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News from Jefferson County Public SchoolsSeptember 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
Schools are using a new grading scale
Become a Voice for Our Children
No tax increase for 2015-16
The path to college starts now
Lifelong Learning
Students play chess, boost reading skills
Watch this month's Our Kids
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What's new this year?
JCPS has launched new schools and programs 
From an academy that's a hub for family services to an initiative that helps students manage stress, the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District has launched several new schools and programs for the 2015-16 school year:
  • Alex Kennedy Elementary opened on the site of the former Kennedy Metro Middle.
  • A new magnet program guided by the core principles of Public Waldorf Education is offered at Maupin: A Catalpa Model.
  • The Louisville Reach Academy opened at Atkinson Academy.
  • The Minor Daniels Academy is a new alternative middle and high school.
  • The Early Childhood Center has relocated to the Smoketown neighborhood.
  • The Compassionate Schools Program will be offered at three elementary schools.
An online article offers more information on each of these schools or programs. A video is available of the news conference announcing the Compassionate Schools Program.
 
Schools are using a new grading scale 
Changes will help JCPS students compete for scholarships  
JCPS schools are now using a new grading scale aligned with scales used by many other school districts. The change is designed to help JCPS students be more competitive for college and scholarships. The Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) approved the following at the June 22 meeting:

Grade    Old scale    New scale
A            93-100%      90-100%
B            86-92%        80-89%
C            79-85%        75-79%
D            70-78%        70-74%
U            Under 70%   Under 70%
 
For more information, see the 2015-16 elementary, middle, or high school Student Progression, Promotion, and Grading Handbook.

Become A Voice for Our Children
A parent-advocacy group called A Voice for Our Children 2.0 will begin meeting on the second Thursday of each month in the Newburg, California, and Parkland neighborhoods.

 This group will help parents:
  • Ensure their child is college- and career-ready.
  • Develop a support network.
  • Learn about community resources.
  • Share information for personal and professional growth.

Click here for details.

 
No tax increase for 2015-16 
JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens recommended no increase to the tax rates for the 2015-16 fiscal year, and the JCBE approved the recommendation at the Aug. 24 meeting.

"Revenue raised using the existing rate will allow the district to balance the budget and continue to provide our students with a quality instructional program and resources," Dr. Hargens said. "Taxpayers should know we are grateful for their investments in children."

The path to college starts now
Destination: Degree helps chart the course  
With the new school year under way, it's important to make sure students are on track for success. Destination: Degree is an online road map to a college degree, and the journey starts the first day in a classroom.
 
An interactive web tool for students of all ages -- from kindergarten to college -- Destination: Degree was developed by 55,000 Degrees, Louisville's education movement. Whether you're a parent who wants to make sure your child is on track, a high school grad looking for the next step, or a working adult considering going back to school, you'll find useful information and resources.

Click here to find grade-by-grade academic benchmarks as well as skills and experiences designed to support student success in the classroom.

Lifelong Learning offers a range of classes for adults 
JCPS Lifelong Learning offers something for everyone. Classes include Simple Home Repairs, Welding, Quickbooks, Real Estate, Microsoft Excel, Water Exercise, Meditation, and much more.

Lifelong Learning also offers more than 450 online options beginning each month, allowing you the convenience of learning anytime, anywhere. For more information, click here or call 485-3500. 
  
Students play chess, boost reading skills  
Literacy & Chess @ JCPS, a program for third and fourth graders, will be offered several times during the next few months. The first session will be held Mon., Sept. 21, through Fri., Oct. 2, at the California Community Center (1600 St. Catherine St.), 4 to 6 p.m.

Literacy & Chess provides coaching and mentoring, and it helps students strengthen their reading and math skills while they learn how to plan, reason, and develop strategies. Click here for a flier about the program.

Our Kids Watch the September Our Kids
The September broadcast of the Emmy Award-winning JCPS television program is available on the district's YouTube Channel.

For the first time, the show will be hosted entirely by students from Ballard, Fern Creek, and Pleasure Ridge Park High Schools -- the three Five-Star High Schools that offer the Professional Career Theme focused on communication, media, and the arts. This month's show is hosted by Fern Creek student Aaron Carrington. Student correspondents also produce stories for the program.

Besides being available on YouTube, Our Kids is broadcast on KET-KY, Metro-TV, WKYI, and Time Warner Cable Channel 98.

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