february 2018 - pecps.k12.va.us · every year, on january 1st, i contemplate what i want to do...
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Family Event
♥♥♥♥ Elementary and Middle
School families are invited to join us on
February 7th at 6PM in the clubhouse of
Parkview Gardens. We will have food, family
fellowship and make and take resources as well as Valentine craft activities.
Reminder:
→February 8th is a 12:30PM dismissal day.
→February 8th 3-7PM is
Parent | Teacher Conferences.
→February 9th there is no school for students.
Professional Development for
teachers.
A complete revised calendar can be found on
the front page of the school website under the tab labelled “Calendar”.
February 2018
The Power of the Spoken Word Every year, on January 1
st, I contemplate what I want to do
differently. I create lists of self-improvement tasks: eat healthier, read more, be more active, learn a new language, etc. I rush around and purchase equipment, books, and organic foods – anything that is going to make my new “resolution” easier to accomplish. This year was no different. On January 1, 2018, I sat watching a Twilight Zone marathon on television and wrote my list. There were no new ideas or ambitions; perhaps I worded items differently but the concepts and tasks were the same. Then, I stopped mid-word and asked myself, “What do you really want?” The answer: To inspire our “kids” to believe in themselves…to know that they are valuable contributors. This was the first year that I wanted something that was outside of myself and far greater than myself; and, although I like to believe that I am the modern version of Wonder Woman (without the gold cuffs and enhanced powers), this was a mammoth “resolution”. So I decided to take small, continuous steps to the ultimate goal by using nothing more than my words. Words can empower us, inspire us, and propel us toward success. In the movie The Help, the maid Aibileen reminds her charge that she (the little girl) is “kind…smart…and important.” She recites the words with the child several times a day in hopes that the child will internalize the concepts and grow into their realization. That is what we must do for our children. Remind them of their power, their beauty, and their place in the world – through words. Now, words without works are exercises in futility, but the words carry authority, shape thoughts, spur action, and mold a sense of self. So for 2018, there is only one item on my “resolution” list: To be thoughtful and to use my words to create and inspire - because every child needs that kindness.
Dr. Barbara A. Johnson | Superintendent
Band
On Saturday, January 13th our Eagle Band attended All-District auditions. Thirteen students placed and are now invited to participate in the district event on Feb 2nd-3rd. Pictured: All District Students and their chairs Front row: Rebekah Godfrey- 24th Chair Clarinet, Symphonic, Hannah Roldan- 3rd Alternate Alto Saxophone, Kathryn Trent- 11th Chair Clarinet, Concert , Amber Maliangos- 24th Chair Clarinet, Concert, Natalie Cheyne- 14th Chair Clarinet, Symphonic , Ms. Crouch. Back row: Abigail Swanson- 18th Chair Clarinet, Symphonic, Katrina Carrera-5th Clarinet Alternate, Samuel Godfrey- 1st Chair Percussion, Concert, Ian Lower- 7th Chair Percussion, Concert, Damon Sawyer- 2nd Alternate Tenor Saxophone, Benjamin Roberts- 2nd Chair Trumpet, Symphonic . Not pictured: Tabitha Hall- 7th Chair Flute, Concert , Ronny Carricato- 1st Chair French Horn, Junior Concert Band.
Community Engagement
Despite the snow and mud, we held our ground breaking ceremony for the “Birdhouse Build”. The Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity, in partnership with the Eagles of Prince Edward County Public Schools, and the Falcons of Fuqua School are excited to get dirty together and provide a home for this Prince Edward County family.
FREE Parent Class
A new series of Free Microsoft Word
classes for parents begin on February
22nd. There are only twenty slots
available so please reserve yours with
Mrs. Robbins soon.
PEPSE The Prince Edward Public Schools Endowment (PEPSE), a non-profit entity that provides mini-grants to teachers with innovative ideas and helps to select the county's teacher of the year, invites the community to participate in fundraising through their Amazon Smile account. Simply go to smile.amazon.com when you are purchasing from Amazon's website, and designate "Prince Edward Public Schools Endowment Inc." as your preferred charity.
Staff Spotlight Who is Dr. Julie Gilliam?
Recently named Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Gilliam is a scholar on and off campus. Acting Middle School Principal, Director of Instruction and Curriculum, mom, and blue grass recording artist are just a few of the titles that don Julie Gilliam’s resume’.
Pictured is Dr. Gilliam with her band, The Stoney Ridge Band.
Parent Teacher Conference
Alumni Spotlight Bianca Casper | Class of 2007 Bianca Casper is a graduate student at VCU obtaining a Masters in Social Work and is an intern with the State Department of Criminal Justice Services. Casper shared with us that PECPS prepared her to always seek out opportunities for growth and to be confident in herself. She praised her teachers and coaches for teaching professionalism, leadership, and teamwork. She said that teachers inspired her to think outside of the box and push herself further in her studies. Bianca liked the opportunity to take dual-enrollment classes and said they allowed her to graduate with her undergrad, also from VCU, one year early. We asked Bianca if she had any advice for current students. She answered with: “I would tell students to never limit yourself. If you have an idea, go for it! Seek out mentors and do your research. The world is so big and there are so many opportunities available for you if you are open to the possibilities. Your life will be so different than what you imagined.” Always Purple & Gold!
In January our school board
elected Beulah Womack
(Hampden) to serve as School
Board Chair and Dr. Timothy
W. Corbett, Sr. (Leigh) as our
new Vice Chair! In addition,
we welcomed four new school
board members: Cainan
Townsend (Farmville), Lucy
Carson (Buffalo), General D.
Jenkins (Lockett) and Elzora
Stiff (Prospect). Contact
information for the school
board members has been
updated on the school website
under the school board
section. We look forward to
their strong and thoughtful
leadership.
YOUR LOGO HERE
Prince Edward County Public Schools 35 Eagle Drive
Farmville Virginia 23901 434.315.2100
www.pecps.k12.va.us
Snow Make-Up Days
2017-2018 Make-up days
2018 School Board Meetings
January 10, 2018 *3:00 p.m. February 7, 2018 1:30 p.m. Closed Meeting 2:30 p.m. Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. Public Participation
March 7, 2018 *3:00 p.m. April 11, 2018 *3:00 p.m. May 9, 2018 *3:00 p.m. June 6, 2018 *3:00 p.m. June 27, 2018 Year-End Closeout Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
July 11, 2018 *3:00 p.m. August 15, 2018 *3:00 p.m. September 5, 2018 1:30 p.m. Closed Meeting 2:30 p.m. Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. Public Participation
October 3, 2018 *3:00 p.m. November 7, 2018 *3:00 p.m. December 5, 2018 *3:00 p.m.
*3:00 p.m. Regular Meeting will begin with scheduled Closed Meeting |
4:00 p.m. Regular Meeting | 6:00 p.m. Public Participation
Days Missed
January 3, 2018
January 4, 2018
January 5, 2018
January 8, 2018
January 9, 2018
Make-Up Day
February 19, 2018
March 9, 2018 (12:30 dismissal)
April 27, 2018
May 29, 2018 (12:30 dismissal)
May 30, 2018 (12:30 dismissal)