School Connection
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.November 15, 2005
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WEST MILLBROOK TEACHER EARNS NATIONAL HONOR
Aimee Niebaur was surprised when state Superintendent of Education June
Atkinson called her to come forward at a West Millbrook school assembly
this morning. To the cheers and applause of teachers and students, Dr. Atkinson
announced that Niebaur was a 2005 Milken National Educator. The award includes
a cash prize of $25,000. The award honors teachers with exceptional educational
talent, exemplary educational accomplishments, strong leadership skills
and a motivating presence. Niebaur is the only NC teacher to receive the
honor this year. She is a leader of the school's Eagle team and has been
teaching at West Millbrook for seven years.
MORRISVILLE ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES NATIONAL HONOR
Morrisville Elementary principal Robin Swaim has returned from the National
Recognition Ceremony held Nov. 10-11 in Washington, DC, where the school
received a plaque and a flag signifying their No Child Left Behind Blue
Ribbon School status. Swaim will present this to the school during their
PTA meeting tonight.
Caroline Massengill, the first principal of Morrisville, will be the keynote speaker for the evening. Beth Ramsey, a long time Morrisville teacher will share her reflections, and Emily Boesch, a fifth grade student will share her Morrisville experience.
Earlier in the day, an aerial photo will be taken of the entire student body and staff. Students have been asked to wear blue clothing for the photo. They will line up in the shape of an "M" in the bus parking lot for the photo.
The PTA will provide everyone with a Blue Ribbon to wear and save as a souvenir on this special day for Morrisville. Student essays will be displayed throughout the school describing what they feel is special about Morrisville.
THOUSANDS VISIT MAGNET FAIR
The 2005 WCPSS Magnet Fair drew the largest crowd ever, according to estimates
by WCPSS Magnet Director Carolina Massengill. She said about 6,000 parents
and children attended the event Saturday, Nov. 5 at Southeast Raleigh High.
They were able to visit with principals and teachers from the wide variety
of magnet schools in Wake County. Elementary schools filled the gym and
secondary schools filled the hallways and dining hall. Students danced,
sang and acted in the auditorium. The fair provides parents a chance to
quickly find out information about magnet schools. Information sessions
and school visits will begin after winter break.
WCPSS SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS EARN NATIONAL HONORS
WCPSS Counseling Services were spotlighted at the Nov. 1 Board of Education
meeting. Assistant Superintendent Linda Isley recognized Eric Sparks, WCPSS
Counseling Services director. At WCPSS, Sparks is the chair of the Suicide
Prevention Committee, Safe and Drug Free Schools coordinator, Dropout Prevention
coordinator, and a member of the Crisis Management Task Force. Outside WCPSS,
he serves on the CIAA High School Day Committee, is post-secondary vice
president of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), and is a
past president of the North Carolina School Counseling Association. Last
year he was the North Carolina Counselor Advocate of the Year.
Sparks then offered his congratulations to Leesville Road High and Wakefield High, which are two of only 13 schools across the nation with counseling programs that have been designated as Recognized ASCA Model Programs (RAMP). The ASCA National Model is a framework for a results-based, comprehensive school counseling program designed to improve academic and student success for all students. It focuses school counseling programs on showing measurable results in improving student achievement, attendance and behavior. By implementing the ACSA National Model, the two high schools have been able to increase promotion rates of students with academic risk factors, increased minority student enrollment in Advanced Placement classes, and improved parent conference participation among families with limited English proficiency. WCPSS will be implementing the ASCA National Model district-wide over the next five years.
BOARD APPROVES CONTRACT WITH SUMMERFORD ACCOUNTANCY, PC
At its Nov. 1 meeting, the Board of Education hired Summerford Accountancy,
PC, to conduct an audit of WCPSS. The action follows negotiations between
board chair Patti Head, board attorneys and the firm to finalize the scope
of the audit. The firm will analyze the school system's vulnerability to
fraud. The Summerford firm specializes in fraud. The school system found
irregularities in the Transportation Department that it reported to the
District Attorney. The DA found former school system employees colluded
with employees of a parts supplier to defraud the school system. The district
attorney has received guilty pleas in the case and has worked with the school
system to recover $1.8 million.
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RECOGNITION OF LOCAL VIETNAM VETERANS
Sixteen Vietnam veterans were honored by the Wake County Public School System
at the Nov. 1 Board of Education meeting for their outstanding service to
the school system and community. Carl L. Bimbo, G. Lee Booher, R. J. Del
Vecchio, Bill Dixon, Al Ely III, Bud Gross, Ron Harris, Joe Harsch, Steve
Johnson, Bonnie Kuhr, Mike Lynch, Robert Matthews, Dwight McGinnis, Jr,
John Odom, Bob Patrikios and David Samuels were honored. They were recognized
for providing guidance and contributing to the development of the Lessons
of Vietnam/Recent International Relations course, which is taught at 14
WCPSS high schools. The veterans have provided free resources and support
to teachers of the course.
BOARD ALERTED TO POTENTIAL HIGHER HEATING COSTS
WCPSS administrators have projected utility costs may run higher this winter
with the fluctuation in fuel costs. Associate Superintendent Don Haydon
has estimated utilities may cost an additional $2.08 million this budget
year. Much of the increase is based on projected higher costs for natural
gas. School administrators discussed the higher costs as part of a quarterly
budget review with the board at its meeting Nov. 1.
FRIDAY INSTITUTE DEDICATED
North Carolina State University's College of Education opened the William
and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation with a dedication ceremony
Nov. 9. The Friday Institute is located beside Centennial Campus Middle
School. The $10 million, 33,000-square-foot facility honors the Friday family's
unwavering commitment to educational excellence and equity. The mission
of the high-tech research and outreach facility is to advance education
through innovation in teaching, learning and leadership. Institute officials
will collaborate with educators, researchers, and government and business
leaders to provide solutions for critical educational needs across NC, particularly
in rural and underserved areas of the state.
WAKE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PLANS TO EXPAND
At the Nov. 1 Board of Education meeting, Dr. Joe Peel of the Wake Leadership
Academy said the academy is working to expand to include the five school
districts in the Research Triangle Area. Peel said an agreement has been
drafted among the school districts and Wake Education Partnership to expand
the Wake Leadership Academy into the Triangle Leadership Academy. This expansion
will provide Wake County personnel many new opportunities for programming
and access to expertise.
BOARD APPROVES INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
At its Nov. 1 meeting, the Board of Education approved tips aboard for three
groups. ·Approximately 20 students will participate and three chaperones
from Broughton High will travel to Antigua, Guatemala this month. ·This
trip is directly linked to the Spanish classes and History of the Americas
class. It is an outgrowth of the IB program, it offers a cultural immersion
experience, and an opportunity for international service. ·Approximately
five students will participate and three chaperones from Wiley Elementary
will travel to Japan over the summer.·The purpose of the trip is
to experience and explore Japanese culture and to utilize Japanese language
skills. ·Approximately 12 students will participate and 2 chaperones
from Broughton High will travel to Rostock, Germany over spring break. ·This
trip is part of a German Exchange Program. The students will live with German
families, go to school, and see historic sites.
CALENDAR
| Nov. 15 | 2 p.m., Committee of the Whole-Board Conference Room (Board); 4 p.m. Board Meeting-Board Room (Board) |
| Nov. 16 | 9 a.m., Joint meeting of the County Commissioners/ Board of Education -Wilburn Elementary |
| Nov. 17-18 | 9 a.m., Quarterly Planning Meeting- Board of Education-Crossroads II |
| Dec. 6 | 2 p.m., Committee of the Whole-Board Conference Room (Board); 4 p.m. Board Meeting-Board Room (Board) |
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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