Embedded Files
During the regular meeting of the Danville School Board on Thursday evening, the board recognized September as Attendance Awareness Month, which was recognized by resolution. Student Support Services Director Deborah Harris outlined the steps DPS is taking to support attendance, including an attendance review team, interventions, and the High Five for Attendance campaign.
The board also held a hearing on proposed policy updates for Section E: Support Services and Section I: Instruction.
The board heard the following communications:
Human Resources Director Jo Ellen Hylton gave an update on district vacancies.
IT Director Marcus Chaney provided an overview of the district’s technology plan, in which he spoke about the status of several parts of the district’s technology infrastructure, including the servers, network, devices, etc.
Safety & Security Director Jeffrey McLaughlin gave an overview of safety and the use of metal detectors. The district has secured additional units for the high school so that all students are screened, and the procurement process for district owned units for middle and high schools has started.
Chief Financial Officer Andrea Gillus reviewed the accounts payable warrants.
Chief Academic Officer Takiwi Babalola and Chief Operations Officer Dr. Wayne Lyle informed the board about the division’s participation in the Making Schools Work conference. Making Schools work is a district approach to the school improvement process that engages teachers and school leaders in identifying and studying problems of practice. Those who attended for DPS gave testimonials about their experiences.
Director of the Office of Exceptional Children Dr. Tia Hairston, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mary Ann Jennings, and CTE Director Beth Smith spoke on summer program highlights from OEC camp, Cyber Camp, Camp/Project Invention, Project Based Learning, Dual Language Immersion Camp, Fine Arts Camp, Jumpstart, and Summer School.
Director of Federal Programs Catiia Greene gave an update on Parent & Family Engagement initiatives. Greene provided information about the Parent Education Committee, summer community engagement events, and next steps to further engage parents.
Coordinator of Advanced Learning Kim Agnor and Math Specialist Stephanie Hairston-Prunty gave an update on the Early College Program, which allows DPS juniors to attend DCC during the last two years of high school. Twenty students, 5 from Galileo and 15 from GW, are a part of the inaugural cohort of Early College Scholars.
Electives Instructional Support Coordinator Jennifer Crews gave an update on athletics and sports safety. DPS fully follows all guidelines as set forth by the Virginia High School League (VHSL), including heat and hydration protocols, practice length, and injury and concussion protocol.
Superintendent Dr. Angela Hairston gave an update about student representatives to the school board, for which a policy will be presented in October.
The board took the following actions:
Approved personnel recommendations brought forward by Hylton.
Approved the July 2022 finance report brought forward by Gillus.
Approved the 2022-23 Adult and Career Education Advisory Council brought forward by Adult Education Coordinator Dr. Antonio Hairston.
Approved the rescinding of various instructional policies due to policies being outdated and not supported by the current Code of Virginia and/or covered in another administrative process.
McGruff and the Danville Police Department visited Gibson on Wednesday to greet students and hand out stickers.
Gravity...Fly it! at Park Avenue
Park Avenue second grade students investigated with paper airplanes to determine that different types of force can change the motion of an object.
Students in Mrs. Foote's third block class at GW create yogurt and fruit parfaits as a part of Life Skills 4, 5, 7: Learning cooking skills
RISE Donation
On Monday, RISE Academy was given a donation of 25 men’s and ten women’s deodorant for our students. The donation was made anonymously. We cannot thank our community enough for thinking of our students
Important Upcoming Events
Important Upcoming Events
September 5 - Labor Day Holiday (School out for students)
September 7 - Progress reports go home
September 8 - Forest Hills Renovation feedback session at 5:30 p.m.
Constitution Themed Escape Room at Westwood
Students in Mrs. Cook’s 7th grade Civics and Economic class had the opportunity to participate in an engaging escape room Wednesday at Westwood Middle School.
In this escape room the Constitution had been destroyed. The founding fathers used the assistance of the students to retrace their steps and rewrite the constitution. Students used the clues around the room to help identify which founding documents influenced the Constitution and what important pieces helped build the Constitution.
It’s always a great day at Westwood Middle School!
Positive Office Referrals at Gibson. Great job Bulldogs!
4th Graders complete scientific investigations at Gibson
Floor Hockey at Westwood
Sixth grade students at Westwood Middle School practiced dribbling in the Floor Hockey Unit with Coach Perdue and Miss Ellis. Attached are a few pictures from our dribbling practice!
GW JV Football Update: GW JV Football had a big Non District win Thursday night at Smith River Sports Complex defeating Amherst 22 to 12. The JV Eagles remain undefeated this season. The JV Eagles will be in action at the Smith River Complex again next Thursday against EC Glass again. Congrats to Coach Antoine Morris and Coach Cody Perdue on the win!
Ms. Rosenbaum's Class at Gibson completes bird adaptation lab
Gibson Curriculum Night
Families playing multiplication games against their student to help with facts. Each family was taught multiple ways to play card games to improve math standards.
Students in Ms. Taylor's Kindergarten class at Woodberry complete standard EK.4b Students are identifying front cover, back cover and title page.
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