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and Office Awards and Recognitions Del. Joe Bouchard from the Virginia House of Delegates visited Bayside Middle School on September 28 to officially begin the opening session of the school’s SCA. Eighth grader Courtney Griffith, current president of the SCA, presided over the meeting of class representatives and student leaders gathered to hear his remarks. After explaining the state legislative process, Bouchard discussed current issues facing the government and urged students to become active voters when they were 18 years of age. On Monday, September 14, students at Salem Middle School participated in a mini-lesson at the beginning of the school day in celebration of National Anthem Day. Background information on the history of the words and music of the National Anthem was shared with students. They also learned about the “performance code” for the National Anthem, which dictates how the piece is to be sung and/or played. The culmination of the lesson involved the entire student body being invited to stand as the Star Spangled Banner was played. Salem Middle School’s Music Department has celebrated the nation's heritage in numerous ways since 2004. Activities have included the annual commemoration of 9/11, recognition of National Anthem Day on September 14 and Constitution Day on September 17. The school's participation, through the education of its students, has earned Salem Middle the "ALL STAR SCHOOL" status as recognized by MENC, the National Association of Music Education. Salem Middle School's music department staff includes Jo Marie Larkin, band director; Laura Parker, orchestra director; and Annalee Scully, choral director. First Colonial teachers are working on many levels to incorporate 21st century skills into instruction. For example, world history and government teachers are having their students use "photostory" to encourage technology and learning about the foundations of social studies. In addition, Ryan Schubart is using a world simulation activity for the entire school year. Veronica Gency is planning to take her US History classes to Washington, D.C. to experience history first hand. Students have also been collaborating in Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow classes, English classes and science classes. In Mary Wales’ English classes, students used an Edgar Allan Poe short story as the basis for holding a trial. Susan Callahan’s physical education students will use flip cameras to demonstrate correct driving and safety techniques. There is also a great lesson in blogging involving "Read Across America" with English teacher Carrie Knoche's class in addition to a sequel lesson with students creating a map and beginning their odyssey. The concept is very creative incorporating multiple media formats and Web tools which the students will use throughout the year. Business education teacher Janet Kreider's virtual education classes have been set up as companies with an office manager while business education teacher David Frazier's VE class had the expertise of a CPA and Old Dominion University accounting intern to help them develop their company’s business plan financials. This is really getting community members to "take hold" and participate and collaborate in the education process. The Advanced Technology Center was awarded a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. The grant, Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED), is a collaborative effort among Southeastern Virginia Partnership for Regional Transportation (SEVA-PORT) partners, Opportunity Inc., and Virginia Beach City Public Schools. This $15,000 grant will fund 14 work-based experiences for students in the ATC engineering and manufacturing strand to work up to 98 hours and be paid $10.00 an hour. Congratulations to the Patrick Mackey, Brandon Middle School SCA advisor and student activities coordinator and the Brandon SCA for a community service project called "Fill It Up". This project was started to send care packages to the U.S. military men and women stationed in Afghanistan. The Brandon SCA collected over 1,000 items to be sent overseas. In addition over 250 pen pal letters will also be sent to U.S. soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. Arrowhead Elementary School announces a new initiative, Arrowhead University, comprising interest-based learning clubs for fourth- and fifth-grade students. Arrowhead University has taken place every Thursday in October, from 2:45-3:30 p.m. Students had an opportunity to select five weeks of "class" based on their interests and passions with the objective being to have fun while learning! Course offerings included paper maché, hand sewing, dance, Japanese, chess, running, reader's theater, board games and scrapbooking. Over 80 students chose to participate! Teachers and parents designed their own topics and curriculum and volunteered their time to teach the classes. Individual
Awards and Recognition Kathryn Rountree, a fourth-grade teacher at New Castle Elementary, was chosen Reading Teacher of the Year for the 2009-2010 school year. Congratulations! Congratulations to Pat Konopnicki, director of the office of technical and career education, on being invited by the NASDCTE (National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education) to speak at a luncheon on September 16 in Washington on ways to develop TCE opportunities in STEM (science, technology, electronics, math) fields and the new green economy. Konopnicki stressed that partnerships are key and he urged CTE to partner with their city’s economic development board as he has done in Virginia Beach. He also pointed out that CTE provides the basis for STEM jobs, and, as such, Governor Kaine has established the Governor’s Career and Technical Academies which focus on STEM. He pointed out also that VBCPS has incorporated sustainability into its strategic plan, requiring that students learn sustainability skills. Congratulations to First Colonial High School library media specialists Jennifer Kelly and Mary Vartabedian for each winning $1,000 to attend The American Association of School Librarians’ 14th National Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, November 5-8. "The AASL 14th National Conference & Exhibition, "Rev up learning @ your library," is the only national conference dedicated solely to the needs of school library media specialists and their roles as educational leaders." John Merritt, a Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow (VTfT) teacher at Kellam High School hosted children's book author Sam Caraballo who spoke to his VTfT classes on October 20th as part of a unit on "Barriers to Learning." Students learned about factors that hinder students' learning processes such as being an English Language Learner (ELL). As a former ELL student himself, Caraballo discussed the characteristics of ELL students and taught the VTfT students about the importance of sensitivity and best practices in working with them. As a culminating activity, the students created their own children's book involving a child overcoming a barrier. Julie Brown, sixth-grade math teacher, was selected as the first teacher of the month for the 2009-2010 school year at Plaza Middle School. Salem High School congratulates social studies teacher Lisa Rodenbaugh who was named Teacher of the Month for September. Congratulations to Amy Giampaolo, fifth-grade teacher at Luxford Elementary, on having been selected to take part in the "Shaping America's Identity and Legacy”, a professional development initiative that is part of the Teaching American History Grant awarded to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She will take part in several History Days, attend a Summer Academy with trips to several historical places in Virginia, take part in an independent study of two historical texts, and collaborate on an online discussion board. Congratulations to Red Mill Elementary School's guidance counselor Marilyn Draughon. She has been awarded the statewide Virginia Counselors’ Associations Humanitarian and Caring Person of the Year Award. Draughon well deserves this recognition for the positive messages that she shares at Red Mill Elementary as well as across the city and state. Congratulations to reading specialist Virginia McLaughlin on being selected as Plaza Middle School's Reading Teacher of the Year. Green Run Elementary would like to congratulate fourth-grade teacher Marti Crutcher on being named the Reading Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to third-grade reading teacher Stephanie Trzeciakiewicz, Pembroke Meadows' Reading Teacher of the Year for 2010. She has been teaching at PMES for five years. Thalia Elementary School named Vickie Fleming Reading Teacher of the Year. She is a 22-year VBCPS veteran teacher and has taught second-grade at Thalia for the past 11 years. |