We are thrilled to celebrate the Special Olympics that took place on Thursday, May 16th at Havelock High School!

It was a day filled with joy, camaraderie, and the amazing spirit of our special needs athletes. We are incredibly proud of each and every participant who competed in this event.

It is incredible seeing our students and volunteers come together to cheer on these amazing students, showing support and admiration for their hard work and determination.

We hope all the participants had a memorable day at the Special Olympics! It was definitely a day to remember!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ELEMENTARY BATTLE OF THE BOOKS WINNERS

On Thursday, May 16th at Craven Community College our Elementary Battle of the Books Teams had an opportunity to compete in a fierce and fun competition. There were multiple rounds to capture points on the questions ranging from this year's 15 titles. We are proud of all of the teams and all are winners in our book!

School Nurse Appreciation Event

It was an honor to celebrate our school nurses this week for all their contributions at each of our schools. District Lead Nurse Mack planned a special event to recognize this amazing group of professionals who always go above and beyond for our students and staff.

Board members were also in attendance to show their support. Chairman Dacey read a proclamation from the governor that highlighted the importance of school nurses and the role they play in helping students and families.

Today and every day, we celebrate you, our remarkable school nurses! Your commitment, care, and professionalism make a significant difference in our lives. Thank you for being our hero in scrubs!

Craven County Schools, together with Partners In Education, is thrilled to announce that Mrs. Ashley Faulkenberry, principal at Trent Park Elementary has been named North Carolina DARE Officers Association Educator of the Year! Mrs. Faulkenberry was nominated by her Craven County DARE Unit peers for her support and belief in the DARE program (not to mention the sliming!) with a recommendation by her SRO and School DARE Officer, Corp Dora Bullock, and Dr. Wendy A. Miller, Superintendent. Mrs. Faulkenberry will be recognized at the 2024 Conference in June in Cherokee, NC. A special thank you to the Craven County ABC Board for funding and making this program possible in our schools!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DARE PROGRAM IN EPISODE 3 of

THE REEL: Craven County Schools Podcast

West Craven High School Senior, Brendan Schultz, was awarded the High School Scholarship Program (HSSP) from the United States Air Force. This prestigious scholarship provides financial support for the cadet to pursue higher education while training to become a commissioned officer in the Air Force.

Cadet Schultz was selected for the scholarship due to his exceptional academic performance, leadership abilities, and dedication to the JROTC program. AFROTC Scholarship awards are not based on financial need but are always merit-based. The scholarship covers full tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend that increases each academic year.

"We are incredibly proud of Cadet Schultz and his achievements," said Senior Aerospace Science Instructor, Lt Col (Ret) Wimmer. "This scholarship is a testament to his hard work and commitment to both his education and the JROTC program. Cadet Schultz is a role model for their peers and an inspiration to our community."

Cadet Schultz plans to pursue a degree in Biochemistry at East Carolina University starting in the fall. Upon completion of their degree, they will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force or Space Force.

WILLIAM J. DYE, Lt Col, USAF Commander, East Carolina University shares, "We had our eye on Brendan throughout the recruiting and scholarship application process. We are excited to have him become a part of Air Force ROTC Detachment 600 at East Carolina University. This ROTC Detachment is one of the oldest in the country and has a proud history of creating phenomenal officers for our Air and Space Force. We are also excited to announce for the first time, we are offering housing assistance for him and other national scholarship winners who choose to pursue Air Force ROTC at ECU."

"I am truly honored to receive this scholarship from the Air Force," said Cadet Schultz. "This opportunity allows me to further my education and fulfill my dream of serving my country. I am grateful for the support of my family, teachers, and JROTC instructors who have helped me reach this milestone."

Students at VFL are Learning from the Cool Chicks

On May 9, 2024, Students in the Vanceboro Farm Life Elementary Chicken Club participated in the Coastal Plains Poultry Show. Students adopted a chick and have worked for the past 4 months with 4H, bonding with their chick, completing a log of their activities, and learning how to show a chicken. These students have put in a lot of time both during & after school to complete these tasks. Everyone had a great time and placed in the show. They now have the option of taking their chicken home to raise or leaving it at the school. It was a wonderful, hands-on learning experience for all.