Northwestern High School Jazz Festival on March 1st #Jazz #rockhill #winthrop

Saxophonist Dave Pietro and the Dave Pietro Group will perform at the 12th Annual Jazz Discovery Music Festival on Saturday, March 1st, at 7:30 pm in the Northwestern High School Auditorium in Rock Hill.  His talents as a gifted saxophonist, composer, and educator have made him an in-demand musician who has performed at jazz clubs, jazz festivals, schools and concert halls in more than 30 countries throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. From 1994-2003 Dave played lead alto saxophone and recorded six CD’s with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. He has toured and/or recorded with the bands of Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Maria Schneider, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Fedchock, Mike Holober, Anita Brown, Pete McGuinness, Jim Widner and Arturo O’Farrill.  Pietro has also performed with many other well-known musicians such as Paul Anka, Louis Bellson, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bobby Caldwell, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Feinstein, Chaka Khan, Liza Minnelli, James Naughton and John Pizzarelli. Dave also studies East Indian music and has performed with various groups led by Indian tablist Sandip Burman.  Also appearing on the concert will be the Winthrop University Jazz Ensemble with guest soloist Will Campbell from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. 

Mr. Pietro will also perform with the Northwestern High School Senior Jazz Ensemble at 3:00 and along with the members of the Dave Pietro Group will present free instrument clinics starting at 3:45.  The festival includes performances by high school and middle school bands from across the North and South Carolina throughout the day as well as a performance by the All-Star Special and a student jam session at noon.  All the school performances and clinics are free and open to the public. Contact Mark Yost if you are interested in attending the evening performance.

Kicking for Cancer #rockhill

Local High School Soccer Tournament to benefit Brain Cancer research

Rock Hill, SC. February 20, 2014. The Northwestern Trojans Soccer program will be hosting the inaugural Bryan Ostrower High School Soccer Showcase sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings, at the beautiful Manchester Meadows soccer complex. The tournament will run from Friday, February 28^th to Sunday, March 2^nd on the Brannan and Carlisle Stadium turf fields.

The Trojans will play the Dorman Cavaliers in the big Friday night game at 7:45pm with exciting prep soccer continuing throughout the weekend culminating in the final match on Sunday at 2:15pm. Ticket prices are $5 per session for adults, $3 per session for students, with an all tournament pass $15.

Manchester Meadows on Saturday will be hosting a “Walk for Brain Cancer” at 1:30pm. All members of the public are invited to show support for the fight against cancer.

The tournament is being played in memory of for former Trojan soccer player and York County referee Bryan Ostrower. In addition to his officiating duties, Bryan worked for Rock Hill School District. Bryan was diagnosed with cancer in February 2010 and after a long and dignified fight, Bryan passed away on March 7^th 2011 Bryan was a loving husband to Alison and a father to three beautiful children Evan (8), Collin (6), Hopelyn (3). Northwestern High School will be donating $500 in honor of Bryan to the Duke University brain tumor center

For Tournament updates please follow @TroajnTourney on Twitter  

Rock Hill School Board February Work Session Self Evaluation #rhschoolboard

			Meeting Evaluation
		DIRECTIONS: By evaluating our past meeting performance, we can discover ways to make future meetings shorter and more productive. Check each item "Very Good" or "Adequate " or "Needs Improvement. " If you check "Needs Improvement, " include suggestions for improvement.
					Date:	Monday, February 10, 2014
	95%	Our discussion was cordial and well balanced (not dominated by just a few members).
		Comments:  None
	95%	Participation was encouraged
		Comments: None
	85%	Reports were clear, well prepared and provided adequate information for decision making.
		Comments:  Please provide all materials needed in advance
	90%	Our meeting room was comfortable and conducive to discussion and decision making.
		Comments:None
	My favorite discussion was…….. Because…..
	Branden Miller was very good. Update on iRock and exceptional students. Calendar - answered all questions, even the rough. iRock - we need more discussion as we progress - but the discussion was cordial and thoughtful. It was long (ORED report), but the info on the community was interesting. Branden Miller. Mildred getting a hug from Branden.
	My suggestions for future board meetings are...
	Value added evaluation for proposed topics for discussion. Achievement Committee to meet before March Work Session. $850 million pension liability.

Rock Hill School District Foundation Awards Teacher Grants #rockhill #rhsd3

The Rock Hill Schools Education Foundation is pleased to award $5,090 in Teacher Grants!

 

For more than 25 years, The Rock Hill Schools Education Foundation has been extremely generous in awarding grant money to Teachers for innovation in their classrooms or schools. Grants are awarded twice each year (August and January).  A listing of January recipients are provided below for your review.  Please congratulate these outstanding Teachers and help promote their enterprising work!

 

 

Mt. Holly Elementary                         Jennifer Camp                   “Let Me Show You How iRock”                   $1,000

 

 

Northside Elementary                       Robyn Piers                        “Three Chimes on Habits of Mind”           $1,000

School of the Arts

 

 

Oakdale Elementary                           David Norton                     “The Rockin’ Robotics Club                          $1,020

                                                                                                                                at Oakdale Elementary School”

 

Rock Hill High                                         Emily Rapposelli                “Creative Critique”                                          $990

 

                                                                    Kristen Starcher                “Bring Learning to Life through                  $1,080

                                                                                                                                  Career Lunches”

Innovation Gala on WRHI's Straight Talk #rockhill #rhsd3 #rockhillschools

Straight Talk: 02/04/14 Colleen Cousens & Serena Williams

Posted February 4, 2014 1:30 pm | Filed under Programming, Straight Talk
By Mike Crowder

Colleen Cousens, Rock Hill Schools Foundation President; and Serena Williams, Rock Hill Schools Coordinator of Community Services; join Andrew Kiel on Straight Talk.

03:36

29:40

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Comments

Watch SC Senate Common Core Discussion Wednesday at 10 AM #rhsd3 #rockhillschools #rhschoolboard

There is currently a full court press against implementing Common Core in South Carolina (and in other states). A large contingent  against Common Core atttended Senator Hayes "Town Hall" meeting last night.

The South Carolina State Senate Education Committee will have a meeting at 10 AM, Wednesday, February 5, 2014 to hear a presentation on the pro's and con's of Common Core. The meeting will be streamed live from the legislature. Click here and follow the link(s) to watch it live on Wednesday.

The Rock Hill School Board was not asked for an opinion before the state decided to go with Common Core, nor have we been asked for an opinion on the current debate. What you should know is that we have not taken a position, but our district has spent money on Common Core and we have implemented it. A wholesale change would be  disruptive to the educational process and create a wasted expenditure of resources.