Good News
April 24 , 2007 |
TWO WCPSS STUDENTS NAMED 2007 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS
Two students of the Wake County Public School System have been named as 2007 Merit Scholarship winners. Xiaofan Fei of Apex High School and Anusuya M. Ramasubramanian of Enloe High received 2007 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships.
Fei earned a National Merit BASF Corporation Scholarship from BASF Corporation. BASF is a Fortune 100 Company that is the North American arm of BASF Group, one of the world’s oldest and largest chemical companies.
Ramasubramanian earned a National Merit George Watts Hill Scholarship from the Research Triangle Institute which sponsors a scholarship for children of its employees. The awards are in honor of George Watts Hill who was chairman of the Board for RTI from 1958 to 1993.
These scholars were selected from finalists in the 2007 National merit Scholarship Program who meet the criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate organizations generally provide Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who are children of their employees, residents of communities the company serves, or have plans to pursue majors or careers the grantor wishes to encourage.
Most of the corporate-sponsored scholarships are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000.
WCPSS STUDENTS COMPETE FOR SPOTS ON U.S. MATH TEAM
Four WCPSS students are among more than 500 high school students in the running to represent the U.S. in the 2007 International Math Olympiad in Vietnam. The WCPSS students include Yakov Berchenko-Kogan of Broughton High and three Enloe High students: Vivek Bhattacharya, Mikhail Lavro and Daniel Vitek. From the top 12 students in a qualifying exam, six students and two alternates will be chosen to join the U.S. team in the international competition.
WCPSS SCHOOLS EARN HONORS AT STATE ODYSSEY OF THE MIND
Five WCPSS schools have earned the chance to compete in the World Finals of the 2007 Odyssey of the Mind. Teams of students compete in problem-solving activities and skits.
Three WCPSS Elementary school teams won at the Eastern Regional competition, giving them the chance to advance to the world finals. The WCPSS teams include the B team from Morrisville Elementary on the “Tag’em” problem; the Davis Drive Elementary team on the “Large and Small of It” problem; and the B team from Morrisville Elementary on the “Out of the Box Balsa” problem.
Team A from Wakefield Middle School and the Southeast Raleigh High team won for the “I’m Only Thinking of You” problem.
The squads are now raising money to be able to travel to Michigan State University in East Lansing for the world finals on May 23-26.
WCPSS STUDENTS EARN HONORS AT NC SCIENCE FAIR
A team of students from Enloe High earned first place for team projects at the 2007 NC Science Fair held at Meredith College last month. The Enloe team included Anusuya Meenakshi Ramasubramanian, Hung-Bing Tan and Benjamin C. Wang. Their project was on “Non-Classical Wetting Properties of Various Liquids on Carbon Nanotube Substrates.” Each member of the team earned a plaque and $75 award for their first place team finish, as well as earning the fair’s US Army Award and Ohio Wesleyan University Scholarship.
In the elementary school competition, Combs Elementary student Olivia Anne Williams earned a plaque and $50 award with exemplary recognition for her project, “Does the Middle or Edge of the Pond have more Microorganisms.” Washington Elementary student Zackry Russell McElroy earned a medallion with an honorable mention for his project “Don’t Trash It.”
EAST MILLBROOK STUDENT WINS ESSAY COMPETITION
East Millbrook Middle School student Nyiesha Anderson was chosen as one of six national First Prize winners in Major League Baseball's "Breaking Barriers" essay contest, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game in major league baseball. Anderson won a laptop computer and a visit to her school from Sharon Robinson, Jackie Robinson's daughter. Robinson is the author of several books for young readers, including Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America (2004) and her newest book, Safe at Home (Scholastic, 2006), a novel. Robinson spoke to East Millbrook sixth grade students April 24 about her life and her experiences with 'breaking barriers.'
EAST MILLBROOK STUDENTS TAKE PART IN MSEN DAY
Nine NC-MSEN (Math, Science, Engineering Network) Pre-College students from East Millbrook Middle took part in the MSEN Day at UNC-Charlotte on April 21. All Students had to qualify by placing in their event at a mini run-off earlier in the month in order to represent NCSU at the State Competition. The East Millbrook state winners were: Devin Faison who earned Gold in Algebra I; Kalila Walker who earned Silver in Pre-Algebra; Jamela Pittman and Lauren Moore who both earned Silver in Science 8th Grade; Terrell McIver and Jamison Carrigan who both earned Gold in Mystery Architect; Makeda Bell who earned Bronze in Oratorical; Quianna Halle and Halle Shurland who both earned Gold in Write-It, Do-It.
STUDENTS RECEIVE HISTORY AWARDS
On Monday, April 16, 21 WCPSS juniors and seniors representing 20 high schools were presented awards as the Outstanding Student in American History at their respective schools. This event took place at the Woodmen of the World Lodge meeting in New Hill, NC. Each student was presented a personally engraved plaque, a monetary gift card, certificate and letter of award. These awards are given each spring but this is the first year that 20 schools have chosen students for this recognition. They were presented their awards by Melinda Stephani, WCPSS Senior Administrator for Social Studies.
The students are Evangeline Arulraja of Apex High; Matthew Hunt of Athens Drive High; David Bellard of Broughton High; Jonathan David Orton of Cary High; Jacob Smith of East Wake High; Ridwaana Allen of East Wake School of Health Science; Jeremy Liles of East Wake School of Integrated Technology; Landice Ruffin and Diane Collopy of Enloe High; Anna Powell of Fuquay-Varina High; Jeremy Leonard of Garner High; James Clise of Green Hope High; Matthew Williams of Knightdale High; Wyatt Bruton of Leesville Road High; Dillon Redding of Middle Creek High; Malcolm Taylor Kennedy of Millbrook High; Monique Pipkin of Phillips High; Scott Dobner of Sanderson High; Glenn McLaurin of Southeast Raleigh High; Scott Akerman of Wakefield High and Shelbie Fesperman of Wake Forest/Rolesville High
2007-08 TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS NAMED
WCPSS has named 10 finalists for the Wake County Public School System's 2007-08 Teacher of the Year. A reception honoring the 20 semi-finalists was held Thursday, April 12, at the North Carolina Bar Association, where the 10 finalists were named.
The finalists include:
Paige Elliott, Fuquay-Varina High
Stephen Elrod, Wake Forest Elementary
Katie Ewing, Sanderson High
Peggy DeBruhl, Garner High
Tracy Donohue, Powell Elementary
Kimberly Harrison, Knightdale High
Jaime Mousty, Poe Montessori Magnet School
Maria Olds, Apex Elementary
Sonia Solomon, Forestville Road Elementary
Kathy Snapp, Green Hope High
These teachers developed portfolios with the following content: professional background; educational history; professional development activities; community involvement; philosophy of teaching; education issues and trends; and letters of support. Ten selection committees reviewed the portfolios and narrowed the field to twenty semifinalists who were then observed in their classrooms by the selection committees. Each selection committee chose one teacher to be among the ten finalists.
The selection committee will review the finalists and name one of them the 2007-08 Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Del Burns will announce the Teacher of the Year at a banquet on Thursday, May 17 at the Embassy Suites in Cary.
The WCPSS Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by Wachovia.
ENLOE HIGH PRINCIPAL INDUCTED INTO CANADIAN HALL OF FAME
Enloe High Principal Beth Cochran was inducted into the Manitoba Sport Hall of Fame in the first Annual Regional Induction Ceremonies held April 21 in the UCT Pavilion at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. Cochran, a basketball standout in high school and college was inducted along with Canadian athletes who participated in basketball, curling and hockey
Cochran was a star at Hamiota High in Manitoba and a five-year starting center at the University of Winnipeg. She went on to play on the Canadian National team from 1982 to 1988. Cochran's list of accomplishments, as a university athlete, is astounding. Along with countless tournament all-stars throughout her five years, Cochran was a GPAC All-Star, CIAU All-Canadian, and a CIAU Tournament All-Star in all five of her years of university eligibility. She was the GPAC Player of the Year in all five of her years of university eligibility. She was the GPAC Player of the Year in 1984, 86 and 87 and the University of Winnipeg team captain from 1985 - 1987.
In1996, Cochran was inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame. More information is available at http://www.basketballmanitoba.ca/
EAST GARNER EDUCATOR RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL SAVE ADVISOR OF THE YEAR
East Garner Middle School bookkeeper Diane Fish, who is one of the school’s SAVE advisors,
has been named National SAVE Advisor of the Year by the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE).
The 2006-2007 National SAVE Advisor of the Year Award was presented to Fish for outstanding performance and lasting contributions to the school, community, and students and for exemplifying the ideals of SAVE. Fish received the award at the 11th Annual SAVE Summit. The SAVE Summit concluded National Youth Violence Prevention Week across the country.
Fish was nominated for this prestigious award by her students and other advisors at East Garner Middle School. She competed against advisors from across the country.
During her tenure as SAVE Advisor of the Year, Fish will serve on the National Association of SAVE Board of Directors. Her hands-on work and knowledge with SAVE will be a valuable asset for the Board of Directors.
VIF NAMES STEPHEN MARES NC PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Daniels Middle School principal Stephen Mares has been named North Carolina Principal of the Year by the Visiting International Faculty Program for excellence in providing students an international education to prepare a new generation for success in the global economy.
Daniels Middle School offers the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme and currently has five VIF teachers. Since 2001, Daniels has had nine VIF teachers. .
The current VIF teachers describe Mares as a hard-working, caring educator who truly strives for the success of every child. Mares says international-exchange teachers “add to the flavor of our school” and “provide a cultural element that allows for differences to be bridged so we can learn from each other.”
The Visiting International Faculty Program is the largest international-exchange program linking U.S. schools and teachers worldwide. The VIF Program is sponsoring 33 international teachers in the Wake County Public School System and about 900 in North Carolina this year, providing schools highly qualified teachers to give students a world-class education.
More information about the Visiting International Faculty Program can be found at www.vifprogram.com
LYNN ROAD HAS ADOPTED A FISH PHILOSOPHY
Lynn Road Elementary is using a fishy philosophy to help students and staff as the school undergoes renovation. In the cafeteria, fish have been posted recognizing students for receiving rewards for good classwork, good deeds, and other positive traits. The reward system is based on the "Fish Philosophy" from Steve Lundin’s management parables taken from Seattle’s Pike Place Market.
Each grade level has a cafeteria window to display the number of fish awards it wins each month. When renovations began, a big ugly wall was constructed in place of the beautiful windows where these fish had been displayed. A Teacher Assistant spoke to the construction foreman. The wall was painted blue and the teacher assistant is getting others involved. Now each student will paint their own individual and autographed fish on the wall. The school’s art teacher is finding ways to integrate the task into the curriculum and have the 4th and 5th graders design the remainder of the scenery for the ocean. Assistant Principal Denise Drawbaugh says the wall will be there until October, exemplifying how the staff made lemonade out of lemons, strengthening the school’s Positive Behavior incentives.
FARMINGTON WOODS STUDENTS WALK MILES FOR SMILES
Farmington Woods’ began an Action Project on Feb. 12, called “Miles for Smiles”. The idea was introduced by second-grader Alexander Lytle, who was interested in “Operation Smile” because he liked the idea of “helping children who couldn’t smile.”
“Operation Smile” is a non profit organization that provides surgery for children with correctable facial deformities, such as cleft lips, cleft palate, tumors and burns. Since 1982, surgeries have been provided for free to more than 100,000 children and young adults around the world. It takes about 45 minutes for a team of doctors to repair a cleft lip. The cost of surgery for one child is $240.00 to cover the cost of materials.
The goal at Farmington Woods was for the children to help at least one child get a new smile in this New Year, and to feel that they have helped a child. As of April 17, students have run a total of 4,049.21 miles or 154.55 marathons, and have collected $2,578.55. The project served as a wonderful physical activity for the children and a fund raiser for “Operation Smile”.
LINCOLN HEIGHTS HOLDS 2007 TIGER TROT
The 2007 Tiger Trot held by Lincoln Heights Elementary School will be 4 p.m., Sunday, April 29 at the school located at 307 Bridge Street in Fuquay-Varina. The day includes a 5K run, one mile family fun run and one-eighth mile Teeny Tiger Trot.
In the Tiger Trot 5K, there will be gift certificates awarded to top finishers in different age groups. Persons interested in participating can register online at www.active.com, at the school and on the day of the race starting at 2 p.m. There is an entry fee of $20 through April 28 and $25 on the day of the race.
The school has raised over $30,000 in recent years with this event. The school used revenue from the event to fund a Healthy Living teacher for two days a week this school year.
For more information about the Tiger Trot, contact Lincoln Heights principal Jackie Jordan at 557-2585.
CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP HOLDS 2007 ANNUAL EDUCATION SUMMIT
The Closing the Achievement Gap 2007 Annual Education Summit is for middle and high school students, parents, and concerned citizens and is sponsored by the Harriet B. Webster Task Force for Student Success. The Summit will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2007 from 8:00-1:00 at Southeast Raleigh High School. A continental breakfast and lunch are provided. There will be parent and student workshops, motivational speakers, and additional organizations presenting.
EDUCATION EXCHANGE LOOKS AT SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION COSTS
The Wake Education Partnership is holding an Education Exchange discussion on school construction costs 7 p.m., May 9 at the Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine Street in Holly Springs. This meeting is free and open to the public and will provide Wake County citizens an opportunity to learn more about school construction and how costs in Wake County compare to districts around the country.
The meeting will discuss data from the Wake County Citizens' Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) consultants on cost of school facilities and construction in Wake County compared to its peer districts around the state and the country. Jeff Merritt, a member of the Wake Ed Board of Directors, will facilitate the meeting. Presenters will be Rob Weaver, a member of the CFAC, and Mike Burriss, WCPSS assistant superintendent for facilities. Presentations will be followed by time for Q&A and discussion with participants.