Parkersburg South High School pastry class teacher Duane Nutt, left, hands out baked goods to visitors at the high school Thursday night during the second of three Wood County Board of Education LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education held the second of three LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events Thursday night at Parkersburg South High School.

“Previously, each school would go to the Board of Education meeting and present individually,” PSHS Principal Maria Francisco said. “Now, we have a one-stop shop for south side, north side, and Williamstown schools to come together.”

She said the event featured displays from multiple departments at South, including English, math, history, foreign language and theater. She said student council members were also on hand to guide visitors through the exhibits, showcasing the wide range of activities available to students.

“It’s just a great way, especially for our middle school kids coming up next year, to see what all is available to them,” Francisco said.

She said her favorite part of the event is seeing the younger students’ enthusiasm to share their progress and achievements.

The Parkersburg South High School Choir, led by Jennifer Ratliff, members of the band and ROTC performed the National Anthem Thursday night as the Wood County Board of Education held the second of three LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events at the high school. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“By far, the best part is the littles wanting to show you their successes,” Francisco said. “And I love seeing that. I also like seeing everybody doing something a little bit different and trying to do what’s best for their school. I see a lot of STEAM, a lot of science and technology being used, which is really exciting.”

One of those successes included three second-grade students from Martin Elementary who came together to start a fundraiser for the World Wildlife Fund.

Wrenley Dawkins, Myla Sprouse and Nick Brown were on hand to talk about their efforts to raise money for endangered tigers.

“They’re our teacher’s favorite animal,” Sprouse said. “And tigers are animals. And every animal has a purpose.”

Martin Elementary Principal Thomas Wheeler said Sprouse approached him with an idea.

Members of the Blennerhassett Middle School broadcasting team filmed a segment for their program Thursday night at Parkersburg South High School as the Wood County Board of Education held its second of three LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“She said they make bracelets and have a snow cone machine but it takes a half an hour to make one,” Wheeler said. “So we settled on selling the bracelets and we had ice cream sandwiches and popsicles.”

Wheeler said the group raised $700.

“We ran out of bracelets and had to make more the first day,” Sprouse said. “I was surprised but it felt really good.”

Spouse said with the success she had with the bracelets she plans to do another fundraiser this summer.

“I’m going to raise money to help pandas,” Sprouse said.

Director of Secondary Education Ken Cook talks to Parkersburg South High School theater students Zane Van Fossen and Chloe Lesher Thursday night as the Wood County Board of Education held its second of three LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events at the high school. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

She said she plans to open a lemonade stand and sell keychains to help her efforts.

Students from Franklin Elementary were also on hand to talk about their achievements.

“Our theme this year has been ‘Level Up,'” Principal Stephanie Agee said. “The students are really into video games so we wanted to incorporate that.”

She said their focus was to improve attendance, academics and character. A leaflet students were handing out said they decreased chronic absenteeism from 28.17 last year to 17.82 this year. It said students reading at grade level went from 21% last year to 39% this year and grade level math has increased from 9% last year to 32% this year.

“We also received a grant from the Highmark Foundation to implement Little Spot Emotional Curriculum in every classroom,” Agee said.

Martin Elementary second-graders Nick Brown, Myla Sprouse and Wrenley Dawkins talked to visitors at the Parkersburg South High School LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase event Thursday night about their efforts to raise money for endangered tigers. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

The leaflet said counselors do bi-weekly emotional lessons in the classroom.

The board will hold its third and final LSIC Showcase event next Tuesday at Parkersburg High School at 6 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com