Jefferson County Public Schools
May 2012
Middle and high school application period starts Oct. 21
www.jcpsky.net Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities
October 2013
Visit the JCPS Middle and High School Showcase—Oct. 18-19 Get answers to your questions about schools and programs Representatives from middle and high schools—and from many Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District offices—will be available to answer your questions at the Middle and High School Showcase. It will be held on Fri., Oct. 18, from 3 to 7 p.m., and Sat., Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Kentucky International Convention Center, at the corner of Third and Market Streets.
The showcase offers detailed information for both parents and students. At many booths, students who currently participate in magnet or optional programs will be on hand to talk with you and your child. Key JCPS employees will be available to talk about applying to schools, transportation, the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program, and many other programs. The application period for JCPS middle and high schools is Mon., Oct. 21, through Fri., Jan. 10. See the next page for more information.
Get a free copy of Choices at the Middle and High School Showcase. The guidebook also is available on the Showcase of Schools page on the JCPS Web site at www.jcpsky.net.
The Elementary School Showcase will be held on Sat., Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kentucky International Convention Center. The application period for JCPS elementary schools is Mon., Nov. 18, through Fri., Jan. 10. Watch for more information about the elementary application process in the November issue of Parent Connection. 2
Middle and high school online application period Mon., Oct. 21, through Fri., Jan. 10, is the online application period for middle and high school magnet programs, optional programs, magnet schools, and high school Open Enrollment for the 2014-15 school year. You will be able to complete the JCPS application online during this period. It will be available on the district’s Web site (www.jcpsky. net) and at registration centers at many JCPS offices and schools. For more information, visit the Web site during the application period or contact your child’s school. You also can
get more information from the district’s Optional and Magnet Programs Office at 485-3323 or the JCPS Parent Assistance Center at 485-6250. Please note that students who are currently enrolled in the fifth grade or the eighth grade at a JCPS school and are not interested in applying to specialized schools or programs do not need to go through the application process. These students will automatically be enrolled in the middle school or the high school that serves their home address. To find out which school serves your child’s
address, call the JCPS Demographics Office at 4853050 or use the online SchoolFinder at http://apps.jefferson. kyschools.us /demographics/schoolfinder. aspx. Fifth- and eighth-grade students who are already enrolled in a traditional magnet school or program do not need to apply to a traditional magnet middle or high school if their traditional school is a feeder school to the next level. Contact your child’s school for more information.
Middle school programs Middle school magnet programs let students explore their favorite subjects in depth. The following programs accept applications from students throughout the district, and transportation is provided for every Jefferson County address: • The Academy @ Shawnee: Aerospace Program • Highland: International Studies • Noe: Gifted and Talented, and Visual and Performing Arts • Thomas Jefferson: Communications
• Westport: Montessori • Farnsley, Meyzeek, and Newburg: Mathematics/Science/Technology (MST)—Students are assigned to one of the three schools based on their home address. JCPS also offers magnet middle schools and programs that provide specialized
learning environments: • Barret, Jefferson County Traditional, and Johnson are traditional magnet schools. Students are
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assigned to one of them based on their home address. • The Brown School offers self-directed learning in a kindergarten through grade-twelve environment. (Note: Transportation is not provided for Brown School students.) • Olmsted Academy North is an all-boys school. • Olmsted Academy South is an all-girls school. • Western Middle is a Visual
and Performing Arts Magnet School. Some JCPS middle schools offer optional programs: • Crosby: Liberal Arts Academy • Highland: Fine Arts • Lassiter: Environmental Education • Moore Traditional: Environmental and Life Science • Stuart: Health Careers As in a magnet school or
program, a student who is accepted into an optional program becomes a fulltime student of the school that offers it, and he or she attends the school for all classes—not just the optional program classes. But, unlike magnet programs, transportation is provided for optional program students only if they live in the attendance area of the school that offers the program.
Magnet program spotlight
Westport's Montessori Program “Montessori education supports the natural growth of children by helping them develop creativity, criticalthinking, and time-management skills,” says Dr. Staci Eddleman, principal at Westport Middle. “The program also provides character education and encourages students to make a positive contribution to the community.” Westport offers the only JCPS Montessori Program for middle schoolers, and it accepts applications from students throughout the district. Nearly 100 sixth graders were accepted into the program this year. Now in its third year, the program also has about 100 seventh- and eighth-grade Montessori Magnet students. Montessori education is 4
based on the work of physician and educator Dr. Maria Montessori, who discovered in the early twentieth century that many students perform best in a school
that nurtures individual learning styles and offers the freedom to pursue selfdirected education. Modern research supports Dr. Montessori’s findings, and there are hundreds of schools throughout the United States that follow the Montessori philosophy. Westport’s program allows students to continue to learn through that philosophy if they attended a Montessori elementary school. JCPS offers two: Kennedy Montessori and ColeridgeTaylor Montessori. Students who have not attended a Montessori elementary school also are welcome to apply to Westport’s program. Photo: Art teacher Katie Dumouchelle paints a new mural in the lobby of Westport Middle.
What are 5-Star High Schools? Courses at most JCPS high schools are organized around one of five Professional Career Theme Programs that offer advanced college and career preparation. Classes go far beyond lectures. Students participate in hands-on, real-world projects in and out of the classroom. Local companies, community organizations, colleges, and universities partner with JCPS schools to support these programs, so students get expert advice from professionals in the field. Many courses offer college credit as well as job shadowing, mentoring, professional certification, co-ops, internships, or apprenticeships. Students graduate with the kind of diploma that gets noticed—a credentialed diploma representing dualcredit courses, authentic experiences, and industry certifications. JCPS provides transportation for students who are accepted into one of these programs within the network that serves their at-
tendance area. If you don’t know your child’s network or attendance area, call Demographics at 485-3050 or use the SchoolFinder on the JCPS Web site. Human Services, Education, and International Studies This theme offers courses for students who want to prepare for a legal career, learn the art of teaching, or explore the world. Students
who take Human Services courses study the law, government, and social issues. Service-learning projects give students real-world skills and experience that make their résumés stand out. JCPS education students learn the foundations of teaching and gain experience by working with elementary and middle school students. Education students also learn about col-
leges and universities where they can continue their studies and career preparation after high school. Students who take international studies classes develop an in-depth understanding of the global community. They learn a world language, and they work with government agencies and international organizations. Through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Atherton High, students can earn an IB Diploma that is recognized for university admission at schools around the world. Fairdale High offers the University of Cambridge International Examinations Program, which gives students the opportunity to earn an international diploma and college credit. Schools: Network 1: Fairdale High, Network 2: Seneca High, Network 3: Atherton High Engineering (Aerospace/ Architecture/Manufacturing and Construction) JCPS engineering students build problem-solving skills 5
and master a range of tools and technologies—the same tools and technologies that today’s professionals use. Students receive a broad introduction to the field by exploring real-world problems. They study historical engineering achievements ranging from the Egyptian pyramids to the U.S. highway system to the Ohio River locks and dams. Courses are also available for students who want to focus on aviation, manufacturing, energy transmission, or construction. Schools: Network 1: Iroquois High, Network 2:Jeffersontown High, Network 3: The Academy @ Shawnee Communication, Media, and the Arts Communication skills are in demand across occupations. Courses at JCPS high schools are available in public speaking, radio and television production, stage and costume design, print media, graphic arts, and performing arts. Students work in well-equipped, state-of-the-art studios. They get many chances to practice their craft and 6
show off their skills. Whether they’re painting murals, acting on stage, creating digital art, writing a short story or novel, editing news articles, anchoring a broadcast, or directing a film, students receive both solid academic instruction and practical experience. Schools: Network 1: PRP High, Network 2: Fern Creek Traditional High, Network 3: Ballard High
health-care certification before they graduate from high school. Career opportunities for experts on the environment are expanding rapidly. JCPS environmental students investigate the world in the classroom, the lab, and the field. They explore current issues and study possible solutions to environmental problems. Schools: Network 1: Valley High, Network 2: Moore Traditional School, Network 3: Waggener High Business and Information Technology
Medicine, Health, and the Environment JCPS health-care students learn about a range of possible careers and develop basic skills in each medical field. Courses provide preparation for both an entrylevel job and for additional study in college. Mentoring, real-world health-care environments, job-shadowing experiences, and internships show students how the pros do it. Many students earn professional
JCPS business students learn how to create and run a company. Both business and information technology students learn how to use technology to manage business operations. Courses are available in banking, finance, business applications, marketing, accounting, computer repair, networking, Web design, geographic information systems, and programming. Many of these courses offer both industry certification and college credit. Schools: Network 1: Doss High, Network 2: Southern High, Network 3: Eastern High
Districtwide magnet high schools The following magnet schools and programs accept applications from students throughout the JCPS District. At most schools, transportation is provided for every Jefferson County address. • The Academy @ Shawnee offers the Aerospace: Flight School Program and the Aerospace: Aviation Maintenance Technology Program. • The Brown School is a self-directed learning school that serves kindergarten through gradetwelve students. (Transportation is not provided for Brown School students.) • Butler Traditional High and
Louisville Male High offer traditional education. • Central High School Magnet Career Academy (MCA) offers business, technology, law, health care, and veterinary magnet programs. • DuPont Manual High offers communications, visual arts, college prep, and math/science/technology programs. • Western High offers the Early College Program and the Culinary Arts Program. • The Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) offers dance, theatre, musical the-
atre, design and production (technical theatre), vocal music, instrumental music (band and orchestra), and piano programs.
JCPS educators named McConnell Center Teacher Scholars Ten JCPS educators were selected to be part of the 2013-14 McConnell Center Teacher Scholars Program. The JCPS teachers are among 30 Kentucky kindergarten through gradetwelve teachers who will participate in the yearlong lecture and seminar series with national experts on American history, government, and economics. The teachers will receive free books and other resources, interact with a
nationally recognized expert each month, take part in a culminating in-depth intellectual and travel experience, and be invited to bring their students to the nonpartisan McConnell Center and University of Louisville’s (UofL’s) Belknap Campus. The JCPS McConnell Center Teacher Scholars are: • Robin Buchanan, Denise Dodge, and Daniel Pierce at Coral Ridge Elementary • Aundra Lipscomb at Co-
chran Elementary • Sarah Cole McIntosh at Louisville Male High • Dan Morgan and Meghann Scharfenberger at Ballard High • Randal Perkins at Westport Middle • Deborah Thomas at Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP) High • Steven Welsh at Minors Lane Elementary • Erin Woodham at Westport Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) 7
JCPS will be first district to offer free eTranscripts
New system will streamline college admissions High school seniors soon will be able to send electronic transcripts to Kentucky colleges and universities, as well as some out-of-state schools, using the Kentucky eTranscript process.
Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). There is a nominal charge
JCPS will be the first school system to make free eTranscripts available districtwide. Eventually, they should be available to students in public and private high schools throughout the state. “The statewide adoption of electronic transcripts will streamline the college admissions process, in some cases allowing students to complete the process totally online,” says Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson. “The eTranscript system will be easy for our students to use, and it will reduce costs and save time for all parties.” The eTranscript system is provided free to high school students, school districts, colleges, and universities by the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), the 8
KDE’s chief of staff. Counselors and students also will be able to upload such documents as letters of recommendation for paperless delivery and track the entire transmission process, he says. The transcripts and other materials will be delivered in PDF format to colleges and universities through a secure online portal. “This has truly been a collaborative effort that will benefit the students of Kentucky,” said Carl Rollins, executive director of KHEAA. “Hopefully it will make the entire college admissions process easier and encourage more students to seek a postsecondary education whether that be at a two-year or four-year institution,” he says.
for students to send transcripts to non-participating colleges or universities. “High school counselors and students will benefit by having a simplified request and delivery system available 24/7,” says Tommy Floyd,
The three state agencies worked on the project with two private firms: Parchment and Infinite Campus. Parchment is the leader in eTranscript exchange in the U.S., and Infinite Campus is the largest American-owned student information system.
Board members are hosting Community Conversations
Members of the Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) are hosting a series of Community Conversations at schools throughout the district. Parents and the public are invited to discuss the strategies that the board and JCPS are using to improve schools and raise student achievement. Community Conversations support the JCPS Strategic Plan: Vision 2015, which calls for increased stakeholder engagement and encourages parents and community members to help enrich students’ educational experiences and support their success. Board members will host Community Conversations in October, February, and March. For a schedule, visit the JCPS Web site at www. jcpsky.net.
Support the Metro United Way The JCPS 2013 Metro United Way Campaign has begun. The student campaign will run until Fri., Nov. 8, but please note that Fri., Oct. 25, has been designated as Metro United Way Day at JCPS schools. You may receive information from your child’s school about the importance of Metro United Way to our district and our community. The organization is an important partner with JCPS in many initiatives, and last year, about 32,000 schoolaged children (ages 6 to 18) in Jefferson County benefited from Metro United Way-funded services. In addition, it’s estimated that one in three adults in our community will need services from the organization at some point in his or her life. By giving your child the opportunity to make a donation and participate in Metro United Way Day, you’ll not only support the organization but also help your child learn about good citizenship and community service. 9
Emirates Airlines US Open Series. The 15th Annual Arthur Ashe Essay Contest required students to answer the following question: “If you could follow in Arthur Ashe’s footsteps and ‘give back’ to tennis, what would you do to give back to the game, and how would it impact others?”
Ballard student/ tennis player wins Arthur Ashe Essay Contest
Rangeland Elementary offers the Health and Fitness for Accelerated Learning Magnet Program for students in Elementary Clusters 7 through 13.
Fourth grader competes in national track and field championship
Jamarion Smith, a Rangeland Elementary fourth Ballard High student Charles grader, competed during the “CJ” Crawford was the Ken- summer with the nation’s tucky winner in the 15th most elite student athletes Annual Arthur Ashe Essay at the USA Track and Field Contest. National Junior Olympic Track & Field ChampionCJ is a member of the Balships at North Carolina A&T lard tennis team as well as the Rising Stars of Kentucky State University. Tennis, a nonprofit program Jamarion competed in the based in Newburg’s Petersage 9-10 division in the burg Park but made up of long jump and the 100players from all over Jeffer- yard dash. He was eligible son County and beyond. to compete after winning strong victories at multiple CJ and a chaperone received an all-expenses-paid state and regional meets.
Farmer Elementary educator is Kentucky History Teacher of the Year
The open was held on the campus of Wake Forest University and was the final stop of the ten-tournament
Cornelius, who has been teaching Farmer fifth-graders since 2007, sponsors an
trip in August to the Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina, where CJ got a chance to interact with topranked tennis players.
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For instance, at a Kentucky USATF Region 5 Championship on July 17 in Michigan, Jamarion won the boys’ 9-10 division with a 13-foot jump, beating competitors from several states. He competed with the Westside Track Club.
Jamarion Smith
The Kentucky Historical Society named Christina Cornelius, a teacher at Farmer Elementary, the 2013 Kentucky History Teacher of the Year.
annual Historical Character Day and uses several of Kentucky’s historic sites to engage her students. “Experiential learning is a powerful tool which allows students to grow both academically and socially, thus allowing the development of the whole child,” Cornelius says of her teaching style. “Students should be given the opportunity to examine, analyze, and critique a variety of primary resources pertaining to various historical periods. This practice leads to enhancing criticalthinking skills,” she says. Cornelius will receive a $1,000 honorarium and will be in the running to be named the 2013 National History Teacher of the Year this fall. Farmer Elementary’s library will receive a core archive of history books and educational materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and HISTORY Network. Cornelius also will be invited to a 2014 Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar, and
Farmer Elementary will be named a Gilder Lehrman Affiliate.
• Katherine Kunau—Lincoln Elementary Performing Arts School • Jennifer Zehnder—Carter Teachers earn Traditional Elementary National Director of • Chris Corbin—Hawthorne Physical Activity Elementary Certification • Dan Johnson—Field Elementary Seventeen JCPS teachers • Janet Kanzinger—St. Matrecently earned certificathews Elementary tion as a National Director of Physical Activity from • Carri Rogers—Chancey Elthe National Association for ementary Sport and Physical Educa• Candace Foster—Kammertion. er Middle • Cecilia Lokits—Zachary The certification qualifies Taylor Elementary teachers to implement the Comprehensive Physical Ac- • Susan Dake—Wellington Elementary tivity Program, to enhance their existing physical edu• Allen Markja—Schaffner cation programs, to coordiTraditional Elementary nate physical activity across • Robin Ratliff—Greenwood the curriculum, to comElementary municate and market their • Erica McGowan—Johnsonprograms, to foster commutown Road Elementary nity collaborations, to train • Kara Springer—Olmsted other adults to provide and Academy North supervise physical activity • Shemaine Bridges—Rangeopportunities, and to plan land Elementary physical activity events for • Chris Edge—Rangeland students, staff, and families. Elementary The following JCPS teachers • Ryan Connor—Tully Elearned the certification: ementary • Kisha Nail—BreckinridgeFranklin Elementary
Are you getting the e-mail newsletter?
Parent Connection eNews is a JCPS newsletter that offers new, brief articles in a monthly e-mail. You can view the latest issue and sign up for future ones on the Parent Connection Web site. 11
Quick quiz for parents
Are you as smart as a JCPS seventh grader? The answers to the fifthgrade math questions in the last issue of Parent Connection are 1. C. 2. B. 3. B. To review the questions, visit the publication’s Web site (www. jcpsky.net/Pubs/ ParentConnection/ welcome.shtml) and select the September issue. The first parent to send the correct answers for the last quiz was Katrina Brown, mother of a student at Farnsley Middle. Other winners were Debbie Fleig (Knight Middle), Daniel Ledford (Tully Elementary), Emily Holder (Layne Elementary), Ellen CullinaneSpanyer (Atherton High), and Dejuana Bridgeman (Seneca High). This month, Parent Connection offers a quick quiz with seventh-grade science questions. The first three parents who send the correct answers to the Parent Connection office via e-mail and the first three who send the answers via regular mail will receive a free JCPS T-shirt. Please include the name of your child’s (or grandchild’s) school.
The e-mail address is thomas.pack@jefferson. kyschools.us. The regular mailing address is Thomas Pack, Communications and Publications North, C. B. Young Jr. Service Center, Building 4, 3001 Crittenden Drive, Louisville, KY 40209.
Despite the advantage gained by using the ramp, there is a loss of energy mainly due to A. friction between the box and the ramp. B. the length of the ramp. C. the rope stretching when it is pulled. D. two people pulling the rope.
You don’t need to write the questions or answers. Just send the question numbers and the letters for your answers. Or you may cut out this quiz and mail it. 1. In which part of a plant does photosynthesis take place?
3. What is the best conclusion you can make from the graph shown above?
A. bark
B. flowers
C. leaves
A. The more rain there is, the better the corn will grow.
D. roots
2. Two workers use a ramp to help lift a box onto a dock as shown below.
B. Corn needs rain to grow, but too much rain is harmful. C. Different kinds of corn need different amounts of rain to grow best. D. Corn can grow well even if there is no rain.