Schools

Chatham County schools' drop out rate increased slightly last year
[Feb. 5, 2005] The North Carolina Department of Instruction (NCDPI) released annual high school dropout rate data for North Carolina the first week of February. The statistics are from the 2003-04 school year. In Chatham County Schools the 2003-2004 dropout rate for students in grades nine through twelve was 5.25. The rate followed the state trend for the year of slightly increasing. In the previous three school years the rate had declined.

School board meeting agenda for February 7th
[Feb. 4, 2005] The Chatham County Schools Board of Education will meet on Monday, February 7, 2005 at North Chatham School. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.

Northwood cheerleading squad scores big in Cheer Competition
[Jan. 25, 2005] The Northwood High School Competition Cheerleading Squad participated in the World Spirit Federation National Championship in Greensboro, N.C. on Jan 15 and 16. At the end of the competition the cheerleading squad was declared National Champions. They were awarded a National Championship Banner and Trophy. By Jerry Hackney

School system will use Instant Alert system for more rapid communication capabilities
[Jan. 24, 2005] Chatham County Schools, which serves 7,400 kindergarten through twelfth grade students in Chatham County, N.C., announced that it will begin using Honeywell Instant Alert™ for Schools to improve communication with parents and guardians. The Web-based notification service allows the district to deliver both emergency and routine messages within minutes via phone, cell phone, pager, e-mail and personal data assistant (PDA).
Also: Honeywell Instant Alert for Schools

Perry Harrison students advance to state level championship
[Jan. 23, 2005] Perry Harrison winners from the school level competition of the Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge on January 6, 2005 will advance to the state level championship on March 18, 2005. The Grade Level Challenge, at which students answered oral and written questions on vocabulary, is the first round of the 3rd annual Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge.

Northwood band director receives national award
[Jan. 23, 2005] Eugene Cottrell, Director of Bands at Northwood High School in Pittsboro, is one of five nationwide instrumental music educators announced as 2005 Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation Award recipients. The Foundation will present the recipients with $10,000 checks for personal use at a third annual ceremony on April 1 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The award recognizes music teachers who best emulate the personal characteristics and dedication of "Mr. Holland," portrayed by Richard Dreyfuss in the hit 1995 movie. By Beth Snider
Also: Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation

School bond workshops announced
[Jan. 17, 2005] Two workshops were set up for the purpose of discussing the previously announced $101,300,000 proposed school bond to build an elementary, a middle and a high school. These workshops are open to the public but public comment is generally not allowed. The workshops will be held on Wednesdays, January 19 and 26 at 7 pm in the Pittsboro Central Office boardroom.

Three Chatham county high school seniors named Morehead scholarship semifinalists
[Jan. 9, 2005] Three Chatham County students are among 240 North Carolina high school seniors selected as semifinalists for 2005 Morehead scholarships to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The semifinalists include William Ryan Hobbs of Siler City, from Jordan Matthews High School; Natalie Marie Phillips of Bear Creek, from Chatham Central High School; and Abigail Susan Wilson of Pittsboro, from Northwood High School. The Morehead pays all expenses for four years of undergraduate study, including the costs of a laptop computer and four summer enrichment experiences. The value of the Morehead is approximately $80,000 for each in-state student.

Draft copy of prohibition against bullying policy
[Dec. 26, 2004] The Chatham County Board of Education recognizes that bullying and intimidation have a negative effect on school climate. Students who are intimidated and fearful cannot give their education the single-minded attention needed for success. Bullying can also lead to more serious violence.

Chatham County Schools has ten newly National Board Certified teachers
[Dec. 6, 2004] Ten teachers in Chatham County Schools have recently earned National Board Certification. The ten, who teach at various schools in the district, completed a multi-month program of professional improvement that was directly tied to their daily classroom teaching. These teachers join twenty-one other educators currently teaching in the school system, bringing the total number of National Board Certified teachers to thirty-one. North Carolina has over 6,600 teachers who have earned the prestigious certification.

New Northwood principal named
[Nov. 22, 2004] Joel County has been named Principal of Northwood High School. He was among applicants interviewed by a committee that included Northwood faculty, Northwood parents, and central office staff. County was approved by the Board of Education on November 18 and will begin working in Chatham County Schools on November 29.

Eldridge is the 2004 Principal of the Year
[Nov. 21, 2004] On Friday, November 19, Dr. Larry Mabe, Superintendent of Chatham County Schools, announced that John Eldridge is the 2004 county Wachovia Principal of the Year. Eldridge is the Principal of Chatham Central High School in Bear Creek. He is a former Assistant Principal at Chatham Central and at Bonlee School and was an elementary teacher at Bonlee School and Siler City Elementary School.

New Chatham School Board members sworn in
[Nov. 20, 2004] On Thursday, November 18th, at 4:30 in the afternoon, board elect members Norman Clark and Holly Duncan were officially sworn into office by Janice Oldham, Clerk of Superior Court.

School board meeting agenda for October 18th
[Oct. 15, 2004] The Chatham County Schools Board of Education will meet on Monday, October 18, 2004 at Jordan-Matthews High School. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.