September 9, 2016
Employee of the Week:
Please join in recognizing Mr. Patrick Gray, custodian
at Chatham High School, on his selection as Employee of
the Week for Pittsylvania County Schools. Please click
on the following link to find out what employees do to
make this A Great Place to Learn and Work!
http://www.pcs.k12.va.us/staff/employee-of-week/
SOAR Program Provides Scholarship Opportunities for
Students:
SOAR Virginia is an early commitment scholarship program
created to inspire and assist high school students to
reach their post–secondary education goals. To
participate, eligible students pledge to meet program
requirements. In return, participating students receive
a range of assistance and accumulate scholarship support
of up to $2,000 to apply toward their post–secondary
education expenses.
SOAR Virginia is a unique program created by Virginia
529 to further its mission to make college more
affordable and accessible to all Virginians.
Participating students must agree to the requirements of
the program’s pledge as follows:
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I will maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
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I will meet with my early commitment advisor
regularly.
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I will complete financial literacy training during
high school.
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I will behave in a manner consistent with my
school’s Code of Student Conduct.
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I will attend school regularly without unexcused
absences.
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I will participate in community service activities.
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I will complete a Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) during my senior year.
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I will apply to an eligible educational institution,
including a 2- or 4-year college or university or
technical school.
General Assembly Approves Local Option State Health
Insurance Plan:
The General Assembly passed SB 364 authorizing the
Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM)
to develop an insurance plan under the local option
health insurance plan with benefits similar to those in
the State employee health insurance plan and that uses a
single rating group. On August 24, 2016, Pittsylvania
County Schools’ Administrative and financial personnel
participated in a webinar hosted by DHRM which provided
initial information regarding the process it will take
to determine the viability of such a plan. To be
feasible, a minimum enrollment of 5,000 employees and
10,000 members is required. Local governments, school
divisions, other political subdivisions and elected
officials, as well as their dependents, are eligible to
participate. Pittsylvania County Schools’ staff is
following this initiative closely and apprising the
School Board during each phase of how this insurance
plan compares to the current plan.
Healthy Virginians Week:
Next week, September 12-16, 2016, has been
designated as Healthy Virginians (HVA) Week by the
General Assembly. This annual event is designed to
highlight healthy eating and physical activity for
students and Virginians of all ages. Please support HVA
Week by celebrating with healthy Fresh Fruits and
Vegetables Program (FFVP) snacks provided to students
each school day.
In Our Schools:
Several schools, including Dan River High School,
Dan River Middle School and Tunstall High School held
ceremonies commemorating Patriot Day on Friday,
September 9, 2016. Each ceremony recognized the
significance of September 11, 2001, and memorialized
those who died and the first responders who took action
on that day. In Sheriff Mike Taylor’s address to the
students at Dan River Middle School, he talked about his
experience on 9/11 as the Trade Center Buildings came
down, parts of the Pentagon were destroyed, and Flight
93 crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. He said he first
experienced a feeling of disbelief, and then his
thoughts were that maybe this was an accident. When the
plane exploded into the second Trade Center, he said
anger arose deeply within him. As the day continued and
time lapsed, he began to have a feeling of resolve. A
horrendous act of terrorism had happened, and in its
aftermath the best of America shown through. Like
Sheriff Taylor, each of the speakers acknowledged the
impact that day had on their lives and recognized the
acts of heroism portrayed by many. First responders from
local fire and rescue stations, State Police,
Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Department, and Danville
Police, as well as service members from all branches of
the military and American Legion Posts, were recognized
and thanked for their service.
I greatly appreciated the invitation to attend these
events. They were truly inspirational and highlight the
exceptional staff and student body we have in our school
division. We have so much of which to be proud and
thankful.
The faculty and staff of Gretna Elementary School will
celebrate the school’s 20th Anniversary on September 18,
2016, from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please click
here to
view the invitation to this event.
Twin Springs Elementary School will celebrate its 20th
Anniversary on September 20, 2016, with a hot dog dinner
from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and a program beginning at
6:00 p.m. Please click
here to
view the invitation to this event.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research will
host the 44th Annual Danville-Pittsylvania County
Schools’ College Night on Tuesday, September 13, 2016,
from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Please click
here to
view the announcement for this event.
The Dan River Middle School (DRMS) FFA Chapter held its
first meeting of the year on September 7, 2016.
Fifty-eight (58) members were present! The Chapter
selected officers as follows: President – Sabrina Wiles,
Vice President – Lilly Jones, Secretary – Haley Wade,
Treasurer – Skyler Powell, Reporter – Adriana Pizzino,
Sentinel – Dillon Rojas and Student Advisor – Kaitlyn
Riffe. FFA members are currently conducting their annual
Virginia Diner nut fundraiser. Each member’s earnings
will pay for their FFA dues, fall trip and spring trip.
The sponsors and members encourage everyone to support
their club. Those interested in providing support may do
so by contacting Lesley Bassett at 822-6027.
The Dan River Area FFA Alumni and Friends will be
meeting on September 25 at 6:00 p.m. in the Dan River
Middle School cafeteria. The purpose of this group is to
provide support to the Dan River High School and Dan
River Middle School FFA Chapters. If you would like more
information, please contact FFA Advisor Lesley Bassett
at 822-6027.
Mark Your Calendars:
- School Board
Disciplinary Committee Meeting – September 12, 2016,
@ 6:00 p.m., SBO Boardroom
- Title I District
Parent Advisory Council Meeting – September 13,
2016, @ 10:00 a.m., SBO Boardroom
- School Board Meeting
– September 13, 2016, @ 6:30 p.m. closed and 7:00
p.m. open, SBO Boardroom
- Ag Day – September
14, 2016, 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Geyer Farm
- Ag Day – September
15, 2016, 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Geyer Farm
- Principals’ Meeting
– September 15, 2016, @ 9:30 a.m.
- Instructional
Principals’ Meeting – September 15, 2016, @ 1:00
p.m.
- Initial MAP
Assessment Window Ends September 16, 2016
- Family Life (Dan
River High School) – Grade 9, September 15-19, 2016,
Grade 10, September 13-14, 2016
- PALS Screening -
Grades 1-3, Ends September 23, 2016
- PALS Screening -
Grades PK-K, September 21, 2016 through October 19,
2016
- Character Word of
the Month – Trustworthiness
- VSBA Bullying
Prevention Month – October 2016
- Job Assessment Tool
(JAT) window – September 6 – 16, 2016
Please send media requests to: http://www.pcs.k12.va.us/media/.
This may be (1) to request media presence on site to
cover an upcoming event or (2) to request media coverage
(without media on site) of an upcoming event or (3) to
report news from a past event. Thank you for
identifying the great things happening in the schools!
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