Hickory Public Schools

	HCAM Student & Parent INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS! HCAM, a future focused and non-traditional high school, offers a career jump start for students throughout Catawba County and beyond. Students who are looking for a high school that personalizes education and training for their future careers should consider attending any of the upcoming informational meetings. The eight academies at HCAM include: Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Firefighter Technology, Graphic Design & Advertising, Forensics, Dance, Photography and Acting. Hickory Career and Arts Magnet High School (HCAM) will offer evening informational meetings for prospective students and their parents/guardians from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM at various community locations on the following dates: *SPECIAL KICK-OFF MEETING January 31 at HCAM with TOURS! For additional dates and times in February and March--at various locations, click the title/link above. For more information, call HCAM: 828-328-6738
	Kiwanis Donates Dictionaries to HPS Third Graders The Hickory Kiwanis Club recently donated 397 dictionaries plus a few extras for potential new students—to all third grade students in Hickory Public Schools. As a chapter with the Kiwanis International, a global organization of volunteers, Kiwanis is dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. According to Helen Devlin, a Hickory Kiwanian and faculty member at Hickory High School, the Dictionary Project has served as one of the organization’s featured projects for the past six years. “Our sole mission is to support children, and this opportunity provides another method to reach out to our local students,” she said. Devlin’s recent distribution of dictionaries, on behalf of the Hickory Kiwanis, started out at Viewmont Elementary School, where she arrived with boxes filled with dictionaries for every third grader. The enthusiastic students were anxious to write in their names—personalizing their new gifts. (Click title/link for more...)
	HPS 2012 Principal of the Year--Mrs. Helms--on WHKY RADIO! Mrs. Pam Helms. principal of Northview Middle School and the new 2012 HPS Principal of the Year--is interviewed by Hal Row, host of WHKY First Talk Radio. Click the above title/link to listen to the early morning interview on January 19, 2012. Congratulations Mrs. Helms!
	Noah Hewitt Wins County-wide MLK Essay Contest Noah Hewitt, a seventh grade student at Northview Middle School, is the winner of the Maiden Rosenwald Community Development Corporation’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest. The contest is open each year to students in grades six through eight, who attend either Hickory Public Schools, Catawba County Schools, or Newton-Conover City Schools. Noah Hewitt is the winner for the entire county. Noah’s essay entitled, “How Martin Luther King, Jr. Impacts My Life Today,” was written during the Christmas holiday—while he was home on vacation. “At first, I didn’t want to write the essay,” said Noah. “But my mom encouraged me, and my grandmother told me I needed to write the essay. She told me that this type of opportunity would never have been given to me years ago. So I knew that writing the essay was something I had to do. I like to write—but I never thought I would win,” said Noah. (Click title/link for more...)
	Northview Middle Student WINS Hickory Spelling Bee! Celeste Land, a sixth grade student at Northview Middle School, won the 2012 Spelling Bee for Hickory Public Schools on Thursday, January 12th. Celeste, 11 years old, competed against student winners representing third through eighth grade at their respective schools. The contest took place in the auditorium of Northview Middle School—which was filled with parents, siblings, teachers and other community supporters. The daughter of Michael and Menaka Land, Celeste says that she put in only two nights worth of studying—but made sure she felt confident with the 200-word practice list. Celeste shares that her love of reading is what helped her to win. “I read at least two books per week,” she said. Her favorite book is House Rules by Jodi Picoult, who also happens to be her favorite author. Celeste’s winning word was “dilemma,” a word that she says is used frequently in several of her favorite novels. (click title/link for more)
	REFLECTIONS Contest Announces 2011-12 HPS WINNERS! Students representing every grade with Hickory Public Schools recently competed in the annual Reflections Contest. A reception was held at the Hickory Museum of Art to announce the winners. Students competed in various categories including visual arts, music, dance choreography, literature and photography. The Reflections contest is sponsored by the HPS Parent Teacher Association and led each year by Sandi Fotheringham, coordinator, HPS partners in education/volunteer programs. Jennifer Dufour, parent volunteer, serves as the committee chair for the HPS Reflections, working with all schools in preparation for the district-wide contest. The 2011-2012 winners (click title/link) represent the district—and these winners will now compete against other entries throughout North Carolina. State awards will be announced in late winter. (Click title/link for winners and various photos.)
	Hickory High Red TORNADOES Score BIG! The girls' basketball team won its 18th straight league game last Friday--against South Caldwell 53-37 and took over first place in the conference race. The boys' basketball team also beat South Caldwell 85-47. Congrats to head coaches Barbara Helms and Shawn Johnson--and all the players! Way to go!
	HPS Presents Order of Long Leaf Pine to Photojournalist North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue recently awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine to Robert C. Reed, a renowned photojournalist who served the Hickory Daily Record for more than 34 years. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers, and at least 30 years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award. The award was presented to Reed by Superintendent of Hickory Public Schools, Dr. Walter Hart, and HPS Public Information Officer, Beverly Snowden. (click title/link for full story and photos)
	HPS Enhances Communications with School Liaisons Hickory Public Schools is committed to strengthening on-going communication through the endeavors of the district’s public information office. To assist with this goal, nine employees have stepped-up to serve in a volunteer basis as their school’s Communications Liaison (CL). The CL’s efforts will help to streamline and enhance internal and external communications as they collaborate with their school team and the HPS public information office. The new HPS Communications Liaisons include: Caroline Brown, Longview Elementary; Cindy Clark, Grandview Middle; Lisa Doyle, Southwest Elementary; Susan Griffis, Northview Middle; Jennifer Love, Viewmont Elementary; Cassandra Martin, Hickory Career and Arts Magnet High (HCAM) and Alex Ward (HCAM) who will fill-in for C. Martin while she is on family leave; Dena Nigrelli, Oakwood Elementary; Robin Rash, Jenkins Elementary; and Kathy Rockett, Hickory High. (For details and photos, click title/link above)
	Hickory Girls' Basketball WIN Classic Championship! Hickory defeated Newton-Conover 35-27 on Thursday at CVCC! Way to go, HHS girls! Congrats to all players and coaches!
	Hickory Grabs Championship Title! The Hickory High boys' basketball team grabs 16th championship trophy at the Catawba Valley Classic basketball tournament! Congratulations to all players and coaches! (click link to coverage by the Hickory Daily Record)
	John Worley, HHS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Plans to Retire Since 1983, John Robert Worley, the current athletic director and head football coach for Hickory High, has been immersed in the development of successful athletic programs for Hickory Public Schools. During these 28 years of dedicated service, Worley, 51, has led young athletes to more than 445 collective wins in football, softball, and basketball. The achievements have been continuous through the years with recognition for conference titles, state playoffs, sectional and regional championships, and Worley’s selection as Conference Coach of the Year. It’s this extraordinary career success that contributes to mixed emotions for Worley as he announces his plans to retire from Hickory Public Schools, effective February 29, 2012. (Click link for full article)
	ESL Family Night Now Annual Celebration at Jenkins The families represented 18 different countries—and they are an active part of Jenkins Elementary School and the Hickory community. For the third year, Jenkins celebrated the students’ diverse heritage with the ESL (English as Second Language) Family Night and Multi-Cultural Dinner. Entire families dressed in traditional attire native to their countries and they prepared their favorite native dishes to share with other cultures. According to Crystal Pritchett, ESL teacher at Jenkins, the recent celebration offered additional diverse activities as students and their parents were taught dances from different cultures—focusing on the “Healthy Steps” curriculum. (click link for more...)
	Electrifying Event for HPS Orchestra Students! The Hickory High School orchestra and chorus recently joined Shelby, Crest and Burns High School musicians in an unforgettable evening of rock and roll with the legendary Mark Wood, founding member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and his band at the Gardner-Webb University Coliseum in Boiling Springs. Music of Kansas, the Rolling Stones, Sly and the Family Stone, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen and others as well as a few holiday favorites were performed--complete with a light show and professional sound. Additionally, the 8th grade orchestras from both Northview Middle and Grandview Middle Schools also performed with Mark Wood earlier in the week in Cleveland County. (Click link for article/photos)
	Dr. Vanessa Howerton Wraps-Up Term as Principal of the Year According to Dr. Vanessa Howerton, as long as she is around students—she continues to enjoy every day of her life. “That’s where the living is!” she says with great enthusiasm. “Do what you love and you will never have to work a day.” It’s that kind of positive thinking and true passion for education of all students that earned Dr. Vanessa Howerton the selection as the 2011 Principal of the Year for Hickory Public Schools. And while her term is coming to an end, her energy and dedication to serving the students and employees of Grandview Middle School hasn’t slowed down one bit. Perhaps it goes back to her upbringing, her roots, her family and their resourceful work ethic. (click link for full story)