Turn It Up! for YAM Youth Art Month in Marion County Schools, March 1--31! Art education plays a vital role in fostering creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking in our students. Across West Virginia, our dedicated art educators provide invaluable learning experiences that inspire young artists and enrich our communities. As we celebrate Youth Art Month (YAM) 2025, we want to recognize and showcase the incredible work happening in Marion County Schools while ensuring that students have the opportunity to be celebrated for their artistic achievements.
Youth Art Month is a national initiative that highlights the importance of visual arts education and provides opportunities for students to showcase their talents.
Upcoming Youth Art Month Opportunities:
📌 Youth Art Month Flag Contest – Submission Deadline: February 22, 2025
Students have the opportunity to design a West Virginia Youth Art Month flag! The winning design will represent our state at the National Art Education Association Conference in Kentucky this March. Entries must be submitted to Dr. Grubbs by February 22, 2025
Information and forms can be found on the WVAEA website.
🎨 Youth Art Month State Art Show & Studio Day – February 22, 2025
Location: Parkersburg Art Center
Artwork Drop-Off: Teachers should deliver student artwork for the statewide Youth Art Month exhibition.
Submission Requirements: Artwork must be submitted digitally through our Google Form, and two printed copies of the submission form must be attached for gallery identification.
Studio Day for Art Educators: Teachers are invited to participate in a Professional Development Studio Day at Parkersburg Art Center on drop-off day—a hands-on opportunity to learn new techniques and network with fellow educators!
📚 Portfolio Day & Awards Reception – March 8, 2025
Location: Parkersburg Art Center
Time: 10:00 AM – High School Portfolio Day (an opportunity for students to showcase their work and receive feedback)
12:00 PM – Youth Art Month Awards Ceremony & Reception
🌎 NAEA National Conference & Arts Alive Representation
Winning artwork from the Youth Art Month State Show will be selected for display at the NAEA Conference in Kentucky and later showcased at Arts Alive in the spring.
through the WVAEA website.
More Information & Entry Forms
Additional information, including entry forms for art contests and shows, can be found on the West Virginia Art Education Association website:
🌐 https://www.wvaea.com/what-s-going-on
Calendar Reminder: Monday, February 17, 2025 is a Professional Learning Day for staff meetings and trainings. Students will not report to schools.
Tune In! as one of the principals of Marion County Schools, Fairview Principal Mel Coleman, is modeling in the 2nd Annual Fashion Show Fundraiser "Fashion in Bloom" for The Salvation Army of Marion County. For those wishing to sponsor him, the link is below. If someone wishes to sponsor by check, please make them payable to Pierpont Foundation, Inc. and write Mr. Coleman's name on the remitter line .
https://swipesimple.com/links/lnk_4e1fa5333b276cdb9ea880d2e5bb0363
Business or individual donations and sponsorships are accepted at
https://swipesimple.com/links/lnk_6f0e3531b89de971c47282bc2c598b96
Tune In! as we wish our first place county winners of Marion County Schools good luck today as the students compete in the Regional Science Fair, hosted at Fairmont State University. 🧬🔭🧫🧪📚
Turn It Up! We can't think of many more ways that show love on this Valentine's Day beyond the presentations shown from our dedicated and hard-working Marion County Schools cooks in Child Nutrition today.
White Hall Elementary School will dismiss at 11 AM today, February 13, 2025. Students and staff will not report to White Hall February 14, 2025 due to extermination for termites occurring this evening and Friday.
Turn It Up! and celebrate student leadership from Marion County Schools achieving big things at the national level. Caroline Hamilton, Fairmont Senior High School Student Council Officer and senior, has been selected as a National Finalist of the inaugural NASC Scholarship, earning $1,000.
Hamilton was selected among thousands of national applicants and is the only WV student to earn the scholarship because she embodies NASC’s core tenets: leadership development, service to community, amplifying student voice, and active engagement.
The FSHS Student Council is sponsored by Ms. Nathy Janes. #yesbears 💙
Tune In! 📢 Supporting Future Educators: Fairmont State University’s Falcon Day of Giving! 🎓📚
Marion County Schools is proud to support Fairmont State University Foundation’s Falcon Day of Giving, which directly impacts the future of the education profession. At our February Principals’ Meeting, Dr. Anne Bolyard, President of Fairmont State University and a product of public education, shared the importance of this initiative in addressing the growing financial challenges of becoming a licensed teacher in West Virginia. These costs are at the individual prospective teacher's expense.
💰 The Rising Costs of Becoming a Teacher in WV 💰
Pursuing a career in education comes with significant expenses, and Falcon Day of Giving aims to alleviate some of that burden. Funds raised will go toward supporting students pursuing teaching degrees and covering the increasing costs associated with certification, including:
✅ Tuition for a 4-year teaching degree – averaging $40,000–$60,000 in West Virginia
✅ PRAXIS Exams (required for licensure) – costing $150–$200 per test
✅ Background checks & fingerprinting fees – around $50
✅ Licensure application & renewal fees – up to $100+
✅ Student teaching expenses – often requiring unpaid full-time work
Why This Matters: With rising costs, many aspiring teachers struggle financially before even entering the classroom. By supporting Falcon Day of Giving, we can help ensure that passionate individuals can afford to pursue and complete their teaching degrees—helping strengthen West Virginia’s education system.
📢 Beyond Teaching: Supporting Future Service Personnel in Education
It’s not just teachers who face financial barriers. Many essential school positions require specialized training and certification, including:
🔹 ECAT Aides & Classroom Aides – training and certification costs $300–$600
🔹 Bus Drivers – CDL training can cost $3,000–$5,000
🔹 Maintenance Workers & Custodians – trade certifications can exceed $1,500
🔹 Accounting Secretaries & Administrative Staff – additional coursework & exams required
🎉 How You Can Help
Your donation during Falcon Day of Giving will directly impact students and future educators across West Virginia. Whether supporting future teachers or vital service personnel, every dollar makes a difference!
🔗 Visit www.fsufoundation.org to contribute and learn more.
Together, let’s invest in the future of education and ensure that passionate individuals can afford to make a difference in our schools! 📚✨ #FalconDayOfGiving #FutureEducators #MarionCountySchools #SupportWVTeachers
Marion County Schools has been notified by the water department that the Town of Fairview will be doing waterline repair that will result in no water to Fairview Elementary and Middle schools Thursday and Friday. Students at Fairview Elementary and Middle will not report to school February 13 and 14, 2025.
Marion County Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay schedule for Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
THE FAIRMONT CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY PRESENTS:
THE ZODIAC TRIO
Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Peter the Fisherman Church, 407 Jackson Street, Fairmont, WV. Tickets may be purchased at the door by credit card, cash or check. Adults--$12.00 / seniors & students--$8.00. The venue is ADA compliant and the event is open to the public.
Tune In! as Marion County Schools celebrates Career Technical Education Month.
Marion County Schools will dismiss on a two-hour early release schedule Tuesday, February 11, 2025. There will be no after school activities, events, or practices this evening.
Turn It On! as Marion County Youth Day Report Center students take a tour of Pierpont Community and Technical College.
Tune In! to help the Marion County Board of Education celebrate the 80th Happy Birthday of Member Tom Dragich, who served as a former teacher, coach and principal in Marion County, today.
Marion County Schools announces Kindergarten and Prekindergarten Registration information for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
The link for PREK only is - https://forms.office.com/r/TaRTrCmxv1
Visit https://www.marionboe.com/ for more details -
Please share!
Students will not report to Monongah Elementary School tomorrow, February 6, 2025 due to a water line break and boil water advisory impacting the school.
Tune In! as students from middle schools in Marion County Schools attended the Middle School Student Summit tonight, hosted at West Fairmont Middle School, to use their student voices to share the strengths and weaknesses of Marion County Schools with Superintendent Dr. Heston.
Turn It Up! and help the Marion County Schools Board of Education recognize the amazing art talent of East Fairmont Middle School Student Reese Williams, whose art now hangs as a permanent fixture in the board room. Reese, a student of Ms. Misty Skarzinski, is a county and district winner of the Lion's Peace Poster contest who will go on to compete nationally. The wood canvas was crafted by Mr. Brewer of the Maintenance Department. Reese unveiled and dedicated her work tonight at the board meeting.
The students of Africana Studies, taught by Ms. Walker at Fairmont Senior High School, created a semester long learning timeline with symbolic images and well-developed paragraph explanations.
