Order Your Free Energy Kit!

We only need ten more kits ordered and we will receive $250.00 for our school. So….if you have not ordered your free energy kit offered by Duke Energy, please don’t delay. Energy kits include LED light bulbs, LED night lights, energy efficient shower head, faucet aerators and more. You can go to www.myenergykit.org or call 1-855-386-9548 to order your kit.

Props to Samone Oates-Bullock!

Samone Oates-Bullock is a full-time student at UNC-Chapel Hill who, with her sorority sisters, weekly comes to Northside Elementary School to coach our NOTM step team.  She was recently spotlighted on WRAL as one of four outstanding young people who making a difference in our community. We are very fortunate to have Samone, and others like her, who support our school community. Please take the opportunity to watch the article by clicking on the photo.

Inspiring Marathon by Ms. Athey - Running in Honor of Those Who Can't.

On Sunday, January 8 2017, Ms. Sandy Athey, one of our amazing Northside Elementary staff, ran her very first full marathon.. in Disney World!  After attempting this same race last year and having to drop out halfway through due to an ankle injury, the finish this year would prove to be even more special and inspiring.  

Ms. Athey realized quickly after last year's attempt that she would ultimately try again, "When I was being shuttled to the finish line after my injury last year, I met a woman sitting next to me who told me she was proud of how far she got because she knew she wouldn't finish the race anyway.  When I asked her why her reply was "Well, cancer'll do that to you."  At that point I decided I would run this race again and finish it in honor of those who can't or may never get the chance to."   

After raising hundreds of dollars for children with cancer, Ms. Athey ran the marathon as a member of Kellsie's Krew, within a charity organization called Kellsie's Hope Foundation through RunDisney  Click on this link, http://kellsieshopefoundation.com/, to donate and/or learn more about Kellsie and Kellsie's Hope Foundation, Inc. 


This year's attempt was not without anxiety or doubt.  Race morning dawned windy and COLD!!!  The wind chills were as low as 20 and the actual temperature was barely over freezing. As she passed the the halfway point of the marathon, she came to the point where she had had to drop out last year due her ankle injury. She ran past the medical tent where she had stopped and thanked God that she was still running this time even though her left ankle and right knee were starting to complain a bit.  However, it was with 8 miles left, with her ankle starting to really scream at her, she seriously questioned if she was destined to fail yet again.  


Ms. Athey shares her final push to the finish line, "At mile 18, I told myself "If (co-worker) can come to work each day with a pretty head wrap on her head and a smile on her face, then I can run one more mile".  At mile 19, "If (4 yr old child) can continue smiling and fighting until the day he passed away, then I can run one more mile".  At mile 20 "If (new friend) can run this marathon after getting a cancer treatment 6 days ago, then I can run one more mile!".  This continued for each remaining mile and gave me the strength I needed to keep going despite the pain and exhaustion I was feeling."

For a better account of Ms. Athey's memorable trip and accomplishment as well as to enjoy the great photos of her experience of a lifetime, you may read her blog, Running in the Autumn Rain,  http://runningintheautumnrain.blogspot.com/.

Ms. Athey is an inspiration to all her know her. We are grateful for her altruism and dedication. She leaves us with one final reflection, "Will I ever run another full marathon?  I'm not sure yet, but I do know that this event was life altering for me and that I will cherish the entire experience forever.  And I will never stop running, racing, fundraising, and fighting for those who need it!" Thank you, Ms. Athey!

Northside Kindergarten Teacher Nominated as a Lifechanger of the Year!

Congratulations to Ms. Kimberly Fearrington, one of our amazing Kindergarten teachers. She is a 2016-2017 Life Changer of the Year Nominee. Ms. Fearrington has served our school community since Northside opened. She has demonstrated dedication, commitment and passion to our district for over twenty years. To all her know her, her love for her students, peers, and community is evident and admired. She serves as a model and mentor to many.

From the LifeChanger profile, "Ms. Fearrington is a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina Central University. A few years ago, Ms. Fearrington was voted Teacher of the Year by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System. As a kindergarten teacher at Northside Elementary, she has the opportunity to mold the education that every student deserves.

Ms. Fearrington has devoted her life to helping educate all students, not only in her classroom, but in the community. You can often find her working at community events, tutoring students in the community or donating her time and personal funds to help a child in need.

Ms. Fearrington has always been known for helping students in any way she can. She is a beautiful, kind and honest person. She is a LifeChanger because of her continued dedication to educating students. Northside Elementary and the Chapel Hill Carrboro School System is very lucky to have such a committed educator who continually gives 100% to the students, staff and community."

For more information regarding this nomination, please go to www.LifeChangeroftheYear.com. For our families who have had the pleasure of working directly with Ms. Fearrington, please join us in celebrating her by sharing your comments while at the site. https://lifechangeroftheyear.com/kimberly-fearrington/.

Culbreth Middle Shares Their Musical Talent With Us.

Culbreth Middle School Band and Orchestra students shared their talents with us this morning as they introduced the many instruments available to learn at the middle school level.  Mr. Berryhill, Band and Ms. Corrie Franklin, Orchestra introduced their groups as well as their programs.

Please click on the links below to enjoy some of the wonderful pieces they shared.

Piece 1

Piece 2

Piece 3

Piece 4

We Love Our Librarian Mrs. Cole!

Our very own Mrs. Cole has been honored as one of nine librarians nationwide by the American Library Association from the almost 1,100 nominations, to receive the award in 2016. Only three recipients represented elementary school libraries – including Ms. Cole. Each honoree received a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and a travel stipend to attend the “I Love My Librarian Award” ceremony and reception in NYC, hosted by the award sponsor, Carnegie Corporation of New York.

“Kat Cole is a shining example of an extraordinary school librarian,” said Nancy Zeman in her nomination for the award. “She helps all students in this diversely populated school build literate lives by creating opportunities to identify as readers by encouraging curiosity and exploration through literature. I have been particularly impressed with her work with underserved students within the school community and with her dedication to encouraging those children to build a positive literacy identity. One of the things that sets her apart is that her reach goes beyond her school as she advocates for best practices in library services at not only her school but also at the school district level to ensure all students have equal access to resources and services.” 

Principal of Northside Elementary, Coretta Sharpless said, “Ms. Cole’s overall mission is to keep literacy and the library a focal point in the school. In order to do this, she ensures that staff members know and understand the critical role the library plays to equalize the playing field in education and how important it is that all children across the school have access to the library and its resources at point of need. She shares school-wide circulation and library usage data with staff to illustrate the importance of library use and academic growth. In addition, she helps cultivate a love of literacy across the school.”

Many friends, parents, staff, family members have shared love congratulatory wishes via social media. Just a few who express how we feel about our very special librarian include:

Destiny Lynn Turner -  Congratulations! You truly are an exceptional librarian and support to both the students and teachers you work with. You really deserve this and I'm so happy for you!

Emily Pratt - That's amazing Kat!!! You're so deserving. That big heart of yours making a difference for so many kids...😘

Kate Champion - What an honor to be recognized for this award in the New York Times!!! You have worked hard and are very deserving. I am so very proud of you!!!

Rebecca Henderson Denton We deserved Kathryn! Thank you for sharing and for ALL you do for children in your community. You are loved by many!!

Please take time to click on the photo above to read Mrs. Cole's reflection on this honor and her trip to NYC!

Mrs. Cole has arrived back to Northside Elementary and is readying for the upcoming Book Fair. She returned to find that the staff and students had taken time out to create a WELCOME HOME banner for Mrs. Cole and hung it in the library to show their love and gratitude.

We do indeed love our Mrs. Cole!

View the Longest Mannequin Challenge ever! Compliments of NES Staff & Students

Always willing to use current trends to support learning and community, our students and staff participated in what may well be the longest mannequin video ever!  Throughout the school day, our videographer traveled through classrooms, hallways, inside and out catching our students thinking, learning and growing. Take a look! Just click on the pic!