Education - Randolph Record

20 Aug

Uwharrie Charter Academy lends support to South Sudan

Bob SuttonNewsEducation, schools

Local school digs helping role ASHEBORO — It seems like a world away for Uwharrie Charter Academy seventh graders, but helping people on another continent find fresh water tends to hit home. For the past five years, students in Suzanne Bryant’s classes have raised money in what’s called the Iron Giraffe Challenge to support water for South Sudan. “The students were very interested,” Bryant said. “Probably close to 700 students have been involved.” That’s because members of the first group to take part in the project have just entered their senior year at the school. Because the school has sent…

12 Aug

City schools will require masks

Randolph RecordGovernment, News, PoliticsAsheboro, Education, schools

ASHEBORO — Following a last-minute plea from Gov. Roy Cooper, the Asheboro City School Board voted Thursday to require all students within the school system to wear masks as the 2021-22 school year opens. The divided board voted 6-3 to require masks. Board members Ryan Patton, Archie Priest, and Gidget Kidd voted to make mask wearing optional. In a letter to the board dated August 12, 2021, signed by Gov. Roy Cooper, DHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen, and State Health Director Betsey Tilson, state officials urged the board to mandate masks wearing for all students and teachers, regardless of vaccine status.…

12 Aug

GAINEY: Welcome Back

Stephen GaineyBusiness, OpinionsEducation, schools, Stephen Gainey

Dear Randolph County School System Students, Staff Members, and Parents: I want to "welcome everyone back" to the Randolph County School System for the 2021-2022 school year. Please know that I am very excited about the return of our students to school campuses. While our school system has been confronted with many challenges during the past 17 months, I am confident in the fact that many exciting developments for our students, staff members, parents, and members of the surrounding community will occur during the 2021-2022 school year. Nonetheless, our attention will be focused on a return to the basics of…

12 Aug

Creative back-to-school lunches

Jeannie Leonard | For the Randolph RecordBusinessEducation, schools

ASHEBORO — It’s the time of year to begin thinking about back-to-school clothing, shoes, and supplies. But don’t forget that special school lunch box. Children have a lot of high-tech options when it comes to packing their lunch. The choices go well beyond the typical lunch box of yesteryear containing built-in food safety features, thermoses, spaces to slip in frozen gel packs and pockets for utensils and wet wipes. For parents, a more important topic on school lunches is what’s actually in the lunchbox to eat. Parents are used to hearing children talk about trading items in their lunchbox for…

12 Aug

RCC pays off student account balances

Randolph RecordBusiness, Government, NewsEducation, Randolph Community College, RCC, schools

ASHEBORO — Randolph Community College recently paid off outstanding student debt for approximately 200 students. The amount totaled nearly $113,000. Any student who was enrolled at the College between March 13, 2020 — the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — until the end of the Summer 2021 semester was eligible for the assistance. In addition to paying off outstanding student account balances, RCC has provided emergency financial assistance for food, housing, laptops, and internet access.

12 Aug

SWR’s Parks picks Tar Heels for baseball

Bob SuttonSportsEducation, schools, sports, UNC

ASHEBORO — Tyler Parks says he has lots of things he needs to do regarding baseball across his final two years of high school with Southwestern Randolph. Selecting a college destination isn’t one of them. Parks made a verbal commitment to play for North Carolina, a choice that was solidified Friday. “When they offered, I took it the next day,” Parks said of his goal to play for the Tar Heels. “It has been a dream of mine ever since middle school. I grew up watching Carolina play.” Parks, a member of the Class of 2023, is primarily an infielder.…

12 Aug

Construction on campus means different venues for Blue Comets

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro High School, Education, schools

ASHEBORO — Many of Asheboro High School’s teams will be on the move this school year, playing at alternate venues while a construction project is ongoing at the school. The changes largely will impact volleyball, basketball and wrestling teams, though some teams that play at outdoor venues also will be affected. “There’s a lot of moving parts right now,” athletics director Steve Luck said. “Everything is going to be OK, but we haven’t started doing anything yet other than practice. … There’s changes just about every moment. I feel like I have my head on a swivel like a linebacker.”…

12 Aug

Marsh finds value in hometown summer

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro, Coastal Plain League, Copperheads, Education, schools, UNCW, Wilmington

Asheboro grad gives thumbs-up to season with Copperheads ASHEBORO — A summer of baseball in his hometown was just the right thing for Trevor Marsh. Marsh, an Asheboro High School graduate, took advantage of his role with the Asheboro Copperheads. He said it was well worth his time. “It was more than I expected. I didn’t think the experience was going to be as good as it was,” Marsh said. He was a make-up of sorts from last summer, when he was slated to play for the Copperheads before the 2020 season was scrapped because of the pandemic. The Coastal…

11 Aug

Future teachers earn scholarships

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsEducation, schools

Local chapters of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society also helped send students off with a dorm shower ASHEBORO – The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International announced three local scholarship winners this spring. The local Alpha Upsilon and Delta Nu chapters awarded three $1,500 scholarships which are aimed to assist future female educators. Last month, the chapters honored the winners with a “dorm shower” to show their support and encouragement by giving each recipient an array of items useful for college. Jenna Brinkley, a graduate of Asheboro High School, will be attending Appalachian State University. She is the daughter of Dale…

11 Aug

State superintendent won’t compel employee vaccination, will ask for shot status

A.P. DillonGovernment, StateEducation, schools

RALEIGH — N.C. state superintendent Catherine Truitt won’t force employees at the Department of Public Instruction to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot or compel them to provide proof of vaccination. In an Aug. 3 memo to staff obtained by North State Journal, Truitt outlines masking guidelines and employee attestations of vaccination status. The memo asks that all employees, including contractors, file an attestation form. Any individuals not filing the form will be considered unvaccinated and will be required to wear a mask inside the department offices. “Non-compliance or falsifying proof of a vaccine will subject employees to disciplinary action, up to and…