Good News
September 21, 2007 |
WCPSS SCHOOLS EARN ABCs OF PUBLIC EDUCATION RECOGNITION
Eleven Wake County Public School System schools were recently recognized as Honor Schools of Excellence. The 11 schools include: Brier Creek Elementary, Cedar Fork Elementary, Davis Drive Elementary, Green Hope Elementary, Green Hope High, Highcroft Elementary, Lufkin Road Middle, Oak Grove Elementary, Pleasant Union Elementary, Salem Elementary and Salem Middle.
Under the ABCs of Public Education, a school earns recognition as an Honor School of Excellence when
-90 percent of students are successful on state testing,
-the school’s state testing results show that it met or exceeded expected growth
-and the school met the federal No Child Left Behind standard of Annual Yearly Progress.
58 WCPSS schools were honored as Schools of Distinction. The schools had more than 80 percent of students scoring proficient on state assessments and met growth standards.
WCPSS SCHOOLS CELEBRATE CONSTITUTION DAY
On Monday morning, Superintendent Del Burns visited Durant Middle School for a Constitution Assembly. Dr Burns was there to mark Sept 17 as Constitution Day and join in the celebration with Durant Road students. Constitution Day is based on a federal law that was passed 3 years ago mandating the teaching about the Constitution.
Many schools will be having celebrations and recognitions all week. Three years ago when this law went into effect, WCPSS Social Studies Senior Administrator Melinda Stephani provided daily announcements for the 3 levels--K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 which focused on the Constitution. Additionally, a movie Symbols of America: The Constitution was purchased for every school in the district to use during Constitution Week. Updated announcements have been shared for this year with all the schools.
Many schools do lots of things besides showing a video and using the announcements to weave this teachable moment into their entire program. Sanderson High works Constitution Day into its writing prompts. At Apex Middle School, they wear red, white and blue on Constitution Day. At Green Hope High, they create birthday cards for the Constitution.
This special time was set aside because September 17, 1787, the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention held their final meeting. Only one item of business occupied the agenda that day, to sign the Constitution of the United States of America.
The Constitution contains the basic laws of the United States in its seven articles and 27 amendments. Completed over 200 years ago, it is the oldest national constitution in the world still in use.
For more information on Constitution Day, visit the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation website at: http://www.ncbar.org/public/lis/programs/cd.aspx .
College Fair |
COLLEGE FAIR AT MCKIMMON CENTER
Representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities will be at the McKimmon Center Sunday, September 23 for the Wake County College and Post Secondary Opportunities Fair. The college fair begins at 2 p.m. and continues until 4:30 p.m. There will be free sessions on financial aid and college planning. It's a great place for parents and students to have questions answered by representatives from colleges, universities, community colleges and all military institutions. The college fair is sponsored by Wake County Public School System Counseling and Student Services, Carolina Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and NC State University.
WCPSS RECOGNIZED FOR PILOT INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROGRAM
The Wake County Public School System has received the "Great Start Award" for successfully implementing the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program. Tools for Schools is a voluntary program, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that teaches schools how to identify and deal with potential indoor air quality issues and health risks.
Poor indoor air quality can lead to a variety of health problems including asthma and potentially affect a student's comfort, concentration, and performance level. The school system launched Tools for Schools as a way of taking a proactive approach to creating a healthy learning and teaching environment for students and staff and to build on the school system's existing environmental education programs.
The pilot program began in the fall of the 2006-07 school year at Northwoods Elementary, Lacy Elementary, and Luftkin Road Middle. As part of the program, on-site teams at each of the three schools were taught how to look for signs of mold and other indoor air quality factors during routine on-site inspections. Training also included general information on indoor air quality and the potential health risks associated with exposure to it.
The Environmental Health and Safety department and the Organizational Development department helped facilitate the Tools for Schools Program in Wake County. Currently plans to expand the program to all WCPSS schools are being developed.
DROESSLER ELECTED CHAIR FOR YOUTH WORKFORCE COUNCIL
The Capital Area Youth Workforce Council has elected Chris Droessler, School-to-Career Coordinator for the Wake County Public School System, to serve as chairman for the 2007 to 2008 year.
The Capital Area Youth Workforce Council, a standing committee of the Capital Area Workforce Development Board, is responsible for planning and oversight of Workforce Investment Act (WIA)-funded services and activities offered to youth in Johnston and Wake Counties. Capital Area Youth Workforce Council members serve as advocates for youth to help them achieve educational goals, grow and develop as responsible members of their community, and pursue fulfilling career opportunities.
WCPSS TEACHERS STUDY THE GRAVEYARD OF THE ATLANTIC
Before traditional school opened in August, there were six teachers that attended an NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching Seminar at Ocracoke entitled "The Graveyard of the Atlantic". The teachers included Christy Meyers and Lori Carson from Durant Middle School, Ashli Hastings from Oak Grove Elementary, Emily Dean from Smith Elementary, Jane Forde from Broughton and Betsy Beals from Northwoods Elementary. What a wonderful opportunity to learn about the eastern part of NC and the cultural history of Ocracoke. We also built an underwater remotely operated vehicle and tested them out in the swimming pool. The teachers went on the Miss Ocracoke and watched dolphins swim and saw where Sand Castle Island stored supplies for the east coast. They went to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, a sight to behold and learned how the lighthouse and its lens saved many ships. They also went to the Grave yard of the Atlantic Museum on Hatteras Island and were treated to a back room view of the artifacts that have been found. Most of the seminar was held at the Ocracoke School a K-12 school in the middle of the island. The teachers even learned how to do a watercolor painting to illustrate Haiku thoughts of the weekend together. The teachers said their week was very rewarding and educational and made NC History come alive.
STUDENTS PREPARE TO PERFORM LES MIS AT MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM
More than 70 students from 22 Wake County Public schools are preparing for the Broadway Series South production of the student performance of Les Mis Sept 28 and 29 at Memorial Auditorium.
Les Mis tells the stories of paroled convict Jean Valjean who, failing attempts to find work as an honest man with his yellow parole note, breaks parole and conceals his identity in order to live his life again; the police inspector Javert, who becomes obsessed with finding Valjean; Cosette, who is orphaned and then raised by Valjean; and Enjolras and other students, who are working toward freeing the oppressed lower class of France.
The student production includes a cast of students, an orchestra of students and students working on some of the behind the scenes task. WCPSS Arts Coordinator Elizabeth Grimes-Droessler says the students will strengthen their acting skills and benefit academically by working in the show.
Students say they appreciate the opportunity to work with Broadway talents in a large auditorium helping them to build their resumes as they prepare for college and futures on stage.
SALEM STUDENTS EARN NATIONAL HONORS
Five students from Salem Middle School and their teacher Thaddeus Sherman represented the state of North Carolina at the recent U.S. Department of Energy 2007 National Middle School Science Bowl in Denver, Colorado. The five students included Matthew Hildner, Sofia Dard, Christian Sutherland, Landon Carter, and Alec Stewart. They competed with 30 other regional teams in the science bowl and the hydrogen fuel cell model car races.
A second place was awarded to the Salem Students Fueling the Future team for the fuel cell competition, making this the fourth year that the North Carolina Students Fueling the Future team placed in the top three. The Salem students also did a remarkable job with the poster design contest and their science notebook that detailed their work while engineering the fuel cell car. The team won the right to attend the national even when they won 1st place at the State-level competition in May.
Be sure to stop by the school and see the 5 foot trophy in the main office, which was presented to the school at the national competition.
EAST CARY STUDENTS PICKED FOR GIRLS IN SCIENCE
Four East Cary students have been picked to attend the Girls In Science Neuse River Project at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. The East Cary students selected for the fall 2007 cohort include Haley Robinson, Eliza Scott and Lauren Hunter. Lauren Harvey has been invited to attend the Spring Cohort 2008. Students are nominated and sponsored by their sixth grade science teachers.
The Girls In Science Neuse River Project is an intensive eight-week program for sixth-grade girls who have shown ability or strong interest in the sciences, especially the natural sciences. Through field trips, classroom programs and individual guidance from museum staff and other female scientists, girls are given many opportunities to experience science in a supportive and exciting environment. Students will participate in scientific field research on the timely and real issue of water quality, continuing a research project begun by the 1996 – 1997 groups. Students will also organize an open house to present their experiences for parents, principals and teachers on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at 12 p.m. at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation maintained by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
LIGON STUDENT EARNS BASS SCHOLARSHIP
Ligon Middle School eighth-grader Rashawn Robertson won the State Championship, "Reel Kids Casting for College Scholarships." Robertson competed in the 11-14 age group after qualifying as a regional finalist in January. He won a $1000.00 savings bond from the NC Bass Federation. Retired WCPSS Principal Allynna Stone and her husband, Jack, took Rashawn and his brother to the Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World in Concord for the competition.
WAKE FOREST-ROLESVILLE HIGH YEARBOOK STAFF EARNS HONORS
Wake Forest-Rolesville High School's Forester yearbook staff received a first place award for their 2007 yearbook from New York's American Scholastic Press Association and a Gold Medalist Certificate from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Additionally the publication earned All-Columbian Honors in Coverage, Writing, and Photography and moves on to compete in the national Crown and Gold Circle Awards competition this March.
The school garnered 12 awards from the NC Scholastic Media Association in such categories as layout, photography, feature spread design, and copy and earned "All North Carolina" status.
Staff members for 2007 included Kevin Miklavcic and Amanda Corbett (editors-in-chief), Samantha Barham, Caroline Deeprose, Kristen Gibbs, Sarah Navolio, Harrison Coler, Meredith Downing, Lindsey Mullen, Morgan Fitzgerald, Meredith Shaw, Rachel Cash, Precious Brinson, Kristen Brickhouse, Caitlin Lafferty, Lahna Harper, Elizabeth O'Brien, Kristina Clark, Erica Fairchild, Rachel Ray, and Liz Coggin and Victoria Crouse (adviser).
GREEN HOPE BAND MARCHES IN SC SHOW
Green Hope Marching Falcons will perform in Bands of America Show on Saturday, September 22 at the Bob Jones Stadium at Ft. Mill High School. The show will feature performances by 17 high school marching bands from both NC and SC. Fall Preview Experiences are unique in BOA's fall schedule in that they are non-competitive performance and evaluation opportunities. "Fall Preview Experiences are designed to provide all the benefits of performance without the stress of competition," says Camilla Stasa, MFA's Director of Participant Relations. "Every band receives evaluation from a panel of music educators and marching band experts, immediately followed by a clinic with one of the evaluators. No awards or scores are given. The program benefits both veteran Bands of America marching bands who are looking for input into their show early in the competitive season and bands who have never participated with BOA and are looking to `get their feet wet' in this level of performance." The event includes a motivational session for participating students, a picnic dinner for participating bands and an optional extended clinic with the full panel of judges on Sunday following the show.
CHARACTER EDUCATION NEWS: Lufkin Road Students take part in Mutt Strut
Students from Lufkin Road Middle School took part in the annual Mutt Strut, hosting dogs of varied breeds, sizes, and coat colors, as well as vendors and pet organizations, at the Historic Oak View Park in Raleigh on September 8.
Most of the Lufkin students were members of National Junior Honor Society, who went there to help raise money for the Wake County Animal Shelter on Beacon Lake Dr. and to earn some community service hours. Ten students and four mothers donated their time to selling cookies baked by Sheila Reilly and her daughter Tanya and by the Lufkin Cafeteria’s Annette Lassiter, Sharon O’Hara, and Nancy Johnson. The delicious brownies of Emily Venezie were especially popular with two-legged visitors, while the four-legged ones preferred doggie treats donated by twins Kristen and Kyra Kapsaskis and Marybeth Burriss and her mother Tina.
In addition to the students and parents, Lufkin was well represented by three canines: the prissy Lennon of Chris Lopez, the agile Andy of Sara Clark, and the low-key Duffie of Ms. Anderson, the sixth grade Language Arts Teacher and yearbook Adviser. Chris took part in the Best Look-alike Contest and almost won it, with his curly hair and the color of his T-shirt resembling his cute white Bichon Frise.
Lufkin students had a lot of fun and were honored when asked to help judge the dog competitions. All were proud of Sara Rivera when she received a T-shirt from the organizers. They were impressed to hear that, in lieu of her birthday gifts, she asked her family and friends to make a contribution to the animal shelter. Thus, she was able to contribute a considerable amount of money to the school campaign. In the end, the Mutt strut participants were able to add $90 to the school’s Bolts of Kindness campaign and will fondly remember the summer Saturday of rabies, cookies, and doggie delights.
This Character Education Update was provided by Mirka Christesen, Lufkin Road Middle School AG Resource Teacher and NJHS Adviser.
STUDENTS CAN PREPARE FOR BRAIN GAME WITH NEW WEEKLY QUIZ
WRAL.com has a new online weekly quiz targeted at high school students. Currently, WRAL-TV airs a half-hour weekly academic program called ‘Brain Game’ – area high schools compete each week and at the end of the taping year the winning school receives a computer. Well, beginning Sept. 21st we’re extending this program to WRAL.com in hopes of garnering more participation from high school students & increasing students’ knowledge about current events. Each week WRAL.com will post 10 current events questions called Brain Game Headliners and randomly select a winner to receive a t-shirt.
WCPSS ADMINISTRATORS DISCUSS ACADEMICALLY GIFTED PROGRAM
David Hodlzkom, WCPSS Assistant Superintendent for Evaluation and Research and Joyce Gardner, WCPSS Director for Academically Gifted Program, will speak at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Wake County Commons Building at a meeting sponsored by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children. The discussion is designed to give detailed information on requirements, policy and laws for the academically gifted program and review the 2006-07 EOG/EOC Test Data. There is limited seating so please register at www.cccaac.com or call 231-9057 for additional information.
PTA HOLDS GREAT EXPECTATIONS TRAINING
The Wake County PTA Council will hold the annual Great Expectations Leadership Training Conference at two dates and locations: Athens Drive High School on Thursday, September 27, or Sanderson High School on Wednesday, October 3. Details about speakers, workshops and how to register will be posted at the WCPTA website at http://www.wakeptacouncil.org/
WAKE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP SCHEDULES ANNUAL MEETING
The Wake Education partnership will hold its annual meeting at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, October 11 at the McKimmons Conference Center at NC State University. Register at WakeEdPartnership.org to join business and community leaders, elected officials and educators who share a commitment to quality public education in Wake County. This fast paced breakfast meeting will provide an opportunity to: hear from community and business leaders, students and teachers about what it means to be a courageous leader in Wake County today; celebrate being a united community that embraces success for all students; Recognize community leadership in public education; and challenge participants to take an active role in future courageous decisions that impact school improvement.