Rock Hill School News For Thursday, July 29, 2010

Persons who would like to donate an item or items for the silent auction for the district's mega fundraiser on August 21 are requested to contact Assoc. Supt. Luanne Kokolis  at 981-1045 ASAP. Thanks to Linda Crute, principal at Northside Elementary School of The Arts, the district has secured a brand new car for a year's use, compliments of Toyota, to include in the auction. 

Sandra Lindsay-Brown, principal of The Children's School at Sylvia Circle, recently accepted a Chairman's appointment to the  S.C. School Improvement Council Board to fill the remaining one year of an unexpired term. When the term concludes in the summer of 2011, Dr. Lindsay-Brown will be eligible to vie for an elected three-year term on the board.      

The Children's School at Sylvia Circle, has for the past two years, been one of the top five finalists for the Dick and Tunky Riley award which recognizes the state most outstanding school improvement council.

India Hook Elementary's environmental club was recognized on June 23 as "outstanding" by S. C. DHEC at a state-level awards ceremony in Columbia. The district extends special congratulations to Christina Selle-Schmittle, a fourth-grade teacher, who serves as the club's adviser.

The Rock Hill Elks Lodge #1318 has again decided to purchase dictionaries for all third grade students, their teachers, and principals. The dictionaries will be delivered to the schools in September. 

Employees in our elementary and middle schools will return to their home school effective August 2 when the district  returns to a five-day work week.

Tickets are  available for the Little River Band concert on August 11 in the Old Town (City Hall) Amphitheater.  A portion of the proceeds from the concert will be used to purchase supplies for teachers. Current Teachers of the Year will be special guests at the concert. They will sit in a reserved section, get their picture made with the band, and be formally introduced just before the band begins to play.

Senator Wes Hayes will hold a Public Meeting this Monday, August 2, 2010 at Fewell Park, beginning at 7:00 PM.

Rock Hill Schools Superintendent Gets Outstanding Evaluation and Contract Extension

The Rock Hill School Board met on Tuesday, July 27, 2009 at the school district office. Most of the meeting was in executive session for the superintendent's yearly evaluation. The board did come out of executive session to vote on two items:

• The board voted 7-0 to approve personnel changes for July
• The board voted 7-0 to approve a one year contract extension (to 2015) and to approve the following statement:

Superintendent's Evaluation

          During tonight's meeting, the Board met in Executive Session to conduct its annual evaluation of its Superintendent, Dr. Lynn Moody.

           

            The Board is pleased to report that Dr. Moody received an outstanding evaluation. The Board is very appreciative of Dr. Moody's leadership, particularly during this past school year, given the unprecedented cuts the District was forced to make due to the uncertainty and/or lack of federal, State, and local funding. While the Board sincerely regrets the necessity of making the budget cuts, Dr. Moody has ensured that her recommendations and the Board's discussion of them have been transparent and widely publicized so there would be no surprises. Additionally, despite the enormous time that Dr. Moody and her staff have spent dealing with the District's budget and financial issues, we are pleased with the academic achievement the District has continued to make as a result of the ongoing commitment of the District's staff to teaching and learning for all of its students.

            While the Board anticipates another difficult financial year ahead, the Board wishes to express publicly its full support of Dr Moody and her staff. The Board and the administration remain committed to the needs of all the District's students, while at the same time managing the District's finances in the best interests of the District and the community. We are grateful for Dr. Moody's dynamic leadership, work ethic, and her commitment to the success of our District.          

            The board voted during public session to extend Dr. Moody's contract by one year, or through June 30, 2015. The Board unanimously believes that Dr. Moody is a talented Superintendent and one of the most able educators in Rock Hill's distinguished history.

            Dr. Moody's contract provides that the Superintendent shall receive annually any increase in compensation provided to the District's teachers. In light of the fact that neither teachers, nor any other employee, received an increase for the upcoming school year, the superintendent will not receive an increase. We emphasize that the absence of any increase in compensation for the upcoming school year is the result of the economy, not the employee's performance.

                                                                                    Bob Norwood, Board Chair

                                                                                    July 27, 2010

The Fun Theory

Volkswagon has a web site called The Fun Theory. It's premise, can you get folks to do things just by making it fun? The video below is an example of how they got folks to use the stairs instead of an escalator.

Online Bullies

The New York Times had a recent article on what schools can and can't do to protect students from online bullies. You can read the article by clicking here.

A serious problem area is  Middle School Students - who shouldn't have cell phones with texting capability - nor should they use social media sites - but very few parents even try to control this activity. Schools have been asked to help police what parents have been unwilling to control - and courts have made this very confusing to schools about what can legally be done.

Here are a couple of sites you should check out:

Cyberbullying Research

WiredSafety

South Pointe High School Football Team Gets Grant From USA Football and Panthers

Youth & High School Football Programs of the Carolinas Earn Equipment Grants from USA Football & Panthers

Author: Steve Alic, USA Football

Published: July 20, 2010, revised July 20, 2010

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USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, and the Carolina Panthers have recently awarded football equipment grants to youth and high school football programs throughout the Carolinas based on merit and need.

USA Football partners with the Panthers and all NFL clubs to award equipment grants to youth and high school football programs across the United States. The program has awarded more than $3 million in football equipment through the NFL Youth Football Fund since 2006.

Each selected youth league receives a $1,000 package that offers a variety of football equipment and uniform options to choose from. High schools receive similar packages valued at $1,500. All equipment grants are fulfilled by Riddell, the official helmet and protective equipment partner of USA Football.

"Our organization works with low income families and normally the kids are not able to participate in organized football," said KENNETH CRUMP of S.O.A.R., Inc. in Charlotte. "The equipment is always secondhand and is badly used and damaged. The football equipment would give them something to be excited about. S.O.A.R., Inc. is a non-profit organization aimed to enhance the life of low-income families in the Charlotte, N.C., area."

USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the Panthers, the NFL, each of its other 31 teams and the NFL Players Association. The NFL Youth Football Fund, a joint partnership between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, provides for approximately 800 football programs to earn an equipment grant from USA Football and NFL teams this season.

"The Carolina Panthers are excited to partner with USA Football and the NFL Youth Football Fund to positively impact youth and high school football programs in the Carolinas by providing equipment grants," said PETER VACHO, Carolina Panthers Youth Football Manager. "For these football programs, this equipment equals opportunity, an opportunity for more kids to play football safely and learn essential life skills such as sportsmanship, teamwork and determination."

"We are pleased to work with USA Football and our teams to donate much-needed equipment to youth leagues," said ALEXIA GALLAGHER, Director of the NFL Youth Football Fund. "These grants will help ensure that youngsters who share our love of the game are able to play it safely."

"Even with multiple fundraisers and strict budget adherence, many well-run youth and high school football programs need help to properly equip their teams," USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK said. "We are proud to be a partner in the Panthers' continued commitment to ensuring great football experiences for the kids, families and volunteers who power this sport in the Carolinas."

North & South Carolina youth and high school programs awarded a 2010 USA Football Equipment Grant:

ORGANIZATION

CITY

Owen District Youth Football League Starmount High School Branchville High School Enka High School East Cowboys Youth Football Team Central Parks & Recreation Charlotte Latin School Elon Browns Youth Football Association Phillip O. Berry High School S.O.A.R., Inc. East Lincoln Optimist Club SABGC Athletic League Boys & Girls Club of Eden Eden Parks & Recreation Westover High School Huskie Optimist of Gastonia Eastern Guilford High School Grimsley High School Carolina High School North Pitt High School Henderson Panthers Gray's Creek High School Hudson Optimist Football Lake Norman Charter School East Lincoln Middle School Kernersville Raiders Western Harnett High School Coastal Carolina AYFL Craven Bearcats Pop Warner Newberry Youth Football South Stanly High School Red Springs High School Reidsville Parks & Recreation South Pointe High School Nash Central High School Pinecrest High School Wade Hampton High School ARC of Wilson Community Christian School Winston-Salem Indians York Comprehensive High School

Black Mountain, N.C. Boonville, N.C. Branchville, S.C. Candler, N.C. Candor, N.C. Central, S.C. Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte, N.C. Denver, N.C. Durham, N.C. Eden, N.C. Eden, N.C. Fayetteville, N.C. Gastonia, S.C. Gibsonville, N.C. Greensboro, N.C. Greenville, S.C. Greenville, N.C. Henderson, N.C. Hope Mills, N.C. Hudson, N.C. Huntersville, N.C. Iron Station, N.C. Kernersville, N.C. Lillington, N.C. Morehead City, N.C. New Bern, N.C. Newberry, S.C. Norwood, N.C. Red Springs, N.C. Reidsville, N.C. Rock Hill, S.C. Rocky Mount, N.C. Southern Pines, N.C. Varnville, S.C. Wilson, N.C. Wilson, N.C. Winston-Salem, N.C. York, S.C.

About USA Football

USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, leads the game's development, inspires participation, and ensures a positive experience for all youth, high school, and other amateur players. The independent non-profit hosts more than 80 football training events annually for coaches, players and youth football league commissioners. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association and manages U.S. national teams for international competition. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football (usafootball.com) distributes $1 million annually in equipment grants and offers youth league volunteer background check subsidies. Former NFL team executive Carl Peterson is USA Football's chairman.

Transparency in Government

Local governments, including school districts, are now required to post financial information on their websites. The SC Comptroller General's web site has links to some of that information (including the 4 York County School Districts). Some of the expenses are interesting.

You can access the Comptroller Generals site for transparency in government by clicking here.

Study Like A Scholar

This is a humerous take off on some recent Old Spice Ads.

Martinez named team MVP at the Clash of the Carolinas

Share HighPointPanthers.com

July 15, 2010

Incoming freshman Alex Martinez (Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern) of the High Point University men’s soccer team scored a goal for South Carolina and was named team MVP in the Clash of the Carolina’s game on Friday in Charleston, S.C.

The two teams went into the half tied at 1-1, but in the 49th minute Martinez snuck the ball past the keeper at the near post to give South Carolina a lead it would not relinquish as the team went on to win 3-2. It was South Carolina’s first win in four tries at the Clash.

Martinez comes to HPU after a distinguished prep career at Northwestern High school where he won three consecutive state championships. In his senior season, Martinez had 81 points on 31 goals and 18 assists and was named Region Player of the year. In 2009, Martinez was named a second team All-American by Parade after helping Northwestern to an undefeated record and a No. 1 national ranking by both ESPN Rise and the NSCAA.

The Panthers achieved their best season in Division I with a 9-7-2 overall record and 5-1-2 record in the Big South. HPU returns 10 starters in 2010 including first team All-Big South member and Freshman of the Year Shawn Sloan and junior Karo Okiomah, who tied for the team lead in points with 14 each.

Senator Wes Hayes To Hold Public Meeting on Monday, August 2, 2010

Senator Wes Hayes will hold a public meeting on Monday, August 2, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at Fewell Park in Rock Hill. This is a good opportunity to meet the Senator and find out what he thinks the prospects will be for comprehensive tax reform and education funding for the next year. Senator Hayes has been a very strong supporter of Public Education. You can read his summer newsletter by clicking here.
His comments (from the newsletter) on the budget are below:

With the amount of General Funds available for appropriation down for the fourth consecutive year, the FY2010-11 General Fund budget proved to be one of the most difficult to write. Peak collections were $6.7 billion in FY2006-07 but are expected to drop to approximately $5 billion for FY2010-11, which is the same level of funding available to the State in 2000. The General Fund appropriation base for FY2010-11 is approximately $5 billion after accounting for roughly $52 million in gubernatorial vetoes that were sustained by the House and Senate. Although the overall General Fund budget is down 25% over the last three years, the cuts, thus far, have been targeted instead of being applied equally across the board. For example, recurring cuts to the State’s colleges and universities have averaged 45%, which returns funding for Higher Education back to 1985 levels. While cuts to K-12 public education have not been as severe, these cuts are not without consequences, particularly when considering the gap between mandated and actual levels of funding. According to the Education Finance Act funding formula, the funding for FY2010-11 should be approximately $2.5 billion, but the actual funding available is only $1.5 billion. Fortunately, some of the cuts to public and Higher Education have been offset by the second and final round of federal stimulus funds, which total an estimated $750 million for FY2010-11. Other State agencies also have seen drastic budget cuts, including DNR and DHEC. Fee increases that had originally been proposed to help offset some of these agency cuts were in most cases rejected by the General Assembly. Thus, next year is almost certain to be a challenge as the citizenry’s demand for basic governmental services clashes with a lack of funds and resources to provide these services.

Rock Hill Schools To Hold Fundraiser on Saturday, August 21, 2010

Rock Hill Schools is planning a  fundraiser on Saturday, August 21, from 8 am until

2 pm at the Operations Center and at the Applied Technology Center on West Main Street (Hwy. 5). Details are below:

 

Auction

Used district equipment, furniture, and vehicles will be for sale to the highest bidder at the Operations Center on West Main (Hwy. 5). Proceeds from the auction will go into the district's fund balance. For specific details, contact Brian Vaughan at 981-1100.

 

Car Show

A car show, which will feature  classic or muscle cars, will be held on the campus of the Applied Technology Center. Trophies will be awarded in all categories.

 

Yard Sale

A giant yard sale will be held on the campus of the Applied Technology Center under the covered walkways facing Northwestern High School. The community is asked to contribute items to their preferred school for sale. Schools will  keep the money they raise. (Tables will not be set up until early Saturday morning, so the yard sale won't begin until 8 am.)

 

Silent Auction

The district is appealing to the community to donate an item or items for a silent auction. Persons who wish to contribute an item should contact Dr. Sarah Lynn Hayes, at the Central Child Development Center (980-2060), or Ana Glosson, in the district office (981-3635). Items, with a suggested beginning price, will be accepted until the close of the workday on August 13. Proceeds from the silent auction will go into the district's fund balance.

 

Art Sale

The district is looking to its talented artists--students and employees--to donate a piece of art for sale. Interested persons should contact Dr. Luanne Kokolis in the district office at 981-1045. 

 

Food/Beverages

Food and drinks will be for sale in the Culinary Arts Dept. at the ATC.

Getting Parents Involved

Communicating with parents is the first step to getting them involved. Edutopia has an interesting post on this subject here and here.  If you don't think your school is doing a good job in the areas below, tell them of your interest - and help them if you can.

Develop (or Enhance) Class and School Web Pages

School Web sites are the most efficient way to give parents a peek inside the happenings of a classroom or school. Pictures of school activities, plus calendars, e-newsletters, examples of student work, and week-by-week listings of course assignments and due dates, are just a few of the ways teachers or principals are using the Internet to share important classroom and school information with parents.
Keep it current, though: An out-of-date Web site is almost worse than no site at all. Assign someone with the time and skills necessary to keep it current and interesting.

Distribute E-Newsletters

Most students aren't reliable couriers. Class and school newsletters or fliers about upcoming events wind up crumpled at the bottom of backpacks or crammed into pockets. E-newsletters skip the middleman and send the information directly to parents' email accounts. They're quick, cheap, and reliable. Not every family will have access to email, so continue to provide the hard-copy option for those who need it.

Are You Very Millennial?

How Millennial are you? Click here to find out.

Read the report on the millennial generation by clicking here.

Fibonacci Sequence

Dear Jim Vining,

I really appreciate your collection of website resources on the Education News For the Rock Hill Community website, http://districtthreeed.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html. Your intent to create a blog in order to provide information on issues affecting the Rock Hill School District and also to provide an opportunity for feedback and the sharing of ideas is commendable.

We just published an article on Guide to Online Schools highlighting the coolest facts about the Fibonacci sequence, references in popular culture, and places to get all the information you could ever want about the Fibonacci sequence, http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/library/fibonacci-sequence.

The article would be a great addition to your website resources. I hope it helps everyone who uses your website.

Sincerely,

Nathan Grimm
Program Manager - SR Education Group
Twitter @n8ngrimm
(425) 605-8898
123 Lake Street South Suite B-1
Kirkland, WA 98033

The Latest Shift Happens

Nicholson Throws Hat In Ring For Rock Hill School Board Seat

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                          Tuesday, July 6, 2010

CONTACT:                                                                                        Jeff Nicholson, (803) 329-3571

______________________________________________________________________________

Nicholson to seek open Rock Hill 3 school board seat

Jeff Nicholson has announced his intention to run for the Rock Hill School District Three Board of Trustees in the November 2 general election.

Nicholson, 51, will seek the Board’s District 2 seat being vacated by Dr. Jason Silverman.

A 35-year resident of Rock Hill, Nicholson will run on a platform to give public school parents and the community “a greater feeling of ownership and pride” in their local schools.

“I believe we really need to work together to help rebuild a sense of trust in our school district, particularly where it comes to school funding,” Nicholson said. “We can’t do that effectively from the top down. We have to do it from the grassroots in our communities.

“Public education in our state is facing budgetary issues like it has never seen before, and the same applies here in our district. We must reach out to our community for understanding and assistance if we want to provide Rock Hill’s students the resources they need to be successful.

“I believe my track record in our local schools and working with a wide variety of community members and education leaders can assist our district in doing just that,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson has been active in supporting Rock Hill District Three schools as a parent and community member, and is the recipient of several district and state-level school volunteer awards. Named a State Advocate of the Year in 2005 by the S.C. School Improvement Council (SC-SIC), he currently serves as Immediate Past Chair of the SC-SIC State Board.

He has been an involved volunteer with numerous groups at South Pointe High School, including the School Improvement Council, Athletic Department, After Prom, and Drama Club.

A 1977 graduate of Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, Nicholson holds the Associates Degree in Engineering Technology from York Technical College. He is employed as an estimator with Laboratory Design & Equipment, Inc. in Fort Mill.

Nicholson and his wife, Shirley, have one daughter, Katie, a graduate of South Pointe High currently attending the Savannah (GA) College of Art and Design. The Nicholson’s are members of Philadelphia United Methodist Church in Fort Mill.

Staying Current

Do you remember an “Inconvenient Truth”? The documentary that tried to convince everyone about global warming. Of course, if you watch Fox, you know about other issues which were not brought up.  Well, the guy that produced "Inconvenient Truth" has now produced, "Waiting For Superman" .  A documentary which goes to great detail about problems in public schools and how the solution is charter schools. Doesn't mention the good going on in public schools or how much some of those charter schools cost per child. The release date is scheduled for this fall when schools start back up. Wonder if Fox will give the balanced version for this documentary? Finds links and some comments on this documentary by clicking on "Waiting For Superman".

The second link is about how a new School Tech Person took off most of the internet filters (Youtube and GMail primarily) and put in a system to treat the offenders and allow the balance to get to quality material which had been banned. Read the story by clicking Web Filters.

The last link - someone has put together a list of 161 Youtube video's you should watch. Click on 161 Best Youtube Video's - if you have the time.

Jay Walking on The 4th of July

This clip doesn't need any comments:

Watch This And You'll Realize Just How Small You Are

Keeping things in perspective - this video gives a good representation about just how big the universe is:

Rock Hill's Newest Park - A keeper.

Rock Hill's Riverwalk Park opened this week. You can read The Herald's write up here and their short video here.  The trail is an easy walk with a wide paved path and lots of views of the Catawba River. There are a couple of bluffs which should have great views in winter when the leaves fall off. The trail is 2.25 miles long, starts near the highway 21 bridge and ends at the Railroad Trestle. Walking the whole trail means a round trip of 4.5 miles.  Below are some scenes from the trail.

Rock Hill's Riverwalk Park from Jim Vining on Vimeo.

Take Some Edutopia Quizes

Edutopia has several items you can complete to help decide where you fit in the world of technology. You should try them out.

Tech Savy Teaching. How Do You Rank?

What's Your Emotional Intelligence?

What's Your Learning Style?