Fall & Winter 2012-2013 | Volume 20 | Number 1

“Creating Our Future“ Goes Digital

The Boyd County Public Schools’ district newsletter has undergone

a face-lift and is now available exclusively online.

You can request a paper copy by calling Karen Curnutte at 928-2651, extension 2011, or emailing karen.

curnutte@boyd.kyschools.us.

The New Boyd County High SchoolThe new Boyd County High School was dedicated on December 13, 2012. The crowd

attending the ceremony were almost reverential as they listened attentively to the honored speakers.

The Boyd County Junior Navy ROTC presented the colors as the Boyd County High School Band, played the National Anthem. The Boyd County High School Choir then sang the BCHS Alma Mater and “My Old Kentucky Home.”

Dr. Terry Holliday, Kentucky Commissioner of Education, told the crowd of more than 1,400 that he fully expected to see Boyd County High School as one of the top performers in future college and career readiness scores. No doubt the design of the building itself will give an advantage to BCHS students as they pursue studies in science, technology, arts and humanities, engineering and mathematics; the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) academies - the inspiration behind the

design of the classrooms.

Also incorporated into the facility’s design is the tribute to area communities. Names of the surrounding communities adorn the upper facade of the media center; names such as Burnaugh, Coalton, Kavanaugh and Rush. Many of these communities housed one and two room schools that made up the rural Boyd County School district in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

Rep. Rocky Adkins spoke of how the new BCHS is a state-of-the-art facility that will offer students a world-class education readying them to compete in a global economy. Adkins was later surprised to learn that the new BCHS gymnasium will be named the Rocky Adkins Gymnasium and Athletic Complex. He was visibly moved by the honor, later calling it ‘humbling.’

Rep. Kevin Sinnette, a 1980 graduate of BCHS, spoke of how bright the future is for students attending the new high school. He talked about how the infamous ‘bridge to nowhere’ over East Fork is now a bridge to ‘endless possibilities.’”

Among the dignitaries attending the ceremony were two very special guests; Ada Adkins Cline and Donald Groves.

Ada Adkins Cline, the only known surviving member of Boyd County High School’s first graduating class in 1929, was introduced by Superintendent Howard K. Osborne and presented with a red and white bouquet of flowers. The crowd gave her a standing ovation. Ms. Cline celebrated her 102nd birthday on February 5th.

Donald Groves was also honored as the only employee to have worked in all three high schools. He was only 17 years-old when he began working in the original high school, stoking the coal-burning furnace. Later, he worked as a custodian in the 1957 high school building. Beginning in January, Don will complete his trilogy by working in the new BCHS. After being introduced, the crowd also gave Don a standing ovation acknowledging his work and dedication to Boyd County Schools.

Tours of the building were given after the ceremony with BCHS students knowledgeably guiding the way.

Above: The JNROTC raises the first flag during the Flag Dedication Ceremony prior to the dedication of the building. Ponderosa 4th grader, Sarah Slone, sang a stirring rendition of the National Anthem and Rev. Mike Blankenship offered the prayer.

Above: Ponderosa fourth grader Sarah Slone sings the National Anthem for the Flag Dedication Ceremony outside the New BCHS.

Above: Attending the dedication ceremony as a special honored guest, Ada Adkins Cline (center) is the last known living member of the first graduating class of the first Boyd County High School. She graduated in 1929 and celebrated her 102nd birthday in February. Pictured with her is, left to right, Rep. Rocky Adkins, relatives of Ms. Adkins; granddaughter Sandra Douglas (former librarian of BCHS), son Roy Cline and daughter-in-law Libby Cline. (See the related story about Ada on page 5.)

Above: the crowd listens to speakers from the home bleachers section of the new high school gymnasium. An estimated 1,400 people attended the ceremony.

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Below: Rep. Rocky Adkins, center, acknowledges the applause from the crowd after just learning the new BCHS gym will be named in his honor. Looking on at left is Rep. Kevin Sinnette and Judge Marc Rosen. At right, seated, Ms. Ada Adkins Cline. Behind Ms. Cline is Kevin Cheek, Project Manager from the architectural firm Sherman Carter Barnhart.

Above: Enjoying the BCHS Fight Song at the end of the Dedication Ceremony. From left to right: Don Fleu, BCPS Finance Director; Dr. Doug Cole, former BCPS Superintendent; Bennie Shields, retired BCHS teacher; Gertrude Tackett, wife of the late Chester Tackett, BCPS BOE member; Mark Meenach, District Administrator; and Dr. Terry Holliday, KY Commissioner of Education.

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State Rep. Rocky Adkins KY State Commissioner of Education

Dr. Terry Holliday

State Senator Walter “Doc” Blevins

Charlie Barnhart of Sherman Carter Barnhart

Architects

State Rep. Kevin Sinnette BCHS Principal Rhonda Salisbury

Speakers at the Dedication Ceremony for the new Boyd County High School

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BCHS students demonstrate taping ankles in the Sports Medicine and Training area in the new BCHS Athletic Complex during the tours of the new building. The dedication ceremony used BCHS students to guide the tours.

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In the gym, the night of the dedication - BCHS Cheerleaders pose for a picture.

First Day of School in the

New BCHSSome had mixed emotions of sadness

and joy, but all of them were excitedly feeling their way through the new Boyd County High School.

January 2, 2013, marked the first official day of classes at the new facility and everyone remarked how smoothly the transition was going. No lost students, no major malfunctions, and even a successful first lunch experience.

Students were greeted by District Office staff as they entered the building. Other than a few cars going into the wrong parking lot, everyone fell in step quickly. “Everything is still new,” said Kathy Rice, District Federal Programs Director, “it will only take a little time for

them to learn how everything flows.”

Brianna Crooks, junior classman, said the new building offered lots of exercise. The building seems a lot bigger with a lot more walking involved. “It’s so clean and nice. I like it a lot better than our old school,” she said. She commented that the teachers seemed to be a bit more watchful. “Everyone seems to be more respectful.”

“I see tailgating in our future,” said junior Travis Day, referring to the large patio that overlooks State Route 180. Plans are to eventually move the football field there and tailgating will be held on the wide concrete area just outside the gymnasium.

Crooks seemed to think that the academy set up of the school would do wonders for improving academics.

Commander Russ Roe, Junior Navy ROTC instructor, said he told his students that they should take care of the building because their children and grandchildren will attend there. “I told them to tell their kids that I (speaking of himself) was there the day the school opened. I want them to remember me because by that time, I won’t be here,” he added.

The director of Food Services, Mary Fritz, was on hand for breakfast and lunch to ensure things ran smoothly on the first day of lunch. “Everything went fantastically. The lines moved through and even though we had to look up individual student numbers (instead of using the key pads due to a software upload issue), everyone, my staff especially, did a great job and all went well.”

Roe also said that the students had a lot of good memories associated with the old school that were hard to leave behind. Many were sad they had to leave. “I told them that they should consider this as a rebirth. Today is the day we start our new memories. They seemed to like that idea.”

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First day at the new digs. Students in Cmdr. Roe’s NJROTC class meet in the new high school media center.

BCHS Alumni Auditorium Available for Rental

The 450 seat auditorium in the new Boyd County High School is available for community use. Rental fees and policies may be accessed on the Boyd County High School webpage. The venue has handicapped seating, a large projection screen, theatrical lighting and sound.

For more information and to download the necessary forms, please visit the high school website in the “Links” section (on the left hand side of the webpage).4

Ada Adkins ClineAda Adkins Cline attended the very first Boyd County High

School in 1925 and is the last known, living graduate of the first graduating class from the original high school. She celebrated her 102nd birthday February 5, 2013.

In 1925, Boyd County High School began at the Cannonsburg Methodist Church. She was a freshman that year, part of a class that was 30 members strong. For the next two years, Ada, along with six juniors and no sophomores, attended classes there. She recalls a curtain that was put up to separate the classes from the pulpit area. Her first principal, who also served as a teacher, was Allen H. Turman.

Ada lived in the area known as Buena Vista on Straight Creek. She attended Buena Vista grade school, a part of the Boyd County rural school district, where she completed the eighth grade.

Her walk to the high school was five miles one way. Since no other transportation was provided, students had to make their way to school as best they could. Ada recounts that most days she was given a ride. Her family was lucky enough to be friends with the many truck drivers that traveled to Ashland on Route 60 and they would pick her up on their way. There were days,

however, that she did have to walk the entire five miles.

“My precious mother,” Ada recalls, “Every day she made me a biscuit, maybe with a little sausage on it, so I could eat it on the way.” It wasn’t easy to make that journey, but Ada says she was determined to go to school.

As construction began on the original Boyd County High School, Ada verifies that she and her classmates attended the school before the building was completed. The building was dedicated in 1928 and Ada Adkins was one of the 29 graduates in 1929.

The school day started with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Lunch was brought from home and eaten outside, if the weather was nice, down by a little fence. “We would all line up along the fence and eat there,” Ada said.

Ada confirms that there was indeed a football team as early as 1925. She remembers that they played their games on the church’s property and she attended many of their games.

“We were so proud of our school,” Ada reminisced fondly, with pride still evident in her voice.

Ada Adkins’ senior picture 1929

Boyd County High School football team, Delbert Allie, coach, dated 1926.

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The picture at left shows the first Boyd County High School students in 1925. Since there wasn’t a building yet, the high school met at Cannonsburg United Methodist Church, pictured here behind the group. The church was located on Midland Trail Road not far from its present day location.

Ada Adkins is standing in the middle row, fourth from the right.

At right: Students of Boyd County High School gather in front of the partially completed high school building in this picture dated 1927. The building shows only the middle section, without the two classroom sections on each end and without the gymnasium.

Twenty-nine students graduated in May of 1929. Pictured below: Top row, standing, left to right - Paul J. Johnson, Woodrow Thompson, George W. Burton, Irma L. Mason, William H. “Harry” Nelson, David May, Theodore R. Peters, and Charles L. O’Brien. Middle row, left to right - George Stewart, Jr., Lillian Jauchius, Dovie Davis, Hattie Patton, Lou Towler Eastham, Fannie Rice Turman, Hazel Ross Scott, Stephen R. Davis, William Jerome Prichard. First row, seated, left to right - Goldia Hogan, Sophia Davis, Celia M. Patton, Martha M. Klaiber, Ruth Hogan, Ada Mae Adkins, Lelia E. Johnson, Pauline Davis, Halia M. Queen, Etta Mae Davis, Betty Charoline Lakin and Helen G. Hogan.

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Osborne Named KSBA KIDS First Advocacy Award Recipient

Two local education leaders who have put their time where their mouths are to work for schools and children at the state and federal levels have been honored by with the KIDS Kids First Advocacy Awards.

Anderson County school board member James Sargent and Boyd County Schools Superintendent Howard K. Osborne received the honors during the KSBA Winter Symposium Dec. 1 in Lexington.

KSBA annually selects a state representative, state senator, a school board member and a superintendent for outstanding work for resources and beneficial laws and regulations for the state’s public schools and students. The legislative awards are presented during the session of the

General Assembly.

Osborne has worked as an administrator in five school districts spanning 35 years, becoming Boyd County’s superintendent in 2005. He is well-known to legislators, not only those representing his specific district but also others in eastern Kentucky. His local advocacy is exemplified by the successful 2008 passage of a nickel facilities tax without opposition.

Boyd County school board Chairman Robert Green, in his nomination of Osborne, recalled their first meeting. “Twelve hundred students were marching around the football field to highlight academic achievement. Mr. Osborne had broken both legs in an accident and walked on crutches with our students. It was at that moment I decided to become a board member. He is a constant advocate for our children at the local, state and national level.”

Superintendent Announces His Retirement

Affective April 1, 2013, Osborne will step down

Citing his parents’ ailing health as his reason, Howard “Ken” Osborne announced plans to retire as Boyd County Public Schools’ Superintendent on April 1, 2013. He has been with the district for the past eight years.

During his tenure, the district has seen several improvements in both academics and facilities. Most obvious is the completion of a new Boyd County High, a project that had been in the planning stages for over thirty years.

In his open letter to the public, Osborne credited staff for the strides made in the district. “Our district reading proficiency rates have risen from the 55% to 75% and our mathematics proficiency rates have risen from the 37% to 64% during the past six years. We met NCLB district goals for the first time and our district is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Schools (SACS-CASI). In addition, our ACT scores increased to 18.7, our college and career readiness rate increased to 48.6%, and our Average Freshman Graduation Rate was 90.3%.”

Osborne highlighted a few of the facility improvements over the past 8 years such as the middle school air-conditioning and lighting project, a new weight room for high school athletes, a softball field press box and dugouts, an archery building, soccer field lights, football and

baseball scoreboards, the Catlettsburg Elementary gym air-conditioning and a football field sound system.

The district’s communications have been modernized significantly while Osborne has been Superintendent.

Improvements such as the Honeywell Instant Alert Call-Out system, newsletter inserts in

the daily local paper, upgrading the district webpages by including teacher pages, and

the development of a district smart phone app have all contributed to the expansion of internal and external communications.

Academically, Osborne has placed the district on a path to continued advancements. Incorporating innovations in curriculum such as

Professional Learning Communities, Response To Intervention, and partnering

with local colleges (Morehead State and Ashland Community and Technical College)

have enhanced our students’ choices for successful careers after graduation.

When asked what his fondest memory has been, Osborne responded that watching the students as they entered the new high school was one. “Seeing the faces of the students as they walked through the doors of their new home.”

In regards to his legacy, Osborne said he would like to be remembered as someone who cared about the children, the adults and the community. “The district is poised for continued growth, exactly as it should be.”

“I would like to thank everyone for making the past 8 years a wonderful experience,” Osborne said.

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Norma M. Meek has been named a member of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.

Meek is the curriculum event coordinator and district parent involvement coordinator for Boyd County Schools.

She is among 18 new members announced to the committee, which advocates for quality education for all Kentuckians.

BCPS BOE Chairman Completes KSBA Academy of Studies

Congratulations are in order for Boyd County Public Schools Chairman of the Board of Education for completing levels one and two of the Kentucky School Boards Academy of Studies.

Robert “Bob” Green, chairman of the Board of Education, completed level one Basic Studies and level two Advanced Studies.

This in-service training initiative is designed to prepare school board members to succeed in a new era of high expectations through a realistic and practical curriculum designed with the assistance of experts in the field - current Kentucky board members and superintendents.

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Boyd County District Goes Passionately Pink!The third Friday in October was designated as a district-wide day of awareness and to collect donations for the Susan

G. Komen “Go Passionately Pink for the Cure” organization.

The district office staff and schools in the district wore pink and raised a total of $938 to help in the fight against breast cancer.

Above: the District Office staff gather for a picture on October 19th, for the “Go Passionately Pink district-wide event. In front, left to right: Howard K. Osborne, Mary Fritz, Terry Stevens, Brock Walter and Lisa Maynard. Standing, from left to right: Mark Meenach, Norma Meek, Donna Black, Don Fleu, Carole Chaney, Patricia Griffith, Susan Stapleton, Helen Campbell, Cindy McClelland, Lani Thacker, Marilyn Mayo and Angie Marcum.

Above: a Cannonsburg Elementary student shows support.

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Alumni of Boyd County High School *Don’t forget to register by going to the Alumni ‘quick link’

on the main district webpage or by clicking here: www.boyd.kyschools.us/alumni.aspx. Registering gives you the opportunity to announce reunion information and search

for other registered alumni of Boyd County High.

*Having a reunion? Bring a laptop and have everyone register or update their information.

*Alumni update their own information so it stays current.

Above: Kim Wilbur’s 2nd grade class at Catlettsburg Elementary.

At left: Cannonsburg students are decked out in pink in observance of the “Go Passionately Pink for the Cure” district-wide event.

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Above and below: Summit Elementary students on “Go Passionately Pink for the Cure” day.

Readifest - Back to School Event

Each year, Boyd County Public Schools’ Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYCS) provide back to school items to BCPS students in need.

Items are donated by community businesses and outreach services, but the bulk of items are purchased through the generosity of the employees of Boyd County Public Schools.

This past year, 207 families were served and a total of 393 students. The FRYCS’s will continue to follow up with these students and their families to ensure they have what they need in order to be successful achievers.

Individual (students) school attendance at Readifest were: ECLC 33; Cannonsburg 51; Catlettsburg 39; Ponderosa 32; Summit 67; BCMS 114; BCHS 56; and BCC 1.

On Fridays, BCPS employees have the option to wear jeans to work. Known as Readifest Jean Days, employees pay $1 to their FRYSC when they wear jeans. This money supports Readifest.

“Due to financial cuts, we cannot purchase school supplies, etc. out of our grants, so we depend on the Jean Day money,” said Ruth Ellen Chaney, coordinator of FRYSC-West.

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Above: Ponderosa staff are in the pink.

Ponderosa Student wins 2nd Place in Adopt-a-Highway State Poster Contest

Morgan Lewis, third grade student at Ponderosa Elementary and daughter of Mary Leigh Lewis, BCHS science instructor, won 2nd place in the state-wide Kentucky Department of Transportation poster competition in the ages 6 to 8 division.

The Kentucky T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Cabinet invited students from across the Commonwealth to submit creative works for use in the Adopt-a-Highway calendar for 2013.

Exposure to the contest and to the Adopt-a-Highway program provides young people with a sense of ownership in Kentucky’s highways and stresses the importance of keeping Kentucky’s highways clean and free of litter. The contest is aimed at educating and encouraging children not to litter and to spread the message to others.

Above: Morgan Lewis holds her winning poster. Her principal from Ponderosa, Matt Spade, is pictured at right. Mr. Spade attended the award ceremony in Frankfort.

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New Security Buzz In SystemBoyd County Public Schools, in its efforts to continually

provide a safe environment for students and staff, has installed a new buzz-in security access system. The new system has been

installed in every school and was activated March 11, 2013, according to School Resource Officer Richard Cyrus.

The new system requires a Boyd County Schools’ employee, usually a receptionist, to release door locks on the front

entrance before allowing anyone access to the building.

Cost to the district for this upgraded security system was $25,050. As of yet, no state or federal funding has been given to help with security enhancements.

At 7:45 each morning, all entry doors at all buildings are locked for the remainder of the school day. Receptionists and key personnel will receive training on the new system and proper safety procedures allowing entrance at front doors.

School personnel will monitor parking lots and lobbies during the arrival and dismissal of students. Parents and guardians will no longer be permitted access to the buildings at these times. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to call the school office in advance of picking up their child or dropping off an item during school hours.

In a letter sent to all parents and guardians, Superintendent Howard K. Osborne emphasized that Boyd County Public Schools welcomes and encourages parental and community involvement, but the safety of students is the district’s major priority.

“As educators,” Mr. Osborne stated, “it is our goal to ensure that your child becomes a life-long learner and, while doing that, we want to ensure they are safe.”

Boyd County Public Schools urges all parents, guardians and community at large to be patient as everyone adapts to the new procedures.

A parent uses the new buzz in security system at Summit Elementary.

Remembering Bill Scaggs

This April will mark the second anniversary of the passing of William E. “Bill” Scaggs. He is remembered as a dear friend and unwavering supporter of Boyd County Public Schools.

Bill served in the Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict, was a long-standing member of Rose Hill Baptist Church, and retired from AK Steel after nearly 30 years as the supervisor of communications and government relations. He was appointed to the National Rifle Association’s Legion of Honor and served his community on the boards of the Salvation Army, American Heart Association, Boyd County Library, Junior Achievement, Big Brother/Big Sister, Cerebral Palsy School, Boyd-Greenup Chamber of Commerce, FIVCO Economic Development Board, as well as a Boy Scout Troop Leader. Additionally, he was a volunteer columnist for the Daily Independent for 13 years, penning their outdoor segment called “Rod and Gun.”

Bill’s involvement with helping

Boyd County Schools was varied and spanned several decades. Both of his daughters, Gina and Keri, were graduates of Boyd County High School.

“Bill was an advocate for children and a strong believer in the value of education,” said retired Superintendent of Boyd County Schools Howard K. Osborne. “We miss Bill and his input.”

Retired Director of Personnel, Mickey Rice, said that Bill Scaggs was a constant supporter of Boyd County Public Schools. “He possessed an uncompromising dedication to life-long learning and was very instrumental in the development of music education within the district.”

Mr. Rice added that Bill was an advocate for all students whether you found yourself in agreement with him or not. “Bill was a champion for some and an antagonist for others. He believed strongly in his principles.”

Two programs in particular benefited from Mr. Scaggs personal attention.

The Boyd County High School National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) was in its infancy when sponsor Alisa Borders called

on Bill for help. It wasn’t long before Scaggs had contacted Judge Executive William “Bud” Stevens and $2,500 was donated to the program.

The Junior Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (JNROTC) at Boyd County High also has Bill Scaggs to thank. After a conversation with Mr. Scaggs, NJROTC instructor Retired Master Chief James Sandlin had the equipment needed for his air rifle team.

“Bill asked what sort of supplies we had,” Sandlin said. “I told him, and that we would need to raise some funds to keep it going. He showed me how, and encouraged me, to put in a grant request through The Friends of the NRA. Through his help, guidance, and pointing me in the right direction, I secured 3 different grants over $3,600 for our Air Rifle Team.”

The support Bill Scaggs gave Boyd County Schools is still felt today as the NJROTC and NASP programs practice in the new gymnasium. To be certain, if he were still here, he would continue asking how he could assist them in growing their programs.

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FORWARD IN THE FIFTH - Workshop held to help parents understand Kentucky’s new testing standards

What parents need to know about Kentucky’s new academic standards and testing was the topic of a recent regional workshop in Boyd County attended by 65 parents, educators and students.

Forward in the Fifth, a regional non-profit organization that supports increasing educational attainment, collaborated with Boyd County, Ashland and Fairview Independent and Carter County School districts to offer the workshop.

In addition, The Prichard Committee for Educational Excellence, the Boyd County parent coordinator (Norma Meek) and local Family Resource and Youth Services Centers and Parent Teacher Associations joined in the efforts to provide an evening of information for parents and students of all ages.

Educators across Kentucky have been receiving training on the new core academic standards over the past two years, resulting in the first implementation of the new student assessments. Kentucky led the nation by becoming the first state to adopt the core academic standards that an additional 45 states later approved.

Developing common standards in multiple content areas is the first step to creating a common assessment to increase the quality of education no matter where a student lives. For example, children in a military family who move during the school year will be able to resume their current level of studies at a new school without playing “catch up.” Forward in the Fifth Executive Director, Jim Tackett, said, “The educational bar has been raised.” To be academically proficient, he explained, students will need to work harder because concepts are more complex and will be introduced at earlier grade levels than before.

He provided examples of what first, fifth, seventh- graders and high school students will need to know to be proficient in math and English/language arts. He emphasized that parents need to know that knowledge and skills will continue to build on previous teaching and learning and that time will not be spent after summer and winter breaks reviewing the past year’s concepts.

“The new assessment and accountability system will measure growth as well as achievement, so students and schools will not only be working towards proficiency, they will also be expected to show growth and improvement every year,” Tackett said.

In addition to measuring achievement and growth, “gap” student groups (such as minority, exceptional education students and students who qualify for free or reduced lunches) will also be expected to show growth. When students reach high school, the accountability system expands to include college and career

readiness and graduation rate figures in its final score.

Graduation rates will be calculated differently beginning in 2013. Instead of counting what percentage of the senior class graduates, the graduation rate will count how many of the freshman students graduate four years later.

The new Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress, known as K-PREP replaces the former KCCT testing system and encompasses multiple forms of assessment that will occur at various grade levels.

Now, when students complete annual K-PREP assessments, parents will receive a “Student Report.” The first page of the report will show the student’s scores and performance levels and give a short explanation of each level. The second page compares the student’s performance to other students’ across the nation. Included are specific activities that parents can do to support their student’s learning.

“I did not know much about the new testing system, but I think it will be better,” said a parent attending the recent workshop.

Tackett explained, “since this system for measuring student success is completely different than last year, parents cannot and should not compare this year’s test score results to last year’s.”

The changes to the system are being adopted over a period of years. New standards for math and English/language arts occurred in 2011. Many of the new K-PREP student assessments were also introduced last year. Science and social studies standards and program reviews for writing, arts and humanities and practical/career studies are anticipated in the near future. Teacher and principal evaluations systems are also being developed.

When parents receive their Student Report, Tackett recommends going over it thoroughly, spending time talking with their student about it and discussing how both can have a role in working toward progress. For parents who have access to a mobile internet device, there is a free application called “Common Core” that individually lists all of the current common core standards.

For more information or to set up a Parent Engagement W o r k s h o p in your community, c o n t a c t Forward in the Fifth at (606) 677-6000 or email fif@centertech .com.

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BCCTEC Students Score Well at SkillsUSA Competition

Students from six area high schools competed at the annual SkillsUSA Kentucky held March 1 at Ashland Community and Technical College.

SkillsUSA Kentucky is a chapter of the national organization that serves industrial, trade and technical students in area technology centers. Annual competitions focus on leadership and technical skills. The regional

competitions at ACTC included 32 contests.

The 154 contestants came from ACTC, Boyd County Career and Technical Education Center (BCCTEC), Carter County, Elliott County, Greenup County,

Lawrence County and Russell Independent.

In the secondary division, the following Boyd County students won awards: Architectural Drafting (CAD): First - Zach Wells, Second - Heath Baker. Technical Drafting (CAD): Third - Landon Gould. Technical Drafting (Board): Second - Justin Reeder, Third - Triston Stewart.

On September 5, 2012, the Boyd County High School Junior Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps’ Color Guard traveled to Cincinnati. They presented colors as the National Anthem was sung during the opening ceremony of the Cincinnati Reds game. Top left: The JNROTC appears on the Jumbotron at the Great American Ball Park. Center left: Sasha Hicks gives a hug to “Gapper”, the Reds’ mascot. Above: The BCHS JNROTC prepares to present colors at the game.

Bottom Left: Jonathan Hall, Matthew Littleton and Jesse Tackett take a break from the ziplines in Maysville, KY, September 29th, 2012.

Below: Katie Robinson and Vincent DiCenso paddle a canoe at Shawnee State Park.

BCHS JNROTC Picture Gallery

Valvoline Donates Oil to Auto TechAlthough Christmas is over, students in the

automotive tech department of Boyd County Career and Technical Education Center were given a gift.

In January, as a part of the Valvoline Career Tech Motor Oil Education Program, 84 cases of Valvoline NextGen motor oil was donated to the program from the Valvoline Corporation.

Automotive Instructor Jack Kinner said the donation will allow the Auto Tech program and its students to directly benefit financially from the money that is generated from the NextGen oil. “The entire portion that is earned from the donation, will be used exclusively for Auto Tech student projects and also the program budget will get a boost as well, as budgets have been drastically reduced in career and technical education programs,” Kinner said.

The program awards a certification upon completion which students appreciate and hold in high regard. “Each student who receives a Valvoline certificate has a sense of recognition and alignment with the ‘outside’ world of the automotive and transportation industries,” Kinner explained. “They esteem them in the same way they do their ASE and Kentucky Department of Education certifications.”

The Auto Tech class at Boyd County Career and Technical Education Center pose with their large donation of motor oil. Eighty-four cases were donated by the Valvoline Corporation’s Education Program.

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On October 12th, a group of students (pictured at left) from Boyd County High School and Rose Hill Christian Academy - and teachers Shelia Duncan and Mary Ann Dyer - visited Georgetown College to experience the Spanish Immersion Program. After introductions and a snack, the students split into two groups so that they could experience the small class sizes that are common at Georgetown College. The groups rotated between a discussion with current immersion students and a mini-immersion class before going on a campus tour and having lunch in the Caff (GC cafeteria).

First Spanish Honor Society Induction Ceremony Held Feb. 4Boyd County High School held its first National Spanish Honor Society Induction Ceremony on Monday, Feb. 4 in the Alumni Auditorium.

The National Spanish Honor Society, known as The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH), is an honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and/or Portuguese, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). At present there are over 2,000 national and international chapters.

The BCHS Charter - “Parador de Leon” was established last year. However, this was the chapter’s first induction/installment ceremony. Twenty students were inducted. Students who are enrolled in either AP Spanish, Spanish III or Spanish 101/102 with a GPA of 3.0 in Spanish and

3.0 cumulative GPA were eligible for induction.

The purpose of the society is to recognize high achievement of high school students in the Spanish and Portuguese languages and to promote a continuing interest in Hispanic and Luso Portuguese studies.

Officers are: President - Sean Sines; Vice President - Savannah Henry; Secretary - Jacob Stacy; Treasurer - Katie Marquez; Historian - Jordan Rose; Event Coordinators - Robyn Opell and Taylor Cyrus.

Other charter members of Parador de Leon are: Lara Barker, Reed Barlow, Marissa Childers, Donovan Cyrus, Justin Elswick, Andrew Hall, Kellee Harvey, Savanah Ison, Austin Legg, Katie Marquez, Letha Moore, Michael Neal, Taylor Rockwell, and Kaycee Walters.

Mrs. Shelia Duncan is the chapter’s advisor.

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BCHS Students Win Gingerbread House Competition

Consumer Science Instructor, Ms. Betty Thacker, and her Consumer

Foods students competed in the “Home, Sweet Homes”

gingerbread house competition conducted by

the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center.

There were 27 houses entered. BCHS students

won 1st and 2nd place in the school

category. Houses were on display at the Highlands

Museum through Christmas.

Above: The winning gingerbread house.Top right: The winning team working on their project. Bottom right: 2nd place team with their gingerbread house.

When an opportunity comes knocking, you have to take it and run. That’s what Boyd County High School art teacher Mike Spears did when he was given the chance to take over the high school’s yearbook.

Mr. Spears had his yearbook staff look at several old yearbooks and pick out what they liked and didn’t like about the way they looked. Mr. Spears also chose to go with a different yearbook company this year, Herff Jones, to help embrace the new start. Ginger Thompson, the company’s representative who is also a Boyd County graduate, brought in several yearbooks for the staff to look at. The yearbook that grabbed their eye was one from California. Mr. Spears and his staff decided that was the look they wanted.

Mr. Spears emphasized to his staff that there was to be no clip art used in this yearbook. He told them, “People buy the yearbook to see students and classmates, not clip art.”

This year’s yearbook will be a larger size than previous years. The pages will be filled with full size photos. “That’s what everyone wants to see,” he said.

Mr. Spears made a promise to everyone that this year’s yearbook will be the best ever. The best part is students who buy a yearbook will have it in their hands before they leave school at the end of the year. Events such as Homecoming, Prom and graduation that happen after the March deadline will be put together in a 16 page supplement. This will be finalized after graduation, sent to the company for print, and mailed directly to the students’ homes. The insert will have a clear sticky peel

strip which will be inserted between two designated pages

for a continuance of the yearbook.

Anyone wishing to purchase a yearbook can do so in two ways. They may either go directly to www.yearbookordercenter.com and pay online or send their payment to the high school. A payment plan is also available by which a student or parent can put down as little as $10 and make payments through the high school.

Above: Sample page from the 2012-2013 BCHS yearbook.

A New Look For the BCHS Yearbook

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Above: AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students and teacher, Shelia Duncan, visited and toured the University of Kentucky campus on Sept. 14, 2012. They met with admissions counselors and toured the campus.

BCHS NEWS BRIEFSALL STATE CHORUS MEMBERSThe following BCHS students successfully auditioned for the Kentucky All-State Chorus. Andrew Hall (2nd year), Zach Caudill, Jacob Caudill, Paul Caleb Miles, and Justin Elswick. The competition is rigorous to reach this level with more than 1,800 students vying for only 600 positions. The All-State Chorus performed at the annual Kentucky Music Educators Association’s conference in Louisville, KY in February.

BCHS GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAMThe BCHS Girl’s Cross Country team were crowned the Regional Cross Country Champions for the first time in 25 years. In 1987, girls only ran 1.8 miles in the competition. Today’s athletes run 3.1 miles. The team won the championship by 4 points over Mason County, who have won the regional meet every year since 2008. Members of the girl’s team are: Hannah Cassady (12), Taylor Cyrus (12), Alliya Kautzman (11), Saralyn Miller (11), Darian Steele (10), Courtney Cook (10), and Courtney Gibson (9). Alternates: Shalyn Daniels (10), and Elizabeth Pennington (10). At the state level, the BCHS Girls Cross Country team finished in 6th place.

IRVINE IS HOBY LEADERSHIP AMBASSADORHannah Irvine is the 2013 BCHS Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) Leadership Ambassador. Hannah will represent the high school this summer at Kentucky’s HOBY conference. The conference will be held May 30-June 2, 2013. HOBY programs provide youth selected by their schools to participate in unique leadership training, service-learning and motivation-building experiences. Founded in 1958, HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.

DAILY INDEPENDENT NAMES ALL-AREA ATHLETESThe Daily Independent named the following BCHS athletes to their 2012 All-Area Team:

Cross Country: Darian Steele, Alliya Kautzman, and Courtney Gibson. Cross Country Honorable Mention: Saralyn Miller, Hannah Cassady, Conner Goble, and Aaron Parent.

Coach of the Year: Dirk Hollar.

Football: Dylan Harris, Reid Deerfield, Cain Cooksey, Colin Smith, and Jason Smith.

Boys Soccer: Jaz Stephenson, Jonah Black, Ryan Whitt, and Zach Vincent.

Girls Soccer: Emily Stewart.

*Jonah Black was also voted player of the year in the area.

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Boyd County High School has a new varsity sport – bass fishing.

This past year, the Kentucky High School Athletic A s s o c i a t i o n sanctioned bass

fishing as an official high school sport. Rick Perry, who has children on the team, began campaigning for a fishing team shortly after the KHSAA announced its inclusion.

Boyd County High is one of the first schools in eastern Kentucky to form a team. They also have a middle school team.

The team will compete in the Region 4 tournament at Yatesville Lake. The top 4 teams to emerge from the regional meet will advance to the state tournament which is April 25 through 28 and will be held at the Land Between the Lakes. The state tournament will be hosted by Murray State University.

Bass fishing offers students another avenue for college scholarships. There are over 200 colleges with bass fishing teams. It is also a great sport for those who may have physical handicaps that prevent them from competing in conventional high school sports.

Melvin Lawhorn is the coach and Chris Holbrook is the assistant coach. Coach Lawhorn, now 51, has been a bass fisherman since he was 20 years old. In 1998 he set a Yatesville Lake record with a 32 pound and 6 ounce bass during a fishing tournament. He has been a member of several bass clubs throughout the years and says he loves the sport both recreationally and competitively.

Several parents and community members are supporting the new team by lending their time and their boats. Adults act as ‘captains’ and chaperone the students on the lakes.

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Drug Awareness Poster Contest Winners AnnouncedThe crowded lunchroom grew quiet as Bill Harris talked to students about his son, Kyle Harris, who had sat in the very same room to eat lunch, dreamed the same dreams, but didn’t see them fulfilled. His son lost his life to a drug overdose in 2005. He was only 22 years old.

Now his dad spreads his impassioned message to any kid that will listen.

Each year, Bill Harris, in partnership with BCMS art teacher Michael Sexton and Family Youth Services Coordinator Vickie Caniff, organizes a drug awareness poster contest. It falls during Red Ribbon week, the nationwide alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October. Harris was at BCMS on November 1, 2012 to award the winners of the contest.

This year’s winning poster was enlarged into a billboard on US Route 60. Created by Carson Wilson, the 7th grade student was awarded a $50 gift card for her drawing. Second place went to Ryan Settles, an 8th grader, and

third place was awarded to Hunter Reeves, an 8th grader. Second and third place winners both received $25.

“Rise above it,” Harris told Boyd County Middle School students, “Don’t let drugs take away your dreams.”

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Ms. Serrano Gets “A Day Made Better”

More than 90 percent of teachers spend their own money on basic school supplies for their students, according to a recent survey. OfficeMax® Incorporated, its back-to-school shoppers and business customers donated nearly $1.9 million in school supplies to teachers nationwide for their classrooms through A Day Made Better — a series of surprise classroom events that help to provide relief and support to teachers nationwide who spend their own money on much-needed classroom supplies.

On October 9, 2012, Ms. Marilyn Serrano, BCMS instructor, nominated by Principal Bill Boblett, was chosen as a recipient.

The annual event in October marks the sixth year of the A Day Made Better program, in which OfficeMax associates surprise 1,000 teachers in their classrooms with $1,000 each worth of school supplies — $1 million in sum. OfficeMax consumers and business clients contributed nearly $900,000 in additional school supplies through this summer’s in-store supply drive held at OfficeMax locations nationwide. These additional supplies are being donated Oct. 2 to the A Day Made Better schools where the teachers are being honored.

“OfficeMax is proud to be in its sixth year of A Day

Made Better because we want teachers and students nationwide to have the resources they need for success in the classroom,” said Carolynn Brooks, vice president, chief diversity officer and president of the OfficeMax Charitable Foundation. “OfficeMax shoppers and business clients have joined the cause because they recognize that their contributions have a positive effect on the community, and ultimately contribute to an educated workforce.”

New this year, OfficeMax also accepted monetary donations at the checkout counters of all its retail locations for AdoptAClassroom.org throughout the month of October. These donations will be put into a spending account on AdoptAClassroom.org where schools that participate in A Day Made Better can use the donations to order additional supplies and equipment for their classrooms.

Since 2007, A Day Made Better and other OfficeMax Goodworks

programs have contributed more than $18 million in grants and supplies to support more than 29,000 teachers and their classrooms. Additionally, through the annual event, OfficeMax has helped its nonprofit partner AdoptAClassroom.org secure funding for more than 78,000 classrooms nationwide.

Learn more at www.adaymadebetter.com or adopt a teacher at www.adoptaclassroom.org.

Above: Marilyn Serrano is surprised by OfficeMax and BCMS Principal Bill Boblett as the recipient of “A Day Made Better.” Ms. Serrano’s day was made better by donations of office supplies for her classroom.

Above: Left to right: Carson Wilson with her First Place winning poster. Her poster was displayed as a billboard on US Rt. 60 during the month of November 2012. Ryan Settles won Second Place and Hunter Reeves won Third Place.

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Where’s Waldo? Attendance Gnome Arrives at BCMS in StyleIt’s fitting that Waldo, the district’s roving High Attendance Gnome, should arrive in a limousine. He deserved the special treatment since this was his first trip outside of an elementary school.

In February, Boyd County Middle School had the highest attendance of any school in the district. This was the first time a non-elementary school has had the distinction since Waldo first came to the district.

The gnome is the district’s incentive to increase monthly attendance. His mode of arrival has become legendary as schools try to outdo each other in ushering him from one location to another. To date, Waldo has been transported by limo, an emergency medical vehicle, horseback, and was even brought in by helicopter!

Waldo will reside at BCMS for the entire month of March.

Above: Waldo, the district’s High Attendance Gnome, arrives at Boyd County Middle via limousine.

Mock Election at CannonsburgCannonsburg Elementary School’s fifth grade class has held a mock election each election year since 2000. All students, k-5, are able to participate.

Fifth graders are given roles as voting officials and make certain that everyone has a smooth voting experience. Additional students are selected to tally the votes and record all the results for the school-wide election.

“I was an assistant clerk today,” said fifth grader Olivia Hensley. “Everybody did a good job.”

Ms. Cathy Jackson and Ms. Deidra Patton have organized this event to help students understand their roles and responsibilities as a part of the citizenship, government, and civics curriculum standards.

“I thought it was brilliant,” said fourth grader Libbi Mays.

After the votes were tallied, the mock election revealed Mitt Romney won by 52%.

A student marks his ballot in the mock election.

Above: Cannonsburg fifth grade students assist voters in the school-wide mock election.

At right: The voting booth offers privacy when casting a ballot.

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Catlettsburg Elementary Has “Gobble Wobble”

The first annual “Gobble Wobble” Walk/Run was held as a fundraising activity for Catlettsburg Elementary on November 16. The Walk/Run was 5 kilometers and included a kid’s walk/run, a CrossFit division, and an Educators division.

Proceeds from the run will be used to help send Catlettsburg’s 4th and 5th grade students on their Spring Trip to Williamsburg, Virginia.

While there, students will experience the colonial period from a southern perspective. They will tour the Jamestown Settlement, Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown Victory Center and various historic battlefields. The students will also have the chance to tour Shirley Plantation, one of the oldest plantations in Virginia, plus visit Busch Gardens Amusement Park.

And they’re off! Entrants in the Catlettsburg “Gobble Wobble” bolt from the starting line.

Career CruisingThe rain didn’t dampen spirits as Catlettsburg

Elementary held their Career Cruising event. The warm rain that fell that September day was barely noticed as students were awed with the sight of a huge dump truck brought in by the Kentucky Department of Transportation and the Catlettsburg Fire Department’s fire engines. As the soft rain became a torrent, the activities were seamlessly

moved inside.

The annual Career Cruising event gives Catlettsburg’s students a peek into the myriad of job opportunities waiting for them after graduation. Presented by volunteers who are working in their respective fields, students rotated through stations throughout the building.

Companies such as Air Products and Chemicals, Kentucky Power, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and G. E. Transportation attended and had demonstrations and planned activities for students. Chuck Conley and Jason Bennett from Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. put on a fascinating demonstration of how liquid nitrogen freezes various objects like a rubber racquet ball and a banana. They wowed the students by smashing frozen items with a hammer and using chemical pressure to shoot an object from a valved pipe, explaining all the while that an education in chemistry is necessary for a job like theirs.

Other presenters during the day were Kentucky State Senator Walter “Doc” Blevins, Margaret Reid from Reid’s Apiary (beekeeping), Faith Cornwell from Music Notes by Faith (piano teacher), Dr. Missy Bentley (veterinarian), Lori Haines (beautician), Amber Holley and Harold Holley from Boyd County Emergency Management, Joyce Blanton and Karen Arnett from Kentucky Farmers Bank, and Kelli Wechsler from Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Above: Kentucky Senator Walter “Doc” Blevins speaks with students about what it takes to be a legislator. Below: Students hold a wrench used to repair locomotives.

Above: Chuck Conley and Jason Bennett from Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. pour liquid nitrogen into a PVC pipe. The resulting chemical reaction created enough pressure to shoot a racquetball across the room.

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Penny Fuller is KSCA Elementary School Counselor of the Year

Each year, the Kentucky School Counselors Association awards a high school, middle school and elementary school counselor of the year. This year, the 2013 designation falls on one of our own - Penny Fuller, Counselor at Ponderosa Elementary.

Ms. Fuller has been a school counselor for six years, and holds a Master’s Degree and

Rank I in school counseling.

Ms. Janet Wente, Catlettsburg counselor, nominated Ms. Fuller for the award. In her written nomination, Ms. Wente spoke of what sets Ms. Fuller apart as a great counselor.

“Penny is exceptional in her field,” said Ms. Wente.

“She is a natural counselor whose quiet humility makes her valuable across a broad range of settings. She is able to blend her professionalism with her rapport with families, children, and colleagues effortlessly. Her outstanding commitment to education, and her selfless, untiring persistence in supporting children set her apart and make her worthy of the this award.”

Ms. Fuller is very active in both the Eastern Kentucky and the state chapter of the school counselors association. She has served on the KSCA board for three years as the New Counselor Chairperson.

“When educating the whole child, so often the emotional side is given little attention,” said Ponderosa Elementary principal Matt Spade. “Penny Fuller is outstanding at reminding us of the emotional needs of our students. She is always willing to speak to a class or individual student if a difficulty arises. She has taken the initiative to train our staff and students in leadership and has had a tremendous influence school wide. We are proud to call her a Ponderosa Mustang!”

Some of the services Ms. Fuller provides for students include weekly small group, individual, and whole class counseling sessions. Penny provides individual counseling to students, and takes counseling referrals from staff, parents, and students.

Penny Fuller, Counselor at Ponderosa Elementary, with her KSCA Elementary School Counselor of the Year award.

Summit Tops State Scores in Science

By now, everyone has heard the new standards by which students are tested are much more rigorous. In light of that fact, Summit Elementary School’s accomplishment is even more fantastic!

On the 2011-2012 K-PREP testing, Summit scored higher than any other elementary school in the state of Kentucky in the area of science. Put another way, out of 733 elementary schools in Kentucky, Summit Elementary students’ science scores ranked number one.

Teachers begin in Kindergarten to introduce basic science concepts and every grade, on up to 4th grade, continues to build on these science skills. Summit’s efforts to produce top notch science units goes back about 10 years when science units were initially developed. Every

year these units have been refined and polished as teachers studied student data and changing core content. The teachers are always looking for ways to improve these units.

Teachers began by being “specialists” on different units and developing in-depth activities to bring science to life for their students. These units were shared with our Professional Learning Communities group. Grade level PLC’s have developed flashbacks, exit slips, and assessments to accompany the units. Students participate in scientific inquiry, learn the scientific method, and conduct many experiments.

According to Marilyn Mayo, District Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator, students are tested in science in the 4th grade, the 7th grade and once more at the high school level in End-of-Course testing.

Congratulations to the students and staff of Summit Elementary!

Summit’s 4th grade science students are pictured here with their teachers.

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Tammy Martin Awarded 2013 KSCA Principal of the Year

Summit Elementary Principal Tammy Martin was surprised with an honor and a school assembly on February 25, 2013.

Martin wiped away tears as she was told that she had been named the 2013 Kentucky School Counselors

Association’s Outstanding Principal of the Year. Summit students cheered and chanted her name, holding up handmade signs of “congratulations” and “number one principal.”

“Today, it’s our turn to celebrate you,” Deana Sexton, Summit counselor said as the student assembly broke into more cheers.

Sexton nominated Mrs. Martin several months ago. She had almost forgotten about it, she said, but after a particularly difficult day recently, she checked her email to find that Mrs. Martin had been awarded the honor, which brightened her day considerably.

“We are always honoring the students for their achievements – their test scores, their accomplishments – but, she (Mrs. Martin) is the support behind all of the students’ success,” Sexton said. “She is deserving of this because she is strong, dedicated, enthusiastic, and flexible… but supportive is the best word for her.”

Surprised, Summit Principal Tamala Martin receives a ‘crown’ and a bouquet of flowers during the special assembly. The school-wide assembly was in honor of her KSCA 2013 Principal of the Year award.

At right: students honor Ms. Martin with a Gangnam Style dance.

Jacob Crawford, New Inductee into Summit’s SuccessMaker Hall of Fame

SuccessMaker is a computer program used at Summit to enrich the math curriculum. Students learn and master math skills with the help of fun characters geared toward each grade.

Jake Crawford, a 5th grade student, is now one of only 5 to achieve and master an 8.99 grade level in math since the 2010-2011 school year. Jake is the first student this year to complete the program.

Past inductees include: Jason Ellis, Jake Smith, Erin Borders and Seth Ferrell.

Jacob Crawford poses with his SuccessMaker Hall of Fame award.

Summit Career FairIt’s never too early to begin thinking about what career you might

want. That certainly is the philosophy of third grade teacher Ms. Chris Wallace.

She, along with the other third grade teachers at Summit, organized a two-day event designed to expose students to a variety of careers and a look into college life.

Day one brought community members into the school gym. Students visited stations where area business people spoke to them about their jobs. Day two was a visit to Morehead State University where students were treated to a tour of the campus and a meal.

20Waylon Smith is assisted by Dr. Lisa Fugate, a Family Practice Physician from Family Medicine Center, in proper use of a tuning fork during Summit’s Career Fair.

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Focus on School Readinessby Janice Marcum, Director of Preschool

The path to all students becoming college and career ready doesn’t begin at high school, middle school, or even elementary school. It begins with our youngest children at the preschool level.

Boyd County Preschool is dedicated to ensuring that students participating in the program are physically, emotionally, cognitively, socially, and academically prepared for life. This year, the program has developed a School Readiness Plan that not only will help to better prepare children for transitioning into kindergarten, but will set the groundwork for children to become life-long learners who are well-equipped for life in an ever-changing society.

The process of creating a School Readiness Plan involved a variety of stakeholders and included analyzing data from various sources, such as assessment data, attendance data, and parent/community engagement data. Using this data and input from stakeholders allowed the program to focus on setting goals that were specific to the individual needs of students and their families. The School Readiness Committee came together to identify ‘smart goals’ that were to be set in each of the school readiness domain areas of Physical Development and Health, Social and Emotional Development, Approaches to Learning, Language and Literacy Development, and Cognition and General Knowledge. The program also added a Family Engagement/Attendance goal and a Health, Safety, and Nutrition goal. The School Readiness Plan is an evolving document that will change as the needs change, according to updated data in the fall, winter, and spring checkpoints.

Setting goals was just the beginning of the process. Strategies for meeting each goal were also identified. As a result of the program’s School Readiness Plan, several new initiatives were put into place. This included a Family Math Night, on-time attendance incentives, a Screen Time Swap (an initiative to encourage family activities that don’t involve screens), and more. One of the most beneficial

strategies was the development of Professional Learning Communities (PLC). The teachers and

staff had always had very strong collaboration and communication skills. However, there was not a specific time set aside for teachers to discuss and focus on only student learning and achievement. With the implementation of Professional Learning Communities, teachers have been able to have a specific time each week in which they share teaching strategies, discuss educational research, dig deeper into their assessment objectives and teaching standards, share strategies for individualizing instruction, focus on teacher-child interactions, and analyze data. Teachers also have time to discuss ways to extend student learning for those achieving above level or support student learning for those below level.

Feedback about the implementation of the PLCs,

from teachers, has been very positive. Gina Bush, Preschool teacher at Catlettsburg Elementary, stated, “PLCs are helping us to become more intentional about our teaching and planning and to make sure that we are all on the same page in our classrooms.” Sandi Roberts, a teacher at Early Childhood Learning Center - South, has said, “I love having the support of my colleagues. I feel like it helps me to get better and learn new things that I can apply in my own classroom.” Stacey Stevens, also a teacher at ECLC-South, shared, “The time that we have set aside for our PLC meetings has already become very precious to me and our PLC team. We have had the opportunity to really collaborate without any other distractions that may normally occur in other meetings. We stay focused on student learning, and I think that we are all growing from this process. We have already been able to implement great things, such as putting together building-wide strategies for our weekly rhyming focus, discussing better questioning techniques, sharing educational articles and activities, focusing on making sure that our students understand the objectives for what they are learning in child-friendly terms, and planning interactive opportunities, in which we are able to pull all of our classrooms together.”

Based on data and teacher/parent input, the preschool program plans on continuing to implement and add new strategies for the on-time

Melanie Kelley, Preschool teacher, leads an activity during Family Math Night. The event was held to guide parents and their children through math activities and games that they can do at home.

A preschool student, her mother, and her sibling all participate during Family Math Night.

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This Just In...BCHS Science Student Results in Regional Science Olympiad

Boyd County High science instructor and department chairperson Mary Leigh Lewis reports that students did well at the Maysville Community and Technical College’s Regional Science Olympiad. The competition was held Saturday, March 23 with the following results:

Tori Conley - 3rd place in forestry, Devin Boggs and Justin Elswick - 3rd place in Astronomy, Heather Griffith and Gabby Thompson - 2nd place in Write it Do it,

Morgan Price and Tori Sager - 4th place in Anatomy and Physiology, Wyatt Lewis and Justin Elswick - 4th place in Fermi Questions, Heather Griffith, Gabby Thompson and Baylee Thompson - 3rd place in Experimental Design, Alex Caldwell - 5th place in Disease Detectives, Wyatt Lewis and Noah Meade - 4th place in Boomilever, Tori Conley and Allison Spears - 4th place in Forensics, Baylee Thompson - 3rd place in Designer Genes, Nathan Perry - 2nd place Magnetic Levitation Car, Walter Stubblefield and Landen Gould - 4th place in Gravity Vehicle.

“They did an excellent job for a first time performance in the regional Olympiad,” said Lewis. “Next year we hope to move on to state.”

attendance and screen time initiatives for the 2013-2014 school year. Smart Goals will continue to be updated and changed, as they are met, as a way to track the program’s continual progress.

Teachers also have plans to use professional development time to work on receiving more training on the Teaching Strategies Gold assessment tool and to continue to work on aligning the curriculum and lesson plans to the Kentucky Early Childhood Standards, Head Start Domains, and Teaching Strategies Gold objectives. Enjoying Family Math Night.

Preschool - Focus on School Readiness - continued from previous page

BCHS Archery Team Honors Mr. Osborne

National Archery in the Schools Program began in Boyd County Schools in the fall of 2006 when a Summit teacher’s husband, Robbie Turner, brought the idea to Summit Elementary. With school and district support, Mr. Turner and Ms. Alisa Borders formed the first Boyd County archery team at Summit Elementary.

The following fall, the 8th graders had moved on to the high school. With 24 interested students, Ms. Borders was asked to form an archery team at the high school. Leaving the Summit Archery team in good coaching hands of Mr. Turner, she went about the process of getting a team together for the high school.

After raising their own money for the equipment through community support, the Boyd County High School Archery Team was formed. Bill Scaggs (see related story on page 10) was one community supporter who helped get start-up funding.

Since that time, archery has spread throughout the district with the

formation of teams at Cannonsburg and Catlettsburg Elementary schools.

Recently, the BCHS Archery team honored Mr. Osborne, retiring Superintendent, with a reception. Ms. Borders spoke about his support throughout his time with Boyd County Schools. “With the support of Mr. Osborne, “ Borders said, “we have started 5 archery teams, and have built a 3-D range and outdoor archery building behind the middle school. All 5 teams have brought pride to Boyd County Schools by placing in regional, state and national tournaments as teams and as individuals.”

Borders also spoke about the positive effects archery has had on students. “Archery has leveled the playing field for students who may not be as fast as others, who do not quite fit in, who feel awkward in other sports, or have handicaps and disabilities,” she said. “I have seen the transformation from timid, awkward children to children filled with newfound pride and confidence.”

That confidence can also relate to the student’s performance in the classroom, Borders said. “A teacher

once came to me asking what I had done to her student. Puzzled, I ask why. She informed me that he no longer walked with his head slumped over. He gave her eye contact when speaking and he actually spoke loud enough to hear. Archery was the only change the teacher could find in his routine. I told her that he had found confidence in himself through archery.”

Boyd County Schools’ archery programs have helped numerous children over the past 7 years. Great things are happening through archery.

Above: Mr. Osborne, right of center, poses with the BCHS archery team.

Creating Our Future - is a publication of Boyd County Public Schools and is paid for by the BCPS Board of Education. For printed copies, please contact Karen Curnutte, Public Information, BCPS District Office, 1104 Bob McCullough Drive, Ashland, KY 41102. Email: karen.curnutte@boyd.kyschools.us. Phone: 606-928-4141 Ext. 2011.