The Link:A Publication of the Carroll County Public Schools *Volume 9, Number 1* www.carroll.kyschools.us * August 2009

Carroll County Schools813 Hawkins StreetCarrollton, KY 41008Phone: (502) 732-7070Fax: (502) 732-7073www.carroll.kyschools.us

ConnectingCarroll County Schools withFamily and Community

Bulk RateUS PostagePaidPermit No. 61Carrollton, KY

Calendar4th & 6th GradeJump StartJuly 27-31, 8-12

CCMS Orientation,July 28, 6:00-7:30p.m.CCMS

KindergartenJump StartJuly 28 or 29, 8-12

Ready FairAugust 3, 4-6 p.m.Winn Primary

Freshman Orientation,August 3,9 a.m.-3 p.m.CCHS$10, includes lunch,T-shirt & moreParent Session 2-3

Cartmell OpenHouseAugust 4, 6:00-7:30Cartmell

School to Starton August 6th

For questions or comments aboutThe Link, contact Jeffery Fremin at(502) 732-7080 or e-mail a messageto jeff.fremin@carroll.kyschools.us

A Champion

for Kids

Schools Are Back in ActionNew Facilities: Below, Dwayne Smith,director of maintenance, buildings, andgrounds, attaches new stalls, in the newlyrenovated rest rooms at Carroll County MiddleSchool.

Science is Fun: Using Bernoulli’s Principle, youth at the 21st Century LearningCenter summer camp, were able to fill the long plastic tubes with one breath.

Stage Combat: Youth attending the FamilyResource Center Day Camp in June learnedsome of the fundamentals of stage combatthrough the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival.

On the Road: Members of the Carroll County High School Steel Drum Bandentertain for Carroll County Schools on the Road, which was held at the EnglishFirst Baptist Church on July 20 and the Ghent Fire Station in Ghent on July 21.

Superintendent’s Greeting

Lisa James,Carroll County

SchoolsSuperintendent

Carroll County Schools Contact List

2

Board of Education

Mona Kindoll, Chair, District 2 Rep......(502) 732-4021Jennifer Beach, Vice-Chair, District 3 Rep....(502) 347-5736Tommy Unker, District 1 Representative.....(502) 732-6233Rob Riley, District 4 Representative..........(502) 732-4255Mary Ann Pearson, District 5 Representative.....(502) 732-9380

Central Office(502) 732-7070

Lisa James, SuperintendentBill Hogan, Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic OfficerLarry Curell, Chief Operations Officer/Director of Pupil PersonnelPam Williams, Elementary Instructional SupervisorSheila Anderson, Director of Exceptional Children, Migrant & ESLJon Conrad, Chief Financial Officer

Other District Programs21st Century Learning Center, Misty Wheeler.(502) 732-6834Family Ties Resource Center, Robin Huesman..(502) 732-7008Food Service, Patti Burgess...............................(502) 732-9362Grant Writing/Public Relations, Jeff Fremin(502) 732-7080 x302Head Start, Pam McNeal.................................(502) 732-7016Maintenance, Buildings & Grounds, Dwayne Smith(502) 732-7104Migrant/ESL, Betty Stark...........................(502) 732-7002Youth Services Center, Tracy Reynolds...........(502) 732-9272School Nurse, Glenda Liter................................(502) 732-7090School Psychologist, Julie Truckenmiller.......(502) 732-7070Technology, Cindy Johann.................................(502) 732-7105Transportation, Nadena MaHoney....................(502) 732-7099

Scenes from Summer Camps

Hands-on Learning: Above, a student explores the components of a computer by getting todisassemble one as part of Camp Invention at Cartmell Elementary School July 13-17.

New Experiences: Below and at right,students who attended the Family Ties Re-source Center Summer Camp visited theCincinnati Children’s Museum, toured theLouisville Science Center, attended plays, andparticipated in dance and drama activitiesduring the week of June 15-19.

We are gearing up forschool, and soon we will bemoving at full speed. In fact,many staff members and studentshaven’t stopped this summer.We’ve offered different opportu-nities for student learning andenrichment in June and July,thanks to a generous grant fromthe Kentuckians EncouragingYouth to Succeed (KEYS)Program. Also, we are alreadymaking preparations for the majorconstruction and renovation atCartmell Elementary, which is setto start this winter. It’s anexciting and challenging time.

The reality of our world isthat it keeps moving even whenschool is not in session, and theeconomic realities of a globalizedsociety require that we alldevelop the skills necessary notjust to survive, but to thrive, inthe 21st Century.

Dr.Yong Zhao, DistinguishedProfessor of Education, atMichigan State University, spoketo our teachers from Chinathrough video conferencing atthe beginning of our professionaldevelopment training in technol-ogy last week. He pointed outthat China, in many ways, istrying to be more like America,and that to avoid falling behind

China, we should not lose focuson our strengths, such ascreativity and innovation, whichare among several importantskills needed in a globalizedeconomy.

As I’ve said before, we wantour kids to be champions at life.To do so requires that theyacquire 21st Century LearningSkills.

The three main areas offocus include the following: (1)mastery of core subjects,including financial, civic, andhealth literacy, along with globalawareness; (2) learning andinnovation skills, such as criticalthinking, problem solving,communication, and collabora-tion; and (3) information, media,and technology skills. For moreinformation on how your childcan become a champion of 21stCentury Learning Skills, checkout www.21stcenturyskills.org.

Help your child become achampion of 21st CenturyLearning Skills.

Kathryn Winn Primary School

907 Hawkins StreetCarrollton, KY 41008Phone: (502) 732-7090 Fax: (502) 732-7091Sharon Haun, PrincipalMegan Morris, Assistant PrincipalKelly Massie, Guidance CounselorDebbie Cull, Instructional Coach

Cartmell Elementary School

1708 Highland Ave.Carrollton, KY 41008Phone: (502) 732-7085 Fax: (502) 732-7100Doug Oak, Principal, Head Start DirectorLee Dillon, Guidance CounselorJonica Ray, Instructional Coach

Carroll County Middle School

408 Fifth StreetCarrollton, KY 41008Phone: (502) 732-7080 Fax: (502) 732-7107Dana Oak, PrincipalJamie Baker, Assistant PrincipalBeth Wallace, Guidance CounselorGerda Wise, Instructional CoachValerie Lashley & John Leep III, Athletic Directors

Carroll County High School

1706 Highland Ave.Carrollton, KY 41008Phone: (502) 732-7075 Fax: (502) 732-7012John Leeper, PrincipalThomas Stephens, Assistant PrincipalSheree Richter, Guidance CounselorNancy Simpson, Instructional CoachRandy Mefford, Athletic Director

Carroll County

Alternative Learning Center

519 Park AvenueCarrollton, KY, 41008Phone: (502) 732-7112 Fax: (502) 732-7113Ed Nelson, PrincipalTammy Welch, School Social Worker

Carroll County

Area Technology Center

1704 Highland AveCarrollton, KY. 41008Phone: (502) 732-4479 Fax: (502) 732-4837Crystal Raisor, Principal

Schools Directory

3

Young Inventors: Below, youth at Camp Invention, July 13-17, created their own inventions fromscrap parts of discarded electronic devises, used plastic bottles, and other recycled items.

Technology Camp: Studentsfrom primary through highschool participated in technol-ogy camp organized by theCarroll County SchoolsTechnology Department. Atleft clockwise, middle schoolstudents create a highdefinition animated movieusing Movie Maker andGarage Band software. AWinn Primary student createsartwork, weaving together adigital self portrait and anotherphotograph she took. Above,an elementary school studentreceives help from technologystaff members as she prac-tices word processing skillsusing Read, Write & Typesoftware.

JohnLeeper,CarrollCounty

HighSchool

Principal

4

When freshmen begin theirday of orientation on August 3,Carroll County High SchoolPrincipal John Leeper willintroduce students to a concepthe plans to emphasize through-out the year: CCHS Rocks!

“The five ‘rocks’ are thefoundations that every freshmanneeds to master in order to besuccessful,” said Leeper. Theareas Leeper is focusing on areresponsibility, service, friend-ship, appropriate dating relation-ships, and success.”

Leeper said he’s seenstudents have more or lesssuccess in school depending onhow they have handled thosefive areas, so he wants toemphasize their importance thisyear.

As part of CCHS Rocks!theme, all clubs will be requiredto perform a service projectaddressing an issue being facedlocally or abroad. Leeper saidthat there are people with muchgreater needs than students faceand that when students help outother people, they realize thatthey are very fortunate.

“We want students torealize that they can make adifference in the world,” saidLeeper, “And because they can,they should—they must—doso.”

Two other foundational“rocks” involve relationships,both friendships and datingrelationships. Leeper said thatrelationships can affect studentspositively or negatively.

“You only have one heart,and every time you give a little ofyour heart away, it changesyou,” said Leeper. “We want ourwomen and men to hold on towho they are and not change forsomeone else.” Leeper said heoften encourages femalestudents “to be that apple on atree, and make boys get out aladder and reach for that apple.”

Television and moviesoften give a distorted vision ofwhat healthy teen relationshipsshould be, said Leeper, whopointed out that low self-esteemand lack of confidence are rootcauses for students sometimesbecoming involved in unhealthyrelationship. He believes that

increasing the number ofstudents in creative and perform-ing arts clubs will help studentsdevelop self-confidence.

The school plans to givestudents an opportunity toperform in talent shows and willbring back “Class Night,” inwhich seniors display artistictalents on stage. Also, forhomecoming, he will encourageeach class to use their artistictalents to produce a float anddecorate around town.

Finally, Leeper said that theschool will be establishingpolicies to support positivebehavior in the school and toincrease attendance.

To encourage attendance,Carroll County High School andOwen County High School willcompete in September to achievethe higher attendance rate. Theprincipal of the losing school willkiss a pig at the Carroll vs. Owenfootball game on October 16 inOwenton.

“Students need to be inschool and focused on learningto achieve their ultimate goal ofsuccess,” said Leeper. “If it takesa principal kissing a pig tomotivate students to come toschool, it will be worth it.”

CCHS “Rocks” to ProvideFreshman Foundation

Reaching Farther: Below middle, a CCHS soccer player practices blocking shots. Below,CCHS teachers learn how to use moving making software at the Carroll County Schools Technol-ogy Summit on July 20.

Heading to Camp: CCHScheerleaders load the bus togo to UCA camp at UK.

Holding the Line: Offensive linemen try toprevent the defense from sacking a mockquarterback.

Pacticing Defense: Junior varsity volleyballplayers practice defensive formations.

5

Dana Oak,CarrollCountyMiddleSchool

Principal

English teachers aren’t theonly ones teaching reading andwriting at Carroll County MiddleSchool. During the upcomingschool year, students will getlots of practice in reading,writing, speaking, listening, andobserving as almost all teacherswill be practicing “literacy acrossthe curriculum.”

“Schools have been usingwriting across the curriculum foryears,” said Dana Oak, principalof Carroll County Middle School.“Literacy across the curriculumis so much more. Students needto use all aspects of communica-tion well.”

Six CCMS teachers and Oakattended a three-day trainingwith the Louisville WritingProject on implementing literacyacross the curriculum as part oftheir professional developmentso that they could refine theschool’s literacy plan. Theliteracy team completed the firsttwo parts of the Literacy ProgramEffectiveness Review forKentucky Schools (PERKS)

The Louisville WritingProject will return to the schooltwo times a month to modeltechniques for using literacy inthe core classes of science andsocial studies and the “encore”classes of health, physicaleducation, art, music, technol-ogy, and practical living. Oaksaid that content area teacherswill observe a literacy specialist

teaching their classes, usingdifferent techniques that theteachers can later incorporate intheir classes.

“We want teachers tochoose three or four strategiesthat they feel comfortable withand which they can use in theirclasses,” said Oak. “We’re notsaying, ‘use this strategy.’ Wewant teachers to choose theones that will work for them.”

While most content teacherswill be implementing literacyacross the curriculum this year,mathematics teachers will beparticipating in professionaldevelopment training through thePartnership Institute for Math-ematics and Science EducationReform (PIMSER). The missionof PIMSER is “to enhancelearning in mathematics andscience for K-16 students andteachers and to prepare studentsfor success in, science, technol-ogy, engineering, mathematics(STEM) education and teachingcareers.” The PIMSER Math-ematics program provides highquality training to help teachersuse research-based instructionalmethods in the classroom.

The final initiative which Oakdiscussed is the use of PositiveBehavior Interventions andSupport (PBIS), which involves aschool wide approach to disci-pline. Oak said that a team ofteachers and administratorsattended training in PBIS in thespring to begin process ofdeveloping procedures, teachingthose procedures to students,and consistently following theplan.

“If we want students to meetcertain standards and followcertain guidelines, we need tomake sure they understand thestandards,” said Oak. “Theprocedures takes about a year todevelop as we train teachers andinvolve students in the process.Positive change takes time.”

CCMS to Emphasize LiteracyAcross the Curriculum

Footwork: Carroll County Middle School football players avoidbeing tripped up as they go through agility drills during eveningpractice.

CCMS Volleyball playerspractice serving. Co-athleticdirector Valerie Washburntakes over coaching duties forCCMS science teacherKristen Arbinger who iscoaching the varsity team atCarroll County High School.

Vod and Pod Casting: Above, Betty Stark, who coordinates the ESL and Migrant Programs forCarroll County Schools, works with CCMS science teacher Brenda Cole, on creating pod- andvodcasting at the Technology Summit.

Helping Out: Two middleschool students helped movedesks so that rooms could bestripped and waxed.

6

Doug Oak,Cartmell

ElementarySchool

Principal

“It going to be transitionyear,” said Doug Oak, principalof Cartmell Elementary School,as preparations are being madeto renovate the 46-year-oldbuilding, beginning in January.Cartmell renovations include anexpanded library-media center,administrative office spaces, newgymnasium, and geothermalheating and cooling system,among other changes.

“It will be exciting, but alsochallenging,” said Oak. “We’regoing to keep disruptions to thelearning environment at aminimum and focus on oureducational goals related toliteracy, technology, andcharacter education.”

Cartmell Elementary cur-rently serves 4th and 5th gradesand houses the Carroll CountyHead Start Program, whichserves three- and four-year-oldchildren. Oak said third grade,currently at Winn Primary, willjoin 4th and 5th grade at Cartmellfor the 2010-11 school year, andHead Start will relocate to WinnPrimary. He said plans are beingfinalized for a smooth transitionso that contractors can beginwork in a safe manner in January.

“There’s a lot of planningand preparation that has tohappen this fall,” said Oak. “Asclassrooms relocate to makespace for construction, we willuse the changes as a learningopportunity.”

Oak cited the new geother-mal heating and cooling systemas an example.

“The system is beingdesigned as a teaching tool andcan be used to learn aboutenergy efficiency,” said Oak. “Acomputer program will recordtemperatures and can show howmuch energy is being saved withgreen technology.”

Technology is an other areathat the school plans to focus onin the upcoming school year. Oaksaid that teachers receivedtraining at the district technol-ogy summit the week of July 20and plan to introduce moreinteractive uses of the internet,such as video conferencing,virtual learning environments

(Moodle), collaborative web-creation programs (wikis), anduse of individuals Internet weblogs (blogs).

“Our classes will go beyondusing technology mainly as apresentation tool,” said Oak.“Students will have greateraccess to and use technology asa tool for learning.”

Oak pointed out that usingmore online-based learningrequires that students under-stand “digital citizenship” andhow to properly and safelynavigate through the Internet.

Oak also said that digitalcitizenship ties in with theschool’s emphasis on citizenshipin general. He said that theschool character’s educationprogram will teach students torespect each other, resolveconflicts constructively, andencourage them to make thought-ful choices.

“Part of developing charac-ter is dealing with change,” saidOak. “We’ll have to makeadjustments this year, but theend result will be a more effectivelearning environment. It will beworth the challenges.”

Cartmell in Transition YearDuring Renovations

Getting the Word Out: ACartmell student workerplaces stamps on back-to-school information lettersmailed out to parents.

Touch Up: Painters brightenthe edge of the side walk toavoid a tripping hazard asstudents prepare to return toschool August 6.

A Model Student: Cartmell Guidance Counselor Lee Dilloncollects stickers for his name tag at various sessions during thetechnology professional development training.

T-Rex: Students who at-tended the Family TiesResources Center field trip tothe Cincinnati Children’sMuseum explore a life-sizedreplica of the skull of tyranno-saurus rex.

Water Works: Below, theFamily Ties Day Camp alsoincluded a trip to WaterWorks where youth couldexperiment with ways thatwater flows.

7

SharonHaun,

KathrynWinn

PrimarySchool

Principal

At Kathryn Winn Primary,there will be familiar faces indifferent places, as severalteachers accept new roles at theschool. A combination ofvacancies and restructuring ofthe schedule created newopportunities for staff members,said Principal Sharon Haun.

One of biggest personnelchanges involved replacing thethird grade team of MeganMorris, Debbie Cull, and RobinSmith who are among a group ofthe current teachers taking onnew responsibilities, Morris asassistant principal, Cull asinstructional coach, and Smith asthe school’s new readingspecialist.

“We have some new andexciting plans in place for theupcoming school year,” saidHaun. “Some teachers havemoved to new positions, andwe’re adding technology as anelective, starting a choir afterschool, and teaching Chinese.Those are just a few of thechanges.”

Haun said that one day aweek, students will rotatethrough each of the followingelectives: physical education,music, art, library, and technol-ogy. Technology is a newlyoffered elective, and will betaught by former music teacherLynn Stucker, who has beendesignated the school’s Cham-pion Technology Teacher.Stucker will work with teachers tohelp them implement technologyin their classrooms.

“We have several teacherswho are very good at usingtechnology to help studentslearn,” said Haun. “We’ll begin

teaching children, as young asfive, so that they can use thetechnology that will be availablein the world.”

Also, foreign exchangeteacher Rurong Long will teachChinese language and culture fortwenty minutes each week to allclasses from Kindergartenthrough third grade.

“The purpose of teachingChinese is to expose our stu-dents to the world outside ofCarroll County,” said Haun.“Also, children can learn aforeign language much easierwhen they are young.

Long will also teach Chineseto all students at Cartmell andone class at Carroll County HighSchool. Winn’s physicaleducation teacher, Marvin Kiper,who has a degree in music andsings in a barber shop quartet,will also teach a class in choralmusic at Carroll County HighSchool.

In addition to academicprograms, Haun said that theschool will be working to createan environment in which stu-dents are not only physicallysafe, but emotionally safe as wellby placing more emphasis onchildren respecting one another,being good citizens, and display-ing acceptable behavior.

Haun said that guidancecounselor Kelley Massieattended training this summer onteaching parents, teachers, andstudents how to respond tobullying. “We want to foster aclimate of respect in which adultsintervene when they see or hearteasing and bullying. Childrenhave a right to learn in anemotionally safe environment.”

Addressing the issue ofbullying requires parents andstaff members working togetherin a positive way, said Haun.

“We want to work withparents to help children to bemore than just good students,”said Haun. “ We want them tobecome good citizens too.”

Winn to Have FamiliarFaces in New Positions

Extended School Services: Kathryn Winn Primary second grade teacher Cindy Wheeler worksone-on-one with a student in using suffixes, prefixes, and root words on puzzle pieces to createnew words as part of the Extended School Services (ESS) program, which helps students keeptheir skills fresh during the summer.

A Fresh Coat: Below middle, painters apply acoat of “green” acrylic paint outside the cafete-ria at Winn, as the district transitions from oil-based paint.

Getting Organized: New 3rd grade teacher,Melanie Beach sorts through books as sheprepares her room for the start of school.

Technology Skills: At right, Winn AssistantPrincipal Megan Morris and Principal SharonHaun sharpen their technology skills.

Carroll County SchoolsCalendar 2009-2010

8

James and Staff Take CarrollCounty Schools “On the Road”

Make Up Days1. May 242. May 253. May 264. May 275. May 28

“Carroll County Schools onthe Road,” the popular back-to-school community event, returnthis summer to kick off the 2009-10 school year on July 20th and21st. School personnel meetinformally with parents,students, and communitymembers. Grilled hot dogs,chips, and drinks will beprovided, as well entertainmentfor children.

“Last year, after meeting inWorthville and Ghent, we hadlots of requests to host “CarrollCounty Schools on the Road” inthe western part of the county,so this summer we’re having ourvery first event in English,” saidLisa James, superintendent ofthe Carroll County SchoolDistrict.

The first event takes place atthe First Baptist Church inEnglish on Monday, July 21,from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at thechurch shelter. The next evening,“Carroll County Schools on theRoad” will be held at the GhentFire Station on Highway 42 inGhent from 6-7:30 p.m.

James said the main purposefor hosting the events is to meetface to face with people in thecommunity and to build positiverelationships.

“Often, parents have totravel to the schools formeetings,” said James. “Thistime the schools are traveling tothe parents.” James saidcommunity members can askquestions, express concerns, orshare stories of the success thattheir children have experienced.

Also, information will beavailable about differentprograms that the schools offer,said James.

“Part of buildingrelationships is communicatingwith parents and communitymembers and letting them knowwhere we want to go as a schooldistrict,” said James. “Thesecommunity events are a chanceto talk about how we want ourstudents to become 21st Centurylearners. We want them to beprepared for the jobs of thefuture, some of which haven’teven been created yet.”

James said that 21st CenturyLearning Skills include the ability

to think critically, solveproblems, communicate clearly,develop innovative ideas, and touse information, media, andtechnology effectively.

Preliminary architecturalplans for the renovation ofCartmell Elementary School willbe on display. Also, informationabout additions to the district’sforeign language program will beavailable. Next year, a foreignexchange teacher will offer oneclass in Chinese language atCarroll County High School, andChinese culture will be taught inkindergarten through fifth grade.Spanish, through the computerprogram Rosetta Stone, will betaught in kindergarten through8th grade. Finally, parents ofchildren from birth to five willalso be able to sign their child upto receive a free book eachmonth from the Dolly PartonImagination Library.

The third event will be theReady Fair at Kathryn WinnPrimary on Monday, August 4,from 4-6 p.m.

“We’re trying to reach outand let the community know wereally value their input,” saidJames. “It takes everyoneworking together, being achampion for our kids, to havethe greatest impact.”

August 5 Opening Day for TeachersAugust 6 First Day for StudentsSeptember 7 Labor Day – No SchoolOctober 5-19 Fall Break – No SchoolOctober 23 Required Professional Development –

No School for StudentsNovember 3 Election Day – No SchoolNovember 25-27 Thanksgiving Break – No SchoolDec. 21 - Jan. 1 Winter Break – No SchoolJanuary 18 Martin Luther King Day – No SchoolFebruary 5 Required Professional Development –

No School for StudentsFebruary 15 Flexible Professional Development –

No SchoolMarch 5 Flexible Professional Development–

No SchoolApril 5 - 9 Spring Break – No SchoolMay 18 Primary Election Day – No SchoolMay 20 Last Day for StudentsMay 21 Closing DayMay 31 Memorial Day – No School

6. June 17. June 28. June 39. June 410. June7

We want [students] to beprepared for the jobs of thefuture....

Lisa James, Superintendent

Carroll County Schools on the Road: Families from thewestern part of Carroll County join school staff and administra-tors for food, fun, and fellowship in English. Superintendent LisaJames shared plans for the schools in 2009-10.