Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Shirley Bailess, Administrative Assistant at Hurt Elementary School, on her selection as Pittsylvania County Schools’ Employee of the Week. Please click on the following link to find out what our employees do to make this A Great Place to Learn and Work! http://www.pcs.k12.va.us/staff/employee-of-week/2011-2012/

Mrs. Vickie Murphy, Principal of Hurt Elementary School, indicates that the Altavista Chamber of Commerce held their annual banquet last week and Ms. Jacqueline Harding, 3rd grade instructor, was chosen as the Altavista Area Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year from the five schools that were represented. Please join me in offering congratulations to Ms. Harding for attaining this noteworthy accomplishment.

The Twin Springs Elementary School family has lost something and they are not looking too hard to find it! Twenty-five (25) members of the staff have started a “Biggest Loser” program. At the first weigh-in this week, the group lost a total of 77 pounds! Group members meet after school to walk and exercise four (4) days a week. The program will run for sixteen weeks. Hopefully, by the end of April, there will be more reason to celebrate the health and fitness success of the staff at Twin Springs Elementary School.

Ms. Angela Rigney, Director of Career and Technical Education, indicates that Mr. Jimmie Tickle and the staff at the Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center recently received an $800 grant toward CareerSafe testing vouchers. The goal of the CareerSafe program is to teach younger workers how to stay safe in the workplace and begin to prepare these young men and women for a safe and prosperous future in their chosen career. By providing entry-level workers, particularly high school students, with the fundamental safety knowledge needed in the workplace, this program brings the significance of safety to the forefront. Please join me in congratulating the staff and administration on their selection to receive a 2011-2012 grant from Lowe's to support the CareerSafe program at the Career and Technical School.

Ten (10) Southside Elementary School teachers were recognized with the annual Wal-Mart Teacher's Award. The company gave each teacher a $100 gift card to the store to purchase school supplies. The donation is part of the Wal-Mart Cares Teacher Award Program. Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Club are investing $4.5 million on over 45,000 educator’s gift cards. The hope is that it will help offset the cost of classroom expenses. Join in congratulating these awesome teachers at Southside Elementary School and thanking Wal-Mart for their incredible support of the school!

During the first week of February we celebrate National School Counselor Appreciation Week. This week highlights the tremendous impact that school counselors have in helping students achieve success in school and to develop academic and postsecondary plans. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate the unique contributions of school counselors in Virginia. School counselors are recognized for the many services they provide to students, teachers, parents, and administrators. Our school counselors work diligently to help students excel, and their hard work is essential to the success of our schools. They play a vital role in the educational process of all students in Pittsylvania County.

February is designated by the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) as School Board Appreciation Month. This is a time for educators and others in Pittsylvania County and across the State to express their appreciation to the individuals who volunteer to govern the affairs of our local public schools. Governor Bob McDonnell has also signed a proclamation declaring February School Board Appreciation Month in Virginia. Please join me in saying thank you to the members of our Board for being willing to unselfishly devote their time and energies to our school system
(http://www.pcs.k12.va.us/public/school-board/index.html).

February is designated as Career and Technical Education Month. Ms. Angela Rigney, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE), invites you to join our effort to promote career and technical education. This year’s theme is “CTE: Learning Today, Earning Tomorrow.” Career and technical education offers individuals lifelong opportunities to learn new skills, which provide them with career choices and potential satisfaction. Pittsylvania County Schools will be conducting special events that support CTE and highlighting services to show our students and the community that CTE is a rewarding and life-changing experience.

Visit http://www.pcs.k12.va.us/media/index.html to (1) request media presence on site to cover an upcoming event or (2) to request media coverage (without media on site) of an upcoming event or (3) to report news from a past event. Thank you for identifying the great things happening in our schools!