November 9, 2018

Worms from Woodberry - EWWWW!

You never know what you’ll find at school. The kids loved these jelly worms made by Lendy Keesee! Made from whipping cream, raspberry jello, and unflavored gelatin-put in bendy straws to gel. One of the photos below represents the treats and one is of real worms. Can you tell the difference? They look so real! Hope I didn't ruin your lunch today.

Employee Spotlight - Anika White

Ever wondered who answers the phone when you dial 434.799.6400? Guess no more. Anika White, Receptionist/Secretary and all-around It Girl at the Central Office, is on the front line when greeting you and the public. In many cases, she is the first person with whom the public comes into contact so it is critical that the first impression be a good one! She always has a smile and is eager to assist, even when answering hundreds of calls in regard to closings/delays, etc. Thank you Anika for a job well done and providing exceptional customer service to all!

ACEC Puts Another Student on the Success Map!

Pictured is George Reynolds, a recent GED graduate at Adult Education. George came to us last month wanting to obtain his GED. His father-in-law agreed to pay for his CDL (Commercial Driver License) schooling if he earned his GED Certificate. George came to school regularly and worked hard to achieve this goal. All of the ACEC students have a story!

On another note, do you know the cost to get a GED? The good news - IT IS FREE!

• No cost for instruction!
• No cost for practice tests!
• No cost for the official test!

Come to the ACEC or give them a call at 434 799-6471.

Veteran's Day Celebration at Bonner Middle School

Veteran's Day is celebrated on Monday, November 12, 2018. Please join us at Bonner for their Veteran's Day Program! See the flyer below for more info.

Did You Know?

• There were 19.3 million veterans in the US in 2014; 1.6 million of these were female veterans.
• The war which claimed the most American lives was the Civil war, with over 618,000 deaths, compared to 416,000 in World War II.
• Since 1776, 48 million Americans have served in the armed forces.
• Veterans Day was first celebrated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, just one year after the end of World War I. Congress passed legislation in 1926 for the day to become an annual observance. It became known as a national holiday in 1938.
• Memorial Day commemorates those who have laid down their lives for U.S. national defense, whereas Veterans Day honors all who have served their country.

BE SURE TO THANK A VETERAN!

Support Professionals' Day is Wednesday, November 14!

Today's Support Professionals provide invaluable services that enable our students to learn in a positive, supportive environment. DPS Support Professionals include instructional assistants and paraprofessionals, office workers, health and student services workers, bus drivers, security guards, food service workers, custodians, maintenance workers, technology specialists, and skilled trade workers.

As a "Thank You" area restaurants are offering special pricing for meals on 11/14/18 for all of our support staff in celebration of Support Professionals' Day. A flyer is forthcoming with additional information. A copy of the Proclamation that was signed at the October 18, 2018 School Board meeting can be seen below. Thank you for all that you do!!!!

One Person Can Make a Difference

I hope you enjoy this article about Gini Bonnell, a Richmonder, who is making a difference in her community, including local schools with a simple reminder to be kind. This could be a great art project for our students! Please click here for full story.

#everychildeverydayeveryclassroom

Dr. Jones, Patrick Stowe, and I will be visiting each school and facility (if we haven't already) to launch the new DPS Strategic Plan, Snapshot, and website. This is part of an ongoing rebranding effort for the District that includes print, radio, and social media. You will begin to see the below image and tagline in our marketing materials and social media posts. When posting positive stories about DPS, I encourage you to use #everychildeverydayeveryclassroom as this will create consistency in our brand messaging. Looking forward to seeing you and sharing our message!

Eagle Cadets Soar During Annual Cadet Inspection!

This annual inspection was done by CDR Patrick Funk, the Executive Officer from the UVA Naval ROTC Unit. The inspection is done to ensure continuity across the board in all units. The inspection examines a variety of areas:

1. Uniform Inspection - Ensures units are teaching their cadets to wear the uniform according to regulations.
2. Marching Demonstration - Ensures that we are teaching marching drills according to the drill manual and practice on a routine basis.
3. Administration of the Program - Ensures that required paperwork is processed correctly and efficiently.
4. Supply Inventory - Ensures that we are not wasting money and that we are taking good care of uniforms.
5. Staff Brief - This shows the inspector that the staff is not only knowledgeable of unit requirements but that they are actually in charge and leading the cadets.

CDR Funk was very impressed with our cadets during all phases of the inspection! We haven't seen the grades yet but anticipate we will get top marks in all categories!

Get Fired Up - A Motivational Event for Educators - Don't Miss Out!

Saturday, December 8, 2018

9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

O.T. Bonner Middle School

Middle Border Forward (MBF) is delighted to welcome Michael Bonner to the Middle Border region as a special featured speaker. Michael is a 2nd grade teacher at South Greenville Elementary School in Greenville, NC. Everyday he works hard to make a profound impact on his students with his vision to create an engaging learning environment where students can become productive global citizens. He has been teaching for 5 years and is currently working on his graduate degree in school administration at Liberty University. Michael was honored by Ellen DeGeneres, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, the Ashton Kutcher Foundation, Flocabulary, and Front Row, and other media formats in recognition of his positive & innovative approaches to shifting the frameworks surrounding education for all children.

If you do nothing else today, please please Follow this link to see more of Mr. Bonner in action! on the Ellen Show. Unbelievable that he will be in Danville! Thank you MBF!

Michael Bonner also recently published his first book "Get up or Give Up: How I Almost Gave Up on Teaching." Copies will be available for purchase at the event & Michael will be available to sign copies following his presentation.

Tickets must be reserved in advance by Wednesday, December 5, 2018 following the EventBrite link or by calling 434-483-2894.

The event is free for educators in Danville, Caswell County, & Pittsylvania County.

Community Leaders Visit Woodrow!

Mayor Alonzo Jones, along with School Board member Tyquan Graves, members of the Danville Police Department, DPS supporter Warrick Scott, and Woodrow staff gathered this morning to welcome all the smiling faces to school. #everychildeverydayeveryclassroom

Bus and Breakfast Buddies Program Visits Park Avenue

Today, officers within the City of Danville Police Department spent the morning at Park Avenue Elementary School greeting the children as they arrived as well as spending time with them during breakfast. It is all part of the Community Engagement Division’s Bus and Breakfast Buddies Program! See the video here courtesy of River City TV - it will melt your heart on this cold and dreary Friday. #everychildeverydayeveryclassroom