Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Programs North Shore Ms topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Shore Middle spotlights Noche de Cuentos literacy night and LOTC drill team
Summary
At an academic spotlight, North Shore Middle School highlighted Noche de Cuentos, a cultural literacy evening featuring storytellers and folklorico performances, and the school’s Leadership, Officers Training Corps (LOTC) drill team and its role in student leadership and confidence-building.
Dr. Christopher Efferd, principal of North Shore Middle School, introduced an academic spotlight that highlighted Noche de Cuentos, a campus literacy evening featuring traditional Hispanic storytelling and cultural performances, and the school’s Leadership, Officers Training Corps (LOTC) drill team.
Noche de Cuentos is an evening the school runs to promote language development through storytelling and to share cultural stories, organizers said. The program uses storytellers who present largely traditional Hispanic tales and creates immersive sets so students and families can experience the stories in a hands-on way. The event has included performances and collaborations with district programs: organizers said Band Aid AGP from Galena Park High School played and folklorico dancers performed as part of this year’s program.
The school’s LOTC program and drill team was presented as a complementary extracurricular that focuses on leadership and discipline. “I am Sergeant Williams. I’m the LOTC instructor at North Shore Middle School. I’ve been here going on 5 years,” Sergeant Williams said, describing LOTC’s focus on leadership skills, team building and use of a “command voice.” He and student speakers said participation builds confidence, self-discipline and teamwork; Sergeant Williams said many cadets attend early and prepare for competitions, and he estimated the team has been successful in competitions they entered.
Students who took part described Noche de Cuentos as immersive and memorable. One student recalled walking through a themed tunnel and encountering a live snake as part of a set; another described the event as loud, musical and fun, and said the experience drew strong enthusiasm from participants and sponsors.
School leaders and staff said the two programs serve different but complementary goals: Noche de Cuentos to support literacy and cultural connection, and LOTC to develop leadership, communication and competition skills. Dr. Efferd closed the spotlight by framing the activities as part of the campus culture: “that’s our academic spotlight here at the home of champions, North Shore Middle School, where everything we do is above the line,” he said.
No formal board actions, votes or funding decisions were announced in the remarks presented in the transcript excerpt.
