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Gaston County Schools spotlights student achievements and proclaims Teacher Appreciation Week
Summary
The board recognized student fundraisers, spelling‑bee and All‑State band participants, honored community arts support and unanimously adopted a proclamation proclaiming May 4–8, 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week.
The Gaston County Board of Education used its April 20 meeting to recognize student achievements and community partners and to adopt a proclamation naming May 4–8, 2026 as Teacher Appreciation Week in the district.
Lincoln Smallwood, a third‑grader at New Hope Elementary, was honored for raising $2,231.90 by selling his artwork to support the American Heart Association as part of the school's Kids Heart Challenge. The board highlighted New Hope's long record of fundraising: officials said the school has raised more than $112,000 over 12 years and nearly $90,000 in the past five years.
The nut graf: the board also recognized the county spelling‑bee winner Paul (Belmont Middle School), five students selected for the North Carolina All‑State Honors Band (Cyrus Baltimore, McKenzie Hart, Rose Petardo, Bram Commer, Annabelle Radford) and the Gaston Arts Council for a $1,600 grant supporting guest clinicians at All‑County music events. The board unanimously approved a teacher appreciation proclamation and presented it to district Teacher of the Year honorees.
In a classroom moment, teachers described student projects tied to the America 250 semi‑quincentennial — Read‑Across events, patriotic concerts, wax museum history projects and other community celebrations planned for April and May.
Board members and administrators used the recognitions to emphasize community partnerships and the value of arts and extracurricular supports amid wider budgetary discussions elsewhere on the agenda.
