December 16, 2009
Donna Peduto, Coordinator Innovation Zone Initiative
Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership
Division of Educator Quality and System Support
Building 6, Room 617
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
Dear Mrs. Peduto,
I am writing this letter as a father of a student, as well as, a
representative of First Central Bank of Buckhannon which is actively
involved in supporting Union Elementary as a partner in education.
Union Elementary is representative of school that truly strives to
provide an excellent learning environment for all students. Therefore, when
hearing the excitement of the Union staff members discussing the
possibilities for an i-Globe innovation zone and the possible benefits for the
children I was immediately willing to express my support. If there is a
group of teachers that could make such an endeavor successful it would be
the teachers and staff at Union Elementary.
Upshur County is a diverse but rural community. Union Elementary
is comprised of a student population that mirrors the local population. There
is an obvious divide or gap between the “haves” and the “have nots”. An
initiative such as i-Globe would positively increase the experiences and
understanding of our neediest children. I applaud any attempt to assist those
lacking opportunities for success.
Sincerely,
Thomas Dale Nesselroade
December 17, 2009
Dr. Sara Stankus, Principal
Union Elementary School
20 Heavner Grove Road
Buckhannon, WV 26201
Dear Sara:
On behalf of the Upshur County Family Resource Network, we are pleased to have this
opportunity to support your I-GLOBE Enrichment…Afterschool and Beyond at Union
Elementary School Innovative Zone Grant Proposal. We are very happy to be a part of
the process that benefits children and families in our community. The addition of this
grant will greatly assist in the development of a much-needed afterschool program for
children in your district. The latest statistics that I recently received indicate that the
child abuse/neglect rate is 44% for the children in Upshur County. That is tragic and
totally unacceptable! We will do everything we can to change that, to protect our
children, assist the families, and provide a healthy, safe and happy environment for them.
The provision for afterschool programs for our children will certainly help provide that
venue.
The Family Resource Network has served as a partner with you on many occasions in the
past to help provide valuable learning opportunities before, during and after school hours,
all of which have life-sustaining effects for the children of Upshur County. We know
how difficult it is to operate these extremely important programs with limited funds and
volunteers with limited time. We pledge to continue to partner with you as we work
together to improve the lives of our children and families and the welfare and well-being
of our community. We can make a real difference when we all work together. Thank
you for all that you do and for caring enough to pursue this opportunity to serve our
children at a greater level. We stand posed to assist in any way possible.
Sincerely,
Joyce Harris-Thacker
FRN Coordinator
UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
A West Virginia School of Excellence
20 HEAVENER ROAD
BUCKHANNON, WV 26201
Dr. Sara Stankus
Principal
304-472-1394
FAX 472-2780
December 14, 2009
Donna Peduto, Coordinator, Innovation Zone Initiative
Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership
Division of Educator Quality and System Support
Building 6, Room 617
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
Dear Mrs. Peduto:
Please accept this letter as our indication of full support from the faculty and staff of
Union Elementary for the i-Globe innovation zone. As an educational team, Union Elementary
faculty and staff are determined that students will be ready for the world that awaits them.
Arriving at Union Elementary School, one will experience a warm welcome by students,
staff and parents. The School Mission Statement provides a quality education through a safe
student centered learning environment in a respectful, caring atmosphere. Our core beliefs and
values are that ALL students deserve a quality education preparing for the 21st century. Present
policies and scheduling prohibits the enhancement opportunities of enrichment in the academic
related arts. Our staff believes each student deserves the right to actively participate in a
supportive environment with adult role models. Students demonstrate social, emotional,
psychological and academic growth when accessed to mentors, counselors, teachers or advisors
are available.
Union Elementary School’s i-Globe Enrichment program would offer students access to
programs that would promote participation in a variety of areas such as physical activities,
collaborative projects, networking and the utilization of 21st Century tools. The i-Globe
Enrichment program would provide the students the opportunity to participate in two choices
three days a week for six weeks. Each six week term, the students would rotate the selections of
choice. The staff is determined to prepare our students for the future regardless of present
economic restrictions or limitations in the home environment.
Our staff recognizes the continual challenges many families face to meet the basic needs.
We compassionately empathize and rigorously share the strong desire to postulate each student
with a well-rounded education. We believe in our students and want each one to have extensive
opportunities to enhance his/her life. The innovations proposed in the i-Globe program will
ensure that we following our vision of creating a 21st century education system that is connected
locally and globally to business, industry, and other key stakeholders.
Sincerely,
The Faulty and Staff of Union Elementary School
Signature
Name
Bonnie
Nancy
Douglas
Rachel
Sarah
Tia
Ric
Stacy
Gary
Gaylene
Amy
Terry
Katie
Beverly
Susan
Cathy
Joseph
Christina
Robin
Ann
Ronda
Lynne
Vickie
Melody
Gabrielle
Tara
Brooke
Sonnie
Diane
Nicky
Baughman
Bradshaw
Bush
Cunningham
Darnall
Dowell
Ewing
Gum
Hansford
Hildreth
Hoffman
Karickhoff
Keener
Lewis
Long
McCauley
Merrifield
Nestor
Oldaker
Osburn
Osburn
Petrosky
Posey
Powers
Rhodes
Rice
Scott
Shaw
Shipman
Smith
Megan
Sue
Sara
Margaret
Frances
Florence
David
Debbie
Snyder
Spotloe
Stankus
Strouth
Tenney
Tenney
Tenney
Weese
KELLEY J. CUNNINGHAM
Rt. 2 Box 69-3
Buckhannon, WV 26201
304-472-2573
December 17, 2009
Donna Peduto
Coordinator Innovation Zone Initiative
Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership
Division of Educator Quality and System Support
Building 6, Room 617
1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
RE: Union Elementary
Upshur County, West Virginia
iGLOBE Innovative Zone Proposal
Dear Ms. Peduto:
I am submitting this letter in support of Union Elementary’s iGLOBE grant application.
As a parent of three (3) children who have attended Union Elementary, two (2) currently and one
(1) now in middle school, I urge you to award the Innovative Zone Proposal of Union
Elementary.
With my six (6) years of having children at Union Elementary, I have had the opportunity
to visit the school on numerous occasions and have attended various field trips for the school.
From these contacts, I have had the opportunity to see many children who are awakened with
wonder when they have gotten to experience things different from their own homes and their
own county. Many children do not have the opportunity to get to experience the world outside of
their immediate surroundings. Many have never, or rarely, traveled outside of Upshur County.
Awarding this proposal would allow these children to develop a greater understand of the world
outside of Upshur County and give them the tools to develop new interests and a chance to
increase their learning.
If I can provide you with any further information, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Kelley J. Cunningham,
Prosecuting Attorney Office,
Upshur County, Buckhannon, WV
Union Elementary Parent
Jean M. O’Halloran, LLC
39 College Avenue, #1,
Buckhannon, West Virginia 26201
December 21, 2009
To Whom It May Concern: As the team leader for Upshur Partners in Prevention, a project of Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia, I strongly support Union Elementary School’s Innovation Zone grant, iGLOBE. Dr. Sara Stankus and her staff have been strong and active supporters of Upshur Partners In Prevention for several years. They have a remarkable can‐do ethic. They also care about our children. They truly believe that the children who pass through their school have promise. I heartily endorse their Innovation Zone proposal, and urge you to do so as well. Sincerely, Jean M. O’Halloran Upshur Partners In Prevention Team Leader 304‐472‐3204 jeanmohalloranllc@yahoo.com Union Elementary Local School Improvement Council
20 Heavner Grove Road
Buckhannon, WV 26201
Donna Peduto, Coordinator Innovation Zone Initiative
Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership
Division of Educator Quality and System Support
Building 6, Room 617
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
Please accept this letter of support of the innovation zone grant application for Union Elementary. The
Local School Improvement Council is in full support of the i-globe innovation plan. The after school
programming aligns with our LSIC goals and objectives as outlined below:
The goals of the Local School Improvement Council are aligned to those of the Upshur County Board of
Education and Superintendent Lampinen.
Goal #1:
Union Elementary School will assure that all students achieve proficiency in
Reading/Language Arts by 2014.
Goal #2: Union Elementary School will assure that all students achieve proficiency in Math by 2014.
Goal #3: Union Elementary School will create stronger and more cohesive partnerships between
community, parents, and school staff.
Sincerely,
UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOCAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS 2000-2010:
Mr. Joseph Merrifield
President, Teacher
___________________________
Mrs. Janie Aguiar
Parent
___________________________
Mrs. Cindy Nesselroade
Parent, Professional Educator ___________________________
Mrs. LeAnn Presar
Parent
___________________________
Mrs. Brooke Scott
Teacher
___________________________
Mrs. Lynne Petrosky
Teacher
___________________________
Mr. Phillip Abel
Bus Driver
___________________________
Mrs. Terry Karickhoff
Service Personnel
___________________________
Mr. Bill Jack
Business Member
___________________________
Mr. Jack Eshelman
Community Member
___________________________
Dr. Sara Stankus
Principal
___________________________
Michael and Jennifer Phillips 9 Vicksburg Road Buckhannon, WV 26201 304 472‐2640 December 17, 2009 Dr. Sara Stankus Union Elementary School 20 Heavner Grove Road Buckhannon, WV 26201 Dear Dr. Stankus, I have recently learned of Union Elementary School’s I‐GLOBE Enrichment…Afterschool and Beyond at Union Elementary School Innovative Zone Grant Proposal, and as parents of a Union Elementary School student, we would like you to know that we fully support your efforts. I‐Globe’s goals of innovation; collaboration; cultural growth; stress and anxiety reduction; learning the importance of their community and sense of “place”; along with the importance of physical exercise will help our elementary school children later become successful middle and high school students; college graduates; spouses; parents and citizens. When school is in session, children spend over 20% of their week in the classroom and on the playground. Although nothing can take the place of an actively involved parent in a child’s life; we cannot fool ourselves into thinking that kids don’t learn a great deal of proper social interaction; experience good role models; and form opinions of right and wrong while at school. Thank you for the opportunity for us to share our thoughts on the I‐Globe Grant Proposal and we are confident that all your efforts will pay off, for the benefit of the children at Union Elementary School. Thank you, Michael and Jennifer Phillips Dec 18, 2009
To whom it may concern,
At a recent visit to my daughter’s school I was informed of a
Grant that Union is writing to create either an extended day program or an
after school program. This program would include but not be limited to
pottery classes, cooking/ nutrition classes, a school newspaper, science labs,
teaching the kids to use a Mac operating system, and Martial Arts classes. I
was blown away at the teachers’ initiative in creating such a well rounded
program. One thing I found really wonderful is that if after a 6 week rotation
my daughter wanted to try something new she could, instead of being in
something for 4 months before being able to switch.
As a parent, I feel that this program is a wonderful idea. I am so
excited to see what the teachers come up with next. My daughter loves school
now and this would create a whole aspect of learning for her that might open
doors we haven’t even dreamed yet.
I sincerely hope the staff is able to receive funding for this program. They
have my full support as a parent.
With Regards,
Tammy Reger
Parent of Emma Reger
UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PARENT/TEACHER
ORGANIZATION
To whom it may concern,
Dec 16, 2009
We the Parent/Teacher Organization of Union Elementary
support the goals and ideas presented in the i-Globe/ Innovation
Zone Grant.
We hope that this program becomes a reality for our children,
offering them more than can be offered during a regular
instructional day. It would provide an opportunity for some
children that may not otherwise be possible and would enrich the
lives of other children.
Sincerely,
President: Mrs. Brandi Nesbitt________________________________
Vice President: Carrie Mills__________________________________
Secretary: Louella Marteney_________________________________
Treasurer: Jannie Hoover____________________________________
20 Heavner Grove Road, WV 26201
304-472-1394 phone | 304-472-2078 fax
unionelempto@verizon.net |
https://www.edline.net/pages/Union_ES