Classroom Connection - October 28, 2008
Magnet Fair Set for Nov. 1
The annual WCPSS Magnet Schools Fair is planned for Saturday, Nov. 1 at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Families interested in educational choice may explore the many innovative programs offered through the network of magnet programs.
The magnet fair is open to the public and creates a venue for parents and students to visit interactive display booths and inquire about such magnet programs as Gifted and Talented, International Baccalaureate, Museums, University Connections, Leadership and Technology.
A new engineering theme focused on math and science is planned for Brentwood Elementary and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme is planned for Smith Elementary.
To find out more about WCPSS magnet schools and other upcoming recruiting events visit the Magnet Schools website or the Magnet Resource Center located on the campus of Millbrook Elementary.
Apex Principals Awarded Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year Honors
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Matt Wight |
Shejuanna Rodgers |
The Wake County Public School System named Matt Wight of Apex High School the 2008 Principal of the Year and Shejuanna Rodgers of Apex Middle the 2008 Assistant Principal of the Year in ceremonies held at the Marbles Kids Museum on Oct. 16.
Wight has been in education for 24 years and has been principal at Apex High for two years. Prior to his job at Apex High, Wight served as principal of Salem Middle, East Cary Middle and was a principal, assistant principal and teacher in the New Hanover County schools.
Rodgers has been in education for 14 years and has been assistant principal at Apex Middle for four years. Prior to working at Apex Middle, Rodgers served as an administrator with the NC Department of Public Instruction and a teacher at Rolesville Elementary. She was also a teacher at a Green County middle school.
Panther Creek High Students Win Blue Ribbon at State Fair
Congratulations to student artists from Panther Creek High School for their First Place Award in the 2008 NC State Fair student art competition.
Participants included seniors Brian Hee, Rebecca Liu and Nate Latigue; juniors Kelsey Hughes and Megan Gatts; and sophomore Molly Kuo. Along with their blue ribbon, the school will also receive a cash award of $650.
East Millbrook Middle to Celebrate Grand Opening of New Auditorium
East Millbrook International Baccalaureate/Creative Arts Magnet Middle School will host a Grand Opening Celebration for its new auditorium on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m.
The program will begin on the sidewalk outside of the new 900 building and in the auditorium lobby with presentations by dance students and visual artists. At 7:15 the school community will move into the auditorium where they will be treated to performances by the African drum ensemble, advanced strings, band, chorus, and theatre students.
Davis Drive Middle School Helps Teens Say "NO"
It's Red Ribbon Week (October 27 - 31)and schools across Wake County are using this week to educate students about drug and substance abuse.
To mark the occasion, Davis Drive Middle School has a week of activities planned to encourage students to make the commitment to a drug-free life. Volunteers jump-started the week-long event by decorating the school's grounds with red ribbons on trees around the school and in the school's hallways.
During each day of the week, Davis Drive students will be encouraged to dress in accordance with different themes including wearing red, school colors, pajama, and dressing as triplets. Awards will be given at the end of the week to teams with the most spirit and participants. School supplies will be collected and donated to the Raleigh Rescue Mission. There will also be a poster contest sponsored by the Town of Cary where students will have a chance to win VISA gift cards. The Health & Safety Committee at the school, along with Davis Drive Middle School Resource Officer John Glascock coordinated the events.
This is the 21st anniversary of the first Red Ribbon Week. It is a week that honors the memory of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. Kiki was an undercover U.S. Drug Enforcement Officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1985. Red Ribbon Week began the following year in his hometown in California, organized by family and friends angered by his death. They began wearing red ribbons in Kiki's honor. In 1988, Congress proclaimed the last full week in October as National Red Ribbon Week. National observance of Red Ribbon Week has grown to more than 100,000 schools. Davis Drive Middle is proud to be among thousands of schools pledging to be drug free in America.
G.I.R.L.S. Summit Helps Middle School Girls with Self Image
The G.I.R.L.S. (Girls in Real Life Situations) Summit will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the YMCA of the Triangle Association's Resource Center located at 801 Corporate Center Drive in Raleigh. Author and Wake County school counselor Julia Taylor is spearheading the event, which is based on her newest book, G.I.R.L.S. (Girls in Real Life Situations). G.I.R.L.S. is a group counseling curriculum designed to provide adolescents with tools to feel empowered, gain self positive awareness and coping strategies.
Summit participants are able to choose from various breakout sessions including: Why Me? Getting Through the Rough and Tough Times, The Social Jungle: Managing Friendships, Perfectly You: Body Image, and Full of Yourself: Confidence without Conceit. All sessions are being led by local professional school counselors and YMCA youth directors. Registration forms and fee information can be found at www.ymcatriangle.org or at the Welcome Center of your local YMCA. Space is limited for this unique event.
Lufkin Road Middle School Raises Money for Shelter Pets
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Staff and students at Lufkin Road Middle School recently raised money for animals at the Wake County Animal Center. Principal Parry Graham presented the shelter with a check in the amount of $1,000 to be used for food, medications, and toward pet adoptions. In addition, students and staff also donated pet supplies to the shelter, located at 820 Beacon Lake Drive in Raleigh. The facility houses about 300 animals at any given time.
Funds were raised through the school's "Bolts of Kindness" project where little colorful pieces of paper are sold and displayed in the school's lobby along with the name of the donor. This year they were designed by Jenna Di Candio, an eighth-grader on Track 1.
The top donor was eighth-grader Sara Rivera who personally donated over $200. In lieu of birthday presents, she asked her friends and relatives for money, which she then donated to the shelter pets.
AG resource teacher Mirka Christesen coordinated this National Junior Honor Society initiative. "It was gratifying to see that at a time of an economic crisis, all teams donated money for a good cause," she said.
Conn Elementary Teacher Named Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year
Belinda Best, a fifth-grade teacher at Conn Active Learning and Technology Magnet Elementary School, was recently named the local 2008 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year by Wal-Mart/Sams Club.
Wal-Mart contributed $1,000 to Conn in honor of Best. She was presented with a certificate and a Wal-Mart gift card for her personal use.
Best has been a teacher for more than 15 years – the last 11 at Conn. She was the Teacher of the Year at Conn in 2007 and a finalist for WCPSS Teacher of the Year. She is a member of the school’s Leadership Team and Positive Behavior Support Team and serves as a mentor to beginning teachers, a student support team coordinator and a cooperating teacher for Meredith College student teachers. She has also served as grade level chair for eight years at Conn.
Best is passionate about teaching and says working with children brings her joy. She said she especially enjoys watching them grow and mature into responsible boys and girls. She believes that all children can learn and she works hard every day to provide a learning atmosphere that is firm yet loving and fun. She emphasizes the importance of being responsible, respectful and kind each and every day. Through hands-on learning activities, she teaches the curriculum with enthusiasm and comedy. Her classroom is a community where students are consistently working together and supporting each other with their learning.
Middle Creek High Teacher Recognized
Middle Creek High School science teacher Carrie Jones will be presented with the Young Professional Award from Ohio State University in November. The Young Professional Award honors Ohio State alumni under the age of 36 who have already demonstrated distinctive achievement in a career, civic involvement, or both. Jones is the science department chair at Middle Creek High and teaches Earth Science and Honors Earth Science at the school. Jones will receive the award on Nov. 8 during a luncheon in Columbus, Ohio.
A.B. Combs Elementary Featured in Magnet Publication
A.B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary School is featured in a publication issued by the US Department of Education entitled, "Creating and Sustaining Successful K-12 Magnet Schools." This publication was released at the Magnet Schools of America's conference in Washington.
Penny Road Wins AJ Fletcher Award
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Penny Road Elementary School has been selected by NC Beautiful and Capitol Broadcasting to receive the prestigious 2008 AJ
Fletcher award. The AJ Fletcher award is given to a 2005 Azalea Celebration recipient who has demonstrated good stewardship of the azaleas during the 2005 – 2008 period. The school received first prize, which includes 100 azaleas, a commemorative plaque and a check for $500 for use in its 2008 Fall Beautification projects.
The AJ Fletcher award is part of NC Beautiful's 23rd annual Azalea Celebration, which rewards North Carolina Community groups for improving their communities through creative landscape projects. "We are extremely excited about receiving the AJ Fletcher award from our 2005 Azalea Celebration garden," said John Sykes, PTA buildings and grounds chairman. Sykes stated "The azaleas have added wonderful color to our school. It was a great student, teacher and parent project for us." Penny Road will plant the additional azaleas on the school grounds throughout the month of October.
Brentwood Elementary Receives Conservation Grant
Brentwood Elementary was recently selected as the recipient of a $48,600 grant from the new NC Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP). Brentwood will partner with the Wake Soil & Water Conservation District to construct a 50’ x 150’ wetland adjacent to Marsh Creek.
The storm water retrofit requires a 75-25 cost-share match. A local farmer whose family once lived in the Brentwood community is donating wetland plants as part of Brentwood's 25 percent local match, in addition to the students', teachers', and community partners' time in planting the wetland.
CCAP funds for Brentwood's wetland were received from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund during the program's start-up. The overall goal of the grant is to implement storm water best practices on school campuses, church grounds, business properties, and in neighborhoods to better manage storm water and reduce nonpoint source pollution to the state's waterways.
Ten WCPSS Schools Being Recognized for Efforts to Improve Student Behavior
Ten WCPSS schools that are taking part in the NC Positive Behavior Support initiative will be recognized at the state PBS conference in November.
Swift Creek Elementary will be recognized with a plaque as an Exemplar School, the top PBS recognition. Mt. Vernon School and River Oaks Middle will be recognized as Banner Schools. Apex Elementary, Carver Elementary, Kingswood Elementary, Reedy Creek Elementary, Underwood Elementary, York Elementary and Heritage Middle will all be recognized as Green Ribbon Schools.
The Positive Behavior Support Initiative helps schools develop more effective strategies for working with challenging student behaviors.
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