Daviess County Public Schools staff newsletter Oct. 5-9, 2015

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The Daviess County Public Schools district is celebrating

its third consecutive year earning Distinguished status for

outstanding performance on the state Unbridled Learning

accountability system. Based on results released Oct. 1,

DCPS has once again reached the 95th percentile.

Three DCPS elementary schools have earned School of

Distinction status for scores in the 95th or higher

percentile – the highest possible recognition. Highland

Elementary School is at the 99th percentile; followed by

Meadow Lands and Burns elementary schools, both at the

98th percentile.

Ten DCPS schools have earned Distinguished status for

scores in the 90th percentile or higher:

Burns Elementary, Country Heights Elementary, Deer

Park Elementary, Highland Elementary, Meadow Lands

Elementary, Southern Oaks Elementary, College View

Middle, Daviess County Middle, Apollo High School and

Daviess County High School.

Three others – Sorgho Elementary, Tamarack Elementary

and Burns Middle School achieved Proficient status.

Burns Elementary School is the only DCPS school to

achieve status as a School of Distinction for three

consecutive years.

Apollo and Daviess County high schools have both earned

Distinguished status for the first time. Apollo’s overall

score for 2015 is 75.6 and the DCHS overall score is 75.9.

Southern Oaks Elementary School made significant gains,

moving from Needs Improvement status in 2014 to

Distinguished this year. Tamarack Elementary School

represents one of the district’s greatest successes as they

have moved from the 57th percentile to 82nd and

Proficient status.

Deer Park Elementary and Daviess County High School

are identified as High Performing Schools; and Southern

Oaks Elementary School is a High Performing/High

Progress School.

Supt. Owens Saylor said, “Earning Distinguished status is

wonderful accomplishment. The hard work and personal

contribution of every member of the DCPS family is

reflected in these results. The exciting thing is that there’s

plenty to be proud of but we are always focused on

improvement.”

See Next Pages for Photographs!

DCPS - Kentucky Distinguished District!

Professional Development

Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist

Community Campus Update

Special Events at Our Schools

Healthy Lifestyle Tip

United Way Update

Humana Vitality Re-Screens and Flu Shots

Kentucky Distinguished District

Third Consecutive Year!

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Highland Elementary School celebrated its status as a

2015 School of Distinction with a special event on the

school campus featuring a motorcade with police cars

and fire trucks and a live radio broadcast. Highland

students scored in the 99th percentile – the top 1

percent in Kentucky — on the 2015 Unbridled

Learning state assessment. Pictured at right are the

Highland Hornet (Carrie Munsey), WBKR’s Jaclyn

Graves and Principal Leslie Peveler.

The Burns Elementary School team celebrated its status as a School of Distinction — the only DCPS school earning

this honor for three consecutive years — as the team of Brandy Bishop, Wendy Cooper, Amy Shutt and Heather

Newman proudly displayed their 2015 K-PREP scores on their shirts!

DCPS VxÄxuÜtàxá4Meadow Lands Elementary School

teachers were intensely focused

during Data Day on Sept. 25.

Teresa Howard explains

data analysis of recent student

performance through observations,

hypothesis of practice and

connections for future

performance. Meadow Lands

scored within the 98th percentile

on the Unbridled Learning

state assessment with a

2015 overall score of 78.2,

earning classification as a

Distinguished/Progressing School

and reward as a

School of Distinction.

Apollo High School celebrated the school’s move to

Distinguished status with a special lunch on Oct. 1.

Deer Park Elementary

School staff members

proudly show off their

“Distinguished” T-shirts.

Tamarack Elementary School celebrates one of our

district’s greatest successes as they have moved from the

57th percentile to 82nd and Proficient status.

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While students enjoyed a day off on Sept. 25, East View

Elementary School teachers were hard at work analyzing

Fall MAP data and individual KPREP scores, making

instructional decisions to ensure student success. “I’m so

proud of their hard work,” said Principal Sonya Simpson.

“What an awesome group of educators, striving to make a

difference for every child!”

West Louisville Elementary School teachers worked

together to review the Mathematical Practices and then

discussed examples within their classrooms. Clips from

“The Big Bang Theory” were used as examples. Pictured

here are Allie Lindow, Katie Sims, Judy Ogg and Johnna

Gray.

Margaret Newton and Patrick Hittson collaborate during

Professional Development day at Heritage Park High

School as the staff focuses on student achievement.

The staff at Owensboro Day Treatment/Owensboro

Treatment Center spent the Sept. 25 Professional

Development day learning about the new monitoring

instrument for the KECSAC program. Teachers in two

groups did a jigsaw activity as they learned about the new

indicators, then shared their insights about the indicators.

Pictured above are Kendra Hendrix, Amanda Miller and

Sherry Westerman; below are Chuck Broughton, Travis

Atwell and Lee Heppler.

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Photos above and right:

Daviess County High School teachers participated in a

special activity during the Sept. 25 Professional

Development Day, learning how students create their own

learning targets. DCHS was named a Distinguished/

Progressing school with rewards as a High Performing

School on the Unbridled Learning state assessment.

Left: Donna Bray and Misty Miller, kindergarten teachers at Sorgho Elementary

School, worked to create data boards with recent MAP scores during the Sept. 25

Professional Development day.

Below right: Many of Sorgho Elementary School’s staff members visited A

Simple Path for lunch on Sept. 25. Simple Path is a program at New Life Church

that provides training and education in cooking, food service and restaurant skills.

The program offers a way for residents of homeless shelters to gain independence.

Sorgho is proud to support a great cause that supports many of our students and

appreciated this opportunity to “give back.”

Teacher of the Year Semi-FinalistKaren Mallonee, a Spanish language teacher at College View Middle School, is one of nine

semifinalists for the 2016 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Kentucky

Department of Education and Ashland Inc. She is one of three semi-finalists for the state’s

Middle School Teacher of the Year Award.

Winners will be announced Oct. 20 in Frankfort based on classroom visits and personal

interviews. Selection as a semi-finalist was based on applications, which included information

about nominees’ teaching philosophies, teaching experiences, community involvement and

letters of recommendation. Karen was the named the Daviess County Public Schools’

Great Expectations Middle School Teaching Excellence Award winner in August 2014.

VÉÅÅâÇ|àç VtÅÑâáIn my role as College and Career

Readiness Coordinator for the

Daviess County Public Schools

district, I have the opportunity to

interact with so many interesting

and knowledgeable professionals;

administrators, guidance

counselors, teachers, College and

Career Readiness coaches and

admissions personnel from colleges

and universities from all over the

state and region.

Two of the most knowledgeable

individuals in the field of College

and Career Readiness that I have the pleasure of

interacting with on a daily basis are our very own College

and Career Readiness Coaches from Apollo High School

and Daviess County High School — Jeremy Camron and

Susan Colbert.

Jeremy and Susan work hard daily at AHS and DCHS to

ensure Daviess County Public Schools students have the

skills necessary for a successful life after high school.

Though needed skills and skill sets are different for each

student, Jeremy and Susan collaborate with the assigned

senior counselors at each high school to achieve that goal.

Our CCRs wear many hats throughout their work day, but

their main focuses include tracking ACT and Compass

Placement scores for the senior class to ensure students

meet college readiness benchmarks. They act as a resource

and advisor to students in terms of planning for a family-

sustainable career after high school or college; and they

assist students with college applications, financial aid and

other college related questions and needs. Jeremy and

Susan also host numerous college admission and career

speakers to inform our high school students about the

plentiful opportunities that are available in our area.

The month of October has been declared “College

Application and Awareness Month” in Daviess County

Public Schools. Though preparing for life after high

school is a focus all year, every year, it is especially

important in the fall as many high school seniors are

completing college applications in preparation for

acceptance into college. I am proud to say that there are

multiple College and Career activities every day during

the month of October within DCPS. This list is far from

complete, but please take a look at some of the wonderful

opportunities available to our high school students during

the month of October:

Apollo High School Schedule of Events:

Oct. 5 — University of Louisville admissions visit

Oct. 5 — University of Louisville JB Speed School visits

Engineering Academy at Apollo

Oct. 19 — College Application Weeks Kick Off with

Keynote Speaker Bart Darrell, President KWC

Oct. 20 — Murray State On Site Admissions, KHEAA

Application assistance

Oct. 20 — KHEAA Senior Parent Meeting Financial Talk

Oct. 21 — OCTC on Site Admissions

Oct. 22 — Josten Presentation to seniors

Oct. 26 — National Guard Presentation

Oct. 29 — WKU on Site Application Assistance

Oct. 30 — Foundation Award Speaker/Alumnus Career

Talk

Oct. 30 — Post Your Plan day — Seniors fill out and post

their plan on Commons Area Bulletin Board

Daviess County High School Schedule of Events:

Oct. 2 — Host Northern Kentucky University’s president

Oct. 3 — Brescia University Open House on campus

Oct. 5 — University of Louisville in the CCR Center

Continued on Next Page

Amanda Jerome

College & Career

Readiness Coordinator

Susan Colbert and Jeremy Camron provide support and

resources to students in their roles as College and Career

Readiness Coaches at Daviess County and Apollo high

schools.

Continued from Previous Page

Oct. 8 — Lindsey Wilson College in the CCR Center

Oct. 8 — College fair at Daviess County Public Library

Oct. 19 — OCTC Application Day at DCHS

Oct. 21 — Murray State Application Day at DCHS

Oct. 23 — “Scrub Craze!” OCTC Surgical Tech Day

Additionally, during the College Application season, many

of our students across the district participate in College

and Career Field trips, including:

Sept. 29 — Kids on Campus at Western Kentucky

University (DCHS/AHS)

Oct. 2 — Great Expectations field trip: DCMS at OCTC

Oct. 23 — Kids on Campus at Murray State University

(DCHS/AHS)

Oct. 23 — Great Expectations field trip: BMS at OCTC

Oct. 28 — Kids on Campus at the University of Kentucky

(DCHS/AHS)

Community Campus Supports

College Application Month!

The Life Science Academy supports College Application

Month by hosting a variety of speakers from Owensboro

Community and Technical College. The schedule for

October includes the following events:

Oct. 5 – David Martin: STEM Scholarship

Oct. 5 — Joy Menser: Radiography

Oct. 18 — Micah Perkins: Biology at OCTC/Research

Oct. 26 — Karen Miller: OCTC Pre-Professional

Program, Cornerstone

Oct. 28 — Ed Leach: Vet Tech

Oct. 28 — Zara Basham: Surgical Tech

Students in the Life Science Academy and Engineering

Academy participated in a field trip to the University of

Kentucky on Friday, Sept. 25. Both groups were able to

see career specific courses in action, as well as participate

in customized tours of their areas of interest. Though the

students had the day off from school, they showed their

dedication to continuing their education by loading the

buses at 5:30 a.m. for this trip, as pictured at right!

For more information about how DCPS supports

College and Career Readiness, contact CCR Coaches at

Apollo or Daviess County High School, or CCR 

Coordinator Amanda Jerome at 270-852-7000 or

amanda.jerome@daviess.kyschools.us

Apollo and Daviess County high school students visited

Western Kentucky University on Sept. 29 for a combined

“Kids on Campus” College and Career Field Trip.

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Community Campus Engineering Academy students

visited the University of Kentucky campus.

Fifth-grade students at Sorgho Elementary School will

transform the walking trail into a historic cemetery from

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. Students will dress up

and tell visitors why their characters were important to

U.S. History and how that person used the Seven Habits.

Cost is $2 per person or $5 per family. Children age 12

and younger will receive a treat from each character after

they hear their story. Bring the whole family and enjoy a

great way to learn!

Sorgho Cemetery Walk

Burns Elementary School is hosting a Fall Festival on

Friday, Oct. 23. Dinner is served in the cafeteria from 5 to

6:30 p.m. with hot dogs, chili, chips, soft drinks and

dessert on the menu. (Cash and check only, please.)

Game and activity booths are open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

and include pumpkin painting, haunted house, cornhole,

fun photos, duck pond, face painting, ball toss, cake walk,

Halloween bingo, inflatables and much more.

Tickets are 50 cents each; 12 for $5; 25 for $10. Dance

room and tattoos are free.

A silent auction is also planned with bids accepted until

5:45 p.m.

Mark your calendar and plan to join family and friends at

this fun-filled Fall Festival!

The Theater Society at Daviess County High School is

hosting a Pirate and Princess Party from 6 to 8 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 26, in the school cafeteria. Those attending

are asked to enter through the back of the school using

the Southeastern Parkway entrance by the football and

softball fields.

Children are invited to wear costumes and have their

photos taken with Pirates and Princesses – members of

the Theater Society. Other activities include games, treats

and story time. Admission is free but donations will be

accepted.

For more information, contact DCHS drama director

Karen Feldhaus at 270-852-7300 or by email at

karen.feldhaus@daviess.kyschools.us

Pirate & Princess Party The Grapevine

is YOUR

newsletter!

Send news

about

your school’s

Fall Festival

and other

special events to

grapevine@dcps.org

Weekly health and fitness tips brought to you by the

DCPS Food Services Department. We care about you!

The DCPS United Way Campaign is underway! Please

consider contributing to United Way. United Way supports

more than 70 agencies that help thousands of people every

day, so when you make a gift to United Way, you are

supporting a variety of needs. Hospice of Western

Kentucky is just one of many agencies supported by your

contributions to United Way. Below is a story of families

helped by Hospice and United Way.

Our goal as hospice caregivers is to make the patient’s

final stage of life as full and rewarding as possible. One of

our ways of accomplishing that is with a “Wish” program

we created specifically to grant last wishes for patients

who haven’t the financial or other means to make the wish

happen themselves.

For instance, we helped a 41-year-old Owensboro resident

take the trip of a lifetime to see in person his beloved San

Francisco 49ers play at the Edward Jones Dome in St.

Louis. A true fan and memorabilia collector since the

1980s, he said the team helped raise his spirits and

provided a welcome distraction as he dealt with his

Huntington’s disease diagnosis. His dream was to not only

get to see a game in person, but to also meet coaches and

players to personally thank them for the joy they had

provided him. With the help of our program, his wish

came true.

Such was true as well with a touching wish we granted for

a young lady who was planning her wedding, aware that

when her special day finally arrived, her father, a hospice

patient, would not be there to walk her down the aisle as

every little girl envisions. Knowing she wanted her father

to at least see her in her wedding gown, our staff took

that idea even further and staged a special pre-wedding

moment in the chapel at The Heartford House for father,

daughter and a few relatives from the bride’s side of the

family. Wearing her wedding dress, she walked down the

hallway of The Heartford House to bridal music played on

the piano by a Hospice staff member.

Waiting in a wheelchair in the chapel was her father,

dressed in a wedding tuxedo. Though he had lost his

ability to speak, his eyes told the story as he watched his

daughter walk toward him in her wedding dress. Days

later, he passed away, but lasting memories had been

created. Hospice staff members took photos and filmed

the occasion, and the bride was later presented with the

photos and a video as a wedding gift.

Also included was a very special surprise gift. Unknown

to her, a Hospice staff member had helped the bride’s

father express his love for his daughter and his hopes for

her future in a letter. Though he couldn’t write the letter

himself, a photo was taken of him holding the letter. Then,

on her wedding day, the letter and photo were given to her

as a gift from her father.

Not every wish is big. Some may even seem simple, but

each one has special meaning for the patient, and creates

lasting, heart-warming memories for the families left

behind.

What difference will your investment make?

With your investment of $50, Hospice of Western

Kentucky can:

n Provide monthly rental of a nebulizer

n Provide monthly rental of a patient lift

n Provide a two- to four-week supply of pain/symptom medications

n Provide one case of liquid laundry detergent for patient linens

n Provide oxygen for eight days

n Provide some medications for one day for one patient

n Provide preparation supplies for nine patient meals

LIVE UNITED

Humana Vitality re-screenings and flu shotsThe Green River District Health Department is offering

flu shots and Humana Vitality re-screenings to all staff again

this year. See list at right for schedule of remaining visits at

each building. Sign-up sheets offer appointments starting at

7 a.m. each day. There are spaces for two people to

participate in the screenings at every time slot.

Please allow 20 minutes for this screening, which includes

full lipid panel (TC, HDL, ratio, LDL, triglycerides,

glucose); blood

pressure; pulse; height, weight and waist circumference

(BMI). Plan to fast 9-12 hours before screening (you may

take medications with sips of water).

Take your HumanaVitality membership card with you to the

re-screening.

Important Note: This screening is NOT required for your

Living Well Promise! This is a RE-SCREEN for people who

had goals or an area they wanted to work on. This is an

opportunity to earn points you may not have received at the

initial screening if you have now reached target goals and

normal ranges. For example, if your blood pressure was not

in normal range at the screening at the beginning of the year,

but it is within range at this re-screening, you will receive

the 400 points you did not get with the first screen. If you

were in normal ranges on everything, you don’t need to be

re-screened at this time.

Remember – Employees may get a screening every three

months if you have something to work on.

At the beginning of 2016, we will begin scheduling the

yearly screening for the LivingWell Promise!

Burns Elementary School — Nov. 10

Country Heights Elementary School — Oct. 7

Deer Park Elementary School — Nov. 5

East View Elementary School — Oct. 8

Meadow Lands Elementary School — Nov. 12

Sorgho Elementary School — Nov. 4

Tamarack Elementary School — Oct. 9

West Louisville Elementary School — Nov. 5

Whitesville Elementary School — Oct. 22

Burns Middle School — Nov. 6

College View Middle School — Nov. 13

Daviess County Middle School — Nov. 4

Apollo High School — Oct. 22

Daviess County High School — Oct. 21

Heritage Park High School — Nov. 17

Owensboro Day Treatment/Treatment Center - Oct. 30

Valley School — Nov. 13

Transportation and Maintenance — Sept. 23

Learning Center — Nov. 17

DDCCPPSS

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