2019-2020 School Year This special Back to School section is brought to you by The Record Delta and includes: School calendar & open houses Articles for going Back to School Special offers and more!
See pg 7 for Coloring Contest
Page 2 - Monday, July 29, 2019
Upshur County Schools 2019-2020 calendar August 8 First day for teachers
November 6 PLC - 12:30 p.m. Dismissal
February 6 Mid-Term
August 13 First Day for Pre K, K, 6 & 9 Students
November 11 Holiday - Veteran’s Day
February 14 Faculty Senate 12:30 p.m. Dismissal
August 14 First Day of Instruction-All Students August 21 PLC - 12:30 p.m. Dismissal September 2 Holiday - Labor Day September 11 PLC - 12:30 p.m. Dismissal September 13 Mid-Term October 11 Faculty Senate 12:30 p.m. Dismissal
November 14 Mid-Term November 25-29 Thanksgiving Break December 20 Faculty Senate 12:30 p.m. Dismissal December 20 End of 1st Semester December 23-January 3 Christmas Break
May 11 Outside School Environment Day May 12 Election Day
March 26 PLC - 12:30 p.m. Dismissal
May 15 Continuing Education Day-In-Lieu
April 7 Faculty Senate 12:30 p.m. Dismissal
May 22 Last day for Students End of 2nd Semester
April 8-10 Spring Break April 16 Mid-Term
January 20 Holiday —Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 29 PLC - 12:30 p.m. Dismissal
BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES will be distributed at the Parish House 9 am - 1 pm each day July 29 through August 2 (For preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school students in Upshur County)
Monday, July 29, 2019 – Page 3
UPSHUR COUNTY SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION
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Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus, Superintendent sstankus@k12.wv.us Dr. Debra Harrison, Asst. Superintendent dmharrison@k12.wv.us Jodie Akers, Director of Student Services jakers@k12.wv.us Melinda Stewart, Special Education Director mjstewart@k12.wv.us Glenna Clutter, Technology Coordinator gclutter@k12.wv.us Tim Derico, Curriculum Director tderico@k12.wv.us Randy Hardman, Director of Transportation randy.hardman@k12.wv.us George Carver, Business Manager gcarver@k12.wv.us Cindy Nesselroade, Child Nutrition Director cnesselr@k12.wv.us Jody Johnson, Title I Director jljohnso@k12.wv.us
Office Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (M-F) 102 Smithfield Street, Buckhannon, WV 26201 Phone: (304) 472-5480
Directory of Upshur County Schools Buckhannon Academy Elementary School (PreK-5) Phone: 304-472-3310 Principal: Susanne Britton Vice Principal: Shannon Lewis Buckhannon-Upshur High School (9-12) Phone: 304-472-3720 Principal: Eddie Vincent Vice Principal: Doug Frashure Vice Principal: Carla Rogers Vice Principal: Randall Roy Vice Principal/Athletic Director: Rick Reynolds Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School (6-8) Phone: 304-472-1520 Principal: Renee Warner Vice Principals: Mitch Wood and Amy Cale Fred Eberle Technical Center Phone: 304-472-1259 Director: Rebecca Bowers-Call
French Creek Elementary School (PreK-5) Phone: 304-924-6381 Principal: Kasey Baisden Hodgesville Elementary School (Pre-K-5) Phone: 304-472-3212 Principal: Janet Phillips Rock Cave Elementary School (PreK-5) Phone: 304-924-6969 Principal: Amanda Craig Tennerton Elementary (PreK-5) Phone: 304-472-1278 Principal: Tristen Gray Union Elementary School (PreK-5) Phone: 304-472-1394 Principal: Michelle Fleming Washington District Elementary (PreK-5) Phone: 304-472-6599 Principal: Jeanne Bennett
Upshur County Board of Education: Dr. Tammy Samples, president Katie Loudin, vice president Alan Suder Dr. Greenbrier Almond Kristi Wilkerson
www.upshurschools.com
View interactive menus at
upshurschools.nutrislice.com/menu
Open House Information: B-U Middle School - Thu Aug 8th 5-8 PM Elementary Schools (Except BAES) Mon Aug 12th 5-7 PM B-U High School - Tue Aug 13th 4-6 PM Academy Elementary (BAES) Thu Sep 5th 5-7 PM
Page 4 - Monday, July 29, 2019
Tips for grabbing the best deals on school clothes
Children and parents often look forward to the dawn of a new school year. But before the first homeroom session can take place, parents may need to take their students clothes shopping. According to a 2018 survey by Deloitte, par-
ents spend an average of $510 per household on apparel, school supplies, electronic gadgets, and other items for their kids’ return to school. The back-to-school season runs from July through September, during which American households
alone spend $27.6 billion, which is second only to the holiday season in regard to the most lucrative times for retailers. Apparel is a large part of back-to-school shopping. Many parents find they need to outfit their kids with a new wardrobes each year. Jeans and leggings that fit like a glove in June may only reach mid-calf by Labor Day. To make the shopping process less harried and more productive, parents can employ these strategies. Take inventory Go through kids’ wardrobes and see what can be salvaged and what might need to go. This is
the perfect opportunity to put aside gently used, outgrown items that may be passed on to someone else who can use them. Be sure to make a list of any items that the school requires, particularly in regard to uniforms or dress codes. By knowing what’s in stock in the closet, you’ll have a clear idea of what you need to buy. Check for tax-free discounts Some states or cities offer tax-free or discount shopping incentives, which can add up to considerable savings. It may be well worth the effort to stock up on necessities during these times.
Sign up for loyalty programs If yours is a child who prefers certain brands, sign up early in the year for such brands’ loyalty clubs. For example, the popular retailer Hollister has Club Cali that, with each purchase, grants points toward discounts. Plus, you may be privy to sale advertisements before the general public. Get enough to get by While certain clothing sales happen between July and August, oftentimes the real savings begin in October, according to the budgeting resource Money Crashers. Wait until that time to buy the bulk
of kids’ school clothes. After all, the first weeks of school are usually warm, and summer clothing will still suffice with a few new items thrown in to freshen up wardrobes. Invest in quality shoes Sneakers and other shoes can be expensive. However, investing in quality brands can help you avoid having to buy shoes frequently. Watch for shoe sales and stock up on coupons. Many stores offer “buy-one, get-one half off” during the backto-school season. In addition to these tips, save more by shopping overstock stores for name-brand items at lower prices.
Manage hectic school mornings
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Mornings, especially in households in which parents who work outside of the home and have one or two kids requiring drop-off at their respective schools, can often be hectic. Starting off the morning feeling hurried and stressed can carry over into the mood of the day, affecting productivity as a result. According to Dr. David Anderson, PhD, senior director of the ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute, busy mornings can be the most stressful moments of the day. Homework hour and getting prepared for bed are other typically stressful times of the day for families.
If less stressful mornings are a goal for your family, try these strategies. Start the night before Doing as much preparatory work the evening before can make quite a difference in taming hectic mornings. Things that can be done in advance include checking and stocking backpacks, signing paperwork, making lunches, setting out clothing, showering, and having breakfast foods ready to go. Establish a ‘launch pad’ Ann Dolin, a Virginiabased education specialist, suggests having a
launch pad, or a place where all school-related items are prepped and stored. It can be a basket, box or another container big enough to contain school items. Children can drop and pick up the items as needed. Make the routine the boss Positive Parenting Solutions founder Amy McCready says families can implement a “when-then” routine that sets the tone for the morning. “When everyone is dressed, hair combed, breakfast eaten, and school supplies packed, then you can watch 10 minutes of an educational cartoon.” This puts the routine in control
rather than making the parents the bad guys. Make kids responsible Too often parents add more stress to their plates by showing up at school with forgotten lunch boxes or band instruments. Instead, parents can stop rescuing their children and help train them to be more responsible — an essential trait. Chart wake-up times It may seem like micromanaging, but scheduling wake-up and bathroom times can help everyone know where they should be and when they should be there. It also helps avoid bottleneck situations in the bathroom or kitchen.
Monday, July 29, 2019 – Page 5
Extracurricular activities for non-athletes
Sports are a popular activity for adults and children alike. While adults may not have the time to hit the hardwoods or toss the ball around as much as they used to, sports continue to be as popular as ever among young people. According to the State of Play: 2018 report from The Aspen Institute, 69 percent of children between the ages of six and 12 participated in a team or individual sport at least once in 2017. As popular as sports are, some students are not inclined to lace up a pair of cleats or compete with their peers on the athletic playing fields. In fact, the State of Play: 2018 report found that just 37 percent of kids between the ages of
six and 12 participated in a team sport on a regular basis in 2017. Lack of interest in sports is nothing for parents to worry about, though it is important that parents encourage their kids to participate in extracurricular activities, which can pay a host of dividends.
Why participate in extracurricular activities? Extracurricular activities do more than just provide something for kids to do once they’re dismissed from school. Certain activities may help kids perform better academically. In analyzing data on more than 25,000
second school students, the United States Department of Education found that those who reported consistent involvement in instrumental music during middle school and high school performed significantly better in mathematics by grade 12 than kids who did not participate in music programs. Participation in extracurricular activities as a youngster also may pay dividends well into the future. A 2017 study from researchers at Rutgers University found that people who were involved in extracurricular activities in high school were likely to stay involved in their communities throughout their lives.
Sports might be a popular extracurricular activity, but there are still plenty of additional activities for kids who have no interest in sports. • Music: School bands or community music programs provide opportunities for kids to learn an instrument and connect with fellow music lovers.
• Volunteering: Many organizations welcome teenager volunteers, recognizing that kids who volunteer as teens are more likely to continue doing so as adults, which can help charities and other organizations meet their missions. Volunteering even allows kids to further indulge an exist-
ing passion. For example, kids who love the beach can volunteer with a local environmental organization that works to clean up local beaches and waterways. • Writing: Youngsters with an interest in writing can participate in local
creative writing groups. Such groups can be great places to brainstorm story ideas and learn about the creative writing process. Participating in extracurricular activities can enrich young peoples’ lives and lay the foundation for a rich, fulfilling life.
Did you know?
Each year, the High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations lists trends in high school sports participation across the United States. Recent findings indicate that participation in sports continues to grow on school campuses, and the number of participants in the 2017-2018 school year reached an all-time high of 7,980,886. A steady increase in several boys and girls sports extended the overall growth streak to a record-breaking 29th year. For those interested in knowing which school sports garner the most participation, here is a spotlight of the biggest contenders.
Boys
• Football remains the No. 1 participatory sport for boys, with outdoor track and field coming in second.
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• Basketball, baseball, soccer, cross country, wrestling, tennis, golf, and swimming/diving round out the remaining top sports for boys.
Girls
• The most popular sport for girls continues to be outdoor track and field. The No. 2 position belongs to volleyball. • Basketball, soccer, fast-pitch softball, cross country, tennis, swimming/diving, competitive spirit, and lacrosse are the other prime girls’ sports activities.
*Discount valid on donated goods only. Cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. Discount valid 7/30/19 from 10am-6pm only. Not valid at outlet stores or on specialty items in the Goodwill Tech Department.
Page 6 - Monday, July 29, 2019
Make the transition to high school easier
Over the course of an academic career, the average student switches schools three to four times. Elementary school gives way to middle school or junior high. From there, students will transition to high school. If a student chooses to keep their
academic journey going after high school, college or trade school awaits. Adolescence is a transitional period when many students may be learning how to make decisions and taking their first significant steps toward becoming independent
Homework has long been a way to reinforce lessons learned in the classroom and ensure that the learning process continues when students leave school each day. A recent survey of teachers conducted by the University of Phoenix College of Education found that high school teachers assign about 17.5 hours of homework each week (3.5 hours per class), middle school teachers assign about 3.2,
and elementary school teachers assign about 2.9 hours per week. Thanks to ever-evolving curriculums and new problem-solving methodologies — particularly in mathematics — parents may no longer have the expertise to help their children with their homework, leading to confusion and frustration. So where does a parent and student turn when homework has become challenging?
adults. That can make the transition from middle school to high school more complicated than previous transitional periods young people experienced. Several changes take place in high school that can impact students’ anxiety levels. • Students go from being the oldest in middle school to the youngest in high school. • The student body population typically increases dramatically. • Curriculum becomes more demanding than it was in middle school. • School hours change, often requiring students to wake up earlier.
• A new school may mean students are funneling in from different feeder schools. Long-time friends may be separated depending on where they ultimately choose to go to high school. A 2016 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 70 percent of teens say anxiety and depression are a “major problem” among their peers. To help make high school a positive experience and less likely to induce anxiety, students and their parents can employ these tips. • Establish a consistent routine. The education resource CollegeVine advis-
es students to build good study habits, create a calm and organized homework environment and focus on studies while keeping distractions at bay. • Encourage extracurricular activities. Activities outside of the classroom are a great way for students to make friends and involve themselves socially with their peers. Such extracurriculars can lead to strong friendships that flourish throughout high school and beyond. • Buddy up. Just as they might have done upon entering kindergarten, students on the cusp of starting high school can find someone who will be attending the same school
and go over schedules and potential meet-up times. They can make plans to sit together at lunch as they both get acclimated to their new environments. • Attend open houses. Families can tour the campus to get a feel for the layout of their children’s school. Ask for a map of the school grounds so students can get an idea of where their schedules will require them to be throughout the course of the day. The transition to high school is a significant one in the life of a teenager. Families can employ various strategies to make that transition go smoothly.
Getting kids the homework help they need
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Students who are struggling should not feel embarrassed about the fact that homework has become an issue. Such students should speak with their parents, teachers or school counselors if they are having difficulty with their homework. Such discussions alert teachers that there are potential issues. Teachers can be important resources because they can give specific advice on assignments or strate-
gies for tackling complex processes. Next up, students and parents can consult with older students who have already “been there, done that” in terms of assignments. Oftentimes high school and college students volunteer their time for community service hours. Ask at the local library or at schools in town if older students offer homework help. Families also can do
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their best to make the environment at home conducive to homework. Scholastic suggests setting up a schedule that includes a time indicating when assignments must be completed. In addition, setting up a quiet, distraction-free zone for doing homework can help kids concentrate on their assignments. Students can tackle harder assignments first, as they will likely take the bulk of the time,
and then move on to the easier assignments. If homework is taking a long time to complete, parents can speak to teachers about when it might be alright to offer youngsters some extra help. If these homework helpers are ineffective, families can hire private tutors who can work on homework with the student and reinforce classroom lessons.
Welcome back students!
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COLORING CONTEST
Three Lucky Winners Will Receive a New Back Pack Stuffed With Prizes from Our Contest Sponsor
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The contest is open to three age groups for boys & girls 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 years of age.
Back Packs From Walmart Stuffed with Prizes
CHILD’S NAME:______________________________________ AGE : __________ PARENT’S NAME:____________________________________________________ ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________ CITY: _________________________________STATE: _____ ZIP: ______________
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PHONE:___________________________________________________________ Entry form must be filled out completely or this could disqualify your picture. Contest Rules: 1. Paint crayons, felt-tip pens or pencils may be used. 2. Drop off entries at the Record Delta 2-B Clarksburg Road. 3. Entries must be received no later than close of business, Friday, Aug 2, 2019. 4. Winners will be announced in Wed, August 7th issue of The Record Delta. 5. Children of past or present newspaper employees or contest sponsor employees are not eligible to win.
Clip and mail or deliver to: The Record Delta ATTN: Back to School Coloring Contest PO BOX 550 2B Clarksburg Road Buckhannon, WV 26201
Did You Know?
Back-to-School Facts & Figures $883
average back-to-school spending per family in Canada That’s more than parents spend on holiday shopping!
$688
average back-to-school spending per family in the U.S. NRF research show teenagers will contribute $37.64 toward this amount.
As summer winds down and kids across North America get ready to start the new school year, here are some fun facts and numbers to test your knowledge!
50.7 million 4.75 million students students attended Canadian public attended U.S. public elementary
APPLES
The tradition of giving apples and secondary schools in 2017 to teachers originated in 16th century Denmark, where parents would often give teachers baskets of apples to pay for their children’s schooling.
elementary and secondary schools in 2016