Public Information Officer Carrie Venable notes, “This event is a great way for rising kindergarteners, homeschool families, and potential students to see the wide variety of the offerings found in MACS on a condensed scale. It would not be possible to execute such a production without staff members taking ownership and pride in their work. Our well known hashtag #MACSawesome does not exist without them.”
Prior to entering the school, individuals had access to Jon Doss, transportation director, who brought an activity bus to the event, carnival games provided by Cooke Rentals, along with a seatbelt convincer, and number of distracted driving simulations brought in by North Carolina DWI Taskforce members. When doors opened, people were greeted by Mount Airy Middle School Interact students who were led by advisor Nicole Scearce.
The MACS School Nutrition Department provided the free meal which highlighted the favorite entree for many of “old school” pizza.The staff served over 600 plates throughout the night which required all hands on deck as people rotated through the cafeteria during the two hours. Jones Intermediate School’s Lighthouse Team members along with Mount Airy Middle School’s Student Government Association served in shifts to keep the cafeteria clean for attendees. The warm and nutritious meal provided at the event is something that students experience daily on all four campuses. Our cafeterias also serve hot breakfast items and provide snack for after school programming.
Student performances were organized by MACS Lead Art Teacher Gena Ray. Mrs. Ray worked with Jonathan Jones, band director, and Tri-M Honor Society students to run sound and keep performances on schedule. Dr. Kim Morrison, Superintendent, welcomed the crowd and introduced the first performance of the night. The dual language immersion (DLI) students, spanning kindergarten-fourth grades, sang several songs showcasing their bi-lingual ability. Second grade DLI students rapped a song written by Señora Reales that exhibited their language and math skills. Jones Intermediate School 4th and 5th graders followed and performed under the leadership of Meredith Dowdy, who played the guitar. Mount Airy Middle School’s Jennifer Riska led choral students while Ray’s high school students followed with a series of songs showcasing what they have learned this year. The final performance of the night was MAHS’s band which has consistently been the closing performance, leaving attendees energized and excited.
The vendor style informational booths were a big hit as administrators and teachers were able to connect with parents and students outside of the normal learning environment. Tharrington Primary School highlighted their Walking School Bus initiative, Leader in Me program, Dual Language Immersion classes, and STEAM framework. Jones Intermediate School also shared their part of the dynamic STEAM framework along with Club Day, Spanish for all, and AIG services. Mount Airy Middle School staff members featured their academic and athletic competitions, national recognized HOSA club, Richard Childress Racing partnership and STEAM framework, as well as their actions around career exploration. Mount Airy High School promoted its exceptional Career and Technical Education programs, Chinese classes, and services provided through the Bear C.A.V.E and career development programming. An aspect of the night that is always highly attended is HOSA’s Boo-Boo Clinic. Students in the health science club run a health fair and assist younger students as they bandage their favorite toys’ injuries.
In addition to school booths, partners of the district were once again invited to attend and share their services with families. Ten partners joined this year including: Chick-fil-A, Cooke Rentals, Daymark Recovery Services, NCDWI Taskforce members, Johnson’s Xtreme Softwash, Mount Airy Appearance Commission, Mount Airy Parks and Recreation, Mount Airy Fire Department, Mount Airy Police Department, and NextGen. Kelly Epperson and Brack Llewellyn from WPAQ/WSYD once again joined the event to broadcast the happenings and interview students and staff throughout the evening.
Superintendent Dr. Kim Morrison boasts, “The great crowds at our event shows our strong community support. Thanks to our staff for all of their hard work to showcase the many innovations we have in each of our schools.”
While the district has this event once a year, school tours are open year round. Those interested in taking a school tour are invited to call a school or visit www.mtairy.k12.nc.us and click Contact Us to fill out a form. Homeschool families looking to partner with the district are encouraged to call Central Office at 336-786-8355.