Williamsburg Community Foundation Awards WJCC Students With $73,640 in Scholarships

Fifty-four graduating seniors from Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC) were recently awarded $73,640 in scholarships from the Williamsburg Community Foundation. The students were honored at a reception held Sunday, June 3 at Warhill High School. The foundation’s Scholarship Fund represents a community-wide effort to recognize the accomplishments of WJCC students as they graduate from high school and commit to furthering their education.  Collectively, the funding provided for this year’s scholarship was the largest amount the foundation has ever awarded. The scholarships are made possible by contributions from individuals, businesses, high school parent-teacher associations and civic groups. The scholarships, for $1,000 or more, were awarded on the basis of curriculum difficulty, class rank, extra-curricular activities, application essay and financial need.

Students received the following scholarships:

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Careers in Teaching

Interested in pursuing a career in teaching? If you have a Bachelor’s Degree, join us for our Careers in Teaching Event:

Monday, June 18, 2018 • 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Williamsburg-James City County School Board & Central Office
117 Ironbound Road • Williamsburg, VA

Learn what it takes to earn a teaching license in Virginia. Meet with area University representatives to receive information on teacher preparation courses. Bring your college transcripts. Our licensure consultant will review your transcripts and give you guidance on the best path to your career in teaching.

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On Saturday, June 16 nearly 900 students will walk across the stage at the College of William and Mary’s Kaplan Arena to receive their high school diplomas while friends and family look proudly on. And there’s even more good news: Those who can’t attend the graduation of someone dear to them will still have the opportunity to experience the joy of the occasion because all of the high school graduations will be streamed live on wjccschools.org/classof2018.

In addition, well-wishers for the soon-to-be graduates now have the opportunity to celebrate in advance by tweeting their congratulations and saluting achievements via Twitter using this hashtag :#WJCCGRAD18.

“High school graduations are joyous occasions that bring family and friends together to acknowledge both an end and a beginning. It is time to celebrate the hard work that has taken place over 13 years of schooling and to look ahead with anticipation to the next phase of these graduates’ lives — the new adventures that come with college, work or military service. We hope this community will join us in publicly acknowledging the notable achievements of the Class of 2018,” said Superintendent Dr. Olwen Herron.

The times of the graduations are: Warhill, 9 a.m.; Jamestown, 1 p.m. and Lafayette, 5 p.m.

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On April 13, the U.S. Army Fitness Challenge was held at the WISC between Lafayette, Jamestown, and Warhill high school. Ty-Jeigh Tyler of Men of Vision and Purpose (MVP) from Lafayette High School won the first U.S. Army Fitness Challenge Championship trophy.

About Men of Vision and Purpose (MVP) Program

Archie Jefferson, Officer Andre McLaughlin, and William Capers are co-founders of Men of Vision and Purpose (MVP) a male mentoring group at Lafayette High School, the MVP program mentors 50-80 young men from of a diverse background every Thursday.

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Families with children enrolled in summer school should take note that summer school bus stops are now available on the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCCPS) website. To access that information simply click on the school bus icon on the home page. From there, visitors can enter their address as directed and do a search to determine what bus stops serve the students who live at that address. Summer school in WJCCPS begins on Tuesday, June 26.

High School Summer School at Warhill HS; Open House Scheduled for June 21

For high school credit recovery, the site will be Warhill High School and the school hours will be 8 a.m.-1 p.m. An Open House on Thursday, June 21 will offer two opportunities for parents and students to get more information. One session will be held from 3-4 p.m. and a second one from 5-6 p.m. Those enrolled in summer school for acceleration will be taking advantage of specific blended and online learning courses. Mandatory training is required for students enrolled in the online summer program. That training will be offered through either of the Open House sessions. Parents are encouraged to attend with their child.

In addition, an SOL Summer Academy will be offered to provide students in grades 9-12 who passed a class, but did not pass or did not take the corresponding end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) test. Session A will be held Tuesday, July 10 through Wednesday, July 18 and Session B will be held Tuesday, July 24 through Wednesday, August 1.

Norge ES site for summer elementary program and Hornsby MS site for middle school summer program

The June 26 summer school session for elementary and middle schools will operate from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Monday through Thursday, at Norge Elementary School and Hornsby Middle School. These two sites will host an Open House on Tuesday, June 19 from 4-5 p.m.

For more information on summer school in WJCCPS, visit the school system’s website at https://wjccschools.org/our-schools/summer-school/. Look at the right-hand navigation bar to find the appropriate school level session and program information.

Please note that no summer school sessions will be held on Wednesday, July 4 and Thursday, July 5.

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In its Tuesday, June 19 meeting the Williamsburg-James City County School Board unanimously approved a four-year contract extension, from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2022, for Superintendent Dr. Olwen Herron.

Dr. Herron, who was appointed superintendent in February 2017, originally was operating under a three-year contract that extended through June 30, 2020. According to School Board Chair Kyra Cook, the board decided to review and extend Dr. Herron’s contract for two key reasons – her superb performance as the school division’s chief administrative officer and the need to ensure continuity for this strong school system.

“The average tenure for a superintendent in Virginia is surprisingly short, about two-and-a-half years. Dr. Herron’s service, both as an interim superintendent and as superintendent, has been exemplary. Consequently, the School Board decided to invest in continuity for our community, by effectively making a commitment to her and, in turn, asking her to make a commitment to Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools.”

Mrs. Cook notes that under Dr. Herron’s leadership, the school division has recorded many accomplishments. These include efforts to ensure that employees have a strong voice in day-to-day operations. “She has embarked upon focus groups with employees such as support, administrative and instructional staff in an effort to foster trust, transparency and teamwork across the division. She has established a Teacher Forum designed to connect leadership with its instructional staff. She has also proved an effective advocate for meeting the needs of this school division. For example, she successfully made a strong, data-driven case that the Williamsburg City Council and the James City County Board of supervisors fully fund the school system’s operating budget request for next fiscal year,” Mrs. Cook said.

Other accomplishments cited include: Full state accreditation of all 15 schools; Top Ten recognition in 2017 Digital School Districts survey; the construction of a fourth middle school; the recognition of Stonehouse Elementary as a National Blue Ribbon School; the establishment of a teacher-led professional development conference; and a ranking of 16 among the state’s 132 school divisions in Niche’s 2017 Best School Districts designations (WJCC scored an overall A grade in this rigorous assessment of academic and student-life data).

Under the new contract, Dr. Herron’s base salary is increased by 3 percent, from $180,000 to $185,540. “I think it is important to note that Dr. Herron is receiving the same salary increase that WJCC PS employees are averaging in the new fiscal year. In fact, a compelling feature of this contract is the fact the School Board will not be re-negotiating her salary each year as is typical in superintendent contract negotiations. Her salary will match the average increase employees receive. I think it important to note that Dr. Herron felt this was the most equitable way to proceed and the Board honored her request.”

Mrs. Cook noted there were other changes to Dr. Herron’s contract which included small increases in her travel allowance and the contribution to her deferred compensation account and the underwriting of disability insurance.

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In its Tuesday, June 19 meeting the Williamsburg-James City County School Board made five administrative appointments, including naming a new principal for Warhill High School and an assistant principal for the new James Blair Middle School.

Warhill High School Principal

Effective July 1, Dr. Jeffrey D. Carroll will become the principal for Warhill High School. Dr. Carroll is returning to lead the school following the resignation of Dr. Mark Hudson. He previously served as its principal for four years, from 2013 to 2017. Presently, he is the WJCCPS assistant superintendent for secondary school leadership, overseeing the division’s high schools and middle schools.
According to Superintendent Dr. Olwen Herron, the decision to ask Dr. Carroll to return to Warhill High was motivated by the desire to provide the school continuity in leadership. “During his tenure, Dr. Carroll led the school in recording many important accomplishments, including increasing the school’s on-time graduation rate, establishing a Governor’s STEM Academy for Engineering and Information Technology, and establishing an Early College program with Thomas Nelson Community College. While we are very appreciative of the fine leadership he has provided at the division level, his familiarity with the school and his love for it made him the right choice,” she said.
“I am happy to again focus my leadership and commitment on Warhill High School. I look forward to daily interaction with students and families, the relationships with teachers and staff, and the energy associated with working in a school,” Dr. Carroll said.
Dr. Carroll joined WJCCPS in July 2009 as the principal of J. Blaine Blayton Elementary School, overseeing its construction. He moved into secondary education in July 2011 as the assistant principal of Lafayette High School, where he served until 2013. His previous administrative experience includes stints as an assistant principal and principal in Fairfax County Public Schools and as a principal in Manassas City Public Schools and Poquoson City Public Schools. He holds a B.A. in Soviet and East European Studies from Yale University; a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, Foundations and Policy from the University of Virginia; and a Ph.D.in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech.

James Blair Middle School

Effective July 1, Astrid E. Howell will become the assistant principal for the new James Blair Middle School. She served most recently as the school improvement specialist for Berkley Middle School. She began her career in public education in 2002, serving as a special education teacher at Mt. Vernon High School in Alexandria. In 2005 she joined the staff of Langley High School in Fairfax County Public Schools as a special education inclusion teacher and case manager. She joined Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools in 2016 as the school improvement specialist for Lafayette High School. She holds a B.A. in French Studies, a M.Ed. in Social Foundations of Education and a M.Ed. in Administration & Supervision, all from the University of Virginia, and a M.A. in Special Education & Instruction from George Washington University.

Senior Director of Communications and Engagement

Eileen M. Cox will join WJCCPS as its senior director of communications and engagement on July 9. In that capacity she will lead the school division’s communications and community engagement efforts, including media relations, crisis communications, publications, the school division’s website and social media platforms, and volunteer, partnership and parent involvement initiatives. Cox comes to the school system from Virginia Beach City Public Schools where she served as its chief media and communications officer. In that role she led a team charged with implementing the division’s comprehensive communications and community engagement initiatives. She joined VBCPS in 2004 as a public relations coordinator, moving up to director of communications and community engagement, and ultimately to chief media and communications officer. Previously, she worked for 14 years in the broadcast journalism field, as a news producer, supervising producer and an assistant news director. She holds a B.A. in English from Old Dominion University.

Director of Finance

Tiffany D. Speight will join WJCCPS as its director of finance on July 9. As director of finance, she will manage a number of important financial functions including the school system’s payroll, accounts payable and receivable and grants management. She comes to the school division from Norfolk Public Schools which she has served for more than 11 years, first as its grants accountant and later as its senior coordinator-grants manager. Prior to having a career in business and finance she worked in the law enforcement and judicial systems, as a supervision officer and a probation and parole officer respectively. Speight holds a B.S. in Administration of Justice from George Mason University and an M.S.A. in Organizational Management with a Concentration in Federal Program Management from Trinity University. She has supplemented her degrees with advanced courses in accounting and has 11 years of working with MUNIS, the finance/human resources system the school division converted to approximately two years ago.

Supervisor for Building Security and Services

On July 1 Brian Weaver will become the division’s supervisor for building security and services, moving up from his previous position as its energy, environmental and security specialist, a post he has held since 2009. This new position places an increased emphasis on safety and security planning. As supervisor for building security and services he will be responsible for managing security for all WJCCPS buildings as well as facilities housekeeping and energy consumption. He joined WJCCPS in 2006 as an elementary teacher, first at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary and later at Matthew Whaley Elementary. He holds a B.S. in Health, Physical Education & Exercise Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.

“All our new appointments fill positions that are critical to the success of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools. Individually and in sum, these new staff members bring amazing skills to the table,” said Superintendent Dr. Olwen Herron.

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All Williamsburg-James City County schools and administrative and support offices are now operating on a summer schedule. This schedule, which involves extended hours for staff Monday through Thursday, means that all buildings are closed to the public on Fridays.

In most cases, staff members are working 7:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. and buildings are open on an 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. schedule. However, there may be some variation among schools, such as when improvements are being made to a building. Consequently, residents who have important business with a department or school, such as enrolling a child, are encouraged to call ahead for an appointment.

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The Virginia Board of Education announced that Jamestown High School and Matoaka Elementary School have each earned a 2018 Distinguished Achievement Award based on their performance in meeting all state and federal benchmarks as well as making progress toward the excellence goals of the Governor and Board of Education. The recognition is part of the state’s annual Virginia Index of Performance awards for advanced learning and achievement.

“We are proud of all the hard work by our students, teachers, administrators and families that has resulted in this recognition,” said Superintendent Olwen Herron.

All schools in Williamsburg-James City County are fully accredited based on student performance on the 2016-17 Standards of Learning tests. Accreditation results for 2017-18 will be released later in the summer.

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At its July 10 meeting, the Williamsburg-James City County School Board approved the appointment of Dr. Catherine L. Worley as an assistant superintendent for school leadership. Dr. Worley is a veteran educator with 27 years of experience in the classroom and school administration. Most recently, she has served as the principal of Jamestown High School.

“Dr. Worley is committed to ensuring that all students have access to rigorous, engaging learning experiences as well as the necessary resources to support their academic and emotional success,” said Dr. Olwen Herron, Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools Superintendent. “She is a passionate advocate for children and fosters a school environment where parents, staff and community partners work together to support student learning.”

Recently named the 2018 Outstanding High School Principal of Virginia by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP), Dr. Worley is recognized as a top instructional leader and innovative educator. In her new role, she will oversee the division’s 7 middle and high schools.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as assistant superintendent in a community and school division that I love so very much,” Dr. Worley said. “I look forward to collaborating with the talented principals at each of our secondary schools as well as with our superintendent and central office leaders to build upon the excellent teaching and learning taking place in classrooms across the division.”

Dr. Worley joined WJCC Public Schools in 2012 after serving as a principal in Albemarle County, Virginia. Prior to that, she was a teacher, assistant principal and principal with Hampton and Newport News public schools. Dr. Worley holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech, and a master’s in Educational Leadership from Old Dominion. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy, both from Radford University.

In conjunction with Dr. Worley’s appointment, the School Board approved the Superintendent’s recommendation to named Howard E. Townsend, IV, as the interim principal at Jamestown High School. Townsend currently serves as an assistant principal at JHS.

“I know that the Eagles family will be in good hands with Mr. Townsend as the interim principal,” said Dr. Herron. “The continuity of leadership will help ensure that students and staff at Jamestown don’t miss a beat. We continue to have high expectations and look forward to another successful school year under Mr. Townsend’s leadership.”

Prior to joining Jamestown High School principal, Townsend served as the assistant principal of Lafayette High School, as a middle school English curriculum leader and as a middle school administrative intern with WJCC Public Schools. He has also worked for York County Schools as an assessment and compliance coordinator.

Townsend is pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership and holds a master’s in educational leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in English, all from the College of William and Mary.

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WJCC will host a coaching clinic put on by USA Football on Friday, July 27^th from 12-5 p.m. to address safety in sports.

The in-person Heads Up Football® training will cover:

• Concussion education– how to identify and respond to symptoms of concussions (overview/highlights)
• Heat and hydration education– how to prevent, recognize and treat athletes (overview/highlights)
• Sudden cardiac arrest– how to respond suspected sudden cardiac arrest (overview/highlights)
• Equipment fitting– how to fit equipment and check the fit of equipment throughout the season
• Shoulder Tackle System(fundamentals, leverage, form tackle, thigh and drive tackle and thigh and roll tackle – with the emphasis on limited helmet contact)
• Effective Practice Planning/Coaching Philosophy/Leadership
• Contact System: Blocks/Defeating Blocks (skill development for one-on-one blocking, LOS and in space & engaging/defeating blocks – while minimizing head contact during line play)

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During its most recent meeting, the Williamsburg-James City County School Board made two administrative appointments.

Jamestown High School

Effective immediately, Anna Thomas will be the interim assistant principal of Jamestown High School. Thomas most recently served as the student advancement coach at Hornsby Middle School. She first joined WJCC Schools in 2005 as a special education aide before serving as an inclusion and special education teacher as well as an administrative intern.

Thomas is pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership from the College of William and Mary. She holds a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and a Bachelor of Arts in Literary and Cultural Studies from the College of William and Mary.

Operations Department – Transportation Division

John J. Lambusta will join WJCC as the director of transportation beginning Aug. 24. A retired Lieutenant Colonel, Lambusta has more than 24 years of service with the U.S. Army where he held a variety of leadership positions related to logistics, transportation, strategic planning and support. Most recently, he served as the senior military analyst, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Science Technology, Research, and Accelerated Capabilities Division (STRACD) at Fort Eustis.

Lambusta holds a Master of Science in Management from Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing from Rowan University in New Jersey. In addition, he has completed numerous programs of study and specialized courses and training through the U.S. Army.

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James Blair Middle School Care-nival
Monday, August 27 . 5-7 p.m.

Community Open House
101 Longhill Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185 

Food & snacks provided by:

• Kona Ice Truck
• Two Drummers Smokehouse

Also…

• Inflatable obstacle course
• Music & deejay provided by WMBG
• Fun photo station
• Walk through the building to see the learning spaces

Donations of school supplies are encouraged to support WJCC students.

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Bus stop information is now available online for the 2018-19 school year. To view your student’s bus stop information please visit http://www.infofinderi.com/ifi/?cid=WCS5PS4DTKVX. Information will be updated on a nightly basis.

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Welcome to the 2018-19 school year! As we prepare to welcome students back to class, I want to make you aware of an important change with regard to who will be taking the PSAT-NMSQT and PSAT 8/9 this school year. Beginning this September, WJCC Schools is expanding opportunities for students to participate in the PSAT/SAT assessments offered by The College Board.

New this year, all 9th grade students will take the PSAT 8/9 at no cost to families. This test is similar to the traditional PSAT and SAT and measures a student’s knowledge and skills in the areas of reading, writing and math. The PSAT 8/9 will provide a snapshot of what students are already learning and provide a baseline measurement of college and career readiness. Performance on the test is also an early indicator of a student’s potential for success in rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) courses that are often taken in grades 10-12. By taking the PSAT 8/9 as freshmen, students will have early access to the College Board’s career exploration tool to receive personalized and targeted online resources and practice from Khan Academy.

Also new this year, all 11th grade students will now take the PSAT-NMSQT at no cost. In the past, this test was given to sophomores. Students will still have the opportunity to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program. However, the change will now also allow them to be considered for the National Hispanic Recognition Program, the National Scholarship Service and the Telluride Association, all of which are only available to students to take the PSAT-NMSQT as 11thgraders. Another benefit to taking the exam in 11thgrade is that the majority of students will have completed Algebra I, which is a large component of the math section of the PSAT-NMSQT.

Please note that although 10th grade students will no longer take the PSAT-NMSQT at no cost, any 10thgrade student may register for and take the exam for $17. In fact, 10th grade students who are interested in applying to the Governor’s School for Science and Technology are encouraged to take the PSAT-NMSQT.

The testing date for both the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT-NMSQT will be October 10. The exams will be administered during a schoolwide extended first block (7:30 – 11:30 a.m.). All 9thand 11thgrade students will be automatically signed up to take the appropriate exam.  Sophomores interested in taking the PSAT-NMSQT may register online Aug. 28 – Sept. 10 by clicking on one of the following links:

• Jamestown – www.TotalRegistration.net/PSAT/472403
• Lafayette – www.TotalRegistration.net/PSAT/472405
• Warhill – www.TotalRegistration.net/PSAT/472417

Families with questions about the PSAT 8/9, the PSAT-NMSQT or the adjusted testing schedule should contact their child’s school counselor.

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