News Archives

Open House Dates Set

6-30-08 - Although FCS students are enjoying a well deserved summer rest, it's not too early to start thinking about open house dates for the 2008-2009 school year. Middle and high schools will hold open house on August 19th, while elementary schools host open house on August 21st. The first day of school for traditional calendar schools is August 25th (teachers report on August 18th). Year-round school (Youngsville Elementary only) begins on July 18th for students and teachers report on July 14th. YES open house is set for July 22 from 6:30-7:30 pm. for grades 1-5. Kindergarten open house at YES is July 23 from 3-6 p.m.

2008 Honors Day Awards

6-14-08 - The annual FCS Honors Day was full of excitement as Terrell Lane Middle School pulled off a sweep for Teacher Assistant of the Year (Ozell Mangum) and Teacher of The Year (Katie Tatum). Dale Byrns and Monty Riggs received the Superintendent Service Award, while Jackie Hartsfield received the first ever Dianne Massey Carter Award. For more details about the event, click here.

FCS Graduates Turn Tassels

6-14-08 - Saturday marked a key moment in life for nearly 600 FCS students. Graduation ceremonies were held for Louisburg High School, Bunn High School and Franklinton High School in the Louisburg College Auditorium. At left, Bunn High graduates Shedequia Thorne and Keire Tucker can't help but smile as they turn their tassels.

Bunn Graduation Gallery

Louisburg Graduation Gallery

Franklinton Graduation Gallery

In Memory of Dianne Massey Carter

6-13-08 - In February of this year, Franklin County lost one of its leading educators when Dianne Massey Carter tragically passed away. Friday morning FCS employees, members of the Carter family and friends gathered on the Riverside Campus to plant a tree in Carter's memory. Carter's devotion to the children of Franklin County spanned more than three decades. Her duties ranged from high school math teacher to her final post as Director of Title I and Elementary Education. Her impact on the school system will be felt for many years to come. At right, FCS employees take turns at planting the tree.

Reading Program Nets Big Results

6-12-08 - In the second year of Targeted Reading Intervention (TRI) at Louisburg Elementary School, students showed even larger gains than the year before. In some cases, students went from struggling to read to reading books on their own. The TRI program focuses on students in grades K-2. Organizers of the program held a year-end breakfast Thursday morning to summarize this year's results. In addition, members of the UNC Chapel Hill based program donated books to the LES library in memory of the late Dianne Carter. Carter, who tragically passed away in February, was the FCS Director of Elementary Education. LES teachers pictured in the front row are Kristy Crawford, Gina K. Bass, Carol Kump, Tina Harvey, Abby Miller and Allison Moreschi. In the back row are Christy Dunston, Mary Allen, Amber Bottoms, Janelle Brink, Kim Leonard and Rebecca Palen. Click here to see the enlarged picture.

Students Cross The Finish Line

6-11-08 - Another school year has come and gone for FCS traditional calendar students. Tuesday marked the final day of class, while teachers put the finishing touches on a strong year of performance with workdays through this Friday. At right, students participate in an annual Field Day event at Cedar Creek Middle School. Students and staff beat the intense heat during outdoor events by conducting the activities in the early morning hours. Youngsville Elementary School, a year-round school, concludes the school year this Thursday.

Warm Smiles Highlight Retirement Dinner

6-10-08 - FCS honored this year's group of 20 retirees for all of their hard work, service and dedication to the children of Franklin County. Monday's event took place at the United Methodist Church in Louisburg as the retirees were recognized by their supervisor or principal, the Franklin County Board of Education and the FCS Leadership Team. At right, retired Franklinton Elementary School teacher Brenda Solomon shares a laugh with Principal Linda Frederickson. To view a group photo of the retirees present at the dinner, click here.

Beating The Heat In The River

6-9-08 - Terrell Lane Middle School students from Katie Tatum's science class beat Monday's intense heat with a scheduled field trip to the Tar River at River Bend Park in Louisburg. The class conducted water quality tests to calculate bio indicators to determine the quality of water in the Tar River. As it turns out, the river is quite healthy with a variety of different forms of life, including multiple kinds of fish. Mitchell Morton of Foster Lake and Pond Management guided the students throughout the event. Tatum earned a grant for this project a few years back. The grant funded many items, including the waders that allow students to tackle the river safely. At right, students examine a fish caught with a net as Mr. Morton explains. Click here to see the larger version of the picture.

Exemplary Reading First Status For LMES

6-9-08 - Laurel Mill Elementary School recently received a huge honor by making the list of exemplary schools for the Reading First Program. To make this list, the school must have at least 80% of its third graders meeting all the goals of the program. In addition, the school must follow the program guidelines. Laurel Mill Elementary School Principal Genie Faulkner is very proud of the the achievement. Franklin County Board of Education member and Pinkston Street Elementary School Principal (Vance County) Dr. Beverly Joseph is equally pleased that her students achieved the same exemplary status.

School To Release Early Monday

6-6-08 - Due to the intense heat wave, FCS students will be released early on Monday, June 9th. This does not affect the already established high school exam schedule. June 10th, the final day of class for traditional calendar students, remains an early release day as well. High schools finish at 11:45 a.m., while middle schools release at 12:15 p.m. and elementary schools dismiss at 12:45 p.m. Year round schools will dismiss early Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (12:45 p.m.).

Strong Attendance Rewarded at LHS

6-6-08 - Each marking period at Louisburg High School students have the chance to earn a spot in a raffle. The requirement is perfect attendance during the six-week marking period. The winner receives a gift card to an area department store. Warriors qualifying for the raffle throughout the school year were Rineka Burt, DeShaun Dennis, Gregory Strickland, Angel Williams, Tearra Hicks, Jovon Blacknall, Shawn Jackson, Stephen Davis, Ashlie Ferreria, Darrell Gant, Elizabeth Hinostrosa, Jessica Person, Daryl Ragland, Tabias Wright, Elizabeth Blickensdefer, Bianca Bullock, Jaron Allen, Earvin Doyle and Rodney Spivey.

FES Students Learn Through Fundraiser

6-5-08 - Fifteen Franklinton Elementary students learned quite a bit during a recent competitive fundraiser. The students assembled in three individual teams. One team focused on a peanut butter drive, one on items for senior citizens and another on items for the homeless. The catch was that each class in the school could only donate to one cause, so each team had to convince other classes to donate to their team over the other. Students prepared speeches, flyers and posters in effort to convince fellow students to donate to their team. In the end, three homeless families were helped, 75 jars of peanut butter were collected and buckets of toiletry items were donated to senior citizens.

Edward Best Holds Year-End Celebration

6-4-08 - Edward Best Elementary School held its annual year-end celebration Monday night. In addition to celebrating an increase in writing scores, the student body sang patriotic songs, held an art show and viewed a movie that highlighted events throughout the 2007-2008 school year. The several hundred people in attendance did not leave hungry - they feasted on the hot dogs and ice cold drinks sold by the EBES PTA.

Leadership Franklin Youth Program

6-4-08 - The Leadership Franklin County program for adults has been quite successful over the years - now there is a version of the program aimed at high school students. Program members are enjoying the process of learning more about business opportunities and becoming strong leaders through the different events scheduled. This past Monday, students attended a Board of Education meeting.

Assistant Principals Tackle New Posts

6-3-08 - When students return to school next fall many of them will find some new faces sitting behind the desks of a few assistant principal offices. Monica Headen, Amy Miller and Bill Askins all received transfers during Monday night's Board of Education meeting. Monica Headen's new post is Youngsville Elementary, while Amy Miller is headed to Bunn Middle and Bill Askins will be at Louisburg High School.

High School Redesign Plan Approved

6-3-08 - The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has officially approved the FCS high school redesign plan. This comprehensive plan is designed to reduce dropouts, increase student achievement and create more options for students after graduation. Principals Charles Fuller (FHS), Chris Blice (LHS) and Robin Faulkner (BHS) along with their faculties finalized the plan over the past year. The plan took extensive dedication and hard work. Parts of the plan are already being implemented. Other facets of the plan include an Evening High School and an Early College High School.

High School Graduation Nearing

6-2-08 - Current FCS high school school seniors will take center stage at Louisburg College on June 14th for graduation. Louisburg High School graduates take the memorable walk at 10 a.m. in the Louisburg College Auditorium, while Bunn follows at 2 p.m. Franklinton High School concludes the day with graduation ceremonies at 6 p.m.

Top Teachers Honored

5-30-08 - The annual FCS Teacher of The Year dinner was held Thursday night. The top teacher from each school in the system was present for a dinner, small ceremony and fellowship. The countywide Teacher of The Year will be announced June 13th at honors day at Bunn High School. The event begins at 11 a.m. in the new BHS auditorium. At left, Edward Best Principal Debbie Ayscue shares a laugh with EBES Teacher of The Year Amanda Cash. Click here to see a group shot of each Teacher of The Year. Profiles

Bunn High Battle of The Bands

5-30-08 - Bunn High School will host Battle of The Bands Friday night (5.30.08) in the BHS auditorium from 6-10 p.m. Tickets at $5 in advance and $7 at the door. There will be concessions on site and attendees will vote to determine which band performed the best. Bands performing include Springs Final Hour, Spontaneous, Failure of Mankind, T. Rox and To the Republic. In addition, there will be a Guitar Hero tournament at 5 p.m.

Change of Command For LHS JROTC

5-29-08 - The Louisburg High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps underwent its annual transfer of command in the LHS auditorium Thursday afternoon. Graduating senior Cadet Colonel Dustin Hill relinquished the command flag to Colonel Johnson (Unit Commander) who in turn passed the flag to rising senior Lieutenant Colonel Katherine Barrett.

FHS, CCMS Spring Concert On Tap

5-28-08 - Both the Cedar Creek Middle and Franklinton High School bands will conduct a spring concert on June 3rd at 7:30 p.m. in the Cedar Creek cafetorium. In addition, there will be a hot dog dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. in the same location. The dinner cost is $5 and all proceeds go to the band. The plate includes two hot dogs, chips, drink and dessert.

LHS Spring Concert Set For Friday

5-27-08 - The Louisburg High School concert and symphonic bands will hold a spring concert this Friday (May 30th) at 7:30 p.m. in the Louisburg High School auditorium. The event is free of charge and will last about an hour. The concert band will perform a variety of songs including The Gladiator March and the theme song to The Simpsons. The symphonic band will perform a host of songs as well - including music from Harry Potter.

YES Second Graders Light Up Stage

5-27-08 - Youngsville Elementary School second graders entertained fellow classmates and the general public in multiple performances of their very own musical last week. Students worked very hard as they acted and sang songs from the classic Little Red Riding Hood. The setting was from the 1950s.

FCS Senior Artists Recognized

5-23-08 - Art enthusiasts throughout Franklin County were treated to an entertaining show Thursday night at Louisburg College. The annual Franklin County Senior Art Show was led by Louisburg College Art Director Will Hinton. Twenty FCS seniors were recognized for their outstanding and creative art work. Hinton took time to explain each work selected to parents, friends and family. The works are on display in the Louisburg College Auditorium. For a list of the award recipients, click here. To view a photo of the artists who were able to attend the event, click here.

5-22-08 - The Bunn Middle School drama department will perform Treasure Island June 5th (7:30 p.m.), June 6th (4 p.m.) and June 7th (1 p.m.). Cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students. Tickets are on sale at Bunn Middle School (496-7700) . In addition, the Bunn Middle band will hold a spring concert on May 29th at 7 p.m. in the BMS gymnasium.

BHS Concert and Jazz Band To Perform

5-21-08 - Want to listen to some great music in the comfort of the new Bunn High School auditorium? Then you may want to attend the Bunn High concert band and jazz band spring concert on May 27th. The show starts at 7 p.m. Also, the Bunn High School drama department will produce A Midsummer Night's Midterm on May 31st in the school auditorium at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students.

Senior Art Show Slated Wednesday

5-21-08 - The annual FCS Senior Art Show will open this Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. in the Louisburg College Auditorium. This event produces quality works from high school seniors throughout the county. The K-11 Art Show was held earlier this month (left). To view awards earned during that event, click here.

End-Of-Grade Testing Begins

5-20-08 - Students in grades 3-8 all over the county are taking their End-Of-Grade test. The testing process continues throughout the week. Laurel Mill Elementary third-grade students participated in a parent involvement EOG Fair to prepare students for the test. Curriculum Resource Teacher, Maria Collins (left), works with students at a math word problem station focusing on key terms that explain the operation needed to solve word problem.

Program Yields Scholarship

5-19-08 - The ACE Mentor Program of Raleigh held its first presentation and awards night in early May in Chapel Hill.  Nine Franklin County Students participated in a 15-week program with students from Wake County where they worked with mentors in two teams from local design agencies to create architectural and construction projects.  During the program, the projects were displayed and the teams were judged for project knowledge, originality, creativity, design, functionality and sustainability.  The students were also judged on communication and presentation skills.  Students who received certification of completion of the program were Kameron Elliott (FHS), Douglas Harris (LHS), Kristopher Harris (FHS), Justin Harris (FHS), Trevon Johnson (FHS), Catherine Lewis (BHS), Ashley Stowe (FHS), Elana Turner (BHS), and Olivia Williams (FHS). FHS Senior Ashley Stowe was one of three students who received a $1000 ACE Scholarship award.

A Celebration of Nutrition

5-19-08 - Smiles flooded the halls of Bunn High School last week during the annual FCS Child Nutrition Banquet. Prior to the awards ceremony in the new BHS auditorium, those attending were treated to a fine steak dinner in the cafeteria. A variety of awards were handed out in addition to the announcement of new officers. Each cafeteria in the system received an award for outstanding sanitation grades. The county average was just short of 98. To view a list of the award winners and retirees, click here. If you would like to see more pictures from the event, click here.

Perry's Bus Driving Skills Among The Best

5-16-08 - It may not have been the Grand Prix of Italy, Daytona 500 or Indy 500, but the thrill was just the same for Cedar Creek Middle School Athletic Director Brian Perry when he finished ninth in the statewide bus rodeo this week. Perry qualified for the event after finishing third in the county and fourth in the region. Drivers compete in a variety of different challenges, including the ever-difficult obstacle course. FCS' Eddie Hinton won the county competition and went on to finish 12th in the region. The top 10 regional performers qualify for the state show. Ray Thomas finished second in the county, but was unable to attend the regional showdown.

Najera Nets First Annual CTE Award

5-15-08 - Franklinton High School student Pedro Najera (right) recently finished first in the central region Skills/USA masonry competition. As a result of his strong efforts and outstanding performance, Najera received the first annual FCS Career and Technical Education Award. The award will be on display at Franklinton High School for one year and will then be awarded to someone from either Bunn High or Louisburg High. Najera is thankful for the guidance received from masonry teacher Clarence Walker (back) and the support from FCS CTE Director Laureen Jones.

YES Tops in Challenge of The Chapters

5-14-08 - Youngsville Elementary School captured this year's FCS Challenge of The Chapters title held at Louisburg Elementary Tuesday morning. YES, coached by Heather Shipley, edged Edward Best Elementary School (second) and Franklinton Elementary School (third). Each elementary school has a team in the event and questions are derived from a group of selected readings. To see a group photo of the champs, click here.

Two Principals, Two APs Announced

5-13-08 - The Franklin County Board of Education announced the appointment of two principals and two assistant principals in Monday's Board of Education meeting. Genie Faulkner, former AP of Laurel Mill Elementary, is now the Principal of Laurel Mill Elementary School. Carol Davis, AP of Youngsville Elementary, will take over as Principal of Franklinton Elementary on July 1st. Falisa Carter, Business Technology Teacher at Louisburg High School, will assume her new duties as Assistant Principal at LHS on August 1st. Carleen Nichols, who is the Curriculum Resource Teacher at Franklinton Elementary, will be the first Assistant Principal at Long Mill Elementary School on July 1st.

Edward Best's Dean First In State

5-13-08 - Edward Best Elementary School student Amanda Dean (center) captured first place in the state in the Soil and Water Conservation poster contest. After winning for the school and then the 11-county district, Dean's winning ways continued on the state level. Schoolmates Elizabeth McCracken (left) and Sarah Osuch also had strong results in the contest. McCracken was second in the region for fourth-grade students, while Osuch was tops in the school for fifth graders. Osuch finished first at EBES three straight years and was tops in the state as a third-grader.

Farm Safety Field Trip

5-12-08 - Youngsville Elementary fourth graders participated in Farm Safety week last Friday by going on a trip to PDQ Farms outside of Franklinton. The Franklin County Cooperative Extension organized the event in which students learned about the many aspects of being safe while working in agriculture. At right, a student serves as a demonstrator for proper eye and face protection from the sun.

Still Wanting To Learn

5-9-08 - Just because you are a retired teacher, doesn't mean you want to stop visiting the classroom. A group of Franklin County retired teachers still soak in every chance they get to learn something new. Last week the FCS technology department took time out to help some FCS retired teachers brush up on their computer skills. The enthusiastic group of teachers was happy to learn more about using email and the capabilities of the Internet in a session held at Louisburg Elementary School.

Relay For Life 2008

5-8-08 - Cancer survivors throughout Franklin County, as well as every school in the FCS system, participated in the annual Relay For Life at Bunn High School on May 2-3. To view scenes from the annual event, click here.

$53 Million School Bond...APPROVED!

5-7-08 - The Franklin County Board of Elections announced Tuesday night that the voters of Franklin County approved the $53 million school construction bond by a 8,301 to 4,546 margin (64.6% to 35.4%). Of the 18 voting precincts, 17 voted in favor of the bond. The $53 million will fund projects at 12 of 14 schools throughout the system, including a replacement site for Franklinton High School. At left, Louisburg High School teacher Joe Desantis and Board of Education Chair Paige Sayles eagerly watch as the results are posted.

Johnson and Wales visits Bunn High

5-6-08 - Bunn High students in Leslie Pate's Foods I and II class got a fresh treat to professional cooking last week. A chef from Johnson and Wales University visited and spoke about proper steps in preparing food in addition to making a Greek dish for all to enjoy.

Williams Invited To Presidential Inauguration

5-1-08 - Franklinton High School student standout and Skills-USA member Olivia Williams has been invited to attend the University Presidential Inaugural Conference based on her fine performance in the National Young Leaders Conference in 2007. The program is a celebration of the of the inauguration of the President and Vice President of the United States. This educational experience will last five days in Washington, DC and will require $2,729 of funding. If you would like to make a donation or simply want more information, contact Clarence Walker at FHS at 919-494-2332.

New Immunization Requirement for Students Headed for 6th Grade

5-1-08 - A new immunization is now required for entrance into grade six. For the 2008-2009 school year, by the age of 12 or entrance to grade 6, all students must show proof of a booster dose of Tdap vaccine. There is no cost of the vaccine and it can be obtained through your regular health provider. For more information, click here.

Chicken Plate Sale at LHS

5-1-08 - Louisburg High School will hold a chicken plate sale for the Skills/USA club, auto-mechanics class and wrestling team on Friday, May 2nd from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. The meal includes bread, coleslaw, half a chicken and cake. Cost is $7.

Anastasia Show Planned at FHS

4-30-08 - The Franklinton High School drama department will perform its version of Anastasia May 8th, May 9th and May 10th at the Franklinton High School auditorium. The play is an annual event and is proving to be quite a hit. For more information, contact Lisa Lawrence at 494-2332.

Old Fashioned Band Concert

4-29-08 - The Louisburg High School band will hold an Old Fashioned Band Concert this Saturday (5.3.08) at 6 p.m. on the steps of the Franklin County Courthouse in Louisburg. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at the Louisburg High School Auditorium. Members of the band entertained those in attendance at the Board of Education meeting held Monday night in the Louisburg High School media center (left).

Board Meeting Slated At LHS Monday

4-28-08 - In celebration and recognition of the new buildings at Louisburg High School, the Franklin County Board of Education will hold a Board of Education meeting this Monday (4.28.08) in the new media center at Louisburg High School at 7 p.m. In addition to the media center, LHS received a new vocational building, new cafeteria, administration building and classroom upgrades from the 2004 school construction bond. During the meeting the latest FCS Employees of The Quarter will be announced as well. To view the agenda, click here.

LES Field Day - PULL!!

4-25-08 - Louisburg Elementary students get a good grip and pull with all their might during a tug-of-war competition held during field day Thursday morning. Students participated in a variety of entertaining and sometimes wet events. Events ranged from a cotton ball race, tug-of-war, beach ball keep-away, water sponge racing, bubbles and basketball.

Young Artists Receive Recognition

4-24-08 - Christian Helsel of Franklinton Elementary School and Rockey Hester of Edward Best Elementary School each entered a poster contest and both received awards. Their works will be included in the North Carolina Council of Economic Education Concept Calendar for 2008-2009. The two fifth-graders will receive their awards at the Piedmont region awards banquet in early May in Greensboro.

Autographed Football Up For Auction

4-23-08 - An official autographed football from the NFL Carolina Panthers has created quite a buzz at Terrell Lane Middle School. The gem is part of a Relay For Life Auction at the school and will be on the auction block this coming Friday. All proceeds go to Relay For Life.

EBES Pitches In For Earth Day

4-23-08 - Edward Best Elementary first graders celebrated Earth Day by planting a Pink Japanese Magnolia tree and reading the book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. EBES Assistant Principal Rodney White dug the hole to plant the tree and students followed by watering it with cups of water (right). Students also learned that Japanese Magnolias and other trees and plants are a great way to purify the air we breath. In addition, the importance of recycling was expressed.

Board Approves New Attendance Map

4-15-08 - The Franklin County Board of Education approved the new Long Mill attendance map Monday night (4.14.08). By a 4-3 vote, the BOE adopted map ES11, and will submit the map to the Department of Justice for approval. Parents of students who will be moved to a new district will be notified by mail. To view the map, click here.

Upcoming Relay For Life Events

4-23-08 - Relay For Life is in full swing. Below is a list of upcoming events in which you can help in the fight against Cancer:

Pancake Breakfast - Bunn Middle School, Saturday (4/26) 7-10:30 a.m.

Basketball - Louisburg High School faculty vs. staff (4/29) 7 p.m., $3

Relay Dinner - Franklinton High School, (4/29), menu includes pork tenderloin, spring salad, potatoes and dessert - $15. Contact LuAnn Siwula (494-2332).

Magical Story Teller Visits LES

4-21-08 - Louisburg Elementary School students and staff were treated to the magical story telling of Mark Daniel last week. Daniel entertained the crowd with books from Clues of The Readasaurus with readings and nifty magic tricks. Daniel's stage presence and comical presentation captured the attention of nearly everyone present. For more information, visit www.magicalstoryteller.com.

Kick It To Cancer Fundraiser at FHS

4-19-08 - The Franklinton High School girl’s soccer program will host Kick It To Cancer this Saturday at Franklinton High School. The Kick It To Cancer campaign is the program’s way of raising money for the American Cancer Society while educating student athletes about the benefit of helping other people. During this event, people who made a pledge or donation will be honored. There will be plenty of soccer action taking place. There will be three Youngsville Area Kids Soccer games beginning at 3:15 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., Franklin County rivals Louisburg High School and Franklinton High School take the field. A full array of concessions will be available.

Car Wash for Relay for Life

A Celebration of Life

Annual FHS Showcase Still A Hit

4-17-08 - Each spring Franklinton High School students, staff and area business put on the annual FHS Spring Showcase. Much like each other spring, this year's event was a huge success. Each department of the school displays some of the work completed throughout the school year, as well as on-going projects. Area businesses use this as an opportunity to showcase what they have to offer to potential employees and customers. Hundreds of area residents flooded the floor of the Red Ram gymnasium to get a first-hand look at the event. In addition patrons sampled food and took in some music from the FHS band.

County Spelling Champ Decided

4-16-08 - Steven Thompson earned the annual FCS spelling title Tuesday morning. The seventh-grade student from Terrell Lane (front left) outlasted a talented group of spellers for the top prize. Greg Purvine (front right), a sixth-grader from Cedar Creek Middle School, took home second place. Also making it to the finals were eighth-grader Emma McFarlane of Terrell Lane, fourth-grader Kylee Cobbs-Marcus of Royal and fifth-grader Sandra Williams of Louisburg Elementary School. Each finalist qualified for the event after winning their respective grade level.

New Technical Honor Society Inductees

4-14-08 - Thirteen FCS high school students were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society last Thursday night in a ceremony held at Louisburg High School. At left, Kendra Carter, Whitney Clegg, Tyshia Hedgespeth and Thomas Piper read the the NTHS pledge prior to receiving pins. Standout students enrolled in Career Technical Education courses who maintain a high level of academic excellence and conduct are inducted each year. Also getting inducted last week were Heather Balance, Brittany Pleasants, Ashley Satterwhite, Sheila McDonald, Colby Moore, Ashley Stowe, Kristen Kleitsch, William Jones and Tamonica Lassiter. Click here to view a group photo of the new inductees who were present.

Interested In Discussing The 2008 Bond?

Relay For Life Auction, Hoops Event Planned

Franklin County Relay for Life will hold an auction this Saturday (4.12.08) at 6:30 p.m. at the Louisburg Auction House on 111 South Church Street (behind the courthouse). Refreshments will be on sale as well. In addition, there will be a Relay for Life basketball game at Edward Best Elementary School this Friday. The contest is between the faculty and students. Admission is $2 for adults and 50 cents for students. Children under the age of five get in free. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.

The Big Bad Wolf On Trial

4-10-08 - The Louisburg High School Drama Department will perform The Big Bad Wolf On Trial on April 11, 12 and 13 in the Louisburg High School auditorium. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on April 11-12 and at 2 p.m. on April 13. Entry fee is $5 for adults, $3 for students with ID and $2 for children under 8 and senior citizens. This is an interactive play and the audience will get to decided if the Big Bad Wolf is guilty or not. Proceeds go to the drama department.

Track & Field Championship Saturday

4-7-07 - The eighth annual Franklin Times Franklin County Track and Field Championships will be held this Saturday at Bunn High School beginning at 9 a.m. Events feature middle school and high school athletes. In addition, Bunn High School will host a chicken plate sale from 11 a.m. until 1p.m. at a cost of $7 per plate.

Take A Reading Road Trip at FES

4-4-08 - Take a reading road trip during Franklinton Elementary's book fair next week (April 7-11). The week-long event features family night on April 8th from 5-7 p.m. Books and other reading materials will be on sale for students and parents all week long.

County Government Week Slated

4-3-08 - Next week, April 7-11, is County Government Week in Franklin County. This year's theme is "Protecting Our Children". There will be a public forum concerning the issue on April 8th at the Cooperative Extension Annex in Louisburg at 7 p.m. Participants will include the Franklin County Health Department, Sheriff's Office, Department of Social Services, Guardian Ad Litem and JCPC. Refreshments will be provided.

Bunn Standout Signs With Penn State

4-2-08 - Bunn High School junior Tyler Howle is a standout lineman for the Wildcat football program, and he hopes to be just as successful at Penn State University. Howle will appear on the one of the grandest stages in all of college football under the direction of NCAA coaching legend Joe Paterno in the fall of 2009 as a freshman at PSU. More details will appear in the April issue of First Thursday.

A Chance To Make A Difference

4-1-08 - Louisburg High School students Megan Brewer and Brittini Pittman got the chance to serve on a panel with Congressman Bob Etheridge and Board of Education Chair Paige Sayles a few days prior to spring break. The LHS honor students were asked to voice their ideas on improving school security throughout the United States.

Reassignment Hearing Set for Monday

3-30-08 - The first public hearing for the Long Mill Elementary redistricting process will take place on Monday, March 31st at 7 p.m. at Cedar Creek Middle School. The second hearing is slated for 7 p.m. on April 1st at Royal Elementary and the third is set for April 3rd at 7 p.m. at Louisburg Elementary. Complete details and proposed districts are listed below on this webpage.

Mueller Raises County Wrestling Benchmark

3-20-08 - Not too long ago Louisburg High School senior Noel Mueller (left) received the WRAL Extra Effort Award for his strong performance in the classroom and for his outstanding showing in prep wrestling. Mueller's prep career ended in the state championship playoffs in February, but his mark on Franklin County wrestling will be remembered for a long time in the record books. The standout set the all-time county record with 161 career wins, including 115 pins. During his senior year, Mueller compiled a 45-3 overall record to conclude his prep worksheet at 161-31. In addition, he was nominated for the prestigious Roy Heaverly Award for wrestling. Heaverly is a past state wrestling champion.

Bunn Middle Captures Quiz Bowl Title

3-19-08 - Bunn Middle School has been on a strong run in the Junior Quiz Bowl in recent years and continued Tuesday morning at the Mitchell Media Center. The Bull Dogs held off Terrell Lane Middle and Cedar Creek Middle for a hard-fought victory in a double-elimination tournament. Students answered questions from a variety of topics including math, literature, science and geography. Each match consisted of three rounds of questions with point values of 10, 20 and 30. Team pictures are available below.

Bunn Middle - Cedar Creek Middle - Terrell Lane Middle

FCS Child Nutrition Success

3-18-08 - FCS second graders received some helpful hints on how to live a healthy life at the recent Child Nutrition Fair. The event was held at Royal Elementary and students learned more about healthy eating habits and different ways to exercise. Second graders from each school in the system cycled through a variety of stations throughout the day. To view more photos of the event, click here.

Leprechaun Hunting

3-17-08 - Bunn Elementary Students followed a path of gold dust during their daily Wildcat Walk in hopes of finding a Leprechaun on St. Patrick's Day. While the students didn't quite find what they were seeking, they had quite a bit of fun and got plenty of exercise during the process. The Wildcat Walk is an exercise program at Bunn Elementary that offers incentives to students and entire classes for walking around the track that surrounds the field area behind the school. This is just one of several events used to promote the Wildcat Walk program at Bunn Elementary.

FES Students Set to Perform

Franklinton Elementary students will perform A Twisted Cinderella Story on Friday (3.14.08) at 7 p.m. and Saturday (3.15.08) at 1 p.m. The performances will take place in the auditorium of Franklinton High School. Admission for adults is $5 and $2 for students.

Faulkner Earns AP of The Year Honors

3-13-08 - Laurel Mill Elementary School Assistant Principal Genie Faulkner (left) receives a warm congratulations from teacher Lisa Whitley (right) and the rest of the school's staff after learning she was the FCS Assistant Principal of The Year. Faulkner completes a clean sweep for LMES, as current Principal Kim Ferrell was named FCS Principal of The Year a few months ago.

Scenes from All County Chorus

3-12-08 - The annual FCS All County Chorus took place this past Friday at Louisburg College. A near capacity crowd flooded the seats of the Louisburg College Auditorium to listen to performances from elementary students, middle school students and high school students. In addition to singing, there were a few selections played with instruments. The event was capped in grand fashion with a strong group performance by all three levels. For more photos, click here.

Two Principals, Director of Elementary Education Appointed

3-11-08 - The Franklin County Board of Education appointed Kim Ferrell Principal of Long Mill Elementary School and Roosevelt Alston Principal of Bunn Middle School in Monday night's (3.10.08) BOE meeting. In addition, Linda Frederickson was appointed Director of Elementary Education. Ferrell is currently the Principal of Laurel Mill Elementary School and begins her post at Long Mill on April 14th. Alston, who is currently an Assistant Principal at Louisburg High School, starts his new endeavor on March 17th. Frederickson, who is currently the Principal of Franklinton Elementary School, will take on her new position on July 1st.

FHS Booster Club BBQ Sale

3-8-08 - The Franklinton High School Athletic Booster Club will hold a BBQ pork plate dinner on March 17 from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Cafeteria. This event will take place during report card pick-up night. The meal includes BBQ pork, bread, potato salad and slaw. Cost is $7 per plate. Plates can be pre-ordered through FHS.

TLMS Captures Battle Of The Books Title

3-7-08 - The annual FCS Battle of the Books competition has turned into a huge rivalry among Cedar Creek Middle, Terrell Lane Middle and Bunn Middle. Last year, Bunn Middle engineered the championship, but this year it was Terrell Lane finishing first, followed by Bunn and Cedar Creek. While Bunn Middle manufactured a strong final round with 17 points to put a little pressure on Terrell Lane, TLMS answered with 13 points of its own for a winning total of 51 points. Bunn tallied 48 and Cedar Creek finished with 34.  TLMS Team Picture - BMS Team Picture - CCMS Team Picture 

Carter Receives State Board Finance Award

3-6-08 - Franklin County Schools Finance Officer Fred Carter was recognized by the State Board of Education and Department of Instruction Wednesday for his outstanding accuracy. This honor is awarded annually to finance officers with no audit exceptions for certified personnel paid from state or federal funds. Carter has worked for FCS for 12 years and is known for his outstanding service and accuracy.

Laptops, iPods Create Buzz at Laurel Mill

3-5-08 - Students at Laurel Mill Elementary School are getting the opportunity to incorporate laptops and iPods into their daily learning. Students of Emily Williams' and Natasha Vonklingler's class are using both devices to improve their reading skills. Find out more about this and other happenings in Franklin County Schools in the upcoming edition of First Thursday.

Redistricting Proposal Set for March 10th

3-4-08 - Long Mill Elementary School, located at the intersection of Bert Winston and Long Mill Roads west of US Hwy 1, is set to open in August of this year. With the addition of a new school to the FCS system comes a redistricting process. This will have an effect on some students of Youngsville Elementary, Louisburg Elementary, Royal Elementary and Franklinton Elementary. A proposal will be made by the Long Mill redistricting committee to the Board of Education on March 10th. The Board of Education will conduct public hearings shortly there after and make a final decision during the April 14th BOE meeting. BOE meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the Riverside Campus in Louisburg.

BMS to Defend Battle of The Books Crown

3-3-08 - Bunn Middle School will defend its 2007  Battle of The Books crown this Thursday at Cedar Creek Middle School at 9:30 a.m. Both Cedar Creek and Terrell Lane look to dethrone the Bulldogs after a hard-fought contest last season. The county-wide middle school event tests each team's knowledge on a wide range of readings from selected books.

Child Nutrition Fair Set for March 6th

2-28-08 - The annual FCS Child Nutrition Fair will take place March 6th at Royal Elementary School from 8:45 in the morning until 2:45 in the afternoon. This annual event gives elementary students a chance to learn about proper eating and exercising habits. A variety of booths explain the many different factors it takes to live a healthy life.

Delightful Sounds From Cedar Creek

2-27-08 - The Cedar Creek Middle School band, directed by Bobby Rathbone, entertained PTSA meeting attendees to close out an informative evening on campus. In addition to the band playing, parents and students enjoyed a hot dog dinner as well as 8th-grade parent night. Franklinton High School Principal Charles Fuller spoke with parents during parent night on how to prepare their children for the transition to high school.

Final Redistricting Meeting Before Proposal

2-26-08 - Long Mill Elementary school is slated to open in August of this year. The redistricting process is currently ongoing, and a proposal will be presented to the Franklin County Board of Education on March 10th. The final meeting before the proposal will take place on Thursday, February 28th, at 5:30 p.m. on the Riverside Campus in Louisburg in room A-107. The public is encouraged to attend.

Bunn High Celebrates FFA Week

2-25-08 - Bunn High School has a strong chapter of Future Farmers of America and used last week to celebrate its success during FFA week. Bob Frisbie, BHS vocational teacher, guides the group through many activities throughout the year. In the past year the Wildcats have been a part of many projects ranging from landscaping, building tables for the new cafeteria, to a fruit sale that netted more than $7,000 for the program. At right, FFA members pose during camouflage day last week. Note the matching camouflage truck.

Tatum Earns Science Grant Worth $6,788

2-22-08 - Terrell Lane Middle School teacher Katie Tatum (right) has developed a strong ability to earn Grants for her science classroom.  Her latest grant application netted $6,788 through Toyota TAPESTRY and the National Science Teachers Association for a project titled Water for Our Future. The project focuses on students collecting and analyzing water quality data once a month for ten months (08-09 school year), marking street gutters indicating flow to the Tar River and organizing a volunteer task force to help pick up trash along our city streets and at River Bend Park to prevent trash from polluting the Tar River. This grant also includes an in-kind donation from Foster Lake and Pond Management ($8K) in the form of company time and man hours. This is the company that Mitchell Morton works for - he is the biologist that worked with Tatum's the past two years to collect data from rivers. Tatum will be honored in Boston at the National Teacher's Conference in March. She has earned $25K in grants in her 3-years at Terrell Lane.

Wrestlers Vie For State Championships

2-21-08 - Wrestling has become a popular sport for Franklin County High School athletes, and six of those athletes qualified for the state individual tournament that takes place this weekend at Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem. Louisburg High School's Noel Mueller (bottom right) was named Eastern Regional Most Outstanding wrestler this past weekend after winning the regional title in the 145-pound class. Fellow Warrior Mamour Camara also notched a regional championship in the 130-pound class. LHS standouts Smiley Mueller (125) and Ahamadou Camara (135) also earned spots in the state 1A/2A finals this weekend after finishing second and fourth respectively in their divisions. Franklinton High School had a pair of wrestlers qualify as well. Bobby Holliman (112, lfar eft)) and Corey Hoffman (130, left) earned bids to the state dance after finishing in the top four in the regional event this past weekend.

The TLMS Primary Scoreboard

2-20-08 - Major media outlets do it, so why not Terrell Lane Middle School? Terrell Lane Middle School social studies students are keeping a close eye on the current presidential primary races. Students from Cathy Madden's class are posting the results by state on a wall just outside of their classroom. The display has generated quite a bit of enthusiasm throughout the school.

How Healthy Am I?

2-19-08 - FCS employees got a chance to learn more about their own personal health Monday during an employee health fair. The FCS School Health Advisory Council received a grant to fund the event. More than 130 people attended the fair that was held at Louisburg Elementary. Employees were able to get blood glucose and cholesterol levels screened. Body mass index and blood pressure tests were also available as employees learned how to take care of themselves through a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Franklinton Elementary All-Star Game

2-15-08 - Fifth-grade students from Franklinton Elementary will battle a team of FES teachers and staff in a basketball contest on February 22nd at 7 p.m. in the FES gymnasium. Entry fee is $2 for adults and $1 for students. The concession stand will be open as well. All proceeds go to Relay For Life.

Year-Round School Calendar Approved

2-14-08 - The Franklin County Board of Education approved the 2008-2009 year-round school calendar in last Monday's BOE meeting. The first student day of school for year-round schools for the 2008-2009 school year is scheduled for July 18th, with the final student day coming on June 12th 2009. To get a full view of the calendar, click here. Youngsville Elementary is the only year-round school in the system.

It's Not Too Late For a Flu Shot

2-13-08 - Although flu season is off to a slow start, there has been a recent increase in the number of cases of the virus in North Carolina. It's not too late to get vaccinated for the virus. Flu season has the potential to extend to May. Flu vaccination is regarded as the best way to prevent flu in individuals and it can also help slow the spread of the virus in communities. If you are interested in getting a flu shot for yourself or your child, please contact your healthcare provider or the local health department. For more information, click here.

African American History - The Porch Building

2-12-08 - The FCS Riverside Campus is rich in African American history. The campus is the original site of the Franklin County Training School for African Americans that started in the 1920s. The name was later changed to Riverside Union School and was partly funded through the Julius Rosenwald Foundation. In 1951, the Porch Building was constructed by African American WW II Veterans as part of an on-the-job training exercise. The Porch Building is the last standing building of the Riverside Union Campus, and a committee has been formed to restore the building. A major part of that process is getting the building on the National Register of Historic Places, and after a look from the North Carolina Historic Society, it looks like the Porch Building stands an excellent chance of qualifying for the National Register. For more information on the Porch Building, click here.

Career and Technical Education Month

2-11-08 - February is national career and technical (CTE) month, so take an extra moment to thank a CTE teacher, or investigate the many programs offered through the FCS CTE program. While FCS has strong courses in traditional CTE programs such as agriculture, masonry, welding, auto-mechanics, etc, there are also a variety of new programs. Among the new FCS programs are a digital media class offered at Franklinton High School (left) through the teaching of Michael Kearney. In this class, students focus on a variety aspects of digital media, including video editing. For more information on national CTE month, click here.

Redistricting Meetings Coming Soon

2-8-08 - Long Mill Elementary school is slated to open in August of this year. The redistricting process is currently ongoing, and a proposal will be presented to the Franklin County Board of Education on March 10th. There will be two more open meetings outlining the process with the first coming on February 12 at 5:30 p.m. The second will take place on February 28th, also at 5:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held on the Riverside Campus in Louisburg in room A-107. The public is encouraged to attend.

First Thursday - February Issue

2-7-08 - The February issue of First Thursday is now available. The latest issue highlights several happenings within the FCS system, including the growing popularity of wrestling, Special Olympics, staff development, and a recent career fair. Find out more by clicking here. You may also visit the First Thursday website.

International Center Open House Thursday

2-6-08 - The FCS International Center will hold an open house event on February 7th from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the old central office in Louisburg (105 Bickett Boulevard). The International Center is designed to help students and families who speak English as a second language to adjust to life in Franklin County Schools. For more information, call 496-1592.

Searching For A Career

2-5-08 - Franklinton High School students got a good chance to look at different career opportunities during the FHS Career Fair last week.  Twenty businesses set up shop in the science building to handout information and entertain questions from students concerning their particular business. A wide variety of outlets were represented, and the feedback was very positive from students, teachers and vendors. A more detailed story will appear in the February issue of First Thursday.

FCS' Carter Passes Away

2-2-08 - It is with deep sorrow that we report the sudden loss of Dianne Carter at age 56. Carter passed away Friday night (2-1-08). Her career spanned more than three decades in education- a career that ranged from teaching at Louisburg High School to her most recent post as FCS Director of Elementary Education. The wake was held at Strickland Funeral Home in Wendell on Sunday (2-3-08). Funeral services took place on Monday (2-4-08) at Rocky Cross Holiness Church.

Ongoing Redistricting Process

2-1-08 - Long Mill Elementary school is slated to open in August of this year. The redistricting process is currently ongoing, and a proposal will be presented to the Franklin County Board of Education on March 10th. There will be two more open meetings outlining the process with the first coming on February 12 at 5:30 p.m. The second will take place on February 28th, also at 5:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held on the Riverside Campus in Louisburg in room A-107.

LHS' Mueller Pockets Huge Honor

1-31-08 - Until five years ago, wrestling wasn't even offered at Louisburg High School. But that has all changed and Louisburg High School senior Noel Mueller (left) is making a big name for himself through one of the most difficult sports there is. Mueller has dominated his wrestling weight class throughout his career and has set a new benchmark for current and future wrestlers of the Warrior program with 148 current victories. For his outstanding performance both in sports and in the classroom, Mueller received the WRAL Extra Effort Award Wednesday afternoon in front of the entire LHS student body and staff. Mueller's story will air tonight at 6 p.m. on WRAL. Click here for a picture showing the thrill of the moment.

Riverside Central Office Address Change

Effective January 3rd, 2008, the mailing address for the FCS Central Office is 53 West River Road, Louisburg, NC 27549. The former PO Box 449 address is no longer in service. Please make note of the change and pass the information to others who may be concerned.

2008-09 Traditional Calendar Set

1-30-08 - Trying to plan a family vacation for the second half of this year or 2009? Then you may want to know the details of your child's school schedule. The 2008-2009 FCS traditional calendar has been released. You may access it here or on the left side of this webpage under important links. The year-round calendar will be ready in the near future.

Science Equipment Grant Paying Off At TLMS

1-28-08 - Science students at Terrell Lane Middle School are truly enjoying the equipment obtained through a grant from the NCSU Friday Institute. A total of 24 graphing calculators, eight sets of nine measuring probes, two laptops, classroom projectors, document cameras and communications cables for the calculators were received through this grant. Chad Moore, TLMS science teacher, guided his students through a lab Monday concerning heart rate and physical activity in which the equipment was utilized. Members of the Friday Institute were present. In addition to the equipment, math and science teachers get three seminars throughout the year, including a three-day event in the summer.

Board of Education Meeting Tonight

1-28-08 - The Franklin County Board of Education will meet for a regularly scheduled meeting tonight (Monday, 1.28.08) at 7 p.m. on the Riverside Campus in Louisburg in room  A-107. In addition to a construction update and a bond update, the latest Employees of The Quarter will be announced. The public is encouraged to attend. For a look at tonight's agenda, click here.

Kindergarten Registration Dates

Kindergarten registration will begin in April. The signup time for each date at each school is from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call the school in your district for more details.

Penguin Encourages Physical Activity at BES

1-24-08 - Bunn Elementary School held its first annual Penguin Plunge to promote physical activity for all students. Participants walked, skipped and ran around the track near the BES playground, and took a little time to talk to the penguin. Participants received a charm and were quite impressed with the waddling walking style of the visiting penguin.

Bunn High To Host Relay For Life Fundraiser

1-23-08 - Bunn High School will host a chili sale for Relay For Life on Saturday (1.26.08) at 11 a.m. at the Bunn Methodist Daycare. Chili will be sold at $6 per quart with proceeds going to Relay For Life. If you would like to preorder chili, contact Lindsay Patterson at Bunn High School (496-3975).

Subscribe To First Thursday - It's Free!

1-22-08 - Interested in what is going on inside and outside of Franklin County Schools? Then you might want to consider subscribing to First Thursday, the FCS monthly E-magazine. First Thursday is a collection of feature stories, parent help, upcoming events and more - and it is totally free!

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Queen Elizabeth I Visits EBES

1-19-08 - Edward Best Elementary Students received a visit from Queen Elizabeth I Friday morning. Thursday, a messenger informed students that the Queen would visit and come to them for answers about the disappearance of the Lost Colony. Students prepared their theories and read them from scrolls prepared for the Queen. The Queen was very pleased with the theories and accepted the explanations. Students followed with questions concerning the Queen's life.

Student Transfers On Hold Until April

1-18-08 - Parents wishing to transfer their children to a different school within Franklin County for the 2008-2009 school year must wait to apply in April. All transfers are currently being put on hold due to the redistricting process currently taking place. This process is anticipated to affect three elementary schools (Youngsville, Franklinton and Royal) due to the opening of Long Mill Elementary in August. For more information, contact Franklin County Schools at 919-496-2600.

Leadership Franklin Youth Program Launched

1-3-08 - Students interested in learning more about business and career opportunities in Franklin County may be interested in the Leadership Franklin Youth Program. This program will feature a series of trips to businesses throughout Franklin County through the efforts of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Space is limited to 24 students in grades 11-12. There are six slots available from each high school and six for children who are schooled at home. Click here for an application.

Weather Forces Delay

1-17-08 - A mixture of freezing rain, sleet and snow forced a two-hour delay in the start of school Thursday morning. High schools were able to hold the third-day of exams without any further changes to the schedule. Friday is the final day of exams. FCS will be closed on Monday in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. This coming Tuesday and Wednesday will be teacher workdays.

Prep Wrestling Drawing More Attention

1-16-08 - All three high schools in the FCS system now have wrestling teams, and each is enjoying success. It wasn't long ago that wrestling on the high school level wasn't an option in Franklin County, but that has changed quickly. Louisburg High School wrestlers, left, recently took home a tournament victory. The Warriors have been led by the efforts of senior standout Noel Mueller. Franklinton pitched a rare upset to Southern Vance this year and the Bunn Wildcats are enjoying a full schedule of events as well. All the teams are off this week because of exams, but return to action when exams are finished. A full report of the growth of prep wrestling in Franklin County will appear in the February issue of First Thursday.

10 Room Addition Underway at FHS

1-15-08 - Franklinton High School is getting a much needed 10 classroom addition. Construction is now underway for a building that will house students when main-building renovations will be done. Future plans could yield a new FHS campus at the intersection of Cedar Creek and Lane Store roads. In that case, the current campus for the Red Rams will be used as a middle school, thus the new building will still be used. It would be easy to convert the new building into a gymnasium for middle school students.

Frosty Kicks Off Writing Camp

1-14-08 - Frosty The Snowman made an appearance at Laurel Mill Elementary this morning, marking the official start of the annual LMES Writing Camp. Fourth-grade students paraded throughout the school singing Writing in a Winter Wonderland to get other students in the spirit of writing. Frosty read the classic version of his story to students after Dianne Carter, FCS Director of Elementary Education, read a less intense version to the same students. Students then pointed out differences in the two stories. Students will participate in more similar writing activities for the remainder of the week.

Check Out The Latest First Thursday

1-11-08 - The January issue of First Thursday is now available. This month's issue features a $10,000 grant received by Terrell Lane Middle School teacher Katie Tatum. Also included is a story outlining the success of the FHS drama program and much more. Click here to download the file. If you would like to subscribe for free, visit the First Thursday homepage.

High School Exams Begin Tuesday

1-10-08 - As the midpoint of the year nears us, it's time for high school students to gear up for first-semester exams. High school students will take one exam each day next week from Tuesday through Friday. School will dismiss at noon - providing all End of Course exams are completed. Teachers will remain on campus for the remainder of the day. Athletic practices will be held to a minimum each day as well. Teams will practice no longer than one hour and the gyms will close at 5:30 p.m. so students will have extended time to prepare for exams. Regular athletic schedules will resume after 3 p.m. on Friday.

Seeing Soil Conservation With Their Own Eyes

1-9-08 - One of the nice parts about teaching science is the ability to show real results. Students of Janice Colvins' class at Laurel Mill Elementary School got to see the difference with using grass to prevent soil erosion as compared to using rocks and sticks. Students planted donated grass prior to the holiday break and came back to six-inch tall greenery growing in the soil. To test how well the soil would hold up in the grass, students poured water through the grass and observed that much less dirt washed away when compared to other methods. Students had to keep a notebook outlining their results using the scientific method.

Barnes Plays In Big Football Event

1-8-08 - Bunn High School senior football sensation Brandon Barnes (right), who will suit up at N.C. State University this coming fall, recently played in the Under Armor All-American game. Barnes, who was one of the top prep recruits in the state, helped the Wildcats to another strong season last fall. In addition to Barnes playing in the game, long-time Wildcat Coach David Howle was a coach in the event.

County Icon Wilder Going Strong

1-7-08 - Franklinton High School girls basketball coach Lester Wilder retired in 2006, but it didn't take him long to return. Wilder coached the FHS girls team for nearly 30 years before retiring, but came back to coach the same team again this season. In addition, Wilder will return as head varsity baseball coach this spring. He's led the Red Rams to countless conference basketball titles and helped restore success in the baseball team five years ago with a conference championship. His basketball coaching career is rich in history, with his crowning moment coming in 1993 when he led the Lady Red Rams to the 2A state finals.

FHS Art On Display Sunday

1-4-08 - Several Franklinton High School art students will have their work on display this Sunday (1/6) during the Franklinton Women's Club Art Show from 2-4 p.m. at the old train station in Franklinton. There will be nearly 80 works of art on display from FHS. In the past, students have won district and state awards. This is the fourth year that the Red Rams have entered this event. The art at left was produced by FHS student Andrea Greer.

Leadership Franklin Youth Program Launched

1-3-08 - Students interested in learning more about business and career opportunities in Franklin County may be interested in the Leadership Franklin Youth Program. This program will feature a series of trips to businesses throughout Franklin County through the efforts of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Space is limited to 24 students in grades 11-12. There are six slots available from each high school and six for children who are schooled at home. Click here for an application.

Subscribe To First Thursday

1-2-08 - Want to find out more about Franklin County Schools? Then subscribe to First Thursday for free. First Thursday is a free, monthly, electronic news production that outlines events taking place at FCS. Due to the holidays, the next issue of First Thursday will be released on January 10th. January's issue will highlight many items, including the Franklinton High School drama department.

Happy Holidays From Franklin County Schools

FCS will be closed from December 21st through January 1st for holiday break. Traditional schools will re-open on January 2nd, while year-round schools resume a regular schedule on January 14th. FCS wishes each and everyone a very happy holiday season.

YES Brimming With Sounds of The Season

12-19-07 - Youngsville Elementary School first graders entertained parents and staff Tuesday afternoon with songs of the holiday season. Each class from first grade sang a holiday song and all of the classes joined together for one final song to cap the special event. Today is the last day of school for YES before heading home for holiday vacation.

Carol Cheves Set To Retire

12-18-07 - After 30 years of educating children, Bunn Elementary School AIG teacher Carol Cheves is set to retire this Thursday. Friends, staff members and former students of Cheves held a celebration Monday afternoon in Cheves' honor. At left Edward Best teachers Dana Bassett and Amanda Cash pose with Cheves. Cheves taught both in elementary school.

Milk Really Matters at Bunn Elementary

12-17-07 - As part of a school-wide, voluntary activity, Bunn Elementary students put together posters and various other projects outlining the importance of drinking milk on a regular basis. At left, BES Principal Jewel Eason, FCS Head Nurse Rhonda Shearin and BES Assistant Principal Julie White take some time to pose with a milk mustache with students who put together the top projects from the event. Students in grades 2, 3 and 4 participated in the event. The top two performers from each grade (pictured) received awards.

New Web Feature - Locate Your Child's School

12-14-07 - Oftentimes people ask how to find the school their child will attend. Well, now you can figure it out all on your own with our new Web Query feature. This feature allows you to locate the school your child will attend simply by inputting your street address. The process works best when you key in only part of the street address. For example, "112 Presidents Lane", would be typed in as "112 Pres." Complete instructions are on the site, which can be viewed by clicking here.

LES Students Take Virtual Field Trip

12-13-07 - Louisburg Elementary students in Trenace Gilmore's fifth-grade class experienced a virtual field trip of the North Carolina Museum of History Tuesday morning from the LES media center. A distance learning cart was used for a video conference to experience the museum's History Mystery: Colonial Life. During this field trip, students learned about the process historians use to analyze artifacts from the past.

FHS Dinner Theater This Thursday

12-12-07 - The Franklinton High School Drama Department will hold its second annual Mystery Dinner Theater this Thursday. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. in the FHS cafeteria and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. The cost for both dinner and the play is $15 - a dinner spot must be reserved. The title of the play is Murder in the Knife Room and can be viewed without dinner for $5. To make reservations, call FHS at 494-2332 and ask for Lisa Lawrence.

December First Thursday

12-8-07 - The December issue of First Thursday is now available. This month's issues features UNC-Chancellor James Moeser, Franklin County IT Director Coy Floyd, a 2004 school bond summary and 16 FCS teachers who just became nationally certified. To view this month's issue, click here. If you would like to subscribe for free, visit the First Thursday home page.

County Library Donates Dictionaries

12-7-07 - The Franklin County Library, in conjunction with Franklin County United Way and the Louisburg Rotary Club, continued with the annual dictionary donation to FCS third graders this week. At left, Alitha Palich (Rotary President), Holt Kornegay (Franklin County Library Director) and Franklinton Elementary School Media Specialist Amy Leonard pass out dictionaries to FES students. Kornegay gave a brief talk on how to use a dictionary and the importance of understanding the true meaning of words. All seven FCS elementary schools will receive a special visit from Kornegay.

Simulated Work Environment Lab At Full Speed

12-6-07 - The FCS Simulated Work Environment Lab (SWEL) is up and running. The lab is designed to offer simulated work situations for our students to practice for possible post school goals. The program, in its first year and under the direction of Karen Cooke, serves 45 students throughout the system in both middle and high school. The Exceptional Children's Department held an open house event last night in which parents got a first-hand look at programs such as SWEL.

Soothing Sounds From FCS Students

12-5-07 - More than 50 FCS elementary students bundled up and brought some holiday cheer to Franklin County Tuesday afternoon by singing holiday carols to the public in front of the old county courthouse. Students captivated the audience with traditional songs and were led by elementary music teachers David McCray from Bunn Elementary (far right) , Rebecca Collins (left of McCray) from Laurel Mill Elementary and Debbie Blice from Edward Best Elementary (not pictured). For more scenes from the event, click here.

Writing In a Winter Wonderland

12-4-07 - Edward Best Elementary students and staff got into the holiday spirit Monday morning by kicking off Writing in a Winter Wonderland week. Frosty the Snowman paid a special visit and led students on a parade and danced with all those willing to do so. Students enjoyed readings from FCS Central Office staff as well as singing Writing In a Winter Wonderland as they marched in a parade around the Edward Best Elementary campus.

Soil and Water Conservation

12-3-07 - The Bunn Elementary School Whole Faculty Study Group Green Science Sisters (Christy Tharrington, Elaine Ihrie, Michelle Harris and Carol Cheves) have selected four Fridays this school year to be a designated science day. The second of the four events took place this past Friday and it focused on soil and water conservation. Local and statewide soil and water professionals, including Regional Soil Specialist Channa Witanachchi (left) came out to explain the importance of soil and water conservation. Students learned about different types of soils and rocks and about the different river basins in North Carolina. The remaining two events will take place during the second half of the current school year.

Chickenpox Alert

11-30-07 - Thursday it was reported that there has been an outbreak of chickenpox at seven schools in the FCS system (BES, BHS, BMS, YES, EBES, FES, CCMS). An outbreak is defined as two or more cases of the disease. If you know of a student who has Chickenpox, please make sure it has been reported to the school nurse or principal so they can report it to the FCS Student Services Department. Chickenpox is highly contagious in the early stages. Students are encouraged to get vaccinated, even if they have been vaccinated before. Vaccination after the disease has been contracted can lessen the effects of the individual case. A letter will be sent home to parents regarding the issue. You may view the letter by clicking here. (Spanish version)

Effective Math Methods Examined

11-30-07 - Franklin County Schools elementary teachers spent time Thursday morning sharpening their math teaching skills. This is a routine meeting for teachers as part of a Math Study Group. Teachers and Curriculum Resource Teachers, guided by group leaders Sandy Hooker, Karen McKeithan and Crystal Williams, reviewed books, innovative activities and overall math strategies to better their teaching abilities.

NC Author Visits Edward Best

11-29-07 - Edward Best Elementary students received a special visit from North Carolina author Donna Campbell-Smith just before Thanksgiving break. Campbell-Smith, left, primarily writes about horses on the NC Outer Banks, but focused more on Native American Heritage stories during her visit to recognize Native American Heritage month. She read from her book "Pale as Moon" in addition to describing the background of the wild horses on the NC coast. Students got a sense of the research process as well. Campbell-Smith quizzed students about what it takes to find the information to write a book or to complete a project.

Top Students Recognized at FHS

11-28-07 - As part of an on-going recognition program, nine Franklinton High School students were tabbed Student of the Month just before Thanksgiving. Earning the title for November were Judith Estrada, Kyle Kauls, Milton Morgan, Luther Coley, Della Morris, Mandy Peedin, Katherine Barrett, Alyssa Cole and Kelly Griffin. Students are nominated by teachers and staff for improved performance and impressive achievements in a variety of categories including artistic (Morgan and Peedin), community service (Barrett and Coley), academic (Estrada and Morgan), attitude (Cole and Griffin) and extracurricular activities (Kauls and Morris).

Far Away In Outer Space

11-27-07 - Youngsville Elementary students in Daisy Hahn's class (third grade) recently presented a class project on the solar system to parents. Not only did the students learn the basics of the solar system, they also learned how to present a program and how to use PowerPoint to create a slide show. The presentation went smoothly and it captivated the attention of all those present.

EBES Adopts US Troops in Pakistan

11-20-07 - As part of the Adopt a Troop Program, Edward Best Elementary students prepared care packages and sent them off to U.S. troops stationed in Pakistan. EBES Principal Debbie Ayscue, pictured right, was very pleased with the participation her school put forward for the cause and hopes it adds a few extra smiles during the upcoming holiday season. Franklin County Schools kicks off the holidays this week. FCS will be closed November 21st and reopens on November 26th after Thanksgiving break.

FCS High School Students Tour Bio Bus

11-20-07 - Franklin County High School science students took advantage of an invite from Novozymes to tour the Bio Bus from the BioAg Center at Robeson College. The bus visited Novozymes for public viewing on Monday, and more than 80 FCS students toured the exhibit. The bus is the nation's only mobile laboratory designed to offer biotechnology related worker training. This particular mobile laboratory is often used for on-site training and businesses throughout North Carolina.

Warrior Football Club Advances to Round Three

11-19-07 - Louisburg High School had cruised by most opponents heading into Friday's second round 1AA football matchup, but met a tougher opponent in Camden County at the LHS football stadium. Regardless, the Warriors notched a 16-8 triumph, advancing to round three of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1AA playoffs. The Warriors, coached by James Collier, take their impressive 12-1 marking into this Friday's home contest against Pender County at 7:30 p.m. Pender holds a healthy 9-4 record after defeating Ayden-Grifton last week. Bunn High School's strong campaign came to an end with a road defeat at South Columbus last week.

Warriors, Wildcats Prep for Round Two

11-16-07 - Earning National Board Certification is the gold standard in teaching and FCS now has 16 more. Sixteen teachers from seven schools are now smiling bigger, and are much more relieved after learning they earned national certification last week. Teachers earning the honor this year from Youngsville are Heather Shipley, Diana Hamner, Tara Smith, Rob Heller and Nanette Rhyne. Bunn Elementary teachers Jennifer Lupo, Genevieve Hilaire and Elaine Ihrie passed the extensive examination as well. Bunn Middle's Amy Tunstall and Bunn High's Jill Massey also earned the right to teach in any state in the nation. Edward Best Elementary is represented by Lisa Bendel and Donna Jones, while Royal Elementary has Melissa Pendleton and Laura Smith. Franklinton Elementary AIG teachers Michelle McGhee and Rebecca Bishop (pictured left) round out this year's FCS field.

American Education Week

11-14-07 - This week is designated American Education week, so take the time to honor teachers and staff at FCS who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education in our schools. FCAE has sent out a special thanks as well and recognizes all school employees and thanks each of them for the many hours that they dedicate to the students of Franklin County. There are special events set for each day this week. Today is Education Support Professionals Day, while Thursday is Educator for a Day and Friday is Substitute Educator's Day.

Community Meeting at LHS

11-13-07 - The Franklin County Board of Education and Board of County Commissioners will conduct another community meeting tonight at the Louisburg High School Cafeteria at 7 p.m. The program outlines current FCS facility needs and projects funded from the the 2004 School Bond. Commissioners, school board members and FCS administrators will respond to questions and comments following a brief presentation. There will also be a similar meeting in the Franklinton High School auditorium this Thursday at 7 p.m.

Wizard of Oz Showing to Show at FHS

11-13-07 - The Franklinton Area Community Theater will present the Wizard of Oz on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Franklinton High School auditorium. The play consists of 30 total students from Youngsville Elementary, Franklinton Elementary, Cedar Creek Middle and Franklinton High School. Admission is $5 and proceeds will help pay for an audio system upgrade in the FHS auditorium.

Bunn, LHS Football Squads Enter Postseason

11-9-07 - Louisburg High School completed its best regular-season football campaign ever last week by locking up the Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference title and a 10-1 overall record. The Warriors take the first step toward the ultimate goal of a 1A state championship in round one of the NCHSAA state playoffs tonight at 7:30 p.m. LHS, coached by James Collier, hosts Dixon (2-8) in tonight's postseason opener. The Bunn Wildcats, which finished with a healthy 8-2 mark in the regular season, are also in the state playoffs. The Wildcats venture to Greene Central for a 7:30 p.m. start. The Wildcats, playoff regulars, are led by long-time successful coach David Howle.

Community Meeting At Bunn High Tonight

11-8-07 - The third community meeting outlining FCS facility needs and projects funded from the 2004 Bond will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at Bunn High School in the cafeteria. County Commissioners and Board of Education members will be on hand to listen to comments and answer questions following a presentation. Also, people attending the PTA meeting at Bunn Elementary tonight will get to view the presentation and ask questions. There will be two meetings taking place at the same time. Don't forget there will be a similar meeting at Louisburg High School on November 13th and at Franklinton High School on November 15th.

Writing Prompts Examined at EBES

11-8-07 - Edward Best Elementary teachers spent part of Wednesday afternoon collaboratively scoring the first nine weeks writing prompts.  The teachers at EBES continue to focus on the strengths of students’ writing as they also develop strategies for areas of need, as they work to insure the success of all students.

YES Students Celebrate Harvest Day

11-7-07 - Youngsville Elementary first-graders celebrated Happy Harvest Day last week with a wide-range of activities, including the limbo (left). Other activities included the chicken dance, poetry pumpkins, egg and spoon race, patterned bracelets and musical chairs. This was the first time for the event, but given the success of it, it will take place again next year.

11/2/07

Check Out November First Thursday

The November issue of First Thursday is now ready for your reading pleasure. This month's issue features Principal of The Year Kim Ferrell, a Holocaust story from someone who lived it, and many other items concerning local school news. The on-going FCS and County Commissioners community meeting series is outlined as well.

November First Thursday

BMS Hosting Special Book Event

11-6-07 - As part of a book fair currently ongoing through Nov. 9th, Bunn Middle School is hosting the student/parent book event today from 3:30-7 p.m. The book fair is taking place all week in the Bunn Middle School media center. Contact BMS Media Specialist Mollie Harris Crudup at 496-7700 for more information.

Book Fair On Tap at Royal Elementary

11-5-07 - Royal Elementary School will host a Scholastic Book Fair on November 13th-19th to purchase books for children, classroom libraries, and our Media Center. Families, teachers, and the community are invited to attend, featuring an Arctic theme: Book Fair Blizzard. On November 13th, from 6-8 pm, the Book Fair will feature a special family PJ party event with contests, a book building activity, and refreshments.

Lady Warriors Finish Second In State

11-5-07 - The outstanding volleyball season for the Lady Warriors came to an end with an appearance in the 1A State Finals Saturday afternoon. Louisburg finished second in the state to now three-time defending champion Hendersonville. LHS went undefeated in route to claiming the Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference league title this year, and also won both the sectional and regional crowns under the direction of second-year head coach Erica Wammock.

Lady Warriors Seeking State Gold

Ten years ago, Erica Wammock stepped onto the court as a player for the Louisburg High School volleyball in the state championship game against Hendersonville. That game didn't go the way Wammock wanted it to, but she's getting a rematch as a coach against Hendersonville Saturday at 5 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum as the Warriors seek the 1A state volleyball title in a head-to-head contest with Hendersonville. Soccer fans will get their fill of action this weekend as well. The Franklinton Red Rams, Northern Carolina Conference Champions and 3rd ranked team in the state, enter round two of the 2A state tournament at home against Cedar Ridge at 7 p.m. Franklinton has won 20 consecutive games. Louisburg High School and Bunn High School are also in the second round of the state soccer playoffs. Bunn travels to Cardinal Gibbons for a 5 p.m. start and LHS ventures to Camden County for a 6 p.m. event. There's a full lineup of football games tonight, too. Franklinton travels to Southern Vance, Bunn hosts Warren County and Louisburg entertains Gates County. All games start at 7:30 p.m.

Voice Your Opinion

The second community meeting outlining FCS facility needs and projects funded from the 2004 Bond will take place tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. at Edward Best Elementary School in the gym. More than 60 people showed up for the the first meeting, which was held Tuesday. Board of Education member John May and County Commissioner Robert Lee Swanson will lead tonight's meeting. Both will take comments and answer questions following a brief presentation. In addition, other county government and school officials will be present to listen to comments and answer questions.

Volleyball Title Match

Louisburg vs. Hendersonville

Saturday, 5 p.m.

Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh

10/31/07

LHS is State Championship Bound!

The stellar season continues for the Louisburg High School volleyball team. The Lady Warriors advanced to the 1A State Championship Tuesday night by knocking off Lakewood for the Eastern Regional crown. The Warriors will take center stage at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh this Saturday at 5 p.m. against state power Hendersonville. This is a rematch of the 1997 state final contest. Ironically, LHS head coach Erica Wammock played in that game.

Warriors One Step Away From Title Match

Volleyball season is getting sweeter by the match for the Louisburg Lady Warriors. LHS knocked off Spring Creek to advance to regional finals Saturday afternoon. The Warriors host Lakewood at 7 p.m. this Tuesday. A victory will place them in the state championship game. All high school football games scheduled for this past Friday will take place tonight (Monday). Louisburg battles Northamtpon-West at 7 p.m. and the Bunn Wildcats play host to Roanoke Rapids at 7 p.m. Franklinton takes the field in a home match against Northwest Halifax at 6 p.m.

Kearson New AP at Terrell Lane

Valerie Kearson has a wealth of experience in education and is now primed to utilize her expertise as Assistant Principal of Terrell Lane Middle. Kearson began working at Terrell Lane last year as an AIG Language Arts teacher after being an AP Intern for Vance Charter School. She has taught classes at North Carolina Central University and was a Director of Instruction for Granville County Schools. Her career in education spans over a 25-year time frame. Kearson joins the existing TLMS administrative team that consists of Principal Novella Brown and AP Dr. John Cubbage.

Kim Ferrell - Principal of The Year

Laurel Mill Elementary students and staff secretly occupied the school auditorium Wednesday afternoon, but they weren't really sure what the reason was. However they did know they needed to greet their Principal with a thunderous ovation. The ovation rivaled one of a movie as their Principal, Kim Ferrell, was told she was FCS Principal of The Year. FCS Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme made the announcement directly to Ferrell and the LMES staff in a special assembly. Ferrell began working as an elementary teacher for FCS in 1990 and became an assistant principal at Royal Elementary in 2001. She has been Principal of Laurel Mill since September of 2004.

Subscribe To First Thursday

Want in-depth news concerning Franklin County Schools? Then you may want to consider subscribing to First Thursday for free. First Thursday is a free e-mail based magazine. The November issue, which will be out Nov. 1st, will feature the latest Employees of The Quarter, pictures from around the system and a new FCS policy. If you would like to view past issues of First Thursday or subscribe, visit the First Thursday homepage.

Make-Up Day Set

Traditional Calendar - 1/2 Day December 20th                   (BES, BMS, BHS, CCMS, RES)

Year-Round Calendar - 1/2 Day December 19th        (YES)

Students at Bunn Elementary, Bunn Middle, Bunn High, Royal Elementary and Cedar Creek Middle will make up the October 19th school day on December 20th, but will only be on campus for half a day. Youngsville Elementary School students will make-up the October 19th school day on December 19th. December 20th (Dec. 19th for YES) was a scheduled make-up day, and will remain a Teacher Workday for all other schools in the county.

FCS Surplus Sale Set for November 3rd

The annual FCS surplus equipment private sale will be held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on November 3rd at the FCS maintenance warehouse on 942 South Main Street in Louisburg. Items up for sale are computers, computer hardware, cafeteria equipment, furniture and other miscellaneous surplus items. For more information, contact Jimmy Floyd, Director of Maintenance, at 496-4278.

Bunn, LHS Volleyball Teams Eye Round Two

Both Bunn High and Louisburg High advanced to round two of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association volleyball playoffs with victories this past Saturday. Round two is today (Tuesday) as Louisburg hosts Cape Hatteras at 4 p.m. and Bunn entertains McMichael at 6 p.m. The Warriors advanced to the Eastern Finals in the 1A division last season and look to go even further this year under the direction of Erica Wammock. The Wildcats, coached by veteran coach Henry Jones, dominated the Northern Carolina Conference this season and hope to make a serious threat for the 2A state title this year. The Wildcats advanced to the 1A state finals in 1998.

Bringing The Music To The Parents

Cedar Creek Middle School music students put on a music show Tuesday night for parents, but it wasn't what most people were probably expecting. CCMS and FHS band teacher Bobby Rathbone put what proved to be a captivating twist on the event by actually teaching music to the parents in a similar fashion to the way he teaches his own students. The event was a hit as parents got to listen to their children play music, but at the same time see how their students are learning.

Red Ribbon Drug Prevention Week Scheduled

Next week marks the annual running of the Red Ribbon drug prevention campaign. The Red Ribbon campaign is the oldest and largest program of its kind. It serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug free lives. The ultimate goal is to create a drug free America. Support this campaign by wearing a red ribbon all next week. Enough ribbons have been distributed to all FCS schools and offices for each employee and student to wear one.

BOE, Commissioners Set Community Meetings

Interested in finding out more information about FCS facility needs? Then you may want to attend some of the upcoming community meetings scheduled by both the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and the Franklin County Board of Education. At each meeting a BOE member and commissioner will go through a presentation outlining the facilities the county gained through the 2004 school bond and the current needs of the school system. The first meeting is scheduled for October 30 at 7 p.m. at Cedar Creek Middle School. There will be additional BOE members and county commissioners present at each meeting. The second meeting will take place on November 1st at Edward Best Elementary School. Bunn High will host a meeting on November 8th and Louisburg High will host a meeting on November 13th.

Students Do The Teaching for Animal Ag Day

A few weeks ago Bunn High School agriculture students got a chance to try their hand at teaching at the annual Animal Agriculture Day held in Louisburg on the banks of the Tar River. The students passed on information concerning farm animals to FCS elementary school students in addition to showing the elementary patrons a host of animals that were on display. At left, a couple of Wildcat student-teachers go through a demonstration with some captivated elementary students.

Big Weekend of County Sports

Bunn High and Louisburg High are still enjoying winning their respective conference volleyball championships - but both teams are no doubt focused on the next task - the run for a state championship. Bunn High, which posts an impressive 22-5 record, opens round one of the 2A state playoffs tonight (Friday) at home against visiting Graham High School at 6 p.m. Louisburg High School, which holds a convincing 19-1 mark, hosts Perquimans in round one of 1A state playoffs  at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Franklinton also qualified for the 1A volleyball playoffs and heads to North Lenoir High School on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest. There's plenty of football action tonight as well. Bunn (6-2)  travels for a county matchup in Franklinton (3-5) at 7:30, while Louisburg (7-1) ventures to Northampton-East.

FHS Football BBQ Chicken Plate Fundraiser

The Franklinton High School football team, which won in dramatic fashion last week, is holding a barbecue chicken plate sale this Friday beginning at 11 a.m. The sale will be held at the FHS Gymnasium and all proceeds go to the Red Ram football team. Plates will be delivered if requested. Cost is $7 and includes traditional side items. In addition, plates will be on sale for dinner before the football game against Bunn High School.

County Football Squads Hit the Road

Gas up your vehicle and follow your favorite football team's bus tonight as all three FCS high school clubs are on the road. Louisburg (6-1), which is ranked seventh in the state by the ncpreps.com 1A football poll, ventures to tradition rich North Edgecombe tonight, while Franklinton heads to Warren County and Bunn (5-2) is off to battle Northwest Halifax. Franklinton (2-5)  looks to rebound after a tough one-point conference opener at Roanoke Rapids and the Wildcats are hoping to end a rare two-game losing streak.

Major Leaguer Offers Hope

Raleigh native Josh Hamilton (left) was on top of the world after being selected first (straight out of Athens Drive High School) in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. But after two years Hamilton found himself in desperate times and was eventually banned from the sport because of drug use. Hamilton has since battled back from adversity and is now the starting centerfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. He spread his message of overcoming adversity Wednesday night to a large crowd of FCS students and other community members on the Bunn High School football field. The Fields of Faith event featured Hamilton, scripture and music from a local band.

10/11/07

Laurel Mill Students Celebrate Leif Ericsson Day

Christopher Columbus often gets the credit for being the first European to discover America, but several hundred years before Columbus came Leif Ericsson. The famous Viking actually crossed to North America in the extreme northern part of the continent. Mrs. Colvin's fifth-grade science and social studies students are now aware of that fact, as they celebrated Leif Ericsson Day on October 9th. At left, students dressed with Viking hats and masks answer Mrs. Colvin's questions related to the topic during class.

Fire Safety Expressed at Royal Elementary

The importance of fire safety can't be expressed enough, and the Franklin County Firemen Association is making sure the proper message is getting spread this week. Royal Elementary students got first-hand instruction and demonstration Tuesday on what to do in the event of a fire and how fireman go about tackling blazes. Many other schools in the FCS system had similar programs this week put on by area fireman. At left, Royal students calmly exit a room during a smoke demonstration.

Thursday Is An Early Release Day

FCS students will get a retreat from the vigor of a regular length school day this Thursday (Oct. 11). Thursday is a scheduled early release day. Staff will remain on campus for staff development. Elementary schools release at 12:45 p.m., middle schools at 12:15 p.m. and high schools finish at 11:45 a.m. This Friday is a teacher workday.

Greener Playground for LES

Louisburg Elementary students now have a nicer, cleaner and greener place to play. School staff members at Louisburg Elementary, including Principal William Harris, took extra time two Saturdays ago to level out the ground of the existing playground area on the campus and then plant sod. The project was led by Pre-K teacher Stephanie Murray. The results of the project are pictured at left.

Celebration At The Mill

Laurel Mill Elementary School celebrated the grand opening of its new art and music building Friday afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Students got a chance to tour the new facility that was funded by the 2004 school-bond referendum. Laurel Mill Assistant Principal Genie Faulkner (pictured far left) helped students clip the ribbon to officially open the facility. After the tour, students were treated to a snack. The LMES project is just one of several major projects completed that were funded by the 2004 bond. Other projects completed include a new administrative and classroom building at Louisburg High School, cafeteria and vocational building at Bunn High and many more.

LHS Grid Squad Emerges Victorious

Last Friday night led to another triumph for the Louisburg High School football team. The Warriors topped Southeast Halifax 38-3 to improve to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the Tar-Roanoke Athletic Conference. Bunn (4-2) suffered a 26-14 setback against rival Southern Vance in Northern Carolina Conference action, as the Red Rams of Franklinton (2-5) were tripped 14-13 at Roanoke Rapids. 

Bunn High Students Dig In

The Bunn High School horticulture class spent Wednesday gaining valuable hands-on experience. Bob Frisbie, BHS agriculture teacher, gathered his students and headed to an area farm to plant different plants and bushes. Frisbie said this was a great opportunity for his students to get experience planting with different tools. Students found the digging to be difficult at times, given the extensive drought this region is experiencing.

Check Out October's First Thursday

This month's issue of First Thursday is packed full of interesting feature stories. Among the people highlighted this month are Louisburg High School volleyball and softball coach Erica Wammock, Bunn School Nurse Diana Perry and Franklinton High School Media Specialist Doris Davis-Williams. Interested in seeing more pictures from the United Way All-Star basketball game? First Thursday has plenty of shots from the memorable event. Click here to visit the First Thursday homepage to read the October issue or to subscribe.

Davis-Williams Describes South Africa Trip

Doris Davis-Williams, Franklinton High School Media Specialist, got to live out one of her biggest dreams by visiting South Africa for two weeks in August for a national librarians' conference. Williams stands (far right) on the Cape of Good Hope (the southern most point of the African Continent). Williams visited schools, families, tribes and more during her trip. Her story is featured in this month's First Thursday which will be released October 4th.

Tobacco Free Schools Policy Effective 8/1/08

The Franklin County Board of Education adopted a new state policy concerning the use of tobacco on school grounds and at school affiliated events. Effective August 1, 2008 the use of tobacco in any way, shape or form is strictly prohibited on all school grounds and at all school related events. This includes all athletic events. The policy applies to teachers, staff, students, parents - EVERYONE. To get an in-depth look at policy 6770, click here.

Subscribe To First Thursday

The October issue of First Thursday will be out this coming Thursday. This issue will feature a variety of interesting news items, features and photos. Among the people being highlighted are Doris Davis-Williams of Franklinton High School, Erica Wammock of Louisburg High School and Diana Perry of Bunn Middle and Bunn High. If you would like to view past issues of First Thursday or subscribe, visit the First Thursday homepage.

Bunn, FHS Off - Homecoming for LHS

While Franklinton High School and Bunn High School will enjoy a week off from the football field for a scheduled open week, Louisburg looks to improve on its 4-1 record in tonight's homecoming contest against the Weldon Chargers at 7:30 p.m. Bunn, now 4-1 on the season after a setback to Nash Central, returns to action next week against conference rival Southern Vance. Franklinton, 2-4 overall after a shutout triumph against Princeton, travels to Roanoke Rapids next week.

Birdman Dave Entertains BES

Birdman Dave spent Friday entertaining Bunn Elementary Students with various bird tricks demonstrated by a parrot (Belle), an owl (Christopher Columbus) and a parakeet (Sky). Within the demonstration was a message about how important it is to treat the Earth's environment with care. Birdman Dave expressed the importance of recycling, conservation of energy and composting. If you wish to see more about Birdman Dave, click here.

Students Play Role In Emergency Test

Fifteen Franklin County High School students ventured to Louisburg High School at 6 a.m. Thursday morning to act as victims for a simulated emergency for Franklin Regional Medical Center. Louisburg emergency respondents led the important event that was designed to surprise FRMC workers with a flood of early morning trauma victims. Students are members of LHS teacher Joyce Mangum's Allied Health Science class. Participants were dressed with mock injuries ranging from deep cuts, abrasions and burns. Many students will complete the course as certified nursing assistants.

LHS BBQ Sale for Skills USA/Wrestling

The Louisburg High School Skills USA program and wrestling team will hold a barbecue chicken plate fundraiser this Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Louisburg High School. Cost is $7 per plate and organizations ordering at least 10 plates will get free delivery service. The plate will include half a chicken, coleslaw, bread, potato salad and pound cake. For more information, contact Phil Mueller at 496-3725 (ext. 231).

Youngsville Elementary Donates

Youngsville Elementary second graders took some extra time to donate various items to Franklin County Safe Space. Safe Space representatives visited the school this week to collect the donated items and personally thank the students. Students asked various questions concerning Safe Space after receiving information concerning the organization.

Senator Berger Outlines Budget for BOE

State Senator Douglas Berger (left) summarized state budget increases for education to the FCS Board of Education Monday night. Senator Berger noted the substantial increase in salary for first-year teachers over the past three years ($25,420 to $29,750) and various other increases. Other areas allotted more money include ABC growth bonuses, disadvantaged students, dropout prevention and Internet connectivity. The state budget is a total of $20.7 billion with 56 percent of it going to public education. Two-thirds of that 56 percent is for grades K-12.

Cattlemen's Sale Huge Success

The annual Franklin County Cattlemen's Association beef sale took place last Friday and sold a whopping 1,170 pounds of beef, totaling 1,200 plates. Fourteen members of Future Farmers of America from Bunn High School lent helping hands for the successful event. Bunn High agriculture teacher Bob Frisbie was pleased with the effort his students put forth. The event has taken place for more than 10 years - and continues to grow in popularity - evidenced by the long line of people in cars waiting to get food at noon. Money raised is used for college scholarships.

Continued Enthusiasm for QTL

Teachers and administrators are continuing to find the Quality Teaching and Learning program to be quite helpful in the classroom. QTL training has been taking place for nearly one year now at FCS, and the tactics are bringing more excitement to the classroom. QTL is a brain-based learning theory that proves to be very engaging. Teachers who sign up for the program receive a week of training on how to incorporate the ideas into their own classroom.

Byrns' Blues Fend Off Late Charge By Bananas

The Blues have dethroned the Bananas. The annual United Way Kickoff All-Star basketball game garnered quite a bit of attention at Louisburg College Thursday night as the Blues held off a late charge from the Bananas for a 51-46 triumph. The Bananas trailed by as many as 20, but simply ran out of time and energy in their efforts to repeat as champions. Novozymes donated $12,000 to get the United Way of Franklin County off to a huge start for the fundraising year. Franklin County Schools was well represented during the event. Dale Byrns, head coach for the Blues, took a little time to celebrate (bottom right) after leading his squad to a strong victory. Louisburg College Head Basketball Coach and Bunn High graduate Aaron Denton is the one showering Byrns with water. Also representing FCS were Superintendent and United Way President Dr. Bert L'Homme, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Eddie Ingram, Cedar Creek Middle AP Jeff Smale, Tasha Hatten (FES), Ami Crosby (BHS), Brett Conner (TLMS), Shanyell Cooper (TLMS), Gerald Melton (BHS, pictured at center in blue), Phil Privette (TLMS), Chuck Mann (BHS), and Nathan Moreschi.

Gridiron Squads Back In Action

Both Bunn High and Franklinton High will be entertaining football fans in Franklin County tonight, as Louisburg (3-1) travels for the second week in a row. Louisburg knocked off Manteo last week and ventures to Roanoke Rapids tonight. Bunn staged a dramatic comeback at J. F. Webb last week to improve to 4-0, while the Red Rams (1-4) suffered a difficult 12-6 overtime defeat in Weldon. Franklinton hosts Princeton tonight for homecoming, as the Wildcats entertain Nash Central. Franklinton's homecoming parade begins at 4 p.m. on Main Street today. All games begin at 7:30 p.m.

CTE Awards Delivered

The Career and Technical Education Department held it's first system-wide team meeting Wednesday afternoon for the 07-08 school year, and celebrated the successes from the 06-07 school year. Many teachers were recognized for their strong VOCATS testing results, and Franklinton High School was recognized for having the highest cumulative percentage for students performing at level three or higher. At right, many CTE teachers from FHS proudly display the certificate received during Wednesday's meeting. In addition, the program outlined changes and expectations for the current school year.

Strong Fall For Prep Volleyball

High School volleyball is traditionally very strong in Franklin County and this fall is no exception. Bunn, Franklinton and Louisburg high schools are off to strong campaigns this year and you may want to catch them in action if you have not already done so. Louisburg, which has won state titles in years past under the direction of Freddie Edwards, nearly made it to the 1A state finals last year under the coaching of Erica Wammock. Wammock's troops are currently 7-1 on the season and  undefeated in conference play. LHS travels to Northampton-East Thursday (9/20) for a 4:30 game. Bunn, led by veteran coach Henry Jones, appeared in the state finals in 1998 and is also enjoying a solid start. The Wildcats entertain Warren County Thursday (9/20) at 4:30 p.m. Franklinton, another strong performer, is coached by Ericka Wilkins and returns to the playing surface this coming Monday for a home matchup against. J. F. Webb.

Long Mill Elementary Taking Shape

Long Mill Elementary School has been under construction for a few short months and has already taken on a lot of character. Long Mill, slated to open in the fall of 2008, is located on the west side of Capital Boulevard between Youngsville and Franklinton at the intersection of Long Mill and Bert Winston Roads. There are several classroom buildings with roofs and walls already intact. To view more pictures of Long Mill Elementary and other recent FCS construction projects, click here.

Keeping FCS Connected

Franklin County Schools is one of the most advanced school systems in terms of technology access for teachers and students. Pictured to the right a maintenance worker makes a routine check to ensure the wireless wide area network that our schools enjoy. FCS is one of the few school districts in this state to utilize a system of this type. Classrooms aren't short of advanced technology either. Many FCS classrooms have a variety of devices to help make your child's learning experience much more engaging.

Subscribe To First Thursday

First Thursday is a great place to get updated on news and events at Franklin County Schools. The FCS electronic publication features in-depth feature stories, photos, important dates and more. This publication is completely free for everyone. To view the September issue of First Thursday, click here.

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State School Nurse of The Year

Bunn High and Bunn Middle nurse Diana Perry (left) has a distinction that only one person will receive this year - State School Nurse of The Year. Perry recently earned the title from the School Nurse Association of North Carolina. She has spent 11 years working for FCS, and has her hands in many other organizations as well. She continues to love her work at the schools and enjoys the positive setting. Perry will be formally honored on October 19th. There will be a more detailed story in the October issue of First Thursday.

Week 5 - County Grid Squads Hit Road

If you want to see a Franklin County high school football team in action Friday night, you're going to have to travel. Franklinton High School, fresh off a huge home victory, travels to Weldon for a 7:30 p.m. start and Bunn is headed to J. F. Webb. Louisburg High School looks to avenge a tough defeat to rival Bunn by traveling to the coast for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff with Manteo High School. Bunn remains the only undefeated team in the county with a 3-0 mark, while Louisburg stands at 2-1 and Franklinton at 1-3.

Bright Idea Grant Nets TV Attention

Franklinton High School career and technical education teacher Tommy Kemp (left) is making a habit of earning grants for his students. His latest project netted $1430 in tools from the Wake Electric Bright Idea grant program and earned him a spot on television. Kemp was interviewed about the grant by NBC News 17 Thursday morning. The latest project, titled Horsing Around for Knowledge, allowed Kemp's class to construct sawhorses for stations throughout the classroom that focus on carpentry fundamentals such as measuring and cutting. Kemp strongly believes in the grants program and has noticed higher student achievement. To view the video broadcast on NBC 17, click here.

Supplementary Education Service Fairs

Supplementary Education Service (SES) is a free tutoring program offered to students who qualify for free or reduced lunch who are enrolled at Title I schools that are in school improvement. Louisburg Elementary School will host its SES vendor fair on September 13 from 7-8:30 p.m. and Franklinton Elementary will hold its on September 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. There will be 10 vendors at each fair that specialize in targeted learning. For more information on SES, click here.

Yeazel Named AP at Bunn High

The Franklin County Board of Education approved Melissa Yeazel as an assistant principal at Bunn High School during Monday night's BOE meeting. Yeazel is a graduate of Bunn High and has worked for FCS for the past three years. She was a math teacher at Franklinton High School from the fall of 2005 through the spring of 2007 and spent a brief period as Curriculum Resource Teacher at Bunn High School this year before being promoted to AP.

Interactive Classrooms Catching On

Educators from Edgecombe County Schools visited Laurel Mill Elementary School last week to get a first-hand look at interactive classroom technology. FCS is among the leaders in North Carolina when it comes to classroom technology. The visitors were very impressed with how well the technology worked and how it captivated the attention of students. Many FCS classrooms now have many new technology devices that benefit students. Among these devices are data projectors, document cameras, wireless microphones and clicking devices for instant feedback from students.

Thrilling Friday of Prep Football Action

September 7th lived up to all of the hype in terms of Franklin County High School football. Bunn outlasted rival Louisburg in a hotly contested battle of unbeaten teams. On the other side of the county, Franklinton was making quite a bit of noise as the Red Rams topped North Raleigh Christian Academy for its first victory of the season. Franklinton travels to Weldon this week, while Bunn ventures to J. F. Webb High School and Louisburg heads to the coast to battle Manteo.

Friendship Month at Youngsville Elementary

Youngsville Elementary made August the official month of friendship. Students who show the most friendship qualities throughout the month were honored with their own luncheon during lunch time this week. The top two students from each class get the honor and were recognized by their respective teachers. Next month is respect month at YES and students will get another chance to earn an invitation to the luncheon.

Check Out The Latest First Thursday

The September of First Thursday has been released. In this month's issue, read all about the $53.3 million bond to be voted on in May of 2008. This month also features a story on the increasing teacher retention rate at FCS and a teacher's journey to Belgium this summer. In addition, there are some important tips to help parents guide their children through stressful times. Click here to read the September edition.

BBQ Chicken Fundraiser at Bunn High

Bunn High School will sell BBQ chicken plates for $7 each this coming Friday beginning at 3 p.m. The plates include string beans, boiled potatoes, bread and a drink. Proceeds go to a variety of athletic and vocational programs at Bunn High. Plates will also be on sale prior to the kick-off of the Bunn High and Louisburg High football game. Meals can be purchased and picked up at the back of the new vocational building.

Youth Leadership Franklin Program Planned

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce offers the Leadership Franklin program to adults to help develop leadership and networking skills throughout Franklin County. A program very similar will begin soon for high school students. The new program will involve both the FCS Career and Technical Education Department, NC Cooperative Extension and the Chamber of Commerce. Students will participate in several sessions to learn about economic development, agriculture, government, education and more during the program. More details will appear in the next edition of First Thursday - which will be released on September 6.

Mentors Needed for Youth Program

The Franklin County Cooperative Extension is seeking mentors for its 4H Friends of Youth program. The program needs adults who are willing to spend two hours of positive time per week with children ages 7-18. Teachers are encouraged to apply as well. Registration is simple with a one-hour training session. For more information, contact Stacy Thompson at 496-3344 or e-mail her at stacy_thompson@ncsu.edu.

County Clash - Louisburg to Host Franklinton

If you're planning on attending tonight's Franklin County football matchup between Franklinton High and Louisburg High, you may want to arrive a little early. This contest, as well as other county rivalries, usually draws a large crowd. The Warriors host the Red Rams at 7:30 tonight. Last week, LHS opened with a strong victory against Ravenscroft, while the Red Rams battled Southeast Halifax to a double overtime setback.  Bunn, which travels to Jamesville tonight for a 7:30 kickoff, also opened the season last week with a triumph against Southern Nash. 

Smooth Sailing at Louisburg High School

Students and faculty of Louisburg High School are singing the praises of their renovated school. In addition to having a fresh, modern look, the school has several new big additions. The main office building is new, there is a new cafeteria (pictured left during the first day of school) a new media center, new computer lab, new career and technical education building and many other renovations throughout the campus. The renovations and improvements were made possible through a $30 million school bond that passed in 2004. The bond has funded many other great projects throughout the school system.

Louisburg Rotary Club Donates School Supplies

The Louisburg Rotary Club continues to provide excellent service to Franklin County. To make sure students are off to a good start to the new school year, the Rotary Club donated a variety of school supplies, including book bags, paper and pencils to FCS students who were in need of materials. This is an annual event led by the organization. The materials were distributed throughout the county by the Louisburg Police Department, which was represented by Police Chief Rick Lassiter at Tuesday's Rotary meeting.

Headen, Stover Fill AP Positions

The Franklin County Board of Education accepted the recommendations for two new FCS assistant principals Monday night. Judy Stover, who was the FCS Reading First Coordinator, is now the AP at Louisburg Elementary. Monica Headen was named AP at Bunn Middle School. Headen recently served as a principal intern at Southern High School in Durham and was an English teacher for three years prior. Stover brings 34 years of education experience with her and has been the coordinator for a host of programs.

Commissioners, BOE Agree On May Date

After careful consideration and extensive discussion and planning, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted to put a $53.3 million bond on the ballot in the May 6th election Monday night. The Commissioners agreed with the Franklin County Board of Education that May would be the best time for this to take place for a variety of reasons. Also, the Franklin County Board of Education voted that the current Franklinton High School would be used for a middle school once a new Franklinton High School is built. Nearly 80 percent of the bond would fund a new FHS located on a 75 acre site at the intersection of Lane Store and Cedar Creek roads.

School Is In Session

The 2007-2008 FCS school year officially began Monday morning as students returned to the classroom. Parents got a chance to get an idea for what their child's learning environment will be like this year in open houses that were held last week. The new year already looks promising, especially with a variety of new buildings and renovations at many FCS campuses. Bunn High School, pictured left, is off to a strong start under new principal Robin Faulkner. The Wildcats held their annual opening day assembly that featured skits, objectives and class celebrations. More information on the assembly will appear in the  September issue of First Thursday.

Traditional School Starts August 27

There's no doubt that students have had a fun-filled summer that's produced many great memories, but this coming Monday it's time to start building more school memories. Students attending FCS traditional schools report back to school on August 27th at the regular start time. Many schools may have a slightly different schedule for the first few days, so students should pay close attention to that. Also, many campuses have new buildings - so don't be too surprised if your campus looks updated. FCS wishes all students and teachers a wonderful 2007-2008 school year.

County Grid Teams All In Action

If you like high school football, then you'll have plenty to watch tonight. Bunn High and Louisburg High make their season debuts tonight, while Franklinton suits up for its second contest. Louisburg hosts Ravenscroft and Bunn ventures to Southern Nash as the Red Rams entertain Southeast Halifax. All games begin at 7:30 p.m.

State of FCS Delivered to County

FCS Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme addressed the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, County Commissioners, State Representative Lucy Allen and others on the state of FCS Thursday. Dr. L'Homme outlined successes at each of 14 schools from the 06-07 school year, as well as new programs for the upcoming year. In addition, the FCS Leadership Team answered questions addressed by people in attendance. The event took place at the Louisburg College Blue Room. If you would like to view the presentation from the 2007 FCS Convocation, click here.

Bloodborne Pathogens Quiz Needed

FCS Nurse Rhonda Shearin has requested that all employees who need to submit their Bloodborne Pathogens quiz for the upcoming year to do so by September 30th. You can download a refresher course and quiz on the left side of the FCS homepage. If the quiz is not submitted in time, you will need to attend a meeting that will be held after the deadline date. Shearin's office is located in room A111 on the Riverside Campus.

Convocation Marks Start of School

The 2007-2008 school year officially began with the annual FCS Convocation this past Monday. Teachers, administrators and staff swarmed Louisburg Elementary School to celebrate the success of the 06-07 year and to begin focusing on the current year. FCS Superintendent Dr. Bert L'Homme guided everyone through the annual event by explaining some of the new programs and policies for the upcoming year. At left, Louisburg High School teachers are captivated by a video clip outlining the impact of technology on the world that was presented by Board of Education Chair Paige Sayles. Students report to school on August 27th.

Bunn Middle Educators Prep for New Year

Seven staff members from Bunn Middle School took full advantage of a North Carolina Teacher Academy event at Appalachian State University recently. Assistant Principal Carla Coble (pictured right), Pat Fowler, Kristen Hensley, April Hickman, Freda LeMay, Jill Snipes and Amy Tunstall all attended the program concerning creating a culture to help retain teachers as well as promoting student growth. The module is designed to assist educators in achieving success through management and facilitation change. Many educators in the FCS system attended various Teacher Academy events this summer.

Soccer Event Raises Money for Relay for Life

The Franklinton High School soccer program hosted and participated in a five-team scrimmage last week to raise money for the battle against cancer through Relay for Life. In addition to Franklinton, Durham School of the Arts, Northern Durham, South Granville and Panther Creek competed in the event. Each team played each other in preparation for the upcoming season. Franklinton begins its soccer season today (8/20) with a home match against Southern Nash. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at the Franklinton Recreation Park. For more high school sports schedules for other FCS teams see www.highschoolsports.net.

New FCS Website Launched

The New FCS Website is now active. The site has the same features of the old site, but with a new look. If you would like something added to the new site, please contact Nathan Moreschi. All input is welcome. You may still access the old website by clicking on the county icon below important links on the left side of this page.

LHS Scheduled To Open on Time

There's been concern as to whether or not Louisburg High School will be open for the first day of school on August 27th. Assistant Superintendent of Auxiliary Services Tommy Piper assured the Franklin County Board of Education in a recent meeting that the school will be ready for operation when students return. The upgraded campus features a new cafeteria, new media center, new administrative building and classroom building.

Targeted Reading Intervention Works

Louisburg Elementary enjoyed great success with the Targeted Reading Intervention (TRI) program last year and is preparing to use the program again this coming school year. LES teachers involved with the program have spent this week getting in-depth training to better help students who are involved with TRI. The program targets students who are not reading as well as they should for the age that they are.

New Recruits Preparing for Classroom

This year's group of new FCS teachers is spending this week preparing for the upcoming school year in a variety of meetings and workshops. In all, there are 57 new teachers attending the New Teacher Orientation under the direction of Judy Lassiter. The first workday for teachers is slated for August 20th. Students report on August 27th.

Averette New Assistant Principal at FHS

The Franklin County Board of Education announced Monday night that David Averette is now an Assistant Principal of Franklinton High School. Averette was an AP at Louisburg Elementary the past two years. Averette fills the position formerly held by current Bunn Middle Principal Bill Askins. The remaining AP vacancies will be filled as soon as possible.

LHS Open House Altered

Louisburg High School will hold freshman orientation on August 23rd at 6 p.m. Open house has been rescheduled for September 4th from 6-7 p.m.

First Thursday Time is Here

The Back to School issue of First Thursday is now ready. The issue highlights several back-to-school events, including calendars, new principals, construction and more. Also, the latest FCS Employees of the Quarter are outlined in this issue. To view it, click here.

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Principals Gear Up For New Year

The annual FCS Principals' Retreat gives FCS Principal's an opportunity to discuss ideas for the upcoming school year. This year's event was held August 7th at the Louisburg United Methodist Church. More than 80 people attended the event and reviewed strategies. The first day of school for students is August 27th. Teachers report to school on August 20th.

New Principals, Assistant Principals Named

The Franklin County Board of Education appointed Robin Faulkner Principal of Bunn High School and Bill Askins Principal of Bunn Middle School on August 6th. In addition, Jeff Smale was named Assistant Principal of Cedar Creek Middle and Cassandra White was named AP of Terrell Lane Middle School. The middle school positions are new slots.

NC Tax Free Weekend Set for August 3-5

Take advantage of the annual tax free weekend August 3-5 in North Carolina. This annual Sales Tax Holiday will last three days this year. All clothing items under $100, sport/recreational equipment, school supplies, computers and certain computer accessories are tax free during this time period. For more information, visit the web at www.ncrma.org.

Social Studies Teachers Gaining Valuable Tools

Darnell Tabron, pictured right on the left side of the photo, has been working with FCS high school social studies teachers this summer in a series of workshops. Teachers  have collectively worked on new pacing guides and classroom strategies with the help of Tabron who was the Director of Social Studies for Durham Public Schools for 18 years before retiring this past spring. Tabron has 42 years of experience in social studies and has enjoyed the opportunity to help in another county.

Arching Forward With Reading First

The Reading First Program is leading to increased reading performance. Last week, principals and reading coaches from Louisburg Elementary, Laurel Mill Elementary and Franklinton Elementary attended the fourth annual National Reading First Conference in St. Louis. The US Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, stated that Reading First is working and the data shows that Reading First students from nearly every grade and subgroup made impressive gains in reading proficiency in recent school years.

Subscribe to First Thursday

Want to get up-to-date on the latest Franklin County Schools' news? Then subscribe to First Thursday. First Thursday has detailed stories concerning all aspects of FCS. The publication comes out at the beginning of each month. The upcoming August back to school issue will come out on the second Thursday in August to better serve the community's need for important information concerning the 2007-2008 school year. Click here to subscribe to First Thursday or to view past issues.

High School Football

High School football will be at full tilt the first week of August. The first official day of practice at all three Franklin County high schools is July 30th. Students interested in playing should be sure to bring their athletic physicals to practice with them if they have not already notified the coach of the school they are assigned to. Franklinton High School plays its first game on August 17 in a home matchup against South Granville High School at 7:30 p.m. Louisburg High School entertains Ravenscroft on August 24th to start the season, while Bunn opens the same day with a road trip to Southern Nash. For complete schedules, click here.

Interest for Students

The Franklin County Schools' Biotechnology program continues to succeed. The program began last year as a combined effort with Novozymes and Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC). The three organizations continue to improve the experience as time progresses. A few weeks ago children got a chance to experience some of the activities involved in the program at a Biotechnology Camp.  Among the activities students participated in were constructing DNA models, visits to the NC Museum of Natural Science and NC Farmers Market and touring the Biotechnology lab at VGCC.

Advanced Robotics Camp Challenging Students

Most people go through a stoplight without thinking too much about it, but chances are students at the FCS Advanced Robotics Camp think about stoplights a little differently. Campers are building a variety of projects this week, including a stoplight with sensors that forces vehicles to stop. Perhaps this is the way of the future? Some students have attended the camp for more than six years in a row and  have gone on to study a related field in college. Students not only build the physical robots, but they also program the units to perform certain tasks. This camp really allows students to use the creative side of their mind. Some of the other projects being tackled are cars that respond to light, a sorter and an Etch a Sketch.

NC Tax Free Weekend Set for August 3-5

Take advantage of the annual tax free weekend August 3-5 in North Carolina. This annual Sales Tax Holiday will last three days this year. All clothing items under $100, sport/recreational equipment, school supplies, computers and certain computer accessories are tax free during this time period. For more information, visit the web at www.ncrma.org.

Fond Farewell to Kelley, Hawks

Former Bunn High School Principal (left) and former Bunn Middle School Principal David Hawks (right) bid farewell to a room full of FCS employees last week as they were honored for their valued dedication put forth during their tenures as principals with Franklin County Schools. Kelley will assume a new role as Principal at West Brunswick High School for the new school year, while Hawks begins his new role as Principal of Durham School of the Arts. Both leaders were given plaques for appreciation for their fine performances at FCS.

2007-2008 School Year Starts at Youngsville

The smell of fresh sneakers and the shine of new book-bags was prevalent as the new school year began at Youngsville Elementary Friday morning. Students and parents flooded the freshly buffed hallways as they looked for their new posts for the year. At left, parents help their children locate what classroom they need to be in for opening day.

New Employees Gearing Up

As the new school year approaches, new FCS teachers and staff are gearing up for the fall. Thursday morning new employees ventured to the Riverside Campus to learn about their employee benefits and procedures. School starts on August 27th for traditional students, however year-round students head back July 20th at Youngsville Elementary School. Teachers report back to work on August 20th. This year's FCS convocation will be held at Louisburg Elementary School at 9 a.m. for elementary teachers and staff and 2 p.m. for high school and middle school teachers and staff.

Employees of The Quarter Announced

Jenny Radford and Jimmy Floyd were named FCS Employee of The Quarter for the third quarter this past Monday. The well deserving employees were up against some very stiff competition in what was the deepest field of nominees to date. Floyd is Maintenance Director for FCS, while Radford is an NCWISE Specialist and works closely with Testing Director Patty Jones. Both employees are known for their kind demeanor and attention to customer service.

Name Selected for New Elementary School

Add another name to list of schools at FCS - LONG MILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. The Franklin County Board of Education voted unanimously on the new name in Monday night's Board meeting after reviewing a long list of suggestions from the public. Long Mill Elementary School is in the early stages of construction and is located at the intersection of Long Mill Road and Bert Winston Road in Youngsville (west of US 1). The new facility is set to open in the fall of 2008.

A New Look for LHS

Louisburg High School will take on a completely new look this fall. At left is a picture of the new main entrance to the school. LHS improvements include a new cafeteria, a new media center, new classrooms and an already in use new vocational building. The construction project is a result of the 2004 School Bond. The construction is expected to be completed by August 13th. Students report back to LHS on August 27th.

Advanced Math Teaching Methods

Former Roanoke Rapids City Schools Superintendent and math teacher  Dr. John Parker spent two days offering his teaching methods to a group of FCS math teachers this week. Dr. Parker stressed the importance of authentic assessment and long-range unit planning to help make mathematics more real-life based for students. Dr. Parker was involved in a national award winning electric car project with economically disadvantaged students and has been featured in multiple books. In addition,  he is a certified instructor from the National Paideia Center in Chapel Hill. He currently works with the new schools project funded by the Gates Foundation, which focuses on high school reform.

LES Teachers Learn More About The Brain

Just because teachers are off for the summer doesn't mean they aren't sharpening their teaching skills. Eight educators from Louisburg Elementary School spent four days at a North Carolina Teacher Academy workshop at Elon College recently to study how the brain really functions. During their four-day stay, teachers got a better understanding of how students can learn in different circumstances and how it relates to brain function. Teachers learned five key strategies for engaging the brain, as well as debated the pros and cons of different types of motivation.

Quality Teaching and Learning Classes Continue

FCS teachers and administrators are continuing to learn new methods of teaching through the Quality Teaching and Learning (QTL) program. Several classes have been offered on the QTL methodology this summer. Recently, QTL participants got a chance to learn a little from students of the FCS Geocache Camp. Campers showed QTL students how to use a GPS and zero in on hidden objects using latitude and longitude coordinates.

Taking Time Out To Help

Several FCS Employees took time out to donate blood at a blood drive held at Louisburg College on the last Thursday in April. The blood drive was a big success as members of the community and FCS showed up to show their care and concern for such an important need.