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NHCS Technology Plans Accelerate
 This week, North Hills Christian School (NHCS)connected to Fibrant, the new fiber optic network recently installed by the city of Salisbury. The school requested and was approved for annexation in December, which enabled NHCS to take advantage of this state of the art service. "This was a pivotal step that enables our institution to truly 'take off' in preparing students with the skills they will need for the twenty-first century," noted NHCS Director of Technology, Joshua Houghton.
"We are beyond excited about what this will do for our program. It is not just about Internet speed; it is about providing the missing link we needed in order to fully launch our cutting-edge high school tablet PC program," said Matt Mitchell, Head of School. "In the next two months, teachers and students will begin to unlock the power of the tablet PC as an instrument for learning," he said.
Perhaps the most exciting tool high school students will use is Dyknow, a classroom management and interactive educational software that will help keep students actively engaged in learning. This program allows teachers to "push" slides out to the students' computers. The students can then mark the slides, and the teacher can instantly retrieve and display completed work by name, at random, or anonymously. A few features of the program include classroom polling, teacher blocking of programs that might distract students from their assignments, shared workspaces, and anonymous "hand raising" for students who might be too shy to ask a question. "Students can simply type and submit questions to their teachers and carry on an anonymous 'chat' to get help," noted Mitchell. Also, Dyknow allows teachers to pull up the work of any student in the classroom at any time. He or she can then circle, comment on, or correct the student's work. The teacher's notations display instantly on the student's screen. Presently, NHCS high school students are using Microsoft One Note; Skype; and Renweb, an administrative software that allows instant access to grades, lesson plans, and homework information. There are additional features in these programs that the school will begin to use now that increased bandwidth has arrived. Renweb, for example, allows students to take tests online. The program not only grades the tests for the teachers, but it also enters the grade into their gradebooks for them. In turn, NHCS teachers will enjoy more time to focus upon instructional preparation and lesson execution.
"We also look forward to mining out the possibilities allowed by networking," said Houghton. "Microsoft One Note is a great program for inking. Students can do their work off campus, log into our network, and instantly deliver homework to all of their teachers with the click of a mouse- no email, no delay, and no paper!"
The increased bandwidth has implications for the elementary and middle school levels, too. Recently, NHCS overhauled its technology instructional objectives in grades K - 8, and integrated them into the core academic curriculum. Formerly, the school provided a separate computer class that met weekly. Now, students attend just as frequently, but they learn technological skills "through" the core curriculum. Students enjoy working under the guidance of both a technology professional and their regular classroom instructor.
Mitchell noted that the full scale implementation of technology will likely be fully in place by next fall, when he hopes to provide community open houses to allow Rowan County residents to "peek in" on what is going on in the school's technology programs.
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SAVE THE DATES
Homecoming Changed to February 11, 2011 Details to Come
Attention all Parents: Very Important Meeting State of School and Re-enrollment Night January 11, 2011 7 p.m. Helen Kelley Smith Gym This is a very important community-wide gathering where our board meets with the school community to discuss where we've been, where we are, and where we're headed as an institution. With this event, we also kick off our re-enrollment drive. Re-enrollment paperwork will be distributed to you at the end of the meeting and, as we transition to an automated re-enrollment process, it is important that you come learn about the new procedures for re-enrolling. Finally, we are excited to unveil our school's updated facilities expansion plan at this meeting.
We hope you will mark your calendars and plan to attend this important meeting. As a reminder, it is open to all parents, staff, and prospective parents at NHCS. I look forward to seeing each of you there and, again, I hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas break! |
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Annual Fund Gifts
to Honor Teachers and Loved Ones
Please consider making a contribution to the Annual Fund this Christmas in honor of a teacher or loved one. It is a wonderful way to share your blessings, show appreciation, and support Christian education at North Hills. Send contributions to Annual Fund, NHCS, 2970 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144. You may also donate on-line by visiting our website at http://www.northhillschrstian.com/Donations.html. |
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Middle School Soccer Goes Undefeated
North Hills Christian School's middle school soccer team finished the season 11-0 as the Junior Piedmont Athletic Conference (J-PAC) champions. Head Coach Daniel Butner and assistant Coach Stephanie Payonk led the undefeated team.
"The credit for this outstanding season goes to the deserving players who came out to practice willing to learn, play, and succeed," Butner said. "This season has laid a sturdy foundation for a solid and expanding soccer program at North Hills," he added. NHCS Athletic Director, Chris Fowler said, "Coach Butner and I are strongly considering adding Varsity Soccer within the next couple of years because of the tremendous success of our middle school season."
Leonard Murdock, Jay Wood, Logan Miller, Will Cody, Collin Lewis, and Grayson Whicker made the All-Conference Team.
REGULAR SEASON
North Hills vs Salisbury Academy, 8 - 1
North Hills @ Statesville Montessori, 4 - 0
North Hills vs. Covenant Classical, 6 - 0
North Hills @ Christian Family, 8 - 0
North Hills @ Clearview Christian, 9 - 0
North Hills vs. Statesville Montessori, 4 - 0
North Hills vs. Christian Family, 5 - 0
North Hills @ Covenant Classical, 5-1
North Hills vs. Clearview Christian, 6 - 0
TOURNAMENT:
North Hills vs. Clearview Christian, 6 - 0
North Hills vs. Covenant Classical, 5 - 0
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North Hills Recognizes Students for Outstanding Academic Success
North Hills Christian School's All-A and A/B Honor Roll
FIRST GRADE All A Honor Roll Aaron McGrail, Abbey Deaton, Alyssa Price, Elijah Farrow, Faith Gordon, Jacob Saunders, Jada Rice, Jake Denhard, Jaques Sloan, Jaysa Causby, Mallory Link, Morgan Humble, Nicholas Foote, Robert Featherstone, Sam Vincent, Sarah Taylor
A/B Honor Roll Brea Kurtz, Brenden Arrowood, Camden Corley, Emma Sides, Henry Barringer, Rachel Judd, Ragan Reid
SECOND GRADE All A Honor Roll Alex Ballard, Ashley Mays, Austin Latva, Ava Corriher, Caroline Nance, Cassidy Athey, Charles Brewer, Eli Huffman, Elisabeth Houghton, Elizabeth Jones, Hannah Greene, Jack Richard, Jordan Winecoff, Jude Smeltzer, Kalynn Bailey, Landon Mesimer, Liam Ogg, Lucy Monath, Maddie Mitchell, Melanie Long, Raegan Lowder, Samantha Spillane, Spencer West, Stephen Johnson, Taylor Hillard, Zachary Kennedy
A/B Honor Roll Aydan Patterson, Cheyenne Godbey, Emily Stamper, Joseph Najarian, Josie Correll
THIRD GRADE All A Honor Roll Matthew James, Max Jarrell
A/B Honor Roll Aaron Mills, Allie McDaniel, Bonnie Davis, Brandon Glenn, Claire Corley, Devon Mitchell, Felisaty Morgan, Jillian Deal, Nico Keck, Shawn Taylor, Yetty Palmer
FOURTH GRADE All A Honor Roll Audrey McGrail, Bailey Birkhead, Carrie Morgan, Hannah Ottinger, Matthew Robar, Olivia Dagenhart, Sara Beth Richard
A/B Honor Roll Aidan Connelly, Carsen Bailey, Chandler Mays, Christian Miller, Derick Aguilera, Klara Ogg, Lauren Denhard, Louisa-Kathleen Parrish, Macy Woody, Reece Martin, Trey Carlton, Zach Robinette
FIFTH GRADE All A Honor Roll Breanna Miller, Brittany Gaddis, Caroline Cody, Jacob Greene, Mary Kaufmann
A/B Honor Roll Camantha-Rea Lyerly, Chloe Corley, David Canipe, James Houghton, Lindsey Voncanon, Preston Hemann SIXTH GRADE All A Honor Roll Dajah Glenn, Avery McGrail, Dale Matlock, Molly Monath, Jordan Plummer, Abby Robinette
A/B Honor Roll Ethan Aguilera, Ryan Connelly, Dillon Hines, Kira Harwood, Adrianna Kelsey, Marissa Murdock, Eliza Walser, Ashley Wood
SEVENTH GRADE All A Honor Roll Jane Miller, Grayson Whicker
A/B Honor Roll Wes Fazia, Olivia Houghton, Alex Link, Maddie Neesmith, Chris Norris, Eric Shyu, Matthew Sukkasem
EIGHTH GRADE A/B Honor Roll Will Cody, Luke Humble, Sydney Lewis, Joshua Robar
NINTH GRADE All A Honor Roll Brooke Arrowood, Anna Chamberlain, Janet Hammond, Caitlin Harrison, Natalie Whicker
A/B Honor Roll Emily Boggs, Morgan Bowman, Elisabeth Farmer, Candace-
Craig Lyerly, Kevin Mitchell, John Murphy
TENTH GRADE All A Honor Roll Michael Jones, Jr., Abby Lane, Jo Park, Dana Salmon, Nathan Wyatt
A/B Honor Roll Abbey Cody, Taylor Foster, Madison Link, Mary Scott Norris, Katherine Paul, Matthew Ward ELEVENTH GRADE All A Honor Roll McKamie Harrison, Preston Mills
A/B Honor Roll Zachery Byerly, Moussa Doucarra, Carson Mann TWELFTH GRADE All A Honor Roll Caley Boggs, Mary Lindsaye Boyd, Janice Park
A/B Honor Roll Laura Butner, Savannah Daniel
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North Hills Christian School Fruit of the Spirit Awards
The following North Hills Christian School students were recognized during first quarter for displaying the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Grade 5K: Corbin Barber, Isaiah Brown, N'Isaiah Childers, Olivia DeBoer, Jackson Everhart, Katie Hagler, AJ Huffman, Lucas Johnson, Kaity Luckadoo, Anna Mead, Taylor Mitchell, Landon Sadler, Ethan Talbott, Kane Talbott, Madelyn VonCanon 1st Grade: Bryson Alligood, Brenden Arrowood, Henry Barringer, Jaysa Causby, Jared Hilton, Morgan Humble, Jada Rice, Jacob Saunders, JaQues Sloan
2nd Grade: Cheyenne Godbey, Elisabeth Houghton, Stephen Johnson, Landon Mesimer, Maddie Mitchell, Lucy Monath, Liam Ogg, Jack Richard, Jude Smeltzer, Samantha Spillane, Emily Stamper
4th Grade: Derick Aguilera, Audrey McGrail, Klara Ogg, Hannah Ottinger, Sky Sweitzer
5th Grade: Allen Aguilera, Chloe Corley, Preston Hemann, Catherine Johnson, Johnny Romero, Lindsey VonCanon
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Vision Banquet Features Students and Alumni
About 280 people came out to enjoy a nice evening of student entertainment at this year's Vision Banquet. Attendees enjoyed hearing from alumni, students, parents, board members, teachers, and our Head of School who spoke about their experiences at NHCS. This year's banquet raised nearly $35,000 and many attendees "took a name" of a faculty member or student for whom they committed to pray throughout the year. Thank you for supporting NHCS!
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Upper School Students Decide to Forego the Traditional Thanksgiving Feast to Turn Their Focus Outward This Year for Those in Need
Students from North Hills Christian School decided to turn the school's traditional Thanksgiving Feast into an outreach project this year for needy kids. Instead of coming together to eat turkey, they organized a shoebox packing party to fill boxes for Samaritan Purse's Operation Christmas Child program. The outreach program distributes shoeboxes filled with toys and hygiene items during the Christmas holidays to disadvantaged children worldwide.
Students in seventh through twelfth grade set an initial goal of 40 boxes to fill for children ages 10-14. But thanks to the overwhelming response, they needed more shoeboxes to contain the items collected. Mary Ann Cody, the parent sponsor for the event, found out in the nick of time that Angie Ward, a NHCS mom, is a local Operation Christmas Child program coordinator. Ward had plenty of extra boxes at home. She sent extras for the students to fill, just enough for the students to make up a total of 103 boxes. Students brought in soccer balls and signed them, made pictures of themselves with the balls, and deflated them to place into the boxes with a pump. They also included softballs, hygiene items, and toys for the children who would receive them. Before sending them off, the students prayed over the boxes for the needy children.
"This year's Thanksgiving celebration was definitely centered on "giving thanks" through outreach," said tenth grade student Dana Salmon. "This is just the first of many Operation Christmas Child packing parties at North Hills," she added.
Students in ninth and tenth grade traveled to Charlotte in December to visit and work at one of the national distribution centers for Operation Christmas Child.
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