WCPSS Good News
Goal 2008: WCPSS is committed to academic excellence. By 2008, 95 percent of students in grades 3 through 12 will be at or above grade level as measured by the State of North Carolina End-of-Grade or Course tests, and all student groups will demonstrate high growth.November 17, 2005
WEST MILLBROOK TEACHER NAMED MILKEN EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Aimee Niebaur was surprised when state Superintendent of Education June
Atkinson called her to come forward at a West Millbrook school assembly.
To the cheers and applause of teachers and students, Dr. Atkinson announced
that Niebaur was a 2005 Milken National Educator. Niebauer is among 100
teachers in the U.S. this year to receive the Milken Family Foundation National
Educator Award, which carries with it an unrestricted financial award of
$25,000, membership in a network of over 2,100 past award winners and an
all-expense paid trip to the annual Milken conference in Washington, DC.
Niebauer was the only NC educator to receive the award this year.
BB&T ECONOMIC EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
A Leesville Road High teacher was named the state's first BB&T Economic
Educator of the Year. Susan Stewart Taylor, social studies teacher, earned
the top honor and a $5,000 cash award for her work in helping her Civics
and Economics students learn and apply economic concepts to their daily
lives. Taylor had her students participate in a "Standard of Living"
activity in which each student was assigned a job, received a monthly income
and had to create a realistic budget. Taylor was presented the award during
ceremonies in Raleigh Nov. 9. The awards program is designed to bolster
economic education in the state and to recognize teachers for excellence
in helping high school students understand and apply economic principles.
MARTIN MIDDLE TEACHER RECEIVES STATE AWARD
Judy M. Dove, drama teacher at Martin Middle School, was presented with
the 2005 North Carolina Theatre Conference K-12 Theatre Educator's Award
at the state conference in Greensboro on Nov. 5. Dove is a 28-year teaching
veteran and has taught theatre arts at Martin Middle for 14 years.
MORE THAN 6,000 WALK TO CURE DIABETES
More than 6,000 people took part in the 2005 Walk to Cure Diabetes raising
$675,000 with more money coming in. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
sponsors the annual walk and this year asked Superintendent Bill McNeal
to serve as the Corporate Recruitment Chair. WCPSS responded raising $67,000
to date and being recognized as one of the Top Five Corporate teams. The
WCPSS goal was $50,000. The Top Five Corporate Teams were Wake County Public
School System, Cisco Systems, Inc., BD Technologies, Nortel and Bayer CropScience.
Awards will be presented at JDRF's Walk Awards & Appreciation Reception
to be held on Jan. 10 at the Sheraton Imperial, RTP. The deadline for turning
in Walk money for prizes and award eligibility is Nov.30.
ATHENS DRIVE RUNNER WINS STATE TITLE
Athens Drive High cross country runner Callen Fike won the individual NCHSAA
4-A State Title with a time of 18:53:84. Fike also had the best time of
any classification in the state. The Athens Drive Women's Cross Country
team placed fourth at state meet with a time of 162:5. This was the first
time in Athens history that the girl's cross country team made it to the
state championship. The team includes Caroline Briggs, Jessica Stewart,
Christy Zapco, Callan Fike, Lisa Simorelli, Molly Fike, and Emily Love.
SANDERSON CHEERLEADERS WIN TOP STATE HONORS
The cheerleading squad from Sanderson High captured top honors in the super
varsity division and took the inaugural Carolina Cup. Cheer Ltd., Inc.,
one of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's corporate partners
that assists with the invitational championship, established the Carolina
Cup to recognize the top high school varsity cheerleading team in the state.
Sanderson won the Cup for earning the highest cumulative score in the whole
competition among varsity teams, regardless of the division in which it
competes. Sanderson won the honor in the third annual NCHSAA invitational
cheerleading championships at Reynolds Coliseum.
SALEM MIDDLE COLLECTS BOOKS FOR GULF COAST SCHOOL
More than 5,500 books have been collected by students of Salem Middle School
to send to a Mississippi school destroyed in the hurricane. Salem principal
Matt Wight talked with the principal of Pass Christian Middle School he
found they needed books for the school library and classroom libraries.
Salem students have been collecting gently used books and buying new ones.
It gives the Salem students a chance to help students in Pass Christian,
which was a town of 6,000 just 13 miles west of Gulfport. The school will
continue to accept public donations through Thanksgiving. For more information,
contact Salem Middle at 363-1870.
FUQUAY VARINA HIGH PRESENTS MACBETH
Fuquay Varina High School's Theatre Arts presents Macbeth at 7p.m. on Thursday,
Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 19 and at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20 (Friday evenings
performance is cancelled). Tickets are $6 - available at the door.
LIGON ORCHESTRA TO PLAY CARNEGIE HALL
Students of Ligon Middle's Silver Strings orchestra directed by Ruth Johnsen
will travel to New York this month to present a World Premiere of new music
by British Composer Roy Marks. The students will perform at Carnegie Hall
on Nov. 25.
WAKE FOREST ROLESVILLE STUDENTS PERFORM
The Wake Forest-Rolesville High Orchestra under the direction of Jeremy
Gibbs gave an outstanding performance at the NC Music Educators Annual Conference
on Nov. 14. It is an honor for schools to be selected to perform before
the association of the state's music educators. The association's mission
is to promote music as a fundamental component of education and to provide
opportunities for lifelong learning by supporting teachers, students and
communities in developing and fostering excellence in music.
LUFKIN BAND PLAYS TURNER CREEK
Lufkin Road Middle School band students played at the Turner Creek Elementary
Fall Festival recently. It was a special day for many of those present.
For Jan Hargrove, Turner Creek Elementary principal and former Lufkin band
parent, it was a day of memories. For the sixth graders, it was a day of
firsts. Leigh Anne Simmons, band director, said, "It was their first
ever performance. They loved it!" For seventh graders, it was a day
of leadership as they stepped into new roles. For Dr. Jim Palermo, principal
of Lufkin Road, it was a day of pure pleasure as he played his tuba right
along with the band.
RAND ROAD STUDENTS VISIT THE CARIBBEAN
Students at Rand Road Elementary spent the month of October studying the
islands of the Caribbean. In classrooms, students learned about the island's
people, culture and customs. In art, students decorated shirts in bright
colors. In music, students sang about the Caribbean and learned about the
steel drums, limbo, conga lines and syncopated rhythms. In PE, students
learned and played different games and sports that are part of the island
culture. The children enjoyed visits by the Appalachian State University
Steely Pan Band and by Ellie Mannette who is known as the father of the
steel drum.
NOV 14-18 INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK
International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Dept. of
Education and the U.S. Dept. of State. This year's theme is "International
Education: Improving Student Achievement Around the World." WCPSS has
a number of international connections such as the International Baccalaureate
program, international exchange programs and teachers who were recruited
into schools through the Visiting International Faculty program. The U.S.
Dept. of Education encourages schools to visit the Web at http://iew.state.gov
for further information about the event and how students and schools can
participate.
WCPSS Good News is published electronically every other week for everyone interested in the Wake County Public School System. Is what you read in this edition helpful? What information would you like to see in future editions? Contact me by calling 850-1829 or e-mailing bposton@wcpss.net.
Bill Poston
Wake County Public School System
Communications Department
3600 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
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