By BECKY CRISSMAN
becky.crissman@gaflnews.com
ABBEVILLE — Members of the Wilcox County Board of Education heard a number of reports from principals during their regular meeting Tuesday.
They got a glimpse of what administrators, faculty and students will be doing in the last few months of school.
One of the biggest concerns was preparation for the Criteria Referenced Competency Test (CRCT), coming in April. Teachers have been busy preparing their students all year.
The CRCT, administered to Georgia students in grades 1-8, is designed to measure how well students acquire the skills and knowledge described in the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS).
Locally Wilcox County Elementary School is offering a CRCT Boost for students in grades 3-5 two days a week during art and music classes.
Students can receive extra help in language arts and math during music. Youngsters in grades 1-5 have been given CRCT on-line which is a math and language arts assessment, Principal Diane Walker said.
Teachers are using information from these assessments to group students and plan instruction for the exam scheduled to begin April 21, she added.
Improvements have been noted at Wilcox County Middle School among 6th graders receiving remediation in math, that principal said. She indicated that 67% of students showed an increase in numerical grades.
Preparations also are underway at Wilcox County High for the Georgia High School Graduation Test.
A pep rally to offer support to the 11th graders is scheduled for Friday, March 20. T-Shirts have been ordered for them to wear. Then students will be testing Monday, March 23 through Friday, March 27.
The end of the year often brings a few fun and educational activities and field trips for students. WCES will celebrate AG Day on March 20. Kindergarten students will enjoy a trip to Copeland’s Strawberry Patch, and pre-K students will be excited to show their grandmas, papa’s, grandaddy’s and nanny’s on Grandparents’ Day April 3.
In the middle and high schools, spring sports is kicking into high gear. Golf season began this week and the track team, baseball and softball team have began to practice, Principal Arney Bryant said.
The board also approved personnel appointments for the 2009-2010 school year.
Donnie Clark and John Beverly were added to the team as substitute bus drivers. Janice Clark and Patricia Bloodsworth were appointed as substitute teachers and Laura Wells as a speech/language therapist.
The board approved the resignation of one para-pro, Tami Harpe due to her relocation.
