Good afternoon: We are aware that a fraudulent message regarding ICE was sent to some of our families. Please be advised that this message did not originate from Nash County Public Schools (NCPS). It was designed to appear as if it came from NCPS, but it is spam. We take this matter seriously and are actively investigating the situation. If you receive any suspicious messages claiming to be from NCPS, please do not engage with them and report them to us immediately at pr-dept@ncpschools.net. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring clear and accurate communication. Thank you,  NCPS
Good afternoon, NCPS families,    This afternoon, we shared an announcement regarding concerns about recent changes in federal immigration enforcement. We encourage you to visit the district’s website or social media to read this important letter. We understand that these changes may bring uncertainty or concern for some of our families, staff, and community members. Please know that our priority remains the well-being, safety, and education of every student we serve. We will continue to follow school safety protocols, district policies, and all state and federal laws that protect the rights, safety, and dignity of every scholar in our schools. Thank you for being a valued part of our community.
Nash Central’s Dancentral Dance Team to Compete at Nationals for the First Time  ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The Nash Central High School (NCHS) dance team, Dancentral, is set to make history as it competes for the first time at the Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Championship at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The team will take the floor on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025.  This marks a key moment for the audition-only team, which performs at all home football and basketball games. In addition to supporting Nash Central athletics, the team showcases its talent at local events, including the Pumpkin Festival, the Bailey Christmas Parade, the Rocky Mount Christmas Parade, and the fall/spring dance concert at the Imperial Centre.  Competing on a national stage is an example of the team’s dedication and work ethic. The dance team follows a rigorous practice schedule, training every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 4:30 p.m., with additional Monday sessions during basketball season. Team members must meet and exceed athletic eligibility requirements, maintaining strong academic performance while excelling in dance.  “I could not be prouder of this group of dancers. They have put in the hard work this season and are ready to represent Nash Central on this big national stage,” said Dance Teacher Kelly Scott.  As the team prepares to compete among the nation’s best, the Nash County community is encouraged to support the dance team and celebrate this proud moment.  To learn more about Dancentral and the dance team, please visit their landing page at https://nashcentralhs.ncpschools.net/o/nchs/page/dancentral   ###  Media Contact: Heather Louise Finch, Public Information Officer hlfinch@ncpschools.net
ncps media alert for the upcoming boe meeting on 01/30
Southern Nash Middle School Excels at Statewide Future Cities Competition, Wins Two Prestigious Awards BAILEY, N.C. – Southern Nash Middle School’s (SNMS) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) team showcased groundbreaking innovation and teamwork at the Statewide Future Cities Competition in Raleigh, earning the Jacob’s Core Values Award from Jacobs Engineering and the Best Use of Construction Materials Award from Carolinas AGC. Guided by this year’s theme, “Above the Current,” students tackled the pressing issue of rising sea levels, envisioning a futuristic floating island off North Carolina’s coast. Their project addressed challenges posed by climate change, providing a visionary solution that impressed judges and competitors alike. "This was an incredible learning experience for our students," said Sharon Stroh-Cock, instructional technology facilitator and media coordinator at SNMS. "Every aspect of the island had to be thoroughly researched and planned by the students, with guidance from myself and our mentor engineer, Wade Harper, from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)." The students also received support from several professionals, including Dan Stroh, a retired city planner from Bellevue, W.A.; Barry Smart, a retired project manager from Freedom Enterprise; and Gareth Cock a British Electrician currently with Optimum, who provided expertise in electrical grids, communications and building. The SNMS students began their journey in August, dedicating time during STEM classes, staying after school on Mondays, and putting in extra hours on weekends. Their floating city was designed to house more than 5,000 people and featured four underwater levels, each serving a unique purpose. Level 1 served as the primary residential and commercial area, complete with housing, shopping centers, schools, two sports stadiums, and a dog park. Level 2 focused on aquaponics, producing enough food to sustain the population regardless of weather conditions. Level 3 housed the city’s utilities, including water and waste treatment, communications, and electricity generated by ocean currents. Level 4 functioned as the industrial hub, where parts for repairs were manufactured. This level also processed microplastics collected from the mesh surrounding the island, contributing to ocean cleanup. Three students—Piper Davis, Leanna Penney, and Griffin Stroh-Cock—represented the team during a closed-session presentation to judges, delivering a detailed explanation of their city’s design and innovations. Other team members participated by engaging with roaming judges, showcasing their model and sharing the vision behind their project. “Future Cities was a great experience,” said Piper Davis, an eighth-grader at SNMS. "I had no idea how much planning and minutiae of details went into planning a city. We had to think of how to handle everything, from electricity to transportation to jobs to natural disasters.” Future Cities is a nationwide project-based learning program for middle school students that encourages them to apply science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts to solve real-world problems. Each year, the competition centers on a specific theme, challenging students to create cities that could exist 100 years in the future. The North Carolina regional competition, held at N.C. State University, attracted 26 schools and 42 teams, drawing more than 1,000 attendees. Since its inception in 2002, the program has grown significantly, bolstered by grants from the North Carolina Legislature that increase accessibility for Title I schools and provide resources for participating teams. When asked if the students would like to participate in the competition again next year, the overwhelming response from students was, "Yes!" For more information about the Future City Competition, please visit the following website, https://futurecity.org/future-city-regions/north-carolina/.   ###  Media Contact: Heather Louise Finch, Executive Director of Communication/Public Information Officer hlfinch@ncpschools.net
  Wednesday, January 22, 2025  Public Notice and Media Alert  Nash Board of Education committee meetings are scheduled for Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.  The Nash Board of Education will hold the following scheduled meetings on Monday, January 27, 2025 beginning at 5:00 p.m.  •	Administrative Services & Operations Committee  •	Policy Committee •	Academic Services & Accountability Committee •	Student Support Services & Operations  Meetings are open to the public.   Nash County Public Schools Administrative Building is located at 930 Eastern Avenue Nashville, N.C. 27856   Contact: Board of Education Clerk, Carrie Davis, cbdavis@ncpschools.net or (252) 462-2511    View a live video stream of the meeting with any web browser by clicking www.youtube.com/c/PRDptment.   Special Accommodations: Anyone who requires disability accommodations or may have trouble accessing the live video stream on January 6, 2025 is encouraged to contact Carrie Davis at 252-462-2511 or cbdavis@ncpschools.net prior to the day of the meeting to explore whether alternative arrangements can be made for viewing the meeting.    ###  Media Contact: Heather Louise Finch, Public Information Officer hlfinch@ncpschools.net
Good afternoon, NCPS Families:      We want to hear from you! Please review the proposed calendars for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years below.          Any feedback you have on the proposed draft calendars should be sent to your school's parent advisory council members. Please contact your school if you do not know your school's parent advisory council members. 
Dear NCPS Families:   At about 5:41 p.m. on January 8, 2025, Nash County Public Schools (NCPS) received the attached letter from the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) about a recent, nationwide, cybersecurity incident involving PowerSchool data. PowerSchool was the statewide Student Information System (SIS) used in our district prior to the 2024-25 school year.  On Friday, January 9, 2025, at 8:22 p.m., NCPS received an additional letter from NCDPI confirming that our district's data was accessed by an unauthorized party, and is part of the nationwide PowerSchool data breach.  PowerSchool has shared that all data has been contained and destroyed. PowerSchool and NCDPI have stated that “there is nothing that NCDPI or any of our schools could have done to avoid this cybersecurity incident.”   PowerSchool will conduct all necessary notifications once the analysis is complete to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements and laws. In the coming days, PowerSchool will notify affected families and staff. NCPS takes the security and confidentiality of our student and staff data very seriously.   We will provide additional updates as information becomes available. For further information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), please visit PowerSchool's public website via the following link, https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/   Click on the following link to see the letter from NCDPI https://5il.co/358vy  Click on the following link to see the letter from NCDPI confirming the PowerSchool data breach https://5il.co/358w3  Thank you,  NCPS
FOR FAMILIES   Subject: Strategic Plan Update: Staff Survey Participation Good afternoon, NCPS Families: The district is currently in the process of updating our strategic plan. As part of this effort, we are inviting all NCPS families to participate in a survey. The feedback collected will play a critical role in shaping district-level strategic planning, as well as supporting district and school improvement initiatives. Students have already completed their surveys, and we will also be gathering input from staff as part of this process. You can access the survey by clicking the link below: NCPS PARENTS AND GUARDIANS (Anonymous) Go to https://surveys.panoramaed.com/nashcountync/winter2025-family/surveys Select your school from the dropdown menu.  No access code is needed. Your input is invaluable, and we appreciate your participation in helping to guide the future of NCPS. Contact Information  For further questions, contact: Jeannie Kerr Victor Ward Dr. Michelle Royster
NCPS Hosts Second Annual All-Star Celebration  ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Nash County Public Schools (NCPS) hosted its second annual All-Star Teacher Celebration on Thursday, Jan. 9, during the Nash Board of Education meeting in the Black Box Theater at Rocky Mount High School. The event recognized teachers who exceeded growth for the 2023-24 school year, celebrating their exceptional contributions to student success.  In North Carolina, the Education Value-Added Assessment System, or EVAAS, is a statistical tool used to measure the impact of educators, schools, and districts on student academic progress. NCPS has surpassed state averages in teacher growth, demonstrating excellence in several key areas of education. ●	K-2 Teachers: 19.5% of NCPS K-2 teachers exceeded growth, outperforming the state average of 14.2%. ●	Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teachers: 20.5% of NCPS CTE teachers exceeded growth, compared to the state average of 16.6%. ●	End-of-Grade and End-of-Course Testing: 17.8% of NCPS teachers exceeded growth, surpassing the state average of 14.6%. Exceeding growth under EVAAS means a teacher’s students achieved academic progress significantly higher than predicted based on their prior performance. This distinction highlights the teacher's exceptional ability to enhance student learning and demonstrates a substantial positive impact in the classroom.  "I am delighted to acknowledge and recognize the exceptional performance and unwavering dedication these teachers have shown to our district," Superintendent Dr. Steve Ellis said. "Their innovative teaching methods and commitment to their students have enhanced engagement and learning outcomes across their schools. Great job!"  Teachers who exceed growth are designated as "All-Star Teachers," a title that reflects their ability to knock it out of the park in the classroom. Their effectiveness in advancing student achievement and their leadership in education are key to the district's success.  "I am extremely proud of the hard work of all of our teachers,” said Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services and Accountability Melissa Dancy-Smith. “However, this group of teachers embodies the ability to accelerate the learning outcomes for students. This is no small feat and certainly worthy of celebration."  This event marked the district’s success in overcoming low-performance challenges and exceeding growth expectations with strong instruction. District leaders, educators, and community members gathered to honor the exceptional achievements of teachers whose dedication to student success has elevated learning outcomes. The celebration reinforced Nash County Public Schools’ mission to support and uplift its educators while highlighting their critical role in shaping the future of the district’s students.  ###  Media Contact: Heather Louise Finch, Executive Director of Communication/Public Information Officer hlfinch@ncpschools.net
 **Public Notice and Media Alert**  Board of Education Work Session and Regular Meeting on  Thursday, January 9, 2025  The Nash Board of Education will hold the following scheduled meetings on Thursday, January 9, 2025, beginning at 5:00 p.m.   •	Board of Education Work Session  •	Regular Scheduled Board of Education Meeting  Meetings are open to the public.   Rocky Mount High School – Black Box Theatre – located at 1400 Bethlehem Road Rocky Mount, N.C. 27803  View a live video stream of the meeting with any web browser by clicking www.youtube.com/c/PRDptment.    Contact: Board of Education Clerk, Carrie Davis, cbdavis@ncpschools.net or (252) 462-2511   The work session will begin at 5:00 p.m.  Following the opening of the work session, the Board will go into closed session. The Board will then return to open session for the regular business meeting. Members of the public will have access to view all public portions of the work session meeting and regular meeting (i.e., every part except closed session): Public Comment: Members of the public will have the opportunity to submit public comments in one of these ways:   1.	Join the meeting in-person and comment publicly;   2.	Submit a written comment by email during the designated time period to be read aloud by staff.   Each person is limited to one public comment, whether written or spoken, per meeting.    Any Individual or group may contact Carrie Davis at 252-462-2511 or cbdavis@ncpschools.net in the superintendent’s office to indicate their desire to address the board.  The deadline is 12:00 p.m., January 9, 2025.   Rules of Order and Decorum: All of the Board’s normal rules of order and decorum for public address apply to comments submitted in-person, electronically or in writing. The Chair may rule written comments out of order in the same manner as spoken comments.  Special Accommodations: Anyone who requires disability accommodations or may have trouble accessing the live video stream on January 6, 2025 is encouraged to contact Carrie Davis at 252-462-2511 or cbdavis@ncpschools.net prior to the day of the meeting to explore whether alternative arrangements can be made for viewing the meeting.    Closed Session: Closed session pursuant to General Statute 143-318.11(a)(1), (a)(3) and (a)(6) to prevent the disclosure of confidential personnel files under G.S. 115C-321, to consider matters relating to initial employment of an individual employee, to prevent the disclosure of confidential student records under G.S. 115C-402, and to consult with the Board's attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege.  ###  Media Contact: Heather Louise Finch, Public Information Officer hlfinch@ncpschools.net
  Thursday, January 2, 2025  Public Notice and Media Alert  Nash Board of Education Board of Education Committees Meetings on Monday, January 6, 2025  The Nash Board of Education will hold the following scheduled meetings on Monday, January 6, 2025 beginning at 5:00 p.m.  •	Administrative Services & Operations Committee  •	Policy Committee •	Academic Services & Accountability Committee •	Student Support Services & Operations  Meetings are open to the public.   Nash County Public Schools Administrative Building is located at 930 Eastern Avenue Nashville, N.C. 27856   Contact: Board of Education Clerk, Carrie Davis, cbdavis@ncpschools.net or (252) 462-2511    View a live video stream of the meeting with any web browser by clicking www.youtube.com/c/PRDptment.   Special Accommodations: Anyone who requires disability accommodations or may have trouble accessing the live video stream on January 6, 2025 is encouraged to contact Carrie Davis at 252-462-2511 or cbdavis@ncpschools.net prior to the day of the meeting to explore whether alternative arrangements can be made for viewing the meeting.    ###  Media Contact: Heather Louise Finch, Public Information Officer hlfinch@ncpschools.net
NCPS receives 2023-2024 Science of Reading Champion for Change Award
 Public Notice and Media Alert     Nash Board of Education Work Session and Regular Meeting on Thursday, December 5, 2024  The Nash Board of Education will hold the following scheduled meetings on Thursday, December 5, 2024, beginning at 5:00 p.m.  ·         Board of Education Work Session  ·         Regular Scheduled Board of Education Meeting  Meetings are open to the public.  Nash County Public Schools Administrative Building located at 930 Eastern Avenue Nashville, N.C. 27856  Contact: Board of Education Clerk, Carrie Davis, cbdavis@ncpschools.net or (252) 462-2511  The work session will begin at 5:00 p.m.  Following the opening of the work session, the Board will go into closed session. The Board will then return to open session for the regular business meeting. Members of the public will have access to view all public portions of the work session meeting and regular meeting (i.e., every part except closed session):     View a live video stream of the meeting with any web browser by clicking https://www.youtube.com/@PRDptment.      Public Comment: Members of the public will have the opportunity to submit public comments in one of these ways:   1.       Join the meeting in-person and comment publicly;   2.       Submit a written comment by email during the designated time period to be read aloud by staff.   3.       Each person is limited to one public comment, whether written or spoken, per meeting.     Any Individual or group may contact Carrie Davis at 252-462-2511 or cbdavis@ncpschools.net in the superintendent’s office to indicate their desire to address the board. The deadline is 12:00 p.m., December 5, 2024.      Rules of Order and Decorum: All of the Board’s normal rules of order and decorum for public address apply to comments submitted in-person, electronically or in writing. The Chair may rule written comments out of order in the same manner as spoken comments.     Special Accommodations: Anyone who requires disability accommodations or may have trouble accessing the live video stream on December 5, 2024 is encouraged to contact Carrie Davis at 252-462-2511 or cbdavis@ncpschools.net prior to the day of the meeting to explore whether alternative arrangements can be made for viewing the meeting.      Closed Session:  Closed session pursuant to General Statute 143-318.11(a)(1), (a)(3) and (a)(6) to prevent the disclosure of confidential personnel files under G.S. 115C-321, to consider matters relating to initial employment of an individual employee, to prevent the disclosure of confidential student records under G.S. 115C-402, and to consult with the Board's attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege.     ###     Media Contact:  Heather Louise Finch, Public Information Officer  hlfinch@ncpschools.net
"From Yellowstone to the Classroom: Nash County Teacher Brings History and Science to Life"
nash board meeting december 2 special called meeting
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panorama survey parent opt out information
rotary club donates 8500 in sel journals to all ncps middle and high school students
NCPS AWARDED $49,050 GRANT TO ADVANCE DIGITAL-AGE LEARNING THROUGH ‘ECHOES OF EDUCATION’ PROJECT