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View the approved 2008-09 school calendar. Click here.
STRIDES wins Excellence in Education Award from Virginia Tech
The STRIDES program, developed by Culpeper County Public School educators to provide early intervention for at-risk students, was recognized on May 7 with a 2008 Excellence in Education Award from Virginia Tech’s School of Education.
Angelique Wynkoop, curriculum specialist in the Office of Special Education, and Karie Lane, principal of Pearl Sample Elementary School, received the award on behalf of the school division. STRIDES (Striving Toward Research-Based Intervention and Data-Driven Evidence for Student Success) began three years ago at Pearl Sample and quickly expanded to all five elementary schools.
“We’re honored that Virginia Tech chose to recognize STRIDES,” said Ms. Wynkoop. “This award underscores our reward, which is seeing our children succeed.”
The STRIDES program was one of nine award winners out of almost 100 proposals submitted to Virginia Tech from K-12 schools and community colleges across the state. Also in attendance at the awards ceremony held on the Blacksburg campus were School Superintendent Dr. David Cox and Dr. Eric Conti, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Dr. Cox praised the STRIDES creators, noting that the program supports the school division's mission by targeting individual student progress. "Our staff developed this approach with a goal of using resources and staff expertise more efficiently to catch and solve student problems early. When a STRIDES team works with a child, they help to close achievement gaps before they can widen."
$2.8 million saved by good behavior
Teachers and staff at Culpeper County Public Schools have chalked up $2.8 million in energy savings -- more than $300,000 per year since the division began participating in a program geared toward saving utility costs.
Over the course of nine years and five months, the school division has consistently implemented energy-efficient practices recommended by Energy Education, Inc. The national energy conservation company will present the school division with its Energy Excellence Award at the Monday, May 12 school board meeting.
"Reaching this savings mark is a significant milestone," said Dr. William Spears, CEO and founder of Energy Education Inc. "School staff are to be commended for clearly fulfilling their commitment to being good stewards of the taxpayers' money and the environment."
A key benefit of CCPS's alliance with the Energy Education program is that all participation costs are more than covered through savings in the existing utility budget.
As part of the program, CCPS maintenance staff track consumption -- including electricity, water, sewer, natural gas and fuel oil -- using special energy-accounting software. They then compare current energy use to a baseline period and calculate the amount of energy that would have been used had management practices not been implemented. By tracking consumption and analyzing use, the school division can quickly identify and correct areas that need immediate attention.
"We are always looking for ways to become more efficient," said CCPS Superintendent David Cox. "Our long-term commitment to being excellent stewards of public funds and maximizing available resources for instruction is just part of day-to-day management practices. This also sets a good example for our students to be better citizens of our planet.”
CCHS Spring Choir Concert - May 29
The Culpeper County High School choirs will be presenting their Spring Concert at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 29 in the CCHS auditorium. Groups performing include Troubadours, Madrigals, The Bluettes (Show Choir), True Expression (Women's A cappella), and Men's A cappella.
Admission to this event is free. Tiffany Richtarski, choir director, would especially like to invite all CCHS Choir alumni to her final concert at Culpeper County High School (she will be teaching at Eastern View High School in the fall).
SEAC meeting set for May 15
The next meeting of the Special Education Advisory Committee will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at the Culpeper County Public Schools’ Administrative Office, 450 Radio Lane, in the Colin-Owens Conference Room.
This committee advises the school division in the formulation and development of plans for improving performance of children with disabilities and participates in the development of priorities and strategies for meeting identified needs. Parents of students with disabilities, teachers, community agency representatives and others who care about the education of students with disabilities are encouraged to attend. The committee meets on a quarterly basis.
For further information, please call the CCPS Office of Special Education at 825-3677, ext. 3135 or contact the Parent Teacher Resource Center at 937-2934.
Free Speech & Hearing Workshop
May is Speech and Hearing Awareness Month
The Parent Teacher Resource Center is hosting a free informational workshop for parents and those who are interested in learning more about hearing impairments or suspect a hearing impairment in their child.
The workshop will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14 at the Culpeper County Public Library. Kathyrn Holloway, teacher of the deaf and hearing impaired, will lead the workshop.
Seating is limited. Call the Parent Teacher Resource Center at 937-2934 to reserve a seat.
The classic musical "Bye Bye Birdie" comes to CMS on May 8 & 9
Poodle skirts. Slicked-back hair. Black and white television. The 1950s are back at Culpeper Middle School! The CMS Drama and Choral departments will present the spring musical about an Elvis-like teen idol who comes to a small town to kiss a fan club member on national TV before he goes into the Army.
A cast of 30 middle schoolers, plus two high school students, perform the show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, and Friday, May 9 in the Forum of CMS. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults and are available at the door. There will be concessions for purchase at intermission.
Ninth grade CCHS student Alex Rafala pays the title character, Conrad Birdie. Jeffrey Thelin, another freshman from CCHS, plays his manager, Albert Peterson - the role originally played by Dick van Dyke. The female leads are played by CMS eighth graders Justine Hauge - as Rose, Albert's secretary - and Hillary Ratliff - as Kim, Birdie's lucky fan club member.
CMS drama teacher Jeff Walker directs the production. B. W. Adam Hughes, CMS director of choral music, directs the music for "Birdie."
CCHS Horticulture/FFA Spring Plant Sale
It’s that time of year again! The Culpeper County High School Horticulture program and FFA are selling spring plants from the high school greenhouse.
The plant science and horticulture classes have worked hard to grow a variety of bedding plants this semester. They are selling annual flowers, a few perennials, vegetables, herbs and houseplants. Vegetables include peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and melons.
Prices are $1 and up; checks should be made payable to CCHS.
Beginning Thursday, April 24, you may pick up your spring plants between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, and until 5 p..m. on Thursday and Friday.
For more information, contact Mariellen Withers at 825-8310, ext. 4583.
Next School Board meeting, May 12
The
Culpeper County School Board will hold its next meeting on Monday, May 12. The meeting will be held at the County Administration Building, 302 N. Main Street. The meeting is open to the public.
CCHS hits high note with 3rd Blue Ribbon Award
Culpeper County High School has again in 2008 earned the prestigious "Blue Ribbon School" designation. The Virginia Music Educators Association bestows this honor on schools at which a school’s top musical ensembles earn a "Superior" rating at their respective District Concert Festivals.
The CCHS Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Duane Clore, and the CCHS Troubadours, under the direction of Tiffany Richtarski, earned top ratings at their respective festivals for the third consecutive year.
CCPS congratulates the CCHS music program for continued excellence!
Bid request: General Servicing of Microscopes
Click HERE for KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION information for 2008-2009
(Note: students zoned for Yowell Elementary School may register at any of the elementary schools.)
Ten CCPS choirs earn top ratings at Festival
For the first time, all 10 Culpeper County Public Schools choirs that participated in the 2008 District XIII Choral Festival earned Superior ratings from the judges. The choirs are:
Culpeper County High School:
Troubadours; Men's Accapella; Women's Accapella and Madrigals under the direction of Duane Clore and Tiffany Richtarski.
Culpeper Middle School:
6th Grade Choir; 7th Grade Choir and 8th Grade Choir, under the direction of Adam Hughes.
Floyd T. Binns Middle School:
Bel Canto Choir (6th); Renaissance Choir (7th) and Trouveres Choir (8th), under the direction of Doray Walker.
CCPS congratulates these outstanding young musicians and their teachers!
Joint School Board/Board of Supervisors
Meeting -- May 28
The Culpeper County School Board and Board
of Supervisors will hold a joint meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday,
May 28 in the auditorium at Culpeper County High School. The session will feature a review and evaulation of this year's budget process.
The public is welcome to attend.
Study rates CCPS 'Good Value'
In a recent study released by the Clare Booth
Luce Policy Institute, Culpeper County Public Schools was rated
a 'good achievement' school division that provides education
at a 'moderate (lower) cost.'
The study sought to rate the cost efficiency of Virginia's schools,
and asks "Are school districts putting tax dollars to the
best and highest use? Do all districts operate with equal cost-efficiency?"
The January 2008 report categorizes Virginia's school divisions
by using a method to produce a goal attainment average and then
calculates a unit cost for achievement. Culpeper's schools,
along with 36 others, were rated good achieving schools that
produce results at a lower cost.
Click here
to view the report.
Public
Schools: The Bedrock of Our Democracy (click for video
& resources)
