Social Studies

LIBERTY - Twenty-one students at Liberty Elementary School were recognized Wednesday by the City Council for their "distinguished" scores in the 2004-2005 CATS tests. Mayor Steve Sweeney praised the students for their work in academics. "We're so proud of you," he said. The students who received certificates from the city are: Fourth grade: Alex Bolin, science; Austin Brockman, science and writing portfolio; Allison Tinsley, reading; and Skyler Wright, science. Fifth grade: Kayla Atwood, math, social studies and practical living and vocational studies; John Luke Beard, Cassie Poe and Derrick Wesley, social studies; Abby Buis, social studies and practical living/vocational studies; Kris Chione, practical living and vocational studies; Justin Johnson, math; Leann King, math, social studies, arts and humanities and practical living/vocational studies; Chris Lee, math, social studies and practical living/vocational studies; Michael Luttrell, Clint Lynch, Bobbi Stacy and Abby Vaughn, each practical living/vocational studies; Madison Marcum, social studies and practical living/vocational studies; Ryan Martin, math, social studies, and practical living/vocational studies; Andrew McQueary, Jeremy Pendleton, and Bethany Poff, arts and humanities; Andrew Walters, social studies and arts and humanities; Shauna Wardrip, math, social studies and practical living/vocational studies; and Logan Weddle, social studies, arts and humanities and...

LIBERTY - Students at Phillips Elementary School who have received high scores in state academic tests were given trophies Monday by Casey County Board of Education. Stacy Beeler, on behalf of the board, presented trophies to students who scored distinguished: Fourth grade, Cole Burke, reading; Rance Kidd, science and writing portfolio (proficient in reading and on demand writing); Brandon Lange, science (proficient in reading portfolio); and Sarai Wethington, reading (proficient in science and portfolio)

LIBERTY - Casey County schools almost are ready to begin random drug testing for students and school staff. Winter Huff, attorney for the Casey County Board of Education, told the board Monday that she has reviewed the contract with Premier Drug Testing and will make necessary changes. Drug testing can begin after this. Gwen Marcum assumed duties as health nurse/health coordinator this week and will assist with the testing. She replaces Kay King, who retired last month. The board honored 100 students who scored proficient and distinguished on state tests.

LIBERTY - Garrett Elementary School came out on top last month in the attendance percentage, according to an announcement at Monday's county Board of Education meeting. The school won for best attendance for students, certified and classified personnel. Students had 95.86 percent attendance, certified personnel had 95.85 percent and classified personnel had 97.63 percent attendance. District wide average attendance was 92.34 percent. The school will get $600 as its reward.

LIBERTY - Students at Phillips Elementary School were recognized Monday for their work in the PRIDE Club and for test scores. The club has received $15,000 in grants from the federal Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment program. The money was used to build an outdoor classroom, continue work on the project and $5,000 went to the teacher. The club has built bird and squirrel feeders, a trail, wild bird project and spring cleanup. The project is to see how human and other species affect the environment and help the club improve practical living test scores.

STANFORD -The following students were recognized on June 4, Awards Day, at Lloyd McGuffey Sixth Grade Center. Caitlin Adams, outstanding attendance; Caleb Adams, language arts; Danielle Adams, outstanding attendance, Diversity Club; Kayla Adams, AB honor roll all year, student of the week; Yuriy Aube, Diversity Club; Noah Baker, outstanding attendance; Zachary Baker, perfect attendance, all As all year, students of the week, Math Investigations; Elijah...

LIBERTY - Phillips Elementary School students were recognized Monday for distinguished and proficient scores on state tests by the Casey County Board of Education. They received certificates and trophies. They are: Distinguished: Science, Ciara Brown, Carlos Maldonado, and Sara Propes; and science and writing portfolio, Brandi Dean and Allison Thompson. Proficient: Reading, Brandi Dean, David Krizan, Larry Patten, John Wethington, Allison Thompson and Christy Waskom.

The Stanford Elementary School Quick Recall team, coached by Susan Johnson and Missy Harmon, had only one loss during this season. The Future Problem Solving Team coach was Jennifer Stamper. In District Governor's Cup competition, the Quick Recall Team and the Future Problem Solving Team each received second place. Individual winners at the District Governor's Cup were Blake Henderson (math first place), Joe Johnson (social studies first place and science fourth place), Mallory Bridgman (language arts second place)

Dear Editor, I would like to publicly thank the Pliant Corporation for sponsoring my class as part of the Newspapers in Education program. The NIE provides newspapers and activities to be used in the classroom through corporate and individual sponsorship. The newspaper is a vital resource in the social studies classroom in terms of current events - locally, nationally and globally. Sixth-graders do not always read the newspaper at home or watch the news, therefore having the paper available in the classroom allows them access to information to which they might not otherwise be exposed.

Woodlawn Elementary School won the district Governor's Cup academic team tournament Saturday. In the overall score combining individual and team events, Hogsett Elementary placed second, followed by Toliver Elementary and Jennie Rogers Elementary. The Woodlawn team won the quick recall tournament after winning two one-point matches against Hogsett, the second-place quick recall team. Both teams qualified for the regional Governor's Cup quick recall team competition March 19 in Lincoln County.

Knight advocates for CTE in DC Jessamine Career and Technology Center Principal Dexter Knight attended the Association for Career and Technical Education's (ACTE) National Policy Seminar (NPS) March 4-6 in Arlington, Va., and met with members of Congress on Capitol Hill to educate them about the value of career and technical education. Career and technical education (CTE) delivers real-world training and skills development to over 94 percent of America's high schools. Now more than ever, the nation is turning to CTE to prepare the skilled workforce needed to keep America competitive and grow our economy.

West Jessamine Middle School is sending three students and its quick-recall team to the state finals of the Governor's Cup. The regional Governor's Cup competition was held at East Jessamine Middle School last week with 15 middle schools present. The West Middle quick-recall team finished as runners-up at the regional competition. Individuals medaling in written assessments were Brett Gillispie, second in social studies; Jung-Ho Kim, second in mathematics; and Wesley Hansen, fifth in science.

The crowd was sparse on Old Centre's lawn late Thursday morning. Plenty of volunteers were on site, getting ready for the influx of visitors who would be at the Debate Festival throughout the day.  Law enforcement was evident throughout the campus. The yellow badges of volunteers and others able to be on campus glinted in the sunlight. Tents dotted the top of the lawn near the Centre College landmark. Some were for food and merchandise vendors; one was manned by American Association of Retired Persons volunteers.

The Kentucky State Board of Education Wednesday unveiled the first component of its new accountability system that is replacing the old Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). The new system is the result of Senate Bill 1, the education reform bill passed by the Kentucky Legislature in 2009. Unlike CATS which judged public schools only on their test scores, beginning in the fall, the new system will use test scores, but it also will judge schools on how much progress they make and whether they are closing achievement gaps with disadvantaged students.

STANFORD — For Lincoln County students and parents, Ronnie Deatherage is the voice of the snow day. On icy nights and snowy mornings when kids cross their fingers waiting to hear those magical words — “School’s canceled” — Deatherage is the man who says them, through an automated phone system. “The little kids say ‘I know you. You call my house every day,’ or ‘He‘s the one that calls for snow,’” Deatherage said about his visits to elementary schools.

Jessamine County saw significant increases in high-school students taking advanced-placement tests last year, largely due to the schools’ participation in the Advance Kentucky initiative, according to district officials. The intiative, started in 2007, is a six-year partnership between Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation and the National Math and Science Initiative. It offers financial incentives to students who pass exams in advanced-placement (AP) courses. Jessamine County had 524 students take AP exams across the disciplines of English, mathematics, science and social studies in the 2009-2010 school year.

Fifth-grade Awards Perfect Attendance : Christa Hicks. Reading : Auburn Mattingly, Anthony Anness and Leslie Napier. Language Arts : Lindsey Cross, Cody Eads and Auburn Mattingly. Math : first class, Cody Eads; highest average, Auburn Mattingly; third class, Anthony Anness; fourth class, Allie Harness; fifth class, Casey Deaton; sixth class, Jacob Randolph; and most improved, Ryan Wilson. Social Studies : Auburn Mattingly, Shelby Miracle, Blake Ison, Christa Hicks, Madison Fralix, Kami Chappell and Will Brogle.

First grade Good Citizenship: Jarrod Reed. Outstanding Academics All Areas, Jacie Means and Lauren Woolums. Reading, Morgan Day and Kenly Lane. Math, Alexander Cuellar. 110 Percent Math, Vanessa Hume; 110 Percent Effort and Improvement, Kennedy Messer. Reading, Macy Abney and Seth Ousley. Math, Taelor Alexander. AR, Drew Fain and Maribeth Woodrum. Citizenship, Zachary Seybold, Sarah Norsworthy. Spelling, Tyler Farthing and Sierra Graves. Academic Achievement — Reading, Math and Spelling, Alex Miller, Meggie Morrow and Jonathan Younger.

Educators from the Danville and Boyle County school systems will be presenting at the Kentucky Association of School Councils annual conference, "Schools That Lead the Way," Sept. 22-23 at the Louisville Marriott downtown. Danville Superintendent Carmen Coleman will share her years of experience with student goal-setting. Toliver Elementary School Principal Judy Spellacy and teachers Shirley Whisenant, Stacy Pingleton, Cindy Stallard and John Erwin will share strategies that their school has employed to raise student achievement levels.

Battle lines are being drawn in Texas for a protracted fight over what gets taught in the state's social studies classrooms. And since Texas has an outsized influence on what goes into textbooks nationwide, the winners could end up writing history for us all. The opening skirmish is over reviews just in from six outside analysts appointed by the State Board of Education to review the K-12 social studies curriculum. Three reviewers were chosen by social conservatives on the board and three by moderates and liberals ?