Wythe County Public Schools
Autumn 2013
The Summit
Volume 3, Issue 1
Inside this issue:
Blended Learning
VDOE Visit
2
Blended Learning (cont.)
3
Science + Technology = top-notch learning.
Calendar
3
Welcome, Dr. James
4
School Board notes
4
Construction (cont.)
5
Education in Action
6
High school students in WCPS are getting the chance to receive reinforcement through technology in their science classes. In partnership with the Foundation for Excellence and a large grant from the Wythe Bland Foundation, WPCS Biology and Earth Science classes have been outfitted
Upcoming School Board meetings: Nov. 14
6:00 p.m.
Dec. 12
6:00 p.m.
Jan. 9
6:00 p.m.
Feb. 6
6:00 p.m.
Relevant Reads “Classmate Remembered at George Wythe Homecoming.” www.swvatoday.com October 24, 2013 “What Students Can Do When Reading Gets Rough,” by Sunday Cummins Educational Leadership, Nov. 2013 www.ascd.org
with mobile laptop labs, tablets, and other electronic devices to stimulate science education. GWHS teacher Shelbie Heldreth can already see a difference in her students’ learning. “It really helps them focus because it’s one-toone,” she said, especially with students that typically
Capital Improvement Construction is moving along steadily at Sheffey and RRMS. At Sheffey, construction crews are working hard to complete the 2nd grade and resource rooms. Additionally, the new community center gymnasium is almost ready to be roofed in preparation for the cold winter months. The outside canopy has been erected and students have moved out of their temporary classrooms in the gymnasium. A couple of weeks ago, at RRMS, sixth grade students and their teachers
moved back into the completed sixth grade wing. The front office suite is nearing completion and the outside entrance (seen above) should be completed in the next few weeks.
Crews have transitioned to gutting and renovating the seventh grade wing of the building. See Page 5 for more pictures of the progress!
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Volume 3, Issue 1
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Department of Education visits RRES During the Virginia Board of Education President’s Listening Tour, Dr. Billy Cannaday and Mr. David Foster paid a visit to RRES. They stepped inside classrooms, toured facilities, spoke with teachers, and got a brush up lesson on “vertices” in Mrs. Ryan’s Kindergarten class. Board members and teachers shared their concerns about testing, accountability, and funding. Likewise, they showcased their everyday classroom achievements and innovative learning strategies. In keeping with the year’s theme, “Fill a bucket,” RRES sent Mr. Foster and Dr. Cannaday home with a small bucket of goodies to remember their trip to Wythe County.
The mission of WCPS, in partnership with our entire community, is to ensure that each student is empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the challenges of the future.
Wythe County Public Schools
1570 W. Reservoir Street Wytheville, VA 24382 Phone: 276-228-5411 Fax: 276-228-9192
http://wythe.k12.va.us/ Educating students for success in the 21st century.
Central Office Staff Dr. Lee Brannon
Division Superintendent
Dr. Melinda Robinett
Exec. Director of Educational Services
Dr. Becki James
Exec. Director of Instruction
Richard Thomas
Director of Personnel
Marcy Olinger
Director of Elem. & Middle Education
Beth Cochran
Coordinator of Federal Programs and Testing
Dr. Wesley Poole
Director of Facilities and Operations
Keith Cochran
Technology Supervisor
2013 School Board Members William Kidd, Chairman
East Wytheville
Chalmer Frye, Vice-Chairman
Speedwell
Walter White
Fort Chiswell
Stephen Sage
Blacklick
Patricia Hines
Lead Mines
Deborah Crigger
At-Large
David Martin
West Wytheville
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Volume 3, Issue 1
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Blended (cont.) struggle with science. One of the best things to help these students, she said, is the availability of immediate feedback. By using a web program, the SmartBoard, and student tablets, she is able to work through a chapter review question set and see the student answer selections in real time. Mrs. Heldreth posts a question, students select the answer on the tablet, and the results are posted like a bar graph on the board. Knowing exactly what material the students struggle with in real time allows her to use her instructional time more effectively.
Additionally, with the wealth of information available through the internet and technology applications, she can focus her planning time on other pedagogical strategies. “I don't have to spend this time creating all these resources,” she said. “They’re already there.” Students seem to engage well with the new technology. With more difficult concepts like continental drift, for example, 9th grader Cha Shupe said the animations online really helped her understand the topic.
2013-2014 School Calendar Nov. 5
Schools closed for students; teacher PD
Nov. 14
End of 6-weeks; 12:30 p.m. student dismissal
Nov. 27
12:30 p.m. student dismissal
Nov. 28-29
Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec. 17 –20
Middle and secondary assessments
Dec. 23-Jan. 3
Winter Holiday — Schools Closed
January 2, 3
Optional make-up days if two (2) or more are missed prior to Winter Break. If only one day is missed prior to Winter Break, that day will be added to the end of the year.
For closings and delays due to inclement weather, sign up for Honeywell Instant Alert through the school. Additionally, local media outlets carry inclement weather information. Staff Codes Code 1: Two-hour delay Code 2: Schools and offices closed.
FCHS Biology teacher Lisa Vaught agrees. “I really feel that having the technology available, even as simple as showing images to explain what we are talking about, has helped students understand concepts easier.”
She uses her technology to demonstrate things like cell reproduction, genetic traits, cell transport, and other topics that are sometimes difficult to grasp. This is 21st century learning at its best!
For WCPS sports calendar information, visit http://wythe.k12.va.us/ to find links to the Mountain Empire and Hogoheegee District schedules.
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Welcome, Dr. Becki James The School Board office warmly welcomes Dr. Becki James as the new Executive Director of Instruction. Dr. James, formerly the principal at FCMS, replaces Dr. Jeff Noe, who took an assistant superintendent position in Washington County this summer. Dr. James has served as the assistant principal at Spiller Elementary, and has
taught at Wallace Middle School, Damascus Middle School, and William Campbell Middle School in Rustburg, Va. Dr. James has a Bachelor of Science from Emory and Henry College, a Master of Science degree from Tusculum College, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Virginia Tech.
Congratulations to our students who have been selected for Jr. All-District Choir: SMMS: Madeline Fowler, Anna Pressley, Maggie Gilman and Victoria Willis. (Alt. Brianna Horkovy and Sophie Saliba) GW: Darius Sawyers and Christine Umbarger. (Alt. Malaki Russell) RRMS: Chris Howard, Ciera Testerman, Taylor Frye, Kaitlyn Copenhaver, Annabelle Harryman, Jordin Stull Best wishes to those students who will be auditioning for Sr. All-District on November 9!
“Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re BRAVER than you believe, STRONGER than you seem, and SMARTER than you think.” —Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh
Board matters In addition to touring construction projects at WCPS, School Board members have been hard at work taking care of instruction matters for our students and staff. At their October meeting, Board members approved streamlining end of course testing so classes were consistent, tests were fairly weighted, and students were not assessed too frequently. They also wanted to be sure our legislators understand the ramifications of their policy decisions, so Board members have passed
resolutions and sent letters explaining their stance on a variety of educational issues like high-stakes testing, governing board takeover of low-performing schools,
For a complete calendar of School Board meetings, visit the WCPS homepage. and the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. They will meet personally with local representatives in January to further discuss these
issues. They have approved new courses and expanded elective offerings for our students. Currently, they are working with the Southwest Virginia Governors School to explore the possibility of expanding its scope and reach. This summer they revised the staff dress code and worked to make sure our schools were secure by approving buzz-in systems at all our schools (except Sheffey and RRMS, which will receive the same system that was installed at RRHS
during renovation.) Parents, teachers, and students have all seemed to appreciate the added security despite the minimal hassle of having to be verified at the door before entering. In the coming months, Board members will begin budget preparations for the 2014 — 2015 school year.
Election Day is November 5. Don’t forget to vote!
The Wythe County School Board is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, gender, ethnicity, ancestry, marital or parental status, or in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
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Capital Improvement (cont.)
Above: office at RRMS
Below: 2nd grade wing at Sheffey
Above: 6th grade classroom at RRMS
Below: gym at Sheffey
Shout-Outs!
The staff and students at Sheffey and RRMS for being so focused and flexible during the renovation process at their schools. Begin with the end in mind! WCTC on receiving NATEF accreditation FCHS, FCMS, Sheffey, MMES, and Jackson chorus students for performing so well at their first combined “pyramid” concert in October. Local firefighters for educating our students about fire safety during Fire Prevention Week WCPS students for pledging to stay drug -free as part of Red Ribbon Week
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Education in action
The Summit is a publication of Wythe County Public Schools . It is published periodically throughout the year. All materials, including photographs and content, are copyrighted by WCPS unless otherwise noted.