Newspapers / Grimsley High School Student … / Feb. 28, 2007, edition 1 / Page 3
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Febmary 28, 2007 News High Life Page 3 District intervention teams to help failing schools BY RACHEL WEINSTOCK Copij Editor Guilford County Schools Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier announced on Feb. 6 the district would imple ment "intervention teams." 'The aim is for these teams to provide additional support to 18 schools not performing well academically, several of which have not met rec|iiire- ments for Adequate Yearly- Progress (AYP) during the past four years. Eight addi tional schools will receive "tai'geted" resources. Eighty'-four staff mem bers from District Office and 20 curriculum facilitators are now deployed two to three days per week until the ad ministration of End-of- Grade and End-of-Course examinations. Teachers in these failing schools often do not have adequate experi ence with these tests, so in tervention teams will col laborate with them to achieve success. One issue of concern is teachers tend to seek jobs in prospering schools, so the turnover rate is liigher in low-performing schools, thus compounding the problem. "Members of the team will work with particular teach ers to help them assess their kids, focus on good instruc tion, and look at where extra help is needed," said former principal Rob Gasparello. Floating employees must balance time spent between their home sch(.x)is and those buildings receiving their as sistance. Consequently, Dis trict Office and curriculum facilitcrtors' home schools must devise plans to keep up with work since less staff members will be available. Dr. Grier does not expect stu- dent-to-Central Office staff ratios to drop below state average; horvever, critics still worry Central Office staff and curriculum facilitators, such as Bud Fiarrelson, will be spread too thinly. "When he comes to some thing he does not have time to do, he will pass it on to me. I am doing inore staff devel opment planning and help ing with the organization of the curriculum fairs," said curriculum facilitator Kay Miller. Testing coordinator Linda Sullivan will also feel the pressure. "Bud's knowledge of the master schedule, of the fac ulty and what they teach, of the 'gotcha' issues that have arisen in the past, are all in valuable w'hen planning for June EOCs. While he will be here three days a week, the demands on his time vrill be many. Tracking him down to go over things with him will be challenging. ! have some concerns about this, espe- cicilly since we will be deal ing with a totally new exam schedule," said Sullivan. Critics are also apprehen sive of the plan because members of intervention teams may interfere with teaching rather than improve it. Only time will tel! if this plan will decrease produc tivity at Centrcil Office or cause conflicts in schools no longer having full-time cur riculum facilitators. "We recognize that this is not a long-term solution to low performing schools, and that not everyone will be pleased with this decision, as change is discomforting for many," said Grier in his Feb. 6 online announcement. . a i A I ■ Madrigals visited Central Park in 2006 before singing at Lincoln Center. Bottom row: Megan Henley, Biair Kraus, Anthony Harrison, Eoghan Hayes, Haley Simmons, Olivia Harris, Kathryn Vaichar, and Katherine Galloway. Top row: Costen Warner, Hannah Harril!, Eric Speckhard, Jacob Hasz, Will Smith, Nathan Milholin, Tavior Vancii, Meghan Parrish, and Michael Betts. Choir sings way to beach BY LEIGH JOYCE AND BG\IR BLOOMQUIST Stall Writers Grimsley's chorus classes await the departure of their musical expedition to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they will perform from March 8 to March 10, under the direction of Marshall Johnson. Traveling with eight chaperones, about 50 of Johnson's students vrill en tertain diners at The Medi eval Times dinner theatre. With an audience from all over the countrv' the show is said to be quite an experi ence. Other than singing, the students will have an oppor tunity for beach time and will also attend a perfor mance at the Carolina Opry. Although past trips in cluded more extravagant places, such as New York City San Francisco, France, and Italy, Johnson chose Myrtle Beach because of the low cost. "We have taken several big, long expensive trips in the pcist, but I rvanted to make the trip accessible to more students this year," said Johnson. Unlike last year, this year's trip is open to any student enrolled in a choir, not just the Madrigal singers. Well-loved PE teacher leaves after 33-year career Dear &rimsley Staff, After graduating from Srimsiey High School and Eion Col lege, one of my goals was to teach and coach at Srimsiey. Jane Teague gave me that opportunity ten years ago. I have worked with ond taught some wonderful people during that time. I already knew several of you because we taught and coached together during my fourteen years at Dudley. I at tained my goal, and I hope I was able to give something back tO"SHS. When I attended Crtmsley bock in the dark ages, females were not allowed to set foot on the main gym floor, the li brary was located in the main building, and there were two clay tennis courts behind the cofeteria. We were ALL al lowed to leave campus for lunch, the upper parking lot was gravel, there was no pool, no new science building, no eleva tors, and no air-conditioning (except for the music building). There were 2,000 of us, and we got three minutes to change classes. The grove was gravel, and everyone was allowed to smoke on campus. The auxiliary gym classroom where I teach was the girls' shower and dressing room. I'm OLD!! I began teaching 33 years ago. I have had a wonderful career in both teaching and coaching. AAy parents live in ©reensboro and will soon turn 85 and 89 yeors old. My fother had a stroke in September, and since I am their primary caregiver, it is time for me to be available for them 24/7. Therefore, I will be retiring Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2007. I'm not sure what I will do in my spare time; however, I know for sure I will not be checking to see if school is de layed Thursday because of snow! I know I will miss you, but 11! drop in for a visit every now and then. Please help main tain the high academic standards for which Srimsiey is synonymous. I hope you have a great Semester!! Thanks for oil you do!! Keep in touch. Take care, Jeanne Perkins
Grimsley High School Student Newspaper
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