All in Education

Parrott Academy marks anniversary

As 2020 closes, Arendell Parrott Academy marks the end of its 55th year as an educational and economic force in Lenoir County and eastern North Carolina. Founded in 1964 by a small group of local citizens, the academy has grown from 123 students in 1965 to this fall’s enrollment of 667.

Parrott French Students Create Tales

Six Parrott Academy students finished their first semester of French IV with a unique creative writing project. Designed by French teacher Sadie Crockett, the assignment asked the high schoolers to compose and illustrate an original children’s story in French for an audience of elementary school French students.

LCPS to begin on-site Covid testing program in January

Lenoir County Public Schools plans to begin on-site rapid testing for Covid-19 in mid-January as part of a pilot program developed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “The test isn’t really looking for the negatives; it’s looking for the positives,” said LCPS school nurse April Hardy said. “We’re going to have those students who don’t have one of those exclusionary systems like a cough or fever but they might have a runny nose. We test them and if they show up positive, then we’ve found a positive that we probably wouldn’t have sent home based upon our guidelines.”

Governor’s School Supply Drive Extended Through January 16

The 4th Annual Governor’s School Supply Drive is being extended to encourage more donations for supplies to support North Carolina students and teachers. “Supporting students and schools in these challenging times takes just a few clicks and a few minutes,” Gov. Cooper said. “Kristin and I have made our personal contribution and we hope you can too.”

Lenoir County’s Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma recognizes outstanding beginning teachers

Lenoir County’s Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma recently recognized outstanding beginning teachers in their third year of teaching. These special young women were chosen by their mentors because they exhibit the qualities of an exceptional educator. Each of these young women received a bag filled with teaching supplies, as well as a certificate of recognition and a brochure about Delta Kappa Gamma.

Holiday concert brings masked music to Parrott

On December 4th Parrott Academy’s annual Holiday Concert provided cheer to lower school students, even as performers were masked and the audience was masked and socially distanced. The traditional all-school assembly was replaced by three concerts for smaller groups of the school’s youngest classes.

Rogers returns to take helm at ECU

North Carolina native Dr. Philip Rogers has been elected the 12th chancellor of East Carolina University by the UNC Board of Governors. The appointment is a homecoming for Rogers, 37, who is senior vice president of learning and engagement for the American Council on Education. Rogers was raised in Greenville and is the great-grandson of an early student of the East Carolina Teachers Training School. His wife, Dr. Rebekah P. Rogers, is a two-time ECU alumna.

Lenoir County Public Schools to participate in NCDHHS COVID-19 pilot program

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has selected 17 school districts and 11 charter schools to participate in a pilot program to deploy COVID-19 rapid testing in K-12 public schools where any in-person instruction is happening. Lenoir County Public Schools has 17 locations that will participate in the pilot program. Schools in the pilot will use the Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen test card, which uses a nasal swab to detect COVID-19 and provides results in 15 minutes without laboratory processing. The swab must be performed by trained personnel.

North Lenoir High sophomore wins top prize in national essay contest

A 10th grader at North Lenoir High School has won national recognition and a college scholarship for an essay she wrote in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Shyaé Hood of Kinston was one of four grand prize winners of the 2020 Suddenlink Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest honored in a virtual ceremony Wednesday night and awarded a $1,500 scholarship. She is the first-ever winner from North Carolina.

Lenoir County Master Gardeners award grants to seven teachers

Annual grant awards from the Lenoir County Extension Master Gardeners Volunteer Association to inspire projects related to horticulture have gone to seven teachers in Lenoir County. Pat Bizzell, center, president of Lenoir County Master Gardeners, with 2020 grant winners, clockwise from bottom left, Kaitlyn Stroud of Northwest Elementary School, Carol Riddle of Bethel Christian Academy, Brenda Griffin of Pink Hill Elementary School, Rachel Hill of Northwest Elementary School, Ashley Ledford of Southwood Elementary School, Jodi Maxey of South Lenoir High School and Jessica Jones of Woodington Middle School.