Williamstown Middle School fifth-grader Luc Thurman, right, talks about the TREK program to Wood County Board of Education members Debbie Hendershot and Ron Tice Thursday night at Williamstown Middle/High School as the board held the first of three LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events scheduled in April. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

WILLIAMSTOWN — The Wood County Board of Education held the first of three LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events Thursday night at Williamstown Middle/High School.

Board President Justin Raber said the LSIC includes business partners, members of the public, parents, staff and professional employees with the common interest of making their schools better.

“We’ve been doing these fairs for a number of years to maintain contact with local schools,” Raber said.

He said the fair featured presentations from various school departments, including music, history, and arts, spanning elementary through high school levels. Raber emphasized the importance of direct school engagement, saying that these events are where “the rubber meets the road” in understanding the impact of educational governance.

“It’s always about the interactions with employees and students,” Raber said. “That’s what makes our LSIC fair so special.”

Williamstown Middle School fifth-graders Mara Evans and Rylee Sweat talked to visitors about Greek Mythology Thursday at Williamstown Middle/High School as the Wood County Board of Education held the first of three LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events planned in April. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

He said the fair represents a unique opportunity for community members to see firsthand the innovative programs and dedicated work happening in local schools.

One of those programs at Williamstown Middle School is the TREK program.

“TREK stands for trekking forward,” fifth-grader Luc Thurman said.

He described the program as a self-taught, self-motivated and self-governed program that allows students to learn on their own. He said the teacher will give students limited instructions and, “might as well leave the class.”

“We do everything on our own. There are no rules or regulations on how we do things,” Thurman said. “We learn each other’s skills and strengths and assign duties based on that.”

Williamstown Strings Elementary Director Amaris Fleming, left, and Hannah Mayo, center, help Lorelei Erwin tune her violin Thursday at Williamstown Middle/High School before the Wood County Board of Education held the first of three LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events being held in April. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

A recent project he said the group participated in was helping elementary students build bridges out of popsicle sticks.

“I don’t usually take on leadership roles but I was the head architect for that project,” Thurman said.

Rylee Sweat and Mara Evans, other students in the program, talked about their mythology and restaurant projects to those in attendance.

“I was so excited when we heard we were going to get to study Greek Mythology,” Evans said. “It’s one of my favorite subjects.”

Sweat talked to people about her Japanese restaurant project where she created a design for the building and even created her own menu.

Williamstown High School band members Jillian Carr and Caydence Bland prepare to talk to the Wood County Board of Education Thursday night about all the achievements the school’s band and choir have obtained so far this school year. The board was visiting the high school for the first of three LSIC (Local School Improvement Council) Showcase events being held in April. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“I really want to cook these meals one day,” Sweat said. “But I don’t want to open my own restaurant. I want to be a veterinarian.”

Evans said she hopes to open an interior design firm with another friend after they graduate.

The board will visit Parkersburg South High School April 24 at 6 p.m. where staff and students from the high school, and their middle and elementary school feeders, will get a chance to show the board what they have been working on this school year. The event is open to the public.

The final fair will be April 29 at Parkersburg High School at the same time.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com