Buncombe County Schools -

The Buncombe County Board of Education will meet in regular session on November 2, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Minitorium at 175 Bingham Road, Asheville. **Public Comment will be accepted in person. Members of the public wishing to speak will need to come to Entrance “B”. Doors will open at 4:45 p.m. and speakers must arrive no later than 5:15 p.m. to complete entrance screening procedures and sign in to speak. All speakers will have precisely three minutes to speak and must adhere to guidelines set forth in BCS Policy #2310 – Public Participation, including all reasonable rules established by the Superintendent. **Following monthly Public Comments, the Board will hear public comments specifically related to the required board policies addressing the State’s Parents Bill of Rights statutes. These policies are linked in the meeting agenda. **https://www.buncombeschools.org/o/bcs/page/current-public-board-agenda Individuals wishing to speak during this time should sign up on the designated sheet before the meeting begins. These comments will adhere to the same public comment guidelines set forth in BCS Policy #2310. Additionally, parents may email comments to be shared with the Board of Education to communications@bcsemail.org Given the desire of BCS to provide the most information possible to the public, the public may view the live broadcast via YouTube on the BCS Communications Department YouTube Account at: YouTube.com/BuncombeSchools

We're so excited to see the next generation of teachers! According to AIG Specialist Stephanie Knox, on Friday, October 21, BCS Teacher Cadets and Future Teacher Clubs had an exciting day of learning and thinking about their bright futures! UNC-Asheville hosted these BCS high school students for their UNC-A Future Teacher Conference! Students enjoyed interacting with a panel of UNC-A teaching students, toured campus, and heard from faculty and staff presenters. The keynote speaker was Kimberly Jones, NC Teacher of the Year, 2023. Participating students were from: North Buncombe High, TC Roberson High, Erwin High, and Nesbitt Discovery Academy. "Many thanks to our UNC-A Bulldog neighbors for providing a day of learning and hope, mixed with Bulldog hospitality!"

Update for this year's Mid-Year Graduation: The ceremony will be held on January 27, 2024, at Harrah's Cherokee Center Arena at 11 am; the Inclement Weather Date is January 28, also at Harrah's Cherokee Center Arena at 2 pm. Please reach out to your student's school for more details. #BCSGrads #BCS

Announcing this year's Mid-Year Graduation! The ceremony will be held on January 27, 2024, at Harrah's Cherokee Center at 11 am; Inclement Weather Date is January 28, at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at 2 pm. Please reach out to your student's school for more details.

The Buncombe County Schools Board of Education is committed to providing a safe, inviting, and civil educational environment for all students, employees, and other members of the school community. The Board expects all students, employees, volunteers, and visitors to behave in a manner consistent with that goal. The Board recognizes that bullying and harassing behavior creates an atmosphere of intimidation and fear, detracts from the safe environment necessary for student learning, and may lead to more serious misconduct or to violence. Accordingly, the Board prohibits all forms of bullying and harassing behavior, including encouragement of such behavior, by students, employees, volunteers, and visitors. Additional information on reporting and responding to bullying is available here>>> https://bit.ly/3YG6ib4

🎒🖍📓 This weekend, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officers and BCS staff members will be collecting school supplies at the Walmart on Hendersonville Rd. (1636 Hendersonville Rd.). The hours are: Saturday, August 19- 10 am to 8 pm & Sunday, August 20- 10 am to 2:30 pm. Examples of school items are as follows but not limited to: -Book bags—lunchboxes—pencil boxes -Binders—papers—art supplies (crayons/colored pencils) - Pencils—pens—markers—highlighters - Tissues—hand sanitizer—cleaning wipes -Water bottles—dry erase markers—plug in ear- buds—other school related items -Printer paper We hope to see you there as we work together to help ALL students have a great start to the school year!

Attention, BCS Staff: We hope you are having a wonderful summer. Don't forget to check our Employee Values page regularly for local special discounts just for educators. . . . https://www.buncombeschools.org/o/bcs/page/employee-values

🌞 Our Summer Meals Program is in full swing! All children in our community are welcome to stop by one of the sites pictured below for a healthy meal! . . . . #community #summermeals #summer #summer2023 #bcs

🇺🇸 Buncombe County Schools would like to wish our school community a Happy #4thofJuly! Have a wonderful and safe day! 🎆 . . . . #elevate #fireworks #freedom #patriotic #bcs #wearebcs #bcsadvantage #asheville #avl

☑️Vote for the Buncombe County Schools Foundation to win one of 12 grants being awarded by The Community Betterment Foundation in honor of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce's 125th Anniversary! Through July 31, you can support Buncombe County Schools Foundation in its mission to build a strong and dynamic foundation for Buncombe County Schools students and educators. Please vote for the Foundation once a day to win one of twelve $10,000 grants in partnership with the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. There is strength in numbers; together, we are more through this powerful collaboration- “Building Community Through Business.” Vote once a day to support BCS students, educators, and faculty. Follow this link: https://woobox.com/hsn3i5 Learn more: https://www.ashevillechamber.org/.../celebrating-125-years/

🎓The Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy celebrated its second class of graduates ever last Saturday. Congratulations! 🎉 You may view and download photos here>>> https://bit.ly/BCSVA23 . #virtualacademy #onlinelearning #bcs #bcsgrads #elevate #bcsadvantage #asheville #avl

🎓🎉Congratulations to T.C. Roberson High School's #Classof2023. These students crossed the stage last Saturday evening to receive their diplomas. You may view and download more photos here>>>https://bit.ly/BCSTCRGrad2023 . #RamFam #roberson #bcsgrads #elevate #bcs #BCSAdvantage

Proud of our 2023 Community High School graduates! Hats off to them for this big achievement and life milestone. Check out all the photos from the ceremony here: https://bit.ly/BCSCHSGraduation2023 #elevate #bcsgrads #bcs #wearebcs #bcsadvantage #PublicSchoolProud

Breakfast and lunch will be provided at no cost to all students next school year! We are pleased to inform you that Buncombe County Schools will be implementing a program available to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). We will also implement Universal Meals at Nesbitt Discovery Academy (NDA). What does this mean for you and your child(ren)? Great news! All enrolled students at Buncombe County Schools are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no cost to your household each day of the school year. Parents (except those with students at NDA), there are no action steps for you to take at this time to participate in this program. We look forward to serving your students beginning August 28, 2023. NDA parents will receive separate instructions regarding Universal Meals. If you have any questions about this letter, please contact us at Buncombe Schools Nutrition Office, 828 255-5932.

Congratulations to the Clyde A. Erwin High #Classof2023! Graduates and their families celebrated this milestone on a beautiful Saturday morning at their football stadium. You may view and download photos from the ceremony here>> https://bit.ly/43EHIJr #elevate #bcsgrads #bcs #wearebcs #bcsadvantage #asheville #avl #PublicSchoolProud #everyoneiswelcome #ErwinProud

Congratulations to the Buncombe County Early College and Buncombe County Middle College #graduates! Students and families celebrated this milestone last Friday at AB Tech. Here is a look at more photos that are available for download! https://bit.ly/3N8hCYh . . . . . #BCSGrads #bcs #wearebcs #bcsadvantage #asheville #avl #PublicSchoolProud #everyoneiswelcome

🎉Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy #graduates are #AllChargedUp for their future. The NDA #Classof23 crossed the stage at UNC Asheville's Kimmel Arena on Saturday. 🎓You may view and purchase photos from the ceremony, see the Senior Slideshow, watch a video of the ceremony, and more via this link: https://bit.ly/43Rb1YK . . . . . #BCSGrads #bcs #BCSadvantage #WeAreBCS #asheville #avl #publicschoolproud

High School Summer Academy Application Released! High School Summer Academy is for students in grades 9-12 who need to recover a course previously failed or move more rapidly toward graduation by taking full credit courses. All the important details (location, dates, times) for parents and students can be found in the Summer Academy Information Sheet located before the application link. Please read carefully and consider making a copy for future reference. Information: https://5il.co/1uvfv Application (Erwin): https://forms.gle/V4D9YmpPCn7qPuYSA Application (Roberson): https://forms.gle/FSDfNUYN3xw3S9kZ6 . . . ¡Ya hemos publicado la Solicitud de la Academia de Verano de la Escuela Secundaria! La Academia de Verano de la Escuela Secundaria es para estudiantes de los grados 9 a 12 que necesiten recuperar un curso reprobado o avanzar más rápidamente hacia la graduación tomando cursos de crédito completo. Todos los detalles importantes (ubicación, fechas, horarios) para padres y estudiantes se pueden encontrar en la hoja de información de la Academia de Verano que se encuentra antes del enlace de la solicitud. Lea atentamente y considere hacer una copia para referencia futura. Información: https://5il.co/1uvfy Aplicación (Erwin): https://forms.gle/V4D9YmpPCn7qPuYSA Aplicación (Roberson): https://forms.gle/FSDfNUYN3xw3S9kZ6

Attention, Parents: Just a reminder that we are partnering with all BCS districts to host a Common Sense Safety Seminar. It will be held Tuesday, May 9, at Erwin High at 6 p.m. We will hear from several presenters, including Be Smart for Kids, who will provide helpful safety information and updates, including online safety and healthy living guidance. Families with kids of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. RSVP is not required, but is strongly encouraged. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoRAl1yVcnLF4005iS0iKsUTUVdEvsOTEEMJQXhufqnY1f_w/viewform Be Smart for Kids is a national program that provides education and resources to promote safe gun ownership. There is a role for everyone in the conversation around secure gun storage. Among the initiatives, this group provides free gun locks and other resources for safe gun storage. Please visit BeSmartForKids.org for more information. Spanish interpreters will be available to assist Spanish-speaking families.

🍎Happy School Principals' Day! Our school leaders are the best. They are a guiding light for our students, staff, and families. They prioritize the success and well-being of students. Please take a moment to thank the principal in your life who is making a difference in our school buildings and beyond!