Wythe County Public Schools
Summer 2012
The Summit
Volume 1, Issue 4
Inside this issue:
Summer Learning
2
Grants and Awards
3
Retiree Luncheon
4
2012-2013 Calendar
5
Hunger Games
6
Reading (cont.)
6
Greenhouse
7
Shout-Outs
7
FFA
8
Photo Gallery
9
WCPS School Board monthly meetings June 13 9 a.m.
SBO
June 27 9 a.m.
SBO
July 11 9 a.m.
SBO
Aug 8
SBO
9 a.m.
Interesting Reads
Check out www.pbs.org/ parents/education for great information and helpful tips to keep students reading all summer long. Visit www.readingrockets.org to read interesting articles and learn effective strategies to help struggling readers. Any book that excites you. Summer is a great time to catch up on all the books you want to read for fun!
A crop of green-thumbed students everything from seed germination, to plant maintenance, to sales techniques for selling their products in the community. “You learn by trial and error,” explained Bergandy Jones, FFA president at RRHS. Senior Joey Gallimore concurred, “There’s a lot of stuff that goes into it.” A student at RRHS tends to the flowers at the greenhouse.
Spring is in full swing at Wythe County high schools. The horticulture programs, now in their 2nd year, are growing and blossoming. Students are learning about
Despite the labor that goes into keeping the plants healthy, Jessica Patton described the gardening process as therapeutic. “It’s a great stress reliever,” she said, mentioning how in the winter months, it’s good to just come into the warm
structure where everything is green and colorful. The community is getting in on the action, too. Not only are they buying plants and germinated seeds from the students, adults can participate in the actual care of the greenhouse. This spring, as part of a pilot program, the high schools offered adult greenhouse classes in the evenings. “We try to be really flexible,” explained RRHS teacher Brain Alexander. See Page 5 for more information on the greenhouse programs.
Rural Reading program cultivates excitement Struggling readers are becoming competent and confident readers thanks to a creative idea generated by Reading Recovery specialists Tabitha Martin and Karen Barton. The project, which was sponsored with Classroom Grant funds from the Foundation for Excellence, is
focused on creating books that are of interest especially to boys and especially to low-performing boy readers. See Page 4 for more about how this program is getting students excited about reading.
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Learning all summer long Art Intensive
Wythe County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence, Inc.
The PLAY Fund and the Foundation for Excellence are thrilled to offer Wythe County students a great opportunity in art this summer. The 1st Annual Art Intensive will be held June 11 – 15 in downtown Wytheville in the old Hobert N. Grubb building. Ms. Meagan Averill, a recent MAT graduate from the Savannah College of Art in Design will lead students who have completed grades
2 – 12 in age appropriate classes concentrating on drawing. Space is limited. There is a small material fee of $25.00 for each student. Scholarships are available for those needing assistance.
Please call Cindy Jarmul, Foundation for Excellence Executive Director for more information (228-5411).
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
Jeff Noe
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
2011-2012 School Board Members Chalmer Frye, Chairman
Speedwell
William Kidd, Vice Chair
East Wytheville
Walter White
Fort Chiswell
Stephen Sage
Blacklick
Patricia Hines
Lead Mines
Deborah Crigger
At-Large
David Martin
West Wytheville
Sign up to receive this newsletter via email by contacting Amanda Evans at amanda.evans@wythek12.org
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Funding fun Left: Speedwell Elementary students eagerly line up on their new walking track at the ribboncutting ceremony on May 15. The track was funded through donations and a grant from the Wythe-Bland Foundation.
Left: Students from Spiller Elementary take a break from walking during Relay for Life on May 4. Several other schools in Wythe County participated in the event to raise money for cancer research.
A special CONGRATULATIONS to all of our graduates. We know you’ll go far. We’re so proud of you! The Foundation for Excellence distributed the following community-sponsored awards and scholarships: Award of Distinction ($1,000) Kristen Fisher (FCHS) Aaron Foster (GWHS) James Willard (RRHS) Benjamin Wassum (WCTC) Dr. Jack O. White Music Scholarship ($5,000) Isaac Young (GWHS) George Wythe Merit Scholarship ($40,000) Megan Lacy (GWHS)
The Foundation for Excellence, in partnership with WCTC and the WytheBland Foundation has secured a $127,560 grant for classroom startup costs of the new Pre-Engineering program at WCTC. The program is slated to begin this fall.
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Retirement luncheon To celebrate a lifetime of service to public education and to WCPS, the 2011-2012 retirees were celebrated with a luncheon at Elizabeth Brown Park on May 23. Congratulations and thank you for your commitment to our children: Patricia S. Aker
Teacher
MMES
Debra O. Akers
Teacher
GWHS
Brenda G. Anderson
Teacher
RRES
Mary E. Bland
Teacher
SMMS
Claude C. Brooks
Teacher
WCTC
Roy H. Cregger
Custodian
RRES
Wanda S. Edmonds
Teacher
FCMS
Dianne H. Farmer
Teacher
JMES
Judith E. Hall
Teacher
GWHS, SMMS
Danny Jonas
Teacher and Athletic Director
FCHS
Judy U. Jones
Cafeteria Manager
JMES
Mary C. King
Teacher
FCHS
Barbara M. Mills
Teacher
RRHS
David M. Okes
Teacher
GWHS
Annie B. Orr
Cafeteria Manager
RRHS
Linda W. Phillips
Teacher
RRHS
Linda B. Pollard
Driver’s Education Instructor
RRHS
Glenda C. Poole
Custodian
Sheffey
Charles R. Preston, Jr.
Maintenance
WCPS
Patty F. Reynolds
Teacher
Sheffey
Rebecca A. Richardson
Nurse
RRHS
Fern D. Shockley
Teacher
JMES
Shirley A. Thomas
Custodian
RRMS
Sara F. Williamson
Teacher
Spiller
William W. Williamson
Teacher
FCMS
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2012-2013 School Calendar August 2 & 3
Administrative Staff Meetings
August 6
Optional Technology In-service
August 7
New Teacher Orientation
August 8
Teacher’s Return – ½ Principal Day; ½ Teacher Workday
August 9
Staff Development by Wythe County Sherriff’s Office – Wytheville Meeting Center
August 10
Division Curriculum and Instruction
August 13
Opening Session 8:30 a.m.; Wytheville Meeting Center
August 14
Teacher Workday a.m.; Parent/Student Visitation (1:00 – 3:00, 4:30 – 7:00)
August 15
Teacher Workday
August 16
First Day for Students
September 3
Labor Day Holiday
September 27
End of First 6 Weeks
September 28
12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal, Teacher Workday
October 11
12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal;
November 6
Schools Closed for Students – Teachers - Professional Development Day
November 9
End of Second 6 Weeks; 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal, Teacher Workday
November 21
12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal
November 22 & 23
Schools Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday
December 13 – 18
Middle and Secondary Exams
December 18
12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal
December 19 – January 2
Schools Closed – Winter Holidays
January 2
Teacher Workday
January 3
First Day for Students after Winter Holidays
January 9
End of Third Six Weeks; End of First Semester
January 11
12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal; ½ Teacher Workday
February 20
End of Fourth 6 Weeks
February 22
12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal; ½ Teacher Workday
March 28, 29; April 1
Spring Break
April 8
End of Fifth 6 Weeks
April 9
12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal; ½ Teacher Workday
April 19
Schools Closed; Curriculum Development Day
May 21
Last Day of School; 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal
May 22
Teacher Workday
May 27
Memorial Day – Schools Closed
Parent Visitation (1:00 – 3:00, 4:30 – 7:00)
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Wythe County Public Schools is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities.
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Students hungry for learning the class participated in “tribute challenges.” Divided into two teams call districts, the two classes competed against one another through the course of the unit by collecting canned food for Agape Food Pantry and also by winning the daily trivia challenge.
Reading came alive for students in the Advanced English 10 classes at RRHS this spring when they read the bestselling novel The Hunger Games. “This is the best interact-
ive reading activity we’ve ever done,” said teacher Deanna Bradberry. In addition to reading the book, which the students did without any reluctance (no pop quizzes needed!),
Each morning, the district selected a “tribute,” or one player, who had to answer the question of the day. Somewhere within the school there was one teacher who had the answer to the question. The first tribute to return to the classroom with the correct answer won.
Questions spanned curriculum content and had real-life applications. Some were about the percentage of underfed children in the world, another asked about the Roman coliseum. Often, the book prompted engaging class discussions and allowed students to explore the book in creative, nontraditional ways. For almost every student, this book unit has been their favorite of the entire year, they said. To celebrate the end of the unit, students were treated to a private showing of the movie the week it was released in the theaters.
“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” -Anthony J. D’Angelo
Reading (cont.) Together, Barton and Martin wrote and printed more than 30 books at different reading levels about topics that are of interest to boys—trucks, mud, camping, fishing, superheroes. “The students make personal connections with the books because it’s about things they’re already familiar with,” Barton told School Board members
when presenting the project at the April board meeting. Tracking their results, the teachers found that their students spent and average of 323% more time reading these books than traditional texts. To see if the students were reading the books simply because they knew the teachers or wanted to please
them, Barton and Martin replicated the study at another elementary school as well. The results were consistent.
from fellow teachers at RRES have given Martin and Barton encouragement to sustain and expand the program.
Students who began at lower levels have already increased their fluency and vocabulary, the teachers reported.
“Any time you can get a child to keep reading and enjoy a book,” Martin said, “that’s a great thing.”
The overwhelmingly positive results and support
Check out our website at http://wythe.k12.va.us
For more info on the program contact them at ruralreading@ymail.com
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Greenhouse (cont.) The class combines hands -on learning with a little classroom work and a great networking opportunity to share strategies and new techniques. On a given night, about 2-7 people showed up at RRHS to get a head-start on their own gardens and pick up a few tips and tricks along the way.
Out at FCHS, teacher Anthony Watson said he had about the same turnout. “It’s been a learning experience,” he said. “Hopefully it will start growing each year.” Now that the program is established and in place, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Watson said they hoped to be-
gin the program sooner in the year so people can come in during the long winter months to go ahead and get started. This adult program is something they feel will help connect the community with the students and become a benefit to everyone involved.
To order plants or request more information about the programs, you may email the instructors at the school. RRHS Brian Alexander balexander@wythek12.org GWHS Jeff Fogelsong jeff.foglesong@wythek12.org FCHS Anthony Watson awatson@wythek12.org
Shout Outs!
Congratulations to Ms. Kristen Williams, guidance counselor at MMES. She has been selected as the Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Wythe County. She will receive a plaque and leadership seminar stipend to reward her for her amazing classroom accomplishments. Check out the Fall edition of The Summit to read a profile of her excellence in teaching.
Congratulations to RRES and Speedwell Elementary for receiving the Title 1 Distinguished School Award.
Autumn Vaught, a 4th grader at Spiller, placed first in the It’s All About Her publication’s Mothers’ Day essay contest.
Tatum Robinson, a 2nd grader at Spiller, wrote a winning story for the PBS Go! Writers Contest.
Speedwell Elementary for the official opening of their walking track.
All the cast and crew members at GWHS and SMMS who produced Aladdin, which was sponsored by the Foundation for Excellence.
All the students who represented WCPS well during club conferences and state finals this past month.
ALL STUDENTS IN WYTHE COUNTY FOR WORKING HARD TOWARD THE SOLs!
Have a SAFE and RELAXING summer. We look forward to seeing you next year!
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FFA trip broadens horizons A group of students had the opportunity to broaden their horizons this spring when the WCPS FFA chapters traveled together through the South.
The FFA Center where they stayed the night—complete with a swimming hole, tropical fish and live alligators— was also a highlight for the students.
On March 26, about 50 students and chaperones left their athletic rivalries in the parking lot and embarked on a trip that they’d never forget.
Getting exposed to new things and different ideas was one of the major pluses of the trip, students said.
“It was the best schoolplanned trip I’ve ever been on,” said GWHS sophomore Hunter Hagee. During the week-long trip, students learned about farming techniques in the flatlands, saw a cattle ranch that was three counties wide and picked oranges right off the trees in the grove. “You had to have a map to get around the whole farm,” Hunter said in disbelief, speaking of their trip to the 260,000-acre Deseret Ranches in Florida. Among the students, this stop seemed to be their favorite, rivaled closely by touring the gardens at Epcot in Disney World. “It was really great to go behind the scenes,” said Lindsey Henley, a sophomore and recently-elected FFA president at FCHS.
For some, it was the first time traveling out of the mountains. For Lindsey, it was the first time she’d ever swam in the ocean and tasted a cumquat.
At the Deseret Ranches
But more than a list of firsts, this trip will endure in the minds of the students forever. It made Lindsey realize the lasting impact of the lessons she’s learned while being part of FFA. “There will always be a place for agriculture in America,” she said.
Touring a packing facility
This realization affected the students differently, causing at least one student to decide to pursue agriculture and business in college. “I know this is going to be embedded in their minds for the rest of their lives,” said FCHS Agriculture teacher Anthony Watson. Representing “V”irginia proudly
The FFA chapters at FCHS, GWHS, and RRHS would like to thank Wythe County Farm Bureau for their generous donation of approximately $1,600 to help offset the cost of this trip and for all they do to promote and support the community projects of FFA.
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Education in action WHIRLED PEACE
MAY DAY MAY DAY
SOL PEP RALLY MATH AROUND THE WORLD
D-DAY MEMORIAL
ANTI-BULLYING DANCE ASSEMBLY The Summit is a publication of Wythe County Public Schools. It is published four times a year—autumn, winter, spring, and summer . All materials, including photographs and content, are copyrighted by WCPS unless otherwise noted.