The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education will host its third Summer Fundraiser on Saturday, June 10 from 6 to 8 pm (rain or shine) on the grounds of historic Patterson’s Mill in Martinsburg. The event will support the Center’s civics education initiatives, including its intern program, and celebrate its twentieth anniversary as a non-profit organization on the campus of Shepherd University. Read the Full Story >>
Education
No More State Funds for Ranson Construction
Joyce White, Deputy Superintendent of Operations for Jefferson County Schools (JCS), spoke to the Board of Education at its regular meeting on April 24 to give a brief update on the new Ranson Elementary School project. “The contractor has equipment on site” was the report, pointing out the visible confirmation that the construction phase of the project is finally underway. The update on the school system’s request for additional state funding was equally to the point — “no additional funding.” Read the Full Story >>
Schools Search For New Superintendent — Input From County Residents Invited
The Jefferson County Board of Education has scheduled seven public sessions to collect input from Jefferson County residents about the search for a new Superintendent. Read the Full Story >>
Confusion on Plans for Water & Sewer at New Shepherdstown Elementary School
Jefferson County Board of Education has many questions about plans to provide water and sewer utilities to the new Shepherdstown elementary school site. Read the Full Story >>
Local School Receives Award
C.W. Shipley, the public elementary school in Harpers Ferry, was recently recognized by the Blue Ribbon School Program as an Exemplary High-Performing School. Only 297 schools nationwide (including two others in West Virginia) received this recognition in 2022. Read the Full Story >>
Appalachian Heritage Writer-In-Residence Program Hosts Week-Long Program with Author Barbara Kingsolver
The 2022 Appalachian Heritage Writer-In-Residence events on Shepherd University campus (Sept. 23-30), featuring author Barbara Kingsolver, are open to the public. Read the Full Story >>
Jefferson County Public Schools Focuses On Teacher & Staff Recruitment and Retention
Over the summer, Jefferson County Schools (JCS) had 320 open positions to fill for the 2022-23 school year — approximately one quarter of the full-time employee count across the entire school system. Read the Full Story >>
Writers Conference Returns to Shepherd University
Manuscript to Marketplace, a conference for writers of all genres, will take place on the Shepherd University campus September 9 & 10 and is expected to draw attendees from across the region and beyond. Read the Full Story >>
Library Summer Programs Entertain & Educate
All of the local public libraries (Charles Town, Bolivar-Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown & South Jefferson) have a variety of events, activities, classes and challenges as part of their summer programs. Read the Full Story >>
Shepherd University Attracts Students & Funding
Looking at the early numbers on Shepherd University’s enrollment picture for next year, undergraduate applications are at the highest level the University has seen in eight years (and up 39 percent compared to this time last year). Enrollment confirmations are up 24 percent compared to this time last year. The University has also run up the score in attracting federal funding. Read the Full Story >>
Jefferson Virtual Academy Offers Online Options
al Academy is part of Jefferson County Schools’ commitment to offer education options to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of a diverse student population. Read the Full Story >>
Homeschool As An Option For Students In The Eastern Panhandle
While there are many motivations for why parents and children choose to school at home, a preference for hands-on learning and outdoor activities seems to be a common reason for choosing this option. Read the Full Story >>
Will New Charter Schools Open in West Virginia?
Governor Jim Justice signed House Bill 2012 in May of 2021, allowing for the establishment of up to 10 charter schools in West Virginia over the next decade. But the status of these virtual charters may be up in the air because of a preliminary injunction issued in late 2021. Read the Full Story >>
The Health Of The Community
Be the Light” — it’s the inspirational message displayed prominently on the walls throughout Erma Ora Byrd Hall, home to the College of Nursing, Education and Health Sciences at Shepherd University. This state-of-the-art teaching facility represents the University’s commitment to training the nursing professionals who are essential to meeting the health care needs of the local and regional community. Read the Full Story >>
Shepherd University Celebrates 150 Years
This year marks the 150th anniversary for Shepherd University. As the University resumes classes for the 2021-22 academic year, Dr Hendrix, the current university president, noted the anniversary milestone and remarked on the recent challenges: “At Shepherd University, we remain optimistically committed to training the next generation of leaders and model citizens by listening to the needs of our community, looking at ways to adapt to our changing landscape, and learning from the faculty, students, and staff employees who came before us. Read the Full Story >>
