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Learning on Vacation
Many of our schools host learning enrichment
events throughout the summer. Axton Elementary held their annual Summer
Reading Day on July 19. At the event, students read aloud the story, "If I
Built a House", and practiced reading strategies that parents can
implement at home. After the story, the students were then able to complete
different activities with their family based on what they read. Students and
families were also able to build their own creative house using LEGOs. Each
student who attended received a bag filled with 9 books, a journal, and
pencils.
Goal 1: High Quality Instruction
Making a List and Checking it Twice
Members
of the Curriulum and Instruction team have been working
to ensure that each school has the textbooks and supplies necessary for
engaging learning experiences this school year.
Goal 1: High Quality Instruction
Adding to the Toolbox
A
group of elementary and middle school teachers forfeited a week of summer
vacation to attend the Apple Teacher Academy this
summer. They
raved about all the instructional tools they learned to use effectively and how they plan to implement them with
students this fall.
Goals 2 & 4: High Quality Professionals, Innovative & Cutting-Edge Technology
Code Word: Robots
Instruction
team members have also been
preparing LEGO robotics coding kits for use by students in the elementary and
middle schools this fall.
Goal 1: High Quality Instruction
Enrolled and Ready
To
ensure that each student begins the
school year with current information in our system, teams have been working to
host InfoSnap
nights around the division. As of today, 73% of families have updated their
student enrollment information.
Goals 3 & 5: Safe & Orderly Learning Environments, Family & Community Engagement
Collaborative Planning
Department
leaders have spent the summer collaborating to devise
best methods of support for our schools. Instructional team members worked
closely with technology partners to ensure complementary practices and curriculum
coordinators continue to collaborate to
develop
opportunities for interdisciplinary study at all levels.
Goals 1 & 2: High Quality Instruction, High Quality Professionals
Find a Buddy
The communications staff has been working this
summer to promote the buddy system in our schools by
recruiting volunteers in the school community. Many schools will have reading
and lunch buddies this fall thanks to our friends at Public Safety, the
Martinsville Lion’s Club, Kings Grant, the Drewry Mason High School Class of 1954, and
individuals who have agreed to serve as role models for our students.
Goal 5: Family & Community Engagement
Setting the Path
Transportation
office staff has worked diligently to
ensure efficient routing so students can be picked up and delivered home safely
each day.
Goal 3: Safe & Orderly Learning Environments
The Wheels on the Bus
Bus
mechanics have spent the summer inspecting buses and
maintaining vehicles and trip cars, completing repairs on an as-needed basis.
Every bus in the HCPS fleet has been washed and cleaned for a fresh start each
school year.
Goal 3: Safe & Orderly Learning Environments
Devices at the Ready
The
Technology Department received training this summer to learn new methods to
quickly and efficiently deploy iPads and laptops. The hardest and
longest job is now putting them in their sturdy cases!
Goal 4: Innovative & Cutting-Edge Technology
Interactive Presentations
New
70" ActivPanels have
been installed to replace broken SMARTBoards and to award new teachers that have
completed grants in the high schools. Teachers will receive training on the new
devices this week as they prepare for the first day of school.
Goal 4: Innovative & Cutting-Edge Technology
It's in Stock
Technicians have both bar coded devices to ensure
that the division’s inventory is up to date and deployed devices to
administrators and elementary teachers this summer, ensuring that the tools
available for guiding student progress are current.
Goal 4: Innovative & Cutting-Edge Technology
Training for Maximum Success
Bus
drivers, school nurses, substitute
teachers, and cafeteria staff members all attended training sessions for
supporting student learning this summer. Additionally, members of the senior
leadership team hosted a boot camp for administrators desiring updates and
additional information as they prepare to lead their staff and students to new
heights in the coming year.
Goal 2: High Quality Professionals
Polished and Ready
Service
Solutions, our custodial team, logged many hours stripping and waxing all
classrooms, hallways, and common areas along with completing a detailed
cleaning of each building so the students and staff are welcomed to a clean
environment to start the school year.
Goal 3: Safe & Orderly Learning Environments
Clearing the Air
Our
new preventative maintenance technician “hit the ground running” by organizing
the air filtration inventory in
preparation for the HVAC
technicians and custodians to change all air filters during the summer.
Goal 3: Safe & Orderly Learning Environments
Open for Business
The
facilities maintenance team has renovated three classrooms at The Center for
Community Learning to prepare for the new Cosmetology class location. This
project is creating a new and exciting learning environment for our students
interested in learning this career and will allow this department to be run
like a business.
Goal 3: Safe & Orderly Learning Environments
Efficiency Upgrade
BassettHigh School is undergoing phase 4 renovations to include all new HVAC, ceiling
and lighting in the D and E areas of the building. We were also fortunate
enough to renovate 12 restrooms with this phase, updating tile and fixtures to
give these areas a more modern look. Six of the restrooms were completed during
the summer and the other six will be completed during the first month of
school.
Goal 3: Safe & Orderly Learning Environments
Stop for Safety
Despite
the many projects that are taking place in a short period of time through the
summer, the maintenance team worked to make sure safety is a priority as well
when the entire team went through CPR and First Aid Training with our team of
school nurses.
Goal 3: Safe & Orderly Learning Environments
Welcome Aboard!
Human
Resources staff has been working diligently this summer to assist in staffing
schools and departments for the start of the new school year. HR
representatives have worked with more than 90 new employees and nearly 50
transfers.
Goal 2: High Quality Professionals
