Good News is everywhere

Issue 3 Volume 14

January 16, 2013

REMINDER: Next Board of Education meeting is Monday, February 4, 2013.

View future meeting dates by clicking on this link.

PARENT TIP

What You Can Do to Promote Reading

Reading is the most basic of all basic skills. Before children can read to learn, they must learn to read.
If your child has not yet unlocked the secret of reading, research says that there are things you can do.

You can:

Surround your child with language. Go to the library and check out lots of books.

Write signs to label familiar objects.

Repeat silly poems or sing songs with your child.

Make reading a game. Use magnetic letters to spell familiar words on the refrigerator.

Encourage your child to make an alphabet book by cutting out pictures of things that start with various letters out of magazines.

Help your child hear the sounds different letters make when you read together.

Say the "k" sound at the beginning of the word "cup." That will help your child see how language is put together.

If your child is starting to read, encourage her to try to figure out words on her own. Ask, "How could you figure out what that word says?" or "Does that word make sense here?"

Play phonics games. One night at dinner, serve only foods that start with the "b" sound-and then challenge family members to list all the words they can think of that start with that sound. Or play rhyming games-how many words can you think of that rhyme with "cat"?

Talk with your child's teacher. She may want you to set aside time each day for reading. Let her know you want to be a partner in helping your child learn this important school skill.

Be sure and visit the Parent Tip page every day for great tips.

Thank you school board members

The month of January is Kentucky School Board Recognition

Kenton County Board of Education members Chairperson Karen Collins, Bill Culbertson, Tamara Miano, Esq., and Vice Chairperson Carl Wicklund, and Becky Melching.

Month.

This event provides the opportunity to thank our board members for their service and leadership.

Specific board duties include the overall management and guidance of the school district, responsibility for the fiscal health of the system, policy implementation for the effectiveness and professionalism of employees and for well-managed school facilities.

Perhaps most important, the school board members represent the voices of our community. They know that a quality public school system is vital to the quality of life in our region and fundamental to the preservation of our democratic society.

Thank you Board of Education members Karen Collins, Carl Wicklund, Bill Culbertson, Becky Melching, and Tamara Miano, Esq.

An evening of Distinction

Board of Education member Bill Culbertson and Superintendent Terri Cox-Cruey joined the beaming group of students and educators for a group photo to remember this celebration of students and educators.

The academic success of the 14 students who scored Distinguished in every area of the K-PREP took center stage at the "Woodland Wildcat Distinguished
Scholar Dinner" on January 10.

Although the dinner was planned for the students, the students turned the table and invited a teacher who had most influenced their academic careers. The students also made gifts for the guests and served as master of ceremonies for the evening.

2012-2013 Wildcat Distinguished Scholars:
Jacob Beckelheimer, Joshua Coffey, Jason Flynn, Abigail Klette, James Krauth, Nicholas Lowry, Haley Johnstone, Stuart Nicholas, Ethan Paff, Brandon Rider, Julia Sager,
Kira Schumaker, Benjamin Spillman, and Donald Williams.

2012-2013 Wildcat Distinguished Teachers Selected by the Scholars:
Nancy Bailey, Woodland Middle School; Allison Stacey-Schaffer, Woodland Middle School; Tina Wartman, Fort Wright Elementary; Rosalind Koop, Woodland Middle School; Judy Trame, Woodland Middle School; Debra Benzing, Woodland Middle School; Jana Bromley, Woodland Middle School; Cindy Starnes, Taylor Mill Elementary; Lauren Thomas,
Woodland Middle School; and Amy Eads, Woodland Middle School.

Scott Cares program

Scott High school is doing their part to support our troops with the "Scott Cares" program. The students send care packages and support letters to soldiers who are serving overseas. Later this month students will get a visit from some of the soldiers they have been writing to.

Watch FOX 19 coverage of this service learning project by clicking on this link.

Division 2 Young Marine of the Year

Dakota Dakota Richter, Dixie Heights junior, received the Young Marines' top honor for her division after serving nearly six years in the program, which aims to strengthen youth by teaching the importance of self-confidence, academic achievement, honoring America's veterans, good citizenship, community service and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

The 16-year-old was chosen out of hundreds of Young Marines in her division, which is composed of 36 units in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware,Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Turkey Foot Middle School teacher saves life of colleague
Joe Utz was eating lunch when he noticed a colleague choking.

Melissa Wright, Mary Martin, and Joe Utz.

The former Army Combat Medic's training took over as he performed the Heimlich maneuver. Fortunately his quick action saved the life of Mary Martin.

The 19-year teaching veteran was glad his instruction came back to him. "I saw that Mary was choking and Melissa was trying the Heimlich maneuver but she couldn't unlodge the blockage. My former Army training kicked in and I'm just glad I was able to help."

Thank you Joe for your courageous action.

Kenton County School District | 1055 Eaton Drive | Fort Wright, Kentucky 41017 |