On October 5, 2023, during a surprise announcement Mrs. Kaitlyn Lee Watson, Principal of Grover C. Fields Middle School, was named the 2023-2024 Principal of the Year (POY) for Craven County Schools. In her role as Principal of the Year, she will serve as the local advisor to the Board of Education and will represent Craven County Schools in local, regional, and state events. Mrs. Watson was one of two finalists who interviewed with a local selection committee on October 4th.

During the selection process, Mrs. Watson shared her school’s vision and mission, which focused on the Portrait of a Graduate. She explained that the school’s “vision and mission are not just words on paper, but a living reality that positively impacts students, staff, and the community.” She discussed how she and her team constantly examine the school’s data in efforts to support and improve student achievement by using the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. She stated, “All staff are required to take the MTSS Belief Survey at the onset of each school year. The results of this survey help guide professional development decisions throughout the remainder of the school year.” It is of the utmost importance that all students are successful and learning in an inclusive environment. 

 When asked what event in her administrative career left an enduring impression on her, she shared her experience as an assistant principal. At the time, her new principal had a profound impact on her leadership by modeling the importance of building relationships. She stressed, “We are people first and we must uplift one another.”  Her principal and now mentor taught her the valuable lesson that we must be valued and seen. She has taken those lessons learned and models those practices as a principal.

In her portfolio, she exemplified her leadership as a principal by leading by example. She stated, “ I am committed to leading by example and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. I firmly believe that by finding the potential in each student and providing them with a well-rounded education, we are contributing to a brighter future for our community and society as a whole.” 

We would like to congratulate Mrs. Kaitlyn Watson for this very deserving recognition. We are very proud of Mrs.Watson and all she has accomplished as the amazing leader at Grover C. Fields Middle School as she continues to lead by example and strives for greatness.

The NC Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Josh Stein, is committed to protecting our kids wherever they are, including online. Too much of anything can be harmful, and that includes being online and using social media. On average, eight to 12-year-olds use screens for more than five and a half hours a day, and 13- to 18-year-olds use screens for more than eight and a half hours a day. It’s clear that too many children and teens are struggling with their mental health, and many of those problems arise online. That’s why Attorney General Stein is investigating social media companies and their marketing practices and looking to find solutions to help protect kids. 

As we consider future policy and outreach initiatives to keep our kids safe, the NC Department of Justice is interested in hearing from you about the impact of social media on youth in North Carolina.  

Please join Craven County Schools and the NC Department of Justice on Thursday, October 19, for Protecting the Next Generation of North Carolinians: Town Hall on Social Media. Details are included below.  

Protecting the Next Generation of North Carolinians: Town Hall on Social Media

Presented by Craven County Schools and the NC Department of Justice

Thursday, October 19

11:30am – 12:30pm

Grover C. Fields Middle School Performing Arts Center, 2000 M L King Jr Blvd, New Bern, NC 28560

RSVP to outreach@ncdoj.gov  

Attorney General Josh Stein will kick off the town hall with an overview of his ongoing work as part of a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general to investigate whether social media platforms violated consumer protection laws by providing and promoting their potentially harmful platforms to young users. Then we will open the floor to hear from you. 

We hope you will join us for this important discussion. 

RSVP by Friday, October 13 to outreach@ncdoj.gov.

 Kindl Detar

Special Deputy Attorney General

Director, Public Protection Section

kdetar@ncdoj.gov

Hosting the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Craven class on Thursday, October 5th, for their annual Education Day was a wonderful experience. 

The class started at the Board of Education for an informative discussion and overview of the school district. Next, it was time for a visit to Trent Park Elementary for a tour of the school. After this, they headed to Grover C Fields Middle to learn about the happenings on campus. The class also had an opportunity to learn about Craven Early College while visiting Craven Community College. 

It was an action-packed day! Craven County Schools is so proud of our student leaders who participated, as they did an excellent job showcasing their campus.

Juniors and seniors from Craven County Schools are participating in Manufacturing Day on October 5, 2023. Students were selected to participate based on their MajorClarity career interest results. After participating in a local manufacturing industry tour, students will tour Craven Community College to learn about post-secondary opportunities. We appreciate the support of our community partners, Craven Community College, MOEN, TandemLoc, and B/S/H/. 

Manufacturing Day is celebrated nationally as an annual opportunity to inspire the next generation, positively shift perceptions about the industry, and build the foundation for the manufacturing workforce of the future.

NJHS at Tucker Creek Middle School hosts a Field of Flags campaign to benefit DAV

Havelock, NC– This Veterans Day, NJHS members at Tucker Creek will set up a field of American flags, all to honor local veterans and raise critical funds to support our nation’s ill and injured heroes.

Each donated flag represents a special veteran in someone else’s life, with proceeds benefitting DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and their free, life-changing services for veterans in need and their families. The flags will be displayed at Tucker Creek Middle School on Nov. 11.

With so many of our National Junior Honor Society members directly connected to the military community, Field of Flags is a program that they really connect with. They want to honor as many veterans as possible while raising funds for DAV.

For more than 100 years, DAV has helped veterans of all generations’ live high-quality lives with respect and dignity. Over 1 million veterans each year receive benefit assistance, meaningful employment opportunities, and free transportation to VA medical appointments.

"Each flag represents a veteran and our unwavering commitment to serving all who’ve given so much for our country,” said Marc Burgess, DAV CEO and National Adjutant. It's an easy way to pay homage to a veteran in your life."

To purchase a flag to be displayed in the field, visit

https://support.dav.org/campaign/TCMS-NJHS-FieldofFlags

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service.

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides:

• Up to $30/month discount for broadband service;
• Up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands; and
• A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider if the household contributes more than $10 but less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income internet program.
• Participates in one of these assistance programs:
• SNAP 
• Medicaid 
• Federal Public Housing Assistance 
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• WIC
• Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits

or Lifeline

PLEASE REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR CHILD'S FEDERAL IMPACT AID CARD IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This year's card has also been translated into SPANISH. Click here if instructions are needed.

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