Rock Hill School District News #rockhill #rockhillschools

Extra Meeting to Discuss iRock

There will be a Called Work Session focusing on iRock on Thursday, March 21 at Dutchman Creek Middle School beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Summary of March 11 School Board Work Session

• Board heard from students on their reflections on the value of iPads in the teaching and learning process and listened to updates from the Evaluation, Finance/Resources, Communications, and Teacher Input Critique Teams. The Finance Team recommends that parents pay a $65 insurance fee (down from $85). Board wants answers to additional questions before March 25 vote on iRock.
• Board received a report on technology infrastructure capital requests totaling $1.4 million. Requests involve replacing obsolete switching and  increasing wireless access points.
• Board Policy KF, “Community Use of School Facilities,” will be up for first-reading approval on March 25 while Policy BEDB, “Agenda,” will be up for second-reading. Board reached consensus that Policy BID, “Board Compensation,” should remain as written. Changes to Policy BDE, “Board Committees,” are still under consideration.

 

In the News

CN2, always a great supporter of the district, did a great job last week on two topics. Check out (1) the Hi-Tech Gala and (2) David Wallat’s construction and engineering students at the ATC, who are building dugout style shelters for the NHS soccer teams, at http://www.cn2.com/web/guest/sports_videos?p_p_id=SportsVideos_WAR_CN2NewsContent&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_SportsVideos_WAR_CN2NewsContent_videoId=009114&#p_SportsVideos_WAR_CN2NewsContent. The new breakfast program at Oakdale Elementary was featured on Tuesday's news.

 

Congratulations to . . .

• Students and staff at Lesslie Elementary on raising $2,418 for the American Heart Assn. Hats off to Trey McDaniel, organizer.
• Saluda Trail’s Tim Davis, an 8^th grade science teacher, who has been selected to attend the Astronomy 8 session of the 2013 Science P.L.U.S. Institute at Roper Mountain Science Institute in July and to Julia Millar, a 6^th grade science teacher, who was selected as first alternate for the Weather 6 session.

 

Noteworthy Dates

• March 15 – Free car seat safety check at ParentSmart, 9:00-1:00
• March 18-22 – Basic Computer Class at the Flex Center offered through Adult Education, 10-noon daily, $50, open to the public
• March 19-20 – PASS Testing dates
• March 21 – “Future Chefs” competition at Dutchman Creek, sponsored by Sodexo, 3:30-6:00. Elementary winners will compete to see who can make the best “healthy salad.”
• March – May – Great American Cleanup, project of Keep America Beautiful

 

 

Elaine T. Baker

Director of Information Services

Rock Hill Schools

Rock Hill March Work Session This Monday #rockhill #rhschoolboard #rockhillschools

Click here to see the information packet for the meeting.

March 7 Rock Hill Schools Update #rockhill #rockhillschools

Hi-Tech Gala

The March 5 Hi-Tech Gala, sponsored by the Rock Hill School District Foundation, was IMPRESSIVE! A “who’s who” of business leaders, legislators, local officials, and educators attended. Keynote speaker, Dr. Mark Edwards, the 2013 National Superintendent of the Year, focused his comments on the economic value to a community when a digital conversion model is successfully in place in the local schools. The Hi-Tech awards of the evening went to the City of Rock Hill; 

Ozzie Ahl

Ozzie Ahl, principal at Rock Hill High; and 

Jennifer Camp

Jennifer Camp, a grade 5 teacher at Mount Holly Elementary. And, a lot of money was raised—just short of $200,000! 

 

Congratulations to . . .

• the students and staff at Old Pointe Elementary School on raising $2,400 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Campaign (Pasta for Pennies). In 11 years, Old Pointe has raised over $28,500 under the coordination of Suzanne Dalesandro, counselor.
• fifth-graders at Finley Road Elementary School who toured the Levine Museum in Charlotte on Feb. 21. Principal Chris Roorda received an email from the docent who conducted the tour who said: “I have rarely had the privilege of working with a group of students as intelligent and well-spoken as these fifth-graders. They were engaging, mature, eager, enthusiastic and interactive. In addition, each of the chaperones was wonderful and engaged.”
• the students and staff at Independence Elementary School on raising $4,330.85 for the Pasta for Pennies campaign. Maria Sylvester, a grade 2 teacher, serves as the coordinator of this campaign which helps blood cancer patients live better, longer lives.

 

Noteworthy Dates

• March 14 & 15 – Thoroughly Modern Millie, Junior, will be presented by Saluda Trail Middle School’s related arts department at 7:00 pm in the auditorium. There’ll be singing, tap dancing, comedy and flapper-style costumes in this well-loved musical. Tickets will be $5.
• March 23 – “Jazz Discovery Music Festival” at Northwestern High School
• March 28 – “RAP” Session in Cyber Café, 6:00-7:00 pm, CSI York County 

• March 28 – Bullying workshop for parents of children with special needs, 6:00-7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at Rock Hill City Hall
• April 17 – Deadline for entries by high school students in the 5^th District Congressional Art Competition. Go to www.5thdistrictart.com for details. 

 

Parking at the District Office

District employees who are attending meetings in the district office are requested to park in the side parking lot and, if necessary, the back lot. 

 

 

Elaine T. Baker

Director of Information Services

Rock Hill Schools

Northwestern High School Teacher a Finalist For State Teacher of The Year #rockhill #rockhillschools

Dr. Jeff Venables

Monday, March 4, 2013

Five Finalists Named for South Carolina Teacher of the Year Honor

Columbia, SC – Today, the South Carolina Department of Education announced five outstanding classroom teachers as finalists in the South Carolina State Teacher of the Year Program. One of these exceptional educators will have the privilege of representing more than 50,000 South Carolina teachers in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

The five finalists, listed alphabetically by school district, are:

·         Lisa O. McCrea-Raiford, an elementary grades teacher at the Center of Innovative Learning at Pinecrest, Aiken County Public School District

·         Darleen S. Sutton, a first grade teacher at Pickens Elementary School, School District of Pickens County

·         Paul D. Johnson, a biology teacher at Saluda High School, Saluda County Schools

·         Trevor T. Ivey, a science teacher at Alice Drive Middle School, Sumter School District

·         Jeffrey M. Venables, a chemistry teacher at Northwestern High School, Rock Hill Schools (York County District Three)

State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais said, “After parents, the most important person in a child’s education is the man or woman at the front of the classroom. Lisa, Darleen, Paul, Trevor, and Jeffrey put the interests of their students first and lead classrooms where a personalized and customized approach to education produces outstanding results. On behalf of their students, parents, and colleagues, we congratulate and thank these educators for their excellence in the classroom.”

The five finalists were chosen from nominees representing 81 local school districts, the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Palmetto Unified School district, and the South Carolina Public Charter School District. The five finalists will travel to Columbia for personal interviews with a seven-member state selection committee.

All five finalists were chosen by a panel of educators and private citizens with no connections to the South Carolina Department of Education. The names of the teachers and their schools were concealed from the judges during the selection process.

The announcement of the South Carolina 2013-14 Teacher of the Year will be made during the Teacher of the Year Celebration on Wednesday, May 1 at the Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia. During the 2013-14 school year the Teacher of the Year will participate in a one-year residency program at the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA) and will serve as a statewide ambassador for the profession.

South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year will also receive a $25,000 cash award and a BMW to use for a year. The four remaining finalists (known as Honor Roll teachers) will each receive $10,000, and the district teachers of the year will receive $1,000 each.

This year marks the 48th year of the South Carolina Teacher of the Year Program, which has increased in both participation and prestige. The awards program is a nationally recognized event that honors the State Teacher of the Year, Honor Roll teachers, and district teachers of the year.

The National Teacher of the Year program, which began in 1952, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and is sponsored by the ING Foundation.

The 2013-14 State Teacher of the Year will succeed Amy McAllister-Skinner, an English teacher at Johnsonville High School in Florence District 5.

Rock Hill School District News #rockhill #rockhillschools

Congratulations to . . .

Dr. Lynn Moody on her selection as the school administrator to be profiled in the March edition of DA District Administration magazine released yesterday. The article is titled "Empathy for All." It can be viewed at

http://www.districtadministration.com/article/empathy-all.

 

"Coins for Connecticut"

Hannah Cramer, a junior IB student at Northwestern, has set up a designated bank account and created a non-profit fundraiser for Sandy Hook Elementary School titled "Coins for Connecticut." With the full support of her family, in particular, her mom, Lisa, who teaches at Rawlinson Road, Hannah began this project over the Christmas break. She encourages everyone to observe March 14 as the three-month anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting and honor the lives of the students and staff whose lives were lost on December 14.

       During spring break Hannah and her mother will personally deliver a check to Sandy Hook Elementary School. As of Feb. 28, donations amounting to $1,500 had been received, but many district employees would like to contribute. If you're one of them, please send a check, payable to Coins for Connecticut, to P.O. Box 36776, (Rock Hill, SC 29732) by March 26. A $5 donation is recommended, but all contributions will be greatly appreciated.

       To learn more about Hannah  and "Coins for Connecticut, " go to

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Rock-Hill-teen-raises-money-for-Sandy-Hook-victims-194015211.html.

 

Celebrating Art

In celebration of Youth Art Month, the Arts Council of York County will host the Annual Teachers' Choice Juried Art Exhibition now through March 17. Art teachers have chosen the student artwork to be displayed, ranging from elementary choices to high school. A public (free) reception will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.

 

Run & Support the BGCYC

The Boys & Girls Clubs of York County and the Rock Hill Kiwanis Club will co-sponsor a "BE GREAT 8K" run and a mile run on Saturday morning, March 16, at the Winthrop Coliseum and the Winthrop Lake. Find out details and to register at https://secureonlinegiving.com/events/site/index.asp?eventID=937.

Elaine T. Baker

Director of Information Services

Rock Hill Schools

Rock Hill School District News #rockhill #rockhillschools

Congratulations to . . .

Rock Hill Schools on being recognized by Keystone for a 2013 Outstanding Achievement Leadership Award.

 

Tornado Drill Set for March 5

March 3-9 has been declared as Severe  Weather Awareness Week. The National Weather Service will initiate a statewide tornado drill on Tuesday, March 5, approximately at 9 a.m. This annual drill is a way for students to learn simple precautions that could save lives.

Elaine T. Baker

Director of Information Services

Rock Hill Schools

Rock Hill School District News #rockhill #rockhillschools

Rock Hill High "Showcase of the Arts"

The Rock Hill High Fine Arts Department will present a Showcase of the Arts on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7:00 p.m. in the school auditorium. The evening will include performances from the band, orchestra, chorus and theatre students. There will also be a display of artwork by visual arts students in the auditorium lobby. The showcase will be free and open to everyone who enjoys the arts.

 

Spring Musical at South Pointe High School

The Theatre Dept. at South Pointe High will present "All Shook Up" in the school auditorium February 28-March 2 at 7:00 p.m. On March 3, the show will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tickets will be $5 for children/students and $10/adults. The musical will be directed by James Chrismon.

 

Elaine T. Baker

Director of Information Services

Rock Hill Schools