Paisley Magnet School
John W. Paisley Magnet School is a Middle school/High school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is home to the International Baccalaureate Middle Years program for students in grades six through ten. Paisley is a part of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools system. In 2007, Paisley was recognized as a Magnet School of excellence; one of five in North Carolina and only fifty in the United States. Paisley has been an accredited IB/MYP school since 2004.[1] Dr. Marion Pittman-Couch was principal during Paisley's process to become recognized by the IBO and retired in 2007. Dr. Gary C. Cone is the current principal. Paisley houses more than 800 students from Forsyth County and the region. Students must complete a magnet school application for admission to Paisley if they are not a resident in Paisley's home school zone. The eleventh and twelfth grade IB Diploma Programme is housed at Parkland High School. The IB Primary Years Programme begins at Ashley Elementary School for grades K through five.
Academics, student life
Paisley is fortunate to be able to offer several robotics and technology courses provided under a special grant awarded to the school. Paisley also has NASA-trained staff. Mr. Ray Alford teaches four robotics courses: 6th grade Robotics, 7th grade Robotics and Technology, 8th grade Exploring Robotics and Technology, and 9th/10th grade Fundamentals of Technology. The robotics courses often enter competitions and have had much success in recent years.
Paisley also offers numerous student clubs and activities including: Chess Club, Dance Club, Debate Club, Science Olympiad (Varsity/Junior Varsity), Student Council, Art Club, Key Club, Drama Club, Foreign Language Club, Journalism Club and Battle of the Books. Paisley's Science Olympiad club is particularly distinguished and has won numerous awards in recent years under the direction of Sue Whiteside.[2]
Paisley houses a wealth of technology, with more than four SMART Boards, a fully functional computer lab, six wireless laptop carts, grant-funded Dell Pocket PCs, and more. You can come out of 8th Grade (Year III) with four high school credits: Algebra I, Geometry, Earth/Environmental Science, and a foreign language credit. In 6th Grade, you register for four core classes, and for encores, PE is required (NC State Law), a foreign language, a fine art, and a CTE class. In 6th Grade you are registered for Math 6, Math 6/7, or Math 7/8 (Pre-Algebra), based on your EOG (NC State Test) scores.
Courses that are offered
Foreign Languages
Spanish
French
German
Latin
CTE
Robotics (6th)
Exploring Careers (6th)
Innovation/ Invention (7th/8th, Continuing and Advanced Robotics)
Computer Skills and Applications Part 1 (6/7)
Computer Skills and Applications Part 2 (7/8)
Exploring Business and Enteurpenuership (8th)
Arts
Band
Orchestra
Visual Arts
Chorus
Travel abroad trips
To complement the rigorous international focus of the IB Middle Years Programme, the school has organized an international trip abroad annually for several years. IB Coordinator Don Lail is the lead organizer of these trips, which are put together by EF Tours, and are not technically a "school-sanctioned" event. Eighth, ninth, and tenth grade students at Paisley are invited to travel. Below is a brief overview of the school's destinations over the years:
2004: trip to England, Scotland, and Wales
2005: 9-day trip to Italy including Rome and Florence, as well as to France including Paris
2006: 10-day trip to Germany including Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Munich, Heidelberg; Austria including Innsbruck; Italy including Venice and Verona; and Switzerland including Lucerne and the Rhine Falls
2007: 9-day trip to Italy including Rome, Pompeii, Bari, as well as Greece including Olympia, Tolo, Mycenae, Corinth, Delphi; plus a 4-day extension cruise around the Greek Isles. On this particular trip, 77 students, parents, and teachers who opted for the 4-day cruise extension were aboard the M/S Sea Diamond, which ran aground and sank off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini on the last stop of the cruise. All 77 Paisley travelers were safely evacuated from the ship and returned to the US two days later.
2008: 8-day trip to Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales
2009: 10-day trip to Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland; each including identical cities as the 2006 tour
2010: 9-day trip to France including Paris, the Loire Valley, St. Malo, Normandy, Rouen; plus a 2-day extension to the French Riviera
References
External links
Coordinates: 36°06′50″N 80°15′36″W / 36.1140°N 80.2599°W