Good News

December 12, 2006

2006-07 FALL SPORTS SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS NAMED
Twelve WCPSS middle schools earned 2006-07 Fall Sports Sportsmanship awards. Bobbie Guthrie, WCPSS Senior Administrator for Athletics, said the schools earned praise for the way they played and conducted themselves at athletic events.

In the Central Conference, Martin, Carroll and North Garner were recognized. Comments about the sportsmanship winners in the Central Conference included
· Teams were greeted
· Water supplied
· Included opposing team players for special introduction
· Players were friendly, regardless of game outcome
· Overall good attitudes by the players, and clear directions from the AD's and coaches
· Good fan support
· Helped parents with parking
· Whole team sat down when athlete was injured
· Willingness to help out during an injury
· Escorted us to and from the bus
· Great team spirit no matter what the score was
· Super nice coaches

In the Northern Conference, middle schools recognized included East Millbrook, West Millbrook, and tied for third, Wakefield and East Wake. Comments about the sportsmanship winners in the Northern Conference included:
· Strong pre and post game sportsmanship by administrators and coaches
· Helped with ice and water
· Coaches were very cordial and professional
· Players were very respectful
· Teams played good competitive games while continuing to show good sportsmanship
· Coaches were very respectful towards the officials
· Coaches were very positive with players
· Players seemed to get along with one another
· Teams greeted us warmly
· Demonstrated great sportsmanship throughout the game, regardless of what happened
· Offered assistance to our team
· Coaches encouraging to their own players

In the Southern Conference, middle schools recognized included Apex, Reedy Creek and tied for third, Fuquay-Varina, Lufkin and Holly Ridge. Comments about the sportsmanship winners in the Southern Conference included:
· Coach was very helpful with directions
· Helped with injuries
· Schools were very respectful
· Greeted us, and were very positive before and after games
· Helped to fix equipment that was broken
· Meeting the coaches
· Players had respect for all players and officials
· Not running up the score
· Playing everyone
· Helped with an injured player
· Fans displayed good sportsmanship during and after the game
· Returned lost items
· Went out of their way to help us
· Made the game fun
· Greeted teams, positive attitude and comments

The schools will receive banners recognizing them as 2006-07 Sportsmanship Winners.

BROUGHTON WINS SOCCER TITLE
Broughton High won the 4A NC High School Athletic Association Boys Soccer State Championship last month. WCPSS Athletic Director Bobby Guthrie offered his congratulations to coach Izzy Hernandez and the team for their hard work and dedication.

SCHOOL CROSSING IMPROVED
The state Department of Transportation has begun work on the signal light on Spring Forest Road in front of East Millbrook Middle. DOT is installing a left-turn signal for traffic entering the school from east-bound Spring Forest Road. Principal David Ansbacher, the East Millbrook PTA and the school's parents have been seeking ways to improve safety for students crossing the busy roadway in front of the school. Ansbacher says there will also be an improved crossing for students at the light. The signal should be up and running by next week. WCPSS asks that drivers pay attention to the safety of students as they walk to and from school.

School Connection TV

Click to View

 Christy Hardee of School Connection TV introduces you to Jamee Lynch, the WCPSS Principal of the Year. Lynch is principal at Hodge Road Elementary School in Knightdale.

CARROLL EARNS CLOSING THE GAP HONORS
Carroll Middle School is one of 14 North Carolina schools recognized by Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services for having significantly narrowed the achievement gap between higher- and lower-performing student groups during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years. Carroll was one of five schools Standard & Poors highlighted for reducing the gap between the achievement of white and African American students.

To be recognized for significantly narrowing these achievement gaps, schools had to meet all of the following criteria:
· test at least 30 students in each student group being analyzed;
· reduce at least one achievement gap between student groups in Reading and Math Proficiency (RaMP) rates by more than five percentage points from one year to the next; and simultaneously raise the RaMP rates for each student group being compared; and
· reduce at least one achievement gap between student groups in a grade-level reading test by more than five percentage points from one year to the next; and simultaneously raise that grade-level reading proficiency rate for each student group being compared. Schools must demonstrate similar progress in math, though not necessarily at the same grade level. For example, an elementary school might reduce the achievement gap between black students and white students in third grade reading by at least five percentage points while raising reading proficiency rates for both black students and white students, while doing the same in fifth grade math.

Standard & Poors indicated Carroll had narrowed the gap for sixth and eighth grade reading and math scores during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years.

LIGON TEACHER NAMED STATE'S TOP MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATOR
Ligon Middle music teacher Melody Moore was named NC Music Middle School Teacher of the Year by the NC Music Educators Association. Moore received the award last month at the association's conference in Winston-Salem.

ENLOE TEACHER NAMED MARSHALL MEMORIAL FELLOW
Enloe High teacher Isaac Lake has been named a 2007 American Marshall Memorial Fellow by the International Affairs Council. Lake was the only educator among the four North Carolina participants who were all named to the final pool of 55 - 60 from across the nation who will participate in the program in 2007. Lake teaches English to students in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes.

The Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program is a program of The German Marshall Fund of the United States that brings emerging U.S. leaders to Brussels, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe and Berlin. Throughout three weeks of seminars, travel and informal discussions - hosted by European alumni - Fellows become acquainted with Europe's diverse political, economic and social traditions, as well as the ongoing project of European unification. IAC is the sole point of contact in North Carolina to recruit, select, and recommend American Marshall Memorial Fellowship annually.

STUDENT LEADERS HONORED AT LIGHTHENER BANQUET
The Lightener Youth Fellowship Banquet was held last month to recognize and honor 60 WCPSS students who participated in leadership development seminars during the past year. Over 450 members from the community attended the event Nov. 16 at the North Raleigh Hilton.

GREEN HOPE STUDENTS OFFER MADRIGAL DINNER
Green Hope High school students offered a royal banquet in the style and costume of Elizabethan England at a Madrigal Dinner Dec. 1 and 2. Each night provided singing, dancing, feasting and general merry-making with a feast of fine food, a wassail toast, figgy pudding and a boar's head processional. Madrigal dinners are 20th century re-creations of the Renaissance feasts held in the great baronial halls throughout England during the twelve days of Christmas. The feasts included invited guests, much pageantry and pomp, the court jester's humor, endless food and outstanding music. Green Hope students recreated that era as they transformed the school's common area into a medieval English castle hall and offered entertainment for which they've been preparing and rehearsing for weeks. The entertainment was under the direction of Choral Director, Maggie Walpole. The event included new, elaborate settings created by the Drama Classes under the direction of Duchess Ingrid of Wright.

GREEN HOPE STUDENTS TAKE PART IN PROJECT THANK YOU
Green Hope student Ryan Dowd led the NHS, Soccer Team, and Spanish Club at Green Hope to participate in Project Thank-You, a special mission coordinated by a Green Hope High parent, Robin Jones to send care packages and more to troops in Iraq. In addition to items for the care packages, Ryan has collected 750 Christmas letters and cards from Green Hope students to send to the troops. For more information on Project Thank-you, contact Robin Jones at ProjectThankyou@ aol.com

MILLBROOK PARTNERS WITH BANK TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL INSIGHTS
Millbrook High School has established its inaugural Junior Bank Board, partnering with Kim Atkins at Crescent State Bank to provide this unique leadership opportunity for students at Millbrook High School. The Junior Bank Board is one of only two located in North Carolina. Students apply and are selected through a rigorous application process. The Junior Bank Board meets at Crescent State Bank and functions much like a 'real' bank board would. This is a great way for students to participate in a civic organization and to distinguish themselves from other highly competitive teenagers. More than 30 students applied and 15 students were selected for the board. Students meet once a month, conduct board business and have guest speakers. They will have a chance to talk with Harvey Schmidt, President of the Chamber of Commerce; George Dixon, former Director of Admissions of NC State and Mike Carlton , CEO Crescent State Bank.

MILLBROOK RAISES FUNDS FOR DIABETES RESEARCH
When Millbrook took part in the Walk to Cure Diabetes, more than 130 Millbrook High students and staff members participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk to Cure Diabetes at Nortel in Research Triangle Park. This was the second year that Millbrook participated in the JDRF Walk and the school's efforts were a huge success. Under the leadership of English teacher and Junior Class Advisor, Wendy Davis, each of the school's class councils decided to participate in this year's walk. When Davis and Assistant Principal Kelly Aman attended the annual kick-off meeting in early September, Davis set an ambitious goal of $10,000 to help fund research to find a cure for diabetes. This was $8,000 more than raised the previous year. This year's most current totals for Millbrook exceed $11, 800. Millbrook is exceptionally proud of its students and teachers for their efforts in this year's walk!

THE PTA REFLECTIONS PROGRAM OFFERS STUDENTS A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS
Students will have the chance to express their creativity through dance, music, story, or poetry by taking part in the 2006-07 PTA Reflections competition. This year's Reflections theme is "My favorite place..." The Reflections Program is a contest for the creative sponsored by PTA. The categories include: literature, visual arts, photography, musical composition, dance, and film/video. Students may enter all six categories, but may only have one entry per category. Students should think about the theme and then create a piece of artwork, write a song or story, take a photograph, create a dance or video reflecting their ideas. If interested please see language arts or specials teacher for an official entry form and complete rules. While participating school deadlines may vary, at least one WCPSS school had asked students to submit their work by January 3, 2007. Local school PTA units must submit materials to the PTA Council by January 9.

 

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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