Parent Teacher Magazine Gaston County Schools May/June 2018 | Page 10

Hunter Huss teacher is a finalist for state honor “In her classroom, science is interesting, fun, and interactive,” Boone said. “Outside the classroom, she challenges students to be the best at whatever they are doing. She is a leader in education and a role model for students and her colleagues.” Ellis is one of three finalists in the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program. She and the other two finalists -- one from Asheville and one from Polk County -- are competing to represent North Carolina in the national recognition program as the state’s top science teacher for grades 7-12. “Just becoming a finalist for the award is truly a blessing,” said Ellis, who teaches earth and environmental science. While Ellis was surprised to earn the nomination, Hunter Huss principal Brent Boone was not. He says Ellis is an excellent teacher, who makes a difference every day. The PAEMST program is designed to identify and recognize outstanding science, math, and computer science teachers who value STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. North Carolina will have one winner for math and one winner for science. If Ellis wins, she will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend an awards ceremony, engage in professional development, and network with other winners. Schools win financial literacy competition South Point, Highland earn top honors in financial literacy competition Once again, students from South Point High School and Highland School of Technology have captured top honors in the Stock Market Game, a highly- competitive financial literacy program. South Point finished first and Highland took second in the regional competition that featured high school teams from western North Carolina. The North Carolina Council for Economic Education sponsors the Stock Market Game, which tests students’ knowledge of business and finance. The winning team from South Point includes students Nick Matthew, Andrew Robinson, Charlie Tran, and Riley Nichols. Their adviser is David Grimes. The team from Highland includes students Landon Burr, Matthew Stewart, and John Castillo. Their adviser is Dan Froehlich. In the Stock Market Game, the students focused on investing a hypothetical $100,000 in bonds, stocks, and mutual funds. The competition ran last fall from September 5 until December 15. South Point recognized a return in excess of 52 percent over the S&P growth, and the team finished with a virtual portfolio valued at $161,489.48. Highland’s team finished with more than 23 percent over the S&P growth with a total of $132,762.39. 8 • May/June 2018 • Parent Teacher Magazine  The competition teaches students to think critically and to work together to implement successful strategies. According to Grimes and Froehlich, the experience gives students an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills that they can put to use in the field of business and finance. This is not the first time that students from Gaston County Schools have excelled in financial literacy competitions. Last year, South Point won the western regional and state championships in the Stock Market Game and finished fourth in the nation in the Capitol Hill Challenge. Additionally, students from Highland and East Gaston have won financial literacy awards in recent years. Creating a lifetime of healthy smiles - one child at a time! Thank you for voting us as the Best Pediatric Dental Office in Gaston County! 1367-B East Garrison Blvd Gastonia, NC 28054 Laetitia Sery, DDS 980.320.8479 • www.gastoniapediatricdentistry.com