated in the event. This hands-on learning activity will stick with the students for a long time. Frisbie's Horticulture II class from the first semester started the project, while the second semester class completed it. Click here for a bigger picture of the group.

Abraham Lincoln Celebration at FES

2-19-09 - Franklinton Elementary students in Mrs. Craven's class (1st grade) celebrated Abraham Lincoln's birthday last week by making beards and hats and then wearing them. Students discussed Lincoln's life and accomplishments. Earlier this week, Lincoln was named most influential president by a committee of more than 60 historians.

Informative Night at Cedar Creek

2-18-09 - Cedar Creek Middle School parents and students received valuable information pertaining to Internet crimes and gang awareness Tuesday night. While parents gathered in the school cafeteria to learn more about Internet crimes, students assembled in the media center to view Larry Dunston's (NC Department of Correction) presentation on gangs. Kevin Roughton of the State Bureau of Investigation delivered the talk outlining crimes of the Internet pertaining to the safety of children.

Relay Breakfast at Laurel Mill

2-17-09 - Laurel Mill Elementary School teachers and staff got a good start to Monday's workday with a traditional breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes. All proceeds went to Relay for Life to help fight cancer. Schools throughout FCS are gearing up for the annual countywide Relay for Life event in May. Contact your local school for more information or about donating.

Early Fitness Gets Long Mill Going

2-16-09 - Early arriving Long Mill Elementary students get an electric start to the day with the early arrival fitness program. Students exercise up to 30 minutes in the gymnasium with a variety of activities, including dancing. Students and staff joined in on the fun last Thursday morning as the sounds of several classic dance songs filled the confines of the gymnasium. The administration at Long Mill believes firmly that good exercise and healthy eating lead to increased academic achievement and a better quality of life. This program is part of the Long Mill Healthy Kids Initiative.

Boutwell Wins Designers of Tomorrow

2-13-09 - After a tough judging process, the winners for the annual Franklin County Homebuilders Association Designers of Tomorrow contest were announced. Thursday night, Franklin County seventh and eighth graders flooded the Terrell Lane Middle School cafeteria to get the results. Earning honorable mention this year was Zoe Hinton (TLMS), third place James Slayton (CCMS), second place Christian Frazier (TLMS) and the grand prize winner was Molly Boutwell (TLMS). Boutwell received a plaque as well as a $400 savings bond. Second place earned a $300 savings bond, while third received a $200 savings bond and honorable mention received $50 cash.

FHS Graduation Projects

2-13-09 - Franklinton High School seniors spent the first semester of school developing their graduation projects, and the community received the chance to judge them this past Wednesday. Students presented their projects to a panel of judges and were scored using a state provided rubric. The pilot run of the event was a success. Bunn High School had similar success earlier this year. Next year, seniors will have to complete a project with a passing score in order to receive a high school diploma. At right, FHS senior Travon Elliott interviews FCS Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme during the research process for his project.  

PBS Kicks Off at Youngsville

2-12-09 - Youngsville Elementary officially began the Positive Behavior Support program Wednesday morning with an informative celebration for students and staff. YES Principal Rick Smith was pleased with the enthusiasm from the students and believes the program will make a difference. Prior to the official start, some elements of the program were installed and positive results were achieved. The program, which is used at other schools throughout FCS, provides awards for students displaying positive behavior. Tickets are earned throughout the year and students can use the tickets to earn gifts or privileges.  

Spencer Sweet Potato Visits Long Mill

2-10-09 - As part of the health and wellness program, Spencer Sweet Potato visited Long Mill Elementary Monday to highlight the healthy qualities of sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes, the official NC vegetable, are loaded with beta carotene, fiber, Vitamin E, Vitamin B and both fat and cholesterol free.

Designers of Tomorrow Ceremony

2-9-09 - The winners of the annual Designers of Tomorrow competition will be announced Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Terrell Lane Middle School. The event will last about an hour. All FCS seventh and eighth grade students have the opportunity to participate in this competition. Entries are judged by the Franklin County Homebuilders Association.

Student Dropout Rate Decreases

2-9-09 - The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released the 2007-2008 dropout statistics last week and Franklin County Schools showed solid improvement. FCS decreased from 6.13% to 5.34%. Twenty fewer students dropped out from the previous year. Many reasons can be attributed to this decrease, including the addition of the freshman academy, dropout prevention counselors, a 21-credit high school diploma as well as a turn-around program that includes a focus on at-risk students.

February First Thursday

2-6-09 - The February issue of First Thursday contains the latest news and events taking place within Franklin County Schools. This month's issue features a $50,000 donation to Edward Best Elementary School through the Box Tops for Education Program. In addition, read about a Franklinton High School student's trip to the Presidential Inauguration, as well as the life of Youngsville Elementary Principal Rick Smith. To view past issues of First Thursday or to subscribe, click here.

One Hundred Days, One Hundred Days

2-5-09 - Louisburg Elementary celebrated the 100th day of school, an annual tradition, with a creative parade through the school hallways. Students and teachers manufactured signs, shirts, necklaces, glasses and banners to celebrate the day. The event generated a great deal of excitement among students, teachers and staff.

Storyteller Thrills FES Students

2-4-09 - Franklinton Elementary students were treated to the storytelling of Willa Brigham from NC Smart Start earlier this week. Through her innovative ability, Brigham expressed the importance of healthy habits to students in grades K-2 and followed with a presentation on African American History in North Carolina for students in grades 3-5. In addition, Brigham led the staff in a writing workshop to help improve storytelling skills.

Relay For Life Basketball Game

2-3-09 - Edward Best Elementary School will host a Relay For Life basketball fundraiser this Friday (2.6.09) at 6:30 p.m. at the Edward Best Elementary Gymnasium. Admission is 50 cents for students, $2 for non-students and free for children under 5. There will be refreshments, a cake drawing, a ladies game, a boys game and a free-throw shooting contest. All proceeds go to Relay For Life.

Wrestling Squads Prep For Playoffs

2-3-09 - Louisburg High School, the top-ranked 1A wrestling school in North Carolina, will host a bracket of the NCHSAA Regional Wrestling Dual Team 1A Tournament tonight (February 3rd) at 6 p.m. The Warriors, 38-3 overall, will wrestle South Davidson (16-5). In addition, Franklinton High School, Northern Carolina Conference Champion (NCC) , hosts West Stokes at 6 p.m. Bunn, NCC runner-up, travels to Richlands to battle South Brunswick. Bunn and Franklinton are both 2A schools.

PIO Nets Blue Ribbon Awards

2-3-09 - FCS Public Information Officer Nathan Moreschi earned two Blue Ribbon Awards from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association. Moreschi was honored with plaques for the categories of News Letter and Photography during the annual NCSPRA Blue Ribbon Ceremony on January 30th in Durham. More details will appear in the February issue of First Thursday.

Scientists Visit Royal Elementary

2-2-09 - Novozymes scientists Ellen King and Ginger Strawbridge visited Mrs. Lacy Coley's 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade AIG students at Royal Elementary School last week.  This hands-on instruction will lead into a unit using microscopes provided through funds awarded by United Way of Franklin County. 

$50,000 Awarded  to EBES

1-30-09 - Edward Best Elementary School Principal Debbie Ayscue (right) and EBES parent Debbie Myatt (left) can't help but smile as $50,000 is awarded to the school from the General Mills and Food Lion Box Tops For Education Program. Myatt won the $50,000 sweepstakes after entering this past fall, earning the right to donate the money to the school of her choice. Myatt has two children who attend Edward Best. Area media, State Representative Lucy Allen, Franklin County Board of Education Chair Paige Sayles, Franklin County Board of Education member John May, County Commissioner Robert Lee Swanson, FCS Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme along with students, parents and staff of Edward Best were present for the memorable Friday morning. More details will appear in the February issue of the First Thursday. 

Staff Development With a Smile

1-30-09 - FCS Curriculum Resource Teachers spent several days this week introducing different teaching methods and instructional ideas with elementary teachers at the Mitchell Media Center. Elementary Teachers throughout the county shared quite a few laughs while learning a variety of entertaining lessons.

Royal Elementary Character Breakfast

1-29-09 - More than 60 Royal Elementary students took part in a recent Character Breakfast. Delicious, warm glazed doughnuts were a big hit with both students and parents present for the event. Students received certificates from school Principal Shawnee Perry-Manley for displaying the character traits of perseverance and kindness. This event takes place multiple times throughout the school year for students displaying different positive character traits.

Writing Wonderland at LES

1-28-09 - Louisburg Elementary students and staff, along with special guest Mr. Write Right the Snowman, kicked off Writing In a Winter Wonderland week Monday afternoon with a parade that circled the school. The writing focus is targeted to fourth graders. The parade consisted of all fourth-grade students from LES.

CCMS Musicians Make District Band

1-27-09 - Cedar Creek Middle School band members Wil Hoffman and Emily Cook are playing with a little more confidence after earning a spot on the N.C. Bandmasters Central Division All District Band. The audition took place on January 3rd at C. W. Stanford Middle School in Hillsborough. The intense audition included a solo session with music neither had ever seen before. Hoffman and Cook will perform with the All District Band on February 7th at 3 p.m. at Asheboro High School. Hoffman plays the clarinet, while Cook plays the French Horn. More details will appear in the February issue of First Thursday.

Pottery Lessons at Bunn Elementary

1-26-09 - Jasper Moore, a Bunn High School faculty member, parent of two students at Bunn Elementary, and active member of the community demonstrated how to "throw" pots to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students at Bunn Elementary recently.  Each student received the opportunity to actively participate in creating a pot. 

Youngsville Elementary Make-up Days

1-23-09 - Youngsville Elementary, a year-round school, missed two days of class due to winter weather this week. The scheduled make-up days are February 16th and March 13th.

Young Scientists At Work

1-16-09 - Bunn Middle School science students in Joan Stone's class received a hands-on education about the heart Thursday. Students dissected pig hearts during a lab experiment as they continue to studying circulatory systems. This is all part of the current focus on the different human systems. The hearts were donated by a local farm as were many other materials needed for the lab. Stone stated this lab was nearly free because of the donations.

Winnie The Cow Visits Long Mill

1-15-09 - Long Mill Elementary students had the opportunity to meet Winnie the Cow Wednesday. An area dairy business visited the school to help explain the importance of eating dairy products. In addition, the FCS Child Nutrition Department held lessons for the students showing how drinking milk can help lead to a healthy body.

National Guard Helps FES Start AR

1-14-09 - Franklinton Elementary students got a surprise from the Army National Guard Tuesday afternoon to help kickoff the Accelerated Reading program. Two helicopters landed to help generate excitement as the academic focus shifts to reading as students begin gearing up for the end-of-year testing. School Principal Carol Davis was thankful for the visit and believes this will help inspire FES students. Curriculum Resource Teacher Lisa Pennington played a big role in making this all possible. To view more pictures of the thrilling event, click here.

Media Coordinator Gets Opportunity

1-14-09 - Long Mill Elementary School Media Coordinator Cheryl Wright had the opportunity to meet and speak with author Michael Dahl this past weekend during the Librarian2Librarian Summit at East Carolina University. Dahl has authored more than 200 books for students and young adults and is known for his graphic novels.

LHS ROTC Students Shine In VFW Competition

1-13-09 - Louisburg High School ROTC students received recognition for their efforts in the annual VFW Voice of Democracy contest. Students submitted an essay and video clip addressing the benefit of service and sacrifice by America’s veterans. Corey Newell received an honorable mention certificate, while Douglas Harris finished third and earned $100. Taking second place was Juana DeLeon ($200) and the top prize of $300 went to Nathaniel Phillips. In addition, the local VFW post donated $237 to the LHS ROTC program.

High School Exams

1-12-09 - FCS high school students begin taking first semester exams Tuesday (1.13.09). Students will take one exam Tuesday through Friday to close out the first semester. When all exams are complete each day, students will be released to go home. Students will have the option of eating lunch on campus after exams are complete. Students who are striving for perfect attendance but are exempt from exams, must still attend school on these days. This coming Monday, all schools are closed for the observance of Martin Luther King's birthday. In addition, all traditional calendar schools will have a teacher workdays on January 20th and January 21st.

January 2009 First Thursday

1-9-09 - The first 2009 issue of First Thursday is now available. This month's issue features 17 pages of FCS information. Among the featured articles this month concerns 21-year Bunn High football coach David Howle who stepped down after the end of this season. Other stories include an enrichment program at Terrell Lane, finalized FHS construction and more. Click here to reach the First Thursday website. 

FHS Math Students Excel With Project

1-7-09 - Franklinton High School technical math students in Laura Wilson's class excelled in a recent project. Students built model homes and buildings using math to calculate angles, length, volume and area. Popsicle sticks were a common building material, but many students used heavier materials and made the models quite large. Some students elected to show how math is used in different professions. One student built a display showing how math is used at the Youngsville Fire Department. Wilson was thrilled with the results, saying students went above and beyond her expectations. 

Warrior Wrestlers Ranked Number One

1-7-09 - The Louisburg High School wrestling team continues to excel. As a result of a strong start to the current season with a 21-1 team record, the Warriors are the top-ranked 1A squad in the state in the NC Mat News wrestling newsletter. LHS recently won a 10-team tournament and defeated teams in a higher classification. The Warriors will be in action at home on January 24th for the annual Louisburg Duals. The multi-team tournament begins at 10 a.m.

FCS Selected As NCVPS Pilot District

1-6-09 - FCS is one of seven school districts selected as a pilot for the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) program in Wave II. The goal of the pilot program is to help districts and schools develop and implement a plan for integrating virtual learning and the 21st century skills and tools into their core business. NCVPS is an online program for high school students that allows them to pursue coursework that might not be readily available through traditional means. For more information, visit www.ncvps.org.

Camara's Flawless SAT Performance

1-5-09 - Louisburg High School senior Mamour Camara has accomplished something that many people can only dream about – a perfect score of 800 on the math section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Louisburg High School guidance counselor Cherry Ayscue said that Camara’s accomplishment takes place about every 10 years at Louisburg High. Camara intends on using his ability more in college at North Carolina State University where he plans on majoring in Aerospace Engineering. In addition to shining in the classroom, Camara is a standout athlete as well. Several weeks into the 2008-2009 season, Camara remained undefeated in the 135-pound weight division.

Holiday Break Schedule

The FCS annual Holiday Break is here. Traditional calendar students return on January 5th. Year-round students return to school on January 12th. However, extended learning begins on January 5th. At left, a Terrell Lane Middle School band member plays a classic holiday tune during the annual Louisburg High School and Terrell Lane Middle School winter concert.

Seasons Greetings From Dr. L'Homme

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

During the holiday season, I find myself reflecting on the past year and on those who have helped to shape our school system in a most significant and positive way. I value your hard work and dedication to the needs of our students, and I am looking forward to working with you in the new year. Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Hanukah; however you celebrate the holiday season, you and your family are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Warmest best wishes,

Bert L’Homme (Superintendent) 

FES/FHS Agriculture Grant

12-19-08 - Franklinton Elementary and Franklinton High School students work on completing holiday decorations during a cooperative learning experience that was made possible through a grant received for agriculture. Complete details will appear in the January issue of First Thursday. Click here for a group photo of the students

Santa Visits LES Pre-K

12-18-08 - Louisburg Elementary Pre-K students received an annual early visit from Santa Claus this past Monday (12.15.08). Students clapped, cheered and smiled as St. Nick handed out gifts from his giant bag of toys and wished each and everyone a very happy holiday season.

Virtual Field Trips at LES

12-17-08 - Most students enjoy field trips to a museum, but time doesn’t always allow for a field trip. Many students at Louisburg Elementary have been participating in virtual field trips through the North Carolina Museum of History via interactive learning carts. Fourth-grade students in Mrs. Anderson’s class and others marched through a virtual field trip about Native Americans in North Carolina this week. The live interactive activity included map exercises along with questions and answer sessions with the field trip guide.

Wildcat Band Delivers Powerful Concert

12-16-08 - The Bunn High School Band, directed by Melody Causby, thrilled the student body with two concerts Tuesday morning in the new BHS Auditorium. In addition to playing a variety of holiday classics, band members provided some innovative music without the aid of instruments and used their hands and feet to produce a rhythmic sound. It was an educational event for students, as proper concert etiquette was explained while the event progressed.

BES Art Students Give Back

12-15-08 - Bunn Elementary School students, in conjunction with The Louisburg Rotary Club, decorated Christmas bags that are going to be filled with fruit and candy as part of a community project. Students will deliver the bags to senior citizens in the community and Meals on Wheels for their Christmas meal.  The students were very proud of their project and were happy about helping within the community.

Stomach Virus Alert

12-29-08 - The Franklin County Health Department has issued an alert stating there have been reports of a stomach virus (norovirus) throughout the community. Anyone who experiences symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea needs to stay home and limit the number of individuals exposed during the illness period and up to 3 days after symptoms pass. For questions, call the Franklin County Health Department at 496-2533.

Letter (Spanish version) | FAQ (Spanish version)

Long Mill Holiday Concert

12-12-08 - Long Mill Elementary students held a holiday concert recently under the direction of music teacher Susan Averill. The successful event featured holiday classic songs as students get set for the upcoming holiday break. The final day of class for students attending a traditional calendar school is December 19th. Students return to class on January 5th.

Terrell Lane Relay For Life Event

12-12-08 - Terrell Lane Middle School will host a Relay for Life benefit gospel concert event this Saturday (12.13.08) from 4-6 p.m. The event will feature singing from talented individuals and groups from many local churches. Donation required for admission is $5.

FES Students Bring Smiles

12-12-08 - Franklinton Elementary students in the fifth-grade AIG program visited Louisburg Nursing Center this week to share a little holiday cheer. The students read holiday books, handed out some tasty treats and provided a few homemade gifts. This is an annual event led by FES AIG teacher Michelle McGhee and Franklinton's Woman's Club.

More Winter Concerts On The Horizon

12-11-08 - Still hoping to take in a few tunes to get into the holiday spirit? You still have a few opportunities. The Louisburg High School chorus will perform tonight (Thursday) in the Louisburg High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. at Louisburg High School. The LHS band will hold a winter concert December 18th at Louisburg College at 7:30 p.m.  Bunn High School will perform tonight at Bunn High at 7 p.m. In addition, the Bunn Middle School band will perform on December 16th at 7 p.m. at Bunn Middle.

LHS' Bullock Nets $1,000 Scholarship

12-10-08 - Louisburg High School student Bianca Bullock's college savings got a lot better this past weekend. Bullock, who plans on attending N.C. A&T University to major in biochemical engineering, received a $1,000 Lamplighter Scholarship for her community service and strong academic performance. She was nominated by Louisburg High School guidance office employee Betty Wright. The scholarship was sponsored through radio station The Light (103.9). Bullock received the award at a formal, gala event. 

Greeting Card Contest at Long Mill

12-10-08 - Long Mill Elementary student Paige Ellington's greeting-card design (left) was selected as the winning entrant of the annual MBAJ Architecture holiday greeting card contest. There were several strong entries, and a total of five students were recognized and received gifts from MBAJ (art kits). Ellington's work has been printed in card form, and MBAJ will use the cards for all of their holiday greeting cards (three states worth). Scott Ring, LOMES art teacher, helped lead the students through the process. An award ceremony took place December 9th and was led by MBAJ employees Jon Long and John Thomas. Click here for a group photo. 

Students Celebrate Colonial Period

12-10-08 - Tom Snead, Bunn Middle School social studies teacher, guided his students through a study of the Colonial period with a host of engaging activities. In addition to assembling colonial newspapers full of information pertaining to the time period, students dressed up as colonial characters (right) and acted out skits for fellow students.

BHS Band Marches in Youngsville Parade

The Bunn High School band, led by Melody Causby, marched through downtown Youngsville during the town's annual Christmas parade this past Saturday morning. The Wildcat band will be in action again this Saturday at 10 a.m. for the Bunn Christmas parade. Louisburg High School will perform on December 18th during a Winter Concert at Louisburg College. See below for more details. LHS is led by Brian Miller.

Movie Night at Bunn Elementary

12-8-08 - More than 130 second-grade students and their families boarded The Polar Express at Bunn Elementary School on the night of December 4th. Tickets were punched upon arrival. Families enjoyed the movie, as they snacked on popcorn and juice. As families departed, they were presented with a silver bell. Students will review skills as they participate in a variety of Polar Express activities before the upcoming holiday break.

Federal Reading Program at FES

12-8-08 - Franklinton Elementary school takes full advantage of the federally funded Reading is Fundamental (RIF). Last week students visited the FES library to select a book of their own (funded through RIF). In addition to selecting books, students celebrated with a sweet snack. Readers in Tasha Wilder's class made careful selections (left) with the aid of media specialist Amy Leonard and media assistant Mildred Cheatham. Students in all grade levels will get to select multiple books throughout the school year.

Long Mill Space Race

12-8-08 - Long Mill Elementary students participated in their own Space Race recently. Students from Franklinton High School helped out with the reading project as well (distributing award at left). The goal for students was to read at least 180 minutes for each planet. After 180 minutes, students moved to another planet. The program was a huge success, with 30 students receiving certificates or pins for graduating from all nine planets.

LHS' Blevins Pleasantly Surprised

12-5-08 - Louisburg High School Curriculum Resource Teacher Jane Blevins received a sweet surprise on December 4th. WRAL TV 5 morning news anchor Valonda Calloway (right) informed Blevins that she is the WRAL Teacher of the Week. Blevins, a 36-year education veteran, had no idea that she was going to receive the award, and was genuinely surprised when Calloway entered the classroom with the news. Blevins was Franklin County Teacher of the Year two years ago, in addition to earning the title multiple times throughout her career as an educator. The news clip will air the morning of December 9th on four occasions. The first two will take place at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. on WRAL TV 5, while the second two will take place at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on FOX 50. In addition, the story will be available at http://www.wral.com/.

December First Thursday

12-4-08 - The December issue of First Thursday has been released. This month's issue features a water conservation project from Bunn Middle, Louisburg Elementary Principal William Harris, United Way Grants and many more stories involving Franklin County Schools. To view the December issue, or to subscribe, click here.

Grant Allows for Virtual Science Lab

12-4-08 - Franklinton High School science teacher Thomas Morris (right) received a $1200 grant from Wake Electric for a virtual science lab. The virtual lab is a software program that simulates a wide range of science experiments. Franklinton High School students will be able to conduct the labs from any computer at FHS. Morris' grant is just one of many recently awarded to FCS teachers. The December issue of First Thursday will highlight more grants.

Bunn Coach Retires With  Honor

12-3-08 - High School football coaching icon David Howle stepped down at the conclusion of the fall season after building a highly successful and well-respected program at Bunn High School. His career spanned more than 20 seasons at Bunn and he finished with a big honor - Northern Carolina Conference Coach of the Year. Howle will remain a teacher at Bunn High, but next year will begin following his son's (Ty) college career at Penn State University.

PBS System Going Strong at CCMS

12-2-08 - The Positive Behavior Support (PBS) system continues to thrive at Cedar Creek Middle School. On the day prior to Thanksgiving, students who went the entire month without a discipline referral were awarded an afternoon trip to either play or watch a three-on-three basketball tournament among students. The event was a big success as the number of referrals was half of the number it was the previous month. Multiple schools throughout the county are experiencing success with the program as well. 

FCS Students Set To Start Season

12-1-08 - FCS elementary students will add holiday flavor to Franklin County Tuesday (Dec. 2) with tree ornaments and holiday singing in front of the old Franklin County Courthouse in Louisburg. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. The ornaments were personally made by FCS students enrolled in art classes. The Franklin County Arts Council helps organize this annual, fun-filled event.  

LMES Students Spread Some Cheer

11-27-08 - Laurel Mill Elementary students visited the Carebridge Assisted Living Center two days before Thanksgiving, bringing smiles to everyone involved. Students, teachers and administrators of Laurel Mill sang, danced and handed out student-made pottery as gifts to begin a happy Thanksgiving. Franklin County Schools will be closed Thanksgiving day and the Friday after, but will return to normal hours on December 1st. 

Story of Stone Soup

11-26-08 - Franklinton Elementary students in Mrs. Battes' class had an interesting lesson related to the story Stone Soup. In addition to having their own Stone Soup, students learned the valuable lesson of giving and sharing and coming together as community. The book mirrors the same message after a group of soldiers are supported by the efforts of a poor community.

Life Sized Turkey at BES

11-26-08 - Bunn Elementary School students got an early Thanksgiving treat Monday afternoon when a giant turkey visited the school during the daily Wildcat Walk. Students took time to shake hands and offer hugs during the memorable event. BES encourages students to exercise on a regular basis, especially during the Wildcat Walk. As holidays or events approach, it's not uncommon to get a special visit from an entertaining character at BES. Events, including the Turkey Trot, are used to inspire students to continue to participate in Wildcat Walk. 

World Class Jumpers Visit YES, CCMS

11-25-08 - Tyler Perez (far right) and Tommy Hager (far left) spent time showing off their jump-rope skills Monday at Youngsville Elementary, Long Mill Elementary and Cedar Creek Middle School. Both are members of competitive jump-rope squads. Perez is a world-class competitor and helped his team, Impact Triforce, finish second in the world championships last year. He has displayed his talent in nearly every state. Hager, who teachers at Salem Elementary in Apex, teams up with Perez for shows whenever possible. CCMS students and teachers got in on the action Monday afternoon, bringing the crowd to its feet.

Wildlife Refuge Visits LOMES

11-25-08 - Steve Stone from the American Wildlife Refuge of Raleigh entertained Long Mill Elementary third-grade students last week with a wealth of knowledge pertaining to flying wildlife.  Stone brought six different flying wild animals to share, and told a story about an Indian boy who got lost in the woods and came across each one of the wild animals. His captivating story, as well as the birds present, kept students engaged.

LMES Students Learn from a Shepherd

11-24-08 - The past couple of weeks, first graders at Laurel Mill Elementary have been learning about community helpers in reading and social studies.  Sergeant Ayscue of the  Franklin County Sheriff’s Department came to speak with students about being a police officer. He is also part of the K-9 unit. He brought along his partner, Cero.  Cero is a German Shepherd from Russia and assists in catching criminals. The students interacted with Ayscue and asked various questions. In addition to having a wonderful time, students learned what a police officer does to keep the community safe.

Long Mill Kids of Character Breakfast

11-24-08 - Long Mill Elementary students who displayed the character traits emphasized in the months of September and October (respect and responsibility) were treated to a wholesome breakfast last Friday morning with parents and staff members. The incentive program will continue for the rest of the school year.

Sayles Named To NCSBA Board

11-21-08 - Franklin County Board of Education Chair Paige Sayles was recently named to the North Carolina School Board Association Board of Directors. Sayles has been a Franklin County Board member since 1998 and has held the Chair position for the past two years. This is a two-year post in which Sayles will serve. The Board of Directors establishes the mission and goals for the association and ensures that NCSBA activities and programs remain focused on these goals. In addition, Sayles will continue her role as Chair of the Franklin County Board of Education.

Grants Galore

11-21-08 - United Way Franklin County awarded 19 grants to 11 different schools totaling $22K this Thursday night. In the 12-year history of the program, more than $272K has been issued by United Way for 224 grants. There were 62 total applications this year. The program began 12 years ago after a request for a grant came from two Bunn Elementary teachers. At left, Royal Elementary Principal Shawnee Perry-Manley congratulates Royal teacher Lacy Coley on her grant. Full details of all grants awarded will appear in the December issue of First Thursday.

Football Clubs Prepare for Round Two

11-21-08 - Bunn High, Louisburg High and Franklinton High all advanced to round two of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state football playoffs with first-round wins. Franklinton staged a second-half rally for a 23-13 triumph against First Flight, while Louisburg romped Heide Task 72-12 and Bunn throttled Croatan 68-8. This coming Friday Louisburg (11-1) hosts Pender (7-5) in the 1AA playoff bracket, while Bunn (10-2)entertains Goldsboro (9-1-1) in the 2A tournament. Franklinton (7-5) travels to top-seeded Tarboro (11-1) for another 2A bracket showdown. All games start at 7:30 p.m.

FCS: Highly Qualified

11-17-08 - The annual state highly qualified teacher report is in and Franklin County Schools has scored very well. In the FCS system, 99.1 percent of all teachers are highly qualified. The state average for all systems is slightly less than 98 percent. Highly qualified status is determined by a number of factors, including educational background and certification status.

LES Fall Celebration

11-13-08 - Much like many other schools throughout FCS, Louisburg Elementary students recently took part in a fall celebration. Even school Principal William Harris jumped in on the fun (left) of sifting through a barrel of corn.

Numbers Night at Bunn Elementary

11-13-08 - Bunn Elementary students and their families enjoyed Numbers Night this past Monday (11.10.08).  Families visited classrooms where they were actively engaged in a variety of math stations.  Teachers provided participants with the directions and materials needed to play the math games at home.  The evening concluded with a hot dog dinner that was enjoyed by all.

FES Students Attend Book Signing

11-13-08 - Franklinton Elementary teachers Mrs. Bishop & Mrs. McGhee took their students to the Quail Ridge Bookstore in Raleigh on the first Monday in November to meet the award winning children's author and illustrator Jan Brett.  Students purchased her book Gingerbread Friends and were able to participate in her book signing event.  Each year Mrs. Bishop's class does an author study on Jan Brett. 

Students Learn More About Recycling

11-12-08 - Mr. Trashcan Man from the Franklin County Solid Waste Department visited Laurel Mill Elementary kindergarten students recently and spoke with them about recyclable products in their homes and the importance of recycling everyday. The Trashcan Man has visited other FCS campuses this fall, including Franklinton Elementary, to spread his message.

Veterans Visit Franklinton Elementary

11-11-08 - Area U.S. Veterans Harvey Satterwhite (left) and Taylor Moore (right) shared a few laughs with Franklinton Elementary students Monday morning. The Veterans took time to explain what being a Veteran means and the various tasks each was responsible for while serving the nation. FES curriculum resource teacher Lisa Pennington (Veteran) and fifth-grade teacher David Gentry (Veteran) also took part in the conversation as students asked a wide variety of questions.

Warriors Claim Brain Game Title

11-10-08 - Members of the Louisburg High School Quiz Bowl team showed off their skills recently in the WRAL TV Brain Game. Cameron Gupton, Yvette Townsley and Ben Lord (right) teamed up to topple Hobbton High and Edgecombe Early College. The show will air on November 22nd on WRAL TV. The LHS stalwarts totaled 570 points, while Edgecombe finished with 110 and Hobbton 90. It was the third-highest point total of the season. As a result, the squad has qualified for the Brain Game Tournament of Champions in December. Questions were chosen from a variety of categories including math, science, literature, pop culture, poetry and geography.

FCS High Schools Playoff Bound

11-10-08 - After wrapping up the regular season with convincing victories, Bunn High, Louisburg High (10-1) and Franklinton High are headed to the NCHSAA state football playoffs. Louisburg, riding a 10-game win streak, hosts Heide Trask in round one of the 1AA title chase. Bunn (9-2) entertains Croatan in 2A action, while Franklinton (6-5) stays home to take on First Flight High School.

November First Thursday

11-7-08 - The November issue of First Thursday is full of exciting FCS news. In this issue, read about FCS Principal of the Year Brooke Wheeler, as was as mock elections held at several schools. In addition, get an in-depth sense of Edward Best Elementary School through the eyes of Principal Debbie Ayscue. Click here to download your own copy.

Interactive Carts Received at LES

11-6-08 - Louisburg Elementary teachers were all smiles after receiving 17 interactive technology carts through the Reading First Program. With the 17 carts, all teachers in grades kindergarten through third grade now have their own interactive cart. The carts include a data projector, document camera, laptop, audio system and a microphone. Teachers took part in a mass training last week and could not help but smile during the process.

LHS Students Swarm Career Fair

11-5-08 - Louisburg High School students took full advantage of exploring potential career paths Tuesday during lunch while attending a career fair organized by Sharon Cannon of the FCS Career Technical Education Department. Business and education outfits set up booths to answer questions and distribute literature to interested students. The creative booths grabbed the attention of many students, sparking thoughts about future careers.

Students Participate In Mock Elections

11-4-08 - For the past week, many schools throughout FCS have participated in mock elections to get a sense for what it would be like to vote. A handful of schools participated in national elections, including Franklinton High School and Terrell Lane Middle. Other schools, such as Laurel Mill Elementary (right), held school-wide elections using available technology. In addition, some schools will hold localized mock elections today, Super Tuesday. A detailed rundown of mock elections will appear in the November issue of First Thursday.

CCMS Book Fair On Tap

10-31-08 - Cedar Creek Middle School students, staff and community members had a grand time during a recent fall festival (left), and is looking forward to an upcoming book fair that begins November 6th and lasts through November 19th. In addition, November 6th is Report Card Pick-Up Night.

Red Ribbon Week Celebration

10-31-08 - Terrell Lane Middle School took Red Ribbon week seriously this year. In addition to posters and ribbons sprinkled throughout the school, there was a chain of paper links circling the entire school parking lot and draping the school hallways. Red Ribbon Week is an annual event outlining the the dangers of drugs and encouraging everyone to be drug free.

Franklinton Elementary On Safari

10-30-08 - Well, not exactly, but that will be the theme next week at Franklinton Elementary School. FES will host a Safari Journey all next week during its book fair. In addition, FES will hold Family Night on November 6th from 5-7 p.m. A PTA meeting will follow.

Pilot Program at FHS

10-30-08 - Winn Clayton's Medical Science I class at Franklinton High School is taking part in a pilot program directed by the Wake Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Amy Thomas and Elaine Owns of AHEC are visiting the class once a week for 10 weeks to get students more involved with the medical field. This is a three-tier program which leads to clinical site work for the students.

Fun Fall Friday At Edward Best Elementary

10-28-08 - Edward Best Elementary held its annual Fall Festival last Friday night. Students, teachers, parents and community members flooded the school grounds to enjoy games, food and various other activities such as face painting (right). Many other schools throughout the FCS system conducted fall festivals as well this season in effort to improve school spirit and community relations.

TLMS Continues To Pitch In

10-27-08 - Terrell Lane Middle School students continue to help out with keeping the environment as clean as possible. Science students in Katie Tatum's class continue to volunteer to monitor the water quality of the Tar River and clean out storm drains in the town of Louisburg. The funding for these activities is provided through grants obtained through Tatum's hard-work and dedication. At right, students wade through the Tar River.

Fall Is Here

10-24-08- Cool mornings, low humidity and colorful leaves....fall is here! Many schools throughout FCS have already held a fall festival, while others are just around the corner. Edward Best Elementary will hold its fall festival today (10.24.08) at 5:30 p.m. Cedar Creek Middle is set to do the same this coming Monday from 4:30-7 p.m. These are public events. At left, Youngsville Elementary students mix fall with math. Students took time to measure and weigh their mini pumpkins in Nanette Ryhne's kindergarten class.

Wildcats Ready For Homecoming

10-24-08 - Bunn High School students have been quite creative during spirit week. In preparation for a homecoming showdown with Franklinton, Bunn has had several spirit-building activities, including Green and Gold Day. Friday morning BHS students cheered and celebrated during a green and gold wedding, tug-of-war, Christmas and recycling. Freshmen, sophomores juniors and seniors created the individual shows that proved to generate a wealth of school spirit. The Wildcat football team, 6-2 overall, hosts rival Franklinton tonight at 7:30 p.m. FHS is 5-3 overall and tied for first with the Wildcats in the the Northern Carolina Conference with a 2-0 league record. Louisburg is in action as well tonight. The Warriors, arguably one of the best 1A teams in the state, has won 7-consective games and looks to extend that mark to eight tonight in Louisburg against Northampton-East at 7:30 p.m.

2009-2010 School Calendar Input

October 24th is the final day to give input for the 2009-2010 traditional calendar. However, year-round input is on-going. Sample calendars are available through individual websites and below. The final version is determined by the vote of the Franklin County Board of Education. This process usually takes place in late November or early December.

Sample 1 - Sample 2 - Year Round (YES Only)

Never Give Up, Encourage Others, Do Your Best

10-22-08 - Louisburg Elementary students received a special visit from Steven Brandon and his friend NED Wednesday afternoon in a presentation of The Ned Show. Brandon used a variety of tricks with his yo-yo to explain the principles and importance of responsibility and how to become a champion of life. Never give up, Encourage others and Do your best (NED) was the theme. The interactive event not only brought laughter and thought to the students, but also to the teachers.

Novozymes Donates More Than $4K

10-22-08 - Novozymes continued with its strong support of the local community Monday night by donating $4,035 for the Special Olympics in Franklin County. Last year the Special Olympics returned to Franklin County after 10 years. Franklin County Schools, Novozymes and Franklin County Parks and Recreation were responsible for the return of the event. Franklin County Schools' Executive Director of Student Support Services Wendy Vavrousek (left in photo) accepts the check from Novozymes representatives Joni Dean, Kathy Rowland and Kevin Potter. The money was raised through an annual golf tournament held by Novozymes.

Brooke Wheeler - Principal of The Year

10-21-08 - In what started out as a routine FCS principals' meeting, Cedar Creek Middle School Principal Brooke Wheeler received a shocking surprise Monday when it was announced that she was the FCS Principal of the Year for the 2008-2009 school year. Wheeler originally began teaching with FCS in 1995 (Edward Best) and after leaving for three years, came back as a science teacher at Cedar Creek for two years. In August of 2000 she joined the Principal's Fellows Program. In August of 2002 she earned a spot as Assistant Principal of Laurel Mill Elementary School. She went on to become Principal of Riverside Elementary School in January of 2004 and entered her current post at Cedar Creek Middle in July of 2005. With this honor, Wheeler moves on to the Wachovia Principal of the Year Regional Competition. The program is sponsored by NC DPI, and the North Central Region winner advances to the state finals.

Cedar Creek Fall Festival

10-21-08 - Cedar Creek Middle School will host its annual fall festival next Monday (10.27.08)  from 4-7 p.m. The event will feature food, games and inflatable rides. The entire public is invited. For more detailed information about CCMS, click here.

Second Clean Sweep for FCS Football

10-20-08 - For the second week running, all three Franklin County high school football teams fashioned triumphs. Louisburg High won its seventh-straight contest with a shutout win against visiting North Edgecombe, 46-0, to improve to 7-1 overall and remain in first place in The Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference. Bunn walloped Northwest Halifax 79-20 to go 2-0 in the Northern Carolina Conference and 6-2 overall. Franklinton outlasted Warren County with a 28-14 decision for its fifth-straight win. The Red Rams  (5-3, 2-0) venture to rival Bunn Friday for 7:30 p.m. start. Louisburg hosts Northampton-East Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Students Teaching Students

10-17-08 - Mrs. Joyce Mangum’s Allied Health Science II class (LHS) ventured to Terrell Lane Middle School and Louisburg Elementary School October 15 for Global Hand Washing Day. The sixth and seventh graders at Terrell Lane Middle and the pre-K students at Louisburg Elementary received a crash course in proper hand washing techniques. Mrs. Mangum’s students also delivered information and facts on the importance of proper hand washing. They shared with the students how not properly washing your hands can lead to a variety of sicknesses.

Counting Their Chickens

10-17-08 - Mrs. Reich's Royal Elementary kindergarten students had an extra kick in their step this week as they watched a class project come to fruition. The students took part in raising chickens. For the past few weeks, the students have carefully watched the eggs in hopes of seeing a baby chicken, their wish finally came true - two days earlier than expected. The eggs were kept under close watch and were properly warmed using an incubator. The objective of the project was to prepare students for an upcoming agricultural field trip.

LHS Band Director Honored

10-15-08 - One thing is clear, you will hear the Louisburg High School band during a Warrior football game. The award-winning band, which sports the largest membership in the county, is led by LHS veteran band teacher Brian Miller. Miller received a notable honor from the Louisburg Wal-Mart Wednesday afternoon during class - Teacher of The Year. With the award comes a $1,000 check to the school and a $100 gift certificate to Wal-Mart for Miller. Delivering the award to Miller (center) was store manager Dana Evans and store personnel manager Donna Gurley.

FCS Exceeds United Way Goal

10-15-08 - FCS surpassed its United Way of Franklin County fundraising goal of $22K. The drive, which continues until December, has generated more than $23K so far. Franklin County Schools is historically the largest contributor to United Way of Franklin County. The money donated from FCS was from the annual FCS internal United Way drive. United Way holds various other events for fund-raising purposes such as Cow Chip Bingo (left). In addition, United Way of Franklin County held a countywide spelling bee, half of which came from school participation, earlier this fall to begin its annual fund drive.

Perry-Manley New Principal of Royal

10-14-08 - The Franklin County Board of Education named Shawnee Perry-Manley Principal of Royal Elementary School Monday night. Mrs. Perry-Manley has been Assistant Principal of Royal since the 2004-2005 school year. Mrs. Perry-Manley is a Franklin County native, graduating from Franklinton High School in 1988 before earning a BA in Special Education from St. Augustine's College and a Master of School Administration from N.C. State University. She began working for FCS in 1997 as a teacher at Laurel Mill Elementary. In addition, the BOE announced that Daniel Wright is a new Assistant Principal of Bunn High School. Wright has worked with FCS since 1993, most recently as a social studies teacher and varsity girls basketball coach at Bunn High.

Long Mill Library Olympics

10-13-08 - Long Mill Elementary students, parents and staff celebrated the stellar success of the schools first Library Olympics last Friday (10.10.09). Students marched in representing various countries they read about in a variety of books. Students received medals based on how many books each had read. Those who read every book from the list received a special award. As students received their awards, the classic theme music for the Olympics chimed in the background. In between segments, students sang various patriotic songs.

Full Night Of Football

10-10-08 - Franklinton High School (3-3) attempts to push past the .500 mark tonight for the first time since the season opener of 2004 with a homecoming contest against Roanoke Rapids. FHS began its homecoming activities last week with a powder puff football tournament (left) in which the junior class won. FHS will hold a parade today (10.10.08) at 4 p.m. on Main Street in Franklinton. Bunn High School (4-2) is coming off a triple overtime setback - but hopes to rebound tonight at rival Southern Vance. Louisburg, boasting the best record in the county at 5-1, returns home for homecoming in a conference matchup against Southeast Halifax. All games begin at 7:30 p.m.

Franklinton High Future Site

10-9-08 - Franklinton High School is scheduled to move to a site at the intersection of Cedar Creek Road and Lane Store Road for the 2011-2012 school year. Planning is well underway for the project, which will be located on a 75-acre plot. Physical construction will take two years and should begin next spring. Click here to view an animation of the proposed design of the new campus.

National Youth Science Day

10-9-08 - The Franklin County 4H Youth Development program pitched in for National Youth Science Day Wednesday afternoon. Members of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and 4H conducted experiments at Cedar Creek Middle School (left) and Terrell Lane Middle School. The event was an extension of the Support Our Students (SOS) program sponsored by 4H. Students conducted experiments concerning water conservation. To learn more about 4H in Franklin County, click here.

Bunn Middle Inducts 36 to Jr. Beta Club

10-9-08 - A combination of 36 Bunn Middle School seventh and eighth graders were inducted to the Junior Beta Club Tuesday night.  Inductees are chosen based on academic excellence, strong leadership, and upstanding moral character.  The keynote speaker, Mrs. Laureen Jones, FCS CTE Director, gave a message that encouraged members to have high aspirations and to continue striving towards excellence.

FES Entertainers Generate Smiles

10-8-08 - A group of Franklinton Elementary School actors and actresses performed This Land is Your Land the FES PTO program Tuesday night. Students sang songs, recited constitutional rights and described the aspects of being a hero. The turnout was strong - filling the FES gymnasium to capacity.

Terrell Lane = Campaign Alley

10-7-08 - A stroll through the halls at Terrell Lane Middle School will easily reveal that there is a campaign taking place. Not just any campaign, a run for a presidency. Mrs. Madden's social studies class is taking part in a mock presidential election. The catch is that each student has to promote him or herself, rather than one of of the top candidates for the U.S. Presidency. Students made colorful posters and outlined personal platforms during the project. An actual vote has not yet occurred, but teachers will wind up having the final say with a vote in the near future.

Fire Safety Week

10-6-08 - Royal Elementary students received a special visit from the Youngsville Fire Department, Sparky the Fire Dog and Franklin County Emergency Services Monday morning. The group outlined the importance of fire safety and what to do in the event of a fire emergency. Stop, drop and roll were among the simple, but highly useful tips explained to the students. This week is fire safety week throughout the county. Other elementary schools will be receiving similar visits this week.

Magical Story Time

10-3 -08 - Edward Best Elementary School students were entertained by the magical story teller Mark Daniel earlier this week. Not only did students get to see the educational show, but parents had the opportunity as well during an evening event. Daniel has performed at multiple schools throughout FCS in recent years. Daniel's strong sense of humor, slight of hand ability and captivating story telling techniques kept all those present engaged.

October First Thursday

10-2-08 - Catch up on the latest news and events throughout Franklin County Schools in the October issue of First Thursday. The latest issue features the story of a grant obtained by Franklinton High School teachers for a financial literacy project, a Bunn High football player's latest accolade, an award received by a Louisburg High lab facilitator, as well as news from elementary and middle schools. Want to subscribe?

FHS' Bell Nets Teaching Honor

10-2-08 - Franklinton High School math teacher Monique Bell received the honor of Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year on October 1st. Each Wal-Mart in the country awards this honor to the teacher who receives the most votes from her students and peers. Bell's award came through the Wake Forest store, thus topping all schools in that market area including Wake Forest-Rolesville and Wakefield. Because of Bell's award, FHS received $1,000 from store manager Marty Brown (far right in picture). FHS Principal Charles Fuller (center in picture) was thrilled for Bell, who was FHS Teacher of the Year a few short years ago. Bell also received a $100 gift card at Wal-Mart  certificate for school supplies.

FES Students Captivated By Visitor

10-1-08 - Franklinton Police Officer Dalton West took time from his busy schedule to visit with Franklinton Elementary Students Tuesday afternoon. Students paid close attention to the details of being a police officer and listened to what it would take to be one. In addition, West is a firefighter and expressed the importance of that job as well. Students asked plenty of questions and West happily answered them. FES second-grade students met in Ms. Fontaine's room for the event.

School To Be Delayed November 4th

9-30-08 - Due to the Presidential Election (November 4th), all Franklin County Schools' campuses will open at 10 a.m. for students. This is a safety measure because several FCS campuses are used as polling stations. The before and after school program will not be delayed and will operate on an extended schedule with no extra charge. Teachers and staff will report at their regular time.

Wildcats Perform At ECU Game

9-29-08 - This past Saturday the Bunn High School Band got the opportunity to step into the giant stage of NCAA Division I football. The band participated in East Carolina University Band Day. More than 30 schools applied and only 20 were accepted. The band was honored to be chosen to participate with the ECU Marching Pirates during their halftime show. While the game didn't go in favor of ECU, the Wildcats had a fantastic time.

High School Voter Registration Drive

9-26-08 - Area volunteers will conduct a voter registration drive for high school students this week. Students who are at least 18-years old, or will be 18-years old by November 4th will get an opportunity to register during lunch next week. The registration volunteers will be at Louisburg High School on Monday, Franklinton High School on Tuesday and Bunn High School on Wednesday.

Tdap Vaccine Deadline Approaching

9-26-08 - All Franklin County Schools sixth graders must have a Tetanus, Diphtheria Pertussis (Tdap) booster vaccine by September 25^th. Sixth-graders who do not have proof of vaccination by September 29^th will not be able to return to school until proof is available. The Franklin County Health Department offers free vaccination as long as an appointment is made. The health department can be reached at 919-496-2533. For more information concerning Tdap, click here.

County Squads Look To Continue Streaks

9-26-08 - It could be a soggy affair, but that won't hurt the drive of the Louisburg High School football team. The Warriors (3-1) look to extend their current win streak to four against visiting Roanoke Rapids tonight. In addition, Franklinton and Bunn look to continue with winning ways. Franklinton (2-3) hopes to snare their third triumph in a row on the road at Princeton, while the Wildcats are surging after topping Oxford Webb last week. Bunn's contest at Northern Nash has been rescheduled for October 2nd at Northern Nash. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

62 United Way Grant Applications Filed

9-26-08 - Franklin County United Way received 62 education grant applications resulting in an amount requested of just more than $78K. The United Way has a total of $22K available to issue for grants this year. Applicants not receiving a United Way Grant will be automatically entered into the Wake Electric Bright Ideas Grant Program. United Way of Franklin County will hold a grant ceremony November 20th on the FCS Riverside Campus at 7 p.m. in room A107. Since 1995, United Way of Franklin County has raised more than $250K for educational grants in Franklin County.

October: Disability Awareness Month

9-25-08 - October is Disability History and Awareness month, and Franklin County Schools has a wealth of resources to share with students and staff (left). Educators interested in using a resource may contact Todd Thornton at 496-2457. In July of 2007, Governor Mike Easley signed Disability History and Awareness Month into law.  For more information on the law, visit www.ncleg.net/sessions.2007/bills/senate/s753v4.html.

Concept Mapping At Cedar Creek

9-24-08 - Cedar Creek Middle School Teacher of The Year Jason King is making a strong effort to get students to organize information more efficiently. King has introduced concept mapping to his students in hopes they will not only be more organized, but also understand and retain information better. His seventh-grade English students found the activity engaging while reading The Ransom of Red Chief. King believes this process will help students with report writing throughout the rest of their lives. At left, King helps a student through the new process.

FFA Club Pitches In At Cattlemen's Roast

9-23-08 - Customers lined up for the annual Franklin County Cattlemen's Roast in Louisburg last week and the Bunn High Future Farmers of America Chapter was there to help. The Bunn FFA proved to be a valued workforce as people patiently waited to get a bite of a delicious meal. Money raised through the event goes toward FFA scholarships.

Keep Track With Moodle

9-23-08 - Interested in what's going on in your child's classroom? Curious to see what kind of progress your child is making? Then you may want to check out FCS Moodle. Simply put, Moodle is a web-based content manager that many FCS teachers are utilizing to spread news and information about their classroom. A handful of schools are now using Moodle as a school website. For more information, click here.

Bendel Stepping Down From Royal

9-23-08 - Rob Bendel, who began his career with FCS in 1990 as a fifth-grade teacher at Louisburg Elementary School, is leaving his post as Principal of Royal Elementary on October 17th. Bendel will be a Senior Administrator for Recruitment and Retention for the Wake County Public School System. Bendel completed six full years as Principal at Royal and opened the school in the fall of 2002. Royal is currently one of the highest performing elementary schools in Franklin County. Bendel said he will miss the staff, students and community. "I'm very proud of this school and all of the people connected with it," Bendel said. "For the last several years I've helped recruit with Franklin County and I've really enjoyed it. This is an opportunity to get into this area. I look forward to getting more involved with the process."

YES Fall Festival

9-22-08 - Even though today is the first day of fall, Youngsville Elementary got an early start last Thursday by holding its Fall Festival. Students and parents enjoyed the good eats, games and fun to kick off the fall season. Also included in the event was a haunted house. The haunted house was a huge attraction. At left, a student sheds a smile as her fingernails are painted.

Clean Sweep For County Grid Teams

9-22-08 - This past Friday night proved to be victorious for all three Franklin County high school football teams. Franklinton delivered an upset to Weldon, improving to 2-3 overall and handing the Chargers their first loss. Louisburg (3-1) throttled visiting Manteo while Bunn (4-1) topped Oxford Webb. Franklinton travels to Princeton this week, while Bunn ventures to Nash Central. Louisburg is the only FCS club at home Friday as the Warriors battle Roanoke Rapids. All games start at 7:30 p.m.

3rd Graders Swarm Animal Ag Event

9-19-08 - FCS third graders got their senses overloaded with animal knowledge Thursday at River Bend Park in Louisburg. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension conducted the 14th Annual Franklin County Animal Agriculture Day - a day that put many smiles on students faces. Students rotated throughout many different stations to see and pet a variety of different animals - not just farm animals. Most participants got to witness a crocodile, cows, horses, hens, llamas and pigs. Farmers and animal experts were on hand to offer information and answer questions from students.

QTL Program Remaining Strong

9-18-08 - Teachers of all grade levels continue to find the Quality Teaching and Learning program engaging. This is the third year of the training program that provides a different theory to teaching. QTL focuses more on the thinking process rather than the learning of facts. More than 400 FCS teachers have received the training. At right, a group of middle school teachers enjoy their QTL induction.

CTE Recognizes Top Performers

9-17-08 - The Franklin County Schools’ Career and Technical Education Program continues to excel. Each year CTE Director Laureen Jones recognizes both the middle school and high school that has the highest average score for state testing. For 2007-2008, Bunn High School led all high schools, while Cedar Creek set the pace for middle schools. Standing from left to right are Laureen Jones, Cindy Reavis (BHS), Leslie Pate (BHS), Jamie Beckham (BHS), John Southerland (CCMS, Monica Pearce (CCMS) and Steve Pace (BHS).

Eating Well, Staying Fit at BES

9-16-08 - Bunn Elementary students received a wealth of tips on different ways to stay fit and to eat well Monday. Students throughout the school took part in the Poe Health Center's Nutrition and Fitness Program. This process was all part of a Whole Faculty Study Group project at BES. Students were informed about what foods are healthy and a variety of different fun activities that provide good exercise.

Animal Agriculture Day Postponed

9-16-08 - The annual North Carolina Cooperative Extension Animal Agriculture Day has been postponed due to rainy weather. The event will take place this Thursday (9.18.08) at River Bend park in Louisburg.

Hands-On Learning For YES Kindergartners

9-16-08 - Youngsville Elementary students from Ms. Rhyne's kindergarten class didn't have to venture too far for their latest hands-on learning experience. Students learned more about plant and tree life and pointed out different parts of trees while picking apples from a tree in the front of YES. By the time the students were done with the harvest, there weren't many apples within reach.

Memorial Night at Patterson Field

9-15-08 - For those who attended the Bunn vs. Louisburg football contest this past Friday, it will be an event not soon forgotten. Even though the head-to-head clash between the county football powers was classic in its own right with Louisburg edging Bunn in the final stages, it will long be remembered for a deeper reason. The LHS football field was officially named James Robert Patterson Memorial Field in honor of the late "Crow" Patterson who lost his life in the tragic plane crash in 1970 that took the life of nearly every member of the Marshall University football program. In addition, "Crows Rock" was unveiled in front of the capacity crowd. The event was made possible through the caring members, including Bill Riggan, of the Louisburg High School Class of 1967 Memorial Fund.

United Way Spell Masters Event

9-12-08 - Twenty-one teams and two-and-a-half hours later the champions of the first annual Franklin County United Way Spell Masters Tournament were crowned. Theta Lambda Sorority outlasted the Red Rams of Franklinton High School to claim the crown. The winning team consisted of Marsha Strawbridge, Mary Anne Lewis, Susan Temple, Anita Gay Karen Henn and Teresa Howard. Participating for FHS were Kris Tharrington, Myrtle Satterwhite, Kerry Olivieri and Barbara Jean Howell, Ginger Prady , Lisa Pursell-Morris, Candice Tilley, Erin Mauch, Rose’ Rodriguez and team coordinator Doris Davis-Williams. Terrell Lane was the last middle school standing, while Franklinton Elementary School was tops among grades K-5. Both schools made it to the top five. Congratulations to all of the other teams for their outstanding effort. This event marked the start of the annual Franklin County United Way Fundraising Drive. United Way President Dale Byrns said the spelling bee was a huge success, netting nearly $5,000 in donations. For more pictures of the event, click here.

Williams Principal of North Edgecombe

9-12-08 - Franklin County Board of Education Vice Chair Reverend Dannie Williams has steadily climbed through the ranks of education since starting out as a reading tutor at Franklinton Elementary School in the early 1980s. Since that time, he has progressed from TA to teacher to administrator and now Principal of North Edgecombe High School. Rev. Williams first became an administrator in 2005 at Pinkston Street Elementary School in Henderson under the direction of BOE member and Principal Dr. Beverly Joseph. He’s been an assistant principal at Nash Central High School since 2006 and is now set to take on the post as principal at North Edgecombe. Rev. Williams has almost completed his first four-year term on the Franklin County BOE and begins his second term in December. He was reelected this past spring.

Bunn/Louisburg Showdown Slated

9-11-08 - The annual football showdown between Bunn and Louisburg takes place Friday night at Louisburg High at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats own a 3-0 record, while Louisburg comes in at 1-1 after a road triumph at Franklinton. Franklinton is on the road this week at North Raleigh Christian Academy. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. You may want to arrive at the Bunn/Louisburg event early. This contest usually draws a large crowd, and this year there will be a ceremony in honor of James Robert Patterson. See below for more details.

Students Warm Up To EMS Course

9-11-08 - Franklin County high school students are finding the new EMS (Emergency Management Service) course at Louisburg High School to be quite engaging. Earlier this week students endured hands on training by lifting mock patients in and out of the ambulance and then transporting them via stretcher to specific locations. While the students were having fun learning techniques, they understood the seriousness of moving patients properly. The first-year course is being led by Jeff Bright of Franklin County EMS.

James "Crow" Patterson To Be Honored

9-10-08 - James Robert "Crow" Patterson was a football star for Louisburg High School in mid 1960s (1967 LHS graduate) and went on to play for Marshall University. Patterson tragically lost his life in the well documented plane crash that took the lives of nearly every member of the Marshall football program in November of 1970. There will be a monument dedicated in his name, and the LHS field will be officially named Patterson Field this Friday night during halftime of the Louisburg vs. Bunn football matchup. For more information, click here.

Graduation Awareness Week

Grandparents Learn From The Students

9-8-08 - While it's usually the grandparents teaching the children, it was the other way around at Louisburg Elementary School last Friday. LES students participating in grandparents' day showed off some of their talents during an interactive quiz in Ms. Lisa Micco's class using "clickers" to answer questions electronically. Students helped their grandparents learn how to use the technology throughout the quiz. Several of the visitors commented that classroom learning has changed drastically since they were in school. The clickers are part of the interactive classroom project at FCS.

September First Thursday

9-5-08 - The September issue of FCS First Thursday is now available. This month's issue highlights the retirement of Technology Director Susan Leisy and outlines the increased SAT performance. In addition, learn more about what FCS is doing to cut down on energy costs and meet  Chris Shearer - the new FCS Technology Director. First Thursday is a free publication. Click here to subscribe.

United Way Spelling Bee Near

9-4-08 - The Franklin County United Way will kick off its annual fund-raising drive with a county-wide spelling bee. If you are interested in forming a team, contact United Way President Dale Byrns at 919-496-7349. The event will be held at the Louisburg Auction House at 6:30 p.m. on September 9th. For complete rules, click here.

Prep Football Games Thursday

9-3-08 - If you couldn't wait until Friday to watch your favorite Franklin County high school football team play, you don't have to. Due to the threat of Hurricane Hanna, Bunn High will now host Northeastern at 7 p.m. on Thursday (9.4.08). Franklinton will entertain county rival Louisburg on Thursday also. Louisburg and Franklinton square off at 7:30 p.m. at the FHS Stadium. Bunn enters this matchup with a 2-0 record, while the Warriors of Louisburg sport a 0-1 worksheet against the 0-2 campaign of the Red Rams.

New Year, New Students, New Methods

9-2-08 - There's little doubt that teaching practices are always evolving. Last week, teachers throughout the county spent time at the Mitchell Media Center in Louisburg working on different classroom teaching strategies to keep students engaged. At right, kindergarten teachers take part in a science lesson that explains the difference and importance of the different human senses.

YES Students Staying In Shape

8-30-08 - Youngsville Elementary students certainly enjoyed gym class this week. Students took part in one of four fitness week's developed by YES instructor Wes Register. Students rotate from station to station and participate in a variety of activities. At right, a student masters the army crawl station. Other activities include tricycle riding, jumping rope, stacking and rolling.

County Football Squads Ready To Roll

8-29-08 - Bunn High and Franklinton High opened the 2008 prep football season at home last week. This week the Louisburg Warriors begin their campaign. The Warriors venture to Ravenscroft in Raleigh for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff tonight. Bunn looks to improve to 2-0 this week in a home matchup against Southern Nash at 7:30 p.m. tonight. The Wildcats easily handled CB Aycock 28-0 in the season opener. Franklinton suffered a 14-0 opening loss to South Granville, but looks to find the win column tonight at Southeast Halifax (7:30 p.m.).

NCAE Picnic Held

8-28-08 - Last week, a few days before students returned to the classroom, the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) held a picnic for FCS teachers and administrators at Joyner Park in Louisburg. NCAE is an organization dedicated to the advancement of public education in North Carolina, as well as a support system for NC teachers. For more information on NCAE, click here.

SAT Scores Increase

8-27-08 - Franklin County Schools saw an overall increase in the 2008 SAT results. As a system, FCS increased 19 points to 962 in the combined critical reading and math scores for 2008. Bunn High averaged 985 (up 24 points), while Franklinton High increased to 942 (up 46 points). Louisburg averaged 956 (down 18 points). The state combined average was 1007 (up 3 points), while the national average remained the same at 1017. In the SAT writing section, FCS increased five points to 463. The state and national writing average remained constant at 482 and 494 respectively.

Freda Clifton New Principal of LHS

8-26-08 - The Franklin County Board of Education announced Monday night that Freda Clifton is the new Principal of Louisburg High School. Clifton has worked for FCS since 2001. Clifton was a teacher at Terrell Lane Middle from 2001-2005 prior to becoming an assistant principal at Bunn High School. Clifton, a Bunn High School graduate, is a product of the NC Teaching Fellows Program. She graduated with high honor (summa cum laude) from NC A&T University. In addition, Jon Dixon was appointed assistant principal at Bunn Middle School. Dixon is in his eighth year with FCS. Dixon spent the past two years as a teacher at the Creative Education Center and taught five school years as an Exceptional Children's teacher at Bunn Middle School.

Smooth Sailing

8-25-08 - All 13 traditional FCS campuses opened for students Monday morning. Long Mill Elementary School had a smooth start to the first day for students. The school was barely a cleared lot last year at this time, but is now 100 percent operational and is receiving strong reviews from the community. At left, Long Mill Elementary School Principal Kim Ferrell welcomes a mother and a future student prior to the 8 a.m. rush of students and parents. 

All Systems Go on Monday

8-22-08 - Monday marks the start of the traditional 2008-2009 school year as students report for the first day of class. Open houses were held this week at most schools throughout the FCS system. Please be sure your children have the proper school supplies to get off to a clean start for the new school year. At right, Long Mill Elementary parents and students gather information during the school's first open house. Students and parents flooded the new school Thursday night to get a first look at the impressive facility.

Prep Squads Set For Grid Iron

8-22-08 - The wait is nearly over. High school football teams across the state have been officially practicing since August 1st in preparation for opening night. Friday marks the season openers for both Bunn High and Franklinton High. Franklinton plays host to South Granville, while the Wildcats entertain CB Aycock. Games start at 7:30 p.m. Louisburg High gets its season underway next week on the road at Ravenscroft in Raleigh. At left, the BHS football team makes a huddle during a recent team activity at the Duke Children's Hospital in Durham. Click here for complete football schedules.

QTL Reunion This Friday at LES

8-20-08 - The Quality Teaching and Learning program will hold a reunion for all people who have participated in the program this Friday from 9 a.m. until noon at Louisburg Elementary School. The event will finish with lunch for all participants. There will be multiple presentations, door prizes and more throughout the event. Click here to review the agenda.

FHS Open House Clarification

8-19-08 - Franklinton High School will hold 9th-grade orientation on Thursday, August 21st from 6-8 p.m. Orientation will take place at the Red Ram gymnasium. Due to current construction projects at FHS, full open house will be held on September 16th from 6-8 p.m. Should you have any questions, call 919-494-2332.

Traditional School Officially Begins

8-19-08 - The 2008-2009 school year officially began Monday as teachers, faculty and staff swarmed the new Bunn High School Auditorium for the annual FCS Convocation. Each August school employees gather to celebrate the successes of the previous school year. At right, Bunn High vocational teachers study one of the informative slides during the presentation. This year, FCS teachers Kim Mitchell (BHS) and Rachel Dunston (Louisburg Elementary) entertained the crowd with their talented singing abilities. Mrs. Dunston sang for the elementary crowd in the morning, while Mrs. Mitchell sang for the afternoon crowd which consisted of middle and high school staff.

Duke Conducting Research at LES

8-15-08 - Louisburg Elementary teachers began an in-depth research study with Duke University Thursday concerning Attention Deficit Disorder. Teachers in grades K-2 are in the process of studying the effects of different teaching methods and activities on different students. The project is lead by Dr. Desiree Murray and will consist of five sessions with the final one taking place in January.

New Teachers receive warm welcome

8-15-08 - New teachers for the 2008-2009 school year are well on their way to adjusting to FCS. This week, teachers have participated in orientation. Wednesday, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce treated the teachers to lunch at Louisburg Elementary School. In addition, teachers got the chance to meet State Representative Lucy Allen and State Senator Doug Berger. The first day of school for students is August 25th, while teachers officially report this coming Monday (August 18th).

Reading Apprenticeship Program

8-14-08 - High school teachers throughout the county are taking advantage of the Reading Apprenticeship Program this week. This program helps teachers to instruct how to read in specific content areas (science, social studies, math, etc.). This is a two-day staff development process that is regularly scheduled. Teachers receive a multitude of updates on strategies and resources.

Open House Dates Approaching

8-13-08 - Open house and various orientations will take place at most FCS campuses next week. In general, middle schools and high schools will hold events on August 19th, while elementary schools will conduct open house on August 21st. For complete details, view this table.

Principals Focus On 2008-2009

8-12-08 - FCS Principals spent a day last week planning for the upcoming school year - which begins for students on August 25th. The annual Principal's retreat served as a launching point for Whole Faculty Study Groups and an introduction to ClassScape. ClassScape is a formative assessment system in which teachers can monitor student progress on a regular basis through the Internet. At left, Bunn High School Assistant Principals Melissa Yeazel and Freda Clifton focus on important information pertaining to high school instruction.

First Thursday - Back To School Issue

8-7-08 - The 2008 Back To School issue of First Thursday is now available. This issue features profiles of each of the 14 schools in the FCS system, as well as new programs for the new year. Also, the North Carolina ABC results are posted in First Thursday. Click here to read all about it. To subscribe to First Thursday for free, click here.

First Day of School Fast Approaching

8-6-08 - The first day of school for traditional calendar schools is set for August 25th. Teachers report on August 18th for a week of workdays. Many of the school websites have posted supply lists and other important back-to-school information. Also, the annual FCS Convocation will take place at the Bunn High auditorium at 11 a.m. for elementary teachers and staff. High school and middle school teachers and staff will attend convocation at the same site at 2 p.m.

Teachers Learn From Students

8-1-08 - The Quality Teaching and Learning Program and students from the annual FCS Geocache Camp teamed up this week. Rather than the teachers attending the QTL session teaching the students, it was the teachers learning from the students. Geocache campers showed teachers how to properly use a GPS device and how to use latitude and longitude to locate hidden Geocache treasures. At left, FHS teacher Clarence Walker takes some advice from Chris Thomas and Jeremy Jackson.

QTL Program Going Strong at FCS

7-31-08 - The Quality Teaching and Learning program (QTL) continues to grow for FCS. This week teachers have taken time out from their summer vacation to attend a week-long session without compensation. This session of QTL has been a little different. While teachers are still learning new and innovative ways to present materials to their students, they are working with teachers from multiple grade levels. In the past, each session was grouped by grade level.

International Center Gets Involved

7-30-08 - The Franklin County Schools' International Center not only provides information for families with students who are not from the US, but also helps those students learn. This summer Ginger Kannon and Minnie Shirey of the International Center have been traveling to a local subdivision to read books to children who are continuing to develop their English skills. There are many other activities in addition to reading. The program has been a strong success.

LHS Principal Headed To Chatham County

7-29-08 - Current Louisburg High School Principal Chris Blice announced this morning that he has accepted a position as Principal of Northwood High School in Chatham County. Blice was Principal for five years. During his tenure, he helped develop professional learning communities and oversaw major campus renovations and new construction. Most importantly, LHS saw an increase in academic achievement. He will remain at Louisburg High School through the opening of the new school year.

Lunch Prices Increase $0.25

7-29-08 - The Franklin County Board of Education approved a $0.25 increase in lunch prices for the 2008-2009 school year in Monday night's Franklin County Board of Education meeting. With the increase, elementary school lunch is $1.85, while middle and high school increased to $2.00. This change has no effect on the cost of free and reduced lunch. All breakfast prices remain the same. The price hike is to help offset rising costs in food service.

Future Movie Directors?

7-24-08 - They may not be in Hollywood, but they sure are learning a lot about making stop-action animated movies. Students of the annual FCS Technology Camp have spent the week making movie animations. In addition to showing their technical aptitude, students have also been able to display their creative side by making their own creative stories and playing them through digital media. You can get a first-hand look at their work by clicking here.

Long Mill Community Night

7-23-08 - The first Long Mill Elementary Community Night will take place August 15th from 5-7 p.m. at Long Mill Elementary (intersection of Bert Winston and Long Mill Roads). This event will feature fun and games for the entire family. In addition to Long Mill staff being available to answer any questions, area businesses will have information booths setup. Concessions will be available as well. Long Mill open house is set for August 21st from 5-7 p.m.

Preliminary AYP Results

7-22-08 - The 2008 Adequate Yearly Progress report is in. Nine of the 13 schools in the FCS system either met all or all but one goal. The four schools meeting all of their targets were Youngsville Elementary, Laurel Mill Elementary, Royal Elementary and Franklinton Elementary. It is important to realize that these results are preliminary and are subject to change when the reading scores for grades 3 through 8 are returned. For a detailed story, click here.

United Way Teacher Grants

7-21-08 - Applications for the annual United Way Teacher Initiative Grants are due September 18th. Each year, FCS teachers earn thousands of dollars for various classroom projects. This is a perfect way to fund your upcoming project. Applications will be available on August 1st at the United Way website for Franklin County.

Prep Football Season

7-15-08 - Get ready because high school football season is closer than you might think. The first official day of high school football practice is August 1st as Bunn, Franklinton and Louisburg gear up for another exciting season on the gridiron. Bunn hosts CB Aycock on August 29th for its opener, while the Red Rams entertain South Granville High School. Louisburg begins its campaign on August 29th at Ravenscroft. Games start at 7:30. For a complete schedule, click here.

Opening Day For Youngsville Elementary

7-18-08 - Youngsville Elementary School, the only year-round school in the FCS district, opened its doors for students today. The first day of school was a smooth start as students and parents flooded the halls Friday morning. Teachers returned earlier this week. Students who attend traditional calendar schools return August 25th.

Long Mill Elementary Phones Active

7-17-08 - If you need to get in touch with Long Mill Elementary School, you can now get a direct connect to the school. The phone lines are now active. The main office number is 554-0667 and the school fax number is 554-1765. In addition to phones, the school is now connected to the Internet. The FCS Technology Department has been working hard in the past two weeks (left) to install all the technical equipment at Long Mill Elementary School. Open house is set for August 21st from 5-7 p.m.

Tax Free Weekend Nearing

7-14-08 - The annual North Carolina tax free weekend is set for August 1st through August 3rd. Many items, including educational items, are exempt from sales tax during that period throughout the state. Computers and computer accessories are included in this list. For more information on the event and a list of items included, click here.

Prep Football Season

7-15-08 - Get ready because high school football season is closer than you might think. The first official day of high school football practice is August 1st as Bunn, Franklinton and Louisburg gear up for another exciting season on the gridiron. Bunn hosts CB Aycock on August 29th for its opener, while the Red Rams entertain South Granville High School. Louisburg begins its campaign on August 29th at Ravenscroft. Games start at 7:30. For a complete schedule, click here.

Gearing Up At Long Mill

7-11-08 - Long Mill Elementary School Principal Kim Ferrell (left) and Assistant Principal Carleen Jones (right) engage in a technical discussion with FCS engineer Jim Leonard. The move-in process to Long Mill is ongoing as school officials prepare for the arrival of students to the new Long Mill Elementary School on August 25th. Open house is scheduled for August 21st 5-7 p.m. If you have questions concerning the new school, call 496-2600.

Core Plus - A Different Approach To Math

7-10-08 - As part of the North Carolina New Schools Project, FCS administrators and teachers have been taking part in a week-long seminar on a different approach to teaching math - Core Plus Math. Core Plus has been in use for more than 10 years in multiple areas throughout the country and is beginning to draw more and more attention. Traditional methods of teaching math are not used in Core Plus. Core Plus is mathematics developed through context with a strong emphasis on application. Most of the learning is through hands-on activities and labs that students lead. It is a four-course program that replaces traditional courses such as Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry. At left, Franklinton High School teacher Elisabeth Waybright and Louisburg High School teacher Rebecca Nichols share a laugh during a session of the conference.

Beginning Robotics Camp at FCS

7-9-08 - The beginning FCS Robotics Camp is quite popular this summer. Campers are enjoying the opportunity to build their very own robots. Building a robot is quite involved. Not only do students literally assemble the machines, students program the robots using computer software. This camp is an annual event hosted by the FCS Technology Department. The advanced Robotics Camp takes place next week. For more information and to view student work, click here.

Wanda Keith Named Laurel Mill AP

7-8-08 - Wanda Keith isn't a stranger to Laurel Mill Elementary School, but she has a new title - Assistant Principal. Entering her 15th year with FCS (four as Laurel Mill Reading First Coach), Keith is looking forward to her new post as AP. She spent 11 years as a first-grade teacher at Louisburg Elementary School and is a Franklin County native.

FCS Professional Learning Communities

7-7-08 - Members of the FCS Curriculum and Instruction Department conducted a presentation at the annual summer North Carolina Education Leadership Conference in Asheville this past week. Susan Leisy, Director of Technology, and Dr. Eddie Ingram, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, outlined the success of professional learning communities in Franklin County Schools. Professional Learning Communities at FCS reflect a system wide desire to improve classroom instruction. For more detailed information, click here to view the presentation in its entirety.

July First Thursday

7-3-08 - The July issue of FCS First Thursday features highlights from the annual FCS Honors Day. The Teacher of the Year and Teacher Assistant of the Year was announced that day, as were many other award winners and recognitions. The latest testing results are included in the July issue, as well as a scholarship program at Franklinton High School. To download the issue, click here. Interested in past issues of First Thursday or subscribing?

Renovations At Full Speed

7-2-08 - If all goes as planned, Franklinton High School students will enter a much improved facility this coming August when school begins. In addition to a new 10-room classroom building, 75 percent of the windows will be replaced, and more than 20 classrooms will be upgraded. The interior walls will have a different surface as well. These renovations are funded through the 2004 school bond. This past May, a $53 million bond was approved for school construction. The majority of the money will fund a new Franklinton High School that will open for the 2011-20012 school year. The current FHS will be used as a middle school when the new school opens.