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Photo: JCPS
Jefferson County Public Schools Acting Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio announced Tuesday that Matthew “Matt” Anderson will be the new acting principal at Jeffersontown High School.
Anderson was introduced to the staff this afternoon and will begin running day-to-day operations of the school immediately. Assistant Superintendent Michelle Dillard will be continue to assist with the transition.
“It is my responsibility to create a safe and relevant learning environment for all of our students and staff,” Anderson said. “This begins with establishing a positive climate and culture where all students and teachers feel valued and supported. Our students deserve to feel challenged through an engaging curriculum and learning experiences that will prepare them for life after Jeffersontown High.”
Anderson added that “while many great people and programs already exist at Jeffersontown High, I will work to ensure our school is a place where students want to learn, teachers want to teach, and the community is proud to support.”
Anderson currently serves as the director of student relations for JCPS. He previously served as an assistant principal at Moore Traditional School and as a teacher and goal clarity coach at Waggener High School.
He will serve as acting principal until Jeffersontown High’s School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council names a permanent principal, which is expected to take place early next year.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) high school girls will learn about empowerment and positive choices during the 2017 Youth Services Centers Women of Worth: I Am Resilient Conference, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, in Hartford Hall at the Jefferson Community & Technical College (JCTC) Downtown Campus (649 S. 1st Street).
Approximately 300 students from a variety of JCPS high schools will enjoy sessions about goal setting, college readiness, healthy relationships and resilience. Sadiqa Reynolds, CEO and President of the Louisville Urban League, will serve as the keynote speaker.
The conference mission is to empower and motivate young women to make positive choices that will strengthen their life skills, help them overcome barriers and guide them in achieving academic success. The conference is sponsored by several JCPS Youth Services Centers, Norton Children’s Hospital and JCTC.
Eighth-grade students at the J. Graham Brown School, 546 S. First Street, will host an interactive refugee camp on Friday, November 10, from 9:05 to 11:40 a.m. and from 12:10 to 1:10 p.m. at Peace Park (located across the street from the school) to showcase what they have learned in class over the past two months.
The students have created a refugee camp that will reproduce some of the challenges and difficulties that refugees face in camps today. They will also provide an interactive learning experience and reflection opportunities for participants.
In addition, the school’s ninth graders have been studying different aspects of water scarcity in all their classes and have organized a “Walk for Water” that same day from 8:30 to 11 a.m., as they are trying to raise $8,000 to build a well for a school in Sudan. Each student (having collected pledges) will be carrying a gallon of water from the school to the Big Four Bridge and back.
Both activities are great examples of the Deeper Learning initiative that is at the forefront of the district’s strategic plan. The framework was adopted by the Jefferson County Board of Education in June 2016 as a way to encourage students to be more independent and take a more active role in their learning process.
The Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Mobile Registration Bus is hitting the road again in an effort to help students and their families register for the 2018-19 school year.
The bus will make its first of 19 stops over the next four weeks on Monday, November 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Maupin Elementary School (1312 Catalpa Street).
All incoming kindergartners, students who are new to JCPS, and students who have had a change of address should register. Parents or guardians should bring a photo ID and any one of the following: utility bill, lease, house contract, paycheck stub, or government-issued check.
Families can also register using the JCPS website or by visiting any JCPS school or the JCPS registration site located at 4309 Bishop Lane. Additionally, parents who have questions regarding school registration may call the JCPS Parent Assistance Center at 485-6250.
The initial application period for enrollment in JCPS for the 2018-19 year opened October 30 and will continue through December 15. The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018.
A complete list of JCPS Mobile Registration Bus stops is available below and online here.
JCPS Mobile Registration Bus Schedule
- Monday, Nov. 6, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Maupin Elementary School, 1312 Catalpa Street
- Tuesday, Nov. 7, 4 to 6 p.m.
- George Unseld Early Childhood Education Center, 5216 Ilex Avenue
- Wednesday, Nov. 8, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Coleridge-Taylor Elementary, 1115 W. Chestnut Street
- Thursday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- California Community Center, 1600 St. Catherine Street
- Monday, Nov. 13, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Maupin Elementary School, 1312 Catalpa Street
- Tuesday, Nov. 14, 4 to 6 p.m.
- George Unseld Early Childhood Education Center, 5216 Ilex Avenue
- Wednesday, Nov. 15, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Coleridge-Taylor Elementary, 1115 W. Chestnut Street
- Thursday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- California Community Center, 1600 St. Catherine Street
- Monday, Nov. 27, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Maupin Elementary School, 1312 Catalpa Street
- Tuesday, Nov. 28, 4 to 6 p.m.
- George Unseld Early Childhood Education Center, 5216 Ilex Avenue
- Wednesday, Nov. 29, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Coleridge-Taylor Elementary, 1115 W. Chestnut Street
- Thursday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- California Community Center, 1600 St. Catherine Street
- Monday, Dec. 4, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Maupin Elementary School, 1312 Catalpa Street
- Tuesday, Dec. 5, 4 to 6 p.m.
- George Unseld Early Childhood Education Center, 5216 Ilex Avenue
- Wednesday, Dec. 6, 4 to 6 p.m.
- Coleridge-Taylor Elementary, 1115 W. Chestnut Street
- Thursday, Dec. 7, 4 to 6 p.m.
- California Community Center, 1600 St. Catherine Street
- Tuesday–Thursday, Dec. 12–14, 4 to 6 p.m.
- JCPS Parent Assistance Center, Lam Building (4309 Bishop Lane)
Jefferson County Public Schools Acting Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio announced on Friday that the principal of the Academy @ Shawnee will be taking a new position to help implement the Academies of Louisville in high schools across the district.
“I’ve recently experienced some health issues, and after careful consideration, I have decided to embark on a new endeavor with JCPS,” said Principal Venita Benboe. “In my new role, I will support the district by helping implement the Academies of Louisville. This is something I’m incredibly passionate about personally and professionally, and it’s an opportunity I simply could not pass up. I will always be here to support my Academy @ Shawnee family.”
Starting tomorrow, two highly respected and long-time JCPS administrators will take over the day-to-day operations of Shawnee until the district names a permanent replacement. Dr. Dan Withers is retired from JCPS and was the principal at Central High School. Betty Graham is a retired principal who served many years at Newburg Middle School and Olmsted Academy South.
“Shawnee is in good hands, and our goal is to have a permanent principal in place by the start of the second semester,” said Dr. Pollio. “I’d like to thank Principal Benboe for her leadership. She worked tirelessly to improve the lives of her students. I know she’ll bring that same passion to her work at the district.”
Teachers, staff, and the entire student body at Knight Middle School, 9803 Blue Lick Road, will all be wearing glasses (prescription or empty frames) all day long on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, to stand with those who have ever been bullied.
Sixth graders in Brittany Witt’s class came up with this idea on their own. Their goal was to bring awareness of the bigger picture of bullying and show the importance of being a voice for kindness and compassion. The students did research and figured out how to implement this activity. The school has had glasses donated from multiple movie theaters in the area.
The teacher, students, and Principal Cathy Gibbs will be available for interviews at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017.
Highland Middle School, 1700 Norris Place, will hold its Community Fall Festival event with a Haunted Fourth Floor on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The event, hosted by the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), will feature games, a book fair, and a showcase of student work as well as performances by the student jazz band and string ensemble. There will also be a Valu Market Food Tent. Game tickets will be available for purchase.
The school’s fourth floor has also been transformed into a haunted house. Admission for the Haunted Fourth Floor is $7.
You can view a short promotional video about the Haunted Fourth Floor here.