Schools

The Morgan County School Board approved extensive staff changes for the upcoming school year at their August 7 and August 21 board meetings.

Resignations

The Berkeley Springs High School Marching Band will present their new edition of the BSHS Alma Mater at the home opener on August 31.

A staple of football pregame shows across the nation, a school's Alma Mater unites graduates and current students with a song of school pride. For many years, Berkeley Springs has had no song. The high school library's yearbook archives contain lyrics to a song called "Indian Echoes" written by former principal George Ludwig circa 1950, but no sheet music or recording.

The Morgan County Board of Education has announced the breakfast and lunch meal prices for adults and students for the upcoming school year.

Elementary breakfast and lunch K-5, full price breakfast $1.05; full price lunch $1.30; reduced breakfast $.30, reduced lunch $.40.

This summer has been busy for Joan Willard. As Principal of Widmyer Elementary, Willard celebrated the school's recognition in June as a state School of Excellence. At the end of July, Willard traded in her leadership of Widmyer Elementary to become the county's new Assistant Superintendent.

Thursday, August 23

Warm Springs Intermediate Back-To-School night 4-5 p.m.

Widmyer Elementary will open its doors with some new faces behind the counter this year. Former Assistant Principal Dan Reynolds has risen to the job of Principal. Reynolds' second in command is Dudley Cable, who is new to Morgan County.

Reynolds took the Principal position when Joan Willard left the post to become the county's Assistant Superintendent.

by Kate Evans

Berkeley Springs High School student Brittany Holt traveled to Australia for three weeks this summer as a student ambassador for the People To People program. She left for Australia on Monday, July 2 and returned on Saturday, July 21. She is the daughter of Jason and Donna Holt.

August 23 - Back-to-School Nights - Berkeley Springs High 6-8 p.m., Warm Springs Middle 6-8 p.m., Warm Springs Intermediate 4-5 p.m. Widmyer- Kindergarten 5:30-7 p.m.

August 24 - Back-to-School Nights - Widmyer - first and second grades 5:30-7 p.m., Paw Paw Schools 6-8 p.m.

Identification of exceptional children is an ongoing process within Morgan County Schools. Part of this process is the annual screening for speech, language, hearing and vision problems. The screening will be conducted during August and September.

Students to be screened include those referred by parents and teachers, students who are new in the school system and students entering kindergarten who did not participate in the pre-enrollment screening.

The summer concert series focuses close to home this week as the region's most popular band performs their special brand of alternative country blues on Saturday, August 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Berkeley Springs State Park. Fronted by the singular talent to lead vocalist, Tori Anderson, Possum Holler offers their many fans the relaxed and charming setting of the park to revel in their mostly original music. Rain location for the Morgan Arts Council event is the Ice House.

Possum Holler plays elements of swing, country and torchy blues and no song sounds the same as the one before. The constants through all the music that Possum Holler plays are the clarity and brilliance of Tori Anderson's voice and the unabashed melody that underlines all the songs. Their original music may be written by any member of the band or collaborations among them. They also cover popular songs that play to the band's strength.