Student winners in the Golden Horseshoe, Math Field Day, the Social Studies Fair, the Young Writers Contest and the National Geographic Bee were introduced during Tuesday’s Tucker County BOE meeting at Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School.
THOMAS – Tucker County BOE members had the opportunity to meet students who were recognized for their academic achievements this year. Karen Linton introduced those students who were winners in many of the local and state competitions.
The Golden Horseshoe test has been administered in West Virginia since 1931 and Linton said it is the longest running program of its kind in any state. The test is for those in eighth grade and tests knowledge of West Virginia history and facts. This year’s top scoring students from Tucker County who will be inducted as ladies of the Golden Horseshoe Society May 5 in Charleston are Lindsey Hull and Abbie Eakle.
At the county level, 23 students participated in the Math Field Day and 11 students qualified to compete at the regional level. County winners include fourth grade, Cole Carr; fifth grade, Wenkai Campbell, Maddox Anderson and Jesse Hamric; sixth grade, Ivy Wilt, Andrew Bonner and Catie Kirk; seventh grade, Wayne Clark, Malikye Ware and Trinity Bever; and eighth grade, Alaira Hudson.
First place winners in the Social Studies Fair go on to compete at the regional level. Winners in the Tucker County Social Studies Fair include first place, Devin Teter for the individual team in world history division II; and second place, Karlie Thompson and Trinity Bever for world history division II pairs.
The state’s largest writing competition is the Young Writers Contest. First place winners from the county receive certificates and will be treated to workshops with published authors and presenters on WV Young Writers Day on May 12. State winners are not publically announced until Young Writers Day – Tucker County has a second place state winner for the second year in a row.
First place county winners in the Young Writers Contest are grades one and two, Oliver Archuletta from the Mountain Laurel Learning; grades three and four, Allison Liller; grades five and six, Alyssa Berry; and grades seven and eight, Alaira Hudson.
This is the first year Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School participated in the National Geographic Bee. There were seven participants in grades 4 through 8 and the school winner takes an online test to determine eligibility for the state competition. Jake Hamric was the school winner.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, BOE members voted to employ Kimberly Wamsley as substitute school nurse, pending certification and background check.
The following resignations/retirements were approved: James Hamric, resignation as principal at TCHS effective for the end of the 2016 to 2017 school year; Heidi Hamric, resignation as TIS at TCHS/DTEMS at the end of the 2016 to 2017 school year; Kim Johnson, resignation as guidance counselor at TCHS effective the end of the 2016 to 2017 school year; Nicholas Hovatter, resigning as electrician, plumber and general maintenance worker effective April 7; and Judy Pitzer resigning as girls basketball coach at DTEMS effective the end of the 2016 to 2017 school year.
Tucker BOE members discussed programs at TCHS including proposals for weighted grades and dual credits.
During special sessions Tuesday evening, BOE members voted to approve the levy order and rate sheet. BOE members invited public input into the 2017 to 2018 calendar; however, no one attended the meeting with any input. Superintendent Dr. Eddie Campbell said the calendar will probably look very similar to the 2016 to 2017 school calendar and should have the first semester finished by Christmas break. He said the calendar most likely will include a week off for Thanksgiving, time off between Christmas and New Year and a spring break beginning with Good Friday through the following week.
Bruce Wilson invited BOE members to attend the 2017 Annual All-County Student Art Show at the Davis Fire Department. He said folks can vote for the people’s choice award at the show on Saturday, April 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 30 from noon to 3:30 p.m. The awards program begins Sunday, April 30 at 3:50 p.m.
The next Tucker County BOE meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. May 1 at Tucker County High School. During that meeting, BOE members will vote to approve at 2017 to 2018 school calendar and vote to approve a budget for the 2017 to 2018 school year for publication.
