Top Stories of 2021: Systemic Concerns at East Chapel Hill High School
To reflect on the year, Chapelboro.com is re-publishing some of the top stories that impacted and defined our community’s experience in 2021. These stories and topics affected Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the rest of our region.
Late this year, several educators within East Chapel Hill High School’s special education department reached out to 97.9 The Hill to express concerns over discrimination within the department. Since that story broke in November, ECHHS has seen student protests, community debate and renewed conversations about systemic racism on campus and in the school system.
According to educators in ECHHS’s Exceptional Children department, a department-wide meeting was called on October 4 to discuss the removal of two Teachers Assistants (TAs) from Constance Leder’s classroom. At that meeting, sources said administrators told staff that TAs Darrell Parker and Adam Watkins were asked to move due to a parent’s request that no African American males work with their child.
97.9 The Hill has since reviewed the email from the family who requested a change in TAs in Leder’s classroom. The family, who is being kept anonymous to protect sensitive information about their child, did not include any phrasing regarding race or gender in their request.
While the email detailing the parent’s request was not shown at the department meeting, according to department educators, this incident ultimately led to multiple grievances being filed with the school’s human resources department as well as the resignation of Adam Watkins.
Since 97.9 The Hill published its original story about the Exceptional Children department, Watkins has come forward to share what happened at that October 4 meeting and why he ultimately chose to resign.
“The administrator, Ms. Leder, and several other TAs were called into that meeting that morning,” Watkins said. “What was said was that this particular family didn’t want Black males working with their daughter. I mean, they pretty much singled out Mr.
Darrell [Parker] for some reason.”
97.9 The Hill confirmed that in the emailed request, the parent raised concerns regarding Parker’s behavior and attitude toward their child; however, there was no mention of Parker’s race or other TAs’ races.
“The actual principal himself wanted me to move,” Parker told 97.9 The Hill. “And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not moving,’ and I left it like that. I said I’m not moving because this is not right. I have not done anything. I can’t help that I’m Black.”
97.9 The Hill also confirmed that Watkins was not mentioned in the parent’s request, despite him maintaining that administrators still asked him to move classrooms. When asked if any other reason was given at the department meeting for the transfer of Parker or himself, Watkins said nothing else was cited outside of their race.
“It wasn’t an issue of being moved to do another job because, as TAs, we are called upon to do multiple jobs at any given time,” Watkins said. “That wasn’t an issue.
The issue was being moved for the color of our skin. That bothered me — and it bothered me that our administration was not backing us.”
Watkins said there was a lot of confusion among the department’s teacher assistants surrounding the incident. He said several emails were exchanged discussing TA movement, including from ECHHS Principal Ken Proulx. But Watkins said the administration never came to him to explain what was happening. He said the stress of the situation eventually proved to be too much for him, leading him to resign November 4.
Since then, ECHHS students have raised their voices advocating for more transparency, justice, and racial equality. From student-led protests, to sit-ins, to a bus ride to the Lincoln Center – which is the district’s administrative office – multiple student groups joined together to make their concerns heard following Thanksgiving break. This included a meeting held between student protesters and ECHHS Principal Ken Proulx, who is set to leave East Chapel Hill High School at the end of the calendar year.
Photo by Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford/The ECHO.
Following student demonstrations on campus, at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ (CHCCS) Board of Education meeting December 3, an abundance of students, staff, parents, and community members attended to air their grievances during the public comment period.
There, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Youth Council collectively stood at the podium to address the larger issue of fair representation in the classroom. Kendall Lytle, a senior at ECHCCS and president of the youth council, said in her seven years in the district, she has only had two Black teachers.
“The continuous loss of these members, especially black faculty and staff has become a norm in this district,” Lytle said. “A majority of the youth council consists of students at East, and we’ve seen firsthand the detrimental impacts of these losses. As you are aware, students of color, especially Black students, struggle disproportionately in this district in comparison to our peers.
There is no doubt those struggles are related to the feeling of unsupport by not having faces of faculty and staff we can relate to beyond custodial and cafeteria staff.”
Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP board member Diane Jackson, a former CHCCS employee of 30-plus years, said district leadership must “address the racial elephant in the room” to dismantle systemic racism in the school system.
“I wholeheartedly trust the superintendent’s commitment to transparency,” Jackson said. “It is the greater community and the institutional strongholds that are concerning to me. While many things aren’t for public consumption, it is the responsibility of the school board that you ask the questions, that you investigate the inaccuracies.”
Following the board meeting, CHCCS superintendent Dr. Nyah Hamlett Hamlett said ECHHS’ Exceptional Children team is currently reviewing student schedules, healthcare plans, Individual Education Plans, “as well as providing instructional resources to ensure the school is providing the highest levels of support to our teachers, substitutes, teaching assistants and others.
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Lead photo via Hammond Cole Sherouse/The ECHO.
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Dear Parents of 11th Grade Students,
An important form regarding graduation assessment requirements has been published to your Genesis Parent Access portal in your “Forms” tab. The form is named “NJGPA Acknowledgement”. A parent/guardian is required to log into their Genesis account, type their name at the bottom of the form, and submit it to acknowledge that they have read the form.
The form is being published to student accounts as well for informational purposes. Parents will be unable to access any other area of their Parent Access account until the form has been submitted.Thank you!
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Cherry Hill East
Bell Schedule 2022-23
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The form is being published to student accounts as well for informational purposes. Parents will be unable to access any other area of their Parent Access account until the form has been submitted.
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Common App/Naviance Summer Workshop Offered in July and August for High School Juniors and Their Parents
Looking to get ahead of the college application process? As more than 90% of Cherry Hill East college applications are completed via the Common Application, we have designed a Common App/Naviance Summer Workshop for FREE!!! This workshop will be hosted by School Counselors Darren Gamel and Bert Figueroa and held at Cherry Hill High School East.
Students (and parents) are welcome to attend the session that is convenient for them, as they are all the same. Please take advantage of this incredible opportunity to relieve stress and get ahead of the college application process by completing about 85% of the Common Application by the end of the workshop.The same workshop, a two-hour session, will be offered on two dates: July 20 and August 1, 2023 at at two times, 2:30 and 6 pm.
Registration is required. Full information, including a registration link, is available online.
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West and East Students Earn Top Awards at NJ Junior Classical League State Convention
Latin students from High Schools West and East joined hundreds of other students across the state on Saturday, May 13, 2023, to compete in athletic, artistic, and academic contests as part of the NJ Junior Classical League State Competition.
Our students earned 32 first, second and third place awards. Cherry Hill was the only school district with three Certamen teams qualifying for the state championship in both 2022 and 2023. A list of the winners is available online. Congratulations to everyone!
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Application Deadline for 2023 P-EBT Program for Summer Meal Help Is 6/16/23
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) is a program to help families purchase food for their child(ren) eligible for free or reduced-price school meals at a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).
Summer P-EBT extends benefits during the summer months following a school year during which there was a COVID-19 public health emergency.
For families who have NOT submitted a free meal application for the 2022-2023 school year, applications are due June 16, 2023.
A full explanation and instructions in English and Spanish are available online.
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Students (and parents) are welcome to attend the session that is convenient for them, as they are all the same. Please take advantage of this incredible opportunity to relieve stress and get ahead of the college application process by completing about 85% of the Common Application by the end of the workshop.
Our students earned 32 first, second and third place awards. Cherry Hill was the only school district with three Certamen teams qualifying for the state championship in both 2022 and 2023. A list of the winners is available online. Congratulations to everyone!
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HIB Grade Report | Anti-Bullying Information Page
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45 Ranoldo Terrace Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
(856) 429-5600 x4367Jenn DiStefano
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East Anti-Bullying Specialist
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Graduation course: how will the last bell go in the country’s schools | Articles
The last call in most regions of Russia will be held in person.
This is evidenced by the responses of 25 regional ministries of education to Izvestia. But restrictions due to COVID-19 will still not be avoided. Each class will celebrate the holiday separately, and parents in some regions will be allowed to attend it only if they have been vaccinated. The epidemiological situation allows holding full-fledged celebrations on 9 Street0004, where the likelihood of contracting a coronavirus is low, experts say.
Classes will not meet
In most regions of Russia, the last call will take place offline, but with different restrictions due to the coronavirus. Such a conclusion can be drawn from the responses of 25 regional ministries of education to Izvestia. Basically, restrictive measures will affect the participation in the ceremony of graduates of several classes at once and their parents.
For example, in the Tambov region, the holiday takes place on May 21 and 22. Most schools will hold ceremonial assemblies.
At the same time, each of them can independently choose the format and date of the last calls. The head of the educational institution will decide whether the parents will be present at the celebrations. His decision, in turn, depends on the epidemiological situation in this school , Izvestia was told in the press service of the Department of Education and Science of the Tambov Region.
Last call at secondary school No. 376 of the Moskovsky district in St. Petersburg
Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexander Galperin
In the Saratov region, the event will also be held in person, in compliance with the recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor, the regional education ministry said.
– Small schools will be able to invite students of different grades, possibly parents of graduates. And in large schools, where it is impossible to accommodate students, taking into account social distance, only graduates of one class and, possibly, their parents will be able to attend the solemn line.
Also in such schools it is recommended, if necessary, to divide the ruler for 9th and 11th grades, – the press service quoted the words of the acting. Minister of Education of the region Mikhail Orlov.
In the Sverdlovsk Region, ninth graders are advised to limit themselves to solemn class hours. For graduates of the eleventh grade, it is proposed, if possible, to hold events in the open air – on the school grounds.
Theatrical performance during the last bell at school No. 1252 in Moscow
Photo: RIA Novosti/Valery Melnikov
“This will allow the whole parallel to meet at the holiday, as well as invite parents. In addition, this format complies with the requirements of anti-terrorist security, ”the information portal of the region reports.
In Sevastopol, parents will be able to attend the event only by appointment, the media reported earlier.
Attention to the mood
In several regions, Izvestia was told that security measures would be strengthened during ceremonial assemblies on school grounds.
So, in Udmurtia, on May 22, on the day of the holiday, they will limit the sale of alcohol, every three hours they will walk around the surrounding areas of the school for the presence of foreign objects, pay special attention to access control to buildings, and conduct additional briefings with employees on actions in the event of an emergency.
“The attention of class teachers will also be drawn to the communication of children in social networks, to their moods in general,” the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic reported.
Safety in schools should of course be a priority. The main thing is that anti-terrorist measures do not become too tough , Anatoly Vyborny, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, noted in an interview with Izvestia.
A graduate during the last call at school No. 1252 in Moscow
Photo: TASS/Sergey Karpukhin
It is necessary to effectively use those means that have proven their effectiveness.
It is impossible to strengthen control measures and turn a school into a military unit. Security measures should not put pressure on children, oppress the psyche of minors, the expert warned.
– Professional security has shown effectiveness in providing security in schools, he noted. — Good results are achieved through preventive measures. For example, in Moscow, the preventive rate ranges from 30 to 70%. Unfortunately, in the regions it is less.
Izvestia was also told about special attention to security measures in the committee of education and science of the Kursk region. The publication sent a request to the Ministry of Education with a request to tell about the recommendations during the last call for schools.
Vaccination entry
In the Ivanovo region, only those parents who have completed a full course of vaccination against coronavirus will be able to come to the solemn assembly for 11th grade, the regional education department told the publication.
The same rule will apply to artists and photographers invited to the event. At the same time, the holiday itself will be held in full-time format, and even a one-time presence of various classes is allowed if the line is organized outdoors.
Given that the last bell in many schools will take place on the street, the chance of spreading coronavirus infection is significantly reduced, said Vladislav Zhemchugov, MD, specialist in especially dangerous infections, immunologist.
— I don’t see the prerequisites for a jump in the incidence due to school events. There is such a thing as a contagious dose. These are thousands of viral particles that a person must inhale so that his immunity fails, and he eventually gets sick. Therefore social distancing of 1.5 meters on rulers outdoors where there is wind is more than enough. You can stand closer. The chances of getting infected on the street are ten times less than indoors. Moreover, the virus feels worse in the sun, he explained.
Graduates during the last call at school No. 1252 in Moscow
Photo: RIA Novosti / Valery Melnikov
Regarding indoor events where there is no forced ventilation, the expert considers it necessary to separate classes and hold a holiday in turn.
— School principals together with representatives of Rospotrebnadzor and epidemiologists should decide on the format of the last call, — he stressed.
In person, according to Izvestia, they plan to make the last calls in the Vologda, Moscow, Sverdlovsk, Nizhny Novgorod and other regions, as well as in the republics of Komi, Bashkortostan, North Ossetia-Alania, Perm, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Primorsky Territories.
Gorky Park, time capsule and skits – School. Moscow
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Graduation traditions in Moscow schools
Graduation party is a long-awaited and exciting event in the life of every student. It symbolizes the transition to adulthood: exams are over, and everyone has to choose their own path.
Presentation of certificates, farewell to teachers, dances and concerts – this day is filled with many events and traditions. Some of them have long been known and familiar, others are new. We tell you how graduations are celebrated in the capital.
In Moscow, graduation parties are held on the twentieth of June. The official ceremony in each school is organized according to the established canons: the solemn presentation of certificates and medals, parting words from the director and teachers.
City celebration in Gorky Park and alumni ball
Many schoolchildren celebrate graduation at large city venues. One of the key ones is Gorky Park: guests enter its territory along the red carpet to the sound. Numerous interactive activities, theatrical performances, photo zones and concerts are organized for them on the site. The program of the holiday is based on an annually chosen theme, and the culmination is a solemn high-altitude fireworks display. In 2023 9Graduation 0090 in Gorky Park will be held on June 24, and, according to tradition, will bring together more than 30 thousand children.
This year, the main themes of the celebration are “First” and “Mentors”.
The All-Russian Alumni Ball is also held in the capital. As a rule, it includes five locations: Alexander Garden, Sapozhkovskaya Square, the Kremlin Palace, Red Square and Gostiny Dvor. On the main stage of the Kremlin, former schoolchildren are met by popular artists, DJs and presenters.
Festive decoration
Many Moscow schools are specially preparing for the holiday in advance and decorate the school with stylish photo zones, where graduates take vivid photos for memory with pleasure. By the way, you can download layouts of presswalls, rollups, posters, tantamares and other thematic designs absolutely free of charge here!
Cadet badge
Since 2019, all schoolchildren who have completed cadet classes in Moscow are awarded a special badge “Graduate of the cadet class”.
The badge represents the coat of arms of the cadet education. It depicts St. George the Victorious, a silver sword and feather, personifying the upbringing of future defenders of the homeland.
Living corridor and dancing
In many schools, for example, in school No. 1598, No. 1296, No. 1411, there is a tradition of “living corridor”: students from all classes line up on both sides with flowers in a corridor along which all graduates pass, and the guys from other classes congratulate them and give them flowers. And the obligatory part of the program is dancing! Sometimes, as in school No. 1223, the dance of graduates is a real work of choreographic art!
Time capsule
In addition to the established official curriculum, educational institutions have their own traditions. For example, graduates of school No. 1502 in 2019year, they laid a “time capsule” with wishes, hopes, badges and talismans. It is stored in the office of director Vladimir Chudov and will be opened in 2029.
Cadets near the Kremlin walls
Over the years, graduates of the First Moscow Cadet Corps received certificates in new locations. Among them: Alexander Garden, Manezhnaya Square, Cathedral Square of the Kremlin. After the presentation, graduates, corps employees and guests of the holiday usually lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In 2021, the ceremony was held on Poklonnaya Hill, and in 2022 it will be held at the Navigator School, a cadet school dating back to the times of Peter the Great.
Skits and performances
School No. 315, after graduation last year, hosted a skits – a theatrical performance prepared by teachers based on the world bestseller Harry Potter. School No. 166 annually welcomes its graduates with a red carpet. The guys walk along it in columns led by class teachers to applause and camera flashes. And after the presentation of certificates – the second, unofficial part of the holiday with a performance in which the roles are played by teachers.
School No. 1530 also has a tradition of a skit with the participation of teachers called “Teachers Show”.
Trees in memory of the school
At School No. 1793, graduates plant trees in Memory Alley and launch balloons into the sky. Eleventh-graders from the Bibirevo school also plant trees in the yard, with the help of first-graders.
Virtual travels and video chronicles
The children from school No. 2025 went on a tour of countries and continents on an airship, where they were met and congratulated from the monitor screen by the first persons of the states – such a video was prepared by the teachers. Eleventh graders danced tango in Argentina, rock and roll in Canada, jazz in Africa, and a fan dance in Japan. The world tour ended in Russia with a quadrille, which was danced by everyone – both class teachers and graduates.
At school No. 1158, each graduating class prepared touching author’s videos with frames of the chronicle of school events. And graduates of school No.