Good News
August 28, 2007 |
STUDENTS PREPARE TO PERFORM LES MIS AT MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM
More than 70 students from 22 Wake County Public schools are completing several weeks of full day practices to prepare for the Broadway Series South production of the student performance of Les Mis Sept 28 and 29 at Memorial Auditorium.
“Les Mis is a classic piece of French literature that has been made into a musical, one of the longest running shows on Broadway,” said Elizabeth Grimes-Droessler, WCPSS Senior Director for Arts Education. “Because of the scale of this show, it’s something they would probably never tackle at their own high school. Bringing together a production from all over the school system, students get to participate in a show that is really at the Broadway level.”
The WCPSS students have the opportunity to prepare for the show with the help of
Broadway stars Lauren Kennedy and Terrence Mann.
Les Mis tells the stories of paroled convict Jean Valjean who, failing attempts to find work as an honest man with his yellow parole note, breaks parole and conceals his identity in order to live his life again; the police inspector Javert, who becomes obsessed with finding Valjean; Cosette, who is orphaned and then raised by Valjean; and Enjolras and other students, who are working toward freeing the oppressed lower class of France.
The student production includes a cast of students, an orchestra of students and students working on some of the behind the scenes task. Grimes-Droessler says the students will strengthen their acting skills and benefit academically by working in the show.
Students say they appreciate the opportunity to work with Broadway talents in a large auditorium helping them to build their resumes as they prepare for college and futures on stage.
STUDENTS LEARN TO DRIBBLE INTO FITNESS
A group of students at Baucom Elementary and 13 other elementary schools will be taking part in WCPSS Networks Basketball Clubs this school year.
“Students can choose to participate in a fun program that features fitness and exercise through basketball ball handling drills and helps them build good character. This is a win-win combination for all!” said Ann Hulslander Dishong, WCPSS Senior Administrator for K-12 Healthful Living who encourages student participation in fitness and physical education. “This opportunity is one of the many ways students are encouraged to be active. The Networks program teaches students the critical elements associated with basketball while providing skills that can be used throughout their lifetime.”
The WCPSS Networks Basketball program teaches individual excellence in basketball and life. Students in grades four and five at Baucom participated in the program last year where they learned connections between basketball skills and character education.
During the 2007-08 school year there will be 14 elementary schools with Networks Basketball clubs. These clubs are comprised of no more than 50 students from grades 3-5 in a before or after school setting (determined by school). A member of the NetWorks Basketball staff conducts training for all participants of the club one day a week. The instruction builds upon character education through dribbling and other ball handling skills. The club performs at least three showcases for various school, parent, and community groups during the school year.
WCPSS partners with NetWorks, a non-profit organization, in offering the clubs which are dedicated to helping each student realize their individual basketball potential by encouraging a belief in personal responsibility, instilling habits of hard work and demonstrating a passionate commitment to excellence.
The WCPSS Character Education program is built on the characteristics of courage, self-discipline, perseverance, integrity, respect, responsibility, kindness and good judgment.
HIGH SCHOOL LUNCHES GET A FACELIFT
High school lunch menus are getting a facelift to encourage students to eat more fruits and vegetables.
“Habits are developed in the teen years that can affect us for a lifetime,” said WCPSS Nutritionist Jill Hively. “High school students need to set patterns of good behavior now that pay off for life. Eating nutritious food, controlling portion sizes and getting plenty of exercise are important habits to learn.”
WCPSS Child Nutrition Services have helped high schools retool their lunch rooms to have the same offerings on all serving lines, replacing the stations for different food choices that most high schools had last year.
“Students at Southeast Raleigh High are eating more fruits and vegetables now,” said Hively. “Students still have many of the same food choices, but in offering a larger variety of entrée options for the $2.00 Meal Deal on each serving line they can also add fruits and vegetables at no cost to an entrée. Today the choices included apples, pineapple, or oriental vegetables to go with pizza.”
Popular items are now offered as part of a $2.00 Meal Deal which includes an entree and up to three sides with milk. High schools will serve items formerly only sold as a la carte items like chicken sandwiches, burgers and pizza as Meal Deal entrees.
The teen years seem to be synonymous with erratic eating habits while it’s also a time of rapid growth and development that makes healthy habits more important. By creating a high school menu separate from the elementary and middle school menu, WCPSS Child Nutrition Services is better able to meet the calorie and nutrient needs of a high school student.
HOLLY SPRINGS HIGH PUBLICATIONS EARN AWARDS
Holly Springs High principal Luther Johnson was excited about the first year school’s efforts earning national and state awards for its yearbook and school newspaper. The Aerie, the school’s yearbook, was a silver medalists earning a National Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The school’s publications earned more state-level awards than any other WCPSS high school. The Aerie and the Hawkeye, the school’s student newspaper, were honored by the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association in a state-wide competition in the small schools division for schools with under 1,000 students.
Newspaper: Hawkeye
Honor Newspaper (overall)
Honorable Mention - Advertising
Honorable Mention -- Kathryn Watson - General Column Writing
1st Place-- David Schermbeck -- Editorial Leadership
1st Place -- Kathryn Watson -- Newspaper Design
3rd Place -- Kyle Schermbeck -- Feature Writing
Yearbook: Aerie
All North Carolina Yearbook (overall)
1st Place -- Photography
2nd Place -- Cover Design
2nd place -- Theme
2nd place -- Layout
2nd place -- Copy Writing
3rd place -- Coverage
Robin Ann Apicella is the school’s yearbook adviser and Jenni Hall-Lewis is the newspaper adviser.
CONGRATULATIONS TO 2007 GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL GRADS
The Wake County Public School System had 63 students complete Governor’s School this summer including 35 students at Governor's School East at Meredith College in Raleigh.and 28 students at Governor's School West at Salem College in Winston-Salem. The Governor's School of North Carolina is a six-week summer residential program for intellectually gifted high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses.
At Governor’s School East, Keri E Majikes and Mallory G. Nickel were in art; Emma G. Cain, Lilly Y. Liu, Haley R. Marsh and Colleen E. Volz were in dance; Robert S. Cassell, Julian R. Hester, Rachel E. Jones, Sarah C. Price and Alaine N. Wagner were in drama; Brittany E. Bailey, Rebekah L. Bray, Anne Claire Niver, Natalie A. Reed, Lindsay M. Register and Sarah R. Tueting were in choral music; Brittain N. Allison, Evan D. Atherton, Monica R. Burgin, Kevin J. Burson, Anna K. Fitzgerald, Mary B. Goodnight, Lawrence N. Grossfield, Andrew J. Park, Melanie N. Roush, Patrick J. Short and Joseph R. Truxal were in instrumental music; Erin M. Connors, Lawrence Crosby and Maria A. Hernandez were in French; Christopher R. Freeze, Timothy R. Palpant and Mark. A. Skvara were in natural science; and Adit Shukla was in social science.
At Governor’s School West, Tristan N. Bailey, Amelia C. Farmer, Chelsea B. Flanagan, Barbara R. Gibbs, Yuen Ho, Rachel A. Lyman, Alexandria B. Nystrom and Kelsey A. Werder were in dance; Maggie T. Mial was in drama; Ryan L. Chavis, Alonzo A. Satawhite and William H. Thomason were in choral music; Taylor F. Allison, Lisa L. Chen, Maria E. Fischer, Lydia Yinae Kim, Robert C. Lam, Declan C. O’Flaherty, Carolina L. Perez, Alyson M Quigley and Margaret A. Unger were in instrumental music; Nicholas C. H. Hayden and Storm B. Stuart were in English; Jeeho Kim and Eason Lee were in math; Connie C. Wang and Michael A. Wright were in natural science; and Kevin M. Mulhern was in social science.
The Governor's School is the oldest statewide summer residential program for academically or intellectually gifted high school students in the nation. The program, which is open to rising seniors only, with exceptions made for rising juniors in the performing/visual arts area. You can find more information about the Governor’s School at http://www.ncgovschool.org/nomination/.
KNIGHTDALE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR EARNS CERTIFICATION
Knightdale High School Athletic Director Guy Blough has completed the process to earn the title of "Certified Athletic Administrator" (CAA). This certification process is administered through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and identifies those directors nationally who demonstrate a certifiable level of both experience and expertise in the administration of interscholastic athletics.
WCPSS Senior Administrator for Athletics/Driver Education Bobby Guthrie, who described the certification process at the August 21 board meeting, offered his congratulations to Blough. “I know the hard work that you put into this,” said Guthrie. “We are excited that teachers/athletic administrators are looking to continue to grow in knowledge and experience.”