Message from Stu

2020 Vision getting clearer

This is a very exciting time for our school district, because we are about to kick our 2020 Vision project into the next phase. Most of you probably recall the amazing launch we had last May when 1,300 members of our community came together to begin the discussion about how to propel Fayette County schools to world-class status. For the last six months, hundreds of volunteers have been studying 21 different topic areas and they have come up with some amazing recommendations.

Please make plans to either attend our Board of Education meetings at 5:30 p.m. on December 12 and 13 or tune into Channel 13 each night. The tireless folks who worked on these recommendations will be presenting their ideas to our school board. Collectively, the report is a blueprint for what a world class school district should look like. This is an extraordinary opportunity for our community and I hope you will continue to support these efforts!

After the presentations are made, members of our community will continue to work with the staff to lay out plans for what changes to recommend for next fall and subsequent years. I encourage you to remain a part of that process – to express your interest, please call our communications office at 381-4108.

On another note, we have received an abundant amount of positive feedback about having the day before Thanksgiving as a day off for teachers and students. My hope is that this worked out well for you and you had some time to spend with your families! We are truly blessed and personally I am thankful for each of you!

Improving our high schools — a community forum

Fayette County Public Schools, along with the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, is sponsoring a community forum on Thursday, December 15, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Bryan Station High School to discuss the need to improve our high schools. Superintendent Stu Silberman and Executive Director of the Prichard Committee Robert Sexton will be discussing how changes to our high schools could affect your family and community. For more information call 233-9849.

Enrich a child’s life by donating a new book

Give the gift of literacy this holiday season by donating a new children’s book to the Books for Children campaign. You can drop books off at any branch of the Lexington Public Library or at Southern Hills United Methodist Church between now and December 8. The books will be given to children ranging from infancy to age 12 in Fayette and Jessamine counties. So far, more than 20,000 books have been donated. Cash and check donations are also welcome. For more information contact Karen Sandberg at (859) 224-8772.

Glendover Elementary School recognized for excellence in international education

Glendover Elementary School has been named a runner-up for this year’s Goldman Sachs Foundation Prizes for Excellence in International Education. The school was selected as a finalist among international studies programs from nearly 200 elementary, middle and high schools, representing approximately 150,000 students. The Goldman Sachs Foundation and Asia Society sponsor the $125,000 prize program.

“This recognition is an affirmation of our belief in school as a microcosm of the world,” said Glendover Elementary principal Cathy Fine. “The diversity of the education we are able to provide students enriches all of us and helps us understand the roles we all have as members of a global community. This focus at Glendover was enriched by the vision and commitment of Jana Koehler and Grace Evensen, who worked with the school and community to bring quality multicultural programs and curriculum to Glendover students — a mission I am committed to seeing continue.”

The school, which serves roughly 600 students, uses the study of economics as a tool for opening student’s eyes to other cultures. Award-winning programs developed from teachers’ own international experiences, such as Elephant Economics and The Indonesian Water Market, cover several disciplinary areas. A lesson on the Euro was incorporated into French and German classes. Glendover also offers a foreign language awareness programs, in which students are exposed to one language over a two-year period and then introduced to a new language including Japanese, Spanish, French and German. Classes are generally taught by native speakers, often parents, and are integrated into social studies using folktales, music, songs and dances, games, economics, holidays and customs.

The school will be honored at a ceremony on December 8 in Washington, D.C.

The Goldman Sachs Foundation is a global philanthropic organizations funded by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The Foundation’s mission is to promote excellence and innovation in education and to improve the academic performance and lifelong productivity of young people worldwide. Funded in 1999, the Foundation has awarded grants in excess of $54 million since its inception, providing opportunities for young people in more than 20 countries.

The Asia Society is America’s leading institution dedicated to fostering understanding of Asia and communication between Americans and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific. A national nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization, the Asia Society develops cultural, policy, business and education programs about Asia for the public and influential leaders.

Will it snow? Will it snow? Will it snow?

The safety of our kids and staff is a top priority for the district, so on snowy days a team of dedicated employees hits the streets at 2 a.m. to assess road conditions. In consultation with meteorologists, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Streets and Roads Division and other officials, school leaders consider street safety, outdoor temperatures and the weather forecasts to make a decision before 5 a.m. about whether to cancel school.

School closures are broadcast on Channel 13, local television and radio stations and the district Web site. If the weather turns dangerous during the school day, decisions about closing school early are made with the same careful deliberation and announcements are distributed through the local media as quickly as possible.

Fred sightings

Fayette County school employees are placing a renewed emphasis on excellent customer service. We have encouraged everyone in our district to put those little personal touches on their work by going the extra mile and showing the people we serve every day that we care about our kids and constituents.

We call folks who provide excellent customer service “Freds,” inspired by the book, “The Fred Factor” by Mark Sanborn about a very service-minded postman named Fred. Anyone can be a “Fred,” just by going above the call of duty in serving the public. If you spot a Fred, please call, write or send me an email.

Safety First!

From an email to Amy McVey, principal at Veterans Park Elementary School…

Thank you so much for having someone pick up the broken glass on Saron Drive. I know this was beyond the call of duty. It was cold on Friday too! I happened to be driving by when the gentleman was picking it up (I’m sorry I don’t know his name, please let him know I really appreciate his work). I stopped my car and thanked him but I wanted you to know too.

Thanks for making Veterans Park Elementary great in so many ways.

Submitted by Rachel Harrington
Parent, Veterans Park Elementary School

Amy McVe, added: This FRED is our custodian – Johnny Bond!

Several Freds spotted at Squires Elementary

Judy Cutler is a primary instructional assistant. She took a student who had been removed from her family under her wings. The student had to face many challenges. Ms. Cutler served as a support person for the student while she was here at Squires and has continued to do so even though the student is now in middle school. Ms. Cutler makes sure this student attends extracurricular activities and provides exceptional kid care.

Lori Sills is a Title 1 Math teacher at Squires. She recently went over and beyond the call of duty. We are a community school and occasionally students’ pets will get out and find their way to our school. We know we can call the dog pound for stray dogs and have had to do so. But first, if at all possible try to contact the parents to have them come first. On the occasion referenced, we could not get in touch with the parents. The student was upset and Ms. Sills volunteered to walk the student and the dog home. Yes, she loves dogs, but loves kids more!

Submitted by Michelle S. Beverly
Principal, Squires Elementary School

Communicating in All Languages

As a German teacher, using American Sign Language to symbolize German vocabulary is an important tool for those kinesthetic learners. One of our deaf students, Dave Cross, routinely teaches me sign language for the different units that I teach. He is so patient and helpful, as is his deaf interpreter, Donna Synder.

Submitted by Susan Marnatti
German Teacher, Beaumont Middle School

Fred’s Dad?

We have found the ultimate Freds here at Athens Elementary. Several of our bus drivers arrive at school about 20 minutes before school dismissal each day. They have taken the time out to read and mentor several students three days a week. Our students are able to accumulate Reading Counts points and receive valuable one-on-one attention from a supportive adult. The students look forward to working with the drivers and see them in a different role.

These drivers are grandfathers, fathers, uncles, friends, and wonderful role models for our students. We are happy to provide the drivers with Athens T-shirts each year, which they always wear proudly. It really means a lot to our students and faculty to see the relationship our drivers have with the entire school. I believe this is an unusual, yet wonderful collaboration between the educational and operational departments of FCPS.

This adds another meaning to “It’s About Kids.” Somewhere in Fred’s history, someone laid the foundation to teach him the characteristics he embodies. I believe that our drivers are the type of people that fathered Fred. The fathers of Fred are Jackie Rhorer, Walter “Bond” Guy, Gary Slotnik, and Steve Cummins. Please help me honor these great employees for a job “whale” done.

Submitted by Carla Jackson, Family Resource Center Coordinator
Athens Elementary School

A special Fred helps welcome a new student

I just wanted you to be aware of a “Fred” encounter I had today. While I was making some copies during my planning, I was called to the office to meet a new student, who has fairly extensive special needs. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with her today, since both the special education facilitator and intermediate special education teacher were out today. So after I took our new student to music class, I used my last few moments of planning to speak with Mrs. Fiscus (who teaches third grade special education) to see if she had any ideas. Well, boy did I ask the right person!

Mrs. Fiscus took time out of her morning to get my new student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) in order, made copies for everyone, checked her IEP goals, and found things for her to work on today that would be helping with her IEP goals. Then she brought the little girl back down to my room with all of the things she gathered, including a few instructional tools that she will probably use in the resource room.

Plus she did all of this in less than an hour! I was just in shock of all that she did for me and our new student today. This child is not assigned to Mrs. Fiscus, and she went out of her way to help a colleague in need. Mrs. Fiscus exemplified “It’s about Kids” today. I think that she was a true “Fred” today and I just wanted to let you know! I think my countless thank-yous just didn’t do her “Fredness” justice today!

Submitted by Lindsey Volland, fifth grade teacher
Julius Marks Elementary

Garden Springs students perform random acts of kindness

Last month, Linda Wilson, a second grade teacher at Garden Springs Elementary School, read a story to her students encouraging them to practice random acts of kindness. Inspired by what they had learned, several students began “paying it forward” by being kinder to one another and to strangers. “It’s important for the kids to know that you don’t have to have money to be kind,” said Wilson.

The focus on kindness is paying off in the classroom and in the students’ everyday lives. Wilson has been rewarding her students for their kindness by giving them tickets whenever she sees them doing something particularly nice for someone else. The tickets are redeemed at the end of the week during a drawing for prizes like stuffed animals or students can pick a gift for their family members. The class has also adopted a family for the holidays. “It makes you feel good to see the kids doing things for others. Even a smile can make someone’s day,” she said. “If you start teaching kids now that being kind matters, hopefully it will carry over and follow them throughout their lives.”

Recently, second-graders Connor and Collin Jones secretly raked leaves in the yard of their neighbors. When the neighbors came home and discovered their freshly manicured lawn, they sent this letter to the boys:

Dear Collin and Connor (two great guys),

What a great surprise Elizabeth and I had when we returned home form a weekend trip to find that our entire front yard had been raked clean of leaves. Your mother said that it was a part of a school project to “do something nice for someone” but shoot, you guys are always doing something nice. And what a great job it was; we see you helping your mom quite often.

I’ll tell you, Elizabeth and I are certainly proud of you, we know your parents are, and feel sure that your teacher thinks that you are some of the very best; we believe she may be thinking “A-plus!”

You both take good care of yourselves keep up the good work and we’ll see you before Christmas time.

Your friends and neighbors,

Gene and Elizabeth

In memoriam

Last month our school district and community lost a champion for equity with the passing of Mr. David Quick. Mr. Quick was a 1952 graduate of the old Dunbar High School and was one of four Fayette County Public School parents who filed legal action in 1971 in federal district court against the Board of Education, claiming the district unlawfully segregated African-American children and white children in the elementary and junior high schools. In 1972, Federal Judge Mac Swinford agreed with the claim and declared the operation of the school system to be in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution and directed the school system to conform to that clause and eliminate all forms of segregation within the elementary and junior high schools. Mr. Quick’s tireless work, determination and commitment helped pave the way for a better education for all children and will continue to serve future generations.

He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren. Our thoughts and hearts go out to his family during this time of loss.

Lafayette and SCAPA chorus and choir students shine

Twenty-three Lafayette students have been chosen to the all-state choirs held that will perform in conjuction with the Kentucky Music Educators Association convention in Louisville in February. Students were chosen based upon performance and sight-singing skills. They are: Trey Alexander (SCAPA), Laura Beam (SCAPA), Taylor Eldred (SCAPA), Josh Hamilton, Ben Hardison, Jenny Jacoby (SCAPA), Erin Keesy (SCAPA), Charles Krebs (SCAPA), Miles Meehan (SCAPA), Anthony Miller, Will Daniel Mudd-Simmons (SCAPA), Chris Payne, James Pennington (SCAPA), Lauren Rhodes, Carlisle Schoner (SCAPA), Stephanie Seithers, Karah Sutton (SCAPA), Slade Thompson, Ainsley Wagner (SCAPA), David Watkins, Paige Weherley (SCAPA), Jacki Weittenhiller, and Lesley Williams (SCAPA).

11 Lafayette students were accepted into the freshmen all-state chorus. Those students were Elizabeth Boyle, Cathy Christian, Jessica Crutcher, Amelia Harris (SCAPA), John Krebs (SCAPA), Renee Lewis, Leenisha Marks (SCAPA), Chris Stahl (SCAPA), Ashley Stuckey, Emily Woods (SCAPA).

Lafayette also had four students chosen to participate in American Choral Directors Association honor Choirs. Students chosen from among those auditioning from 11 states are: John Krebs, Bonnie Stuck, Sarah Tubbesing, and Jacki Weittenhiller.

And seven Lafayette students attended the Kentucky National Association of Teachers of Singing competition at Murray State University in October. The participants were:  Erin Keesy (1st place), Sarah Tubbesing (2nd place), Jacki Weittenhiller (3rd place), Laura Beam, Carlie Schoner,  Lesley Williams, and Maggie Wittman. 

You can check out some of these outstanding students and their performances at these upcoming concerts.

December 6, 7:30 p.m.
Winter Concert
Beeler Auditorium at Lafayette High School

December 13, 7:30 p.m.
Winter Concert
Central Christian Church, 205 East Short Street, Lexington

The Choral Department is lead by Ryan Marsh, Director of Choirs, and Janet Graham, SCAPA Vocal Instructor/Director. For more information about the Lafayette Choral Department, visit www.lafayettechoir.org.

This week's Kudos go to...

The Bryan Station Middle School student council for their performance at the Kentucky Association of Student Councils annual convention. Students were recognized for conducting the best Spirit Week and Jordan Chapman was elected to the executive board.

Retired German professor Dr. Ursel Boyd for donating 150 advent calendars to Ms. Susan Marnatti’s German classes at Beaumont Middle School. The calendars are filled with chocolates and are used as a fundraiser for the German program. Dr. Boyd’s donation will provide each student with a calendar of their own.

Richard Young, a junior creative writing major at SCAPA at Lafayette High School, for being selected to the 2006 Honor Orchestra of America. Richard was one of only eight bass players accepted from across the nation and will participate in the Orchestra America National Festival in Indianapolis in March.

SCAPA Bluegrass fourth- and fifth- graders for being selected to perform at the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) state convention in Louisville in February.

Lafayette High School’s wind symphony. The symphony will be a featured performing group at the KMEA Annual Professional Development Conference in Louisville in February.

David Jackson, a SCAPA at Lafayette High School junior, for receiving the 2005 Outstanding Performer Award by the Kentucky Theatrical Association.

Tates Creek High School sophomore Olivia Bernard. Olivia’s poem “Why” has been awarded the Editor’s Choice Award by Poetry.com and will be published in the Best Poems and Poets of 2005 from the International Library of Poetry.

Andy Stephenson, Technology Education teacher in the 8th grade Technical Academy at Southside Technical Center, for being elected President–Elect of the International Technology Education Association. The association is the largest professional educational association and information clearinghouse devoted to enhancing technology education through technology, innovation, design, and engineering experiences at the K-12 school levels.

Stonewall Elementary School students for being chosen to share stories, pictures and poems about University of Kentucky basketball fans in the game program printed by Host Communications. You can purchase a program and see the students’ work at all UK home games.

The Tates Creek Middle School football team for winning the City Championship. The team is coached by Larry Poynter and Eric Thornsbury.

Beaumont Middle School teacher Susan Marnatti for being named the State Middle School World Language Teacher of the Year.

The Beaumont Middle School band for being selected to perform at the “Super Bowl” of bands, The Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Beaumont is one of only three middle schools world wide chosen to perform at the clinic. You can see them perform on Friday, December 9 at 7 pm at Lexington Christian Academy on Reynolds Road.

The Henry Clay High School varsity academic team for winning in overtime at the Thoroughbred Academic League Competition.

Two Fayette County public schools for outstanding performance at the University of Kentucky’s second annual Central Kentucky FIRST LEGO Exhibition. Locally sponsored by Toyota and the UK College of Engineering, the competition challenges students to use math, science, and technology skills to build LEGO robots and solve problems. A team of students from Winburn Middle School received the Teamwork Award and kids from Millcreek Elementary School received the Research Award.

The LTMS sixth grade academic team. The team won the state sixth grade showcase academic competition in Danville over the weekend.

Lecciones de liderazgo de Sam

Pagando el Precio

El viernes pasado Papá fue a una cosa de liderazgo con un hombre llamado John Maxwell. Volvió todo emocionado así que le tuve que preguntar de qué se trataba todo. Bueno, ustedes conocen a Papá, me tuvo que dar una charla acerca de ser un mejor perro. Empezó a hablar y a hablar acerca de la Ley del Precio de John Maxwell. Dijo que para hacer grandes cosas, tenemos que pagar el precio. He visto esos precios en la tienda de mascotas, pero no tenía idea de que estaba hablando Papá así que le dije que yo estaba confundido. Papá me dio el ejemplo de mantener mi estado físico. (Me he puesto muy flojo desde que me retiré de las competencias de perro.) Dijo que si yo quería estar en buen estado físico tenía que pagar el precio porque no va a hacerse solo y mientras más grande sea el precio que yo pague estaré en mejor estado físico. Empecé a entender, así que le pedí a papá que me llevara a la tienda de mascotas y a pagar el precio por ese juguete de goma que me gusta tanto. ¡Guau guau!