Friday Feature - May 26
May 26, 2023
DPS announces ESPs of the Year
This year, Danville Public Schools (DPS) started a new initiative to recognize the Educational Support Personnel (ESP) in school buildings and departments, as they are instrumental in the education of our students. The ESP of the Year initiative honors the outstanding work of those employees in their specific role, which can range from custodian to cafeteria worker to accountant. The 2023 ESPs of the Year have been selected and will be honored at a luncheon in June.
The division’s ESPs of the Year for 2023 are as follows:
Lisa Fowlkes, School Nurse, Grove Park Preschool
Sallie Rossman, Administrative Support Specialist, Northside Preschool
Cayla Davis, Paraprofessional, E.A. Gibson Elementary School
Carrie Wilson, Paraprofessional, Forest Hills Elementary School
Ebony Childress, Instructional Paraprofessional, G.L.H. Johnson Elementary School
Jo Anne Neighbors, Administrative Assistant, Park Avenue Elementary School
Sheila Scott, Instructional Assistant, Schoolfield Elementary School
Nicole Toomer, Administrative Support Specialist, Woodberry HIlls Elementary School
Marian Lewis, SPED Instructional Paraprofessional, O.T. Bonner Middle School
Mae Dixon, SPED Instructional Paraprofessional, Westwood Middle School
Anika White, Bookkeeper, Galileo Magnet High School
Richard Luck, Custodian, George Washington High School
Retha Wilson, Secretary, R.I.S.E. Academy
Christi Mayo, Paraprofessional, Taylor Virtual Academy
Amy Turner, Literacy Specialist, W.W. Moore Educational Program
Jocelyn Harrell, Administrative Assistant, Adult Career and Education Center
Jeffrie Scott, Administrative Support Specialist, Woodrow Wilson
Lolita Martin, Human Resources Analyst, Human Resources Division
Mike McVay, Director of Maintenance and Operations, Operations Division
Charles Crumpler, Executive Assistant, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Division
Amy Crews, Accounting Specialist, Finance Division
Sandra Dillon, Bus Driver, Department of Transportation
Ricky Hill, Plumber, Department of Maintenance and Operations
GWHS NJROTC receives the Distinguished Unit Award
The GW NJROTC has been recognized as a top unit and awarded the Distinguished Unit Award for the 2022-23 school year. The "Soaring Eagles" rank in the top 20 among 60 units in Virginia, Maryland, DC and Delaware.
In order to become a distinguished unit, cadets of GWHS NJROTC had to submit all their accomplishments for the calendar year to the JROTC headquarters and demonstrate their skills through a successful drill and competition season. However, this award is not limited to just the competitive teams. Every cadet in the unit contributed to this achievement through their leadership training, test scores, orientation trips, ROTC scholarship submissions, combined GPA, community service hours, school support hours, team participation, parades, leadership positions within the school, and Annual Inspection results. Everyone in the unit this year is authorized to wear the Distinguished Unit Ribbon. Congratulations Soaring Eagles!!!
Important Upcoming Dates
May 29 - Memorial Day: Holiday for All
May 30 - Virtual Activ8 Parent Information Sessions at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
June 1 - School Board Policy Committee meeting at 4 p.m., School Board Meeting at 5:30 p.m.; Summer Internship Meet & Greet 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research
June 9 - Early Release Day for Students
June 10 - Graduation Day for Galileo and GW
View the district calendar here, and remember to keep up with school-based events by regularly checking their websites and social media.
SOL Pep Rally at Gibson
On Monday, May 15, 2023, Gibson Elementary School held its second annual pep rally to get ready for testing! Community members, School Board members, and the George Washington High School band and cheerleaders celebrated and promoted positive test-taking strategies for all of Gibson’s students. Kindergarten through second-grade students cheered on third through fifth grade students up and down every single hallway. Students graduating from George Washington High School walked the halls and were cheered on by all students at Gibson! During the assembly, the Danville OtterBots also came by to discuss their summer reading incentive to promote daily reading during the summer. The Gibson Spirit Team also led a cheer during the pep rally. Gibson students are ready to show what they know on the SOL’s.
GW NJROTC holds Change of Command and Awards Ceremony
The GW NJROTC unit recently held its Annual Change of Command and Awards Ceremony at George Washington High School. C/LCDR Jackie Delgado relieved C/CDR Terry Daniel, assuming the position as Cadet Commanding Officer for the 2023-2024 school year. C/CDR Daniel plans on enlisting in the U.S. Navy.
Master Chief Grasty, Naval Science Instructor, said, ”Cadet Commander Daniel did an outstanding job as the Commanding Officer for the 2022-2023 school year, and we will intently follow his track to success as he heads off to Navy boot camp.”
Master Chief Green, Naval Science Instructor said, “We welcome our first Latina CO in the 50 year history of the unit. I know C/LCDR Delgado will do a great job”
During the Awards Ceremony, cadets received awards, promotions, and jobs based on accomplishments throughout the year.
C/CDR Terry Daniel; Master Chief Grasty (NSI); C/LCDR Ashley Motley
C/LCDR Jackie Delgado and Master Chief Green (NSI)
GW NJROTC Cadets receiving awards at the GW NJROTC ceremony
Cultural Exchange at Westwood Middle School
Westwood's English as a Second Language (ESL) class celebrates cultures and differences. The English Language Learners participated in cultural activities where they shared food, clothing, language, and beliefs from their home countries.
View the presentation below for pictures and information about their activities!
Picnic at Park Avenue
P is for picnic!
Kindergarten is still counting down the letters of the alphabet to the end of school, and they enjoyed an outdoor picnic on Friday!
Ms. Medlin's class at Bonner creates their own math games
GW Class of 83 gives back to current students
The GWHS Class of 1983 presented four VISA gift cards to deserving GW seniors as part of their "40th Reunion Give Back." Using PBIS criteria for attendance, discipline and academics, the following senior names: Micah Deshazor, Phillip Whitehead-Graves, Kyndall Spivey, and Naideea Jones, were drawn by reunion committee members. GW sincerely thanks the Class of 1983 for remembering their roots and encouraging a new generation to strive for that GWHS Tradition of Excellence! Pictured are Principal Reyhan Deskins, Warren Fowler, Micah Deshazor, Phillip Whitehead-Graves, Teresa Collins, and Susan Ketchum.
Park Avenue's students encourage each other during testing
This week, Park Avenue's tremendous third graders took their math SOL’s. Ms. Custer’s first grade class stopped by Mr. Carlson’s class to let them know…
“After today you are “O-fish-ally” done with testing. So…
-take your time.
-work it out.
-try YOUR best.
We are so PROUD of YOU!
Ms. Custer’s class”
Schoolfield students prepare for tests
SOL preparation can be RIGOROUS and FUN! At Schoolfield Elementary, students participated in Battle of the Brains and were so excited to SHOW their WORK. Each student analyzed SOL questions, worked out their problems, and wrote answer justifications in their SOL intervention notebook. Students competed with other grade level classes to not only choose the correct answer but also explain the answers. Super Teacher Jaguars utilized large vertical dry erase whiteboards to clarify student misconceptions and reinforce test taking strategies. Jaguars cheered each on throughout the competition. Students were given pencils, bracelets, and a pencil pouch with encouraging messages as test taking motivational prizes to stay focused during this testing season!
Ruby B. Archie Passport to Reading Challenge
We announced a brand new reading challenge today and we're calling on EVERYONE to participate! We've challenged the Danville community to read one million books by the end of this year through the Ruby B. Archie Passport to Reading Challenge.
Participating is easy: just read a book and log it! Danville Public Schools students are able to access our logging software Beanstack through their Single Sign On portals. The community can log their books at readdanvilleva.beanstack.org.
Student Instructions for using Beanstack
Community Instructions for using Beanstack
After registering, be sure to join the Rubie B. Archie Passport to Reading Challenge and start entering those books. Ready, set, read!