Category: Schools

Posted on

David Oberg Running for White Hall District School Board Seat

Charlottesville Tomorrow reports:

David Oberg, an attorney with theCharlottesville-based firm Jones & Green, is running for the White Hall District seat on theAlbemarle County School Board.

Oberg, 45, who formerly directed Blue Ridge UniServe — an organization that aims to support local education associations — made the announcement Tuesday atClaudius Crozet Park.

“If I’m elected, I will do the absolute best I can to represent the needs of our county, the needs of our kids and the needs of our teachers,” Oberg said. “I’ve worked pretty much my entire life on public education, and if elected I promise you I will be tireless.”

Topping Oberg’s list of key issues is the role high-stakes standardized testing plays in public schools.

That there were so many there yesterday in support was impressive. The pizza provided didn’t hurt. 🙂



Posted on

WAHS Has a New Principal

Darah Bonham was announced tonight as the new principal at Western Albemarle High School.

My opinion: having someone from the Charlottesville/Albemarle community is (hopefully) going to lead to much greater outcome than the previous principal.

Charlottesville Tomorrow notes:

Darah is an exact fit with what the Western community told us they were looking for in a new principal, an outstanding educator with a deep knowledge of instructional excellence,” said Matt Haas, assistant superintendent of Albemarle County Public Schools, who noted that the community-based review panel selected Bonham unanimously.

Let’s hope this one sticks around for more than  two school years.

Continue reading “WAHS Has a New Principal”

Posted on

WAHS Honor Council Disbanded With No Public Discussion?

Curious – what’s the impact of the elimination of the Western Albemarle High School Honor Council? Why no debate or discussion?

Click through and read the whole thing.

“I’m incredibly sad to say that Albemarle County Public Schools has disbanded the Western Albemarle High School Honor Council. The news was confirmed this morning by a WAHS administrator. The Honor Council has been an active body at WAHS since the early 1980s and has tried countless cases of honor code violations.
…
The most SHOCKING aspect of this entire ordeal doesn’t even have to do with the merits of the Honor Council itself, but with the fact that the county made this decision – which has important (and immediate) implications for school policy and school culture – with no conversations whatsoever with Western students or faculty. In fact, the Honor Council was supposed to meet this week to receive notice of our disbandment, but the meeting was cancelled because the council no longer technically exists. “

I’d love to hear from administrators/teachers … if you’d prefer an anonymous comment (I’ve seen it frequently challenging to have an honest discussion when one’s name is attached publicly to something) – send me an email here.

Read Tim’s post in its entirety.

Posted on

Feed Hungry Kids at Crozet Schools

This is one of those uncomfortable things many don’t like to either acknowledge or talk about.

Kids shouldn’t be hungry.

A good discussion on the RealCrozetVA Facebook page led to this:

Looking at data from each school, we have about 400 kids who are likely to be hungry at school. This is a we thing, not a Crozet, or Brownsville, or Henley, or Western thing.


“Disadvantaged” students are those who receive free and reduced price meals under the federal program.


There are nearly 3,000 kids enrolled at Crozet schools; of those, these are the number of “disadvantaged” at each school:

– 95 kids at Crozet Elementary
– 109 kids at Brownsville Elementary
– 100 kids at Henley Middle
– 100 kids at WAHS

That’s 400 kids!

Think about that. And then consider donating funds or food to the schools.

Or the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank while you’re in the giving mood.

Update: great comment from Henley’s PATSO VP:  Continue reading “Feed Hungry Kids at Crozet Schools”

Posted on

Give Input on Western’s New Principal

It’s been only two years since WAHS searched for a new high school principal. Now it’s time to do it again.

And this is the time when I implore all denizens of Western Albemarle to express feedback and get involved – even you elementary school parents; this is the high school to which many of you will be sending your kids.

Even if you don’t have kids in the Western schools, the school quality matters – for the quality of education and our property values.

School quality matters for a lot of reasons, not least because school quality directly impacts property values – and school quality is one of the very few things in which home buyers do not compromise.

via email:


Good Evening Western Albemarle Feeder Pattern Families:

Western’s current principal John Werner will be leaving at the end of this school year. As such, we are beginning the search for your next principal. The principal search is a rigorous process which has transformed and developed over the course of the past few years. The process allows us to look at each candidate through a number of different lenses to help make an informed decision about who will be Dr. Werner’s successor. The search process will begin this week with the posting of the vacancy announcement for Principal at Western Albemarle High School.  

Continue reading “Give Input on Western’s New Principal”

Posted on

WAHS Principal Resigns; Search is On for New Principal

Less than two years in, Dr. John Werner, WAHS principal, is resigning, effective 30 June of this year.

And this is the point of the story where I encourage parents – of elementary school and middle school kids in particular – to get involved and vocal in this process. This is the school where either you’ll send your kids or you’ll depend on when you sell your house.

School quality matters for a lot of reasons, not least because school quality directly impacts property values – and school quality is one of the very few things in which home buyers do not compromise.

 

Letter from Dr. Werner after the break. 

Related  conversations from 2013:

Continue reading “WAHS Principal Resigns; Search is On for New Principal”

Posted on

ArtFest in the West 2015 a Success

via Newsplex.

The third annual Artfest in the West took place Friday night at Western Albemarle High School.

…

Artfest raised money for art programs in Albemarle County Public Schools’ western feeder pattern.

“Art is one of the first places that gets cut,” said Karen Pfeiffer, Artfest in the West president.

Pfeiffer holds that art plays an important role in everyone’s life.

“It rounds out a person, teaches them to thing with the other side of their brain.”

Over the previous years, Artfest in the West has generated more than $12,000 for marching band uniforms, art supplies, and more.

“These kids are just so talented and they’re really dedicated to their art. And we want to support that and continue that,” said Pfeiffer.

 

 

Posted on

Beauty and the Beast at Western Albemarle High School – March 12-15

Beauty and The Beast - March

via email:

Beauty and the Beast at WAHS – featuring a mix of  55 students from Western, Henley, Crozet, and Brownsville and a 15 member orchestra, a crew of 20-25, nearly 100 Crozet kids are involved in this production.

New dates … because Snow Happens!

Thursday March 12th– Benefit preview, by donation- 7:30 pm
Friday March 13th– show 7:30 pm
Saturday March 14th– show 7:30 pm
Sunday March 15th– show 2:00 pm

Friday and Saturday  March 6 and 7 at 7:30 pm and Sunday March 8 at 2:00 pm

Benefit preview Thursday March 5th at 7:30 pm (tickets by donation)

Tickets available in WAHS main office and online.

– Students $6 in advance $8 at the door

– Adults $12 in advance $14 at the door

– Seniors $6 in advance $8 at the door

Classic story of character triumphing over appearances, with memorable songs such as “Be Our Guest” and “Home”, charming characters, poignant scenes, beautiful costumes, and heartfelt message, this is sure to be a remarkable event.

Posted on

Crozet Elementary Safe Routes to School starting soon!

via email:

CROZET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BALLARD DRIVE

The purpose of this project is to provide safe pedestrian access along Crozet Avenue from the Crozet Elementary School to Ballard Drive. Drainage improvements, a sidewalk and a curb-and-gutter will be constructed along the west side including a pedestrian crossing at the school entrance. Plecker Construction Company has been awarded the construction contract and plans to start on March 2, 2015, weather permitting. AMT will assist the County with onsite inspection services and F&R Inc. will perform materials testing on the project. Funding for this project is primarily through a grant from VDOT.

The schedule of the project is as follows (weather permitting):
  • 03/02/15 – Start of Construction
  • 06/30/15 – Substantial Completion
  • 07/30/15 – Final Completion

If you would like more information regarding this project, please contact Frank Pohl, Senior Project Manager, by phone (434)-872-4501 x 7914 or by email [email protected].