WCPSS Good News
Goal 2008: WCPSS is committed to academic excellence. By 2008, 95 percent of students in grades 3 through 12 will be at or above grade level as measured by the State of North Carolina End-of-Grade or Course tests, and all student groups will demonstrate high growth.September 21, 2005
LUFKIN ROAD STUDENT COMPETES IN FUNDRAISING RACE
Jenna Christensen, a Lufkin Road Middle seventh-grader, recently took second
place at a race that meant more to her than just a prize. She raced in an
"Angels" race, running in memory of Lufkin Road student Jorge
Tolentino Corrales. Corrales died in a swimming accident earlier this school
year. Christensen completed a 16-mile bike ride, half-mile swim and 3.2-mile
run. She raised $395 for the race. The proceeds go to student scholarships
and elementary school teacher grants. Jenna, the youngest winner in the
race, collected the third highest amount in donations.
TURNER CREEK STUDENTS DONATE BOOKS
Turner Creek principal Jan Hargrove says one of the school's kindergarten
classes earned 5,000 Scholastic bonus points through their own book purchases.
The class discussed how to use their points. Often schools use them to "buy"
books for the classroom or for students in the class. This group of kindergartners
decided to get books to donate to Katrina victims. The students plan to
put stickers in the front of the books saying its donated by their class.
LINCOLN HEIGHTS STUDENTS RAISE MONEY FOR KATRINA AID
Lincoln Heights Magnet Elementary presented a check in the amount of $200
to the American Red Cross for the Wake Kids for Katrina Drive. On Sunday
Sept. 11, Lincoln Heights first graders Joshua Martin and Daniel Sampler
and third grader Major Sampler ran a lemonade stand in front of Fuquay-Varina
grocery to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The boys learned
a valuable lesson that day about helping others. They worked hard by pouring
lemonade, collecting money, giving change and letting people know exactly
why the school was raising money.
EAST MILLBROOK HOLDS PANCAKE BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER
As part of WCPSS's Wake Kids for Katrina Campaign, East Millbrook International
Baccalaureate Middle School will sponsor a Pancake Breakfast for Katrina
Relief 7:30 - 10:00 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 1 at Crazy Fire Mongolian Grill,
on the corner of Spring Forest and Capital Blvd. All proceeds from this
breakfast will go towards the Red Cross and its efforts to aid Katrina victims.
Staff, parents and special guests will be flipping pancakes while students
will be serving as waiters and displaying informational materials on the
hurricanes and their effects. Pancakes will be $4 for all you can eat. For
more information contact principal David Ansbacher at 850-8755.
MOORE SQUARE MIDDLE SCHOOL DEDICATES ARTWORK
Moore Square Museums Magnet Middle School held dedication ceremonies for
"Trio" Sept. 20. Trio is the latest work of internationally recognized
sculptor Thomas Sayre who worked with Moore Square students during a 10-week
pilot public art residency funded by WCPSS and the NC Arts Council. He created
Trio - three landscape-size totems dramatically located in the school's
courtyard. Moore Square principal Elizabeth Colbert said students were involved
in selecting the location for the artwork, as well as in forming the concept
behind the artwork itself. Students used their math skills to determine
the scale of the artwork, and what was possible within a limited budget,
learned about the physics of different materials, and participated in the
design process.
HIGH SCHOOLS RECGONIZED FOR SPORTSMANSHIP
Nine WCPSS high schools will receive NCHSAA Sportsmanship Awards at the
Region 3 meeting Sept. 28 for Ejection-free years. This IS not the first
time these schools have received such recognition. WCPSS Athletics Director
Bobby Guthrie congratulated five -year winner Fuquay-Varina High, which
is tied for the most at the 4A level. Three-year winners were Cary High
and Wake Forest-Rolesville High. Apex High, East Wake High and Millbrook
High were recognized for two years and Garner, Green Hope and Sanderson
were honored this year.
TWO HONORED AT SCHOOL-TO-CAREER VOLUNTEER CELEBRATION
Educators and business leaders met in the 11th annual School to Career Volunteer
Celebration Sept. 20 at the Renaissance Center in North Raleigh. Business
Alliance Coordinator Megan Kirkpatrick brought together more than 200 people
who work in schools through Business Alliances. The businessmen and women
share their time and talents working with educators to help students consider
their future and the state's career pathways including Arts and Sciences,
Biological and Chemical Technologies, Business Technologies, Health Sciences
and more. The 2005 School To Career Leadership Awards were presented to
Brent Henry of Wake County Cooperative Extension and Joe Gelm of Gelm and
Associates. Business Alliance Leadership Team chair Jerry O'Connor said
in the past year there were 800 internships, more than 2000 job shadow opportunities,
110 business attendees at the Triangle Town Center Fair and 450 Extreme
beginnings student participants in grades 10-12 .
WALLACE SPEAKS ON ADVANCED COURSES
WCPSS Senior Director for Middle School Programs Dana-Diesel Wallace will
speak on Advanced Courses and the /Academically Gifted Program 10 a.m.,
Sept. 24 at Martin Street Baptist Church, 1001 East Martin Street, Raleigh.
The talk is sponsored by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African
American Children. For more information, contact: Calla Wright at cccaac@nc.rr.com
CLARENCE POE ELEMENTARY'S GOLDEN YEAR CELEBRATION
Preparations are being made to celebrate Poe Elementary School's 50th anniversary
and Poe Montessori Magnet School's tenth anniversary. The school is requesting
photos, memorabilia and anecdotes that can be included on a student-created
timeline that will highlight events that influenced the community surrounding
Poe, as well as the school itself. All items for the timeline can be sent
to Poe Montessori Magnet School, Attn: Juliette Kuhn, 400 Peyton Street,
Raleigh, NC 27610 or e-mailed to jkuhn@wcpss.net . All memorabilia items
are needed by Oct. 28. These artifacts will be copied and originals returned,
if requested. The timeline will be showcased on Nov. 10 when the school
celebrates its anniversaries. For more information, contact the school at
250-4777.
AUTHOR VISITS WEST CARY MIDDLE
The award-winning author, Frances O'Roark Dowell, will visit West Cary Middle
School 8:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 10. She will meet with groups of eighth graders
in the auditorium. Students are reading her award-winning novel, Dovey Coe.
Mrs. Dowell won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Juvenile Novel from the
Mystery Writers of America in 2001. For more information, contact principal
Doug Thilman at 460-3528.
WAKE PTA COUNCIL HOLDS 2005 GREAT EXPECTATIONS
The Wake County PTA Council will hold 2005 Great Expectations 5 p.m., Thursday
Sept. 29 at Athens Drive High. The event brings parent leaders from across
the county together for training in a variety of different leadership skill
areas as well as participating in best practice sharing workshops. The purpose
of this event is to ensure that all parent leaders including parent volunteers,
Presidents, Booster Club Presidents, President-Elects, Vice Presidents,
Treasurers and committee chairs are equipped to effectively lead their PTAs
and make their organization a healthy contributor to the overall success
of their schools. This training is free of charge to all participants. The
event includes a short PTA Council meeting, leadership development workshops
and the Great Exchange, an exhibitor venue of vendors and program providers.
You can register and find more information at http://wakeptacouncil.org/
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR NC STOCK MARKET GAME
The 20th Annual North Carolina Stock Market Game ( SMG ) is a unique state-wide
competition designed to provide the most realistic, educational and reliable
stock market simulation available to both teachers and students. The game
is sponsored by the North Carolina Council on Economic Education, which
is a non-profit organization dedicated to the financial literacy of all
students in NC. The game is a valuable and motivating tool in teaching the
fundamentals of investing, as well as learning about how the economy works.
The SMG is offered to all students and teachers in grades 4-12 -- for a
10-week trading period each fall and spring semester, culminating in three
awards ceremonies and luncheons across the state. The deadline for registering
is Sept. 26. More information is available at www.nccee.org
GOODMON SPEAKS TO WAKE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP MEETING
Jim Goodmon of Capitol Broadcasting will be the keynote speaker for the
Wake Education Partnership's Annual Meeting 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept.
28 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 201 Harrison Oaks Blvd., Cary. Wake Education
Partnership plans to present the 2005 Friend of Education and Business Partner
for Education awards at the meeting. Immediately following the meeting,
a news conference will be held to release Quality Matters - Wake Education
Partnership's annual report. The report examines the challenges and opportunities
facing Wake County education and civic leaders as they confront tremendous
student population growth and seek the resources needed to address growth
and continue progress toward Goal 2008.
WCPSS Good News is published electronically every other week for
everyone interested in the Wake County Public School System. Is what you
read in this edition helpful? What information would you like to see in
future editions? Contact me by calling 850-1829 or e-mailing bposton@wcpss.net.
Bill Poston
Wake County Public School System
Communications Department
3600 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
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