Archive for News & Updates

Leading International Educator Gives Lessons with Citrus County Teachers

Leading International Educator Gives Lessons with Citrus County Teachers

Central Ridge Elementary Teachers Giving Presentation at Max Thompson Seminar in Levy County

Throughout the educational world and most certainly in Citrus County the name “Max Thompson” is well respected.  Dr. Max Thompson is the Project Director of the Learning-Focused Schools Model. His specialty is connecting exemplary practice in curriculum, instruction, assessment and school organization to increase learning and achievement in schools. He has authored numerous articles, chapters, teachers’ handbooks and guides. In addition, he has delivered a number of presentations and workshops across the United States, Canada, and in Europe.

Levy County School District is hosting Dr. Max Thompson and Levy Schools asked Citrus County’s own Central Ridge Elementary School Teachers and Principal Nancy Simon to join Dr. Thompson and share how the Learning-Focused Schools model works at their school to raise student achievement.

Educators Making a difference: Citrus Teachers of the Year

Making a difference

Three Cheers for our “Teachers of the Year”!!!

It’s time for Teacher of the Year and Support Staff Person of the Year in the Citrus County School District. Each year, schools select their own teacher/support person of the year. A panel of judges comprised of members of the Citrus County Education Foundation board, past winners and members of the school district decide the district-wide winners.  Here are current teacher-of-the-year winners.

Art Teacher Art

Art Teacher Art

Teachers Do Practice What They Teach!

Citrus County Schools Art Teachers often are displaying and showing off their students works.  They don’t often have an opportunity to show their own artistic talents.  The “Art Teacher Art” exhibit at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum will be on display from January 17th, 2012 until February 17th, 2012.

The Feature Artists include: Diane Baize, Jinny Brew, David Brown, Cecily Buck, Jack Calbeck, Laurie Canfield, Cory Collins, CJ Collins, Brenda Dalton, Sheri Decesare, Jennifer Faust, Keith Gum, Holly Herndon, Polly Hilgert, Bonnie Ignico, Karol Kusmaul, Debbie Ledsome, Jack Lester, Joy Livingston, Lee Partin, Connie Philips, Candacie Schrader, Michelle Wirt, and Jinnie Zuniga

Exhibit hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Monday through Friday, with a special evening exhibition from 5:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 26th, 2012.

The exhibit is free; however, donations are welcome and appreciated.

Some of the art work is for sale as well. For more information call 352-341-6436

 

 

The New CRHS Health Academy

The New CRHS Health Academy

Throughout Citrus County High Schools we have several “Schools within a School”.  The Citrus County High Schools programs include:  Business Academies at Citrus High School (CHS) and Crystal River High School (CRHS), Drafting Academies at CHS, CRHS & Lecanto High School (LHS), Web Design Academies at CHS, CRHS & LHS,  Art Academy at LHS, International Baccalaureate at LHS,  Environmental Science Academy and the CRHS Health Academy.

At the CRHS Health Academy the objective of the Academy of Health Careers is to encourage students to become health care workers and to assist students into post-secondary education in the pursuit of the health care career of their choice.

CRHS Students successfully completing Health Science 1, Health Science 2 and Nursing Assisting 3 with a grade of C or higher are eligible to take the Florida State Nursing Assisting Certification Test to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). In addition, the Academy also has a Dental Assistant Program.

The CRHS Health Academy success continues to grow each year and, as a result, has outgrown the old CRHS buildings.  During the CRHS campus Phase II construction and renovation the old administration building has been completely remodeled into the new CRHS Health Academy.  This new facility has state of the art classrooms, examination and treatment rooms, dental labs and so much more.  Below is a sneak peak of the new facility that is not yet open.

 

Recap of January Regular Board Meeting

Recap of January Regular Board Meeting

If it is the second Tuesday of the month, it must be Board Day!

At the January Regular Board meeting the 2012-2013 school year calendar, Inverness Middle School traffic flow and presentations by Food Service Director Roy Pistone were the primary items covered during the meeting.

This is not your old school lunch! A benefit to being a Board Member is that we often regularly are brought samples of foods, snacks and beverages served to students and staff.  In addition, I try to stop and have lunch at the different school cafeterias as well whenever I can.  Like the kids I have my favorites.  The samples we got at this meeting were Apple & Eve’s Fruitables made from fruits and vegetables and Smart Cookies which are small vanilla cookies with a picture and name of one of the United States Presidents on it.  The cookies will be given to all of our reimbursable lunch students near Presidents Day.  Citrus County Schools Food Service Director, Roy Pistone, presented the Wellness Policy Guidelines as revised by the State and Federal Departments that Food Services must comply with.  Mr. Pistone shared information about some of the new food programs that Citrus will be offering. One of the new guidelines is that, through a grant, Citrus Food Service will be providing a health snack and drink to all students who attend an after school program at no cost to the student or the district.  I encourage you to learn more about our Food Service Department by visiting their web site at cafe.citrus.k12.fl.us

Also, now with the Florida Department of Education moving the testing window to December for the 2012-2013 school year, the Board promptly moved to approve the new school year calendar with the first semester beginning, for students, on August 8th, 2012 and ending on December 21st, 2012.  For more background on this issue read my blog posted on January 9th, 2012: DOE Reverses Decision: High School Testing Window Back to Dec.)

I want to thank the Calendar Committee who had to develop twice as many option calendars and take in to consideration the testing windows issue concerns and  other concerns not previously required or necessary.  I am so proud of the difficult work they did for our students. 

The Board also received an update on the traffic problem and concerns that occurred with autos entering and exiting out of Inverness Middle School Road and the parent pick/drop off route.  The Board formed a Task Force Committee to look for short term and long term goals to improve the situation at both IMS and parent pick up/drop off routes at the school.  The Committee will tentatively update the Board in February.

Next Board meeting is a Workshop on January 24th, 2012 which will begin at CRHS at 9:00am and include tours of CRHS construction, CRMS and then reconvene at the Board room in the afternoon.

National POW/MIA Flag Presented to the Citrus County School District

National POW/MIA Flag Presented to the Citrus County School District

On Jan 10, a POW/MIA Flag was presented to the Citrus County School Board to Superintendent Sam Himmel at the  district offices by Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 7.  Last year Dr. Trish Kallenbach, Education Committee Chairperson for the Rolling Thunder, Florida Chapter 7, gave a presentation donating  our Nation’s second National Flag, the POW/MIA flag, at our schools.

(Click above to see video of presentation)

I want to thank Rolling Thunder and Florida Chapter 7 for these great flags and for their commitment to our Nation’s POW/MIA, veterans, fallen service men and women and their families.

I believe theses flags will continue to be a beacon helping our students remember what has been sacrificed to allow and provide the great opportunity of learning knowledge each day.  From the words of one my heroes, retired Crystal River High School teacher and former Vietnam POW Capt. Richard Tangeman,  who spent approximately five years of imprisonment at Hoa Lo Prison (a.k.a. “Hanoi Hilton”),  “Don’t let the MIAs or their families be forgottenNow that we are home, please transfer the support you have shown us, the returned POWs, to the effort of aiding the MIA families in their search for knowledge concerning their heroic loved ones. These families still face the pain and problems connected with the absence of their husbands, fathers and sons. God bless your efforts in the past – and those in the future.”