Classroom Connection - January 27, 2009
Vandora Springs Students Paint Chairs of Hope
Vandora Springs fifth-grade art club students and staff members have begun working on painting chairs for their annual Chairs of Hope silent auction to benefit the Garner-area Relay for Life. This year's theme is songs of the '50s, '60s and '70s.The silent auction is April 16. For more information, please contact Jim Hunt by e-mail at jhunt@wcpss.net.
Sycamore Creek Kyle Crocodile Blog a Big Hit
Students at Sycamore Creek Elementary School have been learning 21st century technology, critical thinking, and information literacy skills with the help of Kyle Crocodile, a small green stuffed animal, and his crocodile siblings, Kirby, Katie, and Carlyle.
The project takes advantage of the school's year-round schedule by sending the stuffed animals on trips with students, staff, and friends when they are tracked out. The crocodiles' adventures are posted to a weblog (www.kylecrocodile.com ) where students ask questions and write comments.
Since the project's kick-off in October 2008, the crocodiles have traveled to Europe and many places within in the United States. Currently, Kirby Crocodile is in Iraq with Captain Christopher Peterman of the Army Reserves National Guard. Katie Crocodile recently witnessed history first-hand while attending the presidential inauguration in Washington, DC. Other crocodiles will be visiting Asia and Central America in upcoming weeks.
Sycamore Creek's technology specialist, Matthew Clobridge, is responsible for this project. Clobridge works with teachers to integrate the use of technology into the curriculum through projects such as the Kyle Crocodile blog. This project is one way to introduce students and teachers to blogging as well as serving as a means to expose students to people, places, and events they might not otherwise be able to experience themselves. For more information, please visit the web site at www.kylecrocodile.com or contact info@kylecrocodile.com.
Powell Elementary Blues in the Schools Program
Every day this week, blues recording artist Roger “Hurricane” Wilson will be visiting Powell GT Magnet Elementary School from 2 - 3:30 p.m. to work with students and teachers during a weeklong music workshop for elementary school students. The event is part of the first-ever Blues in the Schools pilot program in the Wake County Public School System.
Working in conjunction with Burriss Amps, Powell Elementary invited Wilson to be an Artist in Residence. Wilson will stay at Powell during the week and will conclude his residency with a performance with the Powell Elementary students on Friday, January 30 at 2:00 p.m.
The Blues in the Schools project will be tied to Powell’s One Book, One School program and will integrate the blues musical genre into the school’s history, art, writing, music and dance curriculum. Each year Powell Elementary conducts a One Book, One School program which introduces a single book to the entire school and culminates in a multi-disciplinary stage production. The Powell community will read and discuss the story, Yesterday I Had the Blues by Jeron Frame. The work will conclude with a student performance led by Powell Elementary Media Specialist Jessica Gill and Drama Specialist Marta King. The performance is scheduled for Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. and Friday, March 20 at 2:15 p.m.
The school is located at 1130 Marlborough Road, Raleigh. For more information, contact Debora Bray, Magnet Coordinator, at 919-856-7737, dbray1@wcpss.netEast Millbrook Holds Winter Festival
East Millbrook Middle School held its annual Winter Festival on Friday, Jan. 23. Each year students and teachers consider an “essential question” and present the results of their studies during the Winter Festival. This year the essential question was: "What is the relationship between Freedom and Responsibility?" Students and teachers displayed the work they have done and student groups presented various performances.
Enloe Students Earn Honors at Business Competition
Enloe High students took top honors in the Future Business Leaders of America Triangle East Region Competitive Events held at Princeton High School on Jan. 17. The Enloe Future Business Leaders team included Ahmal Baloubi, Kayla Douglas, Shamika Hodge, Taylor Norris and Tyler Richards. Norris earned first place in Accounting. Placing second were Baloubi in Word Processing II and Douglas in Public Speaking II. Richards earned third place in Business Calculations. These students will advance to compete in FBLA's State Leadership Conference in April. Their advisors are Natasha Deese and Patricia Taylor.
Millbrook High Honored for Supporting Juvenile Diabetes Research
Millbrook High School was recently honored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for its fundraising efforts. Millbrook's Student Government Advisor Valerie Hubard and student Reid Bauman accepted the awards for the school during the annual Awards Celebration dinner. For the fourth year in a row, Millbrook has raised more money for this charity than any other school in WCPSS. For the past two years, Millbrook students have raised more than any other school in North Carolina.
Under the leadership and direction of Hubard, more than 180 students raised money and participated in the JDRF Walk for Cure Diabetes. The school used a myriad of creative methods including "Kiss the Pig", videos, sneaker sales and more to raise a record $21,150.Middle Creek High School Students Support Troops
Middle Creek High School students recently packed boxes with deodorant, toothbrushes, shampoo, non-perishable food and paperback novels to be sent to soldiers in Iraq. In the next few weeks, the 77 care packages should land on the bunks of the soldiers.
The students are Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society members at Middle Creek High who worked with the Blue Star Mothers, a national organization for parents with a child serving in one of the branches of the U.S. military, to prepare the care packages.
Middle Creek High School Principal John Williams said it is important to connect students to global realities. Teacher Dave Rosser initiated the partnership with Blue Star Mothers and has found other ways to aid and recognize soldiers’ current or past service, including a Veterans Day display to thank the several Middle Creek High staff members who are also veterans.
The flag adorning the lobby wall at Middle Creek once flew over the 82nd Airborne base in Baghdad. When Middle Creek students sent care packages in a similar effort last year, soldiers presented the school with the flag.
Rand Road Elementary Student Meets Governor
Rand Road fourth-grade student Hope Harrington met Governor Beverly Perdue and her husband, Bob Eaves, at the Governor’s Mansion open house Jan. 10. Singers from Garner Magnet High School performed for the public during the open house. Harrington, a student in Jennifer Holcomb’s class at Rand Road, said she hopes to be governor one day. She would like to live in the Governor’s Mansion and bring her parents, Greg and Karen, with her.
Four New Principals Named
Stephen Mares, principal of Daniels Middle School, has been named principal of Broughton High. Mares takes over for Roy Teel, who is retiring this week. He has been principal of Daniels since 2005 and was Wake's 2004-05 Principal of the Year.
Franklin Creech will be the principal of the new Banks Road Elementary School in Fuquay-Varina. He has been principal of Fuquay-Varina Elementary since 2003.
Mary K. Warren will be the principal of the new Herbert Akins Road Elementary in Fuquay-Varina. She has been principal of West Lake Elementary since 2005.
Retired Broughton Principal C. Diane Payne was named interim principal of Leesville Road High School, replacing Stephen Gainey was named assistant superintendent for human resources.