Spring has finally arrived and spring sports are in full swing.  Congratulations to the baseball, softball, and soccer teams for their wins over Oakwood last Tuesday!  It has been great watching each of these teams getting better with each competition.  The Soccer team is currently 5 - 5 overall, the softball team is 10 - 1, the baseball team is 1 - 4, and JV baseball is 0 - 3 - 1.  We congratulate all of our student athletes on their continued hard work and dedication to improve in their chosen sport.

We wish our members of the HA Quiz Bowl team luck as they travel to Mount Airy this weekend to compete in the State Quiz bowl.  The team qualified to compete in the state event as a result of their win in the Halifax County Library Quiz Bowl competition. 

Congratulations to both of our shooting teams for finishing in the top third of their division for the season.  Special recognition goes to Heath Williams for qualifying for the state competition in shot gun to be held in May. 

Our HA Seniors are currently in Orlando Florida for the senior trip.  Friend HA on Facebook to see updates and pictures as it appears everyone is having a great time.  A huge shout out to all who make this trip possible and especially to Mrs. Harris for organizing the trip as well as Mrs. Lynch for helping chaperone.

Go Vikings!!

According to Carol Dweck, in a growth mindset, “people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishments”.  A growth mindset is opposed to a fixed mindset where people believe that their success or lack of success is due to their innate abilities, such as how smart they are or how athletic they are.  Dweck’s research has shown that individuals and businesses that live out a growth mindset are more likely to be successful over time. 

It is our goal here at HA to model a growth mindset in all that we do in order to foster the development of our students’ belief that through “grit”, determination, and perseverance we and they can achieve way beyond our wildest dreams.  Our goal here should be to get a little better each day individually and collectively.  I recently read a statement by Dr. Kevin Elko that, “It happens all of a sudden over a long period of time”.  If we teach our students the value of working hard and get them to believe that growth comes as a result we and they will be a success.  By praising and rewarding the hard work; grades and all other types of recognition will ultimately take care of themselves.  Success, however you choose to measure, truly will happen all of a sudden over time.     

As I shared in my introductory letter last summer, I believe that ALL children can grow and learn, and that all adults can, too—me most of all.  I believe that teachers and administrators should model the integrity and citizenship that we want to see in all of our students at HA. I believe that actions truly do speak much more loudly than words.  If we all celebrate in each other these attributes that we want to see more of on a regular basis we will continue to grow as individuals and as a school community.    

Help us in congratulating several of our HA Vikings on their recent success. Many of our Beta members recently attended the State Beta convention in Greensboro where the scrapbook placed in the top five.  Individually, Brewer Shearin placed second in poetry and Maddie Suiter placed third in photography.  These two will represent Halifax Academy at the National Senior Beta convention in Savanna Georgia June 17-20, 2018.  Way to go Brewer and Maddie!!

Several of our Swimmers qualified and competed in the state championships held Monday February 19^th in Greensboro.  HA finished 25^th overall against 463 swimmers on 41 teams.   The following received recognition for their performances. 

Ted Fleming is ranked sixth with a NEW school record in the 50. 

Morgan Hudomint is ranked 18th in the 100. 

Holly Forsht is ranked 16 in the Backstroke. 

Medley relay with Abbey Eason, Kate Forsht, Holly Forsht and Morgan Hudomint is ranked 22 and the 200 Free with Laura Brady is also 22. 

400 Relay with Chloe Alston, Laura Brady, Faith Howell and Abbey Eason is ranked 23rd.

The Women’s basketball team recently completed another outstanding season with a record of 22-2.  They were the regular season conference champions as well as conference tournament winners.  They completed their season with a hard fought loss to Statesville Christian School in the 3^rd round of the state playoffs.

We are proud of all of our Viking performers for their hard work and dedication to their chosen events during the winter months!

#Proud to be a Viking!

The winter sports season seems to have flown by with only a few weeks left in the regular season.  The varsity girls basketball team has played really well and now have a record of 13 – 1.  The varsity boys started slow but have come on strong of late and it has been exciting to see them getting a little better each week.  Our swim team and the JV basketball teams have also been showing much progress as the season has progressed.  It has been great to see each of our teams work hard and show steady improvement. 

Watching our sports teams play reminds me of a quote I recently read from Dr. Kevin Elko: “It happens all of a sudden over a long period of time”.  Our athletes continue to work hard and demonstrate grit, persistence, and determination despite less than favorable results at times. We often get stuck in what Carol Dweck calls the “fixed” mindset where we expect immediate results based on our ability.  Dweck’s research has shown that people with a “growth” mindset are able to show improvement over time through consistent and persistent hard work.   Anything worth having does seem to show up all of a sudden but it is only through persistent hard work over an extended period of time.

One of our goals here at HA is to instill a “growth” mindset in all of our students and adults.  If you want to see this mindset being lived out then plan to attend one of our remaining basketball games or swim meets. 

One of our mission’s here at HA is to create a culture of continuous growth academically, socially, and spiritually.  Spiritually, we all share a purpose of serving God and serving others in His name.  With this in mind, I am so proud of our HA students for packing 145 shoeboxes, plus the $9 shipping for each, PLUS extra money for The Greatest Journey booklets.  Sharing the Gospel, one shoebox at the time!  More pictures of our students working to pack these boxes for Operation Christmas Child are available on the website news feed. 

Academically, we recently had a number of students inducted into our Junior and Senior Beta Clubs for their excellence in the classroom and demonstration of good character.  The following students were recently recognized for this honor:

Senior Beta:  Ashton Garner, Britney Pittard, Abigail Fleming, Ashlynn Liles, Logan Oakley, Taylor Elias, Abbey Eason, Victoria Holmes, Allison Green, Tyler Gupton, Harrison West, Evan White, Molly Slaughter

Junior Beta:  Wesley Boerner, Ashlyn Cooke, Kate Forsht, Jimmy Fulkerson, Ray Garner, Davis Grant, Cameron Green, Koby Jones, Amber Markham, Jake Merritt, Jack Quinn, Caleb Slaughter, Dawson Stroud, Elizabeth Williams, Madelyn Wommack, Gabriel Rowland, and Jaxson Waters

Thankful for all of the wonderful students and staff at HA!

#we get a little better each day

Congratulations to our football team on finishing runner up in the state in the 1A division.  The team lost in a very hard fought contest by a score of 25 to 24 last Saturday afternoon.  I was very proud of our student athletes for their hard work and fight right up to the end of the game.  They truly left all they had on the field.  The way our team and parents rallied around one another and handled themselves after such an emotional loss made me proud to be a Viking. Sometimes we learn more about ourselves in defeat than we do victory.  

We are proud of all of our student athletes for their hard work and determination to get a little better each day.  The following teams and athletes received recognition for their accomplishments during the fall season.

2017 1A All-Conference Team Football

Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) – Eli Harris (Halifax)

Coach of the Year (COY) – Pete Edwards – Halifax

ALL CONFERENCE:

1. JARED BYRUM – HALIFAX
2. DONOVYN GARY – HALIFAX
3. CONNOR LYNCH – HALIFAX
4. ELI HARRIS – HALIFAX
5. CAMERON PODRUNCHNY – HALIFAX
6. CODY WOOD – HALIFAX

2017 8-MAN ALL-STATE TEAM:

1. JARED BYRUM – HALIFAX
2. ELI HARRIS – HALIFAX

Cross Country:

Boys Team finished 3rd place in the state

Boys individual: Thomas Garrett 4th Place

Girls Team finished 4th Place in the state

Girls Individual:  Morgan Hudomint 2nd place

Morgan Hudomint and Thomas Garrett were named to the 2017 All-State team for cross country.

Varsity Volleyball: #4 in 1A for our conference

JV volleyball #3 in 1A for our conference

All - conference volleyball Candice Smith

Honorable mention volleyball Emerson Poole.

Go Vikings!!

It is hard to believe that the first grading period is over and that Thanksgiving is right upon us.  I appreciate all of the support as I have transitioned into my new role here at HA.  I hope that everyone has been able to access their child’s grades in Renweb through the parent web portal.  If not, feel free to contact Mrs. Clay in the front office for assistance and to make sure we have your correct e-mail on file.  We are also asking that parents encourage their child to take advantage of our Viking Time each day to go back for extra time and support if needed in a particular class.  This period was inserted into our schedule each day to ensure each student receives the support they need to be successful.  Good things happen when we all get “gritty” about working hard and getting a little better each day.

Congratulations to all of our recent inductees into the National Senior and Junior Beta Clubs!!!  This represents a significant accomplishment for each of these students.

Congratulations to all of our fall sports teams on successful seasons!!

Cross Country:

Boys Team finished 3rd place in the state

Girls Team finished 4th Place in the state

Varsity football finished first in the conference and is scheduled to play for the 1A state championship this Saturday in Kinston.  We would love to see HA represented well.

Varsity Volleyball: #4 in 1A for our conference

JV volleyball #3 in 1A conference play

It is an exciting time for our HA seniors. Many have already received acceptance letters from colleges and universities.  All have been meeting with Mrs. Harris and making plans for education after High School.  If parents have any questions about this process feel free to contact Mrs. Harris at the School.

Save this date: Deck the Halls – November 30, 2017

Go Vikings!!

Dear Halifax Academy Community:

I am honored that the Halifax Academy Board of Trustees has appointed me as the new Headmaster of Halifax Academy.  Though I have already met and introduced myself to many of you, I want to say again how thrilled I am to be part of your school family!  I'd like to share a little bit about myself, what I value and believe, and why I am so happy to be at Halifax Academy as your Headmaster.

My name is Mike Ferguson and I was born and raised in the Roanoke Valley.  I have been married to Susan Myrick Ferguson for 26 years and we have one son, Michael, who is a rising senior at ECU.  I received my BS from NC State in 1987 before beginning my teaching career at Chaloner Middle School.  I have taught math, science and spent several years coaching football and basketball at Roanoke Rapids High School and Chaloner.  I earned a National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification in Early Adolescence Mathematics in 1998.  I returned to NC State and earned a Master's Degree in School Administration in 2005 after which I became an Assistant Principal - first at Chaloner and then at RRHS for a total of six years.  The most recent six years have been spent as Principal at Manning Elementary School.  Having worked with students K-12, I have to say that I could not be more excited about this opportunity to serve ALL our students alongside you!

I know that Halifax Academy has a tradition of great administrators and leaders.  I fully understand that I have some big shoes to fill.  Be assured that my goal will be to continue building on what everyone has worked do hard to achieve, and to use that strong foundation to move Halifax Academy to the next level.  Together we will continue to provide outstanding educational opportunities for academic excellence for all of our students!

I value joy in our work together, as well as GRIT when things get tough.  I believe that ALL of us can grow and learn, and I expect that of myself.  Sometimes, that growth requires grit when things are tough; yet we should ALWAYS live and grow with a joyful attitude.  It is my belief that our families, staff, and administrators should model the integrity and citizenship we want to see in all of our students.  I will strive to model that every day.  I am here at Halifax Academy, first and foremost, to serve both you and our students, and to grow my professional practice as a leader and educator.  Relationships are at the heart of any successful school, and I cannot wait to build those relationships with all of you.  With that said, please do not hesitate to contact me with any needs, concerns, or suggestions! 

Go Vikings!