School Connection
November 12, 2002
2003 Goal: By 2003, 95 percent of students tested will be at or above grade level as measured by NC End-of-Grade testing at grades 3 and 8.
WAKE COUNTY NAMES PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Marge Ronco of Ballentine Elementary was named Wake County
Principal of the Year in a ceremony at the Exploris Museum's
IMAX theater Thursday (Nov. 7) and Robin Moore of Wake Forest-Rolesville
High was named the county's Assistant Principal of the Year.
All Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year Finalists will receive a plaque and cash award. The Principal of the Year receives $1,000. All Principal of the Year Finalists receive $500. The Assistant Principal of the Year receives $500 and all Assistant Principal of the Year Finalists receive $250. The Wake County Principal of the Year also competes for the honor of North Carolina Principal of the Year.
Finalists for Principal of the Year include Terri Cobb of Lockhart Elementary, Kevin Hill of Wildwood Forest Elementary, Andre Smith of Wake Forest-Rolesville High, and Claude Willie of West Lake Middle. Finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year include Susan Spivey of Cary Elementary, Althea Taylor of East Wake Middle, Pat Tolley of Brooks Elementary, and Bob Umstead of Swift Creek Elementary.
BOARD OF EDUCATION ENDORSES UPDATE OF HEALTHFUL LIVING
CURRICULUM
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the Board of Education in a 5 to 4
vote endorsed revising the Abstinence Until Marriage lessons
taught within the Healthful Living Curriculum, updating its
medical and statistical information, and providing more information
about healthy relationships. Associate Superintendent Jo Baker
told the board an elective course that students may take with
parental permission would be developed for students in grades
10-12. The materials should be ready for the 2003-2004 school
year. School system administrators withdrew their request
to modify a board policy governing the types of information
guidance counselors and other school employees may provide
students.
BOARD APPROVES 2003-2004 CALENDAR
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the Board of Education approved the
calendar for 2003-2004 for traditional schools. The first
day of the school year will be August 11 and the last May
27. Spring break will be April 5-12, 2004. Inclement weather
make-up days in order are Oct. 6, Oct. 17, Feb. 13, Feb. 16,
March 16, and March 15.
The 2002-2003 school year began August 12.
HEALTHY SCHOOLS TASK FORCE
At the Nov. 5 meeting of the Board of Education, Superintendent
Bill McNeal said work has begun to identify members to serve
on the Healthy Schools Task Force. To be considered for appointment
to the Healthy Schools Task Force, one must be a citizen of
Wake County, willing to meet monthly for the duration of the
Task Force, have a proven interest in the issues affecting
the school system, be student-focused, and be prepared to
approach these complex issues using fact-based decisions and
an open mind. The deadline for nominations to the Healthy
Schools Task Force was Oct. 25. McNeal has recommended the
Task Force be composed of 18 to 25 members.
McNeal said a timeline and a series of topics will be developed that can be used as a starting point for the task force discussions.
HIGH SCHOOLS PLAN BLOCK SCHEDULE INFORMATION SESSIONS
The Board of Education approved a recommendation last month
that all non-magnet high schools operate on a 4x4 "block"
schedule beginning with the 2003-04 school year. The staff
recommendation was the result of three years of study and
research by the high school principals and staff members.
Principals and staff identified the need to provide greater
opportunities for all students. Currently, students take six
courses that last all year and earn six credits each year.
It is difficult for students on this schedule to meet the
new graduation requirements, take full advantage of the advanced
courses and electives offered in our high schools, or remain
on schedule for graduation in four years if they fail a class.
A 4x4 block schedule provides increased opportunities for
students. On a 4x4 block schedule, the student completes four
courses each semester and earns eight credits each year.
The block schedule is not new to high schools in Wake County,
North Carolina, or nationally. More than 80% of all high schools
in North Carolina use a 4x4 block schedule as well as three
high schools in Wake County. The experiences of these schools
have been positive, and research indicates that teachers and
students in schools on a block schedule are enthusiastic about
the schedule.
Each high school is planning information sessions for parents
and students. At these meetings, you will receive information
regarding implementation of this schedule at your high school.
You will also have an opportunity to ask questions concerning
the schedule and how it will impact your child's schedule.
You can find the schedule for these sessions at http://www.wcpss.net/curriculum-instruction/block_scheduling/hsschedules.html
BOARD AUTHORIZES PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS TO MOVE FORWARD
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the Board of Education authorized WCPSS
Real Estate Services Director Clint Jobe to move forward with
negotiations with the Town of Cary with pieces of property
at Davis Drive Middle and Cary Elementary. Cary officials
have requested a transfer of ownership of the Cary Elementary
Primary Building and approximately 13 acres of land at Davis
Drive Middle. The Cary Elementary Primary Building is to be
renovated for a community arts facility and office complex.
The Davis Drive property is to be used exclusively for open
space and greenway purposes. The board declared the building
and property as surplus to its needs and ordered its sale
to Cary. Jobe said Cary has offered $337,000 and use of the
renovated auditorium in the Primary Building for two use days
per month for 50 years at no cost.
BOARD RENEWS CONTRACT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the Board of Education approved a contract
with the Wake County Sheriff's Department to provide School
Resource Officers in 15 middle schools. The federal grant
helps to provide a sheriff's deputy during the school day
at Carnage, Carroll, Centennial, Daniels, Durant Road, Dillard
Drive, East Millbrook, East Wake, Leesville road, Ligon, Martin,
Wake Forest-Rolesville, Wakefield, West Lake and West Millbrook
middle schools.
BOARD NAMES PERRY TO WAKE TEC BOARD
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the Board of Education named Jim Perry
to represent the Wake County Public School System on the Wake
Technical Community College Board of Trustees. The board names
four of the trustees and they serve staggered four-year terms.
SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the Board of Education recognized 15
students with its Spotlight on Students Award including Tiffany
Scarborough of Farmington Woods Elementary, Aaron Lamont Jacobs
of Holly Springs Elementary, Brooke Watson Foil of Knightdale
Elementary, Hannah Bailey of Lincoln Heights Elementary, Elizabeth
Ogle of Lockhart Elementary, Elyas Rashid of Lynn Road Elementary,
Tiffany LeAnne Pearce of Wildwood Forest Elementary, Sam Hodgin
of Wiley Elementary, Joseph Wagstaff of Zebulon Middle, Sarah
Grace Castle of Reedy Creek Elementary, Hannah Perry of East
Wake High, Elexis Gillette of Athens Drive High, Eddie Poole
of Millbrook Elementary, Graham C. Sharpe of West Lake Middle,
and Christopher Poteat of West Lake Elementary.
WAKE FOREST-ROLESVILLE MIDDLE HIGHLIGHTS READING
Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School students recently collected
4,812 books to be donated to local childcare facilities for
disadvantaged children. The "Kids Helping Kids"
book drive was part of Teen Read Week, Oct.14-18. Principal
Marvin Connelly promised to run around the school campus 100
times if students donated at least 2,000 books, a goal that
was more than doubled. He and a group of students have been
fulfilling the pledge during school lunch hours. Also during
Teen Read Week, special guest readers included WCPSS School
Board Chair Kathryn Quigg and Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones.
The Wake Forest-Rolesville High School Drama students presented
Readers' Theatre plays, and there was a school-wide Read-In
on Oct. 18. The book drive and Teen Read Week events were
led by Media staff Cathy Carter, Nancy Dyer, and Kim Moore.
TRIANGLE UNITED WAY HOLDS TECHNOLOGY DAY
During Hispanic Month, Triangle United Way and the WCPSS Office
of English as a Second Language coordinated a La.Familia Technology
Week Oct. 6-13. On Oct. 12, IBM donated 20 computers and their
staff volunteered time and met with 20 ESL students from Wake
Forest-Rolesville, Sanderson, Millbrook, Garner, East Wake,
and Cary high schools. Through this seminar, students learned
how to troubleshoot their computers. The students were given
the computers and a certificate from the Triangle United Way
for their participation in the program.
VOICES & CHOICES COMPLETES SECOND ROUND OF TRAINING
Beyond 2003: Voices & Choices is a volunteer-driven process
to engage Wake County citizens and the public schools in shaping
a shared agenda for constant improvement. Voices & Choices
will capture recommendations from every corner of Wake County
that will contribute to the creation of measurable goals for
new directions in the Wake County Public Schools.
Feedback sessions, which last approximately 45 minutes, will allow community members to complete a survey and engage in a short discussion about their recommendations for Wake County Public Schools.
The results of the surveys will be shared with decision-makers in Wake County as they plan for a new goal beyond 2003. You can participate in Voices & Choices by making your voice heard through a community feedback session or by helping other voices be heard through volunteering to facilitate a feedback session. The final training session this month will take place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Wake Forest-Rolesville High School media center. Another round of training sessions will be scheduled for January.
DPI UPDATES WEBSITE
There are some changes on the North Carolina Department of
Public Instruction's homepage. Design changes allow faster
access to news, new Web site resources, quick facts about
our schools and more. You can visit the website at http://www.ncpublicschools.org
2003 CLOSING THE GAP CONFERENCE
The state's 2003 Closing the Achievement Gap Conference is
planned for March 23-26 at Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.
For more information, visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/closingthegap
GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL
You can read more about this special summer program, its eligibility
requirements, and selection criteria at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/gs
Nominations must be submitted by Nov. 27.
INSIDE THE NEWS
U.S. Department of Education reports "Statement
by the President on Signing of the Education Sciences Reform
Act of 2002"; and "Paige
Issues Statement on the Signing of the Education Sciences
Reform Act of 2002"
NC Department of Public Instruction reports "Reports
of Supplemental Disaggregated State,
School System (LEA) and School Performance Data for 2000-2002"
Teacher Magazine report "The
Average Teacher"; and "Once
More, With Feeling"
The Beacon of LEARN NC reports on education
CNN reports on education
The National School Board Association reports the School Board News
ANSWERMAN: KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Question: I have a child that will be entering Kindergarten
next year. When and where can I register him for school?
Answer: Countywide registration begins on Thursday, February
6th. You can go to our website (www.wcpss.net) or call the
Customer Service Center (850-1600) to identify the base school
assigned to your address. We realize that some parents intend
to apply for admission to one of the magnet or year-round
schools (applications will be accepted from February 8-19),
but registration occurs at the base school. If you apply for
the magnet school and get selected in the lottery, your registration
packet will be forwarded to the magnet school.
The Answer Man is Jeff Nash, who directs the Wake County Schools
Customer Service Center. If you have questions about the school
system, call the Customer Service Center at 850-1600.
CALENDAR
|
Nov. 17 |
American Education Week |
|
Nov. 19 |
2 p.m., Board Committee of the Whole; and 4 p.m., Board Meeting, Board Room |
|
Nov. 20 |
12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Joint Luncheon, Board Conference Room; and 2 p.m., Facilities Committee Meeting; and 3:30 p.m., Program Committee Meeting |
|
Nov. 28-29 |
Thanksgiving holiday |
You can find more information on school events at http://www.wcpss.net/Calendars
School Connection is published electronically every other week for everyone interested in the Wake County Public Schools. 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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