The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) School Nutrition Services Section, along with a diverse group of partners, is inviting all private nonprofits, public organizations and advocates interested in eliminating summer hunger for children to participate in the fifth annual SummerPalooza! Summits. This year’s theme, “Strength in Numbers,” represents a focus on collaboration among diverse partners to create more sustainable and successful Summer Nutrition Programs in North Carolina.

The four regional, day-long celebrations and planning events are aimed at increasing participation in and awareness of North Carolina’s Summer Nutrition Programs for children. The Summer Nutrition Programs, which are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by NCDPI, provide funding for meals and snacks to children ages 18 and younger when school is out.

During 2017, nearly one million North Carolina children were eligible to receive free summer meals based on family income. According to the Food Research & Action Center’s Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: 2017 Summer Nutrition State Report (pdf, 442kb), less than 16 percent of those children received summer meals through the program. NCDPI is expanding its efforts to encourage more organizations to become program sponsors, and to provide more meal sites across the state. Almost 3,000 sites served meals statewide in 2017 and 2018, but more are needed. The SummerPalooza! Summits will connect, educate and empower organizations and individuals to work together so more children and teens will have access to free summer meals in 2019.

“Children and teens often look forward to summer as a time for friends and fun. However, many students do not look forward to when school is out, because it means a break from the school breakfast and lunch programs that so many of them depend on for nutritious meals,” said Lynn Harvey, section chief for School Nutrition Services at NCDPI. “One in four children in our state struggle with not knowing where their next meal will come from. Along with hunger, students can experience learning loss and a lack of physical activity if not engaged in educational enrichment programs. Connecting them to Summer Nutrition Programs will help fulfill these critical needs so that students may return to school ready to learn.”

Organizations wanting to be a part of the solution in their communities are encouraged to register for a SummerPalooza! Summit. The dates, locations and registration deadlines are noted below. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided. Preregistration is required.

Tuesday, October 30

Hickory Metro Convention Center, Hickory

Registration deadline is October 23, 5 p.m.

Thursday, November 1

N.C. State University McKimmon Center, Raleigh

Registration deadline is October 25, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, November 14

East Area Health Education Center, Greenville

Registration deadline is November 7, 5 p.m.

Friday, November 16

J.C. Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh

Registration deadline is November 9, 5 p.m.

N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs provide educational enrichment and meals at no cost to children and teens, ages 18 and younger when school is out. The NCDPI, School Nutrition Services Section administers Summer Nutrition Programs with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For questions regarding N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs, contact NCDPI Summer Nutrition Programs Manager Cynthia Ervin.

This past week NC Governor Roy Cooper announced that he would be directing $4 million to fight a new giant mosquito epidemic now spreading through our state due to Hurricane Florence’s flood waters, according to a press release.

“To help local communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, I’ve directed state funds for mosquito control efforts to protect people who live in hard-hit areas.” Gov. Cooper said.

NC State University entomology professor Michael Reiskind told The Fayetteville Observer Newspaper that Hurricane Florence’s floodwater has woke up massive numbers of dormant eggs from the mosquito species Psorophora ciliata. These mosquitoes, also called “gallinippers,” are most well known for their painful bite and post-flood swarms.

 

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Who’s out here mutating these mosquitoes This thing is as big as a nickel

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Not only do these massive mosquito swarmps cause painful bites, but many of them are now carrying deadly viruses.

According to the governor’s press release, “the most commonly reported mosquito-borne illnesses that can be acquired in North Carolina are LaCrosse encephalitis, West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis.”

DHHS’ Division of Public Health is now urging residents in North Carolina to pay attention to any standing water on their property and to watch for hatching mosquitoes. They recommend using natural BTI on standing water to quickly kill mosquito larvae.

They are also encouraging residents to apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, essential oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 before going outside on humid days.

The North Carolina State Board of Education recognized three public schools earlier this month for exemplary leadership and instruction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. These schools are the latest schools to be recognized under the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s STEM Recognition Program.

Earning recognition as NC STEM Schools of Distinction were Greene County Middle School, Meadowview Magnet Middle School in Surry County and Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy in Davidson County.

State Superintendent Mark Johnson commended the schools for attaining STEM Schools of Distinction recognition.

“Students in all schools will graduate into a world where STEM skills already are highly valued,” Johnson said. “These schools are helping to lead the way with exemplary instruction that’s preparing students to succeed and thrive in that world.”

The STEM Recognition Program was developed by NCDPI in partnership with representatives from schools, business and industry, and postsecondary institutions as a way to identify and recognize schools with outstanding STEM programs. The application process rubric is built around NCDPI’s STEM Attributes, which describe characteristics of a high-quality STEM school.

Since the program was started in 2014, a total of 29 public schools have earned STEM recognition.

NC STEM Schools of Distinction exemplify outstanding leadership and learning, which empower keen creative thinking, reasoning and teamwork – the underpinnings of 21st century skills. Schools that earn recognition also systemically interweave science, technology, engineering and mathematics into complementary coursework in the Arts, Career and Technical Education, English language arts, Healthful Living and World History. Both Greene County Middle and Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy were recognized for Model Level of Achievement, which perform the attributes to a highest standard as measured by the rubric used to in the STEM recognition program.

Overall, 12 applications were submitted for possible recognition during the 2017-18 school year. Schools pursuing recognition underwent a rigorous application process that required:

• Detailed responses and evidence addressing each of the 11 attributes of quality STEM education and more than 40 key elements that define the quality characteristics rooted within the attributes;
• A self assessment of the school aligning to the attribute implementation rubric; and
• Identification of their best practice of educational excellence.

To receive this honor, schools designated as STEM Schools of Distinction are rooted in a culture where creativity and inquiry exists among students, teachers, administrators and community members. The schools also emphasize engaging students in a way of innovation and problem solving to seek solutions, and collaborative teamwork. Additionally, schools have established a network of community relationships and strategies that foster purposeful connections between student studies and the world outside their classroom.

In all, the schools approach education with intentionality to engage and inspire students through learning experiences that are real, relevant and balanced whereby all content areas are equally responsive to cultivating growth and success.

In addition to being honored by the State Board of Education, the schools will be recognized on the department’s STEM web page and the NCSTEM Center Portal and receive a specially designed STEM School of Distinction banner provided by the NC Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. This year’s recognized schools were celebrated also with a reception sponsored by the Public Consulting Group (PCG), which presented custom plaques to each recipient to display within their schools and at their district offices.