Friday Feature - January 20
January 20, 2023
School Board Wrap Up - January 19, 2023
During Thursday evening’s meeting, the Danville School Board made the following recognitions:
Students who competed in and placed in the DCC Idea Fair.
Students were nominated for the 2023 US Presidential Scholars Program, including Aniyah Tarpley (GW), Tayshaun Carrington (GW), Aaron Hendricks (Galileo), and Anna Timm. The US Presidential Scholars program is one of the highest honors for high school seniors and recognizes students for their academic achievements, personal characteristics, and service activities.
Virginia Principals Appreciation Week, which DPS will observe January 23-27
Schools and individuals who supported this year’s United Way Campaign. Westwood Middle, Bonner Middle, I.W. Taylor Virtual Academy, and Central Office were recognized for meeting and surpassing their fundraising goal.
Under communications, the board heard the following items:
Superintendent Dr. Angela Hairston gave a capital project update, in which she said the GWHS track is coming along nicely, with a potential ribbon cutting date by May 1. In addition, Danville City Council has approved the comprehensive agreement for the renovation to GWHS, and the two-year renovation is set to start around April 1. For Johnson, the comprehensive agreement will be going to GW next month. For Langston, space planning is complete, and a bid for construction is set for June. The projected completion dates are as follows: May 29, 2025 for Langston, May 31, 2025 for Johnson, and July 31, 2025 for GWHS.
Director of Transportation Tim Scearce and Chief Operations Officer gave an update on bus discipline, which reviewed the number of bus referrals given, reasons for referrals, and disciplinary actions taken on buses for the past three months.
Lyle also gave an update on SROs and SSOs and other security measures within Danville Public Schools.
Chief Financial Officer Andrea Gillus presented the most recent accounts payable warrants
Gillus also gave an update on the proposed budget for 2023-2024. The total proposed budget is $100.6 million, a $2.4 increase over this year’s adopted budget. Priorities in the proposed budget include improving student achievement, retention and recruitment of skilled, professional staff, student wellness and mental health services, and addressing ongoing maintenance needs. See Gillus’ full presentation here.
Chief Academic Officer Takiwi Babalola gave an update on academic reviews, which were completed at all DPS schools towards the end of 2022. Next steps include certifying academic review reports, review update meetings with schools and monthly instructional rounds.
Babalola, Science Coordinator Olivia McCraw, and Interim CTE Director Gwyn Stone presented the DPS STEM and Career Academies.
Galileo Principal Michelle Ramsey and Assistant Principal gave an IB Status report.
Electives Coordinator Jennifer Crews, along with Jason Bookheimer with Danville Parks and Recreation, gave an update on DPS’ collaboration with the department for community programs. Within the past two years, DPS has had pilot afterschool programs at Johnson and Westwood, as well as an E-Gaming program at Bonner. In the future, DPS and Parks and Rec hope to expand more opportunities to the middle and high school levels.
Board Member Dr. Philip Campbell held a first read for Section K policy updates.
The board took the following actions:
Approved personnel recommendations brought forward by Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Natalie Halloran
Approved Dr. Lyle’s request to hold community meetings about proposed new attendance zones for elementary students
Approved the finance report brought forward by Gillus
Approved the implementation of the Activ8 Academy, a STEM program for grades 3-5 at I.W. Taylor
Approved school board committees
Approved updates to and/or new policies KLB - Public Complaints About Learning Resources, KN - Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Notification, KNAJ - Relations with Law Enforcement Authorities, and INBC - Instructional Material with Sexually Explicit Content
Aniyah Tarpley was recognized for her nomination to the US Presidential Scholars program.
Westwood Middle, Bonner Middle, I.W. Taylor Virtual Academy, and Central Office were recognized for meeting and surpassing their fundraising goal for this year's United Way Campaign.
DPS announces 2023 Teachers of the Year
Each year, Danville Public Schools (DPS) allows teachers at every building to vote and recognize their peers for outstanding work in the classroom and in the school community. The 2023 Teachers of the Year have been selected and will be honored at a ceremony in April.
From the 2023 Teachers of the Year, the DPS nomination for the Virginia Department of Education - Mary V. Bicouvaris Virginia Teacher of the Year will be made and submitted. A teacher will also be selected to represent DPS and be considered for the Region 6 Teacher of the Year award.
Each day, our teachers work to shape the city’s youth academically, socially, and emotionally. DPS acknowledges and appreciates our teachers in their dedication to their profession and our students as we continue to invest in their bright futures.
Congratulations to the DPS Teachers of the Year, who are listed below.
Lisa Charmello
Grove Park Preschool
Tiffany Lancaster
Northside Preschool
Sheryll Jeffries
E.A. Gibson Elementary
Jasmine Holdness
Forest Hills Elementary
Marianne Oakes
G. L. H. Johnson Elementary
Brittany Custer
Park Avenue Elementary
Ruth Brown
Schoolfield Elementary
Judy Brown
Woodberry Hills Elementary
Tonya Snyder
O. T. Bonner Middle
LaKisha Brandon
Westwood Middle
Jared Smith
Galileo Magnet High
Frenita Griffin
George Washington High
Christie Yesalavich
I. W. Taylor Virtual Academy
Taffene DeShazor
R. I. S. E. Academy
Lucas Tressler
W. W. Moore Education Program
DPS announces the future of STEM & Career Academies through new & reimagined programming
At Thursday evening's school board meeting, members of the DPS Curriculum and Instruction team gave an overview of the future of STEM and Career Academies at DPS. Click the logo to the right for more information on these exciting new programs!
Important Upcoming Dates
January 23 - 27 - Principal Appreciation Week
January 23 - Preschool & Galileo Registration begins
January 23 - Governor's School/AET Open House at the Institute at 6 p.m.
January 31 - Early College Open House at DCC in Oliver Hall at 6 p.m.
View the district calendar here, and remember to keep up with school-based events by regularly checking their websites and social media.
DPS mobile app coming soon!
DPS is working on a new way for you to stay connected. Keep your eyes peeled for more information about our mobile app hitting the Apple App and Google Play stores soon!
Galileo to hold spring production
Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" is the longest-running play in the world. Playing non-stop since 1952 in London, Galileo's Theatre Guild brings to Danville one of the world's most famous murder mysteries.
To be performed at the Langston Auditorium on March 9-10 at 7p.m. Tickets will be $5.
More suspects to come!
Congratulations to Park Avenue's Spelling Bee Winners!
Fourth grade and Kindergarten students learn to play the piano at Gibson
Schoolfield teachers rock professional learning
Schoolfield teachers participated in school-based professional learning to kickoff the second semester of the school year! Teachers participated in a collaborative positive school climate activity. They created a y-chart with their proud administrators, Ms. LaTonya Simmons and Mrs. Kelsie Hubbard, to explain what a GREAT school feels like, looks like, and sounds like. Teams then gathered together by grade level to determine what a GREAT classroom looks like, feels like, and sounds like for their grade level. Teachers will return to classrooms to engage their students in this activity to create a collective contract for their own GREAT classrooms!
Schoolfield teachers also unpacked upcoming SOL standards in math, science, and reading to plan for aligned, rigorous, and engaging instruction! Instructional coaches, Mrs. Rubetta Carr and Mrs. Brenda Stinson, led teachers in how utilize the Virginia SOL curriculum framework and district pacing guide to maximize planning for instruction and student learning!
A sweet moment at Grove Park Preschool
On Friday morning during car rider arrival at Grove Park, a little missed her mommy and was a little sad. A group of three other children entered the school laughing and talking. They asked the principal “Why she was sad?” When Mrs. Wright-Simmers mentioned that she missed her mommy, the three said “We will be your friend!” They all grabbed hands and walked down the hall together. Everyone was happy!
Fitness Gram at Westwood
Ms. Ellis and Coach Perdue’s PE classes at Westwood are doing the Fitness Gram this week, and they are welcoming new Averrett Student Teacher Ryan Curle.
Digging into data at Schoolfield
Teachers at Schoolfield completed a data dig during their PLC meeting to prepare for WIN (What I Need) time to GROW our students here at Schoolfield. Teachers followed data protocol from our Solution Tree professional development and input data into a schoolwide spreadsheet. From Fall to Winter, we are already seeing tremendous gains in our Jaguars. Schoolfield WILL meet our goal!!
Conservation project at Gibson
First grade is learning about conservation. We focused on reusing household items. They sorted what could be reused, changed them into something new, and presented them.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Schoolfield
Mrs. Carr, our proud Literacy Coach at Schoolfield, implemented an interactive read-aloud to honor Dr. King in all K-5 classrooms. The students were engaged and participated in interactive activities throughout the story, including acting out parts of the story, practicing a protest, and seeing different colored crayons to represent how we all have different skin colors, but the same heart. A high-yield instructional strategy (graphic organizer) was incorporated after the reading for students to use adjectives to describe Dr. King. Kindergarten students used the adjectives brave, respectful, and proud.
Congratulations to Taylor's Star Students of the Week!
Pop Art at Schoolfield
Our Fifth Grade art club students created work based on the famous pop artist, Jim Dine. An American painter, graphic artist, sculptor, and poet who emerged during the Pop art period as an innovative creator of works that combine the painted canvas with ordinary objects of daily life. Our students made their own inspired pieces reflecting on their everyday objects and how they could make it art.
Danville Soccer Club registration open
The Danville Soccer Club Recreation league is accepting registration for elementary and middle school students. The league will run from April 1 - May 7. Depending on their age, participants will train one day per week with one game on a weekend under the supervision of experienced coaches. Registration deadline is March 4.