HIGHLIGHTS2014-15

School Year HighlightsHenderson County Public SchoolsThe Henderson County Public School District is the 27th largest school district in North Carolina and the second in Western North Carolina, comprised of 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 4 high schools, 1 early college and 1 education center.

16th Highest Graduation Rate in State The North Carolina Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate reflects the percentage of ninth graders (their cohort) who graduated from high school four years later. In 2013-14, Henderson County Public Schools had the 16th highest graduation rate in the state, maintaining its trend of exceeding the state’s average.

Graduation Rate

8 Schools Win Energy Conservation Awards Henderson County Public Schools have worked extremely hard over the years to conserve energy and the district enforces compliance with approved energy guidelines, updates equipment and facilities, and continues to monitor and track energy consumption using EnergyMasterPro – a web-based software application. Developed for use in public school systems, EnergyMasterPro enables us to track, analyze and manage energy consumption and expenses. Additionally, audits provide information we need to improve our employee-based energy management program. Energy-saving schools were recognized in two categories: Total Energy Savings compared to the baseline set in 2010 and an MVP – Most Valuable Participant – for having the best energy audits for 2014-15. Elementary: Sugarloaf Elementary won the MVP Award for Best Audit and Dana Elementary won the Total Energy Savings Award. Middle: Hendersonville Middle won the MVP Award for Best Audit and Flat Rock Middle won the Total Energy Savings Award. High: Balfour Education Center won the MVP Award for Best Audit and West Henderson High won the Total Energy Savings Award.

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School District has 12th Highest SAT Score of the 115 LEAs in North Carolina The Henderson County Public School District had the 12th highest SAT score of the 115 Local Education Agencies in the state of North Carolina in 2014. According to The College Board’s annual SAT report, 47 percent (or 412) of HCPS high school seniors took the SAT in 2014, scoring an average of 1022 (when the Critical Reading and Mathematics scores are combined) and a 1507 Grand Total score (when the Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing scores are combined). Sixty-four percent (or 57,997) of North Carolina high school seniors took the SAT college admissions exam in 2014, and scored an average of 1006 and a 1483 Grand Total score. Our district’s Grand Total score was 10 points above the nation’s Grand Total score of 1497 and 24 points above North Carolina’s Grand Total score.

District & SchoolAchievements

Early College Recognized as NC New Schools “School of Innovation and Excellence” Henderson County Early College High School was one of four schools in North Carolina to be selected in January 2015 by NC New Schools as a “School of Innovation and Excellence,” identifying it as a leader in academic excellence and innovative practices aligned with the NC New Schools Design Principles. The public-private partnership works with 140 schools statewide to improve performance and ensure that students are college- and career-ready upon graduation, and assesses the schools’ progress based on its Design Principles: a six-pronged framework of best practices emphasizing effective teaching, personalized learning, and leadership.

Clear Creek Elementary & Etowah Elementary Named Title I Reward Schools Clear Creek Elementary and Etowah Elementary were named Title I Reward Schools and designated as high-performing schools – meaning they’re among the top 10 percentile of Title I schools in the state that have the highest absolute performance for all students and subgroups over a number of years.

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Dropout Rate

School District Dropout Rate Remains Below State Average For the seventh year in a row, Henderson County Public Schools’ dropout rate in 2013-14 remained below the state average and is approaching a zero percent dropout rate. At 1.75 percent, our dropout rate was .53 percentage points below the state rate of 2.28 percent. Henderson County Public Schools’ rate has decreased significantly over the past seven years. Since 2007-08, when HCPS had a dropout rate of 3.04 percent (compared to the state rate of 4.97 percent), the local rate has decreased by 1.29 percentage points.

2015 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year Regional Winner Scott Rhodes, Principal of East Henderson High, was named one of eight regional winners in the Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year competition, winning $1,000 for his school and another $1,000 for personal use. Before becoming a regional winner, Rhodes was chosen to represent the district as Principal of the Year for HCPS. He was selected by his peers because of his commitment and dedication to the students and leadership in service of East Henderson High. Principal at East Henderson High since 2013, Rhodes has been with HCPS since 1992 and has served as principal at Flat Rock Middle School and assistant principal at North Henderson High School.

Faculty & StaffAchievements

NCAMLE Western Region Central Office “Administrator to Watch” Dr. Kathy Revis, Henderson County Public Schools’ Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, was named the 2015 Western Region Central Office “Administrator to Watch” by the N.C. Association for Middle Level Education.

NCAMLE Western Region “Team to Watch” Rugby Middle’s seventh-grade “Seahorse Team” teachers Laurie Rigg, Katie McCrary, Carol Levi, Neil Cawfield and Donna Talbert were selected as the 2015 Western Region North Carolina “Team to Watch” by the N.C. Association for Middle Level Education.

JROTC Instructor of the Year for North Carolina East Henderson High’s Master Sgt. Michael Jensen, U.S. Air Force Retired, was named the North Carolina Council of Chapters Enlisted JROTC Instructor of the Year by The Military Officers Association of America. Jensen was selected from the 16 officers nominated by each of the North Carolina chapters.

Bruce Drysdale, Clear Creek, Hendersonville, Hillandale, and Mills River Elementary Schools; Apple Valley and Rugby Middle Schools Earn PBIS Recognition

Recognition. It was the fifth year Bruce Drysdale Elementary earned the recognition, the third year for Hillandale Elementary, and second year for Hendersonville Elementary. Apple Valley Middle earned designation as a Model/Banner School in the initiative, and Mills River Elementary and Rugby Middle earned designations as Green Ribbon Schools. The schools met all the requirements for these designations and demonstrated the results that the schools and PBIS school teams achieved by working together, using school data to implement research-based practices and developing supportive systems to teach all students new behaviors.

Bruce Drysdale, Clear Creek,

elementary schools earned the Hendersonville and Hillandale

the designations of Exemplar Schools in the North Carolina Positive Behavior & Support (PBIS) Initiative Annual

North Carolina School Nurse of the Year Delores Parris, RN, and Nationally Certified School Nurse, was named the North Carolina School Nurse of the Year. Parris has served children of all ages and conditions during her 15 years working in Henderson County Public Schools, and was also honored in 2007 in the N.C. General Assembly as the Nurse of the Day.

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Exceptional Children Teacher of Excellence Sheri Todd, an Exceptional Children teacher at Glenn C. Marlow Elementary, was named the 2014 Exceptional Children Teacher of Excellence for Henderson County Public Schools, and attended the Exceptional Children Divsion’s 64th Conference on Exceptional Children – the state’s largest gathering of professionals and parents of children with disabilites.NCSTA Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Stephanie Patton, a second grade teacher at Fletcher Elementary, was named the District 8 Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year at the North Carolina Science Teacher’s Association conference in November in Winston-Salem. Teaching in and out of the classroom, Patton is known for sharing science through literature lessons, and coordinates Fletcher’s annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Fair.2015 STEM Fellows Cohort Selection Fletcher Elementary’s Patton was also chosen by professional development program Discovery Place Education Studio for its flagship STEM Fellows program. Patton was one of 26 educators from the Carolinas chosen from 70 total applicants for the three-year fellowship, during which they’ll learn skills and tools to engage action-based research and increase STEM content in their classrooms.

North Carolina Bright Ideas Grant Winner Rebekah Pace, a first grade teacher at Hillandale Elementary, was awarded a North Carolina Bright Ideas grant through North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. Her grant was worth over $1,000 and provided a mobile cooking cart to be used and integrated into school-wide classroom curriculum aimed at teaching children nutrition while learning new math skills.

Faculty & Staff Achievements cont’d.{ } 2014-15 National LifeChanger of the Year

Award Second Runner-Up Kristen Kicklighter, English and history teacher at Balfour Education Center, was nominated for the 2014-15 National LifeChanger of the Year award, advanced and was chosen as one of the Top Ten LifeChanger of the Year winners. From there, she was named second runner-up, winning a $5,000 cash award to be split between herself and Balfour. Created and sponsored by National Life Group, the LifeChanger of the Year is an annual program that recognizes and celebrates K-12 educators and school system employees who impact students’ lives through leadership and positive influence.

Annah Lord, fifth grade teacher at Dana Elementary, and Hendersonville Elementary’s media coordinator Candice Greedy each received 2015 Papa John’s Teacher of the Year Awards after being nominated by their students.

2015 Papa John’s Teachers of the Year

NCCAT Slater Family Honored Educator Scholar Kelly King, visual art teacher at West Henderson High, was named the Slater Family Honored Educator for 2015-16, a scholarship that pays tribute to all the Slater family members dedicated to education careers. Each year an exemplary public school teacher from Henderson or Jackson county is chosen for the scholarship to attend the N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching session of their choosing.

Tom Savage, science teacher at Henderson County Early College High, was chosen to participate in a cetacean and turtle research cruise in the North Atlantic during the summer of 2015 as part of the 2015 class for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Teacher at Sea Program. Savage monitored and collected data on marine mammals, fisheries and oceanic conditions aboard the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, and kept a blog about his experiences for his students in Hendersonville.

NOAA Teacher at Sea Program Research Cruise

USA Today High School Sports’ North Carolina’s Football Coach of the Year Paul Whitaker, West Henderson High’s football coach for five years, was named USA Today High School Sports’ North Carolina’s Football Coach of the Year. With an 8-5 record this year, the Falcons were one of the area’s most improved teams, up from 1-10 in 2013. Whitaker also led West Henderson’s first home state playoff win in 24 years, when the Falcons beat Kings Mountain 41-27.NCHSAA Homer Thompson Memorial “Eight Who Make A Difference” Award Winner Sue Moon, North Henderson High’s girls basketball and volleyball coach, received a Homer Thompson Memorial “Eight Who Make a Difference” Award from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. The sportsmanship award is named in honor of the late Homer Thompson, former Winston-Salem Parkland coach and member of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.

North Carolina Press Association 2014 News, Editorial & Photojournalism Contest Winner Molly McGowan Gorsuch, Henderson County Public Schools’ public information officer, won a second place 2014 North Carolina Press Association award in Division D’s Education Reporting category while still the education reporter at the Hendersonville Times-News. The winning article explained the correlation among free and reduced-price school meals, children in poverty, hindrances to learning, and federal Title I funds.

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2015 National Merit® Scholarship Winners Maliha Khan of West Henderson High was awarded a National Merit® Scholarship for one of 60 schools across the country. Mitchell Dennison of East Henderson High was awarded a National Merit® Scholarship sponsored by Furman University, where he’ll receive $1,000 a year for four years. Dennison is the only student in Henderson County to receive and accept a college-sponsored Merit Scholarship in 2015.

U.S. Presidential Scholar Ellie Caldwell of North Henderson High was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar, and was one of only 10 Presidential Scholar nominees from North Carolina. Established in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to honor outstanding high school seniors, the program considers students with high SAT or ACT scores and those demonstrating accomplishment in creative writing, visual and performing arts – and is still one of the nation’s top honors for high school students.

Boys & Girls Club 2015 North Carolina Youth of the Year Winner Emmanuel “Manny” Acosta of Henderson County Early College High was named the 2015 North Carolina Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America for his academic excellence, leadership, and service. He will receive scholarships totaling $10,000 from BGCA and the North Carolina Area Council of Boys & Girls Clubs and serve as a community leader and teen ambassador.

ASBDA Encore Award Winner Allen Klaes, band director at West Henderson High for the past seven years, was recognized by the American School Band Directors Association with an “Encore Award.” The Encore Awards are presented annually by the North Carolina Chapter of the ASBDA to outstanding band directors with fewer than seven years of experience in the profession to honor their achievements and service.

Holocaust Studies Fellowships Recipient Todd Singer, American History teacher at East Henderson High, received the Henia Leibman Fellowship from Holocaust Museum Houston to attend an 18-day International Seminar on Holocaust studies at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, and the Naomi Warren Fellowship to learn how to teach genocide to students from Holocaust survivors in Houston, Texas.

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Acceptance into U.S. Army All-American Marching Band William Hinchcliffe, a trombone player from West Henderson High, was accepted into the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band to play at the Alamo Bowl in January 2015. During bowl week, the 125 band members received instruction from top collegiate, high school, and drum and bugle corps instructors from across the country and educational sessions with U.S. Army Field Band members.

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North Carolina Theatre Conference Awards Students in the theater programs at East Henderson, Hendersonville, North Henderson and West Henderson high schools won several awards for the original plays they wrote for and performed at the 2015 North Carolina Theatre Conference Awards. Hendersonville High’s “(Exit the Queen)” advanced to the state festival Nov. 20 and 21 at Greensboro College. Hendersonville also won the Theatre Arts Award for Excellence in Playwriting, an Excellence in Acting Award (Brad Schweikert), an Excellence in Directing Award, the Best Actor of the Festival (Maxim Foster), Best Actress of the Festival (Eleanor Palmer), and the Distinguished Play Award. North Henderson High’s “Halfway There” won an Excellence in Original Script, and Excellence in Acting Awards (Jordan Briggs and Jessica Strickland). West Henderson High’s “Dearly Departed” won a Theatre Arts Award for Comedic Business, a Production Arts Award for Stage Management, and another Production Arts Award for Sound Design. East Henderson High’s “Sea Change” won a Theatre Arts Award for Creative Use of Ensemble.

North Carolina Stop Rx Abuse PSA Contest Winner Alex Arcara of Hendersonville High won first place in the high school division of the statewide Stop Rx Abuse PSA Competition, sponsored annually by the North Carolina Attorney General, the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, the North Carolina Parent Resource Center, and the Governor’s Institute on Substance Abuse. Arcara traveled to Raleigh to accept the award and an Apple iPad from Attorney General Roy Cooper in May.

FIRST Robotics Competition North Carolina Regional Winners

March, and represented the state at the FRC Championships in St. Louis, Missouri in April. The team also won the USFIRST Engineering Design Award for North Carolina and had the highest score of the 55 teams that competed in the N.C. Regional. Led by Coach Mike Murphy, the Gorillas consisted of John Muse, Brandon Krepela, Christopher Krepela, Devon Gonthier, Wyatt Bentler, Henry Fiantaca and Oussa Bun of West Henderson High, Carlin Compton and Avery Patten of Hendersonville High, Matthew Gregoire and Malika Khan of North Henderson High, Adam Bryant of East Henderson High, and Olivia Brock of Henderson County Early College High.

Henderson County Public Schools’ Robotics Team 1225: The Gorillas won the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) North Carolina Regional at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh in

Leah Dorn, West Henderson High – Natural ScienceAndrea Kolarova, Hendersonville High – Natural ScienceBrett Levi, East Henderson High – Instrumental MusicHannah McCullough, East Henderson High – English

Devon Mumaugh, East Henderson High – FrenchDakota Tittle, East Henderson High – Math

2015 Governor’s School WestHannah Fischer, East Henderson High – Dance

Victoria Schandevel, Hendersonville High – EnglishMadeline Soss, Hendersonville High – Natural Science

The Governor’s School of North Carolina is the oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students in the nation. The program, which is open to rising seniors only – with exceptions for rising juniors in selected performing/visual arts areas – is located on two campuses. Governor’s School East is located at Meredith College in Raleigh, and Governor’s School West is located at Salem College in Winston-Salem.

2015 Governor’s School East

N.C. State University Park Scholarship Winner Lily Goff of Hendersonville High was a recipient of the four-year Park Scholarship at N.C. State University, which is valued at $98,000 in-state, includes a computer stipend, grants for research projects and conferences, and a mentorship program.Congress of Future Medical Leaders Selection Kara Bonello of West Henderson High was nominated by the Medical Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists to represent her school at the 2015 Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston, Mass. An honors-only program for high school students set on becoming physicians or entering medical research fields, the Congress provides medical school advice, medical research and technology information from Nobel Laureates, National Medal of Science Winners, Ivy League and top medical school deans and patients.

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NCHSAA Pat Gainey Student Scholarship Winner Bradley Schmidt of Hendersonville High was selected by the N.C. High School Athletic Association for its 2015 Pat Gainey Student Scholarship Award, which recognizes athletic achievement and strength of character in an outstanding high school baseball player and female athlete each year and awards $2,000.

Student Achievements cont’d.{ }

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Region 8 Western Regional Science and Engineering Fair Award Winners Four Hendersonville Elementary students attended the Region 8 Western Regional Science and Engineering Fair at Western Carolina University in February and won several awards. Lillian Johnson earned Honorable Mention and the WCU Department of Chemistry & Physics Award, Crayton Higgins won the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute award, and Emma Grace Palmer and Caroline Pope each earned Honorable Mentions. Students who earned Honorable Mentions qualified for the N.C. Science & Engineering Fair at Meredith College in March.N.C. Science Olympiad Regional Winners Three high schools and two middle schools earned a total of 8 gold, 11 silver and 16 bronze medals at the N.C. Science Olympiad Asheville Regional at UNC-Asheville in February. Henderson County Early College High’s varsity team ranked fifth of 15 in its division and Flat Rock Middle’s varsity team ranked sixth of 13 in its division. Alithea Whisenant, Holly Lane, Christian Brown, Lisa Scarduzio and Dawn Noel Lane from Henderson County Early College and Alex Acosta and Mackenzie Savage from Flat Rock Middle won first place overall for their projects and advanced to the State Tournament.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Silver Medalist Michaela Orr of Hendersonville High was the winner of a Gold Key and an American Vision Award for her painting, “Birds and Stars,” in the 2015 Western Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Her painting was sent to compete in New York City along with more than 250,000 pieces of student artwork and was singled out to receive a National Silver Medal – which Orr received at a ceremony in Carnegie Hall in June.Western North Carolina Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Gold Key Winners Annalyse Wilkins of West Henderson High won a Regional Gold Key for Poetry for her works, “Cigarettes Don’t Spoil,” “Everyday Anxieties,” “Elements,” and “Little.” From East Henderson High, Lucy Campbell won a Gold Key in Painting for her work, “Beards,” and Sheridan Mentch won a Gold Key in Drawing & Illustration for her work, “Casey.”

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National FCCLA Representative Sydney Singleton of Balfour Education Center competed in the Career Investigation Event at the state Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) leadership conference in April. Her project won a gold medal and she represented North Carolina at the National FCCLA meeting in Washington, D.C.

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Two-Time 2015 NCHSAA 3A Track State Champion Tanis Baldwin of East Henderson High won the 2015 North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 3A State Championships in both the 800- and 1600-Meter events – finishing his high school running career with nine state titles.

First Ever Times-News Female Athlete of the Year Jonnie Petree of North Henderson High was named the inaugural Times-News Female Athlete of the Year in June. Petree excelled in volleyball, basketball and softball, setting school records in the latter. She set school records for career batting average (.459), at bats (331), runs (139), hits (152), triples (11), stolen bases (42), total bases (224) and assists (159).

Daughters of the American Revolution Essay Contest Winner Audrey Hood of Mills River Elementary won first place in the Daughters of American Revolutions’ American History Essay Contest, with her creative take on how a child entering the United States would perceive Ellis Island.

Carl Sandburg Poetry Contest Winners Three Henderson County Public Schools students presented their winning poems at the public reception for the 2015 Carl Sandburg Poetry Contest in April. In the 6th-8th Grade Division, Louise Cummins of Hendersonville Middle won first place for “When,” and Journee McMinn of Hendersonville Middle won second place for “Black Bear.” Hendersonville High’s Erin Justice won the People’s Choice award for “Through a Child’s Eyes” in the 9th-12th Grade Division, and Eleanor Palmer of Hendersonville High created the cover art for the year’s chapbook of winning poetry.

Student Achievements cont’d.{ }

Megan Edwards, a rising senior at North Henderson High, was named by the American Legion Tar Heel Girls State a Samsung American Legion Scholarship National Finalist. She will join 97 other National Finalists countrywide in competing for one of twelve scholarships – each worth an expected $20,000.

Samsung American Legion Scholarship National Finalist

Elks Club Americanism Essay Contest Winners Catlin Harris and Cooper Wilson of Clear Creek Elementary won second and third place for their grade levels respectively in the 2014-15 American Essay Contest sponsored by the Elks Club. Naomi Robinson of Flat Rock Middle won third place for her grade level.

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NCHSAA Commissioner’s Cup Winners North Henderson High’s Lady Knights basketball team was awarded the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Commissioner’s Cup, which recognizes athletic and cheerleading teams for their community service efforts. Winning schools identified needs within their communities, conducted service projects, then submitted one-minute videos explaining how they served. Led by Coach Sue Moon and Assistant Coaches Tracy Horne and Kindra Taylor, the winning team consisted of Rebekah Bagwell, Reva Bagwell, Shelley Banz, Teegan Bullock, Hannah Brackett, Ellie Caldwell, Megan Edwards, Mikayla Lammons, Caroline Marsh, Jonnie Petree, and Lori Simpson.

2014 NCHSAA 2A Volleyball State Champions Hendersonville High’s Women’s Lady Bearcats volleyball team won the 2014 North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 2A Volleyball State Championship – the third consecutive state championship and title for the Lady Bearcats, and the 12th in the history of the program. Led by Coach Erica Cantrell and Coach Lindsey Huntsinger, the winning team consisted of Cyrena Bedoian, Victoria Schandevel, Blaire Hawkins, Micayla Bedoian, Savanna Roper, Grace Gruebmeyer, Julia Slawek, Cassie Born, Sydney Gilliam, Kara Menck, Kaitlyn Capps and Robbi Clark. Born was named the match MVP for the second consecutive season.

WNC Athletic Conference Players of the Year Samantha Holmes, a striker for West Henderson High’s women’s soccer team, was named the WNC Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, and North Henderson High’s defender Elizabeth Baird was named the Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.

West Henderson High’s Band & Ensemble Awards At Enka High School’s Land of the Sky Marching Band Festival, the Flying Falcons won Grand Champion of the 1A and 2A classses, First Place Overall in Class 2A, First Place in Music and Drum Major, and Second Place in Colorguard and Percussion. At the North Henderson High Knight Tournament of Bands, they earned Second Place Overall in 3A and Second Place in Music Marching, Percussion, Drum Major and Colorguard. The band also won Grand Champion of the 1A and 2A classes at Pisgah’s PaperTown Tournament of Bands, where they earned First Place Overall in Class 2A, First Place in Music and Colorguard, and Second Place in Percussion. At Brevard College’s Porter Center, the Band and Wind Ensemble played music in Grade 6 – the most difficult musical classification – for the first time and earned Superior ratings.

North Henderson High’s Band & Ensemble Awards At Boiling Springs High School in Boiling Springs, S.C., the Marching Knights had the highest music score of the event, finished third out of 20 bands and won the Music & Percussion Caption award. At Mooresville High School, they won awards for Music, Effect, Marching, Colorguard and Percussion – and were named First in Class. The band received a Superior rating at the North Carolina Music Performance Assessment at Providence High School, where the Marching Knights also competed and finished First in Music and Second in Visual Performance and Effect. The band was also the first band from Western North Carolina to be selected as a finalist at the Bands of America Regional held at Wake Forest University.

Hendersonville High’s Band & Ensemble Awards In March, the Hendersonville High School Concert and Symphonic Bands traveled to Orlando, Florida to participate in Festival Disney, where the national judging panel included the directors of bands from Notre Dame University, Florida State University and Gardner Webb University. The Concert Band earned an Excellent rating in their school size division and Grade 4 level. The Symphonic Band entered a higher school size division so as not to compete against their own Concert Band, and earned a Superior rating – the highest rating given – performing Grade 6 (college-level) literature. Their Superior rating was one of only four Superiors awarded by the judges over the three-day Festival with 68 bands competing.

East Henderson High’s Band & Ensemble Awards At Enka High School’s Land of the Sky Marching Band Festival, the Marching Eagles placed First in Colorguard, Second in Music, and Third in Class A. At the North Henderson Knight Tournament of Bands, the Regiment and Guard won First in Music, Marching, Percussion, Drum Major, and Colorguard in Class AA. At the Chase High School Trojan Tournament of Bands, the ensemble won First in Colorguard, Second in Drum Major and Music, and Third in Class. At the Pisgah Papertown Marching Festival, the band won Second in Class and in Music, and Colorguard finished with its first undefeated season in three years. East’s Winterguard moved up to a higher class, Scholastic Regional AA, and finished Second in Class at the Seneca Competition, Third Place at the CIPA Championships, and Third Place at the Blue Ridge High School Competition.

Henderson CountyPublic Schools

414 Fourth Ave. WestHendersonville, NC 28739

Website: hendersoncountypublicschoolsnc.org

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Atkinson Elementary

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East Henderson High

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SuperintendentDavid L. Jones

Board of Public Education Chairperson: Ervin Bazzle

Vice Chairperson: Mary Louise CornColby CorenLisa Edwards

Amy Lynn HoltJoshua Houston

Rick Wood