Watch out for kids and buses beginning August 17, 2010, says Buncombe County and Asheville City schools:

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: BUSES BACK TO SCHOOL AUGUST 17

Buncombe County and Asheville City school buses are back on the road August 17.  Buncombe County operates the seventh largest school bus transportation system in North Carolina.  Each school day 290 school buses travel 15,700 miles and transport 16,700 students.

Buncombe County School Transportation Director Harold Laflin emphasizes that starting on August 17, “Motorists need to be extra cautious about children standing at bus stops in the mornings.  It has been 9 weeks since children have been standing alongside the road waiting for the bus, so they may have gotten out of the habit of traveling more slowly and preparing to stop.”

The school bus is the safest mode of surface transportation.  The danger for the student lies in getting on and off the bus. When a bus is stopped to pick up children, the law requires motorists to stop for a school bus if they are traveling in the same direction as the bus.  Also, motorists are required to stop for a school bus if they are traveling in the opposite direction of the bus unless the road is divided by a physical barrier, wall or median; or it is a four-lane highway divided by a center-turn lane.

A one-day stop arm count was conducted on March 10 of last school year, and bus drivers reported 74 violations.  Multiplied by the number of days in a school year, that is over 13,000 violations in a given year.

One violation is one too many.  School bus drivers have been instructed to report vehicles that pass a stopped school bus.  The drivers fill out a form which identifies the vehicle and includes the license tag number, and submit it to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.  The troopers assigned to school bus safety in Buncombe County investigate each complaint filed.  Stiff penalties accompany a conviction for passing a stopped school bus.  Motorists receive five points against their driver’s license, face a $200 fine, and possibly 120 days in jail.  Anyone who witnesses a school bus stop arm violation should contact the Highway Patrol at 298.4252 with the vehicle license tag number.

Says Laflin, “For Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools, safety is our top priority in transporting our state’s most valuable resource: CHILDREN!”

For additional information on school bus safety, please visit the North Carolina School Bus Safety website at www.ncbussafety.org or contact the Buncombe County Schools’ Transportation Department at 232-4240.  Also, please visit http://www.ncbussafety.org/SBSWlaw.html for a brochure on the North Carolina School Bus Stop Law.

Kudos to North Buncombe Elementary School principal Andy Peoples:

Dr. Andrew Peoples, principal at North Buncombe Elementary School, has been selected as a participant in the Distinguished Leadership in Practice (DLP), a leadership development program for practicing school leaders.

Peoples is one of only forty principals that has been selected to be trained as a potential DLP facilitator in North Carolina. Principals were chosen based on a variety of criteria including the ability and desire to lead and coach peers, a strong commitment towards being a team player in the professional learning community, and willingness to work in an e-learning environment.

“Dr. Peoples is highly respected by his peers,” says Dr. Tony Baldwin. “This selection reflects both his ability to create a successful professional learning community as well as a collaborative leadership style.”

As a DLP participant, Peoples will examine the meaning of “Distinguished” school leadership through a problem-based, real-world approach. The program will include face-to-face meetings, on-line coursework, and small-group sharing sessions. Principals in DLP will tackle the challenges currently facing their schools. By working in face-to-face and virtual environments, Peoples will have the opportunity to share and expand his leadership skills and will have opportunities to use 21st century tools and methods in practical ways.

Buncombe County school menus for November 2009.  These are all in PDF format from the Buncombe County Schools website:

• Elementary School Menu
• Middle School Menu
• High School Menu

School menus for October 2009.  These are all in PDF format from the Buncombe County Schools website:

• Elementary School Menu
• Middle School Menu
• High School Menu

Congratulations to English teacher Jenny Wood, North Buncombe High School Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010 and North Buncombe district finalist for Buncombe County Schools Teacher of the Year.  The Buncombe County Teacher of the Year will be announced September 21. More information and other district finalists from Buncombe County Schools:

BCS 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year Finalists
Buncombe County Schools is proud to announce that finalists have been chosen for the 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year Award.  Teachers were selected representing each of the county’s six school districts:

• REYNOLDS: Meredith Stanley, Haw Creek Elementary
• OWEN: Amanda Venturella, Owen Middle
• ERWIN: Lorraine Orenchuk, BC Early College
• ENKA: Erica Battle, Enka Middle
• NORTH BUNCOMBE: Jenny Wood, North Buncombe High
• TC ROBERSON: Christopher Semper, TC Roberson High

“First to be chosen by peers as their school’s best is quite an honor – to represent their district is even more exceptional! As superintendent I am not only proud of these six recognized professionals but all of the dedicated classroom teachers within our system,” says Dr. Tony Baldwin, Superintendent.

Candidates were selected by reviewing their submitted portfolios and by a committee interview process.  In the last phase of the selection process, finalists will be visited in their classrooms and also be asked to present speeches.

The BCS 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year will be announced at the annual banquet on Monday, September 21 at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel.

School menus for September 2009.  These are all in PDF format from the Buncombe County Schools website:

• Elementary School Menu
• Middle School Menu
• High School Menu

Hard to believe, but school starts back on August 25, 2009, less than a month from now. A full school calendar in printable format is available via the link below. Here’s a few notable dates (of course all are subject to change in the event of adverse weather):

• First Day for Students: August 25, 2009
• Christmas Break: December 21, 2009-January 1, 2010
• Spring Break: April 5-9, 2010
• Last Day for Students: June 10, 2010

Printable 2009-10 Buncombe County School Calendar (pdf)

New Classical Academy (38 Stoney Knob Road ) will be hosting an open house on February 17 at 5 p.m., and will begin accepting applications for the Fall 2009 school year at that time. The school currently offer grades K through 10, and will be adding 11th grade for the Fall 2009 school year and 12th grade for the Fall 2010 school year.  More information is available at www.thenewclassicalacademy.org or you can contact them at 658-8317.

The Buncombe County Schools Foundation is holding the annual “Eat Out for Education” fundraiser on Thursday, November 6. Participating restaurants will donate a portion of their profits from that day to the Foundation.  In Weaverville, Bojangles (Lunch only) and Burger King (Lunch and Dinner) are participating in the fundraiser.

North Buncombe High School’s Boys’ Soccer team begins state playoff action tonight (Wednesday, October 30) with a 7 p.m. game at Olympic High School in Charlotte. The Blackhawks finished their regular season 9-13, while Olympic is 16-5-1.

Update: North Buncombe lost to Olympic 6-1.

The 2008 North Buncombe High School Homecoming Parade is Friday, October 17.  The Parade will start at North Buncombe Middle School at 4:30 p.m., and Main Street will be closed from 4:30 p.m. until approximately 5:15 p.m. for the parade.  This year’s theme is Blockbuster movies.

North Buncombe (6-2) takes on undefeated Tuscola Friday night for Homecoming.  Game time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $6.

North Buncombe High School history teacher Ben Graham has been named the 2008 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year in Buncombe County, according to this item from the Buncombe County Schools website. Congratulations to Mr. Graham:

Ben Graham, a history teacher at North Buncombe High School has been named the 2008 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year in Buncombe County. He was presented an appreciation certificate, a $100 gift certificate for class supplies and a $1,000 grant for his school.

The Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year award recognizes an outstanding educator in the community who has made a difference in the lives of their students. Each year members of the community drop nomination forms into boxes at the local Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores. From those nominations, a select number of teachers are chosen for the review process to narrow the selection to one recipient.

October 2008 Menus for Buncombe County schools:

• Elementary School menus
• Middle School menus
• High School menus

North Buncombe Elementary School’s (251 Flat Creek Church Road  ) Fall Festival is scheduled for Friday, September 26, 2008, from 5-9 p.m. at the school.  The annual fundraiser will feature entertainment, inflatables, booths/games, cake walk, funnel cakes, cotton candy, popcorn, hamburgers, corn-dogs, face painting, a demolition car, and more.  Admission is free.

Along with selling tickets for food and rides, they will also be selling raffle tickets for some great gift baskets and a 50/50 raffle (where the winner gets half the money collected). Raffle tickets are $1 each.  Here’s a sample of the some of the gift baskets they’ll be giving away:

What’s Cooking Basket: Tickets To Ghost Town, Fruit Peeler, Chocolate Chip & Pecan Pound Cake, Egg Separator, Asheville Tourist Tickets, Kitchen Timer, “Ove” Gloves, Can Colander, Pot Holder, Whisk, Ice Cream Scoop, $10 Gift Certificate To Atlanta Bread, Bowl Scraper, Kitchen Towel Bar, $10 Gift Certificate To Ace Hardware, Cookie Cutter, 3 Fall Hand Towels, Wooden Spoon Set, Set Of 3 Mixing Spoons, (2) 3 Pack Kitchen Towel Sets, Haunted Ghost Tours 4 Tickets, Milk Chocolate Turtles, Taper Candles, 2 Free Softplay Passes At Fun Depot, Nascar Cake Decorations, Hickory Farms Cheese Spread, White & Milk Chocolate Mousse Mixes, Butter Crock, Glass Cookie Stamps, Brownie & Appetizer Cookbooks, Hydrangea Serving Bowl, Apple Hand Towel, Hot Chocolate, Corkscrew, Sweet N Sour Marinade, Sunflower Kitchen Set, Bag Clips, Salad & Metal Tongs, Can Opener, Spatula, Basting & Slotted Spoon, Ketchup & Mustard Container, 2 Pc. Meatloaf Pan Set, Measuring Cups & Spoons, Cakes By Jane Gift Certificate, Cooling Eye Patches, Apron, Pizza Cutter

Rest & Relaxation Basket: Tickets To Lazy 5 Ranch, Bath Salts, Cooling Eye-patches, Lip Balm, Am/Fm Radio Headset, $10 Gift Certificate Atlanta Bread, Candles, Hot Chocolate, Potpourri Sachets, Gloves For Moisture Therapy With Repair Lotion, Loofah Pad, Nivea Lotion, Cakes By Jane Gift Certificate, Avon Naturals – Vanilla Shower Gel, Body Mist, & Lotion, Organic Bar Soap, 2 Body Butter, Aroma Flakes Bath Confetti, Bubble Bath, Rain Drops Bath Set, Pineapple Shower Gel, Strawberry Swirl Bath Set, Pumice Stone And Brush, Bath Sponges, Bioessence Soap Collection, Vanilla Bath Crystals, Long Handle Bath Brush, Bath Beads, Aromatherapy Body Wash, Scrub, & Lotion, Revlon Facial Sauna, Manicure Set, Vanilla Sugar Bath Set, Scarf, Red Sequin Compact, Haunted Ghost Tours 4 Tickets, Island Tropics Bath Set, Cherry Blossom Bath Set, Save Your Sole Skin Care, Tranquility Fountain, Herb Tea, Hershey’s Choc-Mint Sticks, 25% Off At The Sunroom

Outdoor Adventure Basket: Tickets To NC State Zoo, Black Dome Thermos, Black Dome Water Bottle, Horseback Riding Lessons & T-Shirt, Am/Fm Radio Headset, Magnetic Basketball Decal, Cakes By Jane Gift Certificate, Potpourri Sachets, General Equipment Rental Ball Cap, Outdoor Plastic Playset, Haunted Ghost Tours 4 Tickets, Disney Princess Rod & Reel, Radio Control Sea Racer, 2 Free Passes For Climbing Wall @ Fun Depot, Survival Wrap, Portable Dog Food & Water Bowl, Coleman Duffel Bag, Set Of 3 Citronella Candles, Liberty Bicycles Youth Helmet & Flasher, $20 Gift Certificate Jimmy’s Automotive, $20 Gift Certificate Weaverville Drug, $25 Walmart Gift Card, Horseshoe Play Set, Chocolate Chip & Pecan Pound Cake, Hot Chocolate, $25 Gift Certificate Flat Rock Grille, $10 Gift Certificate Atlanta Bread, Pier 1 Umbrella

Other gift baskets to be raffled include a Teachers Survival Basket, Night Out Basket, Home & Garden Basket, Family Fun Basket, Dad’s Delight Basket, and an Arts & Crafts Basket.

Buncombe County school menus for September 2008:

• Elementary Schools
• Middle Schools
• High Schools

Buncombe County Schools announced yesterday that Kay McLeod was selected as the 2008-09 Teacher of the Year for the North Buncombe School District.  McLeod is a 9th Grade Science teacher at North Buncombe High School.  Here’s the announcement:

Buncombe County Schools is proud to announce that finalists have been chosen for the 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year Award. Teachers were selected representing each of the county’s six school districts:

Reynolds:  Karen King, Cane Creek Middle, 7th Grade Science
Owen:  Jessie Devine, Black Mountain Primary, Special Education
Erwin:  Robyn Pass, Erwin Middle, 7th Grade Language Arts/Social Studies
Enka:  Debra Cheap, Enka Middle, 8th Grade Math
North Buncombe:  Kay McLeod, North Buncombe High, 9th Grade Science
Roberson:  Mary Whitlock, Roberson High, 10th-11th Grade History

“It’s a high honor to be chosen as one of the top six teachers in an outstanding school district such as ours,” said Cliff Dodson, Superintendent.

“Candidates were selected by reviewing their submitted portfolios and by a committee interview process. In the last phase of the selection process, finalists will be visited in their classrooms and also present speeches,” comments Gerry Kovach, Teacher of the Year Coordinator/Recruitment and Retention Specialist.

The BCS 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year will be announced at a banquet on Thursday, September 18th at the Renaissance Hotel. The winner will receive a $1,000 check and Crystal Apple Award from Wachovia Bank. A local car dealership will also donate a leased vehicle for one year to be used by the teacher who is chosen.

The North Buncombe Hawk Club is having a Stadium Clean-Up Day tomorrow (Saturday, August 9) at North Buncombe High School to get the grounds around the stadium ready for the fall season. Clean up will mainly consist of a lot of weed-eating, cleaning under the bleachers, etc. Anyone is welcome to come and help. Please bring your own trimmers, mowers, gloves, safety gear, etc. Coach High plans to be at the stadium at 7:30 a.m. to get started.

Online sign-up for the 2008-2009 Ingles Tools for Schools program starts Sunday, July 27. To participate, you need an Ingles Advantage Card and you need to link your card to the school of your choice (even if you have linked your card to a school before, you need to re-link again each new school year). You can link your card at any Ingles location or online at www.ingles-markets.com/advantage_card/tools_for_schools.

Use The Ingles Advantage™ Card and help your local school. When you make purchases using The Ingles Advantage™ Card, Ingles will give back to the school a portion of those sales. The portion can be used by the school to purchase computers and school supplies.

Over the past 10 years, Ingles Markets has contributed over 10 million dollars to schools in towns where Ingles stores are located. These dollars have been used for valuable learning tools and equipment. Public schools, private schools and home school associations are welcome to participate in this program, grades K-12. Ingles and our Tools for School program are committed to helping thousands of schools and students achieve their education goals.

2008 Fall Football, Soccer and Volleyball Schedules for North Buncombe High School. To keep up with schedule changes, standings, and scores, visit the North Buncombe page on HighSchoolSports.net:

2008 Fall Football, Volleyball and Boys’ Soccer Schedules for North Buncombe Middle School:

Someone asked me if I knew the weekend of the upcoming sales tax holiday. Here’s the info:

The 2008 North Carolina State Sales Tax Holiday begins 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 1 and runs until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 3. Items which can be purchased tax-free during that weekend include clothing, footwear, and school supplies of $100 or less per item; school instructional materials of $300 or less per item; sports and recreation equipment of $50 or less per item, computers of $3,500 or less per item; and computer supplies of $250 or less per item.

Clothing accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, protective equipment, wallets, furniture, items used in a trade or business, and rentals are not covered by the sales tax holiday exemption and will be subject to the applicable tax.

The full list of exempt items, frequently asked questions, and a “technical bulletin” (one of those things that most people probably never read) can be found here.