Alamance-Burlington School System

✨38 Days, 38 Schools - Southern Alamance High School is a vibrant school community that nurtures its students' diverse talents and passions. With a rich array of over 50 clubs, organizations, and athletic teams, the school provides an abundance of opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and make a lasting impact. From academic excellence to artistic expression, from athletic prowess to community service, Southern Alamance High School cultivates a culture of well-rounded individuals who are poised for success. With a spirited "SA All Day!" rallying cry, this community celebrates each student's unique talents while instilling a sense of pride, camaraderie, and a drive to make a difference. Empowered by knowledge, skills, and the relentless drive of a Patriot, graduates set forth on their chosen paths, destined to turn aspirations into remarkable achievements. ❤️

Western Alamance High School junior Nathanael Ariel is gearing up to showcase his skills at the Samuel A. McGee Apprentice Masonry Skills Contest this Saturday. As an apprentice with The North Carolina Masonry Contractor Association, Nathanael is the sole apprentice from Alamance County to compete. Let's cheer him on as he showcases his bricklaying talents! 🧱

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive! 🚨 The hit Bee-Gees song is not just catchy, it's used to keep pace! Twenty educators from ABSS spent the afternoon getting their certification in CPR, tourniquet application, and other emergency response techniques. With this new certification, they're even better prepared to respond quickly and keep their schools safe in the event of an emergency. A big thanks to these dedicated educators for going the extra mile to protect their students and to our nurses for leading the effort and supporting them!

✨38 Days, 38 Schools: Haw River Elementary School believes wholeheartedly that each student possesses unlimited creativity, intelligence, talent, and potential to be a hardworking leader. The dedicated educators arrive daily with a renewed commitment to nurturing those gifts in every Lion Cub. The students are their driving "why" - the motivation behind their passion for teaching. Last year, Haw River Elementary kicked off the House System to further strengthen the school's tight-knit culture. This system connects students and staff across grade levels, helping form personal relationships and engage all in an active community. The entire school is divided into four houses, each with its own name, color, element/symbol, motto, and key-value designed by Haw River's staff. Once sorted, students remain in their house throughout their years at the elementary school, finding an immediate identity and point of connection. The school's caring staff, engaging curriculum, and vibrant community create an environment where students thrive! With a House that motivates and engages students to be their best and the Leader in Me program, it is truly an amazing place for young minds to grow and lead.

Congratulations to Alexander Wilson Elementary on being recognized as a Participate Learning Global Leaders Showcase school! 🌍📚 This prestigious honor celebrates schools that cultivate students as true #GlobalLeaders, empowering them with the attitudes, skills, and knowledge needed to understand global issues, think critically, communicate effectively across cultures, and take action to improve our world. All 3rd-5th grade students gathered in the cafeteria for the banner reveal and recognition of Alexander Wilson's new Showcase status. Then, in the second half, every K-5 Spanish Immersion class took the stage, with students of all ages impressively demonstrating Spanish proficiency with cultural songs and skits. The 5th graders concluded the event by presenting an entire class project—originally created in Spanish—completely in English with remarkable poise and skill. Their ability to communicate across languages so effectively was an inspiring showcase of the global leadership cultivated at the school. We're so proud of the students and staff at Alexander Wilson Elementary for embodying what it means to be globally competent leaders and learners. Thank you to Participate Learning for this recognition and providing some great prizes for the staff and students! ¡Felicidades! 🥳

✨ 38 Days, 38 Schools - Alamance Virtual School provides an engaging, supportive virtual learning environment where students can master the curriculum from home. The staff is dedicated to giving students a well-rounded academic experience. Monthly in-person "Dragon Adventure" meetups organized by their active Parent Teacher Organization allow students to participate in social activities and build community. 💜 In addition to prioritizing students' academic and social growth, Alamance Virtual School is deeply involved with AYLA (Alamance Youth Leadership Academy). Through this partnership, they serve their school families while giving back to the local community. Their daily mission is to uphold their motto: "Igniting Minds, Soaring Dragons." 🐉

✨ 38 Days, 38 Schools - Ray Street Academy At Ray Street Academy, the motto "Find A Way" is more than just words; it's a way of life. With a diverse student body and academic levels, the dedicated staff wholeheartedly commits to meeting each student's unique needs through differentiated instruction. Teachers tailor their methods to accommodate individual learning styles, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive! Building strong relationships is a top priority here. The smaller class sizes allow teachers to truly get to know their students, creating a nurturing environment that encourages students to open up and engage in their educational journey. Ray Street Academy is a beacon of hope and opportunity, inspiring students to unlock their full potential and pave the way for a brighter future!

Board of Education member Seneca Rogers was invited to speak to Ms. Cassie Dodson's Big and Little mentoring program students for Grades 2-5 at AO Elementary on Friday, May 10. Mr. Rogers explained his role as a Board of Education member to the group and shared some of his goals growing up and the challenges he overcame to achieve them. He encouraged students to dream big and to keep going even if they don't reach their goals as quickly as they think they should. Each student asked thoughtful questions and shared their interpretations of Mr. Rogers' message. One student summed up his message by saying, "Life is a track, and the challenges you face are the hurdles." Mr. Rogers agreed, saying that was an excellent way to think about life. Thank you, Mr. Rogers, for visiting AO Elementary and sharing such a positive message with our students!

While the staff at Haw River Elementary kept their classrooms running smoothly today, Stearns Ford in Burlington was helping their cars do the same. The dealership brought their new mobile service van right to the school parking lot and treated 54 staff to FREE oil changes and multi-point inspections on their vehicles or a voucher for a later date! 🚗 That's not all - Stearns Ford also held a raffle (announced live on the school intercom!) with Casey Hill winning a gift card to The Victorian Coffee Shop ☕️ in Haw River and Rebecca Hodge winning a $100 Amazon gift card. What an incredible way to say thank you to our hardworking educators for Teacher Appreciation Week! A huge shoutout to Stearns Ford for going above and beyond with this thoughtful service. 🙌

✨ 38 Days, 38 Schools: Western Alamance High School truly stands out as a remarkable institution where a powerful sense of community intertwines with cherished traditions and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. It's a place where the whole community wraps their arms around the students and school. Whether it's a big game, a play, or an awards ceremony, you can count on people showing up and showing their support. They give so generously of their time and resources because they truly believe in the power of education and what this school does for kids. It's that kind of community spirit that makes Western so incredible. Western is also deeply rooted in tradition. You'll find students whose parents and even grandparents went there. Teachers too - some have spent their entire 30+ year careers at Western because they love the school's history and traditions so much. Those traditions create this powerful legacy that gets passed down from one generation to the next. Ultimately, Western is synonymous with excellence across the board. Academics, sports, arts, clubs - you name it - the students strive to be the best. It's called the "Warrior Way" and it pushes them to reach their full potential and make their mark on the world. Western is the total package!

It was a gorgeous day ☀️ at Burlington Carousel Park for this year's D.A.R.E. Days celebration! Hundreds of excited fifth graders from Eastlawn, Highland, Grove Park, Andrews, Smith, Hillcrest, and Newlin elementary schools arrived Thursday and Friday to take part in the fun-filled festivities. The students spent the day rotating between a variety of awesome activities. They got to ride the newly renovated carousel, play kickball and dodgeball, and take turns running under the always-popular parachute. The playground was packed with laughter and energy and the dance party had everyone moving to the beat. Students also enjoyed a train ride around the park and plenty of water breaks to stay hydrated. Of course, no D.A.R.E. Days would be complete without a picnic lunch! 🥪 The event wrapped up around 1:30pm with words of encouragement from Officer Gonzalez and Sgt. Chad Laws of the Burlington Police Department. They worked tirelessly to organize this awesome D.A.R.E. Days celebration for all the fifth graders who completed the D.A.R.E. program. It was a day filled with nonstop fun, friends, and important lessons!

Curiosity, wonder and excitement filled the air at Harvey R. Newlin Elementary last night for their annual Science Night. 🔬This year's "Science Expedition" theme transported students and families through an amazing journey of hands-on science experiments set up in classrooms throughout the school. Ten different stations like Dancing Raisins, Galaxy Jars, and Lava Lamps were available! After the science rotations wrapped up from 5-6PM, the cafeteria hosted a lively dinner and BINGO night until 7pm. Families enjoyed a meal together, playing for science-themed prizes and books that continued the evening's engaging learning experience. There were a lot of fist bumps and cheers as the numbers were called. 👏 It was clear the passionate efforts of Newlin's Family Involvement Team paid off. Thanks to everyone who was a part of this great event!

✨ 38 Days, 38 Schools - Harvey R. Newlin Elementary Nestled right in the heart of a wonderful neighborhood, Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School is home to over 500 awesome PreK-5th grade students, affectionately known as the Newlin Wildcats. It's not just the kids who make Newlin special; the dedicated staff and engaged community partners are equally devoted to creating an exceptional learning environment. At Newlin, the motto is "ALL IN and READY." They don't just talk the talk; the entire school community is fully committed to supporting one another every day. You'll find families actively involved through events like Wild About Reading nights and Science Expeditions. Recently, they even organized an Autism Awareness Walk, celebrating the beautiful diversity within their ranks. This school takes pride in honoring the rich cultural tapestry of the Graham Zone. They celebrate the community through events such as Local Black Leaders and Wonderful Women Celebrations. It's this strong community focus that makes Newlin truly stand out as an exceptional place of learning and growth.

📢 Shout out to the Alamance Chamber ROAR women's collaborative for sponsoring the second annual donation drive for basic feminine hygiene products to support ABSS students! These essential items were delivered to the school nurses today. Access to these basic necessities can make a huge difference in a student's confidence and ability to focus on their studies! In the picture from left to right: Edna Parker (ROAR collaborative), Kelly Roberts (Alamance Chamber), Reagan Chandler Gural (Alamance Chamber President), Gina Carroll and Tammy Troxler (ABSS lead nurses), and Kevin Szosak (Alamance Chamber). A huge thank you to the ROAR collaborative for their compassion and commitment to supporting our local students! 🙌

Nuclear energy sparked excitement at Highland Elementary today! 🔥 The 4th graders had a special guest - Zach Veselich, a Penn State student majoring in nuclear engineering. This former Williams High School grad shared his passion, teaching the kids about nuclear fission, different nuclear careers, and how nuclear energy can power our world. The highlight: Glowing uranium glass! ⚛️

We shared this last week, but we can't pass up another chance to shout-out the 2024 ABSS Teacher of the Year, Chanel Jones from Broadview Middle! Her classroom is buzzing with positive vibes, motivated and engaged students, and top-tier teaching. Let's hear it for Ms. Jones! 👏

On National School Nurse Day, we celebrate our dedicated school nurses! Thank you for your compassion, expertise, and relentless dedication to keeping our students healthy and safe! They gained a tiny assistant in the front row for this photo - she is not a registered nurse. 😉

✨38 Days, 38 Schools - Broadview Middle School Broadview Middle School is all about giving students a complete educational experience. They started things off right with a back-to-school cookout for the Bobcats community, with staff firing up the grill and handing out school supplies. Broadview makes parents feel like they're part of the team through open house events, report card pickups, and working together to set academic goals for students. While Broadview delivers solid academics, their true standout quality is the deep connections teachers build with students. Educators take the time to really get to know each child's strengths, struggles, and personalities. This creates an incredibly supportive environment where every student feels appreciated and encouraged to shine their brightest. Broadview also boasts thriving arts programs that allow kids to explore their creativity through art, chorus, and orchestra!

Those who know, know - Mrs. Dodson from AO Elementary is one exceptional teacher! We were thrilled to recognize her at the Evening of Excellence as the 2024 Teacher of the Year Runner-Up! She is a dedicated teacher who goes above and beyond to ensure every child thrives. 👏

✨38 Days, 38 Schools - R. Homer Andrews Elementary Andrews Elementary is a Nationally Recognized Leader in Me Lighthouse School where the culture, academics, and leadership framework are centered around the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People." These habits are taught, lived, and celebrated every day, guiding the school's work in setting goals for academics, attendance, and behavior. What makes Andrews Elementary truly unique is its student-centered approach. Students actively lead and collaborate within the school community, taking ownership of their learning journey. The school is guided by principles that foster leadership, recognize the potential in every child, encourage continuous growth, empower students through motivation, and develop the whole person - not just academic achievement. At the core of Andrews Elementary is a culture that celebrates the strengths and differences of all students. This creates an environment where students can thrive as confident, capable leaders ready to make a positive impact!