Message from Stu

Celebrate the year and enjoy the break

I would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a great summer. Everyone deserves some rest and relaxation and I hope you will be able to enjoy time together with your families. It has been a very good year with top notch teaching and learning. Our students have excelled and led our state – and in some cases the nation – in many areas. Our school board has had the good fortune of being able to recognizing these accomplishments each month.

Our graduates are going to colleges from U.K. to U. of L to Bluegrass Technical and Community College to Harvard, Yale, N.Y.U., M.I.T. etc. We are quite proud of their accomplishments. I had the opportunity to attend most of our high school academic award programs and was extremely proud to hear about the extraordinary amount of scholarship money that has been received by students in Fayette County. We also had 33 National Merit Scholars, a perfect ACT score, the National Teen Jeopardy Champion, the state Geography Bee champ, state champion speech team, and top ranked MATHCOUNTS team. We sure have a lot to offer and our kids who are taking advantage of the opportunity and reaching very high levels!

On Friday and Monday, I participated in the Ride For Kids where several of us took personal vacation time to ride our bicycles to all 54 of our schools (about 100 miles). Mike Burke, Sam Conder, Vince Mattox, and Mike Kennedy joined from It’s About Kids Support Services. And Steve Byars, Leslie Fannin and Mark Pimintel from the Education Foundation also rode to support our schools. Aquafina was our lead sponsor and donated $10,000 for the ride! All of the money raised will go to the education foundation, which will then go back to our classrooms. Thanks to all who worked so hard on this good cause. Special thanks to Mike Kennedy for coming up with the idea.

Many of you know that one of the highlights of each month for me is taping a show called “Kids Say the Funniest Things,” featuring some of our most precocious kindergarten and first-grade students. I’d like to leave this year on a high note with a video clip of one of our stars from Ashland Elementary.

Again, thanks for all you do for our kids and have a GREAT summer!!!

Ride for Kids

What has 24 wheels, 8 helmets and a whole lot of sore muscles? The Ride For Kids – held Friday and Monday in an effort to raise awareness about the Fayette Education Foundation and also generate funds to support schools.

Over the two days, volunteers including Superintendent Stu Silberman rode their bikes to all 54 Fayette County Public Schools. Students and teachers presented the riders with money they raised to support the Education Foundation and title sponsor Aquafina donated $10,000 to the cause.

In conjunction with the ride, the Fayette Education Foundation awarded $5,000 each to Cassidy Elementary and Jessie Clark Middle Schools in recognition of their hard work in closing achievement gaps and raising overall student achievement.

Criteria for the awards are based on scores from the state accountability and testing system. Both of these schools eliminated achievement disparities between different groups of students, while raising overall performance and meeting high standards. To qualify for the cash awards, schools must have narrowed more than 80 percent of existing achievement gaps, earned an academic index of 70 or higher on CATS and either posted a 10 or more point gain in either reading or math, or have reading math scores above 90.

In addition to rewarding schools that both narrow achievement gaps and raise student achievement, the Foundation will support innovative, research-based educational opportunities so that success stories may be modeled and repeated throughout the district. The Foundation will also begin offering grants to schools to help pay for the kinds of programs and services that the 2020 Vision project recommends.

View more pictures from the Ride for Kids

The Ride for Kids – from a different vantage point

The following was written by John Bryant, a member of the Fayette County Public Schools web team.

I think there comes a point in every man’s life when he has an important decision to make concerning growing old. For most of us, it probably hits somewhere close to when we’re staring 50 straight in the eyes. Some little, pre-set, biological alarm goes off and we know we’ve got to make a decision. We ask ourselves “am I going to become the grumpy, crotchety old man that kids love to make fun of, or am I going to become the nice old guy, imparting his wisdom in a friendly manner that the kids love to make fun of?” In no way am I proud of it, but I’ve been well entrenched on the pathway leading to the former rather than the latter for several years now. In fact, my co-workers have nicknamed me “Becker.”

Then, early last week, I was asked to be a substitute driver in the “Ride for Kids” for a fallen comrade here at It’s About Kids Support Services. Since I had already volunteered prior to this, I didn’t think it would be a good idea to go back on my offer to help out.

My mind immediately began to formulate my expectations concerning the “Ride for Kids” in which I’d be participating in the near future. It didn’t take long for my cynical side to show itself and my opinions had been formulated and my expectations were set.

Since my portion of the ride is now over with, I thought I’d share what my expectations were going in and what I learned along the way.

My Expectations: There would be a circus atmosphere with cameras and lots of “pseudo participants” wanting to grab a share of any limelight that might happen to be cast upon the event.

What I found: Eight riders who were intent on finishing the 56-mile course that had been set for the day. Riders that had been training for many weeks prior to the ride. People that genuinely cared about the cause and were giving freely of their time and considerable effort.

My Expectations: I would be driving a VW Bug on loan from Old Don Jacobs, bored to death, eating bananas and listening to some select CDs I had brought from home. I pictured myself fighting gallantly to fend off sleep and accidentally running over my boss.

What I found: Due to some mix-up, the VW was unavailable and I spent the day riding around in the Aquafina car with a young lady who was representing Aquafina with much dignity and class. (Author’s note - Aquafina should be proud of Michele Dunn and they need to get her out in the public more often.) If Michele is an indicator of the young people coming up in the U.S.A. today, our country is in great hands for the future!

My Expectations: I’d be riding behind a bunch of old men in Spandex all day looking at their backsides.

What I found: It’s impossible to make lemonade out of some lemons … no matter how tightly they’re squeezed by Spandex! I will make one exception in order to try and assuage the angry outburst that might be forthcoming from the smarter and more fun to look at half of our population. (For you guys out there that can’t figure that one out … I’m talking about the females.) When we arrived back at IAKSS, we were warmly greeted by a nice crowd of hand waving, horn blowing co-workers. 98 percent of which were female. Out of those 98 percent, I would say that each and every single one of them showed up, solely, to see Vince Mattox in his Spandex shorts and jersey. From the smiles on their faces, I don’t think they were disappointed.

My Expectations: To find a principal or associate principal at each school trotting out to meet Stu and the gang, grudgingly handing over the cash and trotting back into school.

What I found: Throngs of students and faculty waiting with smiling faces, waving signs, clapping, cheering, encouraging the riders and showing pride in how much money they’d been able to raise for the cause. There were children chanting “Mr. Stu, we love you … Mr. Stu, we love you”, rockets blasting off, dances, songs and all sorts of well wishing. These kids – and some of the faculty as well – were totally mesmerized with our charismatic superintendent. No matter if you’re for him or against him … you’ve got to admit, he’s a breath of fresh air here in our school system. (Author’s note – I’m for him … and I’m not just saying that because he’s my boss and can fire me whenever he wants!)

My Expectations: To bemoan the fact that I’d blown a day of vacation on this ride.

What I found: I was glad (and proud) to have been able to participate in such a worthy event and to have gotten a glimpse of the young people coming up in our school system. I felt privileged to have taken part in an event that raised money to help close the achievement gap in our schools. To top it all off … I got to ride around in a cool car, driven by an attractive young lady and people handed me bags full of money all day long. Does it get any better than that? I guess the old saying is true … even a blind hog can root up an acorn every once in awhile!

I’m not going to say that Friday has been a total life changing experience, but it sure made me stumble a bit on my chosen path. Who knows? Maybe I can reset the biological alarm clock and change my mind… Maybe I can take a “mulligan” in decision making... Maybe there’s still hope for an old dog to learn new tricks. One thing I learned for sure, you won’t catch me wearing Spandex in public!

Teacher of the Year nominations open

Every day in this school district, hard working, talented teachers are making a difference in the lives of our kids. Take the time to nominate one of them for the Fayette County Teacher of the Year contest. Teachers can be nominated by anyone – students, parents, peers, principals, past students, community members. No self nominations are allowed.

Nominations are due by 5 p.m. June 15th. Forms are available at all Fayette County Public Schools or by contacting the district communications office by calling 381-4108 or emailing toy@fayette.k12.ky.us. There is also an online form you can use to nominate a teacher.

Once nominated, teachers will be invited to formally apply. Judging will include application review, a classroom observation and an interview. Winners for the 2005-2006 school year will be announced in September.

Governor’s School for the Arts winners

Congratulations to the following high school students for being selected to the Governor’s School for the Arts. The students will spend an intensive three weeks at Transylvania University this summer honing their skills in their particular craft.

Bryan Station High
Erin Jackson - Instrumental Music

Henry Clay High
Julia Burchett - Musical Theatre
Melissa Cowan - Instrumental Music
Michael McGonigal - Instrumental Music
Shelby Miller - Visual Art
Emily Mooney - Dance

Lafayette High
Chris Crocker - Creative Writing
Claire Doyle - Dance
Molly Dunn - Creative Writing
Jason Feese - Dance
Dana Ferguson - Dance
Adrianna Lacey - Creative Writing
Donald Lafleur - Instrumental Music
Laura Menard - Instrumental Music
Molly Miller - Instrumental Music
Satomi Nakao - Instrumental Music
Hayley Powell - Drama
Shannon Smith - Dance
Whitnee Thorp - Creative Writing
Rebecca Deery - Dance
Graeme Gardner - Instrumental Music
Simon Powell - Drama
Ellen Reinhard - Dance
Kathleen Sink - Drama
Sarah Tubbesing - Vocal Music
Shircun Willis II - Instrumental Music

Paul Laurence Dunbar High
Katelin Kelly - Creative Writing
Lauren Golden - Dance
Aaema Athar - Drama
Thomas Iorio - Instrumental Music
Grace Li - Instrumental Music

Tates Creek High
Julie Blankenship - Creative Writing
Tanner Bond - Architecture
Robert Lawson - Instrumental Music
VaNedra Moore - Creative Writing

Apply for UK's FEA Summer Camp

The University of Kentucky College of Education invites students to attend its one-week Future Educators of America summer camp program from June 11 to 16. The camp, now in its third year, is free and geared to helping students have a good understanding of the education profession. Thirty-five students will be selected to participate. To qualify, students must be entering their junior or senior year, or have recently graduated, have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher and/or an ACT/SAT score report of 18 or higher. Students must be involved in the Future Educators Club, an education magnet program, the Minority Teacher Education Project, and/or the Peer Tip program. They must also have a real interest in pursuing education as a career.

Applications are available by calling the UK College of Education at 257-1229. The deadline to apply is May 25, 2006. Applications and accompanying information should be sent to Rose Boulay, FEA Conference Director, UK College of Education, 128 Taylor Educ. Bldg., Lex., KY 40506-0001.

Brain Power Takes Center Stage

In an outgrowth of the ongoing work of One Community, One Voice and the Fayette County Public Schools to raise student achievement levels for all students, a pair of Mayor’s Academic Challenges drew hundreds of elementary-aged contestants on May 13 and 20. The first contest, held at Harrison Elementary School was for school-based teams. The second round of competition, held at Booker T. Washington Academy was for neighborhood teams.

Teams from Athens Elementary School won both the primary and intermediate competitions in the school round. Teams from Arlington, Booker T. Washington Academy, Breckinridge, Cardinal Valley, Deep Springs, Harrison, Johnson, Mary Todd, Millcreek, Northern, Southern, Squires, and Yates also competed.

Winners in the community competition were The Brenda Cowan Center in the primary competition and Greater New Hope Center in the intermediate competition. There were representatives from 17 community teams on May 20.

The Academic Challenge was formerly a summer program, but parents and students requested that the competition become a year-round program to include both school and neighborhood teams. This program is designed to motivate student learning, make learning fun and “cool,” and engage parents in the education programs of their children.

The kids practiced for months under the guidance of academic team coaches to gear up for the challenge, brushing up on their knowledge of subjects and skills elementary students are required to learn in Kentucky. Unlike many existing academic competitions, this Academic Challenge is open to any child who chooses to participate.

“The Academic Challenge Provides all children the opportunity to participate in an event that challenges them academically,” said Elementary School Director Lisa Stone, who helped coordinate the competition. “In preparing for the event, they’re also expanding their knowledge and understanding of content that they need to know and master.”

Since 2004, One Community, One Voice initiatives have been concentrated on improved student achievement and increased parent involvement recognizing that there is an undisputed link between student school success and parent involvement. The centerpiece of the OCOV initiatives has been the Academic Challenge Program that is open to all students attending the 13 OCOV Elementary Model Schools, and other schools that wish to participate. Neighborhood teams encourage participation from students who attend the One Community, One Voice Model Schools but do not live close to their assigned school. This major initiative has produced the greatest degree of student engagement and increased parent involvement.

The Superintendent’s Academic Cup for both school and neighborhood teams will be held on July 22, 2006.

Student “Reflections” Take State Honors

Each year, the Reflections Program sponsored by the National PTA offers students the opportunity to create arts of work for fun and recognition. Students in preschool through 12th grade are encouraged to submit original creations – on a variation of a single theme – in literature, musical composition, photography and the visual arts. (Dance will be added next year at the national level, and is recognized in Kentucky currently.) The program begins with competitions locally, then at the state and national levels. In Kentucky, 10,508 students participated at the local level. 993 entries were sent on the district level for judging and of those, 136 moved on to the state level.

The 2005-2006 theme was “I wonder why…” The following Fayette County students were recently honored at the state Kentucky PTA recognition:

Kentucky Creative Interpretation Awards, in photography: Alexandra Katherine Birmingham, Henry Clay High School

National PTA Reflections Award Award of Merit, Middle/Junior Division: Tomomi Nakao, Lexington Traditional Magnet School

Other 2005-2006 Kentucky PTA Reflections Winners

Literature
Primary Division
Award of Merit – Audrey Karlesse Caswell, Stonewall Elementary
Intermediate Division
Award of Excellence - Shannon Grace Mumper, Millcreek Elementary
Middle/ Junior Division
Award of Merit – Cecilia Honore Elder, Morton Middle
Senior Division
Award of Merit – Cynthia Ellen Storrs, Tates Creek High

Dance - Group
Middle/ Junior Division
Tia Washington and Ellory Schroader, LTMS

Dance - Individual
Intermediate Division
Award of Merit – Victoria Lynn Salsman, Meadowthorpe Elementary
Senior Division
Award of Excellence – Lauren Elizabeth Smith, Paul Laurence Dunbar High

Visual Arts
Middle/ Junior Division
Award of Excellence – Tomomi Nakao, LTMS
Senior Division
Award of Excellence - Lena Ruan, Henry Clay High

Musical Composition
Primary Division
Award of Excellence – Daniel Phillips, Veterans Park Elementary
Intermediate Division
Award of Merit – Almira Southworth, Squires Elementary
Middle/ Junior Division
Award of Merit – Jennifer Yu, LTMS
Senior Division
Award of Merit – Mikhail Proctor, Paul Laurence Dunbar High

Photography
Primary Division
Award of Excellence – Callie Elizabeth Gray, Millcreek Elementary; Aly Catherine Banys, Rosa Parks Elementary
Middle/ Junior Division
Award of Excellence – Cassie Ann Campbell, Southern Middle
Senior Division
Award of Excellence – Alexandra Katherine Birmingham, Henry Clay High

Fast Forward Teacher Professional Development Program Gets Educators into Area Businesses

The following article was submitted by Pamela Trautner, the Executive Director of the Lexington Partnership for Workforce Development, Commerce Lexington Inc.

Fifteen middle school and high school teachers and administrators who participated in this year’s Fast Forward program recently visited Alltech Biotechnology on May 4 where they learned Alltech is Kentucky’s leading exporter, has 1,600 employers in 84 countries and conducts major applied research initiatives at its Nicholasville headquarters. Many of the teachers were amazed and indicated they had no idea Alltech existed, let alone conducted this type of applied research and overall international business.

Alltech’s Hema Kumar and Doug Parks welcomed the group and provided an overview of the company. Mr. Parks took the group for a tour of the research and manufacturing campus, including production, marketing and R&D. Throughout the entire tour everyone at Alltech stressed the need for students to truly understand advanced math and science, have a dependable work ethic and be willing to take risks.

This year’s Fast Forward program ended with a graduation luncheon at the Lafayette Club. Several community and business leaders attended the celebration and heard from participants Diana Smith, curriculum coach at Tates Creek Middle School, and James Hardin, principal at Southside Technical Center. Greg Figgs, director of high schools, and Michael Ernst, director of middle schools, both spoke to the group and indicated partnerships with business are important and an integral part of ensuring student success.

Fast Forward, a program offered by Commerce Lexington’s Partnership for Workforce Development, gives teachers the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the realities of the workplace as often teachers have not worked in the private sector. Fast Forward helps bridge the private sector and Fayette County Public Schools. Fast Forward is an excellent forum for educators to interact with the private sector, network within the group and develop ideas to incorporate into their curriculum.

This year teachers learned about various business sectors/topics and visited these area businesses:

October 12, 2005 – Entrepreneurship
Neil Van Uum, Joseph Beth Booksellers

November 10, 2005 – Manufacturing
Kathy Gornik, Thiel Audio
Rudy Schmidt, Crest Products

December 8, 2005 – Financial In’s & Out’s/Tourism
Dr. Ray Forgue, University of Kentucky
Vicky Rauth, National City Bank
David Lord, Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau

January 19, 2006 – Communications, Marketing & Media/International Trade
Daryl Love, Ashland
Kathy Quinn, KET
Juli Gaworski, KY World Trade Center

February 23, 2006 – Veterinary Medicine, Equine Industry & Healthcare
Robin Murray, Rood & Riddle
Jim Navolio, KY Equine Education Project
Rose Patrick, St. Joseph Healthcare

March 23, 2006 – Construction & Technical Education
Scott Davis, Davis & Plomin Mechanical Engineering
Mark Williams, Fayette County Public Schools/Southside Tech
Joe Norman, Eastside Technical Center

May 4, 2006 – Research & Development
Doug Parks & Hema Kumar, Alltech Biotechnology

It’s About Kids Scholarship winners announced

Congratulations to the following students for being awarded $1,000 It’s About Kids Education scholarships. To be chosen to receive the award, students must plan on pursuing education as a career, have participated in at least one leadership activity, and be of high moral character. The scholarships are sponsored by Stu and Kathy Silberman. This year’s recipients are:

Bradli Stinson from Bryan Station High
Jessica Ashcraft from Henry Clay High
Paul Rotramel from Lafayette High
Monica Swartzentruber from Paul Laurence Dunbar High
Abigail Gaston from Tates Creek High

One coach’s experience

The following was submitted by Emily Mooring, a Lexington attorney and member of the Junior League of Lexington, who served as a volunteer reading coach at Ashland Elementary School as part of One to One: Practicing Reading with Students. One to One, a program of the Partnership for Successful Schools, recruits, trains, and supports adult volunteers who work with struggling readers in elementary and secondary schools.

Last fall, through my membership in the Junior League of Lexington, I had the good fortune to learn about a wonderful organization in our state, The Partnership for Successful Schools. More specifically, I was offered the opportunity to become a reading coach for the Partnership’s program called One-to-One: Practicing Reading with Students program. I was immediately interested in this opportunity for various reasons. Not only did this appear to be an opportunity that would fit into my busy schedule as an attorney and a working mother, but it also seemed that it would allow me to have a direct positive impact on a child’s education and life.

Basically, a One-to-One reading coach assists an elementary or middle school student with his or her reading skills on a weekly basis over the course of 16 weeks. Each weekly session lasts 35 minutes and can be scheduled any time during the student’s school day that is convenient for the coach and does not drastically interfere with the student’s regular classroom activities.

My volunteer experience began with a One-to-One coaches’ training session, which lasted four hours and provided me with the information and resources necessary to be a successful reading coach. Although I was still a little apprehensive about my own “coaching” abilities, I did feel very prepared for and excited about my first coaching experience.

Following the training, I was assigned to coach a kindergarten student at Ashland Elementary School. Prior to my first coaching session, I was able to meet both my student and her teacher at Ashland Elementary. In addition to the information and tools that the Partnership had already provided to me, my student’s teacher offered useful suggestions and ideas about how I could best help my student improve her pre-reading and reading skills. The teacher’s enthusiasm for this program instantly confirmed my earlier hope that this program really does make a difference in students’ educations and lives.

Because my student was only in kindergarten, many of our early sessions were focused on pre-reading skills such as letter recognition and identifying the sounds individual letters make. As the semester progressed, we also worked on actually spelling and reading words. We always concluded each session with a reading from a short book.

Each week I was delighted to see how excited my student was to see me and to work on her skills. Her enthusiasm and eagerness to improve her reading skills was not only refreshing, but also clear evidence of the positive impact of the program. The speed at which her skills improved over the course of 16 weeks was personally gratifying for me, but more importantly, it was personally gratifying for my student.

Coaching has been an amazing experience. I was surprised by how easily and naturally coaching came to me, despite the fact that I do not have a teaching background. In addition, I quickly realized the added benefit of being able to apply my coaching skills at home as I worked with and read to my own preschool-aged daughter. I have taken advantage of various volunteer opportunities in the past, but this has definitely been the most personally rewarding.

There are many children in communities across our state that can achieve greater results with only a minimal time commitment from individuals in our communities to a program like One-to-One: Practicing Reading with Students. It is a unique volunteer opportunity that allows you to experience first-hand the great impact you can have on the life of a child by helping them achieve.

What they want – FCPS has it!

For the 15th year in a row, the Fayette County Public Schools received the “What Parents Want” Award by SchoolMatch, an educational research and consulting firm. Only 21 Kentucky school districts have been granted the honor this year. Across the country, 2,504 of the nation’s 15,573 districts earned the distinction.

To determine which districts get the award, SchoolMatch compiled information from more than 97,000 parent questionnaires to determine what parents most often seek when choosing a school district for their children, including solid academics, competitive test scores, national recognition for excellence, competitive teacher salaries, above average instructional expenditures and high quality secondary education.

Fayette students bring home technology honors

The first annual State STLP Championship was held at the Lexington Convention Center recently and Fayette County was well represented on both days. Students competed in individual categories as well as group categories. Local winners are:

From Paul Laurence Dunbar High:
Zach Kratzer and Daniel Bridges, 2nd Place High School Programming Competition

From Millcreek Elementary:
Rachel Dixon, 2nd place Elementary Original Creative Digital Art

From James Lane Allen Elementary:
“Techno Tigers” Showcase, Top 30 Finalist

We also have several new STLP Gold and Silver schools!

Gold 2006: Athens Elementary, Breckinridge Elementary, Dixie Elementary, Glendover Elementary, Julia R. Ewan Elementary, Lafayette High, Maxwell Elementary, Millcreek Elementary and Morton Middle.

Silver 2006: Tates Creek Elementary.

Governor’s Scholars announced

Congratulations to this year’s FCPS Governor’s Scholars! The Governor’s Scholars Program is a stimulating, five-week, residential summer program for outstanding Kentucky students completing their junior year in high school.

Established in 1983, the popular program provides academic and personal growth in a challenging, non-traditional experience that balances a strong liberal arts program with a full co-curricular and residential life experience. Students must complete an application and compete with others from across the state. Those selected attend the program free of charge.

View a list of this year’s Governor’s Scholars

YMCA Black Youth Achievers recognized

Congratulations to the following students for being recognized at the 21st Annual YMCA Black Achievers Banquet in April. Students are awarded cash prizes and scholarships as part of their gift for making a difference in their communities. Paul Laurence Dunbar High School senior Ranthony Clark was named the 2006 Youth Achiever of the Year.

View a list of all the other YMCA Black Youth Achievers

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.

Support during testing is appreciated

I would like to acknowledge some of the Henry Clay students and their teacher, Jody Cabble for their support of Breckinridge Elementary during testing. These students went above and beyond to show their support for the young students at Breckinridge in many different ways. Just to name a few, they sent personalized cards to almost 250 students, they made more than 20 posters for us to hang in each testing classroom and throughout the school, they donated pencils, and most amazing of all, raised enough money to provide water for each student for the first week of testing. It is amazing to see the support that Henry Clay students are exuding for students they do not even know. As a teacher at Breckinridge, I was able to see the impact that these gifts made on the children throughout the two weeks of testing. My students were so amazed that they received a card with their name on it from someone they hadn’t even met. They definitely feel connected to Henry Clay High School and cared about by Henry Clay teachers and students. It is awesome to see that we have Freds not only in the staff, but in the students also.

Submitted by Angela Rey-Barreau, Teacher
Breckinridge Elementary

Quick work helps in transition to new school

I just wanted to let you know how wonderful some of our Child Guidance Specialists are! As you know, we have approximately 200 incoming students to Athens-Chilesburg Elementary for the 2006-2007 school year. In order to make our classes as balanced as possible and to help with these students’ transition to ACE, we decided to send placement cards to the schools from which we are getting the most FCPS students. Those schools turned out to be Yates, Glendover and Dixie elementary schools. I contacted Liz Owens, Charlotte Blaydes and Terry Watson to help coordinate this at their schools. I asked that they get the cards back to me before the last day of school. I was surprised, yet not surprised knowing these people, to find them in my mail box this morning – 6 days ahead of schedule. What a great help this will be in creating our new classrooms. I just wanted you to know how dedicated they are to their students, even the ones that are not going to be with them next year!

Submitted by Lori E. Vogel, Child Guidance Specialist
Athens Elementary

Family Resource Center Lives Up to Its Name

I just wanted to send a letter of appreciation for the Dixie Family Resource Center and their contribution to Dixie. We attended an end of the year Bingo party with pizza and prizes for the families that came. I know they have had several different family activities throughout the year as well. We have been privileged to come to a few and I wish we could have made them all. It takes time out of Ms. Engle’s personal life to set up and run such quality events for families. In a day and time when family activities are hard to come by, I for one appreciate the care and concern that Dixie has for its families. I know my son, Will, has loved going to these events and loves Dixie as well. I for one just wanted to let everyone involved know that I appreciate the staff involved with these events and am privileged to have a student at Dixie Elementary. Thanks again to everyone involved.

Submitted by Amy Painter, Parent
Dixie Elementary School

This week's Kudos go to...

To Tates Creek High School senior Eric Schlich for being named a Singletary Scholar at the University of Kentucky. The four year award covers the cost of tuition, room and board, plus a yearly stipend of $1,500.

To Dixie Elementary School students David Harrison and Jacob McLimore for wining first place in the Lexington Family Magazine 2006 writing contest. Several Dixie students also received honorable mention certificates in the contest: Breanna Braun, Brittany Ragland, Heather Combs, Bilal Shalash, Jackson Lucas and Justin Elder.

To Julius Marks Elementary School teacher Dee Fletcher for being named a Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. As part of the award, the school will receive a $1,000 grant.

To the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Marching Band for being invited to perform in the 81st Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2007 in New York City. The band was one of 12 schools chosen nationwide to participate in the event.

To Leestown Middle School seventh-grader Isaiah Renfro for being awarded the Jean Preston Memorial Scholarship from Leestown Middle School. Ms. Preston served as band director at the school from 1964 to 1985 and passed away this winter. In lieu of flowers, her family established a scholarship in her memory that is awarded to Leestown orchestra students to provide private lessons or summer camp tuition.

To Eastside Technical Center student Stephanie Frost for being awarded the Presidential Scholarship from Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

To Winburn Middle School students Rebecca Saylor and Nicole Schladt, who were selected as 2006 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Promising Young Writers. There were 656 students nominated this year for the Promising Young Writers Program. Each participant submitted two pieces of writing which were read and evaluated by at least two judges on content, purpose, audience, tone, word choice, organization, development, and style. There were five winners from the state of Kentucky, and two from Fayette County. Both young ladies are students of eighth grade language arts teacher Hannah Campbell.

To the third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders of the School for the Creative and Performing Arts for winning the 2006 Battle of the Books. Twelve elementary schools began the competition, in which students read 20 pre-selected books and then were tested on the authors, characters, plots, themes, and settings. Second place went to Maxwell Elementary and third place to Yates Elementary. Each participating student received a Battle of the Books medal to wear and each school received a 2006 Battle of the Books trophy. In addition, each participating student was allowed to select one hard cover book for themselves and then another hard cover book for them to donate to their school library.

To the Air Force Junior ROTC Unit at Bryan Station High School for earning the Distinguished Unit Award for the 2005-2006 academic year. The award recognizes the personal growth and accomplishments of the cadets, contributions of the instructors as mentors and the support of the school and community.

To students and staff at Bryan Station Traditional Magnet Middle School for raising the most money in the Hoops for Heart fundraiser for the American Heart Association – bringing in $1, 847.

Church honors teachers for their service to children

Teachers from across the school district were honored this past weekend by students from First Baptist Bracktown Church. In a very special ceremony, students showed their appreciation for teachers who have made a difference in their lives.

The following Fayette County teachers were honored:
Edwin Atehortua, Maxwell; Diana Barnes, Stonewall Elementary; Mona Bond, Dunbar; Wendy Bottom, Julius Marks; Stefanie Britt, Stonewall; Dawn Burger, Booker T. Washington Academy; Malinda Caudill, Julia R. Ewan; Denise Clark, Linlee; Kay Clark, Stonewall; Lynn Clark, Russell Cave; Michele Cornett, Veterans Park; Valerie Cornett, Linlee; David Craycraft, Leestown; Marilyn Elrod, Garden Springs; Brice Farrar, Booker T. Washington Academy; Barbara Fields, Linlee; Stephanie Haggard, Dixie; Lisa Hicks, Maxwell; Susan Hillman, Cardinal Valley; Leigh Ann Hoten, Landsdowne; Demica Jones, Linlee; Vikki Joslin, Leestown; Kelli Martin, Mary Todd; Linda Mays, Linlee Elementary; Schuronda Morton, Ashland; Shauna Noah, Medowthorpe; William Parris, Linlee; Gloria Quinn-Wright, Dixie; Sheryl Reid, Millcreek; Karin Reimold, Booker T. Washington Academy; Dilcia Reynolds, Maxwell; Debbie Rogers, Landsdowne; Sandra Scott, Beaumont Middle; Tina Stevenson, Winburn; Jenny Strunk, Bryan Station High; Debbie Tronzo, Leestown; Mary Welch, Bryan Station High; Stacy Willoughby, Dixie; Julie Wright, Dixie.

Ninth Grade Improvement winners recognized

Ninth Grade Improvement Awards are given to those students who have shown hard work, perseverance and significant improvement this school year. Students are nominated for the award by teachers or counselors. This year’s FCPS Ninth Grade Improvement Award winners were:

View a list of all the Ninth Grade Improvement winners

Educators honored for their influence

As part of the district’s FAME Award program, graduating seniors from throughout the school district are invited annually to honor the teachers who have touched their lives and helped shape their futures. In a special celebration filled with tears and fond remembrances recently, seniors read a portion of their nomination essays to their special teachers.

The FAME Awards program, which honors high achieving seniors and the educators who helped them get to where they are today, is sponsored by National City Bank. A new partnership was formed this year with eCampus.com – a national company located in Lexington that sells new and used textbooks, college apparel, best sellers, DVD’s, supplies and more. eCampus.com offered $100 and $200 book scholarships to the top entries from each high school.

Winners were: First place ($200 scholarship): William Benjamin Gahafer from Henry Clay; Abbie Gaston from Tates Creek Alyssa Lanter from Paul Laurence Dunbar; Susanna Lockhart from Bryan Station and Mallori Scandore from Lafayette. Second place ($100 scholarship): Meagan Bowdy from Lafayette; Kimbri Johnson from Bryan Station; Eric Schlich from Tates Creek; Rosanna Smith from Henry Clay; Monica Swartzentruber from Dunbar.

Here is a complete listing of the seniors who were honored and the teachers they chose to spotlight. All students received a medal and a gift from National City Bank. Teachers were given pins and commemorative boxes.

From Bryan Station High School: Justine Cesar nominated Brandon Abdon; Michelle Garrett nominated Kathy Day; Fabienne Jean-Louis nominated Gayle Hutcherson; Kimbri Johnson nominated Denise Minor; Kimberly Keplinger nominated Susan McVey; Susanna Lockhart nominated Brandon Abdon; Kara Maples nominated Elizabeth Beck.

From Henry Clay High School: Maxine Blakovich nominated Robert Sandford; William Benjamin Gahafer nominated Julia Rudnick-Woodall; Terri Nathan nominated Josh Edwards; Rosanna Kim Smith nominated Barbara Christensen; Keith W. Thomas, Jr. nominated Becky Bushong; Sarin Warta nominated Matthew Logsdon.

From Lafayette High School: Meagan Elizabeth Bowdy nominated Mark Callahan; Jennifer Lynn Jacoby nominated Ryan Marsh; Nurlan Kussainov nominated Jane Harrison Cunningham; Jonathon Lee Meyer nominated Connie Waespe; Catherine Moonan nominated Mima Kearl; Joseph Michael Otis nominated Michael Fogos; Kirstan Pickett nominated David Bates; Alice Marie Rogers nominated Inza Biggerstaff; Mallori Scandore nominated John Krueger; Chase Warner nominated Jeanne Robinson; Christina Marie Yeoman nominated Javier Garcia-Penya.

From Paul Laurence Dunbar High School: Holly Allgeier nominated Beth Randolph; Brittany Champe nominated Teresa Champe; Kristen Ashleigh Combs nominated Bonnie Palomo; Colleen Davis nominated Wendy Turner; Maria Teresa De Leon Vazquez nominated Donna Ricks; Ivy DeVoe nominated Linda Gayheart; Kellye Emerson nominated Wayne Roberts; Travis Lee Fugate nominated Ben Herzog; Rebecca Gallt nominated Kathy Roberts; Kimberly Hogue nominated Summer Perry; Matthew Huang nominated Jason Reed; Margaret Maggie Jarley nominated Trish Clark; Alyssa Lanter nominated Devon Roxberry; Sharon M. Mattingly nominated Terry Turner; Kyle Moore nominated Michelle Gaines; Katherine Elizabeth Rahenkamp nominated Killian Timoney; Venkat Ramakrishnan nominated Matthew Knupp; Brandon Sok nominated Killian Timoney; Kawthar Suleiman nominated David Helm; Monica Swartzentruber nominated Linda Powell; Rachael Winchester nominated Donna Bonner.

From Tates Creek High School: Audrey Bowlds nominated Jason Meenach; Nichole Brunner nominated James Lankster; Abbie Gaston nominated Lisa Osterman; Kelly Hoeksema nominated Jason Meenach; Kelly Holmes nominated Marty Mills; Mikhail Alexander Jenkins nominated Scot Gill; Kristin Posner nominated Barry Turner; Jenny Sagan nominated Kathy Roberts; Eric Schlich nominated Danielle Mink; Erica Stockler nominated Lori Pasquariello; Dominic Young nominated Cheryl Irwin.

Leadership lessons from Sam

Snips and Needle Sticks

Mom recently took me to get my hair cut and then the next day I had to go to see the Vet. These are two things that I do not like to do at all. The lady who cuts my hair is very nice, but I hate the way I look when she is finished. Actually, I am very embarrassed about it. Just because Dad is losing his hair doesn’t mean I have to lose mine! My vet is also very nice to me but he sticks me with these things called needles … Ouch! The whole experience of going to these places was bugging me so much that I just had to talk to Dad about it – these little trips just had to stop.

Well, you guessed it. Dad did not agree with me on this, and gave me one of his lectures. He said that in life there are things that are good for us that we have to do even if we don’t like to do them. You see, he said that if I did not get my hair cut that I would get very hot this summer and then wish I’d had it done earlier. He also said that sometimes things that really help us are not always pleasant. He said the needles that the vet sticks in me hurt for a second, but the benefit lasts for a lifetime. Dad said that doing the right things in the short term pays great dividends in the long run. I think I understand now but surely Dad must have some kind of technology gadget that replaces those needles …

Bow wow…