CCIBPO Meeting 10/20/2010

Posted on October 19th, 2010 by

Tuesday  October  19th, 2010 ,  I attended the Citrus County International Baccalaureate Parent Organization (CCIBPO).  The organization is like a PTA and advisory group for parents and students of the Citrus County Schools International Baccalaureate Program (IB) located at Lecanto High School.  The IB and Pre-IB (PIBS) coordinator is Mr. Darrick Buettner.  The International Baccalaureate program is a demanding pre-university program that students can complete to earn college credit.  IB emphasizes critical thinking and understanding of other cultures or points of view.   Upon successfully  completing the program ,  a diploma is awarded which allows graduates access to universities worldwide.  Currently the Citrus IB and PIBS program has approximately  200 students enrolled for the 2010-2011 school year.

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Power Teaching at CRE & CRHS Visit 10/14/2010

Posted on October 18th, 2010 by

I had an opportunity to observe Ms. Melissa Hardy’s 3rd grade classroom at Central Ridge Elementary School on Thursday morning.  Ms. Hardy is  using an exciting and fast pasted learning strategy called “Power Teaching” (a.k.a. Brain Teaching).  I was first made aware of it from our Assistant Superintendent Mary Curry at a recent School Board meeting.  Power Teaching is a technique from Power Teachers of America.  Power Teaching/Whole Brain teaching is an instructional approach derived from neurolinguistic descriptions of the functions of the brain’s left and right hemispheres. Neurolinguistic findings about the brain’s language functions show that in the integrated brain, the functions of one hemisphere are immediately available to the other, producing a more balanced use of language. Whole-brain teaching emphasizes active learning, in which the learner makes connections that tap both hemispheres.

Silvia Flores / The Press-Enterprise Fourth-grader Aranza Quito , 10, left, gets a “ten-finger whoo” from classmate Jamie Meneses, 10, right, as positive reinforcement for getting a correct answer during class Wednesday at Urbita Elementary School in San Bernardino.

I was so impressed with the students’ high level of participation, energy, and engagement during the lesson.  I loved how Ms. Hardy would switch from asking students to turn to a partner and “teach” a vocabulary word to, “learn”.  The students would mimic a clap, or voice level or hand motion which Ms. Hardy would use to give her next instruction.  This further kept the students engaged and attentive as they wanted to know what direction to do next.   It was exciting to watch and it was hard not to want to participate as well.  As I observed with 4th grade teacher Ms. Christina Touchton, we both were impressed with the lesson.  Ms. Hardy further used a Power Point presentation projected o to the video screen in her classroom to provide additional visuals for the students.

I visited Crystal River High School and spent time with Principal Mark McCoy.  We talked about some of the new challenges facing high schools due to recent legislation passed this spring in Florida Senate know as ‘Senate Bill 4’. SB4 now requires that all Florida high school students MUST pass algebra I, geometry, algebra II, biology I, chemistry or physics.  I have grave concerns that public school education is not a “one size fits all” and I worry at a time when we should be expanding our vocational options to high schools that  we are having to instead focus on the expectation that our Legislators believe that all students MUST go on to college.  While that is a wonderful desire,  it is just not a realistic option  for some of our students. CRHS is currently  in the middle of phase one of a large three phase multi year renovation project.  During phase two the center section of the campus will be demolished.  Mr. McCoy spoke about some of the planning and challenges the renovation will bring but safety and security of students and staff was of foremost concern.  When completed, CRHS will be a near fully remodeled more state of the art high school with a an increase of approximately 200+ more students which will greatly help the overcrowding we have at both Lecanto and Inverness High Schools.

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Principal interests: Citrus Educators reflect on history of school system

Posted on October 18th, 2010 by

Photo by Dave Sigler Crystal River High School has a long history of having African-American administrators. Denita Eatman, left, is an assistant principal, while William L. Robinson, center, was the principal of George Washington Carver Jr. High School and administrator with the Citrus County School System. Charles Brooks, right, is also an assistant principal at CRHS.

By Shemir Wiles

www.chronicleonline.com

The opportunities for blacks during segregation were limited, but William Robinson Jr. worked toward having a career in agriculture.

However, his life took a different path that led him to being an educator, an inspiration and a local pioneer for blacks in education.

“These ladies and gentlemen paid a price for us,” said Charles Brooks Jr., an assistant principal at Crystal River High School. “Every time we get in trouble or go to jail, we should be ashamed.”

Robinson’s career in Citrus County began when he became principal of George Washington Carver Junior High School, the only school for blacks in Crystal River. Robinson was a teaching principal, meaning he not only had to plan the curriculum and discipline students, but he also was a teacher.

“Separate, but equal” was the belief at the time, but he said it was far from the truth.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…

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Coach Dabney Day, November 13th, 2010

Posted on October 18th, 2010 by

Coach Dabney Day, November 13th, 1200-5:00ish @ Heritage House in Heritage Village in CR.

Tickets will go on sale this weekend (10/23/2010) at Heritage House. $10 gets you a fish dinner with all the fixins!

Would you like to be a sponsor? $100 gets your business name on the back of the t-shirt. Or maybe you would like to donate a gift certificate to be raffled.
Contact Diane (FLkrakr@yahoo.com) with your donations.

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School Board Meeting 10/12/2010

Posted on October 13th, 2010 by

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010, I attended the Regular Meeting of the Citrus County School Board (CCSB) at 3:00pm.  Updates were given by both the Crystal River High School (CRHS) contractor and the Crystal River Primary School (CRPS) contractor on the renovation of both schools.  Construction for both schools is on schedule.  CRHS substantial completion date (not sure what that means) is still scheduled for Oct/Nov 2011 with a potential opening to students  after the Holiday  Break/Jan 2012.  CRPS is looking at a summer 2011 completion date with classrooms coming on line before then.

At the meeting the CCSB recognized Bus Operator Kathleen Picard for being the 2009-2010 Florida Missing Children’s Day Bus Operator of the Year for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (For more on this story read my Sept. 14th, 2010 post).  Also recognized was Community Volunteer Organizations for participation in “Two Good Soles” drive whose efforts collected 2,227 pairs of socks and shoes for school-aged children in the Citrus County (Read more here).

Next School Board Meeting is October 26th, 2010

Upcoming Events:

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Blessings in a Backpack Kiwanis Club Fundraiser for 10/15/2010

Posted on October 12th, 2010 by

Blessings in a Backpack

Kiwanis Club Fundraiser

THIS FRIDAY, October 15th, 2010

Grilled Chicken Lunch Plate

Kiwanis Club Chicken Lunch plates to benefit Blessings in a Backpack of Citrus County!  On Friday October 15, 2010 the volunteers with Kiwanis and Blessings in a Backpack will be serving up lunch that may be picked up in Inverness (between Welch Appliance and Hagar group) or have your lunch delivered at no extra charge!

Tickets on sale now for only $8.00!!

Feed your appetite with:
1/2 grilled chicken
baked beans
coleslaw
bread

And then your donation helps feed our kids…..

100% of the proceeds will go to purchase food to feed hungry Citrus county children through the Blessings in a Backpack program!

Call to get your tickets:  352.302.0109 or email: feedcitruskids@gmail.com

Checks made payable to: Blessings in a Backpack of Citrus County accepted, Cash/Credit card payments accepted

About Blessings in a Backpack:

The Citrus County Blessings in a Backpack, Florida chapter of Blessings in a Backpack was started in 2009 with Hernando Elementary School being the pilot participating school. Homosassa Elementary will be added in September, 2010. In Citrus Co, FL, a staggering 65% of public school children are on government-assisted meal programs. Many of these children go from Friday afternoon until Monday morning with no access to food or meals, other than that provided by charities, such as Blessings in a Backpack.

Through Blessings in a Backpack’s weekend meals program, children benefit via:
— Increased access to vitamin-fortified food
— Increased attendance at school
— Higher test scores
— Reduced behavioral problems
— Increased parental participation
— Learn more at the national Blessings in a Backpack site

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