|
Assessing our progress toward achieving the goals in our Strategic Plan
As the district continues to make progress toward achieving the goals in our Strategic Plan,
we will be providing periodic updates. The Data Dashboard summarizes the objectives which are found in the Strategic Plan, and the color coding provides an indication of our progress to date.
Because results like the FCAT are not available until late in the school year, we have been tracking other information which we call "Leading Indicators," including benchmark tests, course grades and other information, to help predict how the district will perform this year.
By reviewing these Leading Indicators we can also address any areas that require additional attention prior to the end of the school year.
Since we will not have final results for the 2008/09 school year until the summer, this version of the Data Dashboard shows which areas we have High (GREEN), Medium (YELLOW) or Low (RED) confidence in meeting by the end of the school year, based on the results we have seen so far.
We are excited to say that 88% of our Leading Indicators are either High or Medium confidence. While this is not a guarantee that we will meet every single goal, we are encouraged by the early indications, and we will continue to strive to meet all of our objectives.
For more information about our Strategic Plan and Data Dashboard, visit our Web site.
Thank you for continuing to support Duval County Public Schools.
Ed Pratt-Dannals
Superintendent
|
|
Duval County Public Schools has designated the week of April 20-24, 2009, as our official 2009-2010 Kindergarten registration period.
All DCPS elementary schools will hold Kindergarten registration for the upcoming academic year.
 *Children must be five on or before September 1, 2009, to be registered for Kindergarten. If you are not sure what school your child should attend, please call
the Pupil Assignment Office at 904-390-2144.
During this week, we will also launch student registration for our year-round Title I Pre-kindergarten Program and the state required Summer Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Program (Summer VPK).
For more information, visit our Web site.
|
|
International Visitor Corps of Jacksonville recently brought a delegation of 11 Muslim teachers and leaders from around the world to Wolfson High School.
 The International Visitor Corps of Jacksonville is a volunteer organization that promotes multicultural awareness and understanding between people of other nations and the United States.
The visiting delegation, which included members from Morocco, Bosnia, Romania, Turkey, Sweden, England, Norway, Germany, Russia and the Czech Republic, were on a three-week tour of America, and spent a few days in Jacksonville to begin their study of the American school system. Wolfson was chosen for the visit because of its diverse student population.
Wolfson's SPIRIT team began the event by making a brief presentation about their school, and then the group discussed issues during breakfast. Afterwards, the SPIRIT team took the group on a tour of several classrooms where great dialogue occurred between the students and guests.
Wolfson English teachers Mr. and Mrs. Tinsley are now in the process of arranging a Skype conferencing session with one of the delegation member's English language class in Bosnia.
"This was a fantastic experience for all involved," said Wolfson language arts teacher Jacquie Tinsley. "In the end we all agreed that no matter the area of the world, teenagers are teenagers!"
|
|
 Lakeria Dean, an eighth-grade student at Ribault Middle School, has been selected as the winner of the Global Black History Essay Contest presented by the DCPS' Department of World Languages.
Lakeria's essay about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. focused on the responsibility of each individual to promote tolerance and freedom. She addressed Dr. King in her composition by saying, "I feel you did your part, now it's time for us to do ours."
 In honor of this special recognition, Lakeria was picked up from school in an elegant limousine provided by Susie's Limousine. She was driven to City Hall, where Mayor John Peyton presented her with a certificate of recognition. Afterwards, Lakeria was treated to lunch at Maggiano's Little Italy at the St. Johns Town Center.
Lakeria was accompanied by her mother, Cartonya Badger, an assistant in the guidance office at Ribault, as well as DCPS Supervisor of World Languages, Dr. Joanne Davis.
|
|
World War II and Korean War Veterans will now have the opportunity to participate in graduation ceremonies with Duval County Public Schools students.
 Honorably discharged veterans will receive their diploma through the Florida Department of Education, and can be recognized during a High School graduation ceremony of their choice or at a regularly scheduled School Board meeting.
"It is essential that we place special emphasis on these community members who have sacrificed their own educational opportunities in the preservation of freedom," said Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals. "This is a great opportunity for our young people to show respect and appreciation for those who did not have an opportunity to complete their high school education."
For more information about eligibility requirements and application procedures, please read the entire release.
|
|
Diane Brown-Smith, a physical education (P.E.) teacher at Merrill Road Elementary, is making a difference in the lives and behavior of her students through two special programs she runs each year: Noblesse Oblige and the Kindness Queen/Golden Scepter program.
Noblesse Oblige is French for "noble obligation, meaning that royalty should make honorable, generous and responsible choices.
 Each week in P.E. class, students have the opportunity to earn the honor of being king or queen if they have stayed on green card (symbolizing good and kind behavior) an entire week in their homeroom class. This honor entitles students to be a line leader and team captain that week.
Brown-Smith has been doing the Noblesse Oblige campaign since 1995. She thought of the idea years ago when she was reading a novel that referred to a character as "Noblesse Oblige." Brown-Smith was unfamiliar with the term, so she looked it up and immediately realized the premise could carry over into her behavior management plan as a teacher.
Brown-Smith's other creative method to encourage positive actions and behavior in her students is her role as the Kindness Queen. Each week, the Kindness Queen recognizes her Golden Scepter students - those who have been nominated by an adult or other student for "using supremely kind, considerate manners or doing an honorable act, essentially being Noblesse Oblige."
 When Brown-Smith plays her role as the Kindness Queen, she wears royal attire, including a crown and a special dress embroidered with the words kindness, self-control, excellence, patience, trustworthy and respectful. She even has a British accent.
Noblesse Oblige, along with the Kindness Queen/Golden Scepter program, have truly helped Merrill Road Elementary become the Kindness Kingdom. More than 200 students have been recognized this school year, and there is even a waiting list.
Brown-Smith truly feels these programs allow her to fulfill a life purpose to make our world a better place.
The entire Noblesse Oblige/Kindness Queen Campaign is so not about me - it's about fulfilling the purpose I was put on this earth for: to empower all people to see that they are true royalty who need to embrace noble behavior so they can expand the Kindness Kingdom.
For more information about the Kindness Kingdom at Merrill Road Elementary, read the full article.
|
|
R.V. Daniels Elementary, Fletcher Middle and Alden Road Exceptional Student Center recently received the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful School Award in the elementary, middle and high school categories, respectively.
 The Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Award is sponsored by the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission, the local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. The purpose of the commission is to support community beautification, enhance community pride, and improve the quality of life in Jacksonville through provision of outreach, educational activities and programming.
Individuals, businesses, organizations and schools are encouraged to submit applications for the annual award. To be eligible, schools had to demonstrate an outstanding and ongoing effort in at least two of these areas: keep a clean campus free of litter; provide litter/graffiti prevention education to educate students, teachers and staff in an attempt to change attitudes and behavior toward litter and graffiti; or participate in related projects to improve the school campus environment.
Mayor John Peyton presented the award to each of the schools' principals - Kimberly Dennis (R.V. Daniels Elementary), Laurie Flynn (Fletcher Middle) and Linda Leonard (Alden Road) - at his annual environmental luncheon on Friday, April 3.
In keeping with the luncheon's theme, Sustainability Taking Root, each attendee received a Treaty Oak sapling to take home. The sapling was accompanied by instructions on how to care for the young plant, as well as other environmentally-friendly items and tips for helping to improve the environment.
|
|
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!
The DCPS' Community and Family Engagement Office wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the more than 18,000 volunteers who partner with our school district in order to support our schools and ensure student success.
Please continue to support our efforts as we diligently work to provide quality educational opportunities for our students.
For more information, visit our Web site or call 904-390-2960.
|
April
10 |
Spring Holiday (Schools and District Offices Closed) |
15 |
Student Early Release Day |
20 |
ACE Community Meeting on high school boundaries - Twin Lakes Academy Middle, 6 p.m. |
21 |
Duval County Council of PTAs/PTSAs Meeting - DCPS Administration Building, Cline Auditorium, 10 a.m. |
27 |
District Advisory Council
(DAC) Meeting - DCPS Administration Building, 6th Floor Conference Room, 6 p.m. |
29 |
Student Early Release Day |
May
5 |
School Board Meeting - DCPS Administration Building, Cline Auditorium, 6 p.m. |
25 |
Memorial Day (Schools and District Offices Closed) |
27 |
Duval County Council of PTAs/PTSAs Meeting - Presidents and Principals Luncheon - Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, 11:30 a.m. (Tickets: 904-363-1936) |
The Academic and Community Excellence (ACE)
program is being used by DCPS to engage with students, parents, employees and the public, in an effort to craft plans and ideas that more fully meet the needs and expectations of every
resident in Duval County.
We are addressing multiple areas within the school system such as facilities, academic programs, high school scheduling, transportation and magnet programs.
**There will be a community meeting to discuss high school boundary changes on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 6 p.m. at Twin Lakes
Academy Middle, 8050 Point Meadows Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
For more information, visit the
ACE section of our Web site.
|
At its monthly meeting on April 7, the Duval County School Board and Superintendent Pratt-Dannals recognized students, staff and an education advocate. For a list of all those recognized, please read the news release.
The School Board also approved changes that will be made to the transportation of Duval County students beginning in August 2009. For more information, please visit our Web site.
The next School Board meeting is Tuesday, May 5, at 6 p.m.
All are welcome.
|
Duval County Public Schools
1701 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207
www.duvalschools.org
Superintendent
Ed Pratt-Dannals
School Board Members
Frequently Called Numbers
Main Line
904-390-2000
Transportation
904-858-6200
Human Resources
904-390-2840
School Board Office
904-390-2293
Community & Family
Engagement
904-390-2960
|
Speakers Bureau Available
DCPS would love to speak to your group to discuss our financial resources, teacher effectiveness, and the academic programs and learning opportunities we provide.
Contact Myra Simmons at 904-390-2993 to request a knowledgeable speaker to address your organization or association. You may also download a Speaker's Request Form.
News Flash
Looking for the latest school and district news? Read our most recent news releases,
visit our
Spotlight on Education section or tune in to dcpsTV for a detailed look into what is going on at Duval County Public Schools.
|
|
|
