Thursday, August 7, 2014
The
Volume 145 Issue 31 50 Cents
Putnam Standard
Putnam schools ready for new year
Inside n High school bands Buffalo, Hurricane and Winfield prepare for season, Pages 6-7, & 12
Opportunities excite principal By Michael Circle logic-based learning through michael@theputnamstandard.com the use of laptops, she said. Buffalo High School’s new principal is excited “This program will propel to take advantage of all her new school has to offer. this communication process Tawny Stilianoudakis, a Putnam County native at the high school,” she said. who graduated from Winfield High School, begins “This will keep the communicathe 2014-15 school year as Buffalo’s principal. tion going for the school and the “I am so excited for the new school,” Stilianoucommunity.” dakis said of the building that opened in 2012. “I The program will incorporate computer-based presentawant to make sure everyone is communicated with tions for the students to create and we put the kids first.” Stilianoudakis and present to their classmates. As the new principal, Stilianoudakis said she wants to increase communication between students Stilianoudakis said the activities provided by this and their parents, faculty, and the community. As a program help develop the skills necessary for the way of supplementing this purpose, the school will See Principal, Page 7 implement a new tech program that will allow for
Buffalo AD eager to get started By Michael Circle michael@theputnamstandard.com Buffalo High School’s new athletic director took a winding road to arrive at his new post, but really the position is one he has always wanted to hold. “I’ve been in athletics for many years,” Pat Clark said. “I was a football coach at Winfield High School, as well as an assistant baseball coach, but I’ve wanted to be an athletic director somewhere. Now I am getting that opportunity and I am very excited.” Clark is beginning his third year at Buffalo as a physical education and driver’s education teacher. He will continue in his teaching capacity as well as take on the responsibilities of the athletic director for all of Buffalo’s sports. “There will, of course, be challenges,” he said. “Especially in the fall when we have all of the fall
sports going, but I’m not new to athletics. I’m new to the position, but not athletics. “I’m going to have to learn to balance my teaching with the athletic director duties. It will be a challenge the whole year with different sports.” Clark graduated from Duval High School and went to West Virginia University for one year Clark on a football scholarship. He then played football for West Virginia State, where he earned his bachelor degree in Education. Clark then earned his graduate degree in Safety Regulatory Compliance and worked for 20 years See AD, Page 2
Raynes comes home By Zach Cumberland zach@theputnamstandard.com A 2005 Poca High School graduate who began her career as a YMCA counselor in Putnam County is happy to be home. Rudi Raynes accepted the position as the new Putnam County School Communications and Events Coordinator. “The main thing I’ll be doing is getting in touch with schools and having contact with each one so Raynes they’ll let me know when a special event is coming up,” Raynes said. “I’ll also be writing press releases for the board of education, coordinating all the
events for Putnam County schools, like portfolio fairs and math field days.” Raynes received her degree from Concord University, a fouryear liberal arts university which was founded in 1872, soon after West Virginia split away from Virginia during the Civil War. Once the school year begins, Raynes said her main objective is to update Putnam County’s media policy. “We want to get out a form to parents to let them know,” she said. “I’ll be out at the schools covering events, making sure the kids can be used in purposes to promote Putnam County education. We want parents to get familiar with the new Twitter site and the new Facebook site, and we’re going to get that information out to them.” A hot topic on the agenda is to See Raynes, Page 12
Poca sophomores get Division I basketball offers By Zach Cumberland zach@theputnamstandard.com Poca High School basketball standouts Elijah Cuffee and Luke Frampton have at least three more seasons to play together, and they’re already talking about extending their status as teammates beyond that. Both players already have attracted Division I attention, including interest from Marshall and James Madison. More offers are sure to follow, but Cuffee and
Frampton are interested in fielding them together. “Luke and I have also talked about playing college ball together, along with Jarrod West II,” Cuffee said. Jarrod West II plays for his father, West Virginia legend Jarrod West, at Notre Dame in Clarksburg. If you’re a Mountaineer fan, you might recall that last second shot West hit on March 15, 1998, against Bob Huggins and his Cincinnati Bearcats during the West Regional in Boise, Idaho, as it
banked in with less than a second to play, leading the Mountaineers to a Sweet 16 appearance. Frampton echoes the idea that he and Cuffee wouldn’t mind being wing-men on the next level. “We talk about it a lot,” Frampton said. “We were just talking about it the other day when we went to go work out.” The duo each averaged double figures as freshmen a season ago as the Dots finished 27-2. One loss See Players, Page 3
Poca sophomore’s Luke Frampton (left) and Elijah Cuffee (right) hope to play on the same team in college. n Calendar of Events - pg. 2 n Hurricane Council - pg. 3