The Sparta Express

Last Call to order Caps/Gowns!!! Seniors, if you have not ordered your cap and gown, you MUST order it NOW!! Please go to Jostens.com and order. If you need assistance, please see your counselor or Mrs. Russell asap!

Our Staff/Student Talent Show Friday May 31st @6pm. "SSS Got Talent" Auditions will be held May 22nd and 23rd during Sparta time. Finalists will be posted by the auditorium on May 24th. Dress rehearsal will be May 30th 2:30pm to 4:30pm Talent Show is May 31st 6pm to 8pm

Join JCPS Career & Technical Education for the 2024 Summer Career Accelerator Program. Experiences include career exploration, skill development, and networking opportunities for students in rising grades 6-12.

Free for JCPS students!

Lunch & transportation is provided for JCPS students.

APRIL 15 - Priority Registration Deadline

MAY 12 - Final Registration Deadline.

Details about each program can be found by visiting the CTE Summer Programs website.

Elections are here!!! Students who are looking forward to serving their school in a government role should plan to attend a meeting during Sparta Time on Thursday April 25th, in the media center with Mr. Williams. All students are welcome to attend the meeting.

Campaigning will begin shortly after the meeting. Voting will begin on Monday May 6th, and end on Thursday May 9th. If you have any questions please feel free to email Mr. Williams @ michaellwilliams@johnston.k12.nc.us or stop by room 2311.

Chromebooks, Chromebook power adapters, and any other technology that students have borrowed will be collected beginning Friday, May 24th. Label all devices and their peripherals with the student’s name (neatly printed). Place everything in a clean, dry plastic grocery bag and tie it off. Collections will primarily occur in the morning by the Gym lobby entrance. Students are encouraged to complete any online work by May 24th. Also, graduating seniors must resolve any fees on their school accounts.

The Gardening Club will meet Tuesday 4/28 afterschool from 2:30-3:30 this week after school to work on cleaning up the memorial garden courtyard. Anyone interested in helping is welcome to join. For more info, contact: Mrs. Heinzerling crystalheinzerling@johnston.k12.nc.us

The next Drivers Education class begins Monday, April 29th. In order to register for the class, the student and the Parent/Guardian MUST attend the next Parent/Student meeting on April 22nd from 6 pm-7:30 pm in the SSS Cafeteria. You must be on time and bring a pen with you to the meeting. You can find all the class dates on our school website under the Student tab/Drivers Education. Contact Coach Lori Rose with any questions.

Boys Basketball Open gym will be held:

Mondays 2:30-4:30

Wednesdays 3:30-4:30

Fridays 2:30-3:30

All participants must have a current physical and current Dragonfly account. Please see Coach Mayo, Coach Williams, or Coach Zinser for any additional information.

SENIORS: Grab this opportunity! Caterpillar Apprenticeship

The Caterpillar Apprenticeship Program is approximately a three-year program where apprentices will work part-time at Caterpillar and take classes part-time at Johnston Community College. During the program, apprentices will have job rotations in bothe Operations as a Product Assembler and in Logistics as a Warehouse Associates.

This is a paid apprenticeship! Successful candidates who complete the Caterpillar Apprenticeship Program will receive:

• Associate Degree from JCC in Applied Engineering

• Journeyman status in a specific trade

• Full-time Caterpillar position

For more information, please see Mrs. Judy Yow in Student Services.

Learn more and apply at https://careers.caterpillar.com/.../r0000249206-2024.../

Food Pantry will be open April 29th from 3-4:30 pm.

The 2024 Johnston County Special Olympics Spring Games were an incredible success at Smithfield-Selma High School. JCPS student athletes, and children from around Johnston County, competed in track and field events such as Standing Jump and Softball Throw. The opening ceremony included music, singing, and encouraging words from guest speakers. The games lasted two days and were so much fun for the hundreds of athletes, families, staff, staff volunteers, and student volunteers who participated. Congratulations to everyone that competed, and the countless number of staff and volunteers that ensured the athletes felt the magic!

AVID students embarked on a 3 day college and culture tour last week to “Peruse our Past and Forge our Future”. We toured 3 colleges, visited Williamsburg, Jamestown settlement, Va. Air and Space Museum, the Va Aquarium and Naval Science Center and Busch Gardens. Many thanks to the Nan Ogburn Cullman grant and several other Va. education grants for making this adventure possible!

Remember to get your meningitis vaccinations before starting your senior year. You can call for an appointment at Johnston County Health Dept at 919-989-5200 before the rush begins.

May 24th- Junior Meeting during Sparta Time. All Juniors / rising seniors will need to attend. This is an opportunity to:

Introduce CADY to upcoming seniors

• Provide a preview and highlight options for their senior portrait experience

• Gather data to ensure students and their families receive important booking information

• Ensure NO ONE is left out of their senior yearbook

You’ve earned your Senior status — now it’s time to enjoy it! From stylish apparel to custom photo cards and thoughtful keepsakes, we have everything you need to celebrate your time in high school.

EXPLORE GRAD PRODUCTS

Our Graduation will be Friday, June 7th, at 10am in our Football Stadium.

Seniors! It's not too late to start or finish your Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Don’t miss out on the largest source of student aid to pay for college or career school!​ Submit your 2024-2025 FAFSA® form today! http://fafsa.gov

Planning to attend Johnston Community College after graduation? You'll need to complete the FAFSA to take advantage of the JoCo Commissioners Promise Program and attend tuition free next year. More info at https://johnstoncc.edu/.../financ.../jocopromiseprogram.aspx

Please read Ms. Garcia’s emails for important announcements and scholarships. There are many local scholarships, so please take the time to apply! Email Ms. Garcia with any questions or concerns.

Seniors, please order your cap/gown NOW! www.jostens.com

Two of our teams snagged major victories last week that deserve a huge shout out. Stunt, who happens to be a brand new team in their first year, got their first win in school history! JV Baseball took a win over Southern Wayne! Rumor has it that it was their first win in 9 years! Way to go teams!

One of the ways that we have tried to make this year special for our students is to bring back traditional aspects of high school. A Varsity Letterman's Jacket is one of those special things that make high school special. Whether you are a Varsity football player, a member of the marching band, Varsity Basketball player, or Varsity Cheer or Stunt member--- a letterman's jacket is something that you can have forever. Visit the Josten's website to design and purchase a coat that tells your high school story. You can even make payments!

If you are looking for a job, Chick-Fil-A is HIRING! Use the information below to apply.

Be sure that you check out this link for LOTS of Enrichment Opportunities: http://bit.ly/jcpsenrichment

Many of these opportunities are shared by JCPS Student Services. If you are not following them on Facebook--- YOU SHOULD BE! They often post incredible opportunities for students and information about scholarships. Even if you are not a senior--- many scholarship opportunities are available each year. Start familiarizing yourself with opportunities and requirements so that when it is your time--- you are ready to apply! https://www.facebook.com/jcpsstudentservices

JCC Summer Camp registration is now open! Learn more and apply for camps at https://www.johnstoncc.edu/summercamp/index.aspx

Great news! Camp scholarships are available to rising 6th-12th graders thanks to JCPS Career & Technical Education Apply for camp scholarships by April 15 at https://shorturl.at/cyJR9

Summer opportunity for rising 9th-12th graders!

Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine is hosting a Mini-Medical School for rising 9th-12th graders. This one-day camp will be held on Thursday, June 27 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Cost is $50 per participant which includes a T-shirt. Snacks and lunch will be provided.

Location is Levine Hall - 4350 HWY 421 South, Lillington, NC 27546

Register here https://campbell.co1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_eJMcsvF0Cq4BK5g

Summer volunteer opportunity alert for students ages 15 and up!

This one is super popular with JCPS students interested in health care. The application is now open for UNC Health Johnston’s Summer Junior Volunteer Program. The application closes April 15, 2024. More information and eligibility requirements can be found at https://www.johnstonhealth.org/volunteer/junior/

Summer opportunity for rising Latinx/Hispanic 11th & 12th graders!

UNCG CHANCE is a 4-day residential summer program for Latinx/Hispanic rising high school juniors and seniors. During their time on campus, students will participate in college preparation and leadership skills development. CHANCE 2024 is July 17th- July 20th on the campus of UNC-Greensboro.

Learn more and apply at https://www.uncg.edu/.../summer-camps-and.../summer-camps/

The NCVPS EDVANTAGE Tutoring Program will be available to individual middle school and high school students nightly from 4 PM to 7:30 PM, Monday-Thursday.

To have your students begin tutoring sessions, please direct them to:

https://ncvps.org/edvantage-tutoring/ or they may use the QR Code on the JCPS + EDvantage Tutoring Program Flier

Once on the Edvantage Tutoring website, students should simply click their school district, Johnston County Public Schools and/or school name. Students will find an expandable section that guides them along as they create an account, and then enter the tutoring platform. "How To" videos are also available right below the "Schedule A Session" button.

Please encourage students to:

• Begin creating their accounts;
• Sign up for tutoring sessions in advance (or on the same day); and
• Write down their username and password (for use each time)

Please reach out to me if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns with the EDvantage Tutoring Program. I look forward to hearing how the tutoring sessions are going with your students.