Holiday Concerts

Old Dock Volleyball Team Goes Undefeated, Wins Championship

The Old Dock Elementary volleyball team went undefeated and were this years preseason tournament and season champions. Congratulations!

Six Columbus County Schools Athletes Named as Wendy's Heismans

Six local winners of the Wendy's Heisman were recently announced. They are

Caitlin Lane, Alex Williamson from East Columbus,
Bryant Edwards, Dori Faulk from South Columbus, and
Timothy Brown, Kimberly Cartrette from West Columbus.

For eight generations, the Heisman name has signified excellence, determination, and prestige among college football’s elite. In 1994, the next level of outstanding achievers ensconced their names into the Heisman lore when the Wendy’s high School Heisman (WHSH) was created. The WHSH program has set the standard for high school student-athletes, and gained tremendous prestige in its own right. Each fall, the program recognizes the nation’s most esteemed high school senior men and women for excellence in academics, athletics, and community/school involvement. To date more than 150,000 high school students have represented their schools and have been touched by the Heisman mystique. Of them, 157 have progressed to the National Finalist level, with 26 earning the designation of Wendy’s High School Heisman National Award Winners.

Hallsboro Artesia Student's Design Selected for Christmas Card

Kayla Bryant, student at Hallsboro Artesia Elementary School, was selected as the winner of Columbus County Schools Superintendent Christmas Card Contest. Kayla's design was used on over 300 cards that went out to other school districts in the state. She is the art student of Cheryl Stewart.

West Columbus High receives $25,000 Public Art Grant.

(above: Artist Brad Spencer discusses the West Columbus Project; below : a sample of the artists work on display in Charlotte.)
West Columbus High School has been awarded the prestigious SPARC (School/Public Art Collaboration Projects (SPARC) grant, awarded by the North Carolina Arts Council. It is the only high school in North Carolina to receive the award. The final result of the grant will be a permanent public art installation on the campus of West Columbus.

The grant process is an interesting and multifaceted one. The school created the SPARC Steering committee, made up of community members as well as school faculty, and members of the local arts council, community college, and students. The members met and discussed the overall project, and designated members of the artists selection team. The artist selection team, composed of Thomas Nance, Special Assistant to the Superintendent, Mark Brown, Principal, Ron Cole, Professor of Art at Southeastern Community College, Sally Mann, Executive Director of the Columbus County Arts Council, Kelly Jones Arts Education Coordinator, Larry Hewett, Art Instructor, Carlton Campbell, Teacher, Michael Powell, Teacher and Erik Sellars and Cheyenne Peacock, students at West Columbus, viewed portfolios of ten artists along with Linda Bamford and Jeffrey York of the NC Arts Council. From the ten artists, three finalists were chosen. These three consisted of a sculptor, who works in the medium of metal, a muralist who created the official mural for Columbine High School’s Renovation, and a sculptor who works in brick. All three artists are from North Carolina, and are world-class artists in their own right. Each one of the artists spent a class period talking to art students at West Columbus. The Artist Selection Team came back together and met with each of the three finalists, and made their final selection. The one chosen was Brad Spencer, brick artist from Reidsville, North Carolina. Erik Sellars, an art student on the selection committee explains some of the reasons: “I feel that with any public art, it is best accepted and enjoyed when the art is understood by the community, but has a sense of originality and creativity. Brick is a medium of common knowledge in our community. Everyone has seen it and everyone is familiar with it. Brick sculpture uses a common subject, but puts an exciting twist on it and leaves the viewer thinking "I didn't know you could do that!" Brad Spencer intrigues people with his artwork and I feel that people will like his art not only because it is art but also because they can understand the materials and the process that went into making it.”

This first step of the grant process took about 2 months. The next step in the process is to have Mr. Spencer come into the classroom and work with the students, which will occur early next year. The students will help create the design and the plan will also involve students working on the finished product. Mr. Spencer will spend 10 total classroom days at West Columbus, and the installation of the final piece will occur sometime in April or May. Kelly Jones, Arts Education Coordinator for Columbus County Schools, is excited about the project. “We feel this project will be something the entire county, an indeed the state, can be proud of. We are also very grateful to Jeffrey York and Linda Bamford of the North Carolina Arts Council for giving us this opportunity.” West Columbus Art Instructor Larry Hewett is also very excited about the project: “My students and I are very excited about the opportunity of helping design and work on this tailor-made sculpture for our school. We are looking forward to a wonderful experience with Brad Spencer in our classroom. What an awesome chance for us to work with an artist of his caliber and to leave a piece of artwork behind to be enjoyed long after we are all gone!”

American Indian Heritage Month

American Indian students from Hallsboro Middle & East Columbus High School performed at the Odum Home in Pembroke on 11-27-07 sharing their culture, history, and traditions of the Native Americans. Ms. Shirley Freeman & Ms. Tammy Patrick cooked Fry Bread for all the students.

ECHS Rocame Hosts Great American Smokeout

The ECHS ROCAME (Region "O" Council for the Advancement of Minorities in
Engineering) Club recently hosted their fourth annual Great American Smoke-Out. This is a national event that helps to raise awareness about the dangers of using tobacco products. Students signed a pledge to be tobacco free for a day.
Club members made treat bags for pledgers and had prizes for game participants. Display and handouts were provided by the Question Why for Teens and the American Cancer Society.

SCHS Football Finishes with Best Record

Congratulations to the South Columbus High Stallions who reached the finals of the state 2A football championship. This Stallions finished 15-1 for their best season ever.