Nelson School News Fall 2012

Superintendent’s Message Dear Parents and Friends: Welcome to the 2012-13 school year. I am tremendously excited to have students back in school. Administrators, teachers, and support staff report a smooth and successful opening. It is my sincere hope that you have also experienced a seamless transition during the first days of school and have felt the positive energy associated with a new academic year. Our commitment to excellence through continuous improvement has never been stronger or more focused. As standards evolve, our team stands ready to address collaboratively each challenge presented. It is important that parents and significant others join our efforts to reach individual, schoolbased, and division-wide goals. An updated copy of our Comprehensive Plan can be accessed at www.nelson.k12.va.us. We will revisit this plan later in the year, and your input and general comments are always welcome. Nelson has long been a community that supports its schools, a fact that has never been more evident than in recent years. This important element allows us to continue to look toward the future as we work diligently to prepare our students to be college and career ready. The new normal may be an unfamiliar challenge to many of us. Skillful proficiency is now a minimum competency requirement and is no longer optional for students. I am confident you share my heartfelt belief that all Nelson students can and will graduate on time with the necessary skills for lifelong success. Every member of our staff appreciates your willingness to work together as we strive to make Nelson County one of the best, small, rural school divisions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Please plan to visit and volunteer in one or more of our schools, and thank you for the privilege of working with your children. Have a great school year! Sincerely, Roger D. Collins, Division Superintendent

Nelson Drop-Out Rate Improves With the rise in more students receiving a diploma and graduating from high school, the dropout rate dramatically decreased last school year. The dropout rate is calculated in conjunction with the on-time graduation rate. Once students enter the ninth grade, they are monitored to see if they achieve either a diploma or a GED in four years or if they have continued into a fifth year in high school. If a student has not completed high

NCHS Drop-Out Rate

school in four years or has not returned to school, then the student is designated as a drop-out. Students may not officially drop-out until they reach the age of eighteen. Three years ago, the drop-out rate was 6.59%, and now the dropout rate has fallen to a mere 1.99%. The entire school family is pleased with the recent improvement. The chart below shows the drop-out rates for the last three years.

2010

2011

2012

6.59%

4.79%

1.99%

(As calculated on the On-Time Graduation Report)

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Making a Difference On August 15, 2012, the annual recognition ceremony was held for employees identified as having “gone above and beyond the call of duty” during the 2011-12 school year. This wonderful program, fondly known as the Smyth Awards, has been in effect for fifteen years through the generosity of the late Mr. Gordon Smyth and his wife, Mary Beth. Mr. Smyth’s indomitable presence was missed by those in attendance, but his influence was ever apparent as the staff recognized Mrs. Smyth and her family’s contributions to the success of our school division.

The deserving winners recognized for their outstanding work in 2011-12 were as follows: • • • • • • • • • •

Kathy Baron-Stump – Special Education Teacher at Nelson County High School Meaghan Cabot – French Teacher at Nelson County High School Jeff Campbell – Maintenance Mechanic for the School Division Sandy Conley – Instructional Assistant at Rockfish River Elementary School Mary Alice Formo – 2nd Grade Teacher at Tye River Elementary School Cindy Fulcher – 5th Grade Teacher at Rockfish River Elementary School Kevin Knight – Mathematics Teacher at Nelson County High School Tony Long – Custodian at Nelson County High School Mary Martin – Cafeteria Worker at Tye River Elementary School Laurie Oliver – Mathematics Teacher at Nelson Middle School

The diverse assignments of those employees recognized by the Smyth Awards definitely prove that it takes the efforts of many individuals, in different fields of specialty, to make an organization run smoothly and efficiently. Congratulations to the 2012 winners!

2013-14 School Division Calendar Approved The Nelson County School Board recently approved the school division’s calendar for 2013-14. The school year remains 180 days in length. However, the new calendar advances the starting date which will enable high school and selected middle school students to complete course content, examinations, and applicable SOL tests prior to the winter holiday break. Also, regional collaborative academic programming will be better aligned. A copy of the new calendar can be found at https:// sites.google.com/a/nelson.k12.va.us/ncps/home/calendars.

Remember School Begins:

August 12, 2013

The Best Hope

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When Nelson County’s Oakland Museum of Rural History revealed a new exhibit on the history of Nelson County Public Schools, the administration and school board requested duplicates of the informational panels. These panels summarize the highlights of a commendable record of accomplishments with text and photographs and are now on display at Nelson County High School in the corridor leading from the front of the school to the older section in the rear. “The Best Hope” is the title of the exhibit; it is a phrase taken from the writings of Delegate Robert Whitehead. Starting his career as an attorney in Nelson County, Del. Whitehead went on to serve as the Commonwealth’s Attorney and later represented both Nelson and Amherst Counties in the Virginia House of Delegates. He considered public schools “the best hope” for giving rural children greater economic and social opportunities. Highlighting the chronological development of educational institutions in Nelson County, the exhibit begins with the efforts of Joseph C. Cabell and the Cabell family in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and proceeds to the creation of a true public school system in the years following the Civil War and Reconstruction. The march from a system of more than 100 one and two room schools at the beginning of the twentieth century through integration to today’s configuration forms the remainder of the exhibit. The contributions of Superintendents W. E. Kidd and Henry Conner and school board members Catherine Seaman and Harry Harris are noted. The panels also display many photos, both old and new, of teachers and pupils. The information in the exhibits at Oakland and Nelson County High School draws on the resources of the Virginia State Library, the University of Virginia Library, A History of the Nelson County Public Schools by Dr. Heywood L. Greenberg, and Heartbeats of Nelson by Paul Saunders. The endeavor was made possible by the generosity of the family of Elizabeth Wheeler who attended Schuyler High School. The new display at the high school is open to the community during regular school hours after checking in with the staff in the main office. In the words of Del. Whitehead, public education remains “the best hope” for our children.

Virginia High School League Celebrates 100 Years The Virginia High School League organization is taking time this year to acknowledge and celebrate 100 years of building better citizens through student participation. The staff of the state-wide regulatory organization is proud of the numerous, valuable athletic and activity programs which instill good sportsmanship as a hallmark of past, present, and future VHSL participants.

The group believes that winning with humility, losing with grace and doing both with dignity creates a healthy atmosphere for everyone. As the school year unfolds, centennial events will be held at the state level to promote the proud past and promising future of interscholastic competition. In the 2011-12 school year, a total of 314 Nelson County High School students participated in a VHSL activity or sport.

Seniors Look Beyond Graduation

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Saving money never goes out of fashion, and lately, money could be the one thing holding students back from attending college. Several seniors from Nelson County High School made a tremendous effort to push through that obstacle to continue their education.

During Senior Award Night this past spring, seniors received $224,500 in local scholarship money. Cumulative financial awards collected by Nelson students totaled $568,300, which was a tremendous amount of help for NCHS graduates. Several colleges in the vicinity attended the ceremony and presented scholarships that night directly to the students giving them a true sense of accomplishment. Sixty-nine percent of the seniors who graduated this past spring planned to attend either a two or four year college this fall.

Governors Ranked Fourth in Wells Fargo Cup By finishing fourth in the final Wells Fargo Cup for Academics in the 2011-12 school year, the Nelson County High School Governors once again gained state-wide recognition. The Wells Fargo Cup is an annual award acknowledging excellence in Virginia High School League (VHSL) academic competitions at the state level. High schools across Virginia earn points for outstanding participation results in specific categories. This elevated ranking is complemented by a third straight state championship in theatre as well as recognition for excellence in yearbook layout and design.

Well-deserved congratulations go out to all participating NCHS students and staff!

Middle School Parent Volunteer Group Begins

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Nelson Middle School is “looking for a few good men ...er… parents.” In the spring of 2012, NMS parent Robert Canody and Principal Matt Schoener began to coordinate efforts to renew a parent volunteer group at the middle school. Their goal is to create and build a group of parents and community members who are interested in supporting student learning. Nationally, parental involvement at the middle school level drops off sharply after a child’s elementary years. “Here, in Nelson County, we can do better than that,” said Mr. Schoener. During Plan Night in the spring of 2012 and again at the August Open House, the NMS staff gathered names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of parents who expressed interest in supporting the students and faculty through a parent volunteer group. This list was the first step in the development of the “M.V.P.’s” or Mustang Volunteer Parents. Then those interested parents were asked if they were willing to hold an office. Those who said yes were highlighted, and they are being contacted this month to form the official organization. According to Mr. Canody, the first Executive Committee will consist of volunteer parents who will be charged with setting up the “MVP’s” as a non-profit organization, establishing first year goals, and working to get the first elected Executive Committee underway before the end of spring. There are numerous opportunities for parents to be involved in their child’s education, and a strong parent volunteer group can be an effective addition to any middle school program. “Mr. Schoener and I are committed to forming this organization for the purpose of expanding the partnership of parents and educators which is a characteristic of high-achieving middle schools,” stated Mr. Canody.

Big Sisters Program Participants Assist TRES Students Students majoring in education from Sweet Briar College have been traveling to Tye River Elementary School to participate in the Big Sister Program for many years now. This is a collaborative effort that provides academic and social support for students at Tye River and gives the students from Sweet Briar an opportunity to work with elementary children in an educational setting. Makenzie Walstrom, guidance counselor, and Holly Gould, a representative of Sweet Briar College, are coordinators of the project. At the beginning of the school year, TRES teachers recommend students who they feel would most benefit from having a Big Sister. A letter explaining the program is sent home to parents along with a permission slip. With parental permission, students are then paired up with one of the Big Sisters for the rest of the school year. During the year, Big Sisters meet regularly with their students and provide a helping hand with homework or tutoring and offer a friendly, listening ear. They work with the children during academic and non-academic times,

and at some point in the year, all students are invited to travel to Sweet Briar College for a special guided tour of the campus and lunch with their Big Sisters in the college cafeteria. If they are unable to complete a full year commitment, the college students have the option of working in a classroom as an assistant for one or two semesters. Assigned to a particular class, they work with all students to enhance their learning experiences in the classroom and collaborate with the teachers to assist with classroom tasks such as preparing materials for student lessons. With Sweet Briar students serving as Big Sisters or classroom assistants, strong bonds are formed with the children at Tye River through this unique partnership. In some cases, Big Sisters have continued to work with their students as mentors and role models beyond the first year. The positive benefits for both sets of students are evident, and the two schools look forward to continuing this program well into the future.

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Graduation Rates Increase

Nelson County Public School Division staff is pleased to report that graduation rates for our 2012 senior class have increased markedly over the 2011 results. Rates impressively increased thirteen percentage points over the last four years as calculated by the Federal Graduation Indicator. There are three graduation rates the division monitors closely, and the Nelson County High School seniors have shown an increase in all of them. The three rates are as follows: •

•

•

On-Time Graduation Rate – A student is counted in this rate if the student finishes in four years after entering high school and earns an Advanced, Standard, Modified Standard, or Special Education Diploma. There is no specific target for this rate. Federal Graduation Indicator – A student is counted in this rate if the student finishes in four years after entering high school and earns either an Advanced or Standard Diploma. The target in this rate is 80% or above. State Accreditation Target – Points are awarded for students who finish in three years and earn an Advanced, Standard, Modified Standard, or Special Education Diploma. Varying points are also awarded if a student earns a GED or if a student returns for the fifth year. Each school must earn 85 or more points to receive state accreditation in the area of graduation.

The chart below depicts improvement in these rates over the last three years. With more students earning a diploma each year, this is good news for Nelson students since a high school diploma is crucial whether entering the world of work or continuing educational pursuits.

Nelson Graduation Rates  2009‐2010 On‐Time Graduation Rate  (Start and finish within 4 years) (Includes Advanced, Standard, Special  Ed., Modified Standard Diplomas)

Federal Graduation Indicator  (target = 80%)  (Advanced and Standard Diplomas  Only)

State Accreditation (target = 85 points) (Includes Advanced, Standard, Special  Ed., & Modified Standard Diplomas,  GED & 5th year seniors)

2010‐2011

2011‐2012

77.84%

82.99%

88.75%

72.35%

76.71%

84.46%

88.75  points

90.43  points

95.16 points

School Board Members South District: West District: Central District: North District: East District:

Jane B. Mays, 29 Dave’s Place, Arrington, Va. 22922 David Parr, P O Box 598, Piney River, Va. 22964 Margaret D. Clair, 560 Gullysville Lane, Faber, Va. 22938 Mary S. Cunningham, 171 Joshua Lane, Afton, Va. 22920 Amy C. Snapp, 91 Riverside Drive, Schuyler, Va. 22969

(434) 263-8181 (434) 277-5265 (434) 361-2463 (540) 456-8316 (434) 987-0374

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Literacy Leaps at RRES Like your child’s clothes and shoes, the books he/she chooses should also be a good fit. The appropriate books on his or her reading level will make your child feel confident and want to read more. Students at Rockfish River Elementary are learning to choose “good fit” books this year. The year begins with an assessment that enables your child’s teacher to better determine each student’s comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and vocabulary goals. All students are given a personalized reading goal based on their individual needs; “good fit” books can now be matched up with those individual needs. Rockfish River Elementary teachers are using The Daily Five by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. This book gives the teachers a classroom structure that is based on literacy learning and motivation research and offers a series of literacy tasks which students complete daily while the teacher meets with small groups or confers with individual students. The program is a structure that will help students develop the daily habits of reading, writing, and working with peers to encourage independent literacy. All students in grades K-4 will be working on five different components each day: reading to self, reading to someone, writing, word work, and listening to reading. It is not unusual for primary students to discuss their improvements in “stamina”. Yes, even kindergarten students are learning what it means to “improve your stamina” while reading. All teachers work to increase sustained reading for students in each grade level in order to cultivate literacy independence. The students actually refer to their “stamina” as they discuss fluency with their teachers during individual conferences throughout the week. The progress that a child is making can be exciting. Parents can assist their children in reading “good fit” books at home in several ways. Preview the books with your children, keeping in mind that young readers like repetitive words and phrases. Have them try the book out loud as you listen for hesitation over words. Struggling to read may indicate that the book is too hard. Finally, check the reading level of the book. The “I Can Read Book” and “Step into Reading” have the levels listed for you. If you have an interest in reading with a child, please contact RRES. Volunteers are welcome to visit and share in daily reading ventures. Parents are encouraged to continue to read alongside children at home in order to inspire them to become life-long readers. Almost everywhere a youngster looks, there’s something interesting for him or her to read and remember. By choosing a “good fit” book, the whole experience becomes more enriched.

Governor’s Go Green On Saturday, October 20, the Nelson County High School staff will host a tree planting event for the sloped area in front of the school. Representatives from the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District have received a grant through Keep Virginia Beautiful (http:// www.tjswcd.org/) to help green up this space for the Nelson County community. Several community environmental partners will be on site to showcase their programs and assist with the planting.

Bring your gloves, bring your shovels, and bring your environmental energy! Work will commence, rain or shine, at 9:00 A.M. In case of severe weather, the rain date is the following Saturday, October 27. Please contact Nicola McGoff ([email protected], or 434-975-0224) for more details, or speak directly with Mrs. Tinder or Mrs. Seaman at Nelson County High School.

Division Student Academic Performance on SOL Assessments

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In the midst of a changing landscape in the world of state assessments, the division’s overall results maintained strong pass rates from the previous year in the areas of reading, science, history, and writing. With increasing standards and more rigorous math assessments, divisions across Virginia experienced a significant drop in the number of students passing the math test. Although there was a drop in math scores in Nelson, our students had higher pass rates than their peers across Virginia on seven out of nine new assessments. Additionally, all schools in Nelson will be fully accredited by the Commonwealth of Virginia for the eighth year in a row based upon current pass rates. Official state accreditation ratings will be reported by the Department of Education late September. The mathematics tests administered this past spring were the first to reflect the increased rigor from new standards adopted by the Commonwealth in 2009. In addition, these assessments required problem-solving and critical thinking skills in ways not possible on traditional multiple-choice tests. Nelson students and teachers worked hard this past year to meet the challenges of the new rigor. While there is much work ahead to regain the losses from this transition, Nelson students demonstrated that they have a strong beginning by significantly exceeding the state pass rate in high school math assessments. Nelson County High School students superseded the state average by 12% points in Algebra I, 6% points in Geometry, and 14% points in Algebra II. To find success in today’s workplace or continuing education, students require stronger skills to succeed. The increased rigor and new assessments are the beginning of getting our students where they need to be in a sophisticated workforce. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright has stated that this year's math SOL results would “represent the start of a new trend line” and that the state “is expecting more, not that students are learning less.” While a large percentage of students continue to pass the Virginia SOL assessment each year, and the graduation rate continues to climb, the Federal No Child Left Behind report shows specific areas in subgroup performance where each division and school can focus their improvement efforts. This year, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA Waiver) changed the way this subgroup data is reported. The report includes academic pass rates and participation rates from spring 2012 SOL tests, plus federal graduation rates for each subgroup from spring 2011. The Federal Graduation Index (FGI) rate only includes advanced and standard diplomas and does not recognize all Virginia diplomas. Collectively, the Nelson County division and the schools met 99% of the Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) set by the ESEA Waiver in July 2012, missing only the graduation AMO for disadvantaged students in spring 2011. This school year, students across Virginia will experience new rigorous standards and assessments in reading, writing, and science, much like the students have seen in mathematics this past year. In addition, Virginia intends to revisit the current federal AMOs next month and begin to talk about strengthening the Commonwealth’s accreditation standards. In the past, Nelson teachers and students have met academic challenges that the state and federal governments have set and will continue to meet these new challenges in the future. In the end, students will be better prepared for their future. Additional information on student achievement data is available on the Virginia Department of Education website under the August 14, 2012, News Release at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/news/ news_releases/2012/aug14.shtml.