ON THE INSIDE: Students, Staff Settle in at New Suncrest Elementary ...................................................... Page 1 Snow Day/No Snow Day? ................................. Page 2 Chromebooks Distributed to MCS Students ..... Page 5 National Merit Semifinalists Named ................. Page 6 MTEC Builds Tiny House for Flood Victims ....... Page 8 Brookhaven, South Renovations Underway ...... Page 9 Great Pumpkin Supports Panther Pride Garden .......................................................... Page 10
Transcript
ON THE INSIDE:Students, Staff Settle in at New Suncrest Elementary ......................................................Page 1
Chromebooks Distributed to MCS Students .....Page 5
National Merit Semifinalists Named .................Page 6
MTEC Builds Tiny House for Flood Victims .......Page 8
Brookhaven, South Renovations Underway ......Page 9
Great Pumpkin Supports Panther Pride Garden ..........................................................Page 10
MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017 1
BY JUDY RECKART
Kids really do say the darnedest things – especially when they’re “this close” to speechless, as were many Suncrest Elementary students at their first glimpse of their new school on Collins Ferry Road.
“Is it really ours?”
“This is the hugest gym I’ve ever seen!”
“It smells so good!”
“A library – with books! Lots and lots of books!”
Suncrest students and parents got their first official look at the new facility Dec. 15 when the school opened for tours and holiday musical performances in the new school’s gym. The students were bused over from their old school for the morning’s events.
“A project like this doesn’t happen without community support,” MCS Superintendent Dr. Frank Devono told the assembly before the students’ performances began. “The Suncrest
community has been behind this one from the beginning. This is your school.”
Suncrest Elementary students did not attend class the next week – immediately prior to winter break – as their “old school” classrooms were dismantled, packed, moved and reassembled by school staff in preparation for their first day on Collins Ferry Road on Jan. 3. And, other than tight parking for parents who entered the school to participate in a welcome assembly with their children that morning, opening day came off nearly flawlessly.
Suncrest Elementary principal Joanne Hines said a public open house will be conducted in the coming weeks.
Among students and parents, the new facility’s most popular improvements over the circa-1939 Suncrest building are its full-size gym, spacious cafeteria and media center, and lockers – features their former school lacked. The old building’s cafeteria doubled as its gym and media specialist Brandy Tuck rolled her “library” from room to room on a cart.
A combined media center and STREAM (science, reading, engineering, art and math) cluster immediately off the school’s main entrance is among the building’s most innovative features. Folding, soundproof glass partitions
allow the area to be divided into a more traditional school library, dedicated STREAM classroom and science lab, with the art room tucked behind the classroom. Folding soundproof panels also isolate the dedicated music room from the gym: when they’re pushed back, the music room opens directly into the gym as a performance area.
A sunlit corridor dubbed the “Art Walk” provides gallery space for student/artists’ creations and connects the building’s central core with its gym, kitchen and “Constellation Café” cafeteria wing.
“This is the home of the Suncrest Stars,” Mrs. Hines said. “The students chose that name and I think it’s entirely fitting. This is a school where every student can soar as high as he or she wants.”
Students, Staff Settle in at New Suncrest Elementary
Jaws dropped as students made their first official visit to the new Suncrest Elementary School gym and cafeteria (pictured at left) Dec. 15. School staff – including cook Tonia Griffin and cafeteria manager Trina Sinatra (pictured at bottom) – spent the next two weeks settling into their new digs to prepare for opening day. WAJR’s “Morgantown AM” broadcast live from the Suncrest Elementary media center Jan. 3, the first day of classes at the new school. Hosts Dave Wilson and Sunshine Wiles (pictured above) interviewed parents, staff and fourth graders Sydney Porter, Simon Schiebel and Julia Oliverio for their reactions to the new facility. (Photos by Judy Reckart)
ON THE COVER: Suncrest Elementary kindergarten students travel the school’s Art Walk gallery/corridor connecting the gym, music room and Constellation Cafe to the building’s classroom wings.
“Thank you for this brand new, beautiful,
wonderful school.”- Riley Lafferty,
Suncrest Elementary fourth grader
2 MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017
Levy Funds Purchase
Customized Playground
Piece
Playground Specialists, Inc. this fall installed a custom-designed play apparatus in Skyview Elementary’s pre-k play area. The school’s pre-k teachers designed the multi-level piece with features including visual and auditory activities to help vision- or hearing-impaired students enjoy recess more.
Additionally, most of the apparatus’ activities are positioned at ground-level to appeal to students with ambulatory issues. The piece cost $10,940 and was purchased with funds generated by the Mon County Schools’ Excess Levy.
BY JUDY RECKART
Mon County Schools’ administrators don’t make the decision to close school due to inclement weather lightly.
“We consider a lot of factors and rely on information from a variety of sources before we cancel school,” said MCS Superintendent Dr. Frank Devono. “We contact the National Weather Service, the West Virginia Department of Highways and the State Police. We also talk with our own maintenance and custodial staff members and county school bus operators – they’re professional drivers who probably know Mon County roads better than anyone.”
In addition to how much snow is on the ground and the amount forecast, administrators also consider wind chill and “real-feel” temperatures before making their school/no-school decision.
“We also analyze current and projected road conditions and their probable impact on traffic,” Dr. Devono added.
“Mon County is a big county with elevations from under 1,000 feet to about 2,100 feet: that means a light snow in South Park might mean a six-inch covering on Summer School Road.”
The decision-making process frequently begins the day before an anticipated snowfall or temperature plunge.
“Our objective is to make an accurate, considered decision based on the best-informed resources available – and to make it as early as possible,” Devono said. “We understand that it’s a decision that impacts nearly 12,000 students and their families.”
Once the no-school decision is made, the MCS Central Office notifies students, parents, staff and the general public through local and regional media outlets, SchoolMessenger, the MCS Web site and the West Virginia Department of Education Web site.
“Parents and educators alike want every student in school every day, if possible,” he said, “and we want all of them to arrive safely.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Feb. 24, originally identified on the Mon County Schools 2016-2017 calendar as an Outside School Environment (OSE) day, has been designated as a full day of instruction to make up the county’s first snow day, Jan. 6.
Research Supports Snow Day Decisions
STUDENT ART AMBASSADORS
TOUR WVU MUSEUM
Approximately 30 Monongalia County elementary and middle school students, their parents and art teachers toured the new WVU Art Museum Oct. 20 in preparation for the students’ new role as “art ambassadors.”
“We hope they’ll will return to their home schools and share their museum experience with their peers,” said MCS lead art teacher Amanda Gavin. “The museum is a valuable resource for our community: its exhibits include fabulous works of art and admission is free-of-charge.”
Gracelyn Effaw, a Mylan Park second grader and new art ambassador, (pictured) selected Glenn Goldberg’s “Spring 2 2004” as her favorite work on display.
“It has pretty colors and reminds me of a big sunflower,” she told retired WVU art history professor Bernard Schultz (also pictured), one of several docents who conducted the students’ tour of the facility.
The students also learned museum etiquette from Heather Harris, the museum’s educational programs manager, and created art work of their own during the two-hour tour. Students from Mountaineer Middle, Mylan Park and Ridgedale participated in the evening event.
(Photo by Judy Reckart)
(Photo by Judy Reckart)
MOHIGAN IDOL AUDITIONS SCHEDULEDFirst round auditions for Mohigan Idol 2017 will be conducted 5-7 a.m. Feb. 7-9 in the MHS choir room. Potential contestants will be divided into elementary, middle, and high school groups and no registration is required. Mohigan Idol is scheduled 7 p.m. March 25 at the Met Theatre. Proceeds benefit WVU Children’s Hospital.
MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017 3
Statewide Assessment Policy on Public Comment PROPOSED POLICY REVISION TARGETS END-OF-COURSE EXAMS
The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) is considering a revision to its assessment policy, Policy 2340, that would replace the Smarter Balanced high school English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics assessments. The WVBE voted at its Jan. 11 meeting to place the proposed new policy on public comment for 30 days. If adopted, the new policy would require the administration of end-of-course (EOC) exams in selected core courses at the high school level.EOC exams will be administered in ELA, mathematics and science, and will be developed uniquely for West Virginia with input from West Virginia teachers, administrators and other appropriate stakeholders.“No one single assessment solution is without flaw and cannot meet the needs of all stakeholders equally and effectively,” said Michael Green, President of the WVBE. “It is important for us to be innovative to identify the best solutions for the students in West Virginia and consider input from our stakeholders.”EOC exams are being considered as a means of adding value and increasing performance on the statewide assessments among high school students. Latest assessment data show students at the high school level did not spend the time necessary on the current Smarter Balanced assessments. The hope is that the EOC exams will increase accountability and engagement among students.“End-of-course exams will add value and incite motivation among our high school students because they will be factored into students’ final grades in each respective course, and therefore tied to outcomes and benefits that are clear to students,” said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Michael Martirano. “Administering an assessment that is factored into students’ final grades will influence the effort index for all students, not just those who are college bound.”The West Virginia EOC exams will be aligned to the West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards for corresponding courses and designed in such a manner as to assure that their implementation and administration will not disrupt West Virginia’s Statewide Accountability System. The exams will be fully implemented during the 2018-19 school year.Members of the public may provide comment on Policy 2340 by visiting http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/
North Elementary art teacher Sonda Cheesebrough (second from left) and fifth grade art honors students (from left) Anna Leshko, Mattilyn Walker and Josie Trembush apply color and pattern to luan butterfly cut-outs, preparing the wall decorations for delivery to a medical clinic on Teveuni Island, Fiji. Several area physicians representing the Loloma Foundation took off for Fiji Jan. 6 and delivered about 70 of the colorful butterflies to the clinic during their stay. Cheesebrough accompanied Loloma physicians and BOPARC arts coordinator Debora Palmer to the Teveuni Island clinic last year and worked with Palmer to install a mural in the facility’s labor and delivery room.
Another Perfect ACT Score for MHS: Xinwei “Danny” Guo (pictured right) was recognized by Mon County Board of Education Vice President Nancy Walker (left) Oct. 25 as Morgantown High’s third perfect scorer on the 2016 ACT. Guo’s fellow Mohigans Jihua “Cathy” Li and Brian Lituchy were honored for their perfect ACT scores of 36 at previous BOE meetings. On average, fewer than one-tenth of one percent of all ACT test takers earn perfect scores, according to ACT CEO Martin Roorda. In 2015, only 1,598 out of 1.92 million students earned a perfect composite score. (Photo by Judy Reckart)
(Photo by Judy Reckart)
Butterflies for Fiji
DO THE NUMBERS
Mon County’s 2015 graduation rate of 92.5% is even more impressive when compared to the national 83% graduation rate and West Virginia’s overall 89% rate. Equally noteworthy is the decrease in Mon County’s drop-out rate: 1.8% in 2011 down to 1.1% in 2015. “’Every Child a Graduate’ is more than just a slogan here,” said MCS Deputy Superintendent Donna Talerico, “and our efforts to help our students graduate begin in elementary school.”
4 MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017
Approximately 30 Monongalia County first responders accepted invitations from Mylan Park Elementary to share an early Thanksgiving luncheon at the school Nov. 17. Representatives of the Morgantown, Granville, Star City, WVU and Westover police departments, West Virginia State Police and MECCA 911 enjoyed turkey and all the fixin’s with students during all three lunch periods in the school cafeteria.
“We had an assembly for first responders last year,” said Principal Anne Lupo, “but we changed it up a bit this time around. Since this was our second year honoring area first responders, it’ll probably become a Mylan Park tradition.”
First grader Dylan Dull and her father, Morgantown Police Department K-9 Officer Aaron Dull (pictured), share a table with Dylan’s classmates, including Wesly Heflin (also pictured) who offers a closer look at Officer Dull’s shield.
MYLAN PARK HONORS FIRST RESPONDERS
(Photos by Judy Reckart)
UHS Planning Spring Civil War Encampment
BY JUDY RECKART
Students previously enrolled in UHS teacher Phil Caskey’s Civil War Studies classes have visited Civil War battlefields and strategized the tactics of military engagement with complex board games.
This spring, they may get to experience nearly first-hand the day-to-day lives of both Union and Confederate soldiers. Collaborating with several other UHS teachers and Morgantown community members, Caskey is planning a Civil War re-enactors’ encampment on the UHS campus following spring break.
“It’s in the very preliminary planning stages right now, but I’ve discussed the project with local Civil War re-enactors through the Mason-Dixon Civil War Round Table – and they’re very interested in participating,” Caskey told the Mon County BOE at its Dec. 6 meeting. He plans to contact regional Civil War aficionados through social media to gauge their levels of interest in the coming weeks. Caskey envisions re-enactors “from both sides” depicting general camp life, including soldiers’ day-to-day activities such as cooking, entertaining themselves and drilling. “I’d also like to include a medical tent and a sutler’s tent – that’s where soldiers bought things like food, clothing and small entertainments with their wages,” he added.
“We’re thinking cross-curricular, here: there are natural tie-ins with art, English, math and science and the kids could even make hard tack!”
Three UHS English teachers – Kat Devlin, Carrie Beatty and Daniel Summers – and science teacher Travis Wells also are contributing to the project thus far. More UHS colleagues are expected to join in as planning progresses.
Caskey also envisions his American Civil War studies students acting as “encampment ambassadors” during the event for the county’s eighth and tenth grade West Virginia and American history students.
“We’ve even got enough room out here to do simulated field piece drills,” he said, referring to the 90 acres of fields and woods surrounding UHS. “It would be pretty exciting for students to hear ‘Cannoneers to your posts!’ and then to see 12-pound Napoleons or mountain howitzers fired!”
The event tentatively is scheduled Friday, April 21, but may extend into the weekend, depending on re-enactors’ availability.
FYI – MCS TESTING DATES:West Virginia General Summative Assessment (WVGSA) – April 12-May 30: Advanced Placement (high school only) – May 1-12: NAEP Testing – South (grade 8) Feb. 9; Suncrest (grade 8) Feb. 10; Mountaineer (grade 8) Feb. 15; Eastwood (grade 4) Feb. 16; Brookhaven (grade 4) Feb. 22; North (grade 4) March 9: ELPA21 – Feb. 14-March 24: WV Alternative Assessment (DLM) – April 3-May 30.
MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017 5
Morgantown High technology integra-tion specialist (TIS) Holly Rucker (pictured below) accepted delivery of 600 cartons of Chromebook cases Dec. 6 and was ready for the arrival of 2,000 Chromebooks for MHS students the next day – just a fraction of the 8,982 that were delivered to all Mon County schools in December for county-wide distribution in early January.
Using the MHS distance learning lab as the distribution project’s staging area, Rucker affixed an identifying “school sticker” to each device, matched them with cases and distributed them to all MHS students during their English classes over the first two weeks of school following winter break.
That process was duplicated in all Mon County schools (except Suncrest Middle and Clay-Battelle) in early January according to Chris Urban, MCS director of Technology & Communications. Suncrest and Clay-Battelle students have experienced one-to-one computing for the last two years as “beta sites” for this year’s county-wide distribution.
The devices distributed to the county’s third-through-twelfth graders are HP G5 11.6” Chromebooks, according to Urban. Each student also received a carrying case with handles and shoulder strap and a charger.
Approximately 900 larger HP Chromebooks were distributed to the county’s third-through-twelfth grade teachers this summer. The educators also received instruction on how best to use the devices to enhance instruction.
Among the applications anticipated for the Chromebooks are the county’s Arctic Academy off-site instruction and on-line learning via Google Classroom, a platform on which teachers may set up discussions, assignments and educational links for students. Google Classroom allows students to see their assignments and respond – and allows teachers to respond back, either to individual students or to the entire class.
Urban also noted the Chromebooks will enable both on- and off-line collaboration among students through the use of Google docs, spreadsheets and slides. They also can be used to access on-line textbooks and to research questions in real time.
Funds from the MCS Excess Levy, Tools for Schools state grants and technology funding from the West Virginia Department of Education underwrote the county’s Chromebook purchase.
County-wide Chromebook Roll-out Underway
MCS Chromebook FAQs
What is a Chromebook?It’s a laptop that uses Google Chrome as its “operating system.” It has a full keyboard and screen like a laptop. There is some storage on the physical machine - but the majority is stored in the cloud.
How long will each student have his/her Chromebook?Each student will be assigned a Chromebook based on the serial number of the device. This device will stay with the student as long as he/she attends a specific school. For example, a third grader will keep the same device through third, fourth and fifth grades. Chromebooks will be turned in before summer break. They will be returned to the student at the start of the next school year.
Will students be able to take their Chromebooks home?Yes, but some schools will allow students to take them home sooner than others. For instance, middle and high school students will be taking their Chromebooks home much sooner than elementary students. Each school will determine its roll-out and go-home schedule. Once devices start going home, they must be brought back to school each day fully-charged. Chargers should stay at home and not be brought to school.
What if a student forgets or was not able to charge the device at home?Each school will have charging stations for students’ use. While a student’s device is charging, he/she may use regular desktops and Windows laptops.
What if a student damages his/her Chromebook?If it is accidental, the screen will be replaced with no cost to the family. Parents will be responsible for replacement of the damaged part (if applicable - such as screen, keyboard, hinge) or for full replacement of the Chromebook, if necessary.
(Photo by Judy Reckart)
6 MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in mid-September announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program, including 15 students attending Monongalia County schools.
The Mon County Board of Education recognized Morgantown High’s 2016 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists at its Oct. 11 meeting. BOE members Dr. Clarence Harvey, Jr. Mike Kelly and Ron Lytle (pictured top right at rear) extended the board’s congratulations to eight MHS scholars who have earned NMS honors: (from left) Aarohi Srivastava; Isabel Mirfakhraie; Kevin Lituchy; Jiahua “Cathy” Li; Shelby Reese Hansen; Ashley Hancox; Xinwei “Danny” Guo; and Lydia Adrian. MHS students John Gullion and Zachary Gilpin (not pictured) also earned NMS semi-finalist status.
Kelly also extended the board’s congratulations to University High’s NMS semifinalists at the board’s Oct. 25 meeting. Pictured bottom right from left are Robert Warner, Noah Spencer, Alan Mizener, Samuel Mathers and Haley Martin.
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million that will be offered this spring.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the competition’s finalist level. About 90 percent of semifinalists usually attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win National Merit Scholarships, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 420 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
County Seniors Named National Merit Scholar Semifinalists
COUNTY’S TOP MATH SCHOLARS BOUND FOR REGIONALSThe top five Mon County mathemati-cians grades 4-9 are named below in descending order, based on scores earned during the county-wide math field day conducted in early December. The county’s top 10 math scholars grades 10-12 also are identified in descending order.
These students are eligible to participate in the Regional Math Field Day, coordinated by RESA 7 and scheduled March 8 at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi.
GRADE 5 Lauren Shen, North; Douglas Liu, North; Shawn Li, North; Steven Tian, North; Will Staples, Mountainview.
GRADE 6 Samantha Guenther, Mountaineer; Amy Lu, Suncrest; Carter Herron, South; Pearl Zhang, Suncrest; Rafael Martinez, Suncrest.
GRADE 7 Alice Guo, Suncrest; Kenneth Wang, Suncrest; Owen Gerdes, Suncrest; Amber Li, Suncrest; Luke Watson, Mountaineer.
GRADE 8 Peter Luo, Suncrest; Sachin Thaker, Suncrest; Amanda Wang, Suncrest; Jihan Park, Suncrest; Miles Case, South.
GRADE 9 Ben Shi, MHS; Vlad Taylor, UHS; Van Tran, MHS; Aseritha Sure, MHS; Joseph Taylor, MHS.
GRADE 10-12 Danny Guo, MHS; Sam Mathers, UHS; Frank Liu, MHS; Cathy Li, MHS; Michael Van, MHS; Kevin Lituchy, MHS; Shannon Werntz, MHS; Alan Mizener, UHS; Michael Fletcher, MHS; Griffin Miller, UHS.
(Photo by Judy Reckart)
(Photo by Julia Hamilton)
MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017 7
HAWKS GIRLS’ XC TEAM STATE CHAMPS – AGAIN!
Mon County Board of Education member Ron Lytle (second from left) congratulates members of the University High girls’ cross country team at the board’s Dec. 20 meeting for winning the 2016 West Virginia Class AAA cross country championship. Accepting the board’s recognition are (from left) head coach Ed Frohnapfel; team members Emma Troischt, Emma Williams, TaShala Turner, Peyton Kukura, Gretchen Pifer, Zoe Shetty, Brooke Franklin and assistant coach Jennifer Sirockman. According to Frohnapfel, the team holds six state championship titles – three earned in the past three years.
The UHS Academic Bowl team (pictured above) recently competed against teams across the U.S. in Questions Unlimited’s 3-2-1 computer-based competition. The Hawks finished 20th among the 147 teams competing nationally and fifth among teams from West Virginia and its contiguous states. Team members are Noah Spencer, Sam Mathers, Thomas Lueckel, Anthony Chen (graduated), William Gu (graduated), Melanie Lyons, Griffin Nordstrom, Ben
Kiehl and Josh Harman. Mon County Board of Education Vice President Nancy Walker congratulated the team and its coach, David McQuain, at the Board’s Oct. 25 meeting. The Hawks finished third at their own tournament Oct. 15 tournament and in the Dec. 3 Nitro High Quiz Bowl Tourney, with the addition of Caroline Anderson to the team roster. The team also competed in Ripley Jan. 21 and is scheduled to tape a KDKA Hometown Hi-Q match Feb. 18.
Hawks Score Big in 3-2-1 Competition
Goat Kiss Promotes Reading at SkyviewSkyview Elementary principal Jen Cox (pictured center) said she’d kiss a goat to promote reading – if Skyview students beat her challenge of buying at least 1,200 books during the school’s Scholastic Book Fair this fall. Skyview media specialist Meghan Keith (far right) orchestrated the promotion, which encouraged Mylan Park students to purchase of over 1,600 books – and resulted in Cox kissing a goat in a school-wide assembly in early November. The Westover Rotary upped the ante by contributing funds to help financially strapped students buy books as well. “I was hoping to get a pig for Jen to kiss, but apparently goats are easier to transport,” Keith said. Skyview autism mentor Deb Dean (pictured far left) arranged the appearance by the goat who lives on her nephew’s farm. Dean also performed goat-wran-gling duties during the celebration. Before administering the kiss, Cox offered the goat a flower – which he promptly ate. (Photo by Shanon Wamsley)
(Photo by Judy Reckart)
GOVERNOR’S STEM GRANTS FUND MMS, MYLAN PARK PROJECTS
Mountaineer Middle School (MMS) and Mylan Park Elementary are among 83 state schools and organizations that will benefit from a $200,000 STEM Initiative grant fund established by former Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin within the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts.
Mylan Park will receive $3,000.00 from the fund to underwrite creation of a MakerSpace in the school library – “…a place where students will design, create and think beyond,” according to principal Anne Lupo.
The MMS grant application, coordinated by STEM teacher Robyn Addie, earned $1,800.00 in funding that will underwrite student-built inventions constructed from robotics kits. The inventions will participate in a mock “shark tank” event, with community-based scientists evaluating the students’ designs.
The grant awards, announced in mid-January, reflect a marked increase in applications and recipients compared to 2016, when $150,000 in funding was distributed among 54 schools and organizations.
8 MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017
Ridgedale Celebrates
Bookaneer FairRidgedale Elementary principal Shari Petitte (center) “walked the plank” into a wading pool set up in the Ridgedale gym and received a cold-water dousing Oct. 28 from physical education teacher Tammy “Koach” Elliott and media specialist Wendy Tennant. Ridgedale students’ book purchases during the school’s four-day, pirate-themed “Bookaneer” Book Fair earlier that month far exceeded Petitte’s 1,200 book projection and she agreed to walk the plank as the consequence of their exceeding her challenge. The inundation celebration was part of the Ridgedale’s regular monthly schoolwide morning meeting – and the kids loved it!
BY JUDY RECKART
MTEC HVAC student Cedric Black, electrical student Katie Cyphers and building maintenance student Austin Ledsome (pictured) get some pointers from MTEC facilities maintenance instructor Brian Lakatos as they work to finish a “tiny house” for victims of this summer’s flooding in southern West Virginia.
One of 15 such structures created by students enrolled in Simulated Workplace programs conducted in career and technical education centers around the state, MTEC’s portable home was transported to Charleston by the WV National Guard Dec. 19 for assignment to a family in the affected area as winter weather sets in. MTEC building construction teacher Dusty Rhodes headed the project, which was supported by the entire center. Complete with furnishings, a mini-kitchen, bath, laundry and sitting area, the structure was completed in just 27 days.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin presented keys to the tiny houses to flood survivors in
a ceremony at the 130th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia National Guard Dec. 21.
More than 2,000 students from 12 high schools designed, constructed and managed the tiny homes project with guidance from certified industry instructors over the course of seven weeks. The students also worked with businesses and organizations within their communities to gather donations to equip the homes with linens, beds, washers and dryers, groceries, televisions and other appliances.
Tiny House a Big Deal at MTEC
(Photo by Judy Reckart)
Suncrest Fourth Graders Compete in Nat Geo BeeThe National Geographic Society currently is conducting its twenty-ninth annual Geographic Bee for students in the fourth-through-eighth grades across the U.S., including some in Mon County. Ten fourth grade finalists at Suncrest Elementary participated in the state level qualifying bee in the school gym before an audience of their classmates and parents Dec. 13. They answered questions formulated by the National Geographic Bee committee and posed by Christina Rollins, Suncrest Elementary fourth grade teacher and the school’s Bee coordinator. Natalie Esposito won the school-level competition and Jordan Shroyer came in as runner-up. Esposito will compete in the on-line state competition March 31. State-level champions will be invited to compete in the National Championship Bee in Washington, D.C. May 15-17. Suncrest Elementary contestants were (front from left) Muntahaa Khan, Alex Gilcrist, Claire Lu, Julia Austria, SES Bee champion Natalie Esposito, Lori Qian; (back from left) Bee coordinator Christina Rollins, Colin Rosenecker, SES Bee runner-up Jordan Shroyer, Mazell McTeer and Sydney Porter.. (Photo by Judy Reckart)
(Photo by Judy Reckart)
2017-2018 MCS CALENDAR PUBLIC COMMENT MEETINGS SETAt its Jan. 10 meeting, the Mon County BOE selected Feb. 28 and March 14 as the dates for the district’s WVDE-mandated public hearings scheduled to solicit comments concerning the 2017-2018 MCS calendar. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m. at locations to-be-determined and will immediately precede those dates’ regularly scheduled BOE meetings.
MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017 9
As construction of Mon County Schools’ new Suncrest Elementary School was wrapping up, district administrators and the Mon County Board of Education turned their attention to issues of student population growth, safety and security at other county schools.
Construction and renovations currently are underway at Brookhaven Elementary to meet the demands of unprecedented residential development in that part of the county. The school’s student population has increased by nearly 130 students in six years – from 454 in 2009-2010 to 582 in 2015-2016.
As the 2016-2017 year began, South Middle was utilizing six circa-1989 modular classrooms to house approximately 170 students in structures located across the school’s main driveway – classrooms lacking exterior surveillance camera coverage and interior surveillance, fire suppression systems and adequate security and communications systems.
Mon County Schools representatives requested financial assistance from the West Virginia School Building Authority (SBA) fall 2016 to help fund construction of a new, two-story, 16 classroom structure and reconfiguration of five existing classrooms at Brookhaven fall 2015.
The project also included an enclosed walkway connecting the school’s three buildings.
The SBA agreed to partially fund the Brookhaven project in December 2015,
granting MCS $4.36 million – $1.3 million less than initially was requested. The total anticipated project cost is $7.5 million and, through value engineering, the Mon County Schools will make up that deficit.
“We appreciate the SBA’s continuing support as we work to accommodate the needs of our growing student population,” said MCS Superintendent Dr. Frank Devono. “Most recently, they’ve helped underwrite costs associated with construction of the new Suncrest Elementary and also were instrumental in funding Eastwood Elementary. Growth is a good problem to have and the SBA understands the necessity of addressing the challenges an increasing student population can impose on a county school district.”
Site work and grading for the Brookhaven project was initiated last
spring. Underground utilities at the site have been re-routed as necessary and construction of the new classroom building’s ICF foundation walls is progressing (pictured above). When the new building is finished, general contractor City Construction will start renovating Brookhaven’s main building. These renovations will begin after the current school year ends and won’t impact the school’s regular operations. After the new classroom building and renovations to the school’s main building are complete, the existing pre-k annex – built in 1952 – will be demolished.
The SBA in December 2016 awarded Mon County Schools $2 million for a proposed addition and renovations at South Middle (pictured below left). The proposed renovations will add 12 classrooms – including a dedicated science classroom – to the original building’s rear northeast façade and will allow for removal of the school’s ageing modular classroom structures.
MCS originally had requested $3.2 million from the SBA to assist with the South upgrades, which also will include electrical, fire suppression and communications updates and increased main entrance security.
With available SBA funds reduced to $50 million statewide during the current funding cycle, the agency granted MCS $2 million for the South project. Despite the $1.2 million funding deficit, the project will move forward, with completion anticipated in 2018.
Facility Improvements Underway at Brookhaven, South
(Photo by Brian Fulkerson)
10 MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017
Mon County Board of Education member Ron Lytle (pictured at left) congratulates members of the Morgantown High boys’ cross country team at the board’s Dec. 20 meeting for winning the 2016 West Virginia Class AAA cross country championship. Team members include (front from left) Robert Gullion, 10th grade; Mikael Virji, 9th; Benjamin Peters, 11th; Vitaly Cuff, 12th; John Gullion, 12th; Andrew Riley, 11th; head coach Mike Ryan: (back from left) Lytle; assistant coach Jeff Core; Andrew Christy, 11th; Andrew Jones, 11th; Kevin Donnelly, 11th; and assistant coach Steve Blinco. (Photo by Judy Reckart)
Mohigan XC Boys Named State’s 2016 Champs
GREAT PUMPKIN HARVESTS FUNDS
FOR NORTH GARDEN
North Elementary third grader Brent Hagood perched atop a 982-pound pumpkin at the school Oct. 27 – a position he earned by previously guessing the weight of another great (671-pound) pumpkin displayed at the school throughout October.
Students paid $5 each to guess the pumpkin’s weight – and Hagood’s 678-pound guess was the closest to the massive pumpkin’s actual heft. Other student’s guesses ranged from 100 to 750 pounds. West Virginia University horticulture student Dustin Trychta, who grew both pumpkins last summer, said the 982-pounder was the largest he’d ever grown. Hagood also earned the privilege of cutting open the giant gourd with Trychta’s assistance and helping his classmates sort through its innards in search of viable seeds (pictured below).
Seeds from the original contest pumpkin were collected after it was carved and exhibited by WVU sculpture students. The seeds were then set aside for planting next spring in the Panther Pride garden, in the hope of growing yet another gargantuan gourd.
North principal Natalie Webb said the contest generated $700 for the garden, supplemented by a $100 donation from Trychta.
(Photo by Judy Reckart)
MOUNTAINEER MIDDLE REPORTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Drawings and writing created by students in Grant Johnson’s Mountaineer Middle health class have earned regional recognition in the “Kids Kick Opioids” competition sponsored this fall by the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office. Their entries were displayed at the State Capitol to help raise awareness of this growing epidemic. With more than 2,200 entries submitted by students to the contest statewide, those created by Mountaineer Middle students Carly Kniceley, Tali Sizemore, Anna Robbins and Willow Colebank (pictured bottom left) were selected as regional winners.
On an October day that saw a record 110 of 391 pumpkins survive the 11-story drop from the roof of the WVU Engineering Sciences Building, Mountaineer Middle’s Team 57 took top honors in the 29th Annual Pumpkin Drop. Team 57’s pumpkin landed 2’11” from the target, earning them the $100 first prize. Their design featured a parachute atop a cardboard box containing a pumpkin wrapped in pillows, pillow stuffing and bubble wrap. The team consisted of (pictured bottom right) Lindsey Vorndran, Sophia Valachovic, Rachel Sampson, Madison Dulik and Gary Clement, all eighth graders in Robyn Addie’s class. The competition was sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Chapter at WVU. Proceeds benefited the Ronald McDonald House.
(Photos by Elissa Miller)
MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017 11
The holiday spirit is apparent in every Mon County school during the four weeks between Thanksgiving and winter breaks. In addition to presenting seasonal musical productions and decking the halls, students and staff share that spirit with members of both their internal school communities and with the larger community, as well. Here are a few of our schools’ projects and activities that helped spread the joy of the season this year.
BROOKHAVEN ELEMENTARY:After collecting 5,813 food items for WCLG’s Annual Holiday Food Drive, Brookhaven Elementary student council members (pictured) visited the WV National Guard’s Morgantown Readiness Center to help organize the donations by sorting donated food by expiration dates and category. Once the donations were categorized, students “shopped” and bagged food for individual families, sorting hundreds of cans and bagging items for 452 families. Student council members also coordinated the school’s 2016 Make-a-Wish donation campaign, generating over $2,000 for the organization.
CHEAT LAKE ELEMENTARY: Gina Kintigh and Robin Marcus organized the school’s “giving trees” collections in the school library Dec. 9-16, requesting kindergarteners donate mittens; first graders, socks; second, hats; third, pet food and pet toys; fourth, pet food or kitty litter; fifth, pet food or laundry detergent. Kintigh and Marcus divided the gifts among area charitable organizations for delivery before Christmas.
MTEC: The entire center worked together to design, build and furnish a “tiny house” for flood victims in southern West Virginia and filled it with necessities from a first aid kit (Health Occupations students) to canned goods (SKILLS USA members). Kevin Clark’s Public Law and Safety students collected purses filled with adult personnel care items and shoeboxes containing small toys and children’s hats, gloves and scarves. LPN student Uriah LaRue and Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA) members also collected new or gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves/mittens. Additionally, HOSA collected donations for the Rosenbaum Family House’s Thanksgiving dinner under the direction of Jennifer Malcolm – and participated in Operation Christmas Child, with direction from Belinda Baker.
MYLAN PARK ELEMENTARY: First and third grade classes collected items for Operation Shoebox and fifth graders participated in the Scholastic Reading Club Great Bedtime Story Pajama Club, which helps provide new pajamas and books to children in need – especially those living in group homes, shelters, foster care and orphanages. Forty Mylan Park and Skyview students also joined members of the Granville Police Department for a “Shop with a Cop” spree at University Town Center to shop for holiday gifts. In mid-December, the Westover Rotary hosted 50 Mylan Park and Skyview students at its annual holiday pizza luncheon during which delivered presents.
SKYVIEW ELEMENTARY: Skyview staff participated in McTeacher night at Westover McDonald’s Dec. 7 and conducted a “Holiday Mall Santa Secret Shop” the week of Dec. 12, with proceeds benefiting the county’s Child Advocacy Center.
UNIVERSITY HIGH: The Lucy’s Dreamweavers project – which helps UHS students in need – has expanded in November and December, with UHS Partner in Education Cheat Lake Rotary making multiple donations to the project. The UHS Parent/Teacher/Student Organization is the project’s funding sponsor, with Bethany Underdonk and Erica Diaz as coordinators.
Mon County Students Give – and Receive – during the Holidays
12 MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS | QUARTERS WORTH | WINTER 2017
MEET YOUR MONONGALIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
President: Barbara L. Parsons, Ed.D.304-266-4301Central DistrictTerm Expires 2018
Dr. Parsons was appointed to the Monongalia County Board of Education in 2000 and subsequently has been elected to four four-year terms. She has served as board president since July 2010.She holds a bachelor’s degree in family resources, a master’s in industrial and labor relations and a doctorate in education from West Virginia University. She is a graduate of the Leadership West Virginia Class of 1992 and initiated and coordinated the Leadership Monongalia program for 14 years. Dr.
Parsons also served several years as a member of Monongalia County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization.Her board experience includes ten years on the Morgantown Utility Board and six years on the board of Western Pennsylvania Lutheran Senior Services. She is a former president of the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. An advocate at the state level for local boards of education regarding school governance issues, she currently is president-elect of the West Virginia School Board Association. A former assistant professor of management at Fairmont State and WVU, Dr. Parsons also has held the positions of vice president of employee relations at Fairmont General Hospital and corporate director of human resources at Monongalia Health System. She retired May 2012 as director of educational services for Monongalia Health System.A native of Jackson County and a 4-H All-Star, Dr. Parsons currently volunteers as a traveling companion to residents of the Village at Heritage Pointe and frequently cares for her two pre-school-age grandsons. The mother of two adult daughters, she resides in Morgantown.
Vice President: Nancy A. Walker304-599-4870Eastern DistrictTerm expires 2020
Nancy Walker, a lifelong West Virginian, has lived in Monongalia County since 1974. She was elected to the Board of Education in 1996 representing the Eastern district and also has served during her tenure as board president for nine years. During this period, Nancy has been a part of many new school construction projects that have created equitable educational opportunities for all students and staff.Nancy’s involvement with the Monongalia County Schools began as a parent volunteer – as a homeroom
mother, a Read-Aloud volunteer, a Local School Improvement Council and Parent Advisory Board member, an exploratory organizer and a middle school band camp coordinator.Nancy performs abdominal vascular and cardiac ultrasound for the Heart and Vascular Center of Monongalia General Hospital.She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the United Way of Monongalia and Preston counties and previously served as United Way campaign chair. She is a past member of the Community Partnership Board for the West Virginia Prevention Research Center and the West Virginia Commission for Performance Teaching Standards.Nancy and her husband Craig reside in Morgantown and are the parents of three adult children and grandparents of three grandchildren.
A Morgantown native and a graduate of University High School, Dr. Clarence Harvey, Jr. began his career as a professional educator in 1948, teaching at Daybrook Junior High. Dr. Harvey also served as a principal and in several central office administrative positions before his retirement in 1984. A South Park resident representing the county’s Central District, Harvey initially was elected to a six-year term on the Board of Education in 1984 and subsequently was re-elected to two four-year terms. County
voters returned him to the Board in May 2006, 2010 and 2014.Harvey holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Virginia University. He also holds a doctoral degree in education from Penn State University.Harvey and his late wife, Wilma, are the parents of three children, grandparents of seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Quarter’s Worth is the official quarterly publication of the Monongalia County Schools (MCS). Content is submitted by employees of the Monongalia County Schools or is generated under the direction of the MCS administrative staff. Questions and comments regarding Quarter’s Worth may be directed to the
Monongalia County Schools, 13 S. High St., Morgantown, WV 26501. MCS operates as an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, gender, marital or family status,
age or disabling condition in its activities, programs or employment practices as required in Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The school system follows administrative procedures which allow any individual, including parent, student or employee to file a grievance if it is alleged that a policy, practice, procedure or direct service provided by the school
system has resulted in a violation of Section 504 of the ADA. For information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact Donna Talerico, Assistant Superintendent,
Monongalia County Schools, 13 S. High St., Morgantown, WV 26501, 302- 291-9210. Superintendent of Monongalia County Schools: Dr. Frank Devono; Deputy Superintendent: Donna Talerico;
Monongalia County Board of Education: Dr. Barbara Parsons, President; Nancy Walker, Vice President; Dr. Clarence Harvey, Jr., Mike Kelly and Ron Lytle members; Quarter’s Worth editor: Judy Reckart
MEET YOUR MONONGALIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Member: Mike Kelly304-292-7094Western DistrictTerm expires 2018
Mike Kelly is a Westover resident and president of Dulaney Oil. A University High alumnus, Kelly and his wife, Marjorie, a Morgantown High graduate, are the parents of three children and the grandparents of three grandchildren, all of whom are enrolled in the Monongalia County Schools.Kelly is former president of the Westover Rotary and of the Greater Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), with which he’s been an active member since its inception in 2003, and is a
member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. An avid automobile collector and racer, Kelly also is a strong proponent of the county schools’ performing arts programs, especially their bands.Kelly served on the Board 2005-06 and 2007-08, completing previous Board members’ unexpired terms. He was elected in May 2008 to complete his second appointed term through June 2010.The Board reappointed Kelly to another vacated seat July 2010, a position he held until the Nov. 2, 2010 general election when he was elected to complete that term through 2014. In 2014, county voters returned him to the Board through 2018.
Member: Ron Lytle304-692-6380Eastern DistrictTerm expires 2020
A Confluence, Pennsylvania native, Ron Lytle relocated to Morgantown in 1990 to attend WVU. Following his 1994 graduation with a BA in sociology/criminology, Lytle worked toward a graduate degree in applied social research.He founded Lytle Construction as a sole proprietorship in 1998 and incorporated the firm, which specializes in commercial construction, in 2002.
Lytle initially was elected to the Board of Education in 2012 and was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2016.Lytle and his wife, Jennifer, reside in the West Run area and are the parents of two daughters, one a Morgantown High graduate and the other, a current MHS student. He currently serves as a board member of PACE Enterprises and also has served as that organization’s board vice president and president. A member of Suncrest United Methodist Church, Lytle is a youth Sunday school teacher and is active in the church’s local, national and international mission efforts. He and his family travel frequently to the Dominican Republic on international mission trips, where they pour concrete floors, distribute food to hungry families and teach Bible school.
13 S. High StreetMorgantown, WV 26501
JANUARY 201716 Dr.MartinLutherKingJr.DaySchools,officesclosed18 PARENTCONFERENCES–SuncrestMiddle4-7p.m.Grades6-820 Nine-weekreportcards:Six-weekreportcards24 MonCountyBOEmeeting7p.m.CentralOfficeboardroom
JULY 20174 IndependenceDay11 MonCountyBOEmeeting7p.m.CentralOfficeboardroom23 Parents’Day25 MonCountyBOEmeeting7p.m.CentralOfficeboardroom26 Eidal-Fitr
*West Virginia State Code WVC §18-5-45 specifies that if a county board cannot complete 180 days of instruction with the current school calendar, the county board must schedule instruction on any available non-instructional day (other than the seven designated holidays or Election Day) OR use an Out-of-Calendar Day (except Saturdays or Sundays).
2016-2017 MONONGALIA COUNTY SCHOOLS CALENDAR
Thanks, MVB! This edition of Quarter’s Worth has been mailed directly to the homes of all Monongalia County Schools students, courtesy of MVB, “Your Most Valuable Bank.” MVB also supports other Monongalia County Schools’ projects, activities and special events in a mutually beneficial partnership that continues to grow. The Monongalia County Schools sincerely appreciates MVB’s ongoing involvement in our students’ education.
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