Classroom Connection - December 9, 2008
Curriculum Audit Featured in National Publication
The Wake County Public School System was featured in a November 2008 special report of the American School Board Journal. The article, authored by Board Chair Rosa Gill, highlights Wake County’s recent undertaking and progress on the curriculum audit.
WCPSS is one year into a multi-year process of implementing the auditors’ recommendations. Gill describes the journey to implement the audit’s eight recommendations and 117 action steps saying, “we now have an impartial listing of the areas where our schools, district, and board must improve. It stands as a road map and compass.”
The American School Board Journal is an independent education magazine published monthly by the National School Boards Association for some 50,000 school board members and school administrators.
Wildwood Gets National Award
Wildwood Forest Elementary was among 14 schools across the nation to receive a National PTA Healthy Lifestyles Award for its work in producing a twice weekly student exercise show.
The school will receive a visit from the National PTA President-elect, along with the NC PTA President, school board officials, Wake Med and YMCA representatives during an awards ceremony on December 12 at 7:30 a.m. The event will be televised by WRAL.
Wildwood received a $1,000 grant to assist in the development and implementation of its own morning exercise show. Wildwood students are selected by the PE Dept, and then videotaped by a group of parents as the students run through a kid-version of various workouts each month.
Wakefield Foreign Language Teachers Honored
Congratulations to three Wakefield High School Foreign Language Teachers for being recognized on a state and national level.
Lee Salazar was awarded the Honorable Service Award from the American Association of teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Salazar has taught Spanish at Wakefield for the past three years. He is also the state coordinator for the national Spanish Exam that is administered to over 2,000 students annually.
Karen Guy was named teacher of the year for grades K-12 by the Foreign Languages Association of North Carolina. Guy has taught Latin at Wakefield since it opened in 2000. Guy was nominated by her students for this award and was touched by the letters written on her behalf.
Michelle Fulwider-Westhall was appointed to the Foreign Languages Association of North Carolina’s Board of Directors. Fulwider-Westhall has been teaching Spanish at Wakefield since 2003.
Combs Elementary Subject of Interview in Time Magazine
The Nov. 21st issue of Time Magazine features an interview with New York Times Best Selling author Stephan Covey. In his interview he talks about his new book “The Leader in Me,” which details how A. B. Combs’ Principal Muriel Summers and several principal’s across the country have successfully implemented his “7 Habits” in their schools and have experienced tremendous student success.
Covey is quoted in the article as saying, “About 10 years ago, I was speaking at a conference on the “7 Habits,” and this educator came up to me. Her name was Muriel Summers, and she was principal of A.B. Combs. Hers was a marginalized school, barely surviving. But Muriel was a visionary. She asked whether this material would apply to little children. I said, I don't know why not.”
“At A.B. Combs, the “7 Habits” became the value system, so that when they teach academic subjects, they illustrate it,” he said.”Within a few years, A.B. Combs became the number one magnet school in the country. I am astonished by what went on there.”
Timber Drive Elementary Named Golden Apple School
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching has designated Timber Drive Elementary School as a “Golden Apple School.” This award reflects the dedicated efforts of the Timber Drive staff in supporting the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, which provides extensive staff development opportunities to teachers across the state. Only 38 schools were designated “Golden Apple Schools” during the 2007-2008 school year.
Schools Get New Principals
Two northern Wake County high schools have new principals, while Holly Springs High has a new interim leader.
Gregory Decker will serve as the new principal of Sanderson High School in North Raleigh. Decker is currently the principal of West Lake Middle School and previously was principal of Lead Mine Elementary in North Raleigh. Decker replaces Cathy Moore, who is now the area superintendent for central Wake.
Tina Y. Hoots will become the new principal of Wake Forest-Rolesville High School. She had been the school's assistant principal before taking her current job as principal of Davis Drive Middle School in 2006. Hoots replaces Andre Smith, who is now the area superintendent for northeastern Wake.
Ramey Beavers was named interim principal at Holly Springs High to fill in for Luther Johnson, who is hospitalized with an illness. Beavers was the principal of Cary High and West Lake Middle before retiring in 2006 as senior director of Growth Management.
Carpenter Elementary and Panther Creek High win Governor's Awards
Carpenter Elementary and Panther Creek High were among North Carolina schools that won the governor's annual "Real D.E.A.L." awards for successful teaching strategies.
Educators from across North Carolina gathered at the Embassy Suites Raleigh-Crabtree Hotel for the presentation of awards on Dec. 4. The recipients were chosen by the governor's staff, members of the Governor's Teacher Advisory Committee and the N.C. Professional Teaching Standards Commission.
The program, whose name stands for "dedicated educators, administrators and learners," was started in 2004 to improve teacher working conditions and involve teachers in policymaking decisions through a survey administered to schools each spring.
Wakefield High Students Attend State Board of Education Meeting
Two of Wakefield High School's students, one current and one graduate, Amanda Hooker and Christina Tessitore, attended the NC State School Board Meeting on Dec. 4 in celebration of Family and Consumer Science's (FACS) 100th Birthday Celebration. These students along with three other current and former FACS students from North Carolina spoke to the board about their experiences and how their FACS courses prepared and are preparing them for future careers and adult life. The chairman of the State Board Howard Lee, and Superintendant June Atkinson congratulated the students on their accomplishments.
Fuquay-Varina Middle Students Make Interactive Video Reading Curriculum
The Bobcat students at Fuquay-Varina Middle School are in the process of making an interactive video reading curriculum. Sixth-graders Maura Coolbaugh and Andrew Sowers filmed and produced the first in a series of many videos designed to teach fellow students reading strategies and comprehension skills.
Their first curriculum video was scripted by their Language Arts teacher and filmed in front of a green screen. The final product was a five-minute video that helps fellow students identify their weaknesses as readers. The two students then taught and modeled an effective reading strategy that will dramatically increase reading comprehension.
The green screen allowed the background for the video to be turned into dynamic simulated television studio. The students want to make the reading curriculum relevant to their peers and, at the same time, use technology to help increase student engagement and interaction.
The students are in the process of producing a second reading curriculum video. The videos are designed to enrich the current middle school reading curriculum.
East Garner Elementary Students Win Free Turkeys
Butterball, LLC recently announced the winners of its “Celebrating Turkey Art Contest.” Five third-grade students from East Garner Elementary School who developed the winning project will receive certificates toward free turkeys from Butterball along with their classmates. The students created the winning artwork under the direction of East Garner Elementary School art teacher Patricia Florack.
Zebulon Middle Flutist Earns Rave Reviews
Hannah Moyles, a flutist who attends Zebulon GT Magnet Middle School, was recently named winner at the Raleigh Flute Association's annual Review and Contest and performed at the Winner's Recital Nov. 14 with ZMS strings teacher Calla Wright accompanying on piano. She was one of 10 students out of 63 selected into the all-county symphonic band.
Middle Creek Science Teacher Wins Award
Carrie Jones, the science chair at Middle Creek High School, has been selected for the Carol Bond Scholarship Award of $500 from the NC American Water Works Association - Water Environment Association (NC AWWA-WEA). The award was presented during the association’s annual conference held in Winston-Salem NC in November.
Green Elementary Students Help Community
First-graders at Green Year Round Elementary have knitted hats to give to members of the community who are in need. Teachers, families, volunteers and students have contributed to the project. All of the hats are currentlyon display in the first-grade hallway and will be presented to United Way representatives on December 16 at 9:00 a.m. A member of the United Way will speak to the students about the many ways their organization helps the community.