17th Consecutive Wells Fargo Cup

Madison County High School students once again brings home the Wells Fargo Cup for Academics.  In the 24-year history of the Wells Fargo Cup (previously known as the Wachovia Cup), Madison students have claimed first place for the last 17 years.  Over the last 20-year period, Madison County has earned 19 Cups.

"Winners of the Wells Fargo Cup are determined by a point system based on performance in Virginia High School League (VHSL) competitions.  Schools can earn academic activity points for outstanding participation in scholastic bowl, creative writing, theatre, forensics, debate, newspaper, yearbook and magazine...

Madison County (185) once again claimed the top spot in Group A finishing 85 points ahead of second place Randolph-Henry (100).  Madison County students claimed a first place finish in forensics along with top five finishes in debate and creative writing, to go along with Trophy Class in yearbook, while taking home points in magazine and news magazine."

We are proud!

School Board Communications

The School Board met on Monday, June 10, 2013 for their regular monthly meeting.

Recognitions:

The following retirees were recognized for their valuable service with Madison County Public Schools:

Kathryn Blankenbaker - MCHS

Bina Fears - SBO

Sarah Henshaw - MCHS

Nancy Lowey - MCHS

Nancy Price - MCHS

Susan Taylor - MPS

Linda Weakley - MCHS

Presented to the Board as Information:

• School Board policies: 78 policies are being updated.  Majority of the changes are to reflect recent changes in VA Code.
• A USDA mandated $.10 increase in school lunch prices for all schools.
• Textbook adoption for the new Sports Medicine class for MCHS.  Textbooks are on display in room 18 of the SBO until July 8, 2013.

The following items were approved by the Board:

• An additional School Board meeting scheduled for June 26, 2013 at 6:00pm at the SBO to approve claims, personnel and bids.
• An increase of $100 in out-of-district tuition rates for 2013-2014.  New rate is $4,300 per year.
•  The consortium agreement for migrant students for 2013-2014.  We partner with the Albemarle Regional Migrant Education Program to identify students and provide support to migrant students.
• The Federal Program plans which include Title I - Improving Basic Reading Program and Title II - Teacher Quality for 2013-2014.
• The superintendent's designee (Mr. Allan McLearen) for the 2013-2014 school year.
• Two Local Choice plans for 2013-2014 (the $250 and $500 deductible plans) and set the tiered contribution rates.
• Personnel to include three appointments and one resignation.
• Rejected all bids received for the William Wetsel Middle School renovation project.  All bids received were in excess of $1,000,000 over the funds available for this project.
• Amended the CIP to redefine the bathroom projects from basic ADA upgrades to bathroom  upgrades and add additional bathroom renovations at Madison County High School.

The Board went into Closed Session to discuss a legal issue and a release from compulsory attendance.  A home-school student was released from compulsory attendance.

Donald Hitt Receives Third Diamond Award

The Virginia District of the National Forensics League (NFL) congratulates Donald Hitt of Madison County High School on achieving his third Diamond Award!  This award represents the attainment of over 600,000 NFL points by by his students over the years that he has been coaching.  Mr. Hitt is currently the only triple diamond coach in Virginia.

A diamond award recognizes a professional career that combines excellence and longevity.  The league provides diamond awards based on coach points received.  Coaches receive one-tenth of the points earned by their students and one-tenth of the points earned as a student member of the league.  After a minimum of five years as a league member, a coach who attains 1,500 points is awarded a first diamond; they receive a second diamond for 3,000 points, a third for 6,000 points, etc.  Five years must pass between each diamond award.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Hitt on this outstanding achievement!

High School French visits primary classrooms

 Madison County High School French IV/V students visited Mrs. Ovalle's and Mrs. Racer's primary school classrooms to read a Dr. Seuss book in both English and French.  Primary students enjoyed One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish; Green Eggs and Ham; and Horton Hears a Who!

French students wore French berets, taught the students French numbers and simple French greetings, and talked about the many different languages in the world.

ATSSA PSA Winners

Congratulations to Emily Butterworth, Summer Davis and Madison Lambrich, MCHS 10th graders, for their first place finish in the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) state-wide PSA contest.  They will each split a $1,000 cash prize. 

Congratulations also go to Kaley Aylor, Grace Estes and Vanessa Long for their third place finish and $500 cash prize.

Change in School Board Meeting

The Madison County School Board has re-scheduled the meeting on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 8:15 a.m., until Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 8:15 a.m.  The purpose of this meeting is to approve a contractor for the William Wetsel Middle School renovation project, approve personnel, and review health care options.

School Board Communications

The School Board met on Monday, May 13, 2013 for their regular monthly meeting.

Recognitions: Madison County Public Schools announced the 2012-13 Teacher-of-the-Year.  Chosen from the four employees nominated for "Teaching" as part of the "Teaching, Learning & Caring" awards.

We are proud to have Mr. Jared Morris, American History Teacher at William Wetsel Middle School, as our 2012-2013 Teacher-of-the-Year.

  TEACHING:

Madison Primary	Waverly Elementary	Wetsel Middle	Madison County High
Beth Dickey	Chris Donner	Jared Morris	Joe Novack
Beth Racer	Marty Ward	Jen Rehm	Julie Heffron
Holly Mack	Sarah Hallum	Scott Honaker	Kathy Blankenbaker
Jeannette Michels	Tori Gelbert		Mary Davis
Jessica Gentry			Tamie Campbell

LEARNING:

Madison Primary	Waverly Elementary	Wetsel Middle	Madison County High
Fran Roebuck	Abbie Jewett	Janine Rowson	Ashley Unger
Jessica Gentry	Adam Midock	Jen Rehm	Dawn Tucker
Judy Reed	Chris Donner	Katie Walker	Gail Temple
	Jeff Tilbe		Mary Davis
	Joey McMath		Nancy Lowey
	Kim Knighting

CARING:

Madison Primary	Waverly Elementary	Wetsel Middle	Madison County High
Jeannette Michels	Clare Lillard	Brenda Tyree	Ashley Unger
Jennifer Taylor	Katie Gigliotti	Emma Elliott	Gail Temple
Joan Cook	Katie Honaker	Jeanette Alexander	John Barnes
Karen Organ-Lohr	Kim Knighting	Jim Sanderson	Sarah Henshaw
Patty Butterworth	Lula Marks
Tammy Dyer	Marty Ward
	Nicole Keys
	Rebecca Bader

The names printed in red were peer-selected as the school's representative in each category.

The School Board also recognized our school nurses as part of National School Nurse Day, which was Wednesday, May 8. Our school nurses are: 

Portia Weaver, Madison Primary School; 
Margorie Curtis, Wavery Yowell Elementary School;
and Melanie Gooding-Shifflett, William Wetsel Middle School and Madison County High School.

Presented to the Board as Information: Out-of-District tuition rates for 2013-14 recommended to increase by $100 over the current rate of $4,200.

The following items were approved by the Board:

• Science textbooks for grades 3-12
• The Special Education Plan for 2013-2014
• The Local Choice as the health care provider for MCPS for 2013-2014
• Personnel to include appointments, substitute appointments, resignations, retirements, classified re-appointments, and 2013 summer school teachers