NEWS and/or Upcoming Events:

1. 
   AFYC (Azalea Festival Youth Committee): AFYC is a leadership organization for any high school student. AFYC supports the Festival year-round by volunteering and fundraising. Once certain volunteer/fundraising goals are met, students receive the opportunity to attend Festival week events as part of the Official Party. Our first meeting is Wednesday, November 8th at 6 pm at Jungle Rapids in the upstairs conference room.
   Share this link with students to sign up for more information: https://forms.gle/DZMPTjnEFLfqR4QG6

2. Scholarship Princess Pageant and Leadership Training Program: For high school junior females: over $12,000 is given away in college scholarships annually. This is a non-talent pageant –judging is primarily based on a private interview with judges the morning of the pageant. In fact, of the five winners last year, none had ever been in a pageant before. Participants work on Sunday afternoons all of January and February to learn interviewing and public speaking skills. The top five winners of the Pageant have the option to become the Festival Princess and Court. The Pageant is Saturday, March 9th.  First meeting is Sunday, January 7th at 2pm at the First Baptist Activity Center.
   Share this link with students to sign up for more information: https://forms.gle/qrNhGfFnGpsowHT89

3. Youth Art Contest and Middle School Writing Contest: For students who have a passion for art or writing. Winners receive Festival and community perks. Youth Art Contest has divisions in K-12 categories, Middle School Writing Contest is for middle school students only.
   Applications can be found on the Festival website; all submissions are due end of January.  https://ncazaleafestival.org/youth-participation/

Grandparent Support Network

The Grandparent Support Network (GSN) has supported grandparents and caregivers raising children ages 0-21yrs in the Lower Cape Fear Region over the last ten years. We are currently meeting weekly on Thursday nights in-person from 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm. There are several benefits of being a client with GSN:

• Shared Leadership: Group members have the chance to develop their leadership skills. 

• Members give and receive help: The unique experience and skills that every member brings to the group make it possible for everyone to contribute and have something to learn.

• Members create a trusting atmosphere: Group members set rules to respect confidences to discuss situations honestly.

• Members can go at their own pace: The mutual support group structure allows members to participate at their own pace. No one is forced to speak, and attendance is not mandatory, though both are highly recommended.

• Members can prepare for the future:Members can prepare for the future: We encourage all members to plan for the future. We provide opportunities for workshops and resources to assist with planning tools and guides.

• No fees: No fees are charged: Group meetings are provided without charge. A free children’s program is available, and a hot meal is prepared every Thursday night.

Please see the attached memo from the UNC System Office that outlines the Board of Governors’ decision to waive the standardized testing component for students applying for admission through Fall 2024 due to the disruption in the learning environment from COVID-19.

Please share this with students and families. Here is a link to the website with this updated information: https://www.northcarolina.edu/standard-test-requirement-waiver/.

Feel free to contact Sneha Shah-Coltrane at sneha.shahcoltrane@dpi.nc.gov with questions.

UNC System Update RE: Waiver for Standardized Testing

Cape Fear Community College in collaboration with Coastal Horizons, will continue offering FREE on-campus mental health services to all students this academic year. Coastal Horizons will have a clinical mental health therapist on the CFCC downtown campus (Monday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.) beginning Monday, Aug. 29, 2022.

The CFCC counselors will assist students by making a referral and scheduling an appointment with the clinical therapist. The therapist will assist students with mental health and personal concerns such as:

• Family Conflict

• Relationship Issues

• Grief and Loss

• Alcohol or Drug Use

• Stress, Anxiety, or Depression

• Mental Wellness

• Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault

The therapist will help determine if the student would benefit from brief intervention sessions or if a long-term services referral would best serve them.

Students may make appointments with the therapists by reaching out to CFCC Counseling Services. Faculty can also refer students to Counseling. Please know that this service is in no way replacing any of the services provided by the CFCC Counseling Office The Counselors are still available should you need to refer or consult regarding student concerns.

If you have questions, please contact Jackie Foster at 910-362-7019 (jfoster@cfcc.edu) or Rodney Young at 910-362-7524 (ryoung@cfcc.edu).