School Connection
August 21, 2003
CELEBRATION 2003
At the Tuesday (Aug 19) board meeting, Superintendent Bill
McNeal talked with the board about Celebration 2003, the August
17-22 recognition of the hard work of Wake County students,
parents, teachers and supporters in boosting student achievement
during the five years of Goal 2003.
McNeal said, "The question has been asked, 'Why are we celebrating?' It's all about our children. Let me use an analogy. Let's assume there is a little league team and that team decides at the beginning of the season that it wants to be the championship team. They come together as a group and gel and work on their skills, and they practice, and they work hard. They win their division, and they get to the championship round. They continue to build on their skills, and in the championship round, they lose by one run. What do you do? You celebrate! You are in fact saying to them, 'Thank you for your willingness to reach for the stars. Thank you for stretching yourselves and wanting to be the best.' They actually won. The message for our young people is always look down that road and do your best. Try to reach your potential."
Superintendent McNeal said more than 30 churches and synagogues offered their support in August 17 worship services. The PTA helped to distribute the Celebration 2003 posters that describe Celebration 2003 as one goal, one achievement and one community. There was an op-ed column in the News and Observer. More than 15,000 newsletters were distributed through churches, synagogues, chambers of commerce and business partners. Friday there will be school-based recognitions. Each school has been asked to recognize their individual accomplishments and the support they receive from parents and school partners.
WCPSS has posted on wcpss.net letters of thanks to the Wake County Commissioners for their support and letters of support from Gov Mike Easley, US Senators Elizabeth Dole and John Edwards and US Congressmen Bob Etheridge, Brad Miller and David Price, as well as the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the chambers from Cary, Fuquay-Varina and Knightdale.
BOARD OF EDUCATION WORKING ON NEW GOAL
At its Tuesday (Aug 19) committee of the whole meeting, the
Board of Education began the final work towards setting the
next academic goal for Wake County. Associate Superintendent
Jo Baker led the board through a discussion about the benefits
of Goal 2003. Tony Habit of Wake Education Partnership talked
about public input gathered through the 2003 Education Summit
and Voices and Choices effort. Assistant Superintendent for
Human Resources Toni Patterson talked about providing quality
teachers to lead instruction in the schools. Board members
then discussed the characteristics of a new goal and the kinds
of achievement that may be helpful to include in a new five-year
effort to improve academics.
Board chair Susan Parry said "We have pulled together a lot of information about what people expect and what they hope for and what they want from our schools. We will, in the next month, be about the business of writing a new goal that we hope very much will be as motivating and as successful as the last."
PLAN 2004 DISCUSSED
In remarks to WCPSS principals Wednesday (Aug 20), Superintendent
McNeal said preparations are being made for central office
staff to visit schools and share details about PLAN 2004,
the next school construction program. PLAN 2004 will build
13 new schools, provide major renovations at 16 schools and
improvements at 61 other schools. On Oct. 7 voters will be
asked to consider approving $450 million in bonds - the maximum
amount the county can sell without a tax increase - to help
fund the $550 million school construction program.
Seventh day enrollment was at 108,030. That's 4,400 more students than the seventh day of 2002-2003. McNeal noted dramatic growth is fueling the need for more school capacity.
PTA COUNCIL VOTES TO SUPPORT SCHOOL AND LIBRARY BONDS
At its Saturday (Aug 16) meeting, the Wake County PTA Council
voted their support for the school construction and library
bonds that will be on the ballot Oct. 7. The PTA Council Executive
Board expressed its strong support for the Wake County Public
School System's $450 million school construction bond and
the $35 million public library construction bond.
BOARD APPROVES DESIGN CONSULTANT AGREEMENTS
At its Tuesday (Aug 19) meeting, the Board of Education approved
the design consultant agreements for two schools.
The board named Pearce Brinkley Cease + Lee PA to design the renovation of existing facilities and new construction at Cary High that are planned as part of PLAN 2004. Funding for the design will come from PLAN 2000 funds. The proposed new construction and renovations total $21 million.
The board named Pearce Brinkley Cease + Lee PA to design the renovation at Ligon Middle that are planned as part of PLAN 2004. Funding for the design will come from PLAN 2000 funds. The proposed renovations total $9.1 million.
APPOINTMENT
At its Tuesday (Aug 19) meeting, the Board of Education named
Virginia Cardenas principal of West Lake Elementary. Cardenas
has served as principal of Conn Elementary School since 1998.
She worked as an assistant principal intern at Green Elementary
and was a teacher at Poe and Fuller elementary schools. She
earned her undergrad degree at Memphis State University and
her Masters in School Administration at UNC-Chapel Hill.
RECEPTION PLANNED FOR TEACHERS INTERESTED IN NATIONAL
BOARD CERTIFICATION
This will be an information session from 4 to 6 p.m., August
27th for teachers in the Wake County Public School System
who are interested in pursuing National Board Certification
at the Webster Center on Atlantic Avenue in Room 100.
Toni Patterson of WCPSS Human Resources will tell of some of the structures that will be in place to support candidates in WCPSS this year. Superintendent Bill McNeal and Sofi Frankowski, former WCPSS Teacher of the Year and NBCT, will speak of the benefits of quality professional development such as the National Board Certification process and its potential impact on increased student achievement. Wake County NBCTs of various certification areas will be present to show sample portfolio entries and encourage candidates and potential candidates. Tips on organization and how to get started will be given.
Participants may ask questions of NBCTs who have recently undergone the process. The formation of certificate area cohorts will be encouraged as candidates have an opportunity to network with other candidates. Computer labs will be open toward the end for candidates to register for candidacy on-site with the support of NBCTs and NBPTS staff readily available.
This will be a great chance to learn about the National Board Certification process. Come and hear of this professional growth opportunity you have available to you as a teacher in the Wake County Public School System. Bring a friend. There is no obligation and no signing up on e-schools. Just come, have some refreshments, and see if the time is right for you to enrich your teaching practice in this way.
For more information, contact Carolann Wade at cwade@wcpss.net
FULLER ELEMENTARY GETS NEW MAP
Fuller Elementary again has a map of the United States decorating
the front entrance of the school thanks to Dr. Ronald Campbell,
a law professor from NC State University. Before the start
of school Campbell visited with Fuller principal Crystal Scillitani
to donate a map. Campbell told Scillitani that Fuller used
to have a map of the US painted on the sidewalk in the front
of the school that had been done 10 years ago with the help
of the Kiwanis Club. He volunteered to re-paint the map, outlined
it August 15 and completed it over the weekend. Scillitani
returned to school Monday to find the completed map with Alaska
and the Hawaiian Islands being located in geographically correct
locations on campus. Dr. Campbell provided the paint and all
of the materials and even took the time to make sure the school
had the paint formula for each color to do touch-up work in
the future.
WAKE HIGH SCHOOLS TO BE RECOGNIZED
Eight high schools from Wake County will be recognized at
the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Regional
Meeting with a Sportsmanship Award. This award is given to
high schools that have no players or coaches ejected in any
athletic contest during the 2002-2003 school year, an overall
positive rating from the game officials, and an outline or
written action plan of how it promotes sportsmanship. The
eight winners are Athens Drive, Fuquay-Varina, Cary, Green
Hope, Leesville, Middle Creek, Southeast, and Wake Forest-Rolesville.
Fuquay-Varina won for the third straight year. Three high
schools from Wake County won this award last year. The Region
3 meeting is September 25th at Carter-Finley Stadium.
WAKE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP OFFERS LEADERSHIP TRAINING
The Institute for Wake County School Leaders is an intensive
and practical training program for the many types of citizens
who seek to take an active role in the success of our public
schools. In addition to candidates for the Wake County Board
of Education, the Institute also involves those who may lead
in the classroom, in a school or in the larger community.
The goal of the Institute is to prepare citizens for leadership
roles in public education at a variety of levels -- from school
to school system -- by focusing on trends in educational leadership,
policies that affect public education, and facts about public
education in North Carolina and Wake County. Additional information
and an application are available at http://www.wakeedpartnership.org/Events/Institute.html.
Applications are due by end-of-business on Friday, August
22.
INSIDE THE NEWS
The Department of Public Instruction reports on students and achievement
The Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll on education (requires acrobat reader)
The Beacon of LEARN NC reports on education
Time Warner News 14 reports School News
CNN reports on education
The National School Board Association reports the School Board News
CALENDAR
|
August 27 |
4 p.m. Reception for teachers who have earned National Board Certification at Webster Center. |
|
August 28 |
5 p.m. Healthy Schools Task Force meeting at the Webster Center |
|
Sept 1 |
Labor Day holiday |
|
Sept 2 |
10-11 a.m. Magnet school information session, 1600 E Millbrook Rd. Call 501-7900. |
|
Sept 2 |
2 p.m. Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting; 4 p.m. Board of Education meeting at 3600 Wake Forest Road |
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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