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School News

April 20, 2005 1:08 am

public schools

Students and their families enjoyed stories read by Joann Lawson from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library during Family Literacy Night recently. Everyone was served some specially made storybook-character cookies made for the night's event by members of Aquia Episcopal Church. The church members also provided dinner for the evening.

Kindergarten immunizations are today at 9 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The Daisy Girl Scout Group meets today.

Parents needing help finding employment should attend the Job Search Training workshop tomorrow from 10 a.m. to noon.

Ident-i-Kid will be at the school Friday at 9 a.m.

The next Family Literacy Night activities will be Monday at 5 p.m. Aquia Episcopal Church will provide food for the evening.

Students attending kindergarten at Rockhill, Garrisonville and Margaret Brent elementaries in the fall will tour the schools Tuesday at 10 a.m. Parents are invited to attend the tours, but they must meet the group at the schools by 10 a.m.

Students of the Week were: Jennifer Flores, James Jackson, Justess Squire, Celso Mejia-Gallegos, Dalonta Gay, Tatiana Glover, Jazmine Garrison, Kyle Rush, Kaleb Fines, Dayshawn Goslin and Emily Mayberry.

--Alice Thompson

The following classes are Spirit Day winners for the month of April:

Kindergarten--Erica Butler, Sonserea Martinez, Teri Catencamp and Kathy Evans.

First grade--Susan Keys and Leslie Panaro.

Second grade--Barbara West, Merilee Grubb, Emily Schrauben and Christine Elder.

Fourth grade--Kathleen Pollock and Robyn Considine.

Fifth grade--Ann Kingman.

--Carmen Healy

The Athletes of the Month for March were fifth-graders Jake Boles and Janah Barber.

Leslie Martin's first-grade class won a pizza party from CiCi's for having the highest student attendance at last week's PTO night.

Students in grades three through five held a Variety Show April 8. The following students participated in this inaugural event: Nicole Carey, Chase Davis, Stephanie Cregier, Katie Conley, Bailee Hubert, Nicole Burkhardt, Lexi Plutt, Josh Donahue, Dustin Smith, Rebecca Smoot, Trena Wilson, Ashlyn Adams, Katie Vacher, Amber Pierce, Brittany Hines, Ryan and dad Keith Hebert, Lauren Sisson, Nathaniel Cregier, Troy Vasquez, Danielle Felsted, Savanna Palmer, Bethany Merrill, Amber Edwards, Rick DeLavego, Bryce Hinton, Laura Coelus, Bria Elly, Emma Davis, Kennedy Worth, Hope Trott, Jessica Stanford, Seth Rapkins, Shelby Reynolds, Emily Schuette, Rachel VanFleet, Victoria Thornton, Carmen Martinich, Alex Martinich and Lalena Jenke. A kindergarten through second-grade Variety Show will be held May 20.

The following students participated in the Stafford County 4-H public speaking contest. Junior Club President Drew Madden spoke on body types of a rabbit. He was awarded a blue ribbon. Cloverbud Club member Carson King spoke about using manure as a fertilizer. She received a blue ribbon. Hunter Madden, Cloverbud, spoke about the body parts of a rabbit. He also received a blue ribbon. Lastly, Cloverbud Matthew Madden spoke about how to take care of a rabbit. He received a blue ribbon. All four children were invited to compete at the state level at the end of April.

--Kimberly Scott

Stafford County's newest elementary school held a Parent-Teacher planning meeting last Wednesday at Drew Middle School.

Committees are being formed to plan for the opening of the school. Committees are: School Improvement Plan; Social/Climate; Parent Volunteer; Focus: First Year; and Playground Planning. Parents interested in joining one of those committees are urged to e-mail Carol Walter at cwalter@stafford schools.net or call 368-2241 for more information. Parents of rising kindergarten students are welcome to be part of the planning even before kindergarten registration.

Principal Roxie Cooper will be visiting future students in the upcoming weeks so children can vote on the school's mascot.

--Janice Raspen

The following students have earned 25 or more points in the Accelerated Reader Program during this round:

100 Points--Amy Wood, Jerome Ferrantino, Emily Duerksen, Samantha Trice, Anastasia Nosal and Antoinette Tortorici.

75 Points--Ella Colebaugh.

50 Points--Madison Fogelson, Roody Labaze, Elizabeth Chase, Victoria Garrett and Madison Stroud.

25 Points--Cameren Shiflett, Kyra Nosal, Natalie Bohmke, Megan Corsano, Julian Cummings, Rheala Melesio, Emily Allison, Rebecca Bryant, Dillon Morton, Justice Rinaldi, Paige Bugg and Caitlin Sacra.

Second-graders put on a performance of famous Americans at the school. Some of the famous Americans included on the program were Benjamin Franklin, played by Ben Jarrels; Betsy Ross, played by Kyra Nosal; Abraham Lincoln, played by Abraham Shaik; Susan B. Anthony, played by Amy Smith; Martin Luther King, played by Roderick Walker Jr.; and Jackie Robinson, played by Kobe Daniels. The program was directed by music teacher Annamarie Severini.

--Doris Rutherford and Liz Valge

Fourth-graders attended Basic First Aid Training classes for 45 minutes April 4-11. Representatives from the hospital and local fire department spoke on emergency and first aid tips for choking, drowning, poisoning and fire safety. Students watched videos, filled in workbooks and toured emergency vehicles.

--Janet Smoot

Reading Makes a Difference continues at the school as students read and share books with math themes during the month of April. Students have been working on the problems in their St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Math-A-Thon booklets, and collecting donations. Completed booklets and pledge money must be turned in by Friday, no exceptions.

Don't forget, students and staff are encouraged to "wear a pattern" Friday.

Students and staff will celebrate Earth Day on Friday with many educational and helpful activities around the school: Some of the kindergarten classes will be planting flowers around the school and in the courtyards; first-graders will help beautify by walking around the schools grounds, picking up trash; second-graders are collecting soda cans they will turn in, with the proceeds to be used to buy plants or a tree to place on school grounds; third-graders will attend a soil presentation by the Stafford County office of Virginia Cooperative Extension; fourth-grade classes will work with Master Gardeners around the flagpole; and fifth-graders will attend a water presentation by the Extension office.

Also note that there is a menu change for Friday: Pepperoni pizza or tuna salad on a bun will be served.

--Susan Combs

The top second-grade class for Reading Counts was Donna Rogers' with 1,380 points. The top five individual second-grade readers were Tommy Peterson with 346 points; Caroline Pavlak, 302 points; Nolan King, 185 points; Vaughn Walter, 181 points; and Beth Barnes, 168 points. The top third-grade class was Stephanie Hensen's with 1,971 points. Top individuals were: Maggie Lynch, 323 points; Caitlin Middlekauff, 317 points; Sarah Weisband, 316 points; Colton Muller, 313 points; and Suzanna Weisband, 258. Fourth-grade honors go to Wendy Fike's class with 1,618 points. Individual top fourth-graders are: Lindsey King, 331 points; Tyrell Mason, 256; Robert Yorke, 208; Vincent Hunter, 203; and Suzannah Richards, 184. Sandy Pearce's class was the top in fifth grade with 2,483 points. Brenna Fines leads fifth grade and the school with 682 points. Other top fifth-grade point-earners were: Zander Bartholo-mew, 544 points; Jacob Barker, 386; Katie Cummins, 355; and Hava Goldstein, 344.

Angus Beck's story about learning a lesson was published in The Free Lance-Star.

All children were treated to a special science program called Under the Sea.

Rose Taylor and Ashley Santos demonstrated the Boys Town skill of the week on WHES. Announcers are Lauren Brown, Colin Harvey, Simon Newsome and Devon Minner.

--Marilyn Thompson

For the second year, the school won the dance party for reading the most minutes in B101.5's Reading Madness Month. Students read 544,265 minutes for the month of March. The B101.5 van, Buzzy, and DJ Clint will soon be coming to the school to celebrate reading.

Dale Webb visited Judy Dunnington's fourth-grade class. He was dressed as the commander of the 14th Infantry, New Hampshire Volunteers. "Colonel Wright" shared stories about the life of a soldier during the Civil War.

Nancy Flower's, Kristi Frush's and Juli Hubbard's kindergarten classes have chick eggs. They are hatching them as part of the SOL life-cycle unit. Students are anxiously waiting for the eggs to hatch in about 21 days.

Lisa Moyer's fourth-grade Focus students participated in a service learning project with Elsa Allard's preschool class. The fourth-graders studied various disabilities, then "buddied" with the preschoolers. After getting to know the children, students created lessons related to fire safety and taught them to their younger buddies. They will continue meeting throughout the school year.

--Lisa Moyer

Students Korri Gregory, Kamren Madden, Talley Mandley and Madelyn Wade recently donated their hair to Locks of Love.

Recent Artists of the Week include Ashley Clark, Nicholas Hilden and Nikita Newman.

Today is School Office Staff Appreciation Day. Staff recognized for their efforts include bookkeeper Evelyn Wells, secretary Melissa Stoneman, office assistant Jill Herman and instructional paraprofessional Kelly Lester.

--Debbie Simmons

The following students received awards for the fourth grading period.

Most Improved:

Kindergarten: Tyler Placek, Rashya Jackson, Alyssa Harmon, Tylor Arrington, Haley Bresnahan and Candace Bumbrey.

First grade: Dillon White, Nicholas Bass, Lakeya Diggs, Skylar McFadden, Shannon McLaughlin, Stuart Chittum and Mashayla Abrams.

Second grade: Julie Sims, Aliyah Logan, Ricky Garcia, Elijah Laulu, Dave Green and Darian Lee.

Third grade: Selena Sanchez, Chris Bonvillain, Katelyn House, Tameshia Fisher, Andrew Friedman and Tatyana Armstrong.

Fourth grade: Tommy Eggers, Deja Harris, Allie Bickle, Blake Pearce, Sarah Estes and Chris Blackwell.

Fifth grade: Donatello Bryant.

Citizenship Award:

Kindergarten--Sierra Dempsey, Will Utterback, Sidee Sesay, Ashleigh Taylor, Noah Worcester, Becky Jerge, Steffany Contreras-Lopez, Kareem Burgess, Melissa Deel and Sydney Hunter.

First grade--Donye Reed, Amanda York, Joshua Grimes, Andrew Waite, Annessa Coleman, Timonthy Eggers, Luaren Butler, Jason Saville, Danielle Hicks, McKenzie Bracco, Mariah Owens, Dereck Squire, Taylor Deskins, Nikolaus Douglas, Stella Corpora, Trevor DeMonti and Chris Ware.

Second grade--Jonah Morris, Abbi Morgan, Caleb Morrow, Hayley Bennett, Alyssa Fortin, Emily Unger and Khaleel Anderson.

Third grade--Mary Bordeaux, Kayla Bailey, Lewis Wallace, Cori Jacobsen, Angela Rios, Holly Dye-Clark, Elizabeth Fauth, Eleni Brown, Ciera Davis and Ben Kramer.

Fourth grade--Shea Corpora, Samantha Wallace, Alex Mendoza, Krista Kennedy, Ashlee Lowe and Stephanie Yuschak.

Fifth grade--Logan Ritchie, Kendall Gosney, Justin Jett, Kiesha Samayo, Allie Rayner, Saad Kazmi and Dalauntra Shields.

Character Award:

Kindergarten--Jessica Hughes, Brooke Babec, Mike Ennis, Kellee Hatt, Mary Foley, Stephanie Jacobsen, Tyshon Fergerson, Roger Deschamp, Julia Doheny, Cathy Lyon, Shelby Zahorchak, Niya Santiago, Richard Quispe, Rachel Rhett, Schuyler Hudson, Noah Grimes, MacKenzie Wallace and Nathaniel Richardson.

First grade--Eli Routh, Rachael Young, Terrence Walker, Brittany Hall, Jimmy Howe, Autumn Leslie, Destiny Marshal, Roger Hall, Mike Begazo-Nunez, Elizabeth Morley, Ean Smiling, Abby Grondolsky, Austun Colby, Van Faust-Stephenson, Meghan Holland, Corey Boswell and Ian Brown.

Second grade--Makela Staten, Brice Johnsen, Gerald Caron, Chelsie Garcia, Jack Monaghan, Michael Sirio, Kimberly Hoffman, Dominique Snow, Nathaniel Ahy, Savannah Lightkep, William Cortese and Diamond Diggs.

Third grade--Charlotte Potts, Jacob Mares, Abriel Maldonado, Rusty Dixon, Brandon Rodgers, Tariq Felder, Sydney Drury, Jake Thompson, R.J. Dubois and Tully Thompson.

Fourth grade--Haley Fisher, Natalie Schroeder, Michara Eaton-Smith, Samantha Mockler, Lyle Stanford, Michael Cummins, Hudson Senter, Ann Johnston and Katie Tocci.

Fifth Grade--Michael York, Rizan Salous,Will Touch, Robert Crowden, Katelyn Newbill, Donnel McCann, Mashael Mahmud, Anna Sammell, Marissa Porcelli, Michael Bell, Eugene Miller, Matthew Choy and Joe Guercio.

--Ruth Guckian

Fifth-graders traveled to Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg April 5 to experience life during the Civil War. Students learned the nine steps of loading a musket and how to march like soldiers. They learned firsthand how the soldiers lived and what they ate. Some of the students got to dress up in a soldier's uniform with full gear. In the Museum of the Civil War Soldier, students saw more than 1,000 artifacts and scenes of camp life, training, field hospitals, uniforms and equipment.

On April 7, third-graders went on a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. Lunch was enjoyed by all on the National Mall in the shadows of the Greek and Roman architecture of the many surrounding buildings.

Again, students and staff have poured out their generosity to help others in need. The Pennies for Patients fund drive, which goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, was a huge success. The top three classrooms collecting the most donations were Melissa Anderson's third-grade class, Stephanie McKeever's fifth-grade class and Lisa Ott's fourth-grade class. The grand total collected from the school was $643.

In honor of National Library Week, April 11-15, students and staff enjoyed book reviews on WCAT morning announcements. It was such a hit that book reviews will be continued. The following were participating book critics: Mary Green, Hafsa Malik, Morgan Kohl, Lauren Rush, Katelyn Shinn, Artie Reinhold, Jessica Thatcher, Shane Emery, Victoria Hansen, John Reinboldt and Lauren Dixon.

The broadcasting studio has new faces. The following students from Minty Flude's fifth-grade class make up the crew for the next five weeks: anchors Taylor Williams and Rachel Cook; weather reporter Savannah Jones; "Chef Cat" Alexandria Spearman with menu and birthdays; sports reporter Akim Evans; joke teller Nathan Keator; "All Around" Emily Montgomery; and technicians Courtney Costello and Alexis Smith.

On April 12, students, staff and families attended the SOL Game Night, Ice Cream Social and Student Art Show. Some 57 families participated in the SOL game night and were sent home with packets to continue the learning and fun at home. Wildcat T-shirts were given away to the following students who participated in the evenings events: Jessica Borders, Summer Rivera and Courtney Costello.

--Nancy Brothers

The girls softball team is comprised of: Kelly Burcher, Mallory McClelland, Emily Sdao, Brittany Brashears, Carly Natale, Molly Hatcher, Maggie Jones, Kittly Sullivan, Brittany Clift, Amber Totten, Cassie Ward, Paige Riley, Sarah Griffith and Amanda Loving. The Lady Rams will be managed by John Holland, Amy Story and Lacy Hynson, and coached by Denise Miller.

Two authors visited the school this month. Chris Crowe, author of "Mississippi Trial, 1955," was a guest of the eighth grade on April 7. His visit culminated eighth-graders' research on prejudice and bullying. Elisa Carbone was a guest of the sixth grade on April 13. She is the author of several books, including "Storm Warriors," which sixth-graders read as they learned about the first African-American ocean rescue team and the early days of what was to become the United States Coast Guard.

Many students entered the Parent of the Year essay contest sponsored by the Rappahannock Area Blue Ribbon Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention Month. First place went to Ricky Gendron, who wrote about his foster mother and Stafford County teacher, Linda Whalen. Second place went to Wendy Cole, who wrote about her mother raising nine children, and third place went to Mandy Curtis, who praised her single dad raising a teenage daughter.

--Jan Dowling

The following students have been selected for the 2005 Lady Panthers softball team:

Seventh grade--Jill Gregory, Heather Hartman, Shelby Milligan, Samantha Millgan, Genny Little and Sammy Whitt.

Eighth grade--Skyy Rogers, Bekah McDaniel, Myndie Sullivan, Katie Stake, Megan Gilmore and Nicole McDaniel.

The coach of this year's team is Ryan Pelkey.

--Sheryl Sinche

The following students were nominated for the characteristic "perseverance": Tyler Gordon, Sarah Green, Jennifer Hassen, Martha Munoz, Jimmy Palma, Jim Quintana, Dylan Radford, Connor Ransick, Dina Velasquez and Andrew Walkers. The students will be recognized at the May 9 PTO Meeting/Awards Night.

The PTO is selling Krispy Kreme Donut cards for $10. The bearer of the card is entitled to a free dozen doughnuts each time they purchase a dozen, up to 10 dozen free at Krispy Kreme. If you'd like to buy one, send in $10 along with your student's name and homeroom to the PTO mailbox and we'll get one back to you via your student's homeroom teacher.

--Liz Featherstone

Deb Hansen, drama teacher, was nominated for the fourth time for inclusion in Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 9th Edition. Teachers must be nominated by former students who are currently on a college or university dean's list or are themselves in Who's Who Among America's Students. Only 2 percent of the nation's teachers have been nominated more than once.

--Stephanie Pettengill

Jeremy Hankins, Nick Perelli and Michael Reeser earned an outstanding score and gold medals for their presentation of the chapter service project at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America State Leadership Conference this month. Matt Stout, who was an integral part of the preparation for the project, was honored with the Spirit Award at the conference held in Virginia Beach April 8 and 9.

The students' presentation was part of FCCLA's STAR Events and showcased the educational tool the boys created for use by the middle schools in Stafford County. The recording of their original rap music video will be used by School-to-Work Coordinator Ann Emerson at various presentations about careers and the eight multiple intelligences. The eighth-grade student body will be able to view the video on Career Day in May. Students were guided in their project by Family and Consumer Science teacher Julie Thomas.

Sixth-graders recently participated in the Math-A-Thon, which benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Students asked friends, family and neighbors to sponsor them by donating money if they completed a workbook of math problems. Fifty-six students collected money, and a total of more than $5,000 was raised. This is the third year sixth-graders have participated, bringing the school's total donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to more than $13,000. Every student who raised $35 or more in donations was awarded a pass to Six Flags theme park and a Math-A-Thon T-shirt. Morgan Malone raised the most money, with $350 in donations, and won a CD player.

The following are members of the 2005 softball team: Chelsea Banglesdorf, Jackie Bankston, Sylvia Burton, Brittany Cain, Katie Carroll, Kim Elam, Kaitlyn Fulton, Kelsey Hall, Laura Hov, Sara Palau, Indya Scott, Sydney Whobrey, Ashley Bonner and Katelyn Wychoff. Managers are Tia Mack, Kaitlyn White and Ellen Schoe.

The following students earned a place on the All "A" Honor Roll for the fourth marking period:

Sixth grade--Michael Alex-ander, Casey Brown, Stacey Burke, Blaine Engberg, Kelsey Farris, Cydney Fleet, Berent Kvenlog, Christopher Medeiros, Mercedes Ordonez, Aanika Rahman and Brandon St. Amour.

Seventh grade--Chelsea Banglesdorf, Ashley Cain, Taylor Kenkel, Paige Koziuk, Sean Micucci and Charles Thomas.

Eighth grade--Carley Guinn, Gregory King, Ratchadaporn Kokphae and Brett Stones.

--Norma McCoy

The following students from the school participated in the Regional History Day competition held at George Mason University: Peter Wagner, Colby Bohn, Kate Jones, Muuya Muuya, Jasmine Plummer, Michelle Hatfield, Ian Smith-Christmas, Rachel Vreeland, Emily Harris, Dannie Fox-Moles, Jimmy Murtha, Jessica Holding, Lindsay Buccola, Chris Neuhard, Paul Stuckey, David Morton and Mike Buccola. This is the first year the school has participated at this level of competition. Students researched topics of their choice and created presentations that relate to the National History Day theme. This year's theme is "Communication in History: It Is the Key to Understanding." Jimmy Murtha placed third in the individual multimedia category. Students placing first and second will advance to the state competition in Williamsburg at the end of April. They are: Kate Jones, Colby Bohn, Lindsey Buccola, Jessica Harding and Dannie Fox-Moles.

One hundred twelve students from the school participated in the 56th annual American Mathematics Contest 12, or the sixth annual American Mathematics Contest 10. Students competed for local, regional and school awards. The contest, which covers high school mathematics, is given in participating schools. Its purpose is to spur interest in mathematics and develop talent through the excitement of friendly competition at problem-solving in a timed format. The 2005 AMC10 winner is Jan Michael Curesma. For the AMC12, the third-place winner is Erik Hernandez, the second-place winner is Casey Minnick and the first-place winner is Kevin Plumley. Kevin Plumley also qualified for the AIME that was held March 8.

The school's 2004-05 FBLA regional winners were: Matt Ward, second place in Business Calculations; Ben Infanti, third place in Business Law; Leonard Pawlow, second place in Economics; Meggan Bond, third place in Introduction to Business Communications; David Rao, second place in Marketing; Ben Sprague, third place in Technology Concepts; and Travis Morgan, first place in Programming-Visual Basic. Third place went to the Entrepreneur team of Connor Harris, Aysha Khandaki and Emma Mallalieu. First place went to the Network Design team of Katrina Bartman and Savahanna Chivers.

The school's Health and Medical Sciences students competed at the 25th Annual Health Occupations Students of America State Leadership Conference recently held in Richmond. Jamie Fama placed second in Basic Health Care Concepts. Jasmine Bell and Kelly Filoso placed fourth in Career Health Display. The BPHS HOSA Chapter also received first place in its HOSA Week program and was recognized for its National Service Project for the Alzheimer's Association. Also, Rachel Brown, Tamara Dabney, Jamie Fama, Courtney Stroud and Rachel Wellman received special recognition as the CTE honor students at the conference. Jamie Fama qualified to compete at the National HOSA Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn., in June. In addition, Rachel Brown was recognized for her outstanding performance in Health and Medical Sciences and was awarded one of 10 HOSA scholarships.

Choral students participated in the District XV Festival. They received the following ratings: Beginning Women, Excellent; Beginning Men, Excellent; Advanced Chorus, Superior; Lady Madrigals, Superior; and Madrigals, Superior. The Madrigals traveled to Hanover High School and participated in the Lee-Davis Festival of Choirs Chamber Competition. It received a superior rating.

The orchestra received superior ratings in all areas at the District XV Orchestra Festival held recently at Colonial Forge High School.

The Dance Team obtained a sixth-place finish in the nation at the NDA National Dance Team Championships held recently in Orlando, Fla. Team members were: Katie Clark, Diane Bruner, Charisse Broadway, Brandi Davis, Nicole Webster, Joia Nesby, Erin Bergmeister, Katie Kucala, Katerina Bruner, Torii Jones, Lindsay Guettero and Ashley Gant.

--Mary Southall

Guidance Director Leonard Cascio has been selected as a recipient of the 2005 Marion Flagg Scholar Award. This award recognizes outstanding secondary school counselors and college admissions counselors for their professional leadership, honesty, sensitivity, patience and thoroughness. Cascio is one of only 10 guidance or admissions counselors to receive this year's award from the Potomac and Chesapeake Association of College Admissions Counseling, which serves Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. In addition, Cascio has been selected for inclusion in the National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals 2005-06 Edition.

Coach Bill Swink has been named the ALL-Met Wrestling Coach of the Year.

Molten Art 2003-04 has been awarded first place in the category of Overall Magazine Design in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle competition this year. According to CSPA, students from high schools nationwide submitted 10,271 individual and staff entries. Since Gold Circle awards are strictly competitive, only one first-, second- and third-place winner is selected for each category of competition. The first-place recipient has been deemed the best in the category nationwide by a panel of expert judges who meet at Columbia University each year. In addition, alumna Tina Porter has been awarded a Certificate of Merit for her individual artwork, "Feet Like Mine," featured on the patron page of the magazine.

The following National Honor Society Honorees received recognition: Students of the Month, Rachel Vangeison, Caitlin Smoot and Heather Hennebury; Support Personnel of the Month, Connie Irby, Billy Lewis and Char Wood; and Educators of the Month, Melissa Csikari, Bruce Drucker and Pam Bailey. Jaycees Students of the Month were: Melissa Magnusson, Alan Weiderman and Caitlin Belcher. The Optimist Club's Students of the Month included Katelyn Kenderish, Ryan "David" Laine and Greg Pote.

Dance team tryouts for junior varsity and varsity will be May 2, 3 and 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. All students who will be attending the school next year are welcome to audition.

The National Honor Society is sponsoring a blood drive for the American Red Cross April 27 from 2-6 p.m. in the school auditorium.

--Kerri McClafferty

private schools

The Academy will host an Open House for prospective students and their families from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. The Open House is a great opportunity to tour our campus with student guides, meet faculty and administrators, and learn about our plans for the future.

The third grade will present the musical production, "Betsy Ross and The First American Flag" at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the theater.

Parents of seventh-graders are reminded to attend a meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in the theater to discuss the upcoming trip to Port Isobel.

The Service Organization of Fredericksburg Academy will host Falcon Fest, an annual event for area children, on the academy's campus on Saturday. The event will feature pony rides, carnival games, swimming, crafts and lunch. Each child will be paired with an Upper School buddy for the day.

Tomorrow is class picture day for the whole school. Forms were sent home and must be turned in to order pictures.

--Beth Hunley

Chad Pitts sold the most magazine subscriptions during the sale.

Annual Field Day on April 29.

The kindergarten field trip to Kenmore is Friday.

Rossanna Catahan, Colin Maureer and Morgan Silverstein were chosen as Students of the Month for March.

Top magazine seller was Jordynn Newcomer.

Medieval Day is April 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rising Senior Parent Night is tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at the high school.

Join the Key Club team Saturday at 8 a.m. at Old Mill Park for the March of Dimes Walk America.

School supplies are needed for Haiti. Contact Heather Stacy if you have questions at 373-5357.

Remember to bring sandwiches, chips, water and soft fruit on Tuesdays for the homeless ministry.

The Beta Club is collecting personal items for the wounded soldiers in Iraq. These include: toiletries, sweats and undergarments. Donation bins are located in the elementary, middle and high school campuses. Shannon Stephenson, an FCS graduate who is a nurse at an American hospital in Germany where injured soldiers are taken for treatment, will distribute the items.

Standardized testing for all elementary school students runs through April 27.

--Cindy Gossett

Sixth-grade science teacher Kym Solley has been recently selected for inclusion in the ninth edition of Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 2005. Who's Who honors only a select 5 percent of our nation's educators. Stephanie Cook is warmly welcomed as the newly hired teacher's assistant at Saint Mary Preschool. Cook brings unlimited energy and enthusiasm to her new position.

Several faculty members, along with 13,000 other Catholic educators, attended the National Catholic Educational Association convention in Philadelphia March 29 through April 1.

--Betsy Moran

The academy's grade school has a new science teacher. Patricia Raiford, who previously taught science with another private school, already has presented several hands-on science lessons to the children, including some recent instruction on plants.

Students learned the parts of a plant and labeled them on worksheets. While outdoors, they were able to dig up wild onions, strawberries and violets and transplant these into their own yards. Students also are growing marigolds in potting soil to be taken home in late April.

Also this month, the children are preparing for standardized testing. Tests will be administered no later than May and are graded by an independent testing company. Results will be available to parents this summer.

--Carol Thomas Horton

Students in Laurie Karr's second- and third-grade classes celebrated the end of testing with an ice cream party, thoughtfully provided by the PATS organization for the entire school.

For some classes, new adventure awaits around every bend along the Oregon Trail, a highlight from the recent social studies unit. Students have been learning through a variety of activities including learning to draw covered wagons and a "create a tipi" race. They continue to strengthen their understanding of this time in history as they use Oregon Trail on the computer.

Earth Day is being celebrated by conducting a cleanup on school grounds and then by planting flowers in the common areas. Third-grade students are presenting a bird bath they designed and decorated, and it became an Earth-friendly focal point to be enjoyed by all students.

The Spring Program will be held April 29 at 7 p.m. Students should arrive by 6:45 p.m. Don't miss this wonderful presentation of fantastic fun. More information will be sent home in Friday folders.

--Anne Pickle

Students receiving the Principal's Award by earning straight A's in the third quarter were: fifth-grader Richard Johnson and sixth-graders Jeanne Connolly, Sara Fitzgerald and Robert Harris.

Sister Lisa Lorenz, the sixth-through eighth-grade religion teacher, is taking a leave of absence from teaching. She will continue to do counseling for the school and parish as well as attend her graduate studies. Debra Van Briesen will be substituting for Sister Lisa.

The PTO is in the process of buying sports equipment for outside sports activities for student use during and after school. Soccer and baseball equipment are on the list so far. The field needs some work. It needs to be graded and could use at least 15 truckloads of fill dirt to level out and fill in any holes. A baseball diamond needs to be shaped out. Future goals are to put in a running track. The PTO needs assistance on many different levels, from physical labor to finding the equipment and dirt needed to get this effort off of the ground. Anyone willing to assist in this endeavor should contact a PTO board member as soon as possible.

The end of the school year is rapidly approaching, and with that the PTO board members' terms. Fresh new faces and ideas are welcome to help with a growing school. Parents should consider running for a position on the board. All positions are open. The last general meeting and elections will be held on May 10.

--Kathy Walker