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The Danville School Board held its regular meeting on Thursday, Dec. 2. They recognized Galileo’s Theatre Team for their success in competition this year. Galileo’s theatre team, under direction from Mr. Weyler, took first place at the Region 1B Theatre Championship at Franklin High School on November 6. Anna Timm also won an award for individual acting. On November 20, the team advanced to super region championships, where they did not qualify for state, but Anna Timm was again recognized for her individual performance. Galileo thanks Mr. Weyler for his dedication to building a competitive theater program.
The School Board heard the following communications:
Health and Wellness Coordinator Renita Townes gave an update on House Bill 2019, which requires undesignated stock albuterol to be maintained in all schools, effective January 1, 2022. The inhalers will be for any person who is in respiratory distress while at school whether that person has a prescription for albuterol or is diagnosed with asthma.
In an update from the board’s policy committee, member Dr. Philip Campbell provided a first reading from policies reviewed at the committee’s Nov. 11 reading. Sections C (General School Administration) and D (Fiscal Management) were reviewed and changes were presented. Public Comment will be received via the survey here and at the December 16, 2021 School Board meeting.
The school board took the following actions:
Approved the personnel recommendations brought forward by Chief Human Resource Officer Dr. Natalie Halloran.
Approved the accounts payable warrants brought forward by Director of Finance Sharon Barksdale.
Approved the awarding of an RFP for mentoring services to LifePush.
Approved the appointment of Lee Livingston as the Director of Transportation.
Approved the appointment of Michael McVay as the Director of Maintenance and Operations.
Approved the holding of public hearings to review proposed changes in the attendance zones for O.T. Bonner Middle School, Westwood Middle School, and GLH Johnson Elementary School.
Approved the adoption of a resolution for disbursement of school board funds.
Approved the following policy updates: AC, AD, AE, AFA, BBA, BBBA, BCA, BCB, BCE, BDB, BDD, BDDC, BDDG, BDDH. The board voted to retain the current BBE policy.
Congratulations to our Holiday Card Contest winners!
Our very first holiday card contest just wrapped up, and we had so many amazing entries! We appreciate everyone who took time to design and send in a card. Our first place winner was Shaleya Deshazo, a 9th grader at GWHS. Our second place winner was Ali Yeary, a 5th grader at Woodberry Hills.
Important Upcoming Dates:
December 3 - GW Orchestra concert in the auditorium at 7 p.m.
December 4 - Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade beginning at 5 p.m.
December 6 & 7 - GW JV & Varsity boys basketball home games starting at 5:30 p.m.
December 6 - Varsity & JV scholastic bowl home match vs. Bassett
December 9 - SOLs start (high school)
December 16 - GWHS Concert Choir concert in the auditorium at 7 p.m.
Vaccine clinic to be held this Saturday
There will be a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Averett University's North Campus this Saturday (Dec 4.) Remember, vaccines are now available for ages 5-11 Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are encouraged. See image for more details. If you are interested in getting a booster shot, we encourage you to take this opportunity!
Danville Public Schools is also conducting a booster survey to gauge interest for a potential clinic that can be accessed here. However, if you are interested in getting a booster shot now, we encourage you to use a community clinic or pharmacy.
Don't forget to Learn and Earn!
FEV Tutor and DPS are teaming up to reward those who try out FEV's free tutoring service. Complete 5 hours of tutoring and receive a $5 Amazon Gift card! (Available until Dec. 12) Just in time for the Holidays!
Sign up using this Google Form: https://tinyurl.com/3ara2m74
Book Character Day at Taylor
On Nov. 23, second graders at the Taylor Virtual Academy participated in Book Character Day, in which they picked their favorite book and dressed up as their favorite character. Below, second grader Khloei King reads a book on Character Day.
cqa-oxgy-tyg (2021-11-23 at 06_56 GMT-8).mp4
Park Avenue students learn pentatonic scale
Our 2nd grade students are learning about improvising using the pentatonic scale. Penta means five, so they are using 5 notes on xylophones and hand drum rhythms to create music on the spot together. We are also digging into the mysterious story and whimsical music of the “Nutcracker” ballet in all grade levels.
Mentoring at Woodberry Hills
The Danville police department has agreed to work with Woodberry Hills to develop a mentoring programs for students. Pictures are from Thursday, December 2.
Bonner hosts Poetry Slam
A Poetry Slam is a night of spoken word, and it is usually in front of a panel of judges and it is a competition. Bonner's poetry slam on Nov. 30 was a bit different. The Theater students all wrote poems and a panel of judges selected their favorites to be read at the poetry slam event. We also had a lyrical dance to the poem "Labels" by Prince Ea. Spanish 1 year long students also read some poems they wrote in Spanish to show that poetry is found in all languages. The finale was the choir's performance of "Lean on Me." Songs are just poems to music! It was a night filled with words spoken from the heart and soul on a variety of topics, from sports, hobbies, loving yourself and others, respect, not judging others, and unity. To the students that performed, we admire your courage to get on stage and share your stories. Your story evoked a plethora of emotions. The audience watched in silence when the dancers were performing. Finally, the chorus finished off with a classic song that had the audience clapping and singing along! Congratulations to Ms. Jamie Gilbert for her outstanding effort to make this event an event to remember!
Park Avenue holds book fair this week
The Scholastic Book Fair returned to Park Avenue Elementary School this week! It's good to have the Scholastic book shelves back in the library. Keep reading DPS!
Bonner students visit the Danville Science Center
The 6th graders at Bonner Middle took some time to visit Danville's Science Center. While there, they were able to watch a presentation in the Dome Theater reviewing characteristics of our Solar System. Then we were able to see a dry ice demonstration where we learned more about phase changes, molecules, and states of matter. Finally, we were able to experience the exhibits, one of which focuses on water and its importance. We had a great time exploring, reviewing and learning!
Galileo JETS hold fundraiser for Danville Science Center
The Galileo JETS are holding a Pampered Chef fundraiser until Dec. 10. The students use these funds to help support their community sponsor, the Danville Science Center, as well as provide opportunities for them to experience engineering first hand. Below, find a statement of the purpose of the organization. The Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) of Galileo Magnet High School is an organization designed to provide opportunities for students to experience engineering in action, instill an appreciation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects through hands-on activities, make students more aware of the many different careers related to STEM fields, and encourage them to give back to their community. These opportunities are provided through field trips to places such as museums, science centers, businesses, anywhere STEM subjects are used, as well as design competitions including the Spaghetti/Marshmallow Tower Competition, Lego Bridge Competition, and Paper Airplane Contest. They support the Danville Science Center as their community service project by volunteering their time to help with special programs such as the opening of the butterfly house. The group has also raised money to make financial donations to the center.
Mrs. Cramer's fifth grade class at Park Avenue had the highest attendance rate for the month of November, which earned them an ice cream party!
Bonner holds Soul Band Fest
Statement by Mr. Anthony Wheeler, Teacher at Bonner Middle School.
"Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s in Asheville, N.C Meant constantly studying. There was drum practice, piano lessons, homework, and being on a sports team. As a reward, my aunt and I followed many bands around the southeast. Every Saturday, I watched Soul train at 11 a.m. and remember my father climbing on the roof sometimes to fix the television antennae. Many of the bands I followed include Patti Labelle, Earth Wind and Fire, Ray Parker Junior, Debarge, The Gap Band, Brick, Rufus and Chaka Khan, The Ohio Players, and The S.O.S. Band, to name a few. For the second year in a row, students who behaved could participate in the annual S.O.S. Band Soul Fest featuring Music from the group and activities from the show such as a Soul train dance line and Correlating math S.O.l. 's in the form of a Scramble board. This year, Mr. Mayo had soul food catered by E. Glass and company. The students were served fried chicken, string beans, macaroni and cheese, rolls, cupcakes from Taste and See, and various other desserts and beverages. The visiting school board members joined in on the food. Mr. Wheeler's classroom was turned into a makeshift disco with good Music and special lighting. All seventh-grade teachers agreed on the guest list. Our counselor Ms. Burke stopped by and turned up on the dance moves."
Schoolfield Jaguars get Lit with STEM
Schoolfield students and families engaged in cross curricular science and literacy activities aimed at building STEM capacity. Centered around a Star Wars theme, students created lightsabers with household items, harnessed their creativity with Yoda art, fostered family fun with math spaceship bingo, and created flipbooks to reinforce learning about planets and constellations. Students also received free interactive books, including brand new, hardback Star Wars books. May the force be with you!
Shave-A-Teacher challenge at Woodberry Hills
Third grade students at Woodberry participated in a "Shave the Teacher" challenge. Each student had to read a book and write a book report. The students that read the most books and completed the book reports were allowed to shave Mr. Roche's head. There were a total of 76 books read between 31 students
Park Avenue students participated in pajama day this week. One student and Principal Bennett were twins!
Bonner's Red Ribbon Spirit Week
In October, Bonner celebrated Red Ribbon week with a Spirit week. Day one's theme was "Drug are sooo out of style" in which students dressed in clothing from previous decades.
Theme: We are "RED"y to say NO to drugs and alcohol - Wear red from head to toe!
Theme: Drugs are a trick, NOT a treat!
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