This week at OCS was full of celebration! Read below for the district's latest news.

Have a great weekend and remember: no school on Monday!

NMSI PROGRAM KICKS OFF IN ONSLOW 

In a large kickoff celebration on Thursday, Onslow County Schools announced that the district was awarded a $906,121 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to implement the National Math and Science Initiative program at Richlands and Northside high schools.  

NMSI, a program that often partners with the Department of Defense to improve educational opportunities for military children, works to improve STEM education by partnering with schools to provide training and support for teachers and give students the resources and technology they need to develop lifelong skills. NMSI offers teachers course-specific training, online curricular resources and support from AP experts, while students can benefit from focused study sessions, equipment upgrades and exam fee subsidies.  

Col. Scott Baldwin of Camp Lejeune said that a program like NMSI will help support students that live a transient lifestyle like military children.  
“There’s a significant number of [military] kids in the community,” Col. Baldwin said. “And the communities do give a lot to the installation. They support what we do, so it’s nice that the Department of Defense can turn around and be able to give back to the community.” 

Ed Veiga, senior director of the Military Families Mission for NMSI, said it was important to note that NMSI resources are not only available to military children, but to all students in schools who have adopted the program. 

TECC HOSTS APPRECIATION BREAKFAST 

OCS maintenance workers Mike Tyndall, Joe Davis and Antonio Hooker enjoy breakfast at TECC.

Thompson Early Childhood Center hosted its annual appreciation breakfast for OCS maintenance staff Wednesday morning.  

Dozens of workers from the district’s maintenance department gathered in TECC’s multipurpose room for food and fellowship, courtesy of the preschool’s staff. The guests of honor were treated to a large buffet of pancakes, sausage, biscuits, gravy, casseroles and more.  
Board members Earl Taylor, Paul Wiggins and Ken Reddic, as well as Interim Superintendent Ron Singletary joined the TECC staff in thanking the maintenance team for all they do for the students and employees of the Onslow County School System.  

TECC Director James Lanier presented the maintenance department with a gift of appreciation: a framed print of the school’s tiger cub mascot signed by all of the school’s employees.  

To our maintenance staff, thank you for all the hard work you do every day!

See a video from the breakfast event here. 

MAGNET SCHOOL INFORMATION SESSIONS 

Parents who are interested in their students attending one of Onslow County Schools' three magnet schools are invited to attend an information session with Dr. Brendan Gartner, Director of Student Services. Sessions will cover the new online application and lottery process used to select students for magnet schools, as well as the Dual-Language Immersion program.   

Community Information Sessions will be held on the following dates: 

• January 22, 6 p.m. -- Trexler Middle School Cafeteria 
• January 23, 6 p.m. -- Dixon Middle School Cafeteria 
• January 24, 6 p.m. -- Jacksonville Commons Middle School Cafeteria 
• January 25, 6 p.m. -- Northwoods Park Middle School Cafeteria 
• January 29, 6 p.m. -- Southwest Middle School Cafeteria 
• January 30, 6 p.m. -- Hunters Creek Middle School Cafeteria 
• February 1, 6 p.m. -- New Bridge Middle School Cafeteria 

Check here for more information on OCS magnet schools.  

HOLIDAY REMINDER  
 
As the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday approaches, we would like to remind our families that schools will be closed for staff and students on Monday, January 21, 2019.   

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:  
Facebook - @OCSNC  
Twitter - @OnslowSchools  
Instagram - onslowcountyschools  

It has been another wonderful week of learning at Onslow County Schools! Take a look at the latest OCS happenings below and have a great weekend! 

BOARD OF EDUCATION APPRECIATION
 
January is Board of Education Appreciation Month, and the Onslow County BOE members received a special recognition at this month’s Board meeting.  
Executive Director of Community Affairs Brent Anderson addressed the Board Tuesday night and said, “Many people may see our Board once a month here at the meetings. Many people don’t realize the time each of you put in preparing for these meetings, talking with constituents and attending school functions. In fact, with 38 schools in OCS, it is quite possible you could attend functions at any of our sites almost every night of the week.” 

To recognize the Board’s commitment to the children of Onslow County and their willingness to serve, Board members were given a token of appreciation for all they do. Each Board member was given a mounted piece of artwork done by a student in Onslow County Schools. The following student works were chosen as Board gifts:  

• “Eye of the Tiger” by Lauren Stanley, Grade 12 at JHS 
• “Lighthouse” by Mackenzie Koehn, Grade 11 at SBHS 
• “European Art Study” by Ashley Thompson, Grade 10 at RHS 
• “Pointillism Symmetry” by Serenity Rader, Grade 12 at SWHS 
• “Passing Time” by Graham Brinker, Grade 12 at JHS 
• “European Art Study” by Kaleana Julius-Carroll, Grade 11 at RHS 
• “Geisha” by Drayana Johnson, Grade 12 at NHS 

NEWS FROM THE BOARD
 
A summary of the Onslow County Board of Education meeting on January 8, 2019 can be found here: https://bit.ly/2LZeyxo.  

ACT PREP INFORMATION 

With testing and college preparation season upon us, OCS would like to share with our staff and families a free resource for ACT prep.  

ACT Academy is a free, online instructional content platform that provides a variety of content and resources for students and educators. Students have access to personalized ACT test prep with self-guided plans based on PreACT and ACT test results, as well as official ACT practice tests.  

Educators can find resources like educational videos and games, assessments, homework assignments and lesson plans.  

ACT Academy can be accessed at https://academy.act.org/. An overview of ACT Academy services can be found here: ACT Academy Overview.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES 

As a reminder to our OCS staff, there are frequent professional development opportunities available for you to hone your skills as an educator. The 2018-2019 Winter/Spring Professional Development Publication and registration form are now available on the OCS website. You can find all PD-related information, including upcoming opportunities and how to register, here: https://bit.ly/2D62MyJ. You will need to be logged in to the OCS website to access this page. 

Remember to check back often, as opportunities are added and updated frequently!  

HOLIDAY REMINDER 

As the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday approaches, we would like to remind our families that schools will be closed for staff and students on Monday, January 21, 2019.  

WELCOME BACK! 

After what was hopefully a joyful and restful holiday break, we would like to extend the warmest welcome back to our staff and students! The new year is here, and 2019 promises to be another year of excellence and opportunity for OCS.  
We wish a Happy New Year to all of our OCS families! May 2019 be your best year yet.  

MEET THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT 

 
As the new year begins, we are excited to welcome Interim Superintendent Dr. Ron Singletary back to Onslow County Schools. 

Dr. Singletary, who served as the OCS superintendent from 1991 to 2006, has returned to the district to serve as interim superintendent following the retirement of former Superintendent Rick Stout. Dr. Singletary also served as interim following the retirement of former Superintendent Kathy Spencer in 2013.  

"It is a distinct honor to have been asked to serve as your interim superintendent," he said. "During this period of transition, I am proud to be working alongside the district’s extremely dedicated and talented educators as we continue to focus on the system vision of Excellence in Education." 

Dr. Singletary will lead the district while the Onslow County Board of Education continues its search for a new permanent superintendent.  

The Board has begun reviewing applications for the superintendent opening and is currently preparing for initial interviews with prospective candidates. 

FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS THROUGH JANUARY 

Students in Onslow County Schools will all be eligible to receive breakfast and lunch free of charge through January 31.    

The OCS Department of Nutrition has been granted an extension from the USDA to continue to offer our students meals at no cost -- and you do not need to fill out an application for your child to enjoy this benefit.  However, beginning on February 1, 2019, all students will return to pre-storm status.  This means students who paid for or were provided meals at a reduced cost will be charged from that time forward.  Students who were receiving meals at no cost before the storm will continue to receive them for free.  If you would like to receive free or reduced meal benefits after January 31, please click on the link to complete an application: Meal Benefits Application  

BRIGHT IDEAS GRANTS AWARDED 

We are proud to share with you that this year, educators in Onslow County received a cumulative $45,000 in Bright Ideas grants from Jones-Onslow EMC!  

Each year, Jones-Onslow provides grant applications to teachers and principals, grades K-12, in Jones and Onslow counties, as well as the Topsail area of Pender County. This year, JOEMC awarded a total of $75,500 to educators across the entire region.  
Bright Ideas grants help students learn through innovative scholastic projects that are not covered by regular school funds. Educators submit proposals for what they would like to do with a Bright Ideas grant, such as projects, activities, etc., and may apply for individual grants up to $500 or in teams for grants up to $2,000.  

You can find a list of this year’s Onslow County Bright Ideas grant recipients here: Bright Ideas Grant Winners 2018-2019. 

Congratulations to all grant winners!

BOE MEETING JANUARY 8 

On Tuesday, January 8, the Onslow County Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of Blue Creek Elementary School. 

Policy revisions, a beginning teacher support program, a resolution supporting calendar flexibility and an architect agreement for hurricane recovery are on the meeting’s agenda.  

FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA  

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms:  
Facebook - @OCSNC  
Twitter - @OnslowSchools  
Instagram - onslowcountyschools  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

As the Christmas and New Year holidays approach, we would like to remind our families that schools will be closed for students December 24-January 1. OCS district offices will be closed to the public during this same time. School will resume on January 2. 

There will not be a weekly update for the week of Christmas, but never fear, we will be back with more OCS news and updates in 2019! Enjoy your break and have a safe and happy holiday! 
 
FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT STOUT 

The end of December not only brings 2018 to a close, it will mark the end of my time as superintendent of Onslow County Schools and as an educator in North Carolina.

During my time with OCS, we have developed partnerships and relationships which have allowed us to address continued population growth and expanded opportunities for our students. These include opening the Onslow Virtual Academy, the Onslow Early College High School and new schools in the Dixon and Richlands areas. We have transitioned Richlands Primary to K-5 Heritage Elementary and completed an extensive redistricting process. We worked on developing partnerships with state and local legislative leaders, our military partners, neighboring school districts and business leaders on the creation of the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center, which is scheduled to open later this school year.

These accomplishments have all been extremely rewarding. However, the most challenging event in my educational career came with the arrival of Hurricane Florence. This storm caused unprecedented damage throughout Onslow County and created challenges in our school system the likes of which have never been seen. As has been the case throughout my time in OCS, during the recovery process from Florence, I have been fortunate to work with a strong team – from the school level to the district level – filled with individuals who understand the value of teamwork. The importance of working together for a common purpose and having a willingness to spend the time and do whatever it takes to get the job done for our school community.

If asked what I am most grateful for during my time in OCS, I would say it has been the opportunity to work for, and with, the staff and students of this great school system, and build relationships which have made our successes possible. I would like to thank the Onslow County Board of Education for their support over the years and my staff for their hard work and dedication to the district vision; district staff, administrators and teachers for their willingness to do those things which have made our schools stronger and our students better prepared; and the community for the chance to make connections and provide opportunities for our children.

During my thirty-plus years in public education, I have worked in several school districts in the central and eastern portions of the state and have enjoyed my time in each of them. I will fondly remember my time in the Onslow County School System and will cherish my experiences both here and in other systems as a teacher, coach and administrator. It has been a rewarding career filled with good people and amazing memories.

A VISIT FROM SANTA 

Preschoolers at Thompson Early Childhood Center got a surprise visit from Santa Claus himself Tuesday morning. With him, he brought an early Christmas gift for each of the roughly 180 children at Thompson. 

Joy and laughter filled the school’s multipurpose room as the children were delighted to see that Santa came to town a week early just to see them. After singing a few holiday songs, each student had the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap and receive a present and a candy cane from him. 

Santa’s special helpers, the members of the Americas Guardians Motorcycle Club, made this magical event possible by providing enough toys for each student at the school. 

When asked why he and Americas Guardians helped Santa bring joy to TECC, one of the club members said: “Especially with this last hurricane, we know there are a ton of families who have been displaced. Their money is going to other options other than buying Christmas presents. We have the means and the resources in the community to gather Christmas presents, and it absolutely brings joy to our hearts to see a child that may not have the opportunity to have a really good Christmas like other children, and for us to bring a little joy to their life.” 

TECC Director James Lanier said this is the second year in a row Americas Guardians has provided toys for Santa to hand out at Thompson and the event is a sign that the Christmas spirit is alive and well.   
 
EXCELLENCE IN GROWTH 

At OCS, we are always excited to share with you the accomplishments of our staff and students. This week, we would like to congratulate four schools in our district on an outstanding academic achievement.  

Meadow View Elementary School, Northside High School, Swansboro High School and Trexler Middle School all placed in the top 5 percent in academic growth in the state for the 2017-2018 school year. The schools ranked near the top of the list in growth out of nearly 2,500 public schools in all of North Carolina.

Excellent job, students and staff! Keep up the good work! 
 
FOLLOW OCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA 

Keep up with even more OCS happenings on the following platforms: 
Facebook - @OCSNC 
Twitter - @OnslowSchools 
Instagram - onslowcountyschools 
 

We would like to send best wishes to the Jacksonville High School varsity football team as they take on Charlotte Catholic for the state 3A championship on Saturday. The game will be held in Kenan Stadium on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill and kickoff will be at 11 a.m. Go Cards!!

OCS 2018 SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

The Onslow County Schools 2018 Science and Engineering Fair, held Tuesday at Blue Creek Elementary, was a great night of celebrating young, STEM-minded students.  Students from 2nd grade through middle school participated this year, and while the Fair was scaled back a bit due to Hurricane Florence over 30 projects showcasing interesting and diverse topics were on display.

The Science and Engineering Fair provides an opportunity for students to pursue personal areas of interest in science or technology where they create a research project and then display their findings in a public competitive forum. Projects selected at the school level move on to compete at the county-level fair. This year 10 county-level projects were selected to represent Onslow County Schools at the Regional Science Fair to be held at UNCW in the coming year.

Congratulations to the following students whose projects will advance to the regional competition:

• Chloe Nelson, Bell Fork Elementary
• Kaleah Turner, Hunters Creek Elementary
• Jasmine Varner, Richlands Elementary
• Wyatt Pike, Richlands Elementary
• Jason Strope, Richlands Elementary
• Emma Petsch, Richlands Elementary
• Kamdyn Dickerson, Heritage Elementary
• Sean Nakao & Haustyn Lunsford, Jacksonville Commons Middle
• Riley Nelson, New Bridge Middle
• Ian Martin & Aubrianna Martin, New Bridge Middle

PARKWOOD ELEMENTARY ADOPTED BY BATTALION 

On Thursday morning, Parkwood Elementary School held a celebratory ceremony to mark its adoption by 2d Transportation Support Battalion from Camp Lejeune. 

The Adopt-a-School program promotes mutually beneficial relationships between the military and schools by allowing a military unit to "adopt" a school. The units support schools by helping with field days, family nights, Month of the Military Child events, proctoring tests and more. In return, schools help their adopting units by sending them letters and care packages while they are deployed. 

“This is a great opportunity for us to really give back to you,” LtCol Jonathan T. Baker said to the students and staff of Parkwood Elementary. “To be someone you can look up to, someone you can trust. And it’s a reminder every day of the wonderful nation that we live in and the great people in our youth that are going to be part of that nation.” 

HCMS HOLDS TECHNOLOGY NIGHT

On Tuesday night, Hunters Creek Middle School students had the opportunity to show the community the technology they use every day in class at their 3rd annual technology night.

The student-led event, called the “Technology Leaders Un-Conference,” invited parents and the greater HCMS community into the school to see the innovative ways in which students and teachers are using technology to improve their learning. Students across all grade levels showed how technology helped them in subjects like math, science, social studies, ELA and even the arts.

Some students displayed the artwork and music they made using computer programs and coding, while others explained how Microsoft products like Teams have made it easier for them to keep up with homework and stay connected to their teachers. Some students even took visitors on a journey to Egypt through virtual reality goggles they use in their social studies classes.   

Event organizers said it is impressive to see how well students take to technology and integrate it into everything they do. 

HURRICANE RESPONSE FEEDBACK REQUESTED 

The deadline to share your feedback on Onslow County Schools response’ to Hurricane Florence is Monday, December 17. Following any such event, it is important to take a look back on our reactions and responses and assess what went well and what can be improved. To gather your feedback, we are using a tool called Thoughtexchange. All of our voices matter, so your participation is crucial and valued. 

You'll be asked to respond to one open-ended question, consider and assign stars to the ideas shared by others, and learn what is important to the group. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your perspectives and ideas at the following link so we can continue to refine our emergency response procedures:

• https://my.thoughtexchange.com/#297560871

FEMA DEADLINE EXTENDED

Families across our region continue to recover from Hurricane Florence. The deadline for North Carolina residents to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance has been extended to 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, December 19, 2018.   

You can apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. The Onslow County Disaster Recovery Center is located at 175 Freedom Way, Suite 18A Midway Park, NC 28544.

HOLIDAY REMINDER

As the Christmas and New Year holidays approach, we would like to remind our families schools will be closed for students December 24-January 1. School will resume on January 2.

December 24-26 and January 1 will be holidays for OCS 12-month staff.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS SWORN IN 

At its December 4 meeting, the Onslow County Board of Education welcomed two new Board members. Jeff Hudson and Bill Lanier, who are new to the Board, and recently re-elected member Bob Williams, were administered the oath of office by Chief District Court Judge Paul Hardison Tuesday night.  
Mr. Jeff Hudson is a longtime Onslow County resident who has worked as the town manager of Holly Ridge, served as county manager, was the assistant superintendent of schools for auxiliary services for Onslow County Schools, and is currently the chief executive officer of ONWASA. He also serves on the Trail Life USA Board of Directors, the State Employee’s Credit Union Advisory Committee and the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Affairs Committee, and as a deacon at Tar Landing Baptist Church. His goal while serving on the Board of Education, he said, is to “serve in such a way that I never tarnish the dignity of the office, or the trust of my constituents.” 
Mr. Bill Lanier is a retired member of the United States Marine Corps, who dedicated his time after retirement to serving as a behavioral healthcare paraprofessional and as a special needs teaching assistant with Onslow County Schools. His is committee member for both the NCGOP and the Onslow County GOP, as well as a chief judge and chairman for voting precincts with the Onslow County Board of Elections. When speaking to why he has chosen to serve on the Onslow County Board of Education, Mr. Lanier said, “I simply love to see happy and productive people and serving the children of Onslow County is a perfect way to do it.” 
Mr. Bob Williams was first elected to the BOE in 2014 and won re-election this year. He said he serves on the Board because “the children of Onslow County deserve the best education they can receive, and their parents should feel their tax dollars are spent on a quality education.” 
You can find full bios for all Board members here: https://bit.ly/2zJHF36.  
 
NEW 2018-2019 CALENDAR APPROVED
 
The new calendar for the 2018-2019 school year is officially in effect after getting the approval of the Onslow County Board of Education in its December 4 meeting.  
The calendar was designed to maximize lost instruction time and make up necessary days after Hurricane Florence. You can find the revised calendar here: https://bit.ly/2rlAXvo. 
 
GOVERNOR COOPER VISITS WHITE OAK HIGH 

Just 43 days after his first visit, Gov. Roy Cooper made his way back to White Oak High School to see the progress the school has made since Hurricane Florence.  
During his first visit, Gov. Cooper saw WOHS in the process of cleaning rooms, getting an inventory of all items in the building and figuring out how to move forward after unprecedented damage. This time, he was greeted by students, staff and administrators learning and coming together to make the most of a difficult situation.  
Gov. Cooper visited with teachers who lost their classrooms to the storm and with students who were excited to finally be back in class and assured them that he feels strongly about supporting the recovery process in Onslow County.  
 
NEWS FROM THE BOARD 

A summary of the Onslow County Board of Education Meeting on December 4, 2018 can be found here: https://bit.ly/2PqAxxh.  
 
HURRICANE RESPONSE FEEDBACK REQUESTED 

Our district is committed to providing our students with the best education possible. Hurricane Florence seriously impacted our ability to do that and has challenged us on many fronts. Following any such event, it is important to take a look back on our reactions and responses and assess what went well and what can be improved. As we continue to move forward, the district is looking at lessons learned from this event.  
Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your perspectives and ideas at the following link so we can continue to refine our emergency response procedures: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/#297560871 
 

FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS THROUGH DECEMBER  
 
Students in Onslow County Schools will all be eligible to receive breakfast and lunch free of charge through December 31.   
The OCS Department of Nutrition has been granted an extension from the USDA to continue to offer our students meals at no cost -- and you do not need to fill out an application for your child to enjoy this benefit.  However, beginning on January 1, 2019, all students will return to pre-storm status.  This means students who paid for or were provided meals at a reduced cost will be charged from that time forward.  Students who were receiving meals at no cost before the storm will continue to receive them for free.  If you would like to receive free or reduced meal benefits after December 31, please click on the link to complete an application: 

Meal Benefit Applications  
 
COMMUNITY COLLECTS THOUSANDS OF BOOKS FOR OCS 

Since Hurricane Florence hit our area, Onslow County Schools has received an outpouring of support and generosity from our community. OCS has received thousands of books from drives organized by people across the state. 

The Onslow County Literacy Council worked with local volunteers to organize a large book drive to benefit Onslow County Schools. The drive produced thousands of books for OCS staff and students to use and enjoy. Earlier this month, Bethlehem Baptist Church worked with the Literacy Council to host a distribution day, where teachers could stop by and pick out books they wanted or needed for their classrooms. 

The North Carolina State University College of Education also held a book drive to benefit Onslow County Schools after hearing about the damages our schools sustained. What started as a single collection box in Poe Hall, where the College of Education is housed, turned into a drive that brought in hundreds of books, study guides, math manipulatives and other instructional materials. Last week, representatives from N.C. State delivered the materials to Jacksonville Commons Elementary School, where staff and students greeted and thanked them for their generosity.  

OCS thanks all who have contributed to our recovery process.  
 
OCS KICKS OFF UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN  

Each year, Onslow County Schools partners with United Way of Onslow County to give back to our community. During our campaign, we ask OCS employees to consider making a donation to United Way to support local charity efforts. During the 2017-2018 school year, OCS collectively raised $133,736.16. This year, our goal is $180,000.  

It is always our goal to have 100% participation from our employees for this giving opportunity. Congratulations and a huge thank you to the following schools for having 100% participation from their employees in the United Way campaign for the 2017-2018 school year:  

• Blue Creek Elementary 
• Dixon Elementary 
• Dixon Middle 
• Heritage Elementary 
• Northwoods Park Middle
• Onslow County Learning Center 
• Onslow County Early College 
• Richlands High 
• Sand Ridge Elementary
• Swansboro Elementary 
• Thompson Early Childhood Center 
• White Oak High 

CHRISTMAS CHEER CANNED GOODS DRIVE  

Onslow Christmas Cheer, facilitated by Onslow Community Outreach, assists children and families in need during the holiday season. The program provides on donations of toys, food and money to assist those in need from our community during the holiday season.

Each year, Onslow County Schools participates in a canned goods drive to benefit Christmas Cheer. The 2018-2019 OCS canned goods drive is underway! At Central Services office, staff have set a goal of collecting 10,000 cans. If you are an employee at the Central Services office, your canned goods will need to be turned in by Friday, December 7. 

If you are interested in contributing to the food drive, staff and students should check with their schools to see if they are participating in this year’s drive and find out how they can get in on the action.  
 
BOE MEETING DECEMBER 4
  
On Tuesday, December 4, the Onslow County Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of Blue Creek Elementary School.

Immediately preceding the regular meeting, at 6 p.m., the Oath of Office will be administered to new Board members Jeff Hudson and Bill Lanier and re-elected member Bob Williams.

Calendar revisions, superintendent search survey results and the selection of a Board chair and vice chair are on the agenda for the 6:30 meeting.   

THANKSGIVING MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT STOUT
 

Dear OCS Family,

Fall is a very special time of year. The days grow shorter, the weather grows cooler and our thoughts begin to turn to the holiday season. This year, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we have much to be thankful for. Hurricane Florence brought much damage and devastation to our area. However, since the storm, our community has come together in a special way to support each other and to work on getting things back to normal.

I would like to thank our Board of Education and all who have worked so diligently to support our schools and our community in the recovery process. Our district maintenance department has been going almost 24/7 since the storm. From the Monday following Florence’s landfall until our last schools reopened, they have been giving it their all. Many while dealing with their own personal damage and clean up responsibilities. While things have slowed down a tiny fraction from where we were with “all hurricane, all the time,” their work will continue, and I am thankful for their dedication to Onslow County Schools.

Similarly, our finance, human resources and instructional technology departments have been hard at it, working to ensure payroll and other financial obligations have been met and employees have been processed. They have identified staff who have been displaced by the storm and helped direct resources. Schools have been inspected and networks readied for the return of staff and students. All of this was done without missing a beat.

Instructional staff at the district and school levels did an amazing job organizing pop-up learning opportunities for our students. These individuals gave their own time, securing space with local churches, businesses, libraries and other community areas to make sure our students did not miss out on valuable instructional time. This dedication is at the heart of what we do as educators – we strive to give our students the best.

Support staff across the district have been working to ensure our families have access to the resources necessary to get them back on their feet. Teachers, administrators, counselors, school social workers, and so many more have come together to collect supplies for those in need. They have volunteered their time in their communities to give back to those who have lost so much and have been the hands of the school system, lifting those who need help.

Finally, I would like to thank our community. Thank you for understanding the enormity of the job of getting our schools reopened safely, and for your patience as we went through the process of clearing and cleaning our schools. Thank you for the donations of supplies, materials, money and time to support our teachers and students. Thank you to our military partners for their support as we worked to reopen the schools. Even with their own issues to deal with onboard base, they were willing to come and help with our cleanup efforts. Thank you to our other community partners – churches, civic organizations, local governments, nonprofit agencies and businesses – who gave their time and resources. As a community, we came together and worked to support ourselves, as well as receiving the support of countless numbers of individuals and groups from outside of Onslow County – who all shared the common goal of helping return our community back to normal.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and take a short break to process all which has happened during this brief, tumultuous year, it is my hope we will all remember those who have given so much to help our school community. Words say a lot; however, they fall short in expressing the thankfulness I feel for this community and the support we have received.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Superintendent Rick Stout

THANKSGIVING MESSAGE FROM BOE CHAIR PAM THOMAS 

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday and this year it is even more so. I am so thankful to live in this wonderful community. Our community and school system are blessed to have worked together to return back to a pattern of normalcy following Hurricane Florence. We have looked out for one another, we’ve cared about each other and we’ve provided for each other. It certainly seems we are all at our best when we are needed the most. For this I give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Enjoy your time with family and friends. This is a time to reflect on our blessings and to appreciate how fortunate we all are.

Blessings to all.

Pam Thomas

NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS NOVEMBER 21-23 

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we would like to remind our families that there will be no school for students Wednesday, November 21 through Friday, November 23.  

Wednesday, November 21 will be a teacher workday.  

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! 

OCS SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT TEAM MEETS 

On Thursday evening, the Onslow County Schools System Involvement Team/Quality Council met at Blue Creek Elementary School to discuss the direction of OCS and give district staff valuable feedback on system goals and strategies.  

The System Involvement Team is made up of teachers, district staff, parents and community members. In this meeting, the team heard presentations on the OCS Instructional Framework, which presenter Susanne Long described as the “instructional blueprint” that informs how OCS classrooms should operate, the new math curriculum adoption Ready Math, the OCS strategic plan, which outlines the vision and goals of the school system, and hurricane recovery.  

In the feedback portion of the meeting, team members split into groups and discussed what OCS should focus on to meet the district’s overall goals and recorded their thoughts for district staff to review.  

To read more about the OCS Instructional Framework, click here: https://bit.ly/2qOa4zQ. 

To read more about the OCS Strategic Plan, click here: https://bit.ly/2RW45of.  

PRESCHOOLERS MARCH IN WE ARE THANKFUL PARADE 

With their teachers and parents lining the way, a parade of around 200 preschoolers walked the campus of Thompson Early Childhood Center on Friday.  

Dressed as pint-sized versions of what they want to be when they grow up, such as police officers, firefighters, doctors, service members and chefs, the children marched alongside some of the community’s real-life heroes in their “We are Thankful” parade.  They were accompanied by Jacksonville police officers, Onslow County sheriff’s deputies, a drumline from Jacksonville High School, TECC’s tiger mascot, representatives from the NC Forest Service, and even Smokey Bear! 

TECC Director James Lanier said the parade, scheduled between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, is the perfect time for the school to celebrate their families, community and military. 

Traci Yates, a family specialist with the Onslow County preschool program, said the event is an opportunity for students to interact with the helpers in their community and learn to be thankful for them. She said that the parade is also a fun way to bring families and the community into the preschool to see what children are learning.  

FEMA ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE  

Families across our region continue to recover from Hurricane Florence. The deadline for North Carolina residents to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance has been extended to 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 13, 2018.  

The Onslow County Disaster Recovery Center is located at 175 Freedom Way, Suite 18A Midway Park, NC 28544. The center is open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

You can apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can call 800-621-3362 for help.

Disaster assistance for individuals may include grants to help homeowners and renters with temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and serious disaster-related needs.  

FEMA encourages all survivors who sustained disaster-related damage or losses to apply for assistance before the Dec. 13 deadline. 

For more information, see the following attachments:

NC Private Sector Advisory & Contact List

FEMA Daily Fact Sheet Nov. 15, 2018

NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS NOVEMBER 21-23 

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we would like to remind our families that there will be no school for students Wednesday, November 21 through Friday, November 23.  

Wednesday, November 21 will be a teacher workday.  

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! 

Now that we are on more of a regular schedule, we wanted to let everyone know we are going to continue updates, but they will be on a weekly basis! Look for a new weekly update each Friday to continue keeping our community up on what is going on in Onslow County Schools!

VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY 

Onslow County Schools would like to thank our veterans for their service to our country.  

In honor of their sacrifice, schools across the state, including OCS, will be closed Monday, November 12 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.  

ALL SCHOOLS BACK IN SESSION 

Though recovery continues throughout the county, Onslow County Schools was excited to take a huge step toward normalcy this week. As of Monday, November 5, all schools in the district are in session, and staff and students have resumed the learning process.  

The final schools to reopen were Dixon Elementary, Southwest High, Swansboro High, White Oak High, Swansboro Middle, Northwoods Park Middle and all of the county’s preschool sites. On Monday morning, returning students were met by smiling and cheering staff members as they walked into their schools for the first time in weeks. Students at White Oak High were greeted by staff, past and present, including some of the Onslow County Board of Education members, while Dixon Elementary received a visit from State Superintendent Mark Johnson, Representative Phil Shepard and Senator Harry Brown.  

Moving forward, teachers and staff say they are prepared to not only help their students recover academically, but emotionally as well. Lisa Godwin, a kindergarten teacher at Dixon Elementary, said academics are important, but she will also focus on making sure that her students are “whole again” for the remainder of the school year.  

BROCK RIDGE RETIRES FROM BOARD 

The November 5 Board of Education meeting marked the end of an era for the Onslow County School System. Vice Chairman Brock Ridge has decided to retire after 56 years of service to the children of Onslow County.  

Mr. Ridge began teaching social studies in Richlands in 1962. He coached athletics as well as the debate team. He went on to spend the rest of his school-level career as a Wildcat, becoming assistant principal in 1966 and later, principal in 1973.  

In 1996, Mr. Ridge left Richlands High to take a seat on the Onslow County Board of Education, where he went on to become Vice Chair in 2010.  

In addition to his work in our schools, Mr. Ridge has served his community on the Onslow County Museum Board, at Richlands United Methodist Church, as a Mason, and as president of the North Carolina High School Network, to name a few. 

Mr. Ridge, thank you for your service to generations of students in Onslow County!!! We wish you nothing but the best in your retirement.

Check out a very special video tribute to Mr. Brock Ridge here - 
https://youtu.be/Ups4thW5GA0 

Have a safe holiday weekend, and we will see you Tuesday!