School Connection

Nov. 16, 2004

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.


SECOND ROUND OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS UNDERWAY
More than 300 people have attended the first three community engagement meetings in November, the second round of discussions WCPSS has held on managing growth. The two-hour sessions provide information on the impact of new schools opening over the next two years and time to answer audience questions. Each of the presentations has been different tailored to describe new schools opening in the planning areas where meetings have been held.

Three more meetings are planned:

All meetings are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and last for approximately two hours.

Information from the first round of meetings can be found at http://www.wcpss.net/growth-management/community-engagement/2004/

BOARD APPROVES CALENDARS FOR 2005-2006 AND 2006-2007
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved calendars for traditional, year-round and modified calendar schools for the next two years. The calendars follow all parameters of the state's new calendar law.

For the traditional calendar: In 2005-2006, the first day for students is August 25, and last day June 9. Winter break is Dec. 23 - Jan. 2 and Spring break is March 27-31. The second quarter ends Jan. 20. In 2006-2007, the first day for students is August 25, the last day June 7. Winter break is Dec. 22 - Jan. 1 and Spring break is April 2-6. The second quarter ends Jan. 19.

For the year-round calendar: A year-round calendar committee met to review input from parents and staff and to review drafts of year-round calendars. The committee reviewed parameters for calendar development, annual testing dates, and inclement weather make-up days. . In 2005-06, the first day of school is July 11 for tracks 1-3. For track four, the first day will be August 1. For track 1, the last day of school will be June 2. For Tracks 2-4, the last day will be June 30. Winter break is Dec. 21 - Jan. 1. In 2006-07, the first day of school is July 10 for tracks 1-3. Track 4 begins July 31. The last day of school for Track 1 is June 6. For tracks 2-4, it is June 29. Winter break is Dec. 22 - Jan. 1.

For the modified calendar: The modified instructional calendar combines features of the traditional and year-round calendars. The first semester is similar to track 4 of the year-round calendar and second semester is similar to track 1. The calendar provides a summer break of approximately seven weeks. Holidays for students closely match typical holidays of the traditional calendar. Plans are for this calendar to be used at Southeast Raleigh High School, Centennial Campus Middle School, Moore Square Middle School, Carver Elementary School, and Partnership Elementary School. In 2005-2006, the first day for students is July 25, and last day May 26. Winter break is Dec. 19 - Jan. 2 and Spring break is March 20-31. In 2006-2007, the first day for students is July 26, the last day May 25. Winter break is Dec. 20 - Jan. 5 and Spring break is March 26 -April 9.

BOARD APPROVES PROCLAMATION FOR AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved a proclamation for American Education Week, November 14 through 20. The theme this year is "Celebrating the American Dream . . . the dream that begins in our nation's classrooms." The proclamation recognizes not only the educators, but also support professionals and other staff who keep our children safe and healthy so they can achieve to their fullest potential.


The Board of Education congratulated Lockhart literacy teachers Mary Howell, Fay Davenport, Principal Martha Martin and Angela Armstrong.

The proclamation describes public schools as a place where young people are provided with the tools they need to maintain the nation's values of freedom, civility and equality, where young Americans are equipped with both practical skills and broader intellectual abilities and where students are provided hope and access to a productive future.

BOARD RECOGNIZES LOCKHART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ITS SELECTION AS A 2004 TITLE I DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education recognized Lockhart Elementary which was honored at the North Carolina Association of Compensatory Educators' Fall Conference in Winston-Salem on October 27 and at the National Title I Awards Ceremony in New Orleans on February 9. Lockhart earned the honor as a Distinguished Title I School, qualifying as a school with a poverty rate of 40% or greater that exhibited exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years. The school received a $7,500 check to enhance or expand current programs. Only 33 schools in the United States received this prestigious award.

APPOINTMENTS
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education named a new principal and assistant principal. The board named Tony Cates principal of Fuquay-Varina High School, effective Jan. 1, 2005. Cates has served as principal of Fuquay-Varina Middle School since 2003. Before that he served as a high school principal for three eastern North Carolina school systems - Moore, Nash and Pitt counties. Julie Lindsay was named 50 percent assistant principal at Wilburn Elementary. Lindsay has worked as an assistant principal and teacher in Triad-area school systems - Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham.

BOARD APPROVES INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FIELD TRIPS
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved international student field trips for two schools. Approximately 17 Ligon Middle students and two chaperones will travel to Compiegne, France to participate in the French Exchange Program. The students will live with their host families and attend school with their host brother or sister. Approximately 20 students and eight chaperones from the theatre classes of Wake Forest-Rolesville High School will travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, to represent the school and state in performances at the world-renowned International Fringe Theatre Festival. Students will also visit historic landmarks in both Edinburgh and London during the trip.

BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES STUDENTS
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education honored 15 students who earned the Spotlight on Students Award for outstanding achievements and accomplishments. The board recognized Mikal Griffin of Bugg Elementary, David Clancy of Farmington Woods Elementary, Mary Beth Bird of Holly Springs Elementary, Jonathan Bland of Knightdale Elementary, Brandon Robinson of Lincoln Heights Elementary, Zachary Andrews of Lockhart Elementary, Stephen Sloyer of Lynn Road Elementary, Daniel Sholes of Reedy Creek Elementary, Braelin Zoey Betts of West Lake Elementary, Jose Chavez of Wildwood Forest Elementary, Beth Jernigan of Wiley Elementary, Tania Sanchez of West Lake Middle, Ahmad Xavier Vick of Zebulon Middle, Kate Kotik of Athens Drive High and William Privette of East Wake High.

WCPSS PLANS FALL TEACHER JOB FAIR
The WCPSS Fall Teacher Job Fair will be held Dec. 4 at two of the newest WCPSS schools in Knightdale.

Elementary school candidates will go to Forestville Elementary School at 100 Lawson Ridge Road in Knightdale.

Middle and high school candidates will go to Knightdale High School at 100 Bryan Chalk Lane in Knightdale.

School level administrators will be available to conduct interviews for teaching vacancies for the remainder of the 2004-05 school year and anticipated vacancies for the 2005-06 school year.

Registration is from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. Candidates can schedule interviews between 9:15 and 10:15 a.m. Administrators will interview candidates from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

More information about the job fair is available at http://www.wcpss.net or call 1-800-346-3813 or 919-850-1800.

THOUSANDS ATTEND MAGNET FAIR
More than 5,000 people attended the WCPSS Magnet School Fair held at Southeast Raleigh High School Nov. 6. Superintendent Bill McNeal praised the efforts of school administrators who provided students and parents opportunities to learn about the WCPSS magnet program.

Magnet schools will provide information sessions and then open houses to provide families more opportunities to consider the different programs.

The application process schedule includes:

WCPSS MAGNET PROGRAM HONORED
The WCPSS Magnet School program was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the Magnet Schools of America Technical Assistance Conference held in Washington, DC last month. In its publication, Innovations in Education: Creating Successful Magnet School Programs, the federal agency identified WCPSS as one of six school systems with exemplary magnet programs.

The WCPSS Magnet program was recognized because of

The guide was designed to provide information on starting public magnet school programs and to encourage parent participation in public magnet school programs.

FUQUAY-VARINA SCIENCE TEACHER HONORED
The NC Science Teachers' Association presented Fuquay-Varina High science teacher Randy Senzig its Outstanding Science Teacher Award for District 3. Senzig is also a Kenan Fellow and his school's current nominee for Teacher of the Year.

NC STATE OFFERS BASEBALL CAMP
Children 6-12 years of age can take part in baseball camps offered Dec. 4 and 5 by NC State. Children 13-18 can take part in baseball camps offered Dec. 11 and 12. All camps will feature the Wolfpack coaching staff, as well as current and former Wolfpack players. For more information, please call the camp information line at (919) 819-2943 or visit http://gopack.collegesports.com/camps/ncst-m-basebl-camp.html

CALENDAR

Nov. 16

Community Engagement Meeting - 7 p.m. at Garner High

Nov. 17

12 p.m., Board of Education luncheon meeting with County Commissioners

Nov. 17

2 p.m. Board of Education Facilities Committee meets

Nov. 17

3:30 p.m., Board of Education Community Relations Committee meets

Nov. 17

Community Engagement Meeting - 7 p.m. at Holly Ridge Middle

Nov. 18

Community Engagement Meeting - 7 p.m. at Knightdale High

Nov. 18

6 p.m., Principal of the Year Celebration at Exploris Museum, 201 E. Hargett

Nov. 22

2 p.m., Committee of the Whole; 4 p.m., Board of Education meeting

Nov. 25/26

Holidays for Thanksgiving

Dec. 4

8:30 a.m. registration begins for WCPSS Fall Teacher Job Fair

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 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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