BCS Insider

Welcome to BCS Insider! This monthly e-newsletter will include district highlights, progress updates, feature stories, upcoming events, and more. This is a great way to stay informed and engaged in what's going on around our school district.

As my first month concludes, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome I received as your new superintendent. The past four weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, filled with excitement and the anticipation of the incredible journey we are embarking on together. I've had the pleasure of meeting many administrators, support staff, educators, parents, community members, and even some students as you'll see highlighted below. I look forward to meeting many more in the days ahead!

I am truly inspired by the dedication I have seen so far. It is clear that we have a team of educators who are passionate about nurturing each student’s potential, and our entire staff is united in providing the necessary support to help them achieve their goals.

I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and confident in our collective ability to make a positive impact. You play a crucial role in this partnership—let us continue to support one another, celebrate our successes, and remain focused on our shared mission of educating and empowering our students.

Thank you once again for your warm welcome, I invite you to learn more about my entry plan here.

Yours in education,

Ryan S. Saxe

Berkeley County Schools' Teacher of the Year Bryan Hott and Service Person of the Year Julie Dopson have both been named finalists at the state level! Congrats, Bryan and Julie, and thank you for your service and dedication to the students of BCS!

Bryan is a fourth grade teacher at Mill Creek Intermediate whose love and passion in the classroom is obvious in every lesson. He has been recognized for his amazing work in math at the state level and is extremely involved in his school and community. To read more about Bryan and the other TOY finalists, check out the WVDE's article.

Julie has spent 19 years as a Kindergarten aide at Burke Street School, spending each year finding ways to prioritize students in engaging ways and focusing on each student as an individual. She, too, has been recognized many times throughout her career, including being named a Distinguished Service Award honoree. More about Julie and the other finalists can be found here.

Another successful Summer SOLE (Summer of Learning and Engagement) wrapped up this month where we spent several weeks keeping the minds of our students sharp and enthusiastic about learning! This year's focus English Language Arts using Scholastic Literature Camp and mathematics with Math for Love, play-based rigorous curriculum.

The goal of Summer SOLE is to maintain skills for next school year to avoid the "summer slide" with learning, and encourages success with small class sizes.

Staff from Berkeley Heights Elementary School, Eagle School Intermediate, Martinsburg North Middle School, Spring Mills Middle School, Spring Mills High School, and Musselman High School all attended the Jostens Renaissance in Orlando, Florida, this month! At this conference, the students and staff learned how to:

• Improve school culture and climate
• Grow educator morale
• Drive academic achievement
• Foster character development

We would also like to give a special congratulations to Spring Mills High School and Musselman High School for receiving wonderful recognitions! SMHS was recognized for bringing the most people to the global conference, and MuHS was selected as a Jostens Platinum School of Distinction for the second year in a row! Only 1% of all high schools are selected for this distinction. Congratulations!

Please join us in welcoming our newest school administrators! This month, BCS appointed five new principals who will provide our students and families with the tools they need for success! Let's learn a little bit about them.

1. Charity Ballard is Berkeley County born and raised, and a Berkeley County Schools graduate. She joins the Winchester Avenue School community after more than a decade of experience as a professional educator, serving as a teacher and assistant principal at Valley View Elementary School for the last 12 years. Ballard holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Shepherd University, with endorsements in Pre-K and Kindergarten. She also holds a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Frostburg State University.

2. Brandon Burkhart is returning to Berkeley County Schools after most recently serving as an assistant principal for the last eight years in Shenandoah County Public Schools, Virginia. He began his teacher career with BCS in 2009. Mr. Burkhart is a vested member of the South Berkeley community, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education from Shepherd University, and a Masters of Administration and Supervision from American Public University.

3. The 2024-2025 school year will mark 30 years of experience as a professional educator for Rebekah Eyler, all with Berkeley County Schools. She spent eight years as a teacher and 21 years in school administration. Eyler is a Berkeley County Schools graduate and holds college degrees from Shepherd University and West Virginia University.

4. Jacqueline Orrence is joining the Hedgesville Elementary School community following 27 years of experience as a professional educator, and more than two decades of experience as a school administrator; most recently serving as an assistant principal for Montgomery County Schools, Maryland. Ms. Orrence is a 1985 graduate of The Catholic University of America with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. She also holds a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction and a certification in Administration and Supervision from Hood College.

5. Kevin Pittsnogle is also a Berkeley County Schools graduate and joins the Martinsburg North Middle School administration with more than a decade of experience as a professional educator, most recently serving as an assistant principal at Musselman High School since 2021. Mr. Pittsnogle previously served as a teacher/case manager at Hedgesville High School and Martinsburg High School, and as an assistant principal in Morgan County Schools.

These administrators will greatly contribute to our students' success and uphold our belief in providing a Model school experience. Their expertise and dedication will ensure that every student receives the support they need thrive academically and personally.

It's hard to believe that the first day of school is only three weeks away, and we are so excited to welcome our students back on August 19!

Be ready! Be prepared! Sign up for the BCS app, receive NTouch Alerts, complete your meal benefits application, review vaccine school entry requirements, and more with our Back to School Checklist.

IMPORTANT: If your student is not up to date on their required vaccines, don't wait! Please make an appointment with a healthcare provider/community health center to get your student immunized before the start of the school year! Read more about required vaccinations at the link below.

A new school year is fast approaching, and we are excited to welcome our students for the 2024-2025 school year! Student and parent orientation dates have been scheduled for the following dates and times:

• Primary/Elementary Schools: Thursday, August 15, 2024, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Intermediate Schools: Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Middle Schools: Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• High Schools: Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Your school will communicate more specific information regarding your student's orientation.

We're just shy of two months into breaking ground on major bond projects financed from the 2022 Bond Call, and we are making exciting progress! The foundation has been completed for the new 4th Grade Wing at Tomahawk Intermediate School, and we are also seeing major progress on other projects as you'll see below.

• Tomahawk Intermediate Addition (4th Grade Wing)
• Block foundation is complete.
• Rough-in plumbing is finished.
• Concrete slab is scheduled for next week.
• The outdoor basketball court is paved, lined, and ready.

• Martinsburg High Restroom Upgrades
  
• Masonry installation is complete.
• Epoxy floors installation is complete.
• Drywall ceiling installation is in progress.
• Completion of project is August 9.

• Hedgesville Elementary Restroom Upgrades
• Partitions and facilities are installed.
• Punchlist completion is next week.
• Completion of project is August 5.

• Musselman Middle Auditorium
• Ceiling installation and lighting upgrade is in progress.
• Completion of project is July 30.

• Summer HVAC upgrades (4 facilities) in progress and scheduled to be completed by the second week of August:
• Back Creek Valley
• Hedgesville High
• Musselman Middle
• Winchester Avenue (also restroom upgrades)

• Bunker Hill Modular
• The 8-classroom portable is complete with set-up.
• Fire Marshall inspection is next week.
• Ready for occupancy Aug. 2.

• Hedgesville High Turf Football Field
• The concrete stabilization is complete.
• The perimeter curb installation is in progress.
• The drainage system and gravel base layer are in progress.

• Musselman High Turf Football Field
• The perimeter curb and drainage system is complete.
• Installation of the final base layer of gravel is ready.
• Goal posts and time-clock posts have been installed.
• Turf arrives for installation on Monday, July 29.

Email: info@berkeleycountyschools.org
Phone: 304-267-3500