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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
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Aces Preview 1B
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Smith answers back-to-school Q & A
From staff reports
Next Wednesday marks
the start of the 2010-11
school year. Like other
school systems .across the
state, Edenton-Chowan
school leaders have to do
more with less. Between
an economic climate that
has school systems cinch
ing their fiscal belts and
Chowan County’s own set
of financial woes, the Eden
ton-Chowan schools brace
to launch a new year with
plenty of need for academic
attention. Edenton-Chow
an’s ^annual budget stands
at $22.3 million for an en
rollment of approximately
2,400 students from pre-K
to 12. Some 63 percent of
Levisy to
leave Boys,
Girls Club
By REBECCA BUNCH
Staff Writer
The Edenton Boys &
Girls Club is losing its
leader to a promotion.
Jerome Levisy, chief
professional officer (CPO)
for the local club, informed
his board of directors of
his resig
nation on
July 20.
His last
day on the
job here
will be
Aug. 27.
Levisy
is leaving
to become UJ*
CPO for Boys & Girls Clubs
of North Central North.
Carolina, headquartered
in Henderson.
In his new role, he will
oversee club activities in
Franklin, Vance and Gran
ville counties as well as a
new club in Warren Coun
ty that is scheduled to open
later this year.
See LEVISY, 3A
Council
toughens
housing
standards
By REBECCA BUNCH
Staff Writer
Owners of deteriorating
residences inside the town
of Edenton will be held
more accountable for re
pairs or risk legal action.
At its Aug. 10 meeting,
the Town Council unani
mously adopted the Pre
vention of Demolition by
Neglect ordinance encom
passing the historic dis
trict that pertains to homes
and commercial buildings.
Demolition by neglect
refers to a situation where
by a property owner has
allowed the condition of a
home in the historic dis
trict to suffer significant
deterioration.
That ordinance address
s es the enforcement of re
pairs that need to be made
to such exterior features
See HOUSING, 3A
©2009 The Chowan Herald
. A|l Rights Reserved •
- ' - . r; ■
those students receive free
or reduced lunch. The sys
tem employs a staff of 199.
In preparation of the new
school year, the Chowan
Herald posed a Q & A to Su
perintendent Allan Smith
in an effort to enlighten
students and parents of the
challenges they too will em
bark as Edenton-Chowan
schools pursue academic
excellence during difficult
times.
Chowan Herald: What
can students and parents
do to help make a success
ful transition from summer
break to a return to school?
Smith: Getting off to
a good start for the new
school year can be very
important in influencing
Rise of the machines
PHOTO BY RITCHIE STARNES
FIRST mentors Megan Cherry, (left black T-shirt) and Quinn Wagner, right (kneeling) show a group Thursday at Sheperd-Pruden Library the inner workings of
a robot designed by high schoolers. Efforts are under way to bring a team to Holmes High School for next spring’s competition.
Robots key to STEM academics
By RITCHIE E. STARNES
Editor
Step aside jocks. There’s a
new brand of competition
vying for a spot at Holmes
High School.
In an effort to promote science
and technology among local
high schoolers, there’s a grass
roots movement to start a FIRST
(For Inspiration and Recogni
tion of Science and Technology)
Robotics Competition (FRC)
here that would pit the innova
tive talents of Holmes’ students
against other high schoolers.
Organizers call FRC a “varsity
sport for the mind.” It combines
the thrill of sport with the
Championship run ends, shortfall continues
By RITCHIE E. STARNES
Editor
Although a postseason
surge paid dividends for
the Edenton Steamers’
quest for financial sur
vival, Saturday night’s
defeat for the Petitt Cup
Championship concludes
the season amid a $33,000
fundraising shortfall.
Defending champions
Forest City took two of
three from the Steamers
> in a 5-0 decisive game. De
spite the disappointing
loss, team leaders must re
group and continue their
run at fiscal solvency. Over
the last three weeks, the
Steamers have managed
to raise roughly $17,000 of
their $50,000 goal. ‘
children’s
attitudes,
confidence
and per
formance
both aca
demically
and so
cially Be
fore school
starts it
is important to schedule
doctor checkups early to
ensure that children have
the necessary vaccinations
and health records in place
as required by their schools
or if they may be planning
to play team sports. Make
copies of all your child’s
health and emergency in
formation for reference.
Mark your calendar and
demands of science and technol
ogy that creates A simulation of
“real world” engineering.
“Knowing the need for more
science and technology in
Edenton, I thought it would be
a good marriage.” said local
resident John Becker who as
sembled a group of local leaders
with FIRST representatives last
Thursday at the Sheperd-Pruden
Library %
Participating students must
adhere to strict rules, scarce
resources and time limits as
they prepare to build a robot
that can handle an assigned task
- one that varies along with the
accompanying rules. Students
also have to raise funds, design a
In addition to raising
awareness of the team’s
financial plight, the Steam
ers’ strong playoff showing
produced added revenue
that could add to the dona
tion totals.
“We brought in about
$15,000 that we didn’t an
ticipate in revenues,’’
said Katy Ebersole, team
president. “We had great
crowds, particularly when
you don’t have time to pro
mote the games.”
Expenses have yet to be
deducted from the playoff
proceeds, such as travel ex
penses, Ebersole said.
Teams qualifying for
playoffs at their home fields
is a new policy enacted last
[p See STEAMERS, 4A
check the schools’ websites
for important dates and
other information - espe
cially back-to- school or
open house nights. Be sure
to attend so that you and
your child can meet the
teacher and visit the class
room and school prior to
walking in on the first day
Meeting the teacher, locat
ing classrooms, lockers,.
etc. will help your child feel
more confident on the first
day
Review all information
and other materials sent
home by the school as soon
as it arrives. Often there
is important information
about your child’s classes,
schedules, activities and
other important topics
team “brand” while developing
teamwork skills essential for
overall success.
FRC stages games that stu
dents must program a robot to
adapt for play and control by
automated remote. The robots,
which have weight and expense
limits, are designed and built
from a supplied kit within six
weeks by a team of roughly 25
high school teenagers along
with mentors, educators and
volunteers. Competitions are
held in March and April.
“You get power tools and
sharp objects. It’s pretty awe
some,” said Megan Cherry, a
FRC alumni and mentor who
now attends Massachusetts
' v ; ’ PHOTO BY PATGREQNGER
The Edenton Steamers (Teal) congratulate the Forest City Owls for their Costal Plain League Petitt
Cup Championship victory Saturday night. Edenton lost two out of three to the Owls en route to
a ruhnerup finish to the 2Q10 season. ^
that will be sent home via
the book bag. Check your
child’s book bag nightly for
homework, notes and other
information that may be
sent home by the teacher.
Contact your child’s teach
er or school with any ques
tions you may have. Be
sure to read and confirm
dress code and behavior
guidelines for each school.
Re-establish bedtime and
mealtime routines at least
one week before school
starts so and talk with your
child about the benefits of
school routines in terms
of needing more rest and
not becoming over tired
or overwhelmed by school
work and other activities.
Designate a place to do
homework.
CH: As school districts
across the state struggle
with adapting to budget
woes, what concerns (short
term & long-term) do you
have about the impact of
financial shortfalls on our
school district? What steps
have been taken to address
these concerns?
S: There are numerous
concerns about the impact
of the current budgetary
challenges. The sudden
and deep reduction of local
revenues, complicated by
severe cuts in state funds
over the past couple of
years has required dras
tic measures by the Board
See SMITH, 7A
Institute of Technology
Dean Kamen is the founder
of FIRST. He’s an inventor and
entrepreneur as well as an advo
cate for science and technology
Part of FIRST’S overall
objective is to expose students
to science and technology that
might not otherwise consider
the career path. FRC indirectly
promotes engineering for both
colleges and industries. To fur
ther entice students to the areas
of study, FIRST has designated
$12 million for academic scholar
ships.
Statistics show that only 6 per
cent of U.S. college graduates are
See ROBOTICS, 4A