KINGWOOD — The eclipse provided both fun and a learning opportunity for some Preston County students, according to Superintendent of Schools Brad Martin.
Martin said parents were provided information about the eclipse, and appropriate glasses were provided for students. He said each school decided whether it wanted to participate in the event. Martin said the Aurora school had 250 people who showed up to watch the eclipse.
The Preston High theater renovation project, which is primarily levy-funded, began with the removal of the existing seating in February. Martin said the electric crew that will upgrade the lighting plans to begin work Monday. He said the school’s maintenance crew will paint the floor once the lighting crew is finished. Reinstalling the seats will follow. Finally, Martin said Delanos will replace the carpets in the facility, with all work set to wrap by May 10.
According to Martin, work on the Trenton Grant project at the Track & Field Complex is ongoing with the maintenance staff finishing out the installation of the bleachers and preparing for installation of the handicap accessible benches and spots.
Repair work on the honors wall is also ongoing and fencing along the edge of the parking lot is targeted for replacement. Finally, he said, railing running along the newly paved trail will also be completed soon. A plaque commemorating the work was mounted this week and the first meet of the year took place the same evening.
In other business, PHS students earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs, according to Lynnette Ryan, communications specialist for the high school. Ryan said the academic honors for rural areas, Black, indigenous and Latino students is an opportunity for students to share strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talents. She said to qualify for the honors the student must have a 3.5 or higher grade point average and be in the top 10% of assessment takers in the state.
Ryan said students receiving the honor for the college board’s rural and small town recognition were Adam Davis, Jessica Harned, Kaden Hayes, Noah Humphrey, Lyndsay Kitchen, Donald Parks, Hallie Simmons, Joseph Street, Ethan White and Kadence Whitehair. Those receiving the College Board’s National First Generation achievement were Bryson Evans, Jessica Harned, Hallie Hartsell, Noah Humphrey, Harley Mersing, Johnny Michael, Dillon Moore and Ira Shaffer.
Preston High electrical students Bryson Evans and Cole Trickett competed in the Skills USA competition at Clarksburg Technical Center and Fairmont State University. Bryson finished in first place overall, and Cole finished in third place overall.
Preston County State Science Fair winners and qualifiers were also recognized.
Winners were Levi Yoder, first place, Preston High School; Jacob Heubi, first place, Bruceton School; Scarlett Hayes, first place, Central Preston Middle School; Ethan White, second place, Preston High School; Aubrey Welch and Kylee Barr, second place, Central Preston Middle School; Emma Goodrich, second place, Central Preston Middle School; Katelyn Gribble, qualifier, South Preston School; Branson Roth, qualifier, Aurora School; Donald Parks, qualifier; Preston High School; Rick Deal, qualifier, Preston High School, and Reese Stratton, qualifier, Central Preston Middle School.
The next meeting of the Preston County Board of Education will be 6 p.m. April 23 at the BOE building.
