October 22, NC hosted the annual fall magnet open house gathering of parents and rising freshmen in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) to gain insight into the international studies program. Prior to the main event, current magnet students lined the lobby with tables as they discussed the history of the NC magnet program with their potential peers.
To kick off the event, prospective students watched presentations by magnet senior Catalina Santiago and magnet junior Ire Fajimi. These high schoolers showcased how the magnet program includes them individually, and how magnet truly helped them feel heard. Additionally, they taught eighth graders important information about the program’s unique history, mathematics and language arts classes. Through the presentation, these students strived to help incoming freshmen navigate through the beginning of their high school careers.
Students and parents attended an informational meeting to learn about the application process and goals of the magnet program. Magnet Coordinator James Auld presented key points of the program and carefully explained the educational trips and courses that future magnet students will engage in. Following the meeting, Auld answered questions about the program, one-on-one, to help parents further understand. Parents and students gained helpful information to consider a future at NC.
Upcoming freshmen listened to presentations by senior magnet ambassador Tristan Mick and magnet senior peer tutor Gabi Haigh to understand the comfort and confidence NC magnet surrounds students with. During Haigh’s presentation, she emphasized how NC’s magnet treats each student with respect and individuality throughout their academic years by offering counseling for each student to help with college applications their senior year, and to evaluate each student’s progress in their classes. When the meeting concluded, students’ faces filled with joy as they dreamt of their high school future.
“I taught Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography to all magnet ninth graders for over ten years, so I got every freshman that came through the system and got to see them mature and grow and kind of evolve in the international studies from ninth to twelfth grade. I also took over the travel program my second or third year as an AP Human Geography teacher. I also started local field trips because it seemed bizarre to sit and learn about culture when there’s international culture everywhere. [As principal] you line up to the system seeing kids’ lives change with contact with culture and people. Auld said.
Through magnet students’ years in the program, they have traveled to foreign countries from Europe to Asia, to help them understand the cultures they focus on in class. Magnet teachers plan the junior international trip twenty-six months before the excursion to help the trips stay coordinated with the topics the students learn in class. Students may receive scholarships such as the Education First Tours (EF) global scholarship as a result of their international experiences. Other students have received NC magnet travel scholarships. In 2024 alone, over 700 magnet students traveled to over 25 countries which helped them with their curriculum activities. The eighth graders talked among themselves and showed interest in the international trips that would take place in the future. With multiple students in different rooms speaking about their individual experiences, the scholars focused on how magnet taught them time management skills alongside the importance of keeping up with their grades.
“I was sort of placed into teaching magnet, but I have enjoyed teaching every single year. I want to help grow the program and make it a more rigorous science experience for students. The students are all fantastic and the rest of the magnet faculty has been amazing,” magnet chemistry teacher Weston Jessup said.
Magnet faculty and staff wait patiently for students to choose NC as their high school home. With enthusiasm and excitement, teachers prepare for next year while continuing to teach current students how to navigate through the world. Families left the magnet open house with pamphlets and brochures about the registration dates, the next open house for accepted students and any other information needed to apply for the NC magnet program.
