For Immediate Release:
These latest announcements from the Chocowinity Primary School, via the Beaufort County School System, reminds us that schools are a focal point of activity.
Beaufort County Schools
CHOCOWINITY Chocowinity Primary School bid a fond farewell to 117 fourth graders during its traditional "Moving Up" graduation ceremony June 7.
CPS Principal Alicia Vosburgh welcomed the students, parents, staff and special guests. Assistant Principal Spencer Pake led the group in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Diplomas were presented by Vosburgh, Pake and fourth grade teachers Shannon Braxton, Rondi Godley, Cameron Hill, Tammy Moore, Monika Smith and Deena Warwick. Serving as marshals were third graders Courtney Boyd, Lexi Buck, Reagan Bunting, Nathan Cutler, Jasmine Davis, Jordan Dixon, Jarrett Lohman, Sarah Petty, Grace Teague and LaQuisha Woolard.
In her remarks, Vosburgh spoke to the students about change, encouraging them to look forward to it and embrace it. She compared them to butterflies, telling them that while they may face rain showers and storms in their lives, they'd continue to fly.
Vosburgh also reminded the students that since kindergarten they had spent 900 days at Chocowinity Primary School. She repeated the message, shared with CPS students and staff each morning, which states, "Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours."
Happy Retirement
Chocowinity Primary School Principal Alicia Vosburgh (second from left) congratulates several of the school's recent retirees, honored during a school luncheon held June 11. The retirees include (from left) Carol Windley, Lynne Howard and Evion Garner. Not available for the photo was Carol Tyler.
Miller, Moore win CPS awards
CHOCOWINITY Penny Miller and Rufus Moore were chosen by their peers as recipients of the two top awards presented annually to Chocowinity Primary School staff. The awards were presented by Principal Alicia Vosburgh during the end-of-the-year luncheon held June 11 Miller is CPS's new teacher of the year, and she will represent the school in the Beaufort County Schools' teacher of the year selection process in the fall. A native of Pamlico County, Miller attended Milligan College in Tennessee for two years before finishing her studies at East Carolina University. She taught for four years in Craven County before leaving the profession temporarily to stay home with her young children for 12 years. She has been at CPS for 10 years and presently teaches kindergarten. She and her husband, Horace Miller, are the parents of three children: Caleb, Joshua and Sarah Beth.
Pictured following the announcement of Chocowinity Primary School's teacher and teacher assistant of the year are (from left) Assistant Principal Spencer Pake, Penny Miller, Rufus Moore and Principal Alicia Vosburgh.
"The most rewarding part of this job is watching the children grow in all areas ... watching them be successful is a joy," Miller said. She admitted she was surprised to hear her name announced as teacher of the year. "There are so many that deserve it more than I did," she said. "There are so many great teachers here."
Moore, a teacher assistant at CPS for two years, oversees the computer lab and assists with after school remediation. A 1996 graduate of what was then Chocowinity High School, he furthered his studies at Elizabeth City State University. At CPS, Moore spends his days working with students from kindergarten through fourth grade, using academic websites to help them learn letters, reading and numbers. He is also involved with CPS's Study Island program, which helps prepare students for end-of-grade testing. He and his wife, Latarsha Moore, are the parents of Elijah, Dlasia, Makayla and Kiera.
"I enjoy seeing the kids learn and seeing how well they have adapted to using technology, adapting it into their learning," Moore said.
Chapel Hill Bound
Adriana DeMercurio, a recent fourth grade graduate of Chocowinity Primary School, will spend part of her summer vacation at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Adriana has been accepted as part of the National Young Scholars Program and she will spend July 16-20 in Chapel Hill. She chose The Incredible Human Body as her field of study. The National Young Scholars Program was created for the nation's most outstanding students in third through fifth grades. Adriana was nominated for the honor by her teachers, Monika Smith and Paige Hill. While attending CPS, Adriana was named to the All A's honor roll, served as marshal for last year's graduation and was nominated several times for the Beaufort County Schools character education award. She is the 9-year-old daughter of Frank and Sherry DeMercurio of Chocowinity.
Little Grads
Students in Jennifer Sneed's kindergarten class at Chocowinity Primary School gather with family and friends during their recent graduation ceremony and party, marking the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
Trike Race
Chocowinity Primary School teacher Brandie Nissen and her student Torrye Rogers challenge each other to a tricycle race June 8, the last day of the 2011-2012 school year.
Awesome Artists
More than a dozen young artists have the distinction of representing Chocowinity Primary School in this year's student art show hosted by the Beaufort County Arts Council. Those having work chosen for the show included (pictured from left to right) front row: Skylar Roark, Lilly Davis, Cristian Cruz and Zachary Sutherland; middle row: Richard Gaylor, Shanya McCall, Travis DeMercurio, Alexis Jones and Gabe Matthews: back row: CPS's visual arts teacher Sheri Mathews, Kayla Lilley, Tyrone Wilson, Miasia McCall and Ayanna Gibbs. Not available for the photo were Marah Gottwalt and Marrisa Kuers.
'Dare' Winners
Chocowinity Primary School students (from left) Austin Wray, Miranda Carawan and Mycheal Mason hold the DARE sports balls they received from Walt Zerniak of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department. They filed out character education forms to win the balls.
Call/email if you have questions.
Sarah Hodges
Public Information Officer
Beaufort County Schools
252.946.6593 office
252.402.5834 cell
shodges@beaufort.k12.nc.us e-mailoto)
