Jefferson County Public Schools
May 2012 January 2013
One piece of string—lots of lessons (page 3)
JCPS is installing digital video cameras on buses (page 2) Board of education to welcome three new members (page 4)
www.jcpsky.net Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities
JCPS is installing digital video cameras on buses
Four cameras on each bus will help reduce student misbehavior and keep kids safe The Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District has begun installing video cameras on its fleet of about 1,250 buses. Four digital cameras are being installed on each bus. One camera covers the front of the vehicle, including the stairwell and the driver. The other three are staggered down the ceiling above the aisle, facing toward the rear of the bus. About $2 million for the new cameras was included in the district’s 2012-13 budget. Director of Transportation Rick Caple says the cameras will help reduce misbehavior and increase safety for the 70,000 students who ride the bus every school day. JCPS already had cameras on about 100 buses that are used on routes for alternative schools. Installation of the new cameras, which record both audio and video, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the summer. Drivers are not able to turn the cameras 2
on or off while the buses are rolling, but if there’s an incident, the driver can press a button to mark a spot on the digital recording so it will be easy to find. If there are no incidents, the cameras’ digital media will be reused (recorded over) after 30 days. To ensure privacy, all of the videos will be encrypted and require special software to view them. Only JCPS officials will have access to this software. Caple says the cameras also will help transportation supervisors make sure all bus drivers are following safety procedures, such as checking mirrors and stopping at railroad crossings. Most large school districts in the United States already have cameras on their buses, and many smaller districts have begun adding them too. Digital video cameras are the latest upgrade for the JCPS bus fleet. During the past two years, the district also has installed new radios as well as GPS tracking systems.
One piece of string— lots of lessons
In Nepal, using a piece of string to form something that looks like a ladder between your hands is called making a rope bridge. In Siberia, it’s a fish net. In the United States, we know it as Jacob’s ladder. A simple piece of string can provide lessons in not only cultural differences but also geometry, hand-eye coordination, storytelling, and creativity.
St. Matthews librarian Carrie Mateja, who had seen his presentation before and arranged his visit to Louisville. Before the visit, Akers and her students watched some of Titus’s videos on YouTube. “The students were in awe,” Akers says. During the visit, Titus used string to bring to life many animals and characters in his stories.
At Price, St. Matthews, and Students received their own Kerrick Elementary Schools strings and quickly mastered in the fall, students learned the intricate steps needed these lessons from David to form string scissors and “The String Man” Titus, an chicken feet. Oklahoma-based librarian Many students said they who has visited 42 countries were eager to share their to demonstrate his string new string and storytelling and storytelling skills. Price Elementary teacher skills with siblings and parPrice librarian Laura Beth Ak- Beth Watkins helps a Camren ents when they got home. ers learned about Titus from Trice make a string figure. 3
Students from seven schools attend environmental summit Students from seven JCPS schools attended the Environmental Youth Summit in the fall on the University of Louisville (UofL) campus. Hosted by Brightside and the Partnership for a Green City, the summit was a daylong series of activities and workshops that focused on a range of environmental issues, including energy consumption and recycling. One of the activities was a dumpster dive. An adult pulled items from a dumpster, and students wearing thick gloves sorted through the trash to determine how many items could have
been recycled or reused. The students were surprised at the large amount of compostable material they found as well as the many pounds of recyclable paper, plastics, aluminum, and cardboard. At one of the summit workshops, Joe Franzen, Fern Creek Traditional High environmental educator, used humor to talk about a serious topic. He dressed in a banana costume to illustrate the carbon footprint created when bananas are shipped from Guatemala across the globe using large boats and trucks.
Both Franzen and Darleen Horton, coordinator of the Environmental Studies Magnet Program at Cane Run Elementary, were featured speakers during the morning events. Overall, about 200 students attended, including students from local private and parochial schools. The JCPS students represented Cane Run and Portland Elementary; Farnsley and Noe Middle; and Fern Creek Traditional, Iroquois, and Doss High Schools. JCPS is a member of the Partnership for a Green City along with UofL and Louisville Metro Government. The partnership’s steering committee includes JCPS staff members Mike Mulheirn, executive director of Facilities and Environmental Services, and Karen Branham, assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.
Fern Creek teacher Joe Franzen dressed as a banana to talk about the environmental impact of shipping the fruit long distances. 4
“Sometimes what we’re playing is just a sketch in the book,” Jeff Coffin said, holding up some sparsely notated sheet music. Coffin and his group, the Mu’tet, performed for the members of the Ballard High jazz band and other students in the fall at the school’s Fine Arts Center. Between songs, Coffin talked to the students about how to use a sketch—just the outline of a song—to fill a musical canvas. In addition to leading his own group, Coffin is the saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band. He’s also a three-time GRAMMY Award winner, a composer, and an educator who conducts clinics at high schools and colleges throughout the United States. From 1997 through 2010, he played for Béla Fleck & the Flecktones. Coffin talked with the Ballard students about phrasing and articulation, theme
and variation, odd meters, playing over the bar line, harmonic language, and the importance of “leaving space in the music” to make room for a musical dialogue with the other band members. Ballard music instructor and band director Paul Shepherd said the chance to have a dialogue with a world-class musician and to hear him perform was an invaluable
experience for his students. “You learn inflection and style through listening to others,” Shepherd says, “and it’s always best to listen to great musicians live.” Ballard has award-winning bands and music programs, and it’s a 5-Star High School that offers courses in the Communication, Media, and the Arts Professional Career Theme.
Application periods end soon The application and registration period for JCPS elementary, middle, and high schools for the next school year will end on Fri., Jan. 11. Information on schools and programs, the application form, and instructions are available online. You also can complete the online application at registration sites throughout the school district. For more information on optional programs, magnet programs, and magnet schools, contact the JCPS Optional, Magnet, and Advance Programs Office at 4853323. For general information, contact the Student Assignment Office at 485-6250. 5
Jefferson County Board of Education to welcome three new members David Jones Jr., Chuck Haddaway, and Chris Brady will be sworn in at the Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) meeting on Mon., Jan. 14. The new members will replace three who retired from the board at the end of the year: Stephen Imhoff, Joseph Hardesty, and Larry Hujo. Jones will represent District 2, which includes the Highlands and Crescent Hill as well as parts of Newburg, Germantown, and St. Mat-
thews. He’s chairman and managing director of the venture capital firm Chrysalis Ventures, and he’s the former chairman of Humana Inc.’s board of directors. Haddaway will represent District 4 in southwestern Jefferson County. The district includes portions of Pleasure Ridge Park, Shively, and Valley Station. Haddaway is the executive director of the Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society. Brady will represent District
7 in the southeastern part of the county. This district includes Jeffersontown, Fern Creek, and Fisherville. Brady is a medical technology trainer for Norton Healthcare. Jones, Haddaway, and Brady have all said that improving student achievement will be their top priority as board members. It has been more than 30 years since so many new members have joined the board at one time.
JCBE frequently asked questions What are the board of education’s responsibilities? The overall responsibility is to oversee the development, operation, and improvement of JCPS. Specifically, the board’s responsibilities include the following: • Approving high-quality instructional programs • Reviewing student progress • Reviewing the educational program • Appointing the superintendent • Approving the JCPS annual operating budget • Approving purchases and contracts • Accepting contracts for 6
new construction, renovations, and building additions • Establishing tax rates • Ensuring that practices and policies are in agreement with Kentucky Revised Statutes • Performing all duties prescribed by the statutes • Board members may not act independently on official matters. They may act only as a group on boardrelated decisions. How do I contact a board member? You can get e-mail addresses, mailing addresses, and phone numbers at www. jcpsky.net/board/. You also may contact board members by writing P.O.
Box 34020, Louisville, KY 40232—or by calling 4853566. When and where does the board meet? Generally, the board holds regular meetings at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Most meetings are held in the Stewart Auditorium at the VanHoose Education Center (3332 Newburg Road). Regular meetings are televised live by Insight Communications and can be seen on Cable Channel 98. An interpreter is provided for the hearing impaired. Special meetings may be called anytime by the chairman or by written request
from three members to the board’s secretary. Notice of special meetings is sent to local newspapers and to radio and television stations. Agendas are available at board meetings. You also can get agenda information by calling 485-3342. All meetings are open to the public, but the board may hold closed Executive Sessions to discuss the purchase of real estate, lawsuits, collective bargaining, or personnel matters. What is the board meeting format? Generally, meetings are
structured like this: • Moment of silence • Pledge of Allegiance • Minutes • Recognitions and resolutions • Superintendent’s reports (People who want to address the board on a specific agenda item will speak when the item is brought forward.) • Action items • Discussion items • Board reports/requests • People who want to address the board on nonagenda items
• Executive Session (when necessary) • Adjournment How do I speak at a board meeting? The board encourages parents and other community members to share their opinions at meetings, but you should be sure that the issue you want to talk about is one that the school board should address. If you have a complaint or an issue concerning a specific school, you first should contact the principal or the (continued on next page) 7
School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council. The purpose of the board is to establish policies for the entire district, not to settle disputes that could be resolved through other channels.
speak at a meeting, approach the microphone and say your name and the name of any organization or group of citizens you represent.
To speak at a meeting: • Register with the secretary of the board by calling 4853342, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tell the secretary the topic you would like to address. Or you may register onsite at a meeting before it starts. • You’ll have three minutes to address the board. If that isn’t enough time, write a letter to the board members or call your representative at 485-3566. • When you’re called to
• Explain your concern, complaint, question, or opinion. Give supporting examples or reasons.
• Limit your comments to one item or issue. • End your remarks by telling the board members the action that you want them to take. • If you’re reading from a script, you may want to provide copies for board members and for the superintendent. • Avoid repeating similar views of other speakers. In the interest of time, it’s best to designate a single spokesperson to represent a group. You can show your numbers by asking those present to stand or simply by telling the board how many belong to your organization. • Be polite. Avoid name calling, finger pointing, accusations, or demeaning language.
JCBE vision, mission, and values Vision:
All JCPS students graduate prepared to reach their full potential and contribute to our society throughout life.
Mission:
To provide relevant, comprehensive, quality instruction in order to educate, prepare, and inspire our students to learn.
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Values:
• Our students are cared for and treated as if they are our own. • Children learn differently. • What happens in the classroom matters most. • The differences of each are assets of the whole. • High-quality teaching is the most powerful tool for helping students reach high standards.
• Leadership and innovation are essential to prepare students for their futures. • Talents and resources are used wisely to benefit students. • Partnerships among schools, families, and community are important for the health and wellbeing of our students. • Adults model integrity, respect, creativity, and accountability.
Are you as smart as a JCPS high school junior? The answers to the seventh-grade math questions in the last issue of Parent Connection are 1: D, 2: C, 3: B. The first parent to send the correct answers was Angela Altman, mother of a kindergartener at Wheeler Elementary. Other winners were Jessica Board (Carter Traditional Elementary) and Michael Probus (Bowen Elementary). This month, Parent Connection offers a quiz with eleventh-grade social studies questions. The first three parents who send the correct answers to the newsletter office via e-mail and the first three who send the correct answers via regular mail will receive a free JCPS T-shirt. Click here to send your answers via e-mail. The regular mailing address is Thomas Pack, C. B. Young Jr. Service Center, Building 4, Communications and Publications North, 3001 Crittenden Drive, Louisville, KY 40209. You don’t need to write the questions or answers. Just send the question numbers and the letters for your answers. Or you may cut out this quiz and mail it. However you send your answers, please include the name of your child’s (or grandchild’s) school.
1. Until the latter half of the 20th century, the development of cities in the American Southwest was hindered mainly by the A. sparse lumber resources. B. cold climate. C. harsh mountainous terrain. D. lack of water. 2. In America during the Gilded Age, robber barons were people who mainly A. seized the possessions of Civil War prisoners. B. conducted brutal military campaigns across the country. C. exploited natural resources of African colonies.
D. used aggressive business practices to dominate industries. 3. Which of these was a major social consequence of the Industrial Revolution in England? A. an increase in support programs for young children working in factories. B. the replacement of an absolute monarchy with a parliamentary system. C. an increase in the number of people moving from rural areas to urban areas. D. the replacement of government welfare programs by private programs.
Angela Altman and her child, Wheeler Elementary student Emma Grace Altman. 9
How to motivate your middle schooler It isn’t always easy to keep your middle schooler motivated. After all, classes may be tough, his or her schedule is probably packed, and the school year is long. But don’t let your child get stuck in the doldrums! Instead, inspire him or her to keep working hard. You can: Help your child set goals. Rather than view school as one long, work-filled year, help your child set small and achievable goals. A goal could be anything from “Read for pleasure every weekend” to “Study science facts three nights each week.” The more reachable the goals are, the more chances your child will have to feel successful. And there is no greater motivator than success. Keep things in perspective. The next time your child is discouraged over a grade, remind him or her that middle school is only one step on the path of education. A few disappointing marks won’t derail his or her entire future, but they should encourage your child to work harder. Reward him or her. True, the days of “gold stickers on a chart” are over, but that doesn’t mean your child is too old for a little bonus for a job well done. So the next time your child brings up a grade, reward him or her with a special privilege. Good grades are their own reward, but everyone appreciates recognition now and then. Reprinted with permission from the November 2012 issue of Parents Still Make the Difference! (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2012 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc.
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Vision 2015:
JCPS strategies to increase college- and career-readiness The JCPS Strategic Plan: Vision 2015 includes goals in four focus areas: Increased Learning; Graduation and Beyond; Stakeholder Involvement/Engagement; and Safe, Resourced, Supported, and Equipped Schools.
Each issue of Parent Connection highlights the strategies that the district is using to meet one of the goals or the measures it is using to track success. This month, the focus is on Goal 2. To read the complete strategic plan, click here. Focus Area: Graduation and Beyond Goal: Every student graduates prepared for his or her postsecondary choice—for college or career, and life.
remediation in reading and to create a context where math). all students have a disposition for postsecondary • Utilize advisory structures education and are collegeto increase the number and career-ready. of students pursuing and enrolling in extension and • Utilize our regional appostsecondary experiproach to strengthen the ences. transitions between levels (elementary, middle, and • Work collaboratively with high) as well as transitions community partners, postbetween grades. secondary education institutions, and the Kentucky • Develop capabilities of Department of Education students to be effective (KDE) to achieve the goals and happy citizens, learnof 55,000 Degrees and ers, workers, and leaders the KDE and our Comfor the 21st century. monwealth Commitment
Increased Learning GOAL 1: Every student progresses in his or her learning and meets or exceeds proficiency in all subjects.
Graduation and Beyond GOAL 2: Every student graduates prepared for his or her post-secondary choice— for college or career, and life.
Strategies: • Utilize predictive data (e.g., EXPLORE, PLAN, ACT) to inform interventions. • Assess the effectiveness of interventions at all levels using appropriate measures (e.g., COMPASS, achievement of industry certifications, KOSSA, ASVAB, decrease in the number of students needing
Stakeholder Involvement/ Engagement GOAL 3: Parents, community, and partners enrich students’ educational experiences and support their success.
Safe, Resourced, Supported, and Equipped Schools GOAL 4: All schools are staffed, resourced, and equipped to support student needs.
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Teacher receives top honor for math and science education Gina Kimery, a teacher at Farmer Elementary, was selected as a Kentucky finalist for the 2012 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Kimery was formally recognized in the fall at the 2012 Kentucky Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference. She will find out in the spring if she is one of the winners on the national level. The highest honor bestowed on math and science teach-
ers, the award was established by Congress in 1983. It’s sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Counselor receives national award Cynthia Sullivan, a counselor at Louisville Male High, is a winner of the Joseph B. Whitehead Educator of Distinction Award. It’s sponsored by the CocaCola Foundation and the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation. (Whitehead was one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola.) The foundation supports programs that benefit young people, and the award recognizes in-
spiring educators who, “with vision and purpose, enhance the minds and experiences of the future leaders of this country.” Sullivan was nominated for the award by a Male High graduate who is now studying preveterinary science at the University of Connecticut. The student says Sullivan “supported me on every leg of my journey and reached out to opportunities for me that I was too afraid to grasp.” Sullivan has worked as a Kentucky educator for 28 years. She has served as a high school counselor for 12 years.
Associate principal honored by state social workers Gwen Snow, associate principal at the JCPS English as a Second Language (ESL) Newcomer Academy, is a winner of the Public Citizen of the Year Award from the Kentucky Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
Gina Kimery (center) is honored at a Jefferson County Board of Education Meeting. She’s pictured with Farmer Elementary Principal Shannon Conlon (left) and Board Chairwoman Diane Porter. 12
This award is presented to someone who is not a social worker but still represents the chapter’s mission through leadership, promotion of improved social services, and contribution
to the public’s knowledge of social work and social problems.
sion, commitment, and never-ending energy are truly inspiring.”
The social worker who nominated Snow said, “I had many opportunities through my work to speak with Gwen about the students I was working with and the general approaches for supporting children with trauma histories. She was always ready with a new referral or concerns and ideas about one of my clients.
Whitworth has worked in education for more than 30 years. She’s advocated for SBDM Councils since 1998, and she’s a certified SBDM trainer who continues to provide training for JCPS councils.
“She was very supportive and excited about providing teachers with additional training in trauma-informed care to better serve their students. She takes a personal interest in her students and has advocated tirelessly for additional social service supports for immigrant/refugee families served by the school.”
She served as 15th District Parent Teacher Association
(PTA) president from 1987 to 1989 and as Kentucky PTA president from 1993 to 1996. She currently serves as parliamentarian and special projects chairperson for the 15th District PTA and Kentucky PTA. Contact the Parent Connection editor, Thomas Pack, at 485-6315 or at thomas.pack@jefferson. kyschools.us.
Mark your calendar Jan. 11 ������� Elementary, middle, and high school application periods end. Jan. 21 ������� No school—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 26 ������� SAT testing February ��� Black History Month Feb. 9 ��������� ACT testing Feb. 25– Mar. 1 ��������� Make-up days Please note: The make-up days will be used if classes are cancelled earlier in the school year because of inclement weather or other emergencies.
Parent relations specialist receives Vision If these days aren’t used as make-up days, schools may Award Sharon Whitworth, JCPS District parent relations specialist, is a winner of the 2012 Vision Award from the Kentucky Association of School Councils. Presented at the association’s fall conference, the award recognizes outstanding vision, commitment, and work with school councils across Kentucky. The nomination form noted that Whitworth “is a selfless individual who gives of herself to benefit others, especially children. Her pas-
choose to offer remediation or enrichment activities for some students. If no activities are scheduled, students will not attend school on these days. Contact your child’s school for more information.
JCPS superintendent is now on Twitter On your mobile phone, send a text to 40404 that says Follow JCPSSuper. You’ll get brief district news, information on events, and details on student success.
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Board of Education approves next year’s calendar JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
School Calendar 2013-14
First and Last Days for Students
AUGUST MON TUE
8/20, 6/4*
*6/4 will be the last day of school unless there are days to be made up. Inclement weather may alter the school calendar, grading periods, and report card distribution dates.
First and Last Days for Teachers (No School for Students) ................................8/16, 6/5
No School for Students Labor Day ................................................................9/2 Thanksgiving Break ...................................11/27–11/29 Winter Break .................................................12/23–1/3 Martin Luther King Jr. Day .....................................1/20 Spring Break ...................................................3/31–4/4 Primary Election Day..............................................5/20 Memorial Day .........................................................5/26 Professional-Development Days .........10/4, 10/7, 10/8, 11/11, 2/24, 2/25, 5/2
Make-Up Days for Students Missed school days will be made up in the following order: 2/26, 2/27, 2/28, 6/5, 6/6, 6/9, 6/10, 6/11, 6/12, 6/13. If 2/26, 2/27, and 2/28 are not used as make-up days, individual schools will decide whether to use those days to host enrichment activities for some students or to have a no-school day for all students.
Parent-Teacher Conferences Conferences will be scheduled on the following dates: 10/8, 2/24.
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
WED THU
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
WED THU
FRI
7 14 21 28
SEPTEMBER MON TUE
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
WED THU
FRI
OCTOBER MON TUE
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
WED THU
FRI
NOVEMBER MON TUE
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
WED THU
FRI
6 13 20 27
DECEMBER MON TUE
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
FRI
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
JANUARY MON TUE
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
MON TUE
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
MARCH
MON TUE
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
APRIL
MON TUE
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
MAY
MON TUE
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
MON TUE
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24
FRI
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
WED THU
FRI
FEBRUARY
JUNE
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities
WED THU
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
WED THU
FRI
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
WED THU
FRI
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
WED THU
FRI
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
WED THU
FRI
7 14 21 28 4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
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