Classroom Connection - April 28, 2009
Enloe Student Wins Student Emmy Award; Southeast Raleigh Students Honored
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| Taylor Leslie with instructor Curry Leslie. |
Enloe High senior Taylor Leslie won an Emmy in the writing category for a series of commercial spoofs called "Real Teachers of Genius," while Southeast Raleigh High students earned two honorable mentions. The students' work was honored during the The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presentation of its 7th Annual Regional Student Television Awards for Excellence held in Nashville, Tenn.
Leslie is a student in the broadcasting class taught by Curry Leslie and is part of Enloe's Eagle Productions. This is the 12th Student Emmy award in 13 years for Enloe Eagle Productions and advisor Curry Leslie. The school has a total of 23 nominations.
Southeast Raleigh Magnet High students earned two honorable mentions in the competition. In the craft achievement, Devon Henry earned honorable mention for her skills in editing. In the writing category, Pat Mushid, Brooke Gooding & Garrett Fitzgerald earned honorable mention for their news report on Project Based Learning. This was the first time Southeast has entered the competition under Broadcasting Teacher, Steven O'Neill and was surprised to find out at the ceremony that Southeast is the only public high school in the country that utilizes 100 percent direct drive capture and broadcasts exclusively in high definition.
"The student awards are judged on the same criteria as the Emmy Awards for professionals," said Geneva M. Brignolo, executive director of the academy's Nashville chapter. "Many of the pieces that won could easily be shown, with pride, on broadcast television. And the academy can have no greater role in the industry than to foster the next generation."
The Regional Student Television Awards for Excellence are intended to be an incentive for the pursuit of excellence in television journalism and to focus public attention on outstanding achievements in television by high school students from their telecasts, cablecasts or webcasts.
Teaching Recycling With Dumpster Diving and Taste Tests
Members of the Oak Grove Elementary ecology club, the "Green Otters" participated in a live demonstration April 18 at the second annual Planet Earth Celebration in downtown Raleigh. The group was invited to do a "dumpster dive" to show how trash from one week could be reused, recycled, or composted.
The students were excited as they dove into a large pile of garbage that was on display during the Earth Day festival. The group sorted the pile and discovered that the largest pile was made up of things that could have been recycled. The Oak Grove Elementary Ecology Club is open to fourth- and fifth-grade students at the school.
At Reedy Creek Elementary, students wondered which tastes better: mud or dirt? Or whether they would prefer their Earth Day mud and dirt treats with worms or ants or both? Sheryl Kirkey's class savored all these options. They spent the day tasting dirt and mud "sundaes" topped with worms and ants while constructing artistic and unique wind chimes from recycled tin and aluminum cans, old keys, plastic bottles, cups, and beads and several other "throw away" articles. Parents and grandparents accepted with enthusiasm and pleasure the invitation to participate in this joyful, creative Earth Day celebration where the students learned to reduce their environmental "foot print" by recycling as well as becoming more aware of the planet upon which we all depend for our existence by tasting their delicious down-to-earth edible concoctions.
ParentVision: Financial Aid
Especially in this economy, thoughts of financial aid for college can be nerve-racking. Watch the latest ParentVision video podcast to get some tips from a high school guidance counselor on planning for the future. Eric Sparks, our director of school counseling, has found some additional tips for lining up financial aid and planning for tough economic times.
Enloe Students Have Top Scores in French Contest
Enloe High student Benoit Sabourin finished first in the state in the 2009 administration of the National French Exam. Benoit competed on the Level 4 exam.
The Enloe students did an excellent job at the state level of the competition. Here's what students accomplished:
Level 1 French
Felicia Blow- 6th in the state
Jared Sanborn-9th in the state
Level 2 French
Vitchy Pong- 5th in the state
Shajuti Hossain-7th in the state
Alexandra Kuznetsov- 8th in the state
Level 3 French
Rachel Mazzara- 9th in the state
Level 4 French
Benoit Sabourin- 1st in the state
Ben Muller- 7th in the state
Ethan Sherbondy-8th in the state
Ekaterina Roze-6th in the state
Kathryn McNeirney-8th in the state
Stough Elementary Finalist in Book Challenge
Students at Stough Elementary are national finalists in the 2008-2009 Nationwide Learning National Book Challenge. Jamie Warkony'’s fourth-grade class wrote a book titled, "If I were President…." The book was submitted in the national competition along with more than 7,000 other entries.
Lincoln Heights Elementary Prepares for Tiger Trot
The Lincoln Heights staff, PTA and school community are gearing up for their annual 5K "Tiger Trot" which will be held on Sunday, May 3. While this event is traditionally a PTA fundraiser, due to the economy this year, the focus will be on celebrating the school's success and providing an enjoyable, affordable, family-friendly outing. Along with the 5K Run, there will be a 1-mile Family Fun Run and a 1/4 mile lap around the track for preschool children.
Poet in Residence Inspires Apex Elementary Students
Apex Elementary fifth-graders were inspired to write by Poet in Residence Howard Craft. Craft has published a book of poems, "Across the Blue Chasm," along with four feature-length plays. Craft spent four days at Apex Elementary this month and worked extensively with students on the writing process. This event was sponsored by the Apex Elementary PTA and the United Arts "Artists in Schools" program.
Farmington Woods Elementary Students Assist Crisis Center
Realizing that the economy is suffering and families across Wake County need help, fifth-graders at Farmington Woods Elementary decided to do something about it. They decided to pull together the community and demonstrate IB attitudes such as cooperation and empathy in order to truly make a difference. The students worked two Saturdays to collect over a ton of food, along with books, clothes toiletries, and healthcare items. The students collected these goods, then worked with the Western Wake Crisis Center to sort, shelve and bag these items.
Broughton's Yearbook Recognized for Excellence
Broughton High's Yearbook, The Latipac, has been recognized for excellence and featured in Josten's 2009 Gotcha Covered Look Book. This is the sixth consecutive year that The Latipac has received this recognition.The Look Book is published annually by Jostens and it features yearbook covers and spreads from across the country. It is a popular guide for yearbook staffs seeking creative design coverage ideas trends and inspirations. The Latipac advisor is Broughton teacher Courtney Black.The student editors are Taylor Delbridge and Carly Dixon.
Yoga at Jones Dairy Elementary Improves Student Behavior
Students at Jones Dairy Elementary are starting out each day with yoga, and the results, so far, have been very positive. Funded by a grant from Wake Electric and the Jones Dairy PTA, the school is beginning each day with students engaged in a five-minute yoga relaxation technique.
The students learn the techniques in PE and begin each day following a technique shown on the in-class televisions. Many teachers take time throughout the day to lead the class in a relaxation technique or two. Principal Mike Chappell has tracked data and realized that discipline issues have dropped and academic progress has improved since employing yoga relaxation.
Penny Road Elementary Receives 3M Ingenuity Grant
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| Michelle Duval receives a check from 3M. |
Penny Road Elementary received $3,500 for the Ingenuity Grant from the 3M Foundation.The grant is designed to recognize third- through eighth-grade math and science teachers and help them bring new teaching methods and learning activities into the classroom. 3M presented the check to Michelle DuVal, fifth-grade math and science teacher.
Some of the materials awarded include human body science kits, microscopes for the study of cells in biology, equa-beams for learning pre-algebra, and smoke boxes to teach about air flow and the effect heat and cold have on wind as well as cloud formation. DuVal was also selected by 3M to attend an all expenses paid trip to Keystone Center in Colorado to learn in an environment of educators from across the country. They will share ideas, lessons, and come home with training materials for the science/math teachers in their home schools.
Wakefield First-Grader is a Speedy Stacker
Wakefield Elementary first-grader Daniel Hong attended the World Speed Stacking Competition in Denver, Colorado, on April 19. Hong learned speed stacking in kindergarten. It's a timed competition where students use specially designed plastic cups to build pyramids of varying patterns in a specific sequence. Hong's parents took him to a regional competition this year in Greensboro where he won first place for his age group in four events. After placing first in the state competition held at Wingate College on March 21, Hong competed in the Colorado event April 19. You can find more information about the competition and the complete results here.
Wakefield Middle Students Win at Odyssey of the Mind
One of the two Wakefield Middle School teams that reached the state Odyssey of the Mind competition will go on to the World Finals in Iowa May 26-29.
The team going to the World Finals includes Michelle Fenstermaker, Emma Furr, Nate Furr, Emily Stark, Daniel Burnell, Jacob Lenox, and Alex Fluke. They are coached by Michelle Furr and Janet Stark. They chose the Lost Labor of Heracles problem that requires teams to create and present an original performance about the ancient Greek hero Heracles. The teams must create skits showing Heracles performing one of the 12 labors, as well as a Lost Labor – a team-created thirteenth labor forgotten in history.
The other team that reached the state finals included Ryan Lang, Alex Tulenko, Laura Guy, Jereme Endicott, John Hubbard, and Macy Allen. They are coached by Mary Tulenko and Lori Hubbard. They chose the Superstition problem. That requires teams to create and present a performance that includes two documented superstitions, an original superstition created by the team, and the events that caused the original superstition to come to be.
Wake Forest-Rolesville High Senior Named Morehead-Cain Scholar
A third WCPSS student has been named a 2009 Morehead-Cain Scholar. Austin Shaw of Wake Forest-Rolesville High was told he had earned the scholarship that pays all expenses for four years of undergraduate study, including the cost of a laptop computer and four summer enrichment experiences. Additional funding is provided for educational and experiential opportunities during the academic years. The value of the scholarship is about $80,000 for each in-state student. Wake Forest-Rolesville High School Principal Tina Hoots said Shaw was on the alternate list before being named a recipient.
Two other WCPSS students, Julia Victoria Ramos of Fuquay-Varina High School and Patrick Joseph Short of Sanderson High School, were named Morehead-Cain Scholars last month.
Reedy Creek Fourth-Graders to be Published in Poetry Digest
Seven Reedy Creek Elementary fourth-graders recently received letters congratulating them for writing poems that have been selected for publication in the 2009 Young American Poetry Digest. The seven students are Deshondre Bellinger, Shayla Dubay, Tyrail Hunter, Youn Sun Lee, Kevin S., Lewis Smith, and Zachary Zdelar.
The students studied and wrote in the poetic form called Haiku. Their teacher, Mrs. Calabrese, submitted their poems to the National Schools Project. This project was designed 14 years ago to share our youth's talents with others and provide publishing opportunities for young poets. The students' poems were then reviewed by a selection panel of educators who selected poems that were especially well written for the age level of the student. Reedy Creek will receive a free book for its library.
Enloe and Ligon Students Take Top Honors at NC State Math Meet
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| Calvin, bottom row, second from left, and Daniel, bottom row, third from left |
Enloe Senior Daniel Vitek has taken top senior honors at the North Carolina State Math Meet held on April 23 at the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics. Daniel placed third overall and received a $100,000 tuition scholarship to Duke University for his efforts. If Daniel should decide not to attend Duke, the scholarship will be awarded to the next senior award-winner.
First place overall was won by Calvin Deng, an eighth-grade student at Ligon Middle. He attends Enloe for his AP Calculus AB class. Calvin is the first middle school overall winner since 1989 (20 years).
Leesville Latin Students Excel on National Latin Exam
Last month, 36 Leesville Latin students participated in the 2009 National Latin Exam along with 135,000 other Latin students from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries. Out of Leesville's 36 Latin students, 24 won national awards, including seven gold medals and nine silver medals, in every level entered. Because of her outstanding performance on the Level 5 exam, senior AP Latin student Kaithlyn Abadilla has qualified to compete for a national scholarship.
Below are the complete results:
Summa Cum Laude (Gold Medal):
Level 1……………………………………………………Nicole Curtis and Emily Farmer
Level 2…………………………………...……………Jonathan Wendt and Erin Flannelly
Level 3………………………………….………………Rebecca Dixon and Stephen Ryan
Level 5……………………………..…………………………..……….Kaithlyn Abadilla
Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal):
Level 2……………...…Dong-Jun Shin, Gregory Pope, Ashleigh Miles, and Allison Bass
Level 3………………………….……Linda Cui, Eli Kratt, Trevor Haga, and Erin Cuellar
Level 4…………………………………………………………...…….……..Elaine Didier
Magna Cum Laude:
Level 1………………………………...……Min Jun, Michael Elderkin, and Jessica Jones
Level 3……………..…………………….…Joe Tung, Vira Ayzenbart, and Richard Frost
Cum Laude:
Level 3…………………………………………………………………………John Parker
Level 4………...……………………………………………………..……Sharae Williams
Centennial Students Participate in RiskFest 2009
The Third Annual RiskFest Event was held at Centennial Campus Middle School on April 22 (Earth Day). During RiskFest, 400 sixth- and eight-grade students (future green leaders) were exposed to current and future risk management challenges that are associated with agriculture, the environment, energy, and the economy.
The event included both indoor and outdoor interactive demonstrations, participation, and support from partners such as Cargill, USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Piedmont Biofuels, Syngenta, Duke University, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, North Carolina A & T University, Boys & Girls Clubs of Raleigh, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and over 20 federal and state agencies, companies, and organizations.
One of the highlights of this year's event was the Student Poster Contest which focused on the theme: "Stimulating the Economy by Managing Risks."
Swift Creek TA Named 2009 Teacher Assistant of the Year
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Lisa Cox |
Lisa Cox, a teacher assistant for the Cross Categorical Resource special education classroom at Swift Creek Elementary, was named the 2009 Teacher Assistant of the Year by the Wake County Teacher Assistants Association during a banquet held at the McKimmon Center on April 27. She was selected from 10 finalists for the honor and was presented with a certificate, an engraved plate, flowers and a cash prize.
Cox, who previously owned and operated an interior design business, began her career with the Wake County Public School System as a substitute in 2004 after serving as a volunteer in our schools for many years. She then became a one-on-one teacher assistant for a visually impaired student at Swift Creek before accepting her current position as the teacher assistant for the school's Cross Categorical Resource special education classroom this past year.
The Teacher Assistant of the Year finalists included:
Toni Alford, Wilburn Elementary
Kathleen Bennett, Cary Elementary
Joy Fox, Creech Road Elementary
Amy Harper, North Forest Pines Elementary
Cynthia Lape, Hodge Road Elementary
Kimberly Latta, Leesville Road Elementary
Mary Robinson, Forestville Road Elementary
Tommy Tobin, Timber Drive Elementary
Shasta Williams-Turner, East Garner Middle
2009 Teacher of the Year Finalists Named
The finalists for the 2009 Wake County Teacher of the Year were recently honored in a reception at the NC Bar Association. The 12 finalists include:
- Carla Tuttle of Panther Creek High
- Julia Robertson of Green Elementary
- Mark Townley of Holly Springs High
- Shana Broders of Wake Forest Elementary
- Heather Dinkenor of Leesville Road High
- Michelle Holt of Cary Elementary
- Arlie Harris of Moore Square Museum Middle
- Jaime Warkonyi of Stough Elementary
- Caroline Valentine of Knightdale High
- Judith Darling of Middle Creek High
- Rene' Herrick of Combs Elementary
- Colleen Kanters of Penny Road Elementary
The Wake County Teacher of the Year banquet is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, when the Teacher of the Year will be honored.
Board Names Principal
At its meeting on April 21, the Board of Education named Tammy Jahad principal at Baucom Elementary. Jahad has served as assistant principal of Apex Middle School since 2006. Prior to that, she was an assistant principal intern and a teacher at Swift Creek Elementary. She was a teacher at Smith Elementary for five years.