October 5, 2018
GW's National GEAR UP Dream Wall
To celebrate National GEAR UP Week, George Washington High School students were asked to think about what they wanted to do after graduating high school. Then the students were given the chance to fill out a dream bubble with their dreams and they were posted on the wall outside of the cafeteria on the GEAR UP Dream Wall. Some of the dreams included: playing in the NBA, becoming a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner, as well as things like fashion designers and photographers. The wall will be laminated and moved to the front of the school to be displayed for the rest of the school year.
DR. Adolf Brown Knocks It Out of the Park at GWHS!
Dr. Adolph Brown, a motivational speaker, spoke to George Washington High School's 11th and 12th graders on Monday, September 24, 2018. He began with a deception; a clean-cut, nicely dressed young man stood on stage as hip-hop/rap music started to play. The young man dipped, spun, and twirled. As this happened, a man dressed in baggy jeans, an old white t-shirt, Dred-locked hair, carrying a backpack rose from the audience and took over the stage. This man was the real Dr. Adolph Brown. He wanted the students to see what he looked like before he became the academic and speaker he is today.
Dr. Brown engaged and enlightened students and faculty with his life history. He told students of his rise from poverty and gang filled streets. He explained to them that they too could have a better life if they started making changes in their present lives. Dr. Brown called students on stage for one-on-one conversations and demonstrations about how and what changes they should make in order to lead a more prosperous life. He had advice for both genders concerning proper behavior and respect for themselves and others.
During his talk, Dr. Brown dropped his hip-hop persona by taking off his outer clothing, revealing a well-dressed, cultured individual. By the end of the presentation, he would don his doctoral regalia and explain to students the meaning of the three stripes on his robe. He ended his presentation by letting students know there are no excuses for not trying to better themselves. He is a wonderful speaker for both young and old.
Dr. Brown weaved much-needed knowledge in between hip-hop music, deeply personal anecdotes, wardrobe changes, humor, and high expectations. In the lobby, he continued to encourage both students and teachers with laughter, hugs, and a photo session. Mere words are not enough for this encounter with Dr. Adolph Brown. The first and second pictures below highlight Dr. Brown. The third picture highlights GWHS teachers in attendance, left to right: Kristi Gross, Susan Harlow, Rene Jones-Graves, Dr. Stanley Jones, Dr. Adolph Brown, Mac Porter, and Gwen Stone.
Marching Eagles Sore High at First Competition!
The Marching Eagles had a very successful day at the Patrick County High School Celebration of Pride held on Saturday, September 29, 2018! The Marching Eagles performed wonderfully and were awarded:
1st Place Auxiliary (Color guard)
1st Place Music
1st Place Marching
1st place General Effect
1st place in class for 4A
and BAND OF THE DAY with a rating of Superior!
Please feel free to congratulate our band students and Cody Kesling on their achievements! The winning tradition continues! And thank you to everyone for your support so far this season!
Check Out the New Chalk Talk Episode
Please watch our newest Chalk Talk episode as Dianne Locker focuses on the new standards of accreditation. As you know, the Virginia Department of Education has revised the Standards of Learning (SOLs) and they now give more emphasis to the quality of instruction, achievement, and growth. Click here for a conversation with Dr. Stanley Jones on how this will benefit our district. Dianne also spoke with Everett Johnson, the Principal at Schoolfield Elementary, for a discussion of the methods they used to achieve full accreditation under the new guidelines. You can also catch us on River City TV (Comcast Channel 10) daily at 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Click here or on the picture below for a brief commercial for the show.
Radford University - Summer Residential Governor's School Promotional Video (Important Information For Gifted Education Coordinators)
We are thrilled to announce that Radford University has developed a video about the Summer Residential Governor's School programs in Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts. Click here for the link to Radford's Governor's School page -- scroll down to see the video about the Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts program - a snippet of where you need to click is shown below. This is a good way to introduce these programs to potential applicants!! Remember, while this video is specific to these two programs, other programs are similar in the format/activities they offer students. Application info to follow. For more information, please contact Natashalyn Snipes, the Administrator for Gifted, Secondary Special Education, and Home School, at nsnipes@mail.dps.k12.va.us or 434.799.6400, ext. 264.
October is Bullying Prevention Month
In an effort to promote awareness of school bullying, the Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) Board of Directors has designated the month of October as VSBA Bullying Prevention Month.
Childhood bullying is a significant problem nationwide. It can cause school absenteeism, mental and physical stress, poor school performance, poor self-esteem, and in some cases, school violence. Statistics show that 160,000 children in the United States miss school each day as a result of being bullied.
We all play a critical role in creating a climate where bullying is not tolerated. It has been proven that when adults and children stand together bullying ends.
Each school has received the below poster. Please display in a visible part of your school so your students are educated on how to report an incident involving bullying. When a student sends a text about a bullying incident, the text message goes directly to Billy Chaney, Coordinator of Safety and Security for DPS for assessment and follow-up. See Something. Say Something!!!
A GED Certificate Truly Changes Lives!
Meet our seventh and eighth GED graduates for the 2018/2019 adult education school year. Below, left to right, is Tynia Bethel and Justin Simmons. Today, we made appointments with a counselor at DCC to begin their next step. Come see us at 141 Goode Street or call us at 434-799-6471 for more information. Congratulations!!!!
A Tribute to Ms. Francis Elliott
As a tribute to Ms. Francis Elliott, who passed away suddenly last week, the students and staff at the Danville Alternative Program wore pink ribbons and held signs for the family as the family was leaving for the funeral service. Students and staff lined the street as the family went by. It was a moving tribute to a very special person!
DPS Honored With the 2018 School Nutrition Award by No Kid Hungry!
Danville Public Schools received the second annual Dorothy S. McAuliffe School Nutrition award presented by No Kid Hungry Virginia in September. This award celebrates school divisions that have gone above and beyond by operating all available federal child nutrition programs and achieving stellar participation in the school breakfast program. The award is named in honor of former First Lady of Virginia, Dorothy McAuliffe, in recognition of her efforts to end childhood hunger in the Commonwealth. Please see below for the full press release.
Pictured below, left to right, is Claire Mansfield, the Director of No Kid Hungry Virginia, presenting the award to Phillip Gardner, the Director of Child Nutrition for DPS. Congratulations on this award!
Westwood CARE Club Needs Your Help!
WE NEED YOU! In conjunction with Middle Border Forward, the Westwood Middle School CARE Club is sponsoring a CARE Luggage project. The CARE Club is collecting supplies to benefit foster children in the community who sometimes have to move from home to home very quickly! Through the club's research, these children lack bare essentials and often have to use trash bags instead of luggage to carry their belongings. Beginning Oct. 1, the Club will start collecting supplies: luggage, duffle bags, book bags, books, stuffed animals, new toiletry items (toothbrush, tooth paste, lotion, soap, shampoo, etc.) and non-perishable snacks. You can drop off donations at Westwood's main office. The items will then be delivered to Alliance Human Services (foster agency) in December. Please click here for a short video from the CARE Club. Stay tuned for an upcoming Chalk Talk episode for the full story.
The Friends of the Ruby B. Archie Public Library Present the Fall Book Series 2018
Please see below for information. Just FYI - all library programs are FREE and library cards are FREE to all who live within a 50 mile radius of the City. Don't miss out on these wonderful opportunities!
