Classroom Connection

WCPSS Teachers Selected for National Science Teachers Academy

Durant Road Middle School Eighth Grade Science teacher Samantha Carpenter and Middle Creek High School Physical Science and Anatomy teacher Courtney Titus have been chosen as fellows for the 2008 National Science Teachers Academy (NSTA). Carpenter and Titus join 180 teachers nationwide in this yearlong program that supports new science teachers by providing them with resources, on-line mentoring, and on-line professional development activities in webinars. They will also receive financial support to attend and participate in NSTA’s 2009 National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans in the spring. The goal of the academy is to support new science teachers and improve the teacher retention rate.

Wilburn Elementary Partners in Recruiting Program

Wilburn Elementary School is partnering with the Teacher Advancement Program to attract and motivate outstanding teachers. The program was created in 1999 by the Milken Family Foundation and it is operated by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching.  It addresses the nation’s teacher shortage and provides support, mentoring, and staff development for teachers. Wilburn is the first school in North Carolina to be accepted into the program.

Several School Recycling Programs Recognized

The Wake County Department of Environmental Services will be recognizing 12 schools for their outstanding performance in paper recycling during the 2007-08 school year at the Wake County Board of County Commissioners meeting on October 20th.

Overall, WCPSS FEED THE BIN participating schools recycled 1.6 million pounds of paper or 12.4 pounds of paper per student during the 2007-2008 school year, which is an increase of 18.8 percent and 21.6 percent, respectively, from the previous school year.

Feed the Bin is a student-driven recycling program that challenges K-12 students to be more environmentally conscious by encouraging them to collect recycled paper from their school. Feed the Bin is offered in all schools as part of the Environmental Stewardship program coordinated through the WCPSS Environmental Health and Safety Department in partnership with the Wake County Environmental Services’ Solid Waste Management Division.

Highest Total Pounds of Paper Recycled
Elementary Schools Traditional: Wildwood Forest Elementary; 20,161 pounds
Year-Round: Barwell Road Elementary; 18,826 pounds
Middle Schools Traditional: Ligon Middle; 17,218 pounds
Year-Round: Heritage Middle; 28,541 pounds
High School Knightdale High; 29,345 pounds

Most Pounds Of Paper Recycled Per Student
Elementary Schools Traditional: Brentwood Elementary; 28.8 pounds per student
Year-Round: Barwell Road Elementary; 23.3 pounds per student
Middle Schools Traditional: Fuquay-Varina Middle, 16.1 pounds per student
Year-Round: East Cary Middle, 30.7 pounds per student
High School Knightdale High, 16.5 pounds per student

*Highest Increase in Total Pounds of Paper Recycled
Elementary School Hilburn Drive Elementary; 83 percent increase (from 6,149 pounds to 11,228)
Middle School Carroll Middle; 191 percent increase (from 2,190 pounds to 8,480)
High School Enloe High; 363 percent increase (from 1,872 pounds to 8,680)

*Highest Increase in Pounds of Paper Recycled Per Student
Elementary School Wilburn Elementary, Increased 80 percent (from 8.7 pounds per student
to 15.7)
Middle School Carroll Middle, Increased 162percent (from 4.5 pounds per student to
11.9)
High School Enloe High, Increased 346 percent (from 0.76 pounds per student to 3.4)

*The Highest Increase awards reflect the improvement in paper recycling from the 2006-07 school year to the 2007-08 school year. Only WCPSS schools that participated in FEED THE BIN for the entire 2006-07 school year were eligible for the Highest Increase awards.

2008-09 Principal of the Year Celebration

The 2008-09 Wake County Public School System Principal of the Year celebration is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 16 at Marbles Kids Museum, 201 East Hargett Street in Raleigh. Five principals and five assistant principals have been nominated as finalists for the Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year.

The five finalists for Principal of the Year are: The five finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year are:

Magnet Fair

Come explore the K-12 Magnet School options at the Magnet Schools Fair on Saturday, November 1 between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm at Southeast Raleigh Magnet HS (2600 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh 27610).  Visit with representatives from each magnet school as well as Growth & Planning, and Transportation.  Inquire about the application process and enjoy magnet school performances.  For more information about the Magnet School Programs, please call (919) 501-7900 or visit www.wcpss.net/magnet

Lynn Road Elementary Unveils a Beautiful New School

Lynn Road Elementary School is holding a renovation celebration on October 16 at 11:00am. Lynn Road has gone through many transformations over the past 32 years. The school opened in September 1976 with the new open-school concept. In 1988, the school went through a renovation process to modify it to a more traditional approach. In 2007, the school began its second renovation process bringing it to the design it is today—a bright, airy, welcoming school with colored tiles, fresh white paint and a whole new attitude towards education. 

Anyone associated with Lynn Road Elementary, past and present parents, students and community members, are invited to attend this celebration on October 16th. Tours of the new facility will start at 10:00 a.m. and a Renovation Celebration will commence on the school track at 11:00 a.m. This celebration will feature speakers and student performances including children singing the school song and performing a fan dance.  Guests of the celebration will be able to view a historic timeline that will feature artifacts and pictures through the history of the school. This timeline will be on display at the school during the month of October for all to enjoy. Anyone with artifacts that they are willing to loan to the school for this event, please contact the school at 870-4074.

Sycamore Creek Elementary Holds Ribbon Cutting

Sycamore Creek Elementary School is holding a ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, October 22 at 6:45 p.m. The school will mark the occasion by planting a sycamore tree in the courtyard and having student performances from each grade level.

Sycamore Creek Elementary Principal Kristen Faircloth, Superintendent Del Burns, and Wake County Board of Education District 7 Representative Patti Head will make remarks during the ceremony.

Students and staff have been enjoying this new facility since instructional classes began at their new building on August 18. Sycamore Creek students began the first six weeks of the school year at Hilburn Drive Elementary while contractors were putting the finishing touches on the Sycamore Creek building.

The new school opened with approximately 645 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade. The new 2-story year-round elementary school is a larger elementary prototype adapted and reconfigured from the Cedar Fork design by Small Kane Architect. For more information: (919) 841-4333

Concert Planned to Benefit Ballhandling Club Teams at 16 Elementary Schools

A concert and Fall Festival have been planned for Saturday, October 18 from 3 to 7 p.m. on the Adams Farm at 8320 Humie Olive Road in Apex, to raise money to support 16 WCPSS Ballhandling Club Teams.

Approximately 980 students participate on the teams, operated by Networks at the following schools:
Baucom Elementary, Brassfield Elementary, Brier Creek Elementary, Bugg Elementary, Cary Elementary, Fox Road Elementary, Green Hope Elementary, Highcroft Drive Elementary, Holly Grove Elementary, Joyner Elementary, Mills Park Elementary, Morrisville Elementary, Olds Elementary, Sanford Creek Elementary,Wildwood Forest Elementary and Lufkin Road Middle.

Admission is free. Talented local bands and live performances by Ballhandling Clubs from the Wake County Public School System will be featured at the event along with a hayride, moonwalk, hoop shooting contests, a ballhandling station, door prizes, silent auction, face painting, gourd painting, volleyball, and a football toss. Food and concessions will be provided, with proceeds going to benefit the teams.

Three WCPSS Teachers Selected as NC Art Educators of the Year

Three WCPSS art teachers have been selected as art educators of the year by the North Carolina Art Education Association (NCAEA) and will receive the state’s highest honor for their accomplishments in the classroom and community.

Wiley Elementary art teacher Vicky Powers has been selected as the Elementary Art Educator of the Year. Vicky has served on the NCAEA Board of Directors for two terms as the Elementary Division Chair. She has been an active member in NCAEA for close to 16 years. During her service, Vicky has had the opportunity to present each year on the National Board for Professional Teaching standards process at the state conference each year since 2002.

East Wake Middle art teacher Alexa Molden has been selected as the Middle School Art Educator of the Year. Alexa has been teaching at East Wake Middle for nine years and specializes in sculpture, painting and pottery. In addition to teaching, she has a background in marketing for international business.

Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School art teacher Jodi Aker has been selected as the Special Needs Art Educator of the Year. Jodi began teaching at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School to address the needs of students who were not naturally leaders. She used her Art Therapy background to design a Visual Art 1 – Expressive Art class. Students learn art skills and also have the opportunity to use art as an outlet for self-expression, with the goal of a more intense focus on school, success and leadership. All of the students Jodi works with have special needs. Although not all have an IEP, some need extra time to complete artwork, some need physical or emotional support, and some need an outlet for academic pressure.

The awards will be presented at the annual NCAEA Professional Development Conference in Asheville during an awards luncheon on November 7.

WCPSS PE Educators Honored

Several Wake County Public School System Physical Education teachers and programs were recently honored by the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.  

Charleen Powers of Vandora Springs Elementary School was recognized as the Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. This award is presented to a physical educator who is passionate about the health of all students. Charleen was chosen specifically for her ability to instill the love of physical activity and lifelong wellness in her students.

Tommy Hager of Salem Elementary School was awarded the K-12 Elementary Program of the Year. This award is presented annually to a PE program that has distinguished itself as a quality physical education program; one that offers enhanced physical activity opportunities for all and is led by a leader who strives to remain on the cutting edge of the profession. 
 
Marybeth Harvey of Broughton High School was awarded the Wellness Center Excellence Award, sponsored by Prosource Fitness Equipment. This award is presented to a school that exhibits a state-of-the art operating wellness center open to all students and staff. Marybeth was recognized for Broughton's effort to maintain the appearance and function of their wellness center.

The Penny Road Elementary Physical Education staff received the Artie K. Kamiya Horizon Award for 2008. The PE/Health staff is comprised of Colleen Kanters, Caroline Flory, and Christine Hughes. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon a physical educator in the Wake County Public School System. This honor is presented to an outstanding educator who exhibits the supreme commitment to continue the journey of Artie K. Kamiya and the talent to carry his unparalleled vision while building bridges for the future of physical education in Wake County.

Wake PTA Council Holds 5K Run/Walk, Focuses on Healthy Lifestyles

As part of the National PTA's Healthy Lifestyles Month in November Wake County PTA is holding the first annual Wake PTA Healthy Lifestyles 5k Run/Walk at the NC State Centennial Campus on Sunday, Nov. 23. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. and is geared towards individuals and families of all ages and all skill and experience levels. Packet pick-up will take place from 12:30 until 3 p.m. at the race site.

For registration and race information, please see www.PTA5k.org. You can register online or you may print and mail-in a registration form to the race director. Early Bird Registration fees are $20 through Nov. 9 and $25 after that date. Volunteer registration is free of charge, regardless of registration date. Early Bird registrants will receive a race t-shirt.

WCPSS Classroom Connection! 

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