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The Danville School Board met on January 27, 2022 in a rescheduled meeting and made the following recognitions:
The board recognized February as Black History Month. The board also recognized February 7-11 as National School Counseling Week.
Gwyndolyn Stone’s Entrepreneurship students joined the meeting via Zoom to be recognized for their first place win at the DCC IDEA Fair. After pitching their business "Quick Fix" at the DCC IDEA Fair on November 16, Ms. Gwyndolyn Stone's entrepreneurship students were named the winners of the competition on December 17. Makayla Witcher, Gakoria Robertson, Paris Hall, and Jaylan Dickerson were each awarded $300.
The board heard the following communication items:
Director of Finance Sharon Barksdale gave an overview of the most recent accounts payable warrants. In addition, she presented an update on the Governor’s Amended Budget. Former Governor Northam made recommendations for 2022-2024, which the General Assembly began to consider in January 2022. These recommendations/amendments included providing a 5% salary increase in FY 2023 and an additional 5.% salary increase in FY 2024 for funded SOQ instructional and support positions, the support of school construction, renovations, and modernization, providing hold harmless payments to school divisions for base year re-benchmarking data affected by COVID-19, updating the state cost of re-benchmarking Direct Aid to Public Education for the 2022-2024 biennium, and updating sales tax revenues for public education based on the Department of Taxation's latest forecast. The recommendations also increase support for educationally at-risk students, holds school divisions harmless for elimination of sales tax of food for human consumption, increase the funding for various Virginia Preschool Initiatives and Early Childhood Initiatives in FY23, update Incentive programs, and supports additional instructional positions for English language learners.
Director of Assessment and State Reporting Dr. Melissa Newton, along with ELA Coordinator Laura Webb, Mathematics Coordinator Tiana Galloway, and Science Coordinator Olivia McCraw, provided academic achievement data, which included data from fall SOL testing and benchmark tests. The coordinators also gave next steps to continue improvement in their subject areas. See the data and presentation in full here.
Dr. Newton also presented discipline data along with District Hearing Officer Dr. Ako Barnes. The data shows month to month suspension numbers, as well as reasons for suspensions and discipline hearing data. The presentation in full can be viewed here.
Webb, ITRT Cori Sowers, and K-3 Literacy Specialist Amanda McKinney presented the division’s new reading initiative, Passport to a Great Adventure, to the board. This initiative includes “passports” given to all students in grades K-8, encouraging them to read for a specific amount of time each night in order to compete for incentives and prizes. Each school has a reading goal based on their student population, and students will work collaboratively to reach the goal. In addition, there are also “read alouds” that students and parents can access to have a DPS employee or student read a book to them.
Director of Career and Technical Education Joyce Culley gave an overview of the Summer Youth internship opportunities for this year, which will be the second year of the program. DPS will partner with the Institute of Advanced Learning and Research, the West Piedmont Workforce Development Board, the City of Danville, Project Imagine, and Goodwill again to allow for students 14 and up the opportunity to receive work experience over the summer. Last year, 27 students ages 16+ and 25 students ages 14-15 took part in the internship program. This year, the program is looking to serve 70 students ages 16+ and 35 students ages 14-15. With additional dollars, the program will increase wages to $11/hour (minimum wage), add community mentors to support interns, and more.
Director of Student Support Services Dr. Marva Tutt, Westwood Principal Dr. Judy Cox, and Bonner Principal Wayne Mayo updated the board on the GEAR Up grant program, which is designed to increase the number of low-income and first generation college students who are prepared to enter and succeed in college. Current seventh grade students at both middle schools participate in GEAR Up. Activities related to this program include tutoring services, college tours, mentoring, and more.
Board member Dr. Philip Campbell also lead a first reading for the proposed changes to policy section G (personnel). Public Comment will be received via the survey linked here and at the February 17, 2022 School Board Meeting.
Under action items, the board approved personnel recommendations brought forward by Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Natalie Halloran.
Send us photos and videos of your programs and activities all month! We want to showcase them in our Friday Feature.
On February 1, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued a proclamation recognizing and honoring February as Black History Month to recognize the accomplishments of inspirational Americans across the Commonwealth.
“Virginia is the home to pioneers, barrier-breakers, and leaders such as Maggie Walker, Governor Doug Wilder, and our new Lt. Governor Winsome Earle Sears. They are just some of the distinguished Black American leaders of the Commonwealth that have enriched, cultivated, and strengthened the spirit of Virginia. The First Lady and I encourage all Virginians to celebrate our rich diverse history that is inspiring future generations that know Virginia is big enough for the hopes and dreams of all Virginians,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Click here to read the full Black History Month Proclamation.
Schoolfield gives special thanks to the Otterbots!
The Danville Otterbots invited Schoolfield Elementary’s Ramona Booker and other DPS elementary school physical education teachers to Dan Daniel Memorial Park for pizza, refreshments, and a quick overview of USA Baseball’s Fun at Bat program. Fun at Bat is an entry level bat and ball program for kids with an emphasis on character development, functional movement, active play and fun! Schoolfield Jaguars are already enjoying the equipment provided by the Danville Otterbots!
Thank you and GO OTTERBOTS!!!
Dan River Church held a bus driver appreciation breakfast on Tuesday, February 1. Thank you, Dan River Church!
Woodberry Hills holds Spelling Bee
Congratulations to all our students that participated in our Schoolwide Spelling Bee on February 2. A special thanks goes to Mrs. Wood for organizing and hosting the Spelling Bee. Also, thank you to our judges for supporting our students. Congratulations to First Place Winner Aarien Luck (3rd Grade) and Second Place Winner Shaniya Adams (5th Grade).
Both students will compete in the district bee on Saturday, March 19th at 2:30 p.m. at Averett University.
Galileo Chocolate Factory Poster.pdfGalileo Magnet High School will be performing "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" on March 10-11th at the Langston High School auditorium at 7pm. Tickets will be $5, and $1 tickets for children five years and younger.
Please come, bring the family, and support the return of live performances to DPS.
Second graders at Forest Hills complete project with matter, celebrate Black History Month
In science, the students completed a project on matter. The students made a prediction about what would happen when they mixed Pop Rocks with soda! After giving the Pop Rocks a taste, they completed the experiment and found out that a gas formed when the two materials were combined! The students are currently working on writing about their experiment!
To kick off Black History Month, the students read one of our favorite stories, More Than Anything Else and determined the theme of the story. This book is a historical fiction story about Booker T. Washington. After reading, the students used details from the story to predict if Booker ever learned how to read. We had a wonderful time talking about his perseverance (our new fancy word). The students learned that not only did he learn how to read, he also wrote books. The students were able to look at a first edition copy of a book he wrote titled Up From Slavery. We had fun talking about how the pages were a lot different than what we see today! They loved the fact that they were holding a book published 121 years ago!
2.2.22 was Peace Day at Schoolfield!
Mrs. Seal and first grade students at Schoolfield demonstrated their support for equality and peace by wearing shirts that reflected that message. In addition to focusing on world peace, first graders paused to think about the next numerical palindrome that will serve as an important milestone for them. Fun fact: 3/3/33 will take place during their senior year of high school. Go class of 2033!!
Gibson students learn about the life cycle of a butterfly
With our partnership with the Master Gardener Program, our students participate in authentic learning experiences related to the Virginia SOL Science standards. Gibson kindergarten students had the opportunity to learn about the life cycle of a butterfly.
Important Upcoming Dates:
February 4 - GW JV & Varsity Girls basketball home games starting at 5:30 p.m. (Senior Night)
February 8 - Interim Reports go home, GW JV & Varsity Boys basketball home games starting at 5:30 p.m. (Senior Night)
February 12 - COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Schoolfield Elementary from 9 to 11 a.m.
February 17 - School Board Meeting
100th Day of School festivities at Gibson included fun STEM activities, INcluding the completion of the 100 cup challenge by Ms. Lambert's third grade class.
DPS is looking for your feedback on the proposed calendar for the 2022-2023 school year. Click here to view the presentation and proposed calendars and complete the survey.
Virginia Principal Appreciation Bennett.MOVLast week, Park Avenue celebrated Principal Bennett with the following video for Virginia Principal Appreciation Week!
Rescheduled feedback sessions for construction projects
The last two Construction Feedback Sessions for George Washington High School and Galileo Magnet High School had to be cancelled due to snow. They have now been rescheduled! GW's will take place on February 22 at 6 p.m. in the media center, and Galileo's has been rescheduled for February 23 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria. Register here.
Show the Love!
This month, Danville Public Schools is inviting its employees, students, and parents to show the love via Let's Talk. Make someone's day by leaving them a compliment here!
Got content for the Friday Feature? Email it to ldavis2@mail.dps.k12.va.us
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