 | |
Greetings Ashley,
While we’ve celebrated many firsts over the last year at NCSSM-Morganton, one event stands out more than most. Several weeks ago, we marked a historic moment when the Morganton campus had the distinction of hosting the 44th Convocation of NCSSM for the first time.
As we marked the start of the academic year for the entire institution, we hosted all 300 residential students under one roof in The Barn and connected virtually with our 675 residential students in Durham and 482 Online program students from communities across the state. The moment commemorated NCSSM's largest enrollment on record and represented an exciting milestone on the Morganton campus.
Before we processed into the Barn, Chancellor Roberts spoke about the event's significance. "The plan,” he said, “is to alternate where the convocation speaker is each year. This year we’re in Morganton, and next year will be in Durham, and back and forth, and so this is another example of how we’re intentionally focused on being one institution.”
This event is representative of a growing number of cross-campus collaborations, emphasizing the synergy and unity between our two residential campuses and the cumulative impact our institution can deliver for the state.
As you will read below, it's been an action-packed few weeks on campus featuring lively sporting events, an inspiring College Fair, and an engaging Family Day. Our academic spaces are bustling with intellectual curiosity, and our dorms echo with the laughter and voices of tomorrow's leaders.
As I gathered with students yesterday for Senior Sunrise to celebrate a great start to their senior year, I felt profound gratitude to be part of this collaborative institution and to you, our partners, who help make it all possible.
With appreciation,
Kevin Baxter
Vice Chancellor and Chief Campus Officer for NCSSM-Morganton
[email protected]
828.347.9124
| |
NCSSM-Morganton hosted a weeklong workshop for teachers interested in learning more about teaching data science at the high school level | |
Quote of the Month
“I have students who start small businesses or help run their families business after they graduate. They need data analysis skills to start and to compete today.”
– High school teacher who participated in the NCSSM Data Science Summer Institute at NCSSM-Morganton (Data Science 4 Everyone, Aug. 21)
| |
NCSSM-Morganton Piano Students Perform at Gallery Celebration | |
|
Supported by Tess Nielsen, Instructor of Choral Music and Drama, eight NCSSM-Morganton piano students had a great evening entertaining guests at Hamilton Williams Art Gallery 10th Anniversary party on September 15, 2023.
The students performed for three hours with rotating repertoire enjoyed by all.
| |
|
NCSSM-Morganton Student Tracks Near-Earth Asteroid
Keshava Parthasarathy conducts research in Astrophysics at UNC
| |
|
Over 39 intense days this summer, Keshava Parthasarathy of Matthews, a student at NCSSM-Morganton, operated a research-grade telescope to take images of a near-earth asteroid, then calculated its orbital path, including the chance it will impact Earth in the future.
Parthasarathy participated in the Summer Science Program (SSP), joining 35 other top science students from around the world at UNC for academic challenge, collaboration, and personal growth. Since 1959, this unique and highly selective program has offered teenagers their first taste of hands-on, collaborative experimental research. Parthasarathy and his colleagues worked closely with university professors, met prominent guest speakers, and took behind-the-scenes tours of local scientific and cultural sites.
| |
Family Day Showcases "A Day in the Life" of Students | |
|
Each September, NCSSM invites families to campus for a fun and informative Family Day. On Saturday, September 9, families experienced a “day in the life” of their student by walking through a condensed version of their schedule. Parents and siblings had an opportunity to meet their student’s instructors, counselors, and other key campus members, all while exploring NCSSM-Morganton’s interactive classrooms and innovative learning spaces.
In addition to meeting their student's stellar teachers, families had a chance to connect with other NCSSM parents at the Parent Association hospitality table.
| |
NCSSM-Morganton Hosts College Fair | |
|
As part of Family Day, NCSSM-Morganton hosted College Fair on September 8. The event brought admissions officers from more than 40 colleges and universities to meet with and answer questions from students and parents.
The event also featured seminars on essay writing, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities.
| |
Opportunities for Educators | |
Designing Experiential Math Mindsets at NCCAT Ocracoke | |
 |  | This highly collaborative workshop is designed for educators who are ready to make this paradigm shift happen by embracing an Experiential, Mathematical Mindset. In it, we will model the principles of design thinking as we explore the elements of High-Quality Project-Based Learning and other proven, experiential approaches that help students make routine, real-world connections to key mathematical concepts. Every participant will co-design a customized Experiential Math Mindset strategy for their own classroom and context - one that leverages local assets, while "shrinking the change" toward learner-centered strategies that enhance student engagement, build durable skills (e.g., critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, etc.), and boost mathematical confidence. Join us at NCCAT as we transform the way math is taught and learned, creating an empathetic, asset-based environment where every student sees renewed joy, wonder, and connections in the math they experience in school, as well as in real life. This program is designed for 6-12 math teachers.
| |
STEMBridge: PD Cohort for Project-Based Learning | |
|
Western Carolina University offers a program called STEMBridge, a project funded by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, which connects teachers from different communities in North Carolina to co-plan and co-facilitate a project-based learning unit. Their students become lab partners, using digital tools to solve real world problems. STEMBridge is open to 5th-12th grade teachers. We meet online each month October-June, and in-person in January for a weekend institute. The professional development for teachers, offered by Open Way Learning and The Science House at NCSU, includes PBL training and use of Vernier sensors. In addition to free, high-level PD, teachers receive a stipend, books to support their work, and about $700 worth of Vernier equipment.
Learn more...
| |
|
MADE Challenge
October 20, 2023
The Historic Morganton Festival announces the Morganton Arts Design and Engineering (MADE) Competition. The event will take place on Friday, October 20 at the CoMMA Performing Art Center in downtown Morganton. Area Middle and High School students are invited to compete throughout the day in the onsite engineering challenge.
MADE is one of the most successful collaborations between education and industry partners. It gives Burke County students a chance to experience STEAM-based activities that build skills relevant to many of the area industries. MADE encourages students to think outside of the box and engages participants in critical thinking, design, engineering and innovation.
The Fall 2023 competition is generously supported by Work in Burke, City of Morganton, Burke County, Continental, Leviton, Opportunity Threads, Case Farms, Burke County Public Schools, TOSS, Western Piedmont Community College and NCSSM-Morganton.
Learn More...
| |
NCSSM-Morganton Fine Arts/
Burke Arts Council Concert
September 22, 2023
The NCSSM-Morganton Fine Arts Department presents the first Burke Arts Council Concert Lecture Series performance on Friday, September 22, 5:30pm at the Burke Arts Council, 506 S Sterling St, Morganton, NC 28655. This event is programmed to celebrate Hispanic American Heritage Month. We have an amazing musical program lined up along with presentations by NCSSM-Morganton Humanities Faculty members. The program will last about an hour with a reception included. The event is free and open to the public.
Musical program includes:
Son De San Pablo, Sololá, Guatemalan Traditional Song
Performed by Madison Karan and Casey Griffin, marimba
La Llorona, by Andres Henestrosa
Performed by Joselin Santz, solo violin
Miniatura, by Lorena Ruiz Trejo
Performed by Paige Songonzi, solo bassoon
Forgiveness, by Ivan Trevino
Madison Karan, solo vibraphone
La Paloma Tango, by Sebastián Iradier
Performed by Lara Dincer, solo violin
Libertango, by Astor Piazolla
Performed by the NCSSM-Morganton Chamber String Orchestra
Learn More...
| |
|
Coalescefest
October 20, 2023
Coalescefest, a music and arts festival, will be held at WNC Sculpture Center on Saturday, October 7 from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm.
Fifteen regional bands - including Morganton-based acts Bobbie Snakes, Zebra Ninja, and Fantomex - will perform on multiple stages. Local artists will be onsite with their handcrafted items. The festival includes food trucks, yoga, kids activities, and more!
Tickets are on sale now. Children 12 and younger get in free. Volunteers receive free admission and a t-shirt.
| |
NCSSM-Morganton
901 Burkemont Avenue
Morganton, NC 28655
| |
| | | |
