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At their regular meeting, the Danville School Board made the following recognitions:
Spelling Bee winners from each elementary and middle school. These students were able to compete in the Regional Spelling Bee in March. These students were as follows: Fatima Ata - Forest Hills Elementary, Aiden Huckstep - Forest Hills Elementary, Tommy Whittle - Gibson Elementary, Chyna Ferrell - Gibson Elementary, Isaiah Scott - Johnson Elementary, Trenton King - Johnson Elementary, Tahizyah Martin - Park Avenue Elementary, Derwin Farmer - Park Avenue Elementary, Samantha Villalobos-Garcia - Park Avenue Elementary, Kayla Whittle - Schoolfield Elementary, Langston Dodd - Schoolfield Elementary, Aarien Luck - Woodberry Hills Elementary, Shaniya Adams - Woodberry Hills Elementary, Hannah Mitchell - Bonner Middle School, Faizah Naveed - Bonner Middle School, Koiynne Hairston - Westwood Middle School, and Essic Hairston - Westwood Middle School.
Reginald Purvis gave an update on the accomplishments of DPS music programs this academic year, which included excellent ratings for the Westwood and O.T. Bonner Middle School honor bands at assessment, an excellent rating for the George Washington High School Concert Choir, a superior rating for the Middle School Honors Orchestra, and superior ratings for the George Washington High School Symphonic Band and Orchestra, and more.
The Danville School Board heard the following communications:
Director of Finance Sharon Barksdale presented the most recent Accounts Payable Warrants.
Coordinator of Adult Education and Credit Recovery Dr. Antonio Hairston gave an update on the virtual night school and adult and TEEN GED Programs. Virtual night school began at the beginning of 2022 and offers credit recovery for high school students. There are currently 8 teachers participating, 29 students have been enrolled, and 22 credits have been recovered by students. Currently, 180 students have been enrolled in Adult Education courses, which is right at the target enrollment for the year. Winter graduation saw 11 students earn their credentials. TEEN GED currently has 14 students enrolled and has had three graduates.
Director of Accountability and Assessment Dr. Melissa Newton and Director of Curriculum Mary Ann Jennings spoke to the board about SOL Administration and Test Preparation, as SOL testing begins on May 16. The district’s pass rate targets for accreditation are 75% for reading, 70% for math, and 70% for science. To prepare, teachers have been practicing with released SOL tests, reteaching, practicing with TestNav, having SOL Boot Camps that strategically group students for remediation by specific needs, using review games, and using IXL to target specific SOLs.
Superintendent Dr. Angela Hairston gave an update on the Corrective Action Plan, which was presented to the VDOE’s Office of School Quality on April 5. The district is awaiting feedback from this presentation.
The Board took the following actions:
Approved the 2022- 2023 Carl V. Perkins Application and Budget.
Approved Focus Point and Pathfinders as providers for Mentoring Services (RFP 2022–491).
Approved the Finance Report for March 2022 brought forward by Barksdale.
Approved the 2022-2023 proposed budget, which is contingent on the state’s budget that has not yet been passed. This budget is a total operating budget of $88.4 million operating budget, of which 80% goes to salary and benefits for employees. With this budget, the division aims for a 5 percent salary increase (contingent upon the state budget) and a stipend for staff for an extended school year to address learning loss, as well as an increase in substitute pay to support teacher planning and continued smaller class sizes. Additional budget highlights include investments to increase support for mental health services, add skilled trades (plumbing, welding, HVAC, electrical) to the division’s Career and Technical Programs, obtain new school buses with air conditioning, and update technology.
Approved a resolution supporting the use of funds generated from casino revenues to support educational initiatives, including wraparound services, Universal Pre-K, supporting instructional needs and teacher salaries, increased access to DCC for post-graduates, investing in K-3 literacy initiative, and support for out-of-school/after-school programming, that will be sent to City Council along with the budget request.
Approved MVP Construction Management to provide construction management services as GW and Langston renovation projects.
Approved a resolution to accept an unsolicited proposal under the Public Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act (PPEA) for the renovation projects at GWHS and G.L.H. Johnson Elementary School. The passed resolution will allow the board to post the proposal and advertise for competing proposals for 45 days.
Approved personnel recommendations brought forward by Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Natalie Halloran.
Approved Andrea Gillus as the division’s Chief Financial Officer.
Approved Tammy Waldron as Principal at Westwood Middle School.
Approved Reyhan Deskins as Principal of George Washington High School.
Books for Kids
This week, the Books for Kids program wrapped up at Woodberry Hills Elementary School today, April 22. We thank Charles and Carol Majors and Infinity Global for donating these books for our students to have as their own and take home to read with their families. We appreciate your support of our students and their reading journeys!
"Today, a reader. Tomorrow, a leader"
- Margaret Fuller
Westwood goes to Averett
The Westwood 7th grade class took a trip on Wednesday, April 20 to Averett University as part of the Westwood Gear Up program. Students were given a guided tour by Averett Student Ambassadors and were able to see all of the Main Campus on West Main Street. Students and staff were able to tour classrooms, the Theater, several dorm buildings, the Main Hall, the Library, Bookstore, and even the Averett Dining Hall. The Averett Student Ambassadors shared their own stories with the groups that they led and answered questions that were asked by Westwood students.
Forest Hills students complete Earth Day projects
Elementary ELs at Forest Hills have been working on Earth Day projects. They made hanging planters in class and the students made various projects at home using recycled materials. The students have really enjoyed learning about Earth Day and ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Important Upcoming Dates:
April 23 - DPS Career Fair at O.T. Bonner Middle School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
April 23 - River City Clean Up from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
April 26 and 28 - Auditions for GW Band for Percussion/Drumline and Color Guard from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. each day.
April 27 - Administrative Professionals Day
May 2-6 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 2-6 - Kindergarten and Virtual Academy onsite registration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
May 3 - Interim Reports go home
May 13-15 - Festival in the Park at Ballou Park
May 16 - 4th Annual STEAM Night at O.T. Bonner Middle School from 5 to 8 p.m.
Virtual Students place at Fine Arts Night
Two Virtual Academy chorus students participated and won first and third place on the DPS Fine Arts Night 2022.
Shamaurie Forest, 6th grade, "Nose Anatomy Study," 1st place, Pencil Category
Sila Takbir, 8th grade, "Mexican Sun and Moon," 3rd place, Pencil Category
Pictured is Shamaurie Forest.
Gibson celebrates Military Kids Day
For “Military Kids” Day- we celebrated with Aniya Bell. Every year, schools join in solidarity to support military families and military connected children. We are so thankful you’re a BULLDOG!
A special thank you to Mrs. Lambert for her service (3rd Grade Teacher and Veteran).
Gibson students research rabbits
Gibson students can read and research rabbits. Students also interacted with a rabbit and applied the knowledge they learned from their research to make first hand observations and answer questions about their learning.
Miss Volunteer Danville visits Bonner
Miss Kate Clatterbuck visited Bonner Middle School to speak with seventh grade Gear Up students about volunteerism, scholarship, and preparing for their futures.
GWHS CHORUS.movWatch our GWHS Chorus practice for their recent concert!
Galileo lights it up blue for Autism!
DRUM AND PERCUSSION AUDITIONS (1) (1).pdfGaurd Auditions.pdfGot content for the Friday Feature? Email it to ldavis2@mail.dps.k12.va.us
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