Monday, August 27, 2007

Ocracoke School

Visitors often ask about our small island school. Classes resume today with four new teachers -- Gill Williams (counselor), Stephen Wolfe (high school math teacher), Ann Borland (media assistant), and Claudia Moote (pre-kindergarten teacher). We welcome these new members of our community.

Ocracoke school is served by a total of 20 teachers, 3 instructional assistants, a SIMS coordinator, a guidance counselor, a maintenance worker, a secretary, and a principal. 119 students are enrolled this year, in grades K through 12.

Ocracoke school often faces unusual challenges. This year, from January 1 to the middle of March, all seven of the bridges between the campground and the pony pen will be replaced, and the road will be closed (click here for more information). The park service plans to open a beach access ramp near the pony pen. During this time the athletes, coaches, & parents will need to use the beach when going to, and returning from, four games.

Parents and other community members will be enlisted to carry students and coaches along this section in their four wheel drive vehicles. This is just one more reminder of the unique challenges we face living on Ocracoke island.

This month's newsletter is a story of Captain Joe Burrus, last Ocracoke lighthouse keeper before the beacon was electrified and automated. You can read it here.

1 comment:

  1. Hatteras Hello!

    Although not a comment in regards to the school, I wanted to stop by to say hello.

    You probably don't remember me, but.....I met you during the Ocrafolk Festival (on Saturday). We talked briefly in the Village Craftsman and I told you that I had moved to Hatteras (from VA, after vacationing in Avon for 10 years) in June 2006 and that I am an O'Neal descendant.

    I have been working in the new welcome center in Hatteras (we are in the 1901 weather station) and have chuckled each time people come in and tell me they are going to Ocracoke for the day. The chuckling comes from all the ways I have heard it pronounced this summer. I thought you may enjoy them as well:

    Oraork
    Oraoak
    Oracork
    Okacoke
    Ocaracoke
    Okercoke
    Okeycoke
    Ocracroak
    Ocrachoke

    What can I say? :-)

    Vanessa from Hatteras
    http://yahwehsretreat.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete