September 2023

Fall is in the air!

First month of school DOWN! Third Beall has jumped right in to the swing of things and I love the dynamic we have on hall! From incredibly warm weather to power outages, morale has been high through it all and I am so grateful to these students for it. It's been a whirlwind of an opening here on campus, that's for sure! I've been loving getting to know all of the residents and can't wait to get to know them more as the year goes on. Enjoy a well-earned extended weekend!

Use the menu below to navigate quickly through the contents of this month's update:

August in Pictures

Family Day Preview: 

Each September, NCSSM Durham invites families to campus for a fun and informative Family Day! On Saturday, September 9, 2023, families can experience a “day in the life” of their student as they walk through a condensed version of their student’s schedule. Families will envision the excitement of learning as they have the opportunity to meet their student’s instructors, counselors, and other key campus members, all while exploring NCSSM’s interactive classrooms and innovative learning spaces.


A detailed agenda for Family Day can be found here. In addition to meeting their student’s stellar teachers, families will have a chance to connect with other NCSSM families at the Parent Association hospitality table and visit the school store, where families can snag some awesome merchandise and show their school spirit!  


Families should RSVP by completing this registration form as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday, September 6.


I'm happy to meet with parents to chat on family day! If you are interested in meeting, please send me an email to schedule a time: korianna.hays@ncssm.edu


College Fair Preview: 

The NCSSM Durham community is excited to host College Day on Thursday, September 28, at the end of the academic day from 3:15 to 5:30pm. This is an amazing opportunity for juniors and seniors to learn more about colleges across the country and explore what school might be right for them.

In the past, representatives from more than 70 schools from around the country have been available to talk with students and families about their schools, the college admissions process, financial aid, and scholarships. More information about the schools represented at the college fair this year and student requirements for attendance will be shared in the coming weeks.

Increasing Workload:

Now that we have made it to the first extended weekend, students should be getting into the swing of things with classes and life at NCSSM. Around this time students will also notice their workload increasing. It is imperative for them to develop strong time management skills and learn to seek out help as they begin to face these new challenges. If needed, students can reach out to their CC and/or any of the following resources:


Progress Reports

As September draws to a close, faculty across campus will be completing grading assignments to release progress reports for students on September 22. To view student progress reports, families will need to log into Blackbaud and select the “progress” tab. Families will then click “report cards” to open all the progress reports for the year and select either “Semester 1 - Durham” or “Semester 1 - Durham (no comments),” depending on whether they want to view grades and teacher feedback, or just grades.


If families have concerns about their student’s performance, then please reach out to their student’s CC. CCs always meet with students who have multiple Cs or a D to help develop a plan for improvement, but will be happy to meet with anyone if there are concerns. It is also important that students reach out to their individual teachers, counselor, and the Center for Advising and Academic Success for advice on how to improve. This is also a good time for students to evaluate whether they should be attending tutorials more often.


Residence Halls Closing & Opening:

Just a quick reminder that the Residence Halls will be closing twice during September.


Students will complete an electronic Extended Sign-Out Form during hall meeting.  On this form they indicate where they are going for the break, who they are traveling with, and how they are getting to their destination.  If students have specific questions about checkout procedures for Extended Weekends, they should reach out to their CC.


Thank you for supporting Third Beall in August!