Spring-Summer 2013 - Goochland County Public Schools

Goochland County Public Schools’ Instructional Newsletter
Explorations in Learning
Spring-Summer 2013

A Partnership with the Science Museum of Virginia
Over the last twelve months, we have put a great deal
of time and energy into school and community partnerships.
We’ve focused on strengthening existing
partnerships, reviving ones that had fallen dormant,
and developing new and exciting ones with an eye on
enhancing our programming for students. While some
of the most promising relationships include those with
the MathScience Innovation Center, VCU, UVa, Luck
Companies, and the Partners in the Arts Consortium,
we are especially proud of the relationship we have
built with the Science Museum of Virginia (SMV). What
started with a conversation over coffee last spring—
an opportunity arranged by Mr. John Wright, GCPS
School Board Chair—has become a true partnership in
every sense of the word.
We left that initial meeting with a clear objective to
create opportunities for our students and our teachers.
This began almost immediately, as our first-ever STEM
Camp (science - technology - engineering - math) culminated
with an afternoon at SMV. Under the direction
of Mr. Chuck English, SMV’s Director of Playful Inquiry,
three dozen of our upper elementary students used
an underwater video phone to speak directly to NASA
scientists working 600 feet under the atlantic ocean off
the coast of Florida.
Since that time, we have held a portion of our annual
New Teacher Academy at the museum, where teachers
and their mentors explored the exhibits as an orientation
to the school division’s mobile technology. SMV
staff also designed and led a workshop on projectbased
learning for a K-12 team of our teacher-leaders
this past fall. And most recently our growing relationship
with SMV resulted in their asking our teachers
and students to participate in Governor McDonnell’s
inaugural STEM-H event at the State Capitol just a
few weeks ago. Seven kindergarten students and four
fourth graders had the opportunity to demonstrate
their ability to merge engineering and science through
design briefs aimed at solving multi-step problems.
Our students were also formally recognized from
the House floor. Because of our growing reputation
in the K-12 STEM arena (along with our relationship
with SMV) our students were chosen to represent all
elementary-age children across the Commonwealth.
Plans to partner with SMV for June’s Second Annual
STEM Camp and August’s New Teacher
Academy are already confirmed.
Additionally, plans for a yearly trip for
fifth grade students to Maggie Walker
Governor’s School and SMV have been solidified for
October 2013.
We are proud of so much of what’s taking place within
our schools. And we’re also excited about the opportunities
that stretch beyond our campuses. Our
partnership with the Science Museum of Virginia is certainly
near the top of that list.
The Science Museum is delighted to have an active
partnership with Goochland County Schools. It is apparent
that the district staff and community members
care about their students. The passion we have found
for science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) in Goochland is a model for the entire
state.
— Rich Conti, Chief Wonder Officer
The partnership between Goochland County Schools
and the Science Museum of Virginia provides a great
opportunity to share resources and support each
other’s programming. The relationship that has truly
benefited both parties, from STEM Camp to STEM
Day—we have found a common goal and common
interest in inspiring Virginians to enrich their lives
through science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
— Chuck English, Director of Playful
Learning and Inquiry
by Stephen Geyer,
Assistant Superintendent of Instruction
2

Elementary
G a r d e n s
Are Blooming
by Dianna Gordon,
Director of Elementary Education
& Testing
As springtime approaches, students in our three
elementary schools will be actively engaged in spring
planting. At Randolph Elementary, the plans for early
spring include an extended herb garden, a dedicated
strawberry garden, and four gardens of mixed vegetables
such as lettuces, peppers, radishes, cabbages,
and spinach. Container gardens will be planted with
green peas, flowers, and leaf lettuces.
K-2 and 3-5 Garden Clubs have met twice a month
during the winter to learn about the many facets of
gardening. Both clubs have been busy during the
winter months planting bulbs, feeding and turning the
compost barrel, planting seeds in the green house,
and preparing the soils in 3 raised gardens for spring
planting.
The greenhouses at the schools have numerous pots
planted with flower and vegetable seeds. Rain barrels
are full and in working condition. The students have
been using the water from these barrels to hydrate the
greenhouse plants and container gardens.
At Goochland Elementary, Kindergarten veggiequariums
will be planted with strawberry and lettuce
plants. Blueberry bushes will be planted. In addition,
a solar-powered bubbler will soon be installed in an
aquaponic system this May.
At Byrd Elementary two courtyard bunnies are providing
composts for the planters in the spring. “Garden
Fairies” show up on Fridays to work, weed, fill birdhouse
feeders, and assist with watering the plants.
The courtyard flower gardens are slowly waking up.
Students are excited to find out if the pond fish survived
the cold winter months. The pansy gardens were
recently given a trim, so new blooms are growing
daily. Spring is in the air at our elementary gardens!
Both students and teachers eagerly await outdoor science
and math lessons, lunchtime, story time, journal
writing experiences, and many other activities.
Elementary gardens are alive and growing, due to extensive
efforts from our very own maintenance department,
our active PTAs, community volunteers, and Jr.
Master Gardeners from the 4-H Extension office, who
have so graciously supported our garden efforts. Parents
and citizens in our community are encouraged to
visit our schools. Observe for yourselves our children
as they teach and learn from one another, while creating
beautiful and edible gardens for all to enjoy.
Pushed Past My Comfort Zone:
Meet Jasmine Coles,
Our First Student School Board Member
Contributed by Tom DeWeerd, Director of Secondary Education
“I never thought that I would become a
student liaison; I never even knew what is was!
But since it’s been presented to me, I felt that it
was just too good of an opportunity to give up.
It pushed me a little outside of my comfort zone;
however, that is just another
reason to become student liaison,
and I love it.”
A junior at Goochland High
School, Jasmine Coles was
named the student liaison to the
Goochland School Board by a
unanimous vote of the board at
their February board meeting. She has begun offering
advice and comments with regard to student issues,
practices and policies considered by the board.
Jasmine goes on to say, “A leader is defined as,
‘A guiding or directing head,’ but is that really
what I leader is? I believe a leader is someone
who… exhibits a series of traits including: determination,
commitment, and strength. I wish to
strengthen all aspects of being a leader and being
Goochland County’s school’s board Student Liaison
will help me to do so while introducing new ways
to be a leader.”
“I will be able to become a better person and
leader, to those around me” Coles said. “Maybe,
it will help me to become a better inspiration to
those around me. Then I will be able to inspire
others to pursue their goals and dreams while
extending past their limits. I want to set my limits,
then surpass them.”
Dr. Lane commented, “We are all so proud of
Jasmine and are looking forward to her advice from
a student perspective as we make decisions with the
board.”
3

ChoicesFOR THE
FUTURE
by Tom DeWeerd, Director of Secondary Education &
Bruce Watson, Director of Career & Technical Education
E X P A N D I N G O P P O R T U N I T I E S I N C T E
Rising senior, Katrina Gomez, wants to follow in her
family’s footsteps and learn the art of cooking. This
may well be a reality for her next year at GHS. Culinary
Arts is suddenly one of the most popular courses
selected by students for the 2013-2014 school year.
Another junior, Shanea Allen, selected culinary arts
but also wants to take health occupations. She expressed
excitement with all the choices in the Program
of Studies. Although tenth grader Dustin Powers
is unsure about a career, he was curious about the
new pre-engineering class.
Seniors Colton Sullivan and Ford Slater are making
room for the online UVA engineering course while
ninth graders Reid Chenault and Mills Neterer both
have their sights on construction technology. Mills
said he was hoping to take some business courses too
so he can run his own building trades company some
day.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is growing
quickly at Goochland High School. This will be the
first year of a long-term plan to improve offersings for
college and career-bound students.
The courses these students are selecting are in the first
phase of an exciting three-phase plan to be implemented
in the 2013-2014 school year. Introduction to
Engineering, Computer Aided Drafting, Construction
Technology, Natural Resources, Agri-Science, Culinary
Arts, Interior Design, and Fashion Design are just a
few of the new offerings.
The new CTE offerings are being implemented to give
students a wider array of courses to assist them in
making a career choice as well as giving them some
basic skills for that career. Incorporated within the
new courses will be state-of-the-art technology such
as 3D printers, laser engravers and cutters, material
testing instruments, and GPS/GIS equipment.
Our CTE program is growing fast and our students
will have many more choices and opportunities than
in the past!

TITLE 1 PRE-SCHOOL
PROGRAM
SCHEDULED
TO OPEN @
BYRD ELEMENTARY
by Dianna Gordon,
Director of Elementary Education
& Testing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mommy2seamus/2822582988
When the school year begins in the Fall of
2013, Byrd Elementary will proudly open
its doors to a newly created Title 1 preschool
program. While Byrd currently operates a K-5
Title 1 targeted assistance program in their school, it
will also serve identified 4-year olds living within this
attendance zone.
The Pre-school program will serve a classroom of 18
students taught by one preschool teacher. The preschool
program will serve children who will be four
years of age by September 30, 2013. The selection
criteria will ensure that those children who are most
at risk of failing to meet the State’s academic achievement
standards are served. Multiple objective criteria
will be utilized, such as teacher judgment, interviews
with parents, and developmentally appropriate measures
of child development, in order to determine
that preschool children most in need will be serviced.
Children who have previously participated in Head
Start for the past two years are also eligible to apply.
The program’s goals are to improve students’ readiness
for kindergarten, facilitate family involvement,
provide for early diagnosis of individual learning
needs, and nurture positive attitudes in children.
Should you have inquires regarding this new program,
please contact Dianna C. Gordon, Director of Elementary
Education & Title 1 Coordinator at 556-5630,
ext. 5610.
Student Showcase
Scot Mitchell, a Senior at
GHS, was accepted as a
member of this year’s Army
All-American Marching Band.
Only two applicants from
Virginia were selected, from
among the thousands who
apply from around the country
each year. Scot was flown
to San Antonio, Texas and
performed during the Army All-American Bowl.
Scot has been involved in the music program for seven
years and has served as the drum major during his
junior and senior years at GHS. Scot plans to attend
VCU and major in music education and teach on the
high school level when he graduates. Scot’s greatest
music experience has been with the Army band and
being surrounded by dedicated musicians who shared
a common goal during a fun-packed week!
Brandon Myrick, a GHS freshman, placed first in
Virginia in 3M’s annual Young Scientist Challenge. The
competition required high school students to explore
a global problem and create an innovative solution
that had the potential to make a positive impact on
the world. Brandon’s entry included a roofing shingle
made from a unique compound that could act as a
solar collector, subsequently reducing traditional energy
dependency. When asked what part of his project
proved most difficult, Brandon stated, “The greatest
challenge throughout the
process was conveying my
idea over video in under two
minutes,” one of the contest’s
requirements.
Congratulations to both
Bulldogs!
5

BYOD
As our technology team has been actively revising and
reviewing our 6-year technology plan with students
and staff, we have been focused on two new initiatives
for the short- and long-term. The first is a
“bring your own device” policy for the schools, which
would allow students to bring mobile devices to their
schools to be used during the day. The second is a
1:1 technology initiative where the school division
would provide tablet devices to students to replace
textbooks, encourage web-based research, and to
enhance digital communication.
6
monitor student behavior on those?”
CITIZENSHIP
1:1
Opportunities & Good Ideas
Digital Citizenship —
Opportunities & Good Ideas
they will have the opportunity throughout the day to
learn about an aspect of digital citizenship, organized
around different topics at each grade level. We hope
parents will continue the conversation about digital
citizenship on this day and beyond at home.
The reality is, however, that many students have
more opportunities to practice digital citizen-
by John G. Hendron,
Supervisor of Instructional Technology
Many of our teachers are curious about these plans,
and supportive of more learning options for students.
One of the most-often asked questions, however, is
“How are you going to prevent mischief with student
cell phones? What about all the tablets? Can you
The answer I like to provide is centered around our
efforts towards practicing digital citizenship. For the
third year in a row, Goochland County Public Schools
hosted a Digital Citizenship Day on March 12, 2013.
For parents, we posted some short videos on topics
we think will be important to them. For students,

ship on their own, or at home, than they would
in school. An always-available cellphone in their
pocket provides more opportunities to exercise good
or poor digital citizenship than a school experience
with a laptop on any given day. While there is a lot
about digital citizenship, including bullying behaviors,
observing copyright law, and protecting yourself online
that are perfectly appropriate topics for parents
to have with their children at home, we feel we have
an obligation to both model good digital citizenship
behaviors ourselves and address these topics when
students encounter technology in our schools.
We feel with new learning opportunities through a
BYOD policy and a 1:1 initiative, we will have more
opportunities in school to exercise, learn about, and
ask questions about digital citizenship.
So, check out the videos we posted on our website
back in March! It is important to recognize that every
day is a day for good digital citizenship. We will also
be posting our revisions to the technology plan for
public input on our website, before it is presented to
the school board at its April, 2013 workshop.
In the meantime, we would like to share some “good
ideas” when thinking about Digital Citizenship both
inside, and outside, of school.
2. Choose good passwords and change them often.
Digital security is an important concept to understand
and choosing good passwords helps protect
your privacy.
3. “Stop and Think” before posting online. Social
media can make getting your message out to a lot of
people quickly very easy. But some messages might
be better not said, or said to an individual rather than
a large group. And it is always best not to send messages
of any type when you’re angry and what you
have to say you might later regret!
4. Know what’s on your Digital Dossier. Do you
know what information about you and your family is
available online through search engines and social
networks? Not only is this information public, but it is
available to others who may want to get to know you.
Make sure your digital, public image is the one you’re
most proud of.
5. Know what kinds of behaviors are legal and
those that are not. Inside school, know what the
school rules are and ask questions if you do not
understand them. Outside of school, be sure you do
not forget about opportunities to exercise respect for
others.
Find these videos and more about our
digital citizenship day this year on our
website at http://www.glnd.k12.va.us/
index/news/digital_citizenship_day/.
What is Digital
Citizenship?
According to Ribble & Bailey (2007), Digital
Citizenship covers a wide scope of modern
life. In terms of education, it covers the ways
we communicate, the way we secure information,
our rights and responsibilities in online
environments, digital etiquette, and the literacy
related to electronic devices and services.
Outside of school, digital citizenship covers
commerce, the law, and health and wellness.
1. Find out how to track the location of your mobile
devices in case they are stolen. Many smart
phones and tablets now offer GPS location reporting
to another device or computer.
Most importantly, we want students to approach
online social environments with the
same respect for others as we do in face-toface
interactions. Citizenship is an expectation
for all environments.

ON THE COVER:
Students at Goochland Elementary participate in the
second annual “Full STEAM Ahead Day” where they
tackle an engineering problem collaboratively applying
knowledge of science, technology, engineering, art, and
mathematics using recyclable materials.
District 1
Michael E. Payne, Vice-Chairperson
District 2
W. Kevin Hazzard
District 3
John L. Lumpkins, Jr.
District 4
Elizabeth A. Hardy
District 5
John D. Wright, Chairperson
Summer Orientation Day
We are thrilled to announce that for the first time we will host a summer orientation day for
rising 6th and 9th graders. Students will have the opportunity to spend the day with their team
of teachers, work through their class schedule, overcome any locker jitters, and have lunch with
friends. Sixth Grade and Ninth Grade Orientation Day will be held on Thursday, August 8 at
GMS and GHS. There is no cost for families and transportation will be provided.
the Goochland Education Foundation
In 2008, a few farsighted citizens and community leaders joined to create the Goochland
Education Foundation (GEF). Their common goal is to secure private and public funding to
support, enrich, and maximize learning to provide:
- Scholarships to Goochland High School Graduating Seniors,
- Teacher of the Year awards at the school and countywide level,
- Fulfillment of teacher funding requests for classroom projects,
- Seminars to further educational experience.
The GEF believes that whether the funding is small or large, it is given to enhance GCPS
programming and make a difference to our children and teachers. Find out more and donate:
http://www.goochlandedu.org
New Course Offering
For the first time, we will offer a 3-week summer math course—Grade 6 Math Bridge—in July
to rising 6th graders as an opportunity to strengthen skills in preparation for success in honors
level middle school math. Specifically, the course has been designed for students who have
demonstrated proficiency in fourth and fifth grade mathematics, but who would benefit from a
condensed summer course prior to an Honors Pre-Algebra experience in grade 6.
Goochland County Public Schools
Working Together for Quality Education
Visit us online at
www.glnd.k12.va.us
This course is another step in our instructional team’s efforts to reconceptualize and broaden
summer programming: remediation (traditional summer school), enrichment (3rd-8th grade
STEM Camp), and specific opportunities that zero in on unique programmatic needs (Grade 6
Math Bridge).
P. O. Box 169
Goochland, VA 23063
(804) 556-5601