School News

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Yancey County Schools Web Page, click here

                            BBQ Fund Raiser RESCHEDULED (again!)

The 4th grade class of Burnsville Elementary BBQ fund raiser on January 29, 2010 to raise money for their upcoming trip to the Outer Banks has been rescheduled due to the weather alert for a large snow. It was rescheduled to February 5th. It has been rescheduled again to February 12th, weather pending. The meal will include a BBQ sandwich, baked beans, coleslaw, dessert, and drink. Cost will be $8.00 per plate. We will deliver for orders of 10 or more plates. You may also pick up your orders at West Burnsville Baptist Church fellowship hall. Deliveries will be made beginning at 10:30 am. We will be delivering up until 7:00pm. You will have a choice of drink as well. For more information, please contact Daphne Vinson at 284-2943.

Cane River and East Yancey Middle Schools receive Science Materials

A $10,000 Grant from Exxon Mobil fosters Science learning in 13 WNC Middle Schools.

Earth Science learning is the focus of a $10,000 grant from Exxon Mobil that will benefit schools in seven western North Carolina school districts. Barry Edwards of Henderson Oil Company presented the check from Exxon Mobil on Friday, November 13, 2009 at noon at the Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA) offices on the AB Tech Enka Campus.

According to Jan Webster, Director of WRESA, the grant will go to support LabQuest Technology used in inquiry-based, hands-on earth science lessons designed to teach students to collect, organize, and analyze data. The grant will provide LabQuest handheld devices to schools, each of which has probes which students can use to test temperature, voltage, water pH levels, and various other measurements.

The schools receiving the LabQuest devices are located in Cherokee, Henderson, Madison, Polk, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey Counties.

On behalf of Yancey County Schools, K-8 Science Coordinator Alton Robinson would like to thank Exxon Mobil and WRESA for supporting inquiry-based, hands-on learning in the middle schools.
 

        2009 National Board Certified Teachers for Yancey County

On Monday, January 11, 2010 the Yancey County School Board recognized the 2009 National Board Certified Teachers for Yancey County.  Jill Hensley teaches at Clearmont Elementary School and has earned National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist.  Kim Silvers teaches at Cane River Middle School and earned National Board Certification in Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood.  Chad Ayers teaches at Mountain Heritage High School and earned National Board Certification in Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood.  And Shannon Anders teaches at Burnsville Elementary School and earned National Board Certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood.  Peter Bobbe teaches at Mountain Heritage High School and renewed his National Board Certification in English/Language Arts/Adolescence through Young Adulthood.  North Carolina leads the nation for the 14^th consecutive year in the most National Board Certified teachers.  Yancey County currently has 38 National Board Certified teachers.

               CLEARMONT ‘S THIRD ANNUAL SCIENCE DAY

 For the past three years, Clearmont’s kindergarten through fifth grade students have had an opportunity to get up close and personal with the scientists of KidSenses Museum, a high impact, high energy outreach program from its main museum in Rutherfordton.  Last year, they blasted off into space with the Explorer Dome, and this year, they came back down to earth with everyday science, a kitchen-based program called SCIENCE SHENANIGANS.  The scientists demonstrated how materials around the home can be turned into science experiments, like water, vinegar, baking soda, etc….Students were also thrilled with the static electricity experiments, especially when one of their classmates put her hand on the big ball generator, and her long hair stood out around her head.  All students agreed with the scientists on this point….SCIENCE IS COOL!!

 Clearmont faculty, staff and students would like to thank their PTO for sponsoring this yearly event!  

Ayers Named Agriculture Teacher of the Year for the Western Region

News story from Daily Journal - Seneca,SC,USA

Chad Ayers, a Seneca native and 2004 graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Education, is the agriculture teacher at Mountain Heritage High School in Burnsville, N.C. He was named the Agriculture Teacher of the Year for the Western Region by the North Carolina Agriculture Teachers Association.

Ayers was by his fellow 45 plus Ag teachers, serving 33 Ag programs from the North Carolina FFA Western Region.

The Mountain Heritage FFA just last year had six students receive their State FFA Degrees where they had to work at least 300 hours outside of class time on a Supervised Agriculture Experience Project. Ayers also has two chapter officers, Sarah Edwards and Tara Hughes, who are currently serving as Western Region officers.

Ayers said, “This recognition honors our entire school program. I appreciate all the support from Yancey County Schools, especially the administrators and faculty from Mountain Heritage. Our FFA members and I feel that giving back to the community that continues to give us so much support and encouragement is an important part of our FFA mission.”

Agriculture students and FFA members have been involved in many community service projects such as Care Packages for Soldiers, landscaping for Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, Litter Sweep, Food and Toy drives, and participating in the PALS program. Through PALS (Partners in Active Learning Support), 30 FFA members serve as mentors once a week during the After School programs at Bald Creek and Burnsville Elementary schools.

In conferring the award, David Harris, Western Region Agricultural Education Coordinator for NC State University, said, “Chad hit the ground running when he accepted the position of agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at MHHS in 2006. His commitment to his students, fellow teachers, and community is unparalled. He is an asset to MHHS and the community. His contributions to agricultural education were recognized by his fellow agriculture teachers as evidence by his selection as the 2008-2009 Western Region Agriculture Teacher of the Year.”

Ayers is also an Elder at the First Presbyterian of Burnsville, serves on the Advisory Board for the Yancey County Extension Office, and the Extension Agriculture Advisory Board. He is a member of the MHHS Faculty PBS team, a program being implemented to help reinforce positive behavior in students. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Agriculture Education from NC State and NC A&T Universities and has recently passed and received his National Board Certification.

Ayers and his wife Elizabeth are the proud parents of Catherine Leigh Ayers, born on Aug. 18. Cate is the granddaughter of Bobby and Alane Ayers of Seneca and Charles and Sandra Tolley of Marshall, N.C.
 

MHHS Debate Team Does Well By SFC. Thomas W. Surber   Mountain Heritage High School The Mountain Heritage Debate Team traveled to the 10th annual Cougar Classic at Asheville High School recently. Heritage debaters competed in a grueling 4 round tournament in their respective events. Over 400 students represented 31 high schools.   Stacy May Denny, Savanna Jobin & Brittany Edwards participated in the Prose/Poetry category. Amber Whitt earned a first round victory in Lincoln-Douglas, while the tandem of Ingrid Ringler & Nick Thomas scored a 3rd round victory in Public Forum. Newcomer Savanna Jobin surprised many of the traditional powerhouse schools by placing 6th in International Extemporaneous Speaking.   There are 16 recognized categories of competition. The main events include: Policy, Public Forum, Lincoln Douglas, Congress, Oratory, Extemporaneous, Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous

Sgt. Surber and Savanna Jobin just after Savanna received her award. Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, and Radio Announcing. The Other events include: Prose, Poetry, Commentary, Expository, Story Telling, & Impromptu.    Students have the opportunity to earn prestigious pins or keys which strengthen their college applications. Also the intangibles make debate an attractive extra-curricular activity such as: research, public speaking, and self confidence. These skills greatly assist students in critical areas such as presentations and interviews. As we experience more and more success we expect interest to grow. There is a place for everyone, no one sits on the bench! For the debate schedule click here.