History teacher James Ford is in the running for N.C. Regional Teacher of the Year
By Emnit Dejene and Hydeia Wilfong
Mr. James Ford, a world history teacher, won CMS Teacher of the Year last spring after being nominated by his coworkers, here at Garinger.
Now Mr. Ford is running for N.C. regional teacher of the year, a position he said would help him generate more respect for what he does as a teacher.
After being nominated CMS teacher of the year, Mr. Ford got the opportunity to do a lot of great things. “I get the opportunity to meet important people who make important decisions,” he said.
One prize that was included in being CMS teacher of the year was a brand new 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, which he is able to drive for a year.
When asked about what makes him a good teacher, he simply stated that he loved kids and “if you don’t love what you do, it doesn’t make you believable.”
Mr. Ford attended Illinois State and, surprisingly, majored in print Journalism. He even had his own newspaper.
Although at first Mr. Ford wanted to be a journalist, he somehow found his way into being a teacher and loving it. Mr. Ford’s ultimate goal is to be a principal of his own school.
Being nominated for such a huge title comes with competition, but Mr. Ford stated that he does not believe in competition because teachers are all here for the same reason.
“CMS is a good district and I am proud that the teacher of the year came from Garinger,” he said.
Garinger High School is on the rise and the man in charge on Wildcat territory is Mr. Mike Drye.
Garinger’s new principal had a long summer having to switch his leadership to a new school. Mr. Drye prepared to work at Garinger High by closing his job at Nathaniel Alexander.
Mr. Drye is certain on making changes for the school; he already started by adjusting the morning rotation. All students have to be in the quad area from 6:45-7:05. This helps the teacher get prepared to have a successful day with the students.
Mr. Drye also explained that during the summer he talked to as many staff that he could to find out about Garinger.
He even communicated with Garinger’s former principal Kondra Rattley.
But overall, he said “you will not know Garinger till the students arrive,” meaning a school is not a school without students.
When I asked Mr. Drye his thoughts on the students at Garinger, he smiled and said, “They are great.” He explained how polite and friendly they are.
During the interview, a student came up and introduces himself to Mr. Drye.
Principal Drye has big plans for Garinger high and really wants to see this school as a top performer academic wise. He wants to make sure the 4-year graduation rate is above 90%.
Mr. Drye will give his all for the staff and students that make up Garinger High School and will make sure 2013-2014 will be a great school year!
Meet Mr. Drye
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Appalachian State University
Married: Almost 24 years.
Children: Elizabeth, 21; Kristina, 20; Danielle, 17; and Griffin, 15.
Teaching Experience: 6 years in middle school, 5 years in high school.
Favorite Food: Homegrown tomatoes
Where you’ll find him on a Saturday: Driving a bus for a band competition or working in his garden.
As early as he can remember, he’s been touching a soccer ball.
His parents are proud of him and his dad attends every soccer game he can.
Throughout his life he’s been asked to go play in Europe, and he is only at an age of 16.
Playing as forward in his past and present teams, Tresor Mbuyu has always has of luck of scoring goals. Tresor says he doesn’t know what motivates his goals, he just scores them.
Coming from Congo at an age of 13, he started playing soccer there and still continues playing so he can grow in skill.
As of now, Tresor attends an academy named One7, where he has been honored to travel and play in such games as the regionals in Virginia and nationals in Chicago.
Garinger High is the school Tresor attends. The school has also given him an opportunity to play in the school team.
“If I had to choose between school and soccer, I’d choose soccer,’’ claims Tresor. As a junior, he is close to graduation and plans to play college soccer. Tresor is not decided on what college he wants to attend but he’s sure that he wants to make it to college.
His favorite player, a Brazilian named Lucas Moura Rodrigues, is also a part of his inspiration.
At the end of a game, Tresor’ s dad gives him words of inspiration, such as “you did great, I’m proud of you son,” and that is what touches him the most, Tresor said.. The emotion after each win touches Tresor as well as his coaches, family and friends.
‘’It simply did not take countless hours of training, money, extra time, etc… For me to be a good player somehow I learned all about life and the game with a ball at my feet,’’ he said.
A new school year brings many new changes to Garinger High School including those of security.
Garinger high school and almost all other schools in CMS have issued a new policy requiring every student to carry an ID badge when on campus.
Assistant principal Terra Kennedy, of Garinger, says that “the purpose of the new ID policy is to ensure the safety and security on the Garinger High school campus for the approximate 1400 individuals on the campus daily.”
After the recent school shootings across the country, CMS wanted to take all the necessary precautions to prevent any violent situations from occurring at the schools, so along with the student ID badges, CMS will be adding more cameras to schools, changing to electronic locks, installing bi-directional amplifiers, and having a new visitor management system, all of which are part of the 19.3 million bond approved in 2007.
Staff at Garinger sees the student ID’s as being very beneficial, such as secretary Mackey who says “it will be easier on security and help with students ditching.”
Many students think otherwise.
“There’s no reason for the ID’s, it’s a waste of plastic” said student Nicki Fite when asked her opinion of the IDs.
Tenth grader Julio Campis said “people will look at it and laugh.”
Regardless of what the students may think, Garinger administrators and the student council will be working together to find ways to make students wear the ID badges, like creating incentives to motivate students to follow this new policy.
These incentives include using the IDs to get discounts at the local movie theaters, discounts on local transportation, discounts on school games, early lunch, admission into the SAT, and pep rallies.
By MyKel Hardy
Ms. Mabe and a couple of volunteer students are building a keyhole garden in the 100 building courtyard.
People have been seen in the middle of the 100 building digging. Students have never noticed it was the keyhole garden.
It is called a “keyhole” garden because of its similar shape to a keyhole to a door.
In the middle of the keyhole garden is the key hole where elevated growing style is presented, and it helps plants grow easier when there is not a lot of sunlight.
The keyhole garden will be made up of a couple main components. It will have vegetables for the school’s pantry, so students will actually be eating fresh fruits and vegetables from 100 building.
It will also be partly an outdoor classroom; the area will be available to teachers to bring their students so they can have class outside. It will bring a new learning environment and students will have fun not being locked in a classroom for an hour and a half.
There will be a pond so that birds, fish and others animals will be able to hang out in their own natural environment and they might even lay their eggs and make it their home here at Garinger. The pond will begin with goldfish and later they will add other types of fish.
You may be asking what will actually be grown in the keyhole garden. Well, luckily I asked Ms. Mabe that exact question and the garden will be growing carrots, onions, broccoli, cabbage and other tasty veggies.
Another question I asked was what kind of wildlife this garden will bring to Garinger?
Ms. Mabe answered that it will bring different species of birds and insects.
Right now students have been putting in a lot of work farming and gardening around the school .I personally have seen students in the 100 building keyhole garden. While some students use this time to lounge around and get out of class, there are some steady contributors that want to make Garinger a better place and give this school a better reputation.
Traditonally Garinger has had a bad reputation but the garden is a way to bring positive press to us.
If you want to help on the new keyhole garden or just are at the school, head over to Ms. Mabes office in the 100 building.
Did you know there are at least 12 veterans working at Garinger High School?
These staff members were honored during Friday Veteran’s Day ceremony.
In recognition of our veterans:
MAJ Tim Gerald
CPT Elmore Brown
1LT Tonya Filmore
CSM Jacqueline Thomas
1SG Cassandra Stephens
MSG Bruce Vinson
Mr. Fredrick Baker
Mr. Fronice Lockhart
Mr. William Stewart
Mr. Robert Robinson
Mr. Ray Carreras
Nurse Fathia Davis
CPT Elmore Brown is giving a speech about how his son is in the Army. This photo is on November 8, 2013, during the Veteran’s Day Program in front of Garinger.
Principal Drye gives a speech and receives two honorable items: a framed certificate from Ms. Bourque and a folded triangle flag from Captain Brown.
This photo is taken on November 8, 2013, during the Veteran’s Day Program in front of Garinger.
Principal Drye is holding the flag and the certificate that was sent from an American soldier from Afghanistan.
This photo is taken on November 8, 2013, during the Veteran’s Day Program in front of Garinger.
First row, from left: 1SG Cassandra Stephens, Ms. Doreen Bourque, Principal Mike Drye, Nurse Fathia Davis, CSM Jacqueline Thomas.
Second row, from left: Mr. Fredrick Baker, MAJ Tim Gerald, 1LT Tonya Filmore, Mr. Ray Carreras, Mr. Fronice Lockhart, Mr. Robert Robinson, MSG Bruce Vinson, CPT Elmore Brown.
The cadets from the JROTC are in their positions, on November 8, 2013, during the Veteran’s Day Program in front of Garinger.
From left: Nurse Fathia Davis, Mr. Fredrick Baker, and Mr. Ray Carreras, are in the AP conference room for a reception, after the Veteran’s Day Program on Novemeber 8, 2013 at Garinger.
Photo by Kimberly Monge
David Breton and his fellow soldiers hold the flag in front of the helicopter in Afghanistan.
A flag from more than 7,000 miles away was presented at Garinger on Friday, November 8, thanks to a Garinger teacher and her son.
Doreen Bourque, an OCS teacher, received a flag and a certificate from her son David Breton, who is in the Army National Guard and stationed in Afghanistan. The flag was flown at an American Army base in Jalalabad, Afghanistan for 1.1 hours on September 27, 2013.
David Breton is a mechanical engineer and a pilot in the army. David sent the flag to Garinger because he wanted to inspire students, especially in JROTC, to achieve their dreams and to show respect for his job and United States. He hopes it will be meaningful to those who want to join the army straight after they graduate from high school.
“Every young man and woman should see it and think about all the people
that came before them that made the choice to serve their country. I made the
decision while I was in high school and not a day goes by where I think back
to then and thank God for all that I have today,” Breton wrote in an email to his mother.
Why is Garinger receiving such an honor? Breton sent the flag to Ms.Bourque because he wants to show respect for her as a teacher at Garinger as well as a mother.
At 1 p.m. Friday there was a tribute to veteran’s ceremony at the flag pole in front of the school. Mr. Cofield played the National Anthem, while JROTC cadets raised the flag. Captain Brown gave an overview about the importance of honoring the veterans. Each veteran was saluted while their name was announced.
Captain Brown presented the flag and Ms. Bourque presented the framed certificate to Principal Drye. The certificate recognizes Garinger’s support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Principal Drye gave a speech about being grateful to receive two honorable gifts and appreciating the veterans serving our country. Lastly Captain Brown gave a closing remark.
“My son has served in Iraq and Afghanistan as well, and our flag represents that freedom isn’t free. There’s a cause. There’s an ultimate sacrifice that our young men and women put on the line everyday of their lives. So, freedom isn’t free,” said Captain Brown.
Ms. Bourque said that her son gift is a legacy that will inspire someone else who wants to join the army. She said when she sees the flag; she feels that her son is here on campus with her.
November 8 was a special day for David Breton because it happened to be his 36th birthday. It is the same day that we celebrated his gift to us.
“I’ve deployed three times now and sure it’s hard, but I think of my family and how I’ve paid for them and myself to live in our Country. I love my country and I serve to show it,” Breton wrote.
The Rambler 