Vol 3, No 8 • Tuesday, December 19, 2006

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Message from Stu

Much to celebrate, many to thank

Well, with my return to the hospital for another surgery just before Thanksgiving and the hectic pace of recovery, physical therapy and the holidays, Stu’s News has been on a bit of a hiatus the past few weeks. And since we’re now entering the winter break, this will be our last edition of 2006.

But there sure have been a lot of amazing things going on in the district. We have kind, caring and brilliant kids. We have amazing service-minded community and parent supporters. And we have an unbeatable team of leaders, teachers and support staff committed to our kids every day. I am so thankful to be a part of the Fayette County Public Schools family.

I want to express my congratulations to the awesome marching bands at Lafayette High School and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School for placing first and second in the state respectively. It certainly says a lot for our district when our bands perform at this high level year after year! Kudos to our talented students, dedicated directors and staff, and supportive parents and boosters for representing Fayette County so well!

We will celebrate our bands at the December school board meeting, along with dozens of other talented kids and teachers who have earned state and national accolades. We have two high school students who earned perfect scores on the SAT, a feat few students in the country ever achieve! We’ll also honor students who earned national recognition by earning high marks on Advanced Placement tests taken last spring, another indication of the high caliber of instruction in our district.

We’ll congratulate our state champion individual cross country winners, state champion golf team, two students who earned worldwide honors through the Key Club, state drama champions, two teachers honored as the best in the state in the areas of math and science and a program awarded top national honors for truancy and dropout prevention. We have so much to be proud of in Fayette County.

Just three days before Thanksgiving last month, we packed the auditorium at “It’s About Kids” Support Services to honor those students who earned all-distinguished ratings on the state tests they took last spring. We also had a special presentation from the committed folks with the Fayette Education Foundation, who awarded a total of $100,000 to our schools for innovative programs designed to support the community recommendations from 2020 Vision.

And the week before that, we introduced two new programs designed to honor and thank those who do so much to help our kids, schools and employees – our involved parents and families and committed volunteers. It started last spring, when members of the school board asked us to find a way to recognize our PTAs. I have often said that our PTAs may be our greatest strength and the District-wide organization, known as the 16th District PTA, is surely the tops in the state, if not the nation!

Schools throughout the district found ways to celebrate parent and family involvement and at the district level, leaders treated PTA Presidents and members of the 16th District PTA board with a special dinner before the November board meeting, where school board members read a proclamation and gave special gifts to each hardworking parent leader.

New this year, we started a volunteer of the year program. Each school was asked to select their top volunteer, and all volunteers and a school representative were invited to a beautiful luncheon in their honor. Every volunteer received a special gift and our top volunteer of the year was awarded a beautiful crystal trophy.

Last month we also learned who our new school board members would be. Melissa Bacon was appointed to the board to fill the District 1 vacancy left by Kathy Lousignont, who moved to Kansas with her family. And on Nov. 7, board chair Larry Conner was elected to another term on the school board representing District 2 and newcomer Amanda Ferguson was elected to represent District 4.

We will have a very special swearing-in ceremony for our new board members on Jan. 5 at Cassidy Elementary, where Amanda’s children attend school. Our district is fortunate to have such talented, committed and dedicated people step forward to serve our kids, schools, employees and community. I look forward to joining this group at the board table in January and working alongside them to keep doing what’s right for all kids and pushing our school district to become a world class system.

As we continue this holiday season, please be safe and take time to enjoy your family and other loved ones. My injury has helped remind me to be grateful for the little blessings in our daily lives. Things we take for granted – like showers, standing upright and enjoying a good night’s sleep – have taken on new meaning for me. If I had one wish for each of you for the New Year it would be that you would not remember the things you give and never forget what you receive. One of our students has the right idea in her comments later in this newsletter about the God’s Pantry Food Bank Drive – we are very fortunate. I’ll see you all in 2007!

Injury Update: Just in case you are wondering about my recovery from the accident, I want you to know that it is moving forward. It is way too slow for my blood, but it is something I really don’t have a choice about. The three steps forward and two steps back theory sure applies here. I have been working from home to stay on top of emails, snail mail, and phone calls. I have even been having meetings here when needed. We are very lucky to have a strong team that has kept the district moving forward in my absence. Our leadership is very deep and our momentum continues to move in the right direction. I am confident that the work we have been doing continues to move forward at a good pace!

I plan to follow the direction of my doctors as to the pace of my physical therapy, etc. When I return to the office I want to come back full force! I will continue to work on communication and important meetings until I get back full time. My goal is to be back in the office full time after winter break.

I would also like to thank everyone in this community for your outpouring of love and prayers as I go through this. I have received literally thousands of cards and gifts for which I am very grateful. You just cannot imagine the positive impact of this on me and Kathy. Knowing that you all are out there supporting our efforts for kids means the world to me and I thank you for it.

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Kids Helping Kids food drive a success!

The annual Kids Helping Kids fall food drive is complete and was nothing short of a smashing success! All 53 Fayette County Schools participated this year!! And although this year’s goal was to collect at least 100,000 pounds of food, our kids donated in record amounts, bringing in an unbelievable 125, 323 pounds of food with an estimated retail value of $186, 731. What a tremendous way to head into this holiday season.

“A lot of people helped us this year and were enthusiastic to give canned goods,” said Callie Fields, sixth-grade student from Jessie Clark Middle School. “I really like to give things to people in need. I see people on the streets all the time that don’t have what I have. I’m very fortunate.”

This marks the first time in the history of the food drive that all 53 public schools in Fayette County participated, which is a tribute to 16th District PTA President Marsha Strein, who made it her personal mission to get every public school involved this year.

“The work that God’s Pantry does is so important in our community. There is not a school in this community that doesn’t have a family that benefits from God’s Pantry,” Strein said. “I am very happy and proud of our students for their hard work this year.”

Last week there was a grand celebration at the God’s Pantry Food Bank to announce the schools that raised the most food. Schools were given reward checks, with first place receiving $500.

Meadowthorpe Elementary won the Elementary Division with a collection of more than 22,045 pounds of food collected, which equates to 44.4 pounds per student!

Southern Middle won the Middle School Division with 5, 679 pounds collected, representing 9.2 pounds per student.

And Eastside Technical Center won the High School Division with 12,709 pounds collected, for a total of 31.8 pounds per student.

Other winners include: In second place, earning $300: Clays Mill Elementary, Jessie Clark Middle and Southside Technical Center. In third place, winning $125: Millcreek Elementary and SCAPA Bluegrass. And honored with $175 for being the most improved: Linlee Elementary and Lexington Traditional Middle School.

The food drive was sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky. Donations benefit God’s Pantry Food Banks Food Pantry Program, which feeds hungry families in Lexington all year round.

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Unsung heroes

Every day in our schools, scores of volunteers help students and employees in countless ways. Without expectation of reward or recognition, these selfless individuals direct traffic, raise money, plan chili suppers, and staff book fairs, festivals and carnivals. They are the power behind fundraising campaigns, they’re an extra set of hands in offices, libraries, classrooms and cafeterias and they work with teachers to mentor and tutor the kids who need it most.

This year, the district instituted our first ever volunteer of the year awards program. Each school was asked to select its volunteer of the year and all school nominees competed to be the District’s top volunteer.

Collectively, our school winners represented more than 192 years of service to our schools. Most had kids in the schools where they work, but some even had grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nomination essays for our volunteers of the year included words like passion, enthusiasm, helping hand, partner, unselfish, tireless, extra mile and role model.

The district’s top volunteer was Steve York, who has been working at Jessie Clark Middle School for the past three years. York, who lost his eyesight due to complications from heart surgery, is on campus five days a week with his guide dog Sam to listen, talk, mentor or just share time with students. He is credited with motivating a student with special needs to say her first word.

“Steve calls himself the ‘The Blind Guy,’” said Jessie Clark Principal Lisa Goodin. “We call him our gift that keeps on giving.”

York said he was surprised and extremely proud to be chosen as the district’s top volunteer and shared a story about Goodin, who he refers to as “Shoes with a Purpose” because she always walks with a purpose.

One day, “Shoes with a Purpose” came out of her office, seemingly on a mission, so York backed against the wall to get out of her way. She stopped when she got to him and handed him a polo shirt.

As he ran his hands over the left pocket area, he felt the name of the school, with the school logo, and under it the word staff. A tear came to his eye, he recalled, because he felt like he had been handed a team jersey with his name on it.

“That is the greatest joy in the world,” he said. “It means I’m a part of the team.”

Read an essay written about York by a student at Jessie Clark
View a list of all of our school nominees.

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Fayette Education Foundation awards $100,000 to five schools

Members of the Fayette Education Foundation boarded a big yellow school bus last month to deliver a total of $100,000 to five schools in an effort to support innovative programs aimed at raising student achievement. Winning programs will use everything from technology to the arts to help students reach their highest academic potential. All have strong tie-ins to recommendations from the district’s 2020 Vision project – launched last year to change the face of education in Fayette County.

Lansdowne Elementary School was awarded $15,000 to fund an afterschool arts program using local artists to work with third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders.

Yates Elementary School was awarded $15,000 to support an afterschool enrichment program that helps kids make connections to school through participation in interest-based clubs like chess, writing, music and dance.

Winburn Middle School was awarded $25,000 and will purchase 15 laptop computers and reading software called “Read & Write, Gold.” The goal is to give students more access to a program that will help them compose and edit the writing portfolio pieces required as part of the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System.

Crawford Middle School was awarded $20,000 to purchase the “Plato Achieve Now” course. As part of the program, students who are two or more years below their grade level will be allowed to borrow portable Playstation 2 video game systems and take them home to “play” educational games aimed at raising their math and reading skills.

“We were looking for something we couldn’t do with our current resources,” said Principal Joyce Florence. “If we can get kids in a situation where they’re learning and they’re also having fun, then it’s a win-win for us.”

Bryan Station High School was awarded $25,000 to develop tighter connections in teaching and assessment between the elementary, middle and high school levels. The grant will pay for training materials, substitute teachers and stipends for teachers to examine and discuss their student’s progress. Money will also be used to hire consultants to aid in the program’s development.

“These grants are going to very special programs that will help these schools close achievement gaps and raise overall student achievement,” said Steve Byars, chair of the Foundation. “It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to support the work of our schools.”

This is the first year grants have been awarded by the Foundation, which raises private dollars to support local schools.

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Surviving the holiday hubbub

Traffic is bumper to bumper. Holiday items are stacked and calling your name. And thoughts of credit card spending limits and gift lists are dancing like sugar plums in your head. The holiday season is here!

Before you find yourself buried in tinsel and all the trimmings, check out these tips to help make the holidays more enjoyable.

• Talk to family members now about which holiday traditions really are important.
• Give yourself permission to celebrate in a different way if this is the first year a loved one is absent.
• Start a new holiday tradition that helps reduce spending and make the holidays more fun.
• To reduce the stress of holiday meals, consider asking family members and guests to share in the cooking by bringing favorite dishes with them or consider buying some items that are already prepared.
• Buy all your holiday meal fixings during pre-holiday sales.
• Set spending limits for gift-buying with friends and family.
• Buy early; you’ll have more time to comparison shop and get bargains, instead of waiting until the last minute.
• Leave your credit cards at home.
• Be creative: give photographs, home-made treats, coupons for services, or a family videotape for distant relatives.

Holidays can be emotional and stressful. If you find yourself feeling blue, or if the financial or other pressures seem to be getting the best of you, call your Employee Assistance Program for free, confidential help at 800-455-5579 or 859-224-2022.

Have a happy and safe winter break!

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Keys to a Successful Parent and Teacher Relationship

In honor of Parent and Family Involvement Week, we’d like to share the following strategies for building successful partnerships between home and school.

1. Focus on the needs of the child.
2. Stop wishing the other person were different (parent or teacher) and start learning how to work together to benefit the child.
3. Adopt a Win-Win attitude whenever you can.
4. Set up a conference early in the year.
5. Arrange conferences throughout the year – be clear regarding objectives, outline plans and agreements in writing, choose mutually convenient times to meet, respect timelines and always be punctual.
6. Adopt realistic expectations.
7. Apply the KISS strategy at conferences, and in phone and email interactions by Keeping It Short and Simple.
8. Listen to each other – Focus on understanding as well as being understood.
9. Appreciate and compliment each other’s efforts.

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Steve York - A Different Kind of Hero

Like you and me, every morning he gets up. Like you and me, he wakes up, brushes his teeth, takes a shower, eats breakfast and gets ready for his day. Unlike you and me, he is blind. Unlike you and me, he has a companion named Sam.

Like you and me, before he and Sam leave out the door, he reaches for his coat and backpack. Unlike you and me, his backpack contains his lunch and insulin. Unlike you and me, outside he waits for his own little short bus (as he calls it). The bus finally comes to pick him and Sam up. The bus ride lasts about fifteen minutes. Like you and me, he is dropped off at his destination, Jessie Clark Middle School.

Like you and me, he enters the door and slowly makes his way inside. Unlike you and me, he takes his hand to find his way to the second room on the right side of the office. He tells Sam to sit, he puts his backpack on his desk and is ready to start his day.

The first morning bell rings and shortly thereafter a student and her helper come to Mr. York. The student is a person with special needs and the helper assists the student in getting around in the school. Mr. York lets the student pet Sam. Even though he’s blind, he can sense the joy that petting Sam brings the student.

Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. York hasn’t had an easy life. Since the age of two, he has had diabetes. He was brought up in different foster homes, parentless. Later on in his life, he owned his own blues nightclub in Chicago, where he met with some of the greatest blues legends of all time. He moved to Kentucky to marry his future wife. He and his wife have two children, a daughter and a son. That was the old Mr. York.

In 2002, Mr. York had to have a quadruple bypass. During the surgery, due to the complication from diabetes, the blood pressure in his eyes dropped. When he woke up, he was blind. You would think he would be upset that he would never be able to see again. He wasn’t. He just saw it as another change. He had to adapt. This was one of the many hurdles in his life, he had to jump. That was the turning point. This is the new Mr. York.

Mr. York now acts as a counselor of sorts to “troubled children” and to students with disabilities in the Fayette County School System. He co-coaches the Lafayette hockey team. He loves to share his love of good o’ blues music. He teaches umpiring to kids and adults at his home.

Even if this man is blind or not, to me this is nothing short of amazing. To someone passing him on the street, he is just another man who happens to have a disability. To me, he is a hero. “A Different Kind of Hero.”

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Call for entries

Students can win cool prizes and learn life-saving traffic safety tips by participating in the AAA Bluegrass/Kentucky’s 63rd Annual Traffic Safety Poster Program. This year’s themes focus on pedestrian and child passenger safety, getting to school safely, and how to be a good passenger. Winners will receive cash prizes and have the chance to compete at the national level. The entry deadline is February 8, 2007.

For more information call Emily Burrows at 233-1111 or by e-mail at eburrows@aaa-alliedgroup.com.

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Going green pays!

In September, the City of Lexington, along with the University of Kentucky, Fayette County Public Schools and other members of the Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community, participated in the 2006 U.S. Conference of Mayors’ City Recycling Challenge. The contest encouraged cities across the country to collect and recycle aluminum beverage cans.

Last month, our efforts were rewarded with a $5,000 award for winning the Most Innovative Ideas category. The award was given to the community having the most innovative ideas to promote aluminum can beverage recycling during the contest.

Together, the partnership helped collect over 105,000 pounds of aluminum beverage cans – the equivalent of about 3.8 million cans – for recycling during the two-week contest.

Also during the contest, 44,000 pounds of aluminum cans, or 1,584,000 cans, were collected and processed through the LFUCG Recycling Center – the amount collected at the LFUCG Recycling Center increased by 4,000 pounds during the contest period compared to the prior two weeks. The $33,000 obtained from sales of the cans processed through the LFUCG Recycling Center during the contest will be used to help fund local recycling efforts in Lexington.

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A note of thanks

Thank you to all our 16th District PTA members for your hard work and dedication to our kids and schools. Your tireless efforts and commitment helps ensure that every child in Fayette County receives a quality education.

For the first time this year, our school district celebrated Parent and Family Involvement Week and saluted our wonderful PTA leaders. View a list of all PTA Presidents and 16th District officers.

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Calling all Defenders

We’re gearing up for the Grand Opening Celebration of the brand new $43.9 million Bryan Station High School building next month. In preparation, we’re trying to find any and all graduates of the school in an effort to include them in the festivities.

If you are a Fayette County employee who graduated from Bryan Station, please send your name, work location and year of graduation to Margot Demaree (an alum who is now a social worker at Bryan Station High) at margot.demaree@fayette.kyschools.us.

All other graduates of the school are asked to please contact Gloria Compton with the Bryan Station Alumni Association by calling 299-7600; dropping a postcard with your name, year of graduation and address to P.O. Box 54504, Lexington, KY, 40505; or emailing gkcompton@alltel.net. Find out more about the Alumni Association at www.bryanstationalumni.org.

District and school staff members have been working hard to prepare the new building for students first day back from winter break on Jan. 3. The public Grand Opening Celebration will be on Jan. 20, with the official dedication ceremony at 11 a.m., reception and guided tours from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and an alumni dance for adults only at 8 p.m.

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