The Summit

Spring is in full swing at Wythe County high schools. The horticulture programs, now in their 2nd year, are growing and blossoming. Students are learning about

everything from seed germi-nation, to plant mainte-nance, to sales techniques for selling their products in the community.

“You learn by trial and er-ror,” explained Bergandy Jones, FFA president at RRHS.

Senior Joey Gallimore con-curred, “There’s a lot of stuff that goes into it.”

Despite the labor that goes into keeping the plants healthy, Jessica Patton de-scribed the gardening proc-ess as therapeutic.

“It’s a great stress reliever,” she said, mentioning how in the winter months, it’s good to just come into the warm

structure where everything is green and colorful.

The community is getting in on the action, too. Not only are they buying plants and germinated seeds from the students, adults can partici-pate in the actual care of the greenhouse.

This spring, as part of a pi-lot program, the high schools offered adult green-house classes in the eve-nings.

“We try to be really flexi-ble,” explained RRHS teacher Brain Alexander.

A student at RRHS tends to the flowers at the greenhouse.

A crop of green-thumbed students

Rural Reading program cultivates excitement

Wythe County Public Schools

Summer 2012

Volume 1, Issue 4

Summer Learning 2

Grants and Awards 3

Retiree Luncheon 4

2012-2013 Calendar 5

Hunger Games 6

Reading (cont.) 6

Greenhouse 7

Shout-Outs 7

FFA 8

Inside this issue:

Interesting Reads Check out www.pbs.org/

parents/education for great information and helpful tips to keep stu-dents reading all summer long.

Visit www.readingrockets.org to read interesting arti-cles and learn effective strategies to help strug-gling readers.

Any book that excites you. Summer is a great time to catch up on all the books you want to read for fun!

WCPS School Board monthly meetings

June 13 9 a.m. SBO

June 27 9 a.m. SBO

July 11 9 a.m. SBO

Aug 8 9 a.m. SBO

focused on creating books that are of interest espe-cially to boys and espe-cially to low-performing boy readers.

See Page 4 for more about how this pro-gram is getting stu-dents excited about reading.

Struggling readers are be-coming competent and con-fident readers thanks to a creative idea generated by Reading Recovery specialists Tabitha Martin and Karen Barton.

The project, which was sponsored with Classroom Grant funds from the Foun-dation for Excellence, is

See Page 5 for more in-formation on the green-house programs.

Photo Gallery 9

1570 W. Reservoir Street Wytheville, VA 24382 Phone: 276-228-5411 Fax: 276-228-9192

http://wythe.k12.va.us/

Learning all summer long

Educating students for success in the 21st

century.

Wythe County Public Schools Central Office Staff Dr. Lee Brannon Division Superintendent

Dr. Melinda Robinett Exec. Director of Educational Services

Jeff Noe Exec. Director of Instruction

Richard Thomas Director of Personnel

Marcy Olinger Director of Elem. & Middle Education

Beth Cochran Coordinator of Federal Programs and Testing

Dr. Wesley Poole Director of Facilities and Operations

Keith Cochran Technology Supervisor

2011-2012 School Board Members Chalmer Frye, Chairman Speedwell

William Kidd, Vice Chair East Wytheville

Walter White Fort Chiswell

Stephen Sage Blacklick

Patricia Hines Lead Mines

Deborah Crigger At-Large

David Martin West Wytheville

The Summit Volume 1, Issue 4 Page 2

The mission of WCPS, in partnership with our entire community, is to ensure that each student is empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the challenges of the future.

Art Intensive The PLAY Fund and the Foundation for Excellence are thrilled to offer Wythe County students a great op-portunity in art this summer. The 1st Annual Art Intensive will be held June 11 – 15 in downtown Wytheville in the old Hobert N. Grubb build-ing. Ms. Meagan Averill, a recent MAT graduate from the Savannah College of Art in Design will lead students who have completed grades

2 – 12 in age appropriate classes concentrating on drawing. Space is limited. There is a small material fee of $25.00 for each student. Scholarships are available for those needing assistance.

Please call Cindy Jarmul, Foundation for Excellence Executive Director for more information (228-5411).

Sign up to receive this newsletter via email by contacting Amanda Evans at amanda.evans@wythek12.org

Wythe County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence, Inc.

Funding fun

A special CONGRATULATIONS to all of our graduates. We know you’ll

go far. We’re so proud of you!

The Foundation for Excellence distributed the following community-sponsored awards and

scholarships:

Award of Distinction ($1,000)

Kristen Fisher (FCHS)

Aaron Foster (GWHS)

James Willard (RRHS)

Benjamin Wassum (WCTC)

Dr. Jack O. White Music Scholarship ($5,000)

Isaac Young (GWHS)

George Wythe Merit Scholarship ($40,000)

Megan Lacy (GWHS)

The Summit Volume 1, Issue 4 Page 3

The Foundation for Excellence, in

partnership with WCTC and the Wythe-Bland Foundation has

secured a $127,560 grant for classroom startup costs of the

new Pre-Engineering program at WCTC.

The program is slated to begin this fall.

Left: Speedwell Elementary students eagerly line up on their new walking track at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 15. The track was funded through donations and a grant from the Wythe-Bland Foundation.

Left: Students from Spiller Elementary take a break from walking during Relay for Life on May 4. Several other schools in Wythe County participated in the event to raise money for can-cer research.

Retirement luncheon

The Summit Vo lume 1, Issue 4 Page 4

To celebrate a lifetime of service to public education and to WCPS, the 2011-2012 retirees were celebrated with a lunch-

eon at Elizabeth Brown Park on May 23.

Congratulations and thank you for your commitment to our children:

Patricia S. Aker Teacher MMES

Debra O. Akers Teacher GWHS

Brenda G. Anderson Teacher RRES

Mary E. Bland Teacher SMMS

Claude C. Brooks Teacher WCTC

Roy H. Cregger Custodian RRES

Wanda S. Edmonds Teacher FCMS

Dianne H. Farmer Teacher JMES

Judith E. Hall Teacher GWHS, SMMS

Danny Jonas Teacher and Athletic Director FCHS

Judy U. Jones Cafeteria Manager JMES

Mary C. King Teacher FCHS

Barbara M. Mills Teacher RRHS

David M. Okes Teacher GWHS

Annie B. Orr Cafeteria Manager RRHS

Linda W. Phillips Teacher RRHS

Linda B. Pollard Driver’s Education Instructor RRHS

Glenda C. Poole Custodian Sheffey

Charles R. Preston, Jr. Maintenance WCPS

Patty F. Reynolds Teacher Sheffey

Rebecca A. Richardson Nurse RRHS

Fern D. Shockley Teacher JMES

Shirley A. Thomas Custodian RRMS

Sara F. Williamson Teacher Spiller

William W. Williamson Teacher FCMS

Page 5 The Summit Volume 1, Issue 4

2012-2013 School Calendar

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Wythe County Public Schools is prohibited from discrimi-nating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities.

August 2 & 3 Administrative Staff Meetings

August 6 Optional Technology In-service

August 7 New Teacher Orientation

August 8 Teacher’s Return – ½ Principal Day; ½ Teacher Workday

August 9 Staff Development by Wythe County Sherriff’s Office – Wytheville Meeting Center

August 10 Division Curriculum and Instruction

August 13 Opening Session 8:30 a.m.; Wytheville Meeting Center

August 14 Teacher Workday a.m.; Parent/Student Visitation (1:00 – 3:00, 4:30 – 7:00)

August 15 Teacher Workday

August 16 First Day for Students

September 3 Labor Day Holiday

September 27 End of First 6 Weeks

September 28 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal, Teacher Workday

October 11 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal; Parent Visitation (1:00 – 3:00, 4:30 – 7:00)

November 6 Schools Closed for Students – Teachers - Professional Development Day

November 9 End of Second 6 Weeks; 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal, Teacher Workday

November 21 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal

November 22 & 23 Schools Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday

December 13 – 18 Middle and Secondary Exams

December 18 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal

December 19 – January 2 Schools Closed – Winter Holidays

January 2 Teacher Workday

January 3 First Day for Students after Winter Holidays

January 9 End of Third Six Weeks; End of First Semester

January 11 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal; ½ Teacher Workday

February 20 End of Fourth 6 Weeks

February 22 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal; ½ Teacher Workday

March 28, 29; April 1 Spring Break

April 8 End of Fifth 6 Weeks

April 9 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal; ½ Teacher Workday

April 19 Schools Closed; Curriculum Development Day

May 21 Last Day of School; 12:30 p.m. Student Dismissal

May 22 Teacher Workday

May 27 Memorial Day – Schools Closed

them, Barton and Martin replicated the study at an-other elementary school as well. The results were con-sistent.

Students who began at lower levels have already increased their fluency and vocabulary, the teachers reported.

The overwhelmingly posi-tive results and support

Students hungry for learning

Reading (cont.) when presenting the project at the April board meeting.

Tracking their results, the teachers found that their students spent and average of 323% more time reading these books than traditional texts.

To see if the students were reading the books simply because they knew the teachers or wanted to please

Together, Barton and Martin wrote and printed more than 30 books at dif-ferent reading levels about topics that are of interest to boys—trucks, mud, camp-ing, fishing, superheroes.

“The students make per-sonal connections with the books because it’s about things they’re already famil-iar with,” Barton told School Board members

Page 6 The Summit Volume 1, Issue 4

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”

-Anthony J. D’Angelo

Check out our website at http://wythe.k12.va.us

from fellow teachers at RRES have given Martin and Barton encouragement to sustain and expand the pro-gram.

“Any time you can get a child to keep reading and enjoy a book,” Martin said, “that’s a great thing.”

For more info on the pro-gram contact them at ruralreading@ymail.com

the class participated in “tribute challenges.” Divided into two teams call districts, the two classes competed against one another through the course of the unit by collecting canned food for Agape Food Pantry and also by winning the daily trivia challenge.

Each morning, the district selected a “tribute,” or one player, who had to answer the question of the day. Somewhere within the school there was one teacher who had the answer to the question. The first tribute to return to the classroom with the correct answer won.

Questions spanned curriculum content and had real-life appli-cations. Some were about the percentage of underfed chil-dren in the world, another asked about the Roman coli-seum.

Often, the book prompted engaging class discussions and allowed students to explore the book in creative, nontraditional ways.

For almost every student, this book unit has been their favor-ite of the entire year, they said.

To celebrate the end of the unit, students were treated to a private showing of the movie the week it was released in the theaters.

Reading came alive for students in the Advanced English 10 classes at RRHS this spring when they read the bestselling novel The Hunger Games.

“This is the best interact-

ive reading activity we’ve ever done,” said teacher Deanna Bradberry.

In addition to reading the book, which the students did without any reluctance (no pop quizzes needed!),

Shout Outs!

Out at FCHS, teacher An-thony Watson said he had about the same turnout.

“It’s been a learning experi-ence,” he said. “Hopefully it will start growing each year.”

Now that the program is established and in place, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Wat-son said they hoped to be-

The class combines hands-on learning with a little classroom work and a great networking opportunity to share strategies and new techniques.

On a given night, about 2-7 people showed up at RRHS to get a head-start on their own gardens and pick up a few tips and tricks along the way.

gin the program sooner in the year so people can come in during the long winter months to go ahead and get started.

This adult program is some-thing they feel will help con-nect the community with the students and become a benefit to everyone in-volved.

Page 7 The Summit Volume 1, Issue 4

To order plants or request more information about the programs, you may email the instructors at the school.

RRHS Brian Alexander balexander@wythek12.org GWHS Jeff Fogelsong jeff.foglesong@wythek12.org FCHS Anthony Watson awatson@wythek12.org

Greenhouse (cont.)

Have a SAFE and RELAXING summer.

We look forward to seeing you next year!

Congratulations to Ms. Kristen Williams, guidance counselor at MMES. She has been selected as the Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Wythe County. She will receive a plaque and leadership seminar stipend to reward her for her amazing classroom accomplishments. Check out the Fall edition of The Summit to read a profile of her excellence in teaching.

Congratulations to RRES and Speedwell Elementary for receiving the Title 1 Distinguished School Award.

Autumn Vaught, a 4th grader at Spiller, placed first in the It’s All About Her publication’s Mothers’ Day essay contest.

Tatum Robinson, a 2nd grader at Spiller, wrote a winning story for the PBS Go! Writers Contest.

Speedwell Elementary for the official opening of their walking track.

All the cast and crew members at GWHS and SMMS who produced Aladdin, which was sponsored by the Foundation for Excellence.

All the students who represented WCPS well during club conferences and state finals this past month.

ALL STUDENTS IN WYTHE COUNTY FOR WORKING HARD TOWARD THE SOLs!

The FFA chapters at FCHS, GWHS, and RRHS would like to thank Wythe County Farm Bureau for their generous donation of approximately $1,600 to help offset the cost of this trip and for all they do to promote and support the

community projects of FFA.

FFA trip broadens horizons

Page 8 The Summit Volume 1, Issue 4

A group of students had the opportunity to broaden their horizons this spring when the WCPS FFA chap-ters traveled together through the South.

On March 26, about 50 stu-dents and chaperones left their athletic rivalries in the parking lot and embarked on a trip that they’d never forget.

“It was the best school-planned trip I’ve ever been on,” said GWHS sopho-more Hunter Hagee.

During the week-long trip, students learned about farming techniques in the flatlands, saw a cattle ranch that was three counties wide and picked oranges right off the trees in the grove.

“You had to have a map to get around the whole farm,” Hunter said in disbelief, speaking of their trip to the 260 ,000-acre Desere t Ranches in Florida.

Among the students, this stop seemed to be their fa-vorite, rivaled closely by touring the gardens at Epcot in Disney World.

“It was really great to go behind the scenes,” said Lindsey Henley, a sopho-more and recently-elected FFA president at FCHS.

The FFA Center where they stayed the night—complete with a swimming hole, tropi-cal fish and live alligators—was also a highlight for the students.

Getting exposed to new things and different ideas was one of the major pluses of the trip, students said.

For some, it was the first time traveling out of the mountains. For Lindsey, it was the first time she’d ever swam in the ocean and tasted a cumquat.

But more than a list of firsts, this trip will endure in the minds of the students for-ever.

It made Lindsey realize the lasting impact of the lessons she’s learned while being part of FFA.

“There will always be a place for agriculture in America,” she said.

This realization affected the students differently, causing at least one student to decide to pursue agriculture and business in college.

“I know this is going to be embedded in their minds for the rest of their lives,” said FCHS Agriculture teacher Anthony Watson.

At the Deseret Ranches

Touring a packing facility

Representing “V”irginia proudly

The Summit is a publication of Wythe County Public Schools. It is published four times a year—autumn, winter, spring, and summer . All materials, including photographs and content, are copyrighted by WCPS unless otherwise noted.

Education in action

The Summit Vo lume 1, Issue 4 Page 9

MAY DAY

MAY DAY

WHIRLED PEACE

SOL PEP RALLY

MATH AROUND THE WORLD D-DAY MEMORIAL

ANTI-BULLYING DANCE ASSEMBLY