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School News

October 2, 2007 12:35 am

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Head Start

Head Start will collect Campbell's Soup labels for education. A list of qualifying products was recently sent home with each student. Please clip and send in only the UPCs from the qualifying products.

Return labels to your child's teacher. Proceeds will be used to purchase equipment for our school and classrooms.

The Transportation Department will conduct a children's presentation on bus and pedestrian safety for Head Start students Oct. 3 at 10 a.m.

The first Parent Center Committee meeting will be held Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. The Transportation Department will present a discussion for parents on bus and pedestrian safety.

The following program assessment meetings have been scheduled. The Transportation PRISM meeting will be held Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. The Disabilities PRISM discussion will take place Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. Parents are invited to attend these meetings and provide input to help improve the Head Start program.

There are no classes in session at Head Start 0n Columbus Day, Oct. 8. Also, no family literacy night activities are scheduled for that day. The next family literacy night will be Oct. 15 beginning at 5 p.m.

Kate Waller Barrett Elementary

"Kate's Caring Kids" is a wonderful program started in the tender, caring spirit of Kate Waller Barrett. Each month we will pick a local person, family or organization in need of assistance. Each classroom has a plastic jar in which to collect money. The students may bring in money any time throughout the month, but the main collection day will be the last Friday of the month. This month the money collected will go to the Heavenly Hats Foundation. This organization donates brand new hats to cancer patients who lose their hair due to cancer treatments.

The second PTO meeting of the year is tomorrow from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. in the library. Baby sitting will be provided for ages 3 and older. Little ones are welcome to stay with parents.

Spirit Day is Oct. 5. Show your spirit and wear our school colors or Tigerwear.

Margaret Brent Elementary

The PTO kicked off the Bobcat social calendar Sept. 21 with the annual ice cream social. More than 322 ice cream sundaes were scooped and served in 42 minutes to an eager crowd of parents and children. Sponsored by the PTO with a special donation by Dr. Elizabeth Attreed, the event continues to be a fun family time for all the students.

Anthony Burns Elementary

Reading Month continues at Anthony Burns. So far, students schoolwide have logged 81,923 minutes. With more students participating every week, the goal of 300,000 minutes for the month is well within reach. Remember that every Thursday of Reading Month until Oct. 15 is Read-A-Shirt Day, on which students are encouraged to wear a T-shirt or sweatshirt with an appropriate message or slogan for everyone to read.

Conway Elementary

Conway students have participated in several assemblies the past few weeks. Students have discussed bullying. Staff members also have discussed proper "TRACK" behavior and receiving train tickets. The train store comes around the building on the second and fourth Fridays. Students are able to redeem their train tickets for small trinkets and coupons.

First- and second-graders had an incredible field trip Sept. 24, thanks in part to the Fredericksburg Festival of the Arts. More than 280 students and chaperones traveled to James Monroe High School to see dancers from Bolivia and Spain.

October begins the "Dive Into Reading" program. Students will record the number of minutes they read, or are read to. Reading logs will be turned in Oct. 31. Students are also encouraged to dress as their favorite book character Oct. 31.

The new school Web page has been launched. Visit the school Web site to catch up on the latest Cougar news and events. Staff pages are under construction and should be up and running by the end of October. Check back frequently. Our site is constantly updated, at ces.staffordschools.net.

Falmouth Elementary

The following students are "Shining Stars for Fairness" in September: Austin Carpenter, Luke Lisco, Gabriela Villatoro, Alhaji Bangura, Daniel Celeste, Amelia Gilley, Amber Kinney, Tristan McAlister, Mary Pelham, Grant Fuller, Jack Lowery, Sam Harrison, Bailie Kyer, Kristen Poore, Alexis Warthen, Cassidy Crabtree, Brianna Jansson, Jackson Dukes, Toby Lane, Henry Roman, Makayla Satterfield, Blake Daniels, Mathew Herrera, Eric Baker, Conor Jessee, Easton Norman, Brandon Poole, Erick Benavides-Rodriguez, Isaac Knee, Michaela Buckner, Naomi Jones, Colin Jansson, Erin Sayasithsena, Colby D'Lugos, Karah Sizemore, Katie Rauch, Brandon Spence, Cara Brennan and Aldrin Castillo.

Ferry Farm Elementary

More than 20 volunteers from Medicorp and Stafford County with the help of Elaine Hild participated Sept. 20 in the United Way "Day of Caring." These volunteers cleaned, and mulched the Learning Garden, and around the whole school, while others painted the Ferry Farm school sign by the front door. Parents and students also picked up trash around the school grounds on the Fall Clean-up Day. The school now looks younger than its 50 years.

Fourth- and fifth-grade classes used cookie dough and food to study their respective geographic region SOL. Fifth-grade classes enriched their study of the eight physical geographic regions of North America with large cookies baked by parent volunteers. The students used foods to represent the landforms, such as mini chocolate chips for the Appalachian Highlands and Hershey Kisses for the Rocky Mountains. Green tinted coconut became the Great Plains, and Runts candies showed the fertile valleys of the Coastal Range. Not only was this a hands-on, fun lesson, it was tasty afterwards.

Fourth-grade classes reinforced their Virginia geographic regions and water features the same way. Once the state of Virginia was iced, they used the following items to represent the regions: green sugar and Goldfish for the coastal plains, Fruit Roll-ups for the Piedmont, Hershey Kisses for the Blue Ridge Mountains, chocolate chips for the valley and ridge, and mini marshmallows for the Appalachian Plateau. The fall line was a Twizzler and the rivers were blue gel icing. After pictures were taken to display on a bulletin board, the students devoured their creations.

Garrisonville Elementary

The Book Buddy Program still needs volunteers who can devote 45 minutes Tuesday and Thursday mornings until the end of the school year to work with first-grade students. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Mitzi Biddle at 540/659-1577.

Tables for crafters and home-based businesses will be available at the fall festival on Oct. 27 for $20 plus a donation for the raffle. For more information, please contact Jennifer Bostick at 540/220-6293.

Cindy Patton's first-grade class had outstanding attendance at Chick-fil-A Spirit Night. As a reward, her entire class received a special treat from Chick-fil-A.

Hampton Oaks Elementary

As part of their science and economics lessons, students took a trip to Graves Mountain . The students began their fun-filled day with a hayride to the apple and pumpkin orchards. They learned how apple trees are planted and grow, and observed the stages of a pumpkin from flower to green pumpkin to orange pumpkin.

The following students were selected as the News Team for the month of October. News anchors are Taylor Mallory, David Sant and Porter Harding. Camera operators are Andrea Laird and Yvonne Pham. Students learn the day-to-day responsibilities of preparing for and broadcasting news to the school community.

Fifth-grade teacher Mike Kruse read "The Story of Ferdinand" Sept. 20 during the morning broadcast for Read for the Record. The record was broken. More than 258,000 people in 1,900 events nation-wide participated in the Read for the Record challenge.

Hartwood Elementary

Peer mediators teams of Jamie Smith and Adam Hasan, A.J. Jenkins and Quanisha Jackson and Beth Barnes and Destin Bryant demonstrated Boystown skills on the morning announcements.

On Constitution Day, fifth-graders Tia Curry, Gace Taylor and Stephanie Jimenez recited the Preamble to the Constitution on the announcements.

MediCorp volunteers and Hartwood parents spruced up the school on the "Day of Caring." They spread mulch, pulled weeds and repainted the map of the U.S. on the playground. Lunch was provided by the staff. Counselor Christie Jones coordinated the event.

Rockhill Elementary

Paraprofessional Chris Anderson is October PTO Employee of the Month. Each chosen employee receives a front-row parking space, a gift certificate to a local restaurant, a banner for the classroom and a certificate of appreciation.

The following staff members were recently awarded service pins for their years of service in Stafford County Public Schools:

30 years--Kathy Parrish

25 years--Jannette Martin

20 years--Sheila Speed

5 years--Chris Anderson, Tiffany Black, Eileen Edwards and Annette Wauchop.

Teachers Jennifer Clemmensen, Ann Cobb, Annette Wauchop and Regina Zumwalt are hosting practicum teachers through the University of Mary Washington and the University of Richmond.

Mountain View High School student Stefanie Higgins assembled donated school supplies to Rockhill as part of her Scouting Gold Award.

Rocky Run Elementary

Students enjoyed their first book exchange, initiated by reading specialist Bonnie Hall and parent volunteer Van Carpenter. Each Tuesday morning before classes begin, students have an opportunity to visit this special cache of gently used donated books to swap one of their own books for another one. Students and staff are currently soliciting additional book donations for this popular enterprise.

Jen Singer's creative third-grade class showed off their dramatic skills as they performed Reader Theatre's versions of "The Three Little Pigs" and "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs."

Jessica Lee's third-grade students delved into the scientific method as they began their lifelong journey toward analytical thinking. Students enjoyed learning about surface tension with their experiment involving oil and water and especially their work with "dancing raisins" and 7-Up.

To initiate Wendi Urbanic's class into their scrutiny of ancient Greek culture, student teacher Ashley Wood led pupils in their an archaeological dig.

In Sandra Kelish's second- grade classroom, students have been learning to say the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language. A number of her students from last year, now in third grade, are teaching their classmates some of the words they learned to sign in second grade.

This past week, the school welcomed its volunteer mentors to a new school year. Each week, mentors visit their special students to share lunch time, play games, read, or just have a quiet visit catching up on the week together.

Rappahannock Big Brothers Big Sisters, with coordinator Cynthia Osband, is spearheading its Bigs in Schools program. RBBBS recruits, screens, trains and matches these volunteers with students who can benefit from this additional adult attention.

Thanks to GEICO, which adopted Rocky Run last year, the school has more mentors than all other schools in Stafford County combined. RBBBS is eagerly seeking additional volunteers to bring benefits of the Bigs in Schools program to even more students this year.

Rocky Run's mediators will join other Stafford County students Oct. 19 at the Gari Melchers complex on Peer Mediation Day to learn more about helping classmates solve conflicts peacefully. They will enhance such skills as problem solving, listening, recognizing feelings and developing empathy, all vital in working with others to resolve disagreements without violence.

Stafford Elementary

We are ready to introduce the the Student Maintenance and Research Technology Team for 2007-2008. SMART Team is composed of fourth- and fifth-graders who have completed applications, received teacher recommendations and completed panel interviews. The members for the 2007-2008 school year are: Alyssa Fortin, Matthew Heindrichs, Savanah Lightkep, Ryli Waisanen, Autumn Leslie, Austin Chapple, Stuart Chittum, Zachary Martin, Kaitlyn Rose, Harrielle-Beatrix Castelly, Jonny Fauth, Eli Routh, Cassidy Binkley, Amber Petty, Alexys Rivers, Zachary Rumble, Griffin Unroe, Kayla Gonzales, Hannah Wensel, Amanda York, Peyton Kandill, Caleb Reynolds, Ben Sindle, Brittany Brown, Megan Rumble, Riley Ritchie, Van Stephenson, Melissa Bryant, Meagan Rosie, Thomas Huston, Kristen Nunnally, Michael Porcelli, JoSonya Schroeder, Mason Williams and Lauren Butler. These students will meet every other Wednesday morning to learn about technology and how to help the younger Dolphins use it.

Technology is a huge part of Stafford Elementary. Classroom teachers are always collecting used computer ink cartridges for recycling. If you have any questions about this recycling program please feel free to contact Alexis White at whiteam1@staffordschools.net.

Christopher Guyton is a new second-grade teacher.

The FLEX program will have morning sessions on Tuesday and Thursdays beginning at 7:45 a.m. Classes that will meet on these mornings will be American Sign Language, Italian, Introduction to Spanish and advanced Spanish. Afternoon classes beginning at 4:45 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays will include American Sign Language, introduction to German, advanced German, introduction to Spanish and advanced Spanish.

Stafford Elementary Math Club for fifth-graders will be sponsored by Nancy Scott and Becky Parker. This club will be opened to all fifth-graders who wish to explore mathematics in a fun and exciting way. Some of the fun activities planned are strategy games, logic puzzles, and mental math power games. The first session of this year's Math Club will run Oct. 11-Nov. 29 and meet Thursday mornings from 8 to 8:45 a.m. in Scott's classroom.

The fabulous and famous Stafford Elementary Dolphin Singers and Dolphin Percussion Ensemble will resume in October. The musicians will begin their performances at Stafford Elementary in December at the winter concert. Dolphins are already enthusiastically learning movement, singing and instrumental music in their music classes. Fifth-graders have recently learned a percussion arrangement to "Apple Tree." Jason Collett is the music instructor.

"Celebrate Reading" is the theme to honor the school's 40th birthday and Jamestown's 400th birthday. Sept. 28 was the kickoff after morning announcements. A giant birthday cake has been assembled in the school lobby, but the candles are missing! As the grades reading minutes are compiled, candles will be added to the cake in each grade's colors.

New this year will be the addition of "buddy classes" for reading and writing. All classes will have a buddy class, and the minutes from the reading log will be added with the buddy classes. The buddy classes will plan to meet together to read or write books together. The time spent with the older students helping younger students read will count for both classes.

Stafford Elementary students can earn points through many in-house programs such as Book-It, Medieval Times, Read Aloud to a Child Week (October 22-29), The Free Lance-Star SOL activities, and the The Free Lance-Star Weekly Writing Corner.

Trudy Bondesen is the school reading specialist and can be reached by calling the school at 540/658-6340.

Widewater Elementary

Thanks to all families that attended the first Multicultural ESL meeting led by ESL teachers Deb Ramsey and Jamie Knight on Sept. 20. More than 50 adults and many children attended. The families represented languages including Spanish, Korean, Urdu, Pashto and Arabic. Food was provided by the Coleto family and their Tio Juan's restaurant in Woodbridge. Also in attendance was School Board representative Dana Reinboldt and staff members.

To build Wildcat spirit among the multicultural and multilingual families, monthly parent meetings are planned. Parents were given information on communicating with the school, ways to encourage learning at home, helping children with comprehension and tips on learning to sound-out words. Next meeting is Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. One of next month topics is the interest in providing an adult English class.

Kindergarten teachers Debbie Kidwell, Debbie McConnell, Bonnie Cox, Daina Pretus, Cindy Patishnock and their students did different activities to honor the number zero on Oct. 1. "Zero the Hero" is a good friend in the classrooms. He comes to visit every 10th day because he loves numbers that end in zero. Zero the Hero has really helped the children focus on numbers that end in zero.

Librarian Angela Hopkins and assistant Nancy Brothers have been recruiting students to participate in the accelerated reader program. This year is a fun military-camo theme. Classrooms will decorate a military vehicle to place in the library on the obstacle course, which will move along the point trail with classroom totals. Individual achievements for the students reading the specially marked books and passing the computer tests will be displayed in the library also.

Students will earn their rank, dog tags and points to exchange for prizes at the AR store, which will open in January.

Students were encouraged to wear camo Oct. 1 to help with the kickoff of AR this year. After a Wildcat passes his or her first AR test the student will be issued official AR orders and gear for the year.

Winding Creek Elementary

SCA campaigns are under way with a large group of fourth- and fifth-graders running for office. Fourth- and fifth-grade students vote for officers electronically. Faculty advisers for the SCA are Amy Christofano, Rachel Engle and Leslie St. Laurent.

Kindergarten teacher Missy Zubick has been named "Teacher of the Month." Audrey Thompson has been named "Paraprofessional of the Month." Both were recognized for their outstanding mentoring of Winding Creek's four new kindergarten teachers.

Second-grade students participated in preparing discarded library books for distribution as part of their community unit.

Drew Middle

The first spirit night at Chick-fil-A on Warrenton Road was a success. Fifteen staff members participated in the evening, which helped to raise more than $300. Dozens of families turned out to celebrate Drew's second community gathering of the year. An ice cream social held during the summer kicked off the "New Year" theme.

The 2007 NJHS officers have been selected: Greg Bomhke, president; Russ Kaus, vice-president; Alisha Bhagat, secretary; and Camille Reid, treasurer.

The Drama 8 class will represent the school at the Young People's One Act Theatre Festival in Marion on Nov. 10. They will present "The Lottery," a dramatization of Shirley Jackson's short story. Students will perform in the restored Lincoln Theatre.

Pam Smith and Willard Sipple are Drew Rampage sponsors. Yearbook club is meeting regularly to take pictures of student events. Drew Rampage orders are now being taken for $15. Orders should be turned in before Oct. 31.

The accelerated reader program is up and running. Students need to read books so that they can earn points toward some fantastic prizes. Prizes are given at 10-, 25-, 50-, 75- and 100-point increments. The grand prize for the top two students in each grade level will be a limousine ride and lunch.

Lynn Eskew's language arts class is making movie and book posters for their projects on science fiction. Students are designing and creating masterpieces for their favorite science fiction selections.

Geography classes are designing online Web videos using Primary Access. Willard Sipple, technology resource teacher, is coordinating the project with Bo Adams and Joe Godsey's eighth-grade classes. Students are writing, directing and narrating productions to be presented in class.

Six teachers were honored for their participation in a fundraising walk last year for "Empowering the Poor." Gloria Schor, Lena Godsey, Lynne Rawlings, Ann Champliss, Octavia Please and Marcia Russell were honored with a plaque and a picture for their contribution in helping African children who are ill with malaria.

H. H. Poole Middle

About 45 students turned out for Sixth Grade Movie Night Sept. 21, sponsored by the Student Council Association. SCA members put on the event to make the sixth-graders feel welcome at their new school. Those in attendance were treated to a free movie and complimentary refreshments. The event was carried out by the Student Council officers: Angela Carandang, president; Holly Mitchell, vice president; Hollis Cuffie, treasurer; Emily Reinwald, secretary; and Robin Massowd, committee officer.

Students are participating in a new reading program this year co-sponsored by the public library and the school media center. "Cafe Book" is open to all seventh-and eighth-grade students. Approximately 104 students attended the first meeting, where they learned about the program and checked out books. Cafe Book will meet every other week during lunch.

Students will eat their lunches in the media center and discuss the books they have read. Cafe Book will continue through January.

Stafford Middle

National Junior Honor Society Officers are Sarah Davis, president; Amanda Ridella, vice president; Meghan Foley, secretary.

SCA Homeroom Representatives are:

Eighth grade--Elise Bailey, Mina Mends-Cole, Artie Smith, Adam Zalock, Corey Waters, Tyeisha Bumbrey, Lauren Mueller, Shane Emery, Amanda Patterson, Anya Quinones, Jalia Brayboy, Mashael Mahmud, Ejaaz Lawal, Misha Hurley, Rebekah Roller, Audrey Fowler, Rachel Jacobsen, Kia Richmond, Connor Amano, Taylor Williams, Victoria Glines, Eric Currier, Courtney Yagelski, Kianah Newman, Samantha Decatur, Kamaria Mason, Brittany Decatur and Emily Montgomery.

Seventh grade--Madison Davis, Victoria Olscowy, Alex Coldwell, Megan Weitekamp, Gabrielle Laporte, Charles Cuaresma, Josie Barrey, Jeremia Anglin, Joe Graziano, Jennifer Withycomb, Mason Ballard, Chris Blackwell, Megan Withycomb, Joe Mason, Eisha Raja, Evely Reyes, Anna Clemmens, Joseph Espinoza, Andrew Kennedy, Keshanna Pablo, Kayla Lyall, Justice Green, Kenyonna McDaniel, Morgan Frazier, Stephanie Buccola and Sarah Kaplan.

Sixth grade--Casey Skipper, Tim Buhl, Zachary Smizer, Hafsa Malik, Alex Hansen, Antonia Gomez, Jesica Fischer, Jedadiah Good, Khayla McGowan, Kiana Norton, Manuel Reyes, Taevon Hodges, Emily Froehlich, Amanda Polychrones, Brooke Sanders, Nathaniel Rogers, Rusty Dixon, Selena Nejati, Samantha Conley, Allison Pool, Christina Haines, Kate Hampton, Liz Washington, Ray Maloney, Chet Lempitsky, Laura Alford, Artie Reinhold, A.J. Onabamiro and Hailie Huppman.

Thompson Middle

The newly elected Student Council Association leaders are President Gary Sharp, Vice President Michael Cummins, Secretary Sarah Frazier and Treasurer Nicole Burkhardt. The SCA is selling candy grams. Students can purchase sweet treats and have them delivered to peers or teachers to brighten their day. The association's adviser is band teacher Surima Duckworth.

Virginia Delegate Mark Cole recently spoke to all seventh-grade civics students to discuss the similarities and differences between federal and state government. He also explained how state laws impact local governments and the choices we make. Students were able to ask Del. Cole questions about laws and governmental policies.

Art teacher Jennifer Felts was chosen to have her artwork displayed in the faculty gallery at the Bandy School Board Office. There you will find 12 oil paintings completed as part of Jennifer's master's thesis work at Virginia Commonwealth University. The pieces will be on display all school year.

Colonial Forge High

Sept. 17-21 was "National Learn and Serve Challenge Week." Susan Easter's Learn and Serve class planned a campus cleanup for Sept. 20 during third period. Many classes participated, taking pride in the beautification of the school grounds.

The Colonial Forge Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps hosted a Prisoner of War/Missing In Action (POW/MIA) Ceremony in recognition of National POW/MIA Day on Oct. 1. The day is observed in remembrance of personnel who are isolated, captured, detained, or otherwise missing in a hostile environment. The ceremony was to take place in the school auditorium and was open to students, faculty and parents or guardians of students. Adrian Cronauer, special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs (Pentagon) will be the guest speaker. During the ceremony retired Army Col. Jim Brown will present a POW/MIA flag to the CFHS Army JROTC Eagle Battalion in recognition of the outstanding community service, leadership and patriotism of enrolled cadets.

Mountain View High

The student-run Apple Federal Credit Union has new adjusted hours. It is now open during the following times: Monday, 2:15-3 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays during all lunch shifts.

The credit union is also hiring student help. They are looking for responsible students who would like to gain valuable job experience once a week during their lunch. See Trisha Johnson for more information.

Stafford High

Linda Keefer, yearbook adviser for The Legend, was selected as an instructor at the Herff-Jones Gettysburg Yearbook Experience after two years as an adviser. This is quite an honor as many instructors have been yearbook advisers for several years. The camp was held this July. Sue Gill, assistant yearbook adviser, accompanied Kristen Leitch and Kaitlyn Domesleski to the five-day camp.

Sue Gill, The Smoke Signal adviser, took seven students to the first Virginia Journalism Camp in July at Virginia Tech. Lexi Morello, Ambree Papa, Nina Gonzalez, Dawnthea Price, Gillam Ludlow, Juli Berenotto and Alexis Cote-Coble attended. Berenotto was a part of the winning track of campers and took home the 2007 AP Style Manual. Cote-Coble and Ludlow earned certificates for outstanding work.

Several students in journalism traveled to the VHSL/Jostens Publications Workshop held at the Richmond Marriott on Sept. 18. Nationally known leaders in high school publications taught several workshops on newspaper, lit mag and yearbook topics. Linda Keefer, yearbook adviser, James Andrews, lit mag adviser and Sue Gill, newspaper adviser accompanied the students.

Anthony Frederick, Nina Gonzalez, Jessica Scatchard and Stacie Gregorius, staff members from the Smoke Signal, the high school paper, attended a journalism workshop at The Free Lance-Star. Nina Gonzalez and Ben Jennings attended as "It!" writers.

Sue Gill was selected to attend the DC Teach-In provided by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in Washington at the Renaissance Hotel on Aug. 8.

Blake Farm Dayschool

There will be no school Oct. 9, due to a teacher work day.

Oct. 3 is the first Chick-fil-A night this year at the U.S. 17 location for dinner, 5-8 p.m. Fifteen percent of the total evening sales will be donated to Blake Farm Dayschool for this event.

Oct. 27 is the annual PTO Trunk or Treat night.

The bookmobile comes every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. The next scheduled arrival will be Oct. 11.

The annual coat exchange for the students of Blake Farm Dayschool will be held in October. Bring in your previously loved coats for exchange of another one.

More after-school clubs are forming. Chess, Lego and music clubs will be joined by a cooking club and a school newspaper club.

It is time to start thinking about the annual Spring Silent Auction. Parent volunteers are needed for several committees. Please see Donna in the front office to sign up.

Fredericksburg Academy

Autumn has arrived, and students are busy with service activities and fall traditions.

Third and fourth grades worked on a community service project last week. Each class collected food, and the children put together bag lunches for the homeless.

In the lower-school music and movement classes, students spent the first month learning about American patriotic music. The classes also were introduced to the life of George Gershwin and participated in songs and listening activities involving some of the musical works of this great American composer.

Fifth-grade students learned the history of and the basics of tinikling, a dance from the Philippines. The dancers mastered jumping in and out of bamboo poles as the participants working the poles maintained a steady beat.

Middle- and upper-school students are gearing up for Spirit Week festivities next week. Events will include an upper-school talent show Oct. 10; pep rally, parade and bonfire on Oct. 12; and athletic events on Oct. 13. Students in the middle and upper schools will dress up for theme days to show their school spirit throughout the week.

Students will enjoy four days off this weekend for fall break. Friday is a professional development day (no classes), and school will be closed Oct. 8.

Fredericksburg Christian Schools

The Sally Foster fundraiser has begun and will continue through Oct. 10. Oct. 8 is a teacher in-service day. No classes will be held.

The Fredericksburg preschool campus will go on a field trip to Snead's Farm Oct. 5.

The National Christian College Fair will be held at the high school campus Oct. 15.

The winners from the high school retreat are as follows:

Best Inventor--Ileana Perez

Flag Football--Senior Class

Best Belly Flop--Caroline Holtby and Joey Pleban

Best Blob--Ryan Madison

3 vs. 3 Basketball--Seniors

3 vs. 3 Volleyball--Seniors

Tennis-Singles--Amber Lockwood

Tennis-Doubles--Jon Lesher and Heather McCray

Skateboarding Stunt Contest--John Zimmerman

Caught Biggest Fish--Matt Harrington

Camo Winner--Josh Storms.

FCS Idol--Kelsey Orndorff

Tug of War--Seniors

Best Dive--Joey Pleban

Swim Relays--Joey Pleban, Jacob Zimmerman, Ryan Madison, Logan Antozzi

Dodgeball--Seniors

Ping Pong Doubles--Angus Yau, Ryan Crandall

Air Hockey--Lauren Kran-yak.

From the middle-school campus, Savannah Snead placed second and Lauren Powell placed fourth in their cross country meet at Quantico.

The middle-school book fair was a success, earning $275 in free Scholastic books, as well as a $2,500 cash profit. Oct. 5 is the Seventh Grade Clue Fun Night, held at the middle school campus from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Fredericksburg Elementary campus will take field trips today. Deralyn Steigerwald's and Deborah Frye's classes will go to Virginia Outdoor. Donna Hilton's class will go to Maymont. The fifth-graders will sing in chapel Oct. 5.

The Stafford preschool campus will go to Snead's Farm Oct. 3.

The Stafford elementary campus read 517 books for the Principal's Summer Reading Challenge. The fourth-graders will go to Morefield Mine today and second-graders will go to Maymont. Third-graders will share in chapel on Oct. 3. Third-graders will go to Virginia Outdoor Center Oct. 5, and seventh-graders will have a Clue Fun Night, held at the middle school campus, 7-9 p.m.

At the upper elementary campus today, classes 4B and 4S will go to Morefield Mine. On Oct. 3, Katy Aldrich's class will share in chapel. On Oct. 4, classes 4A and 4C will go to Morefield Mine.

Gladys H. Oberle School

Tricia St Clair's biology class is using the scientific method to study osmosis and cellular diffusion. Ron Magin's photojournalism class is preparing the second edition of their bi-weekly newspaper using CorelDraw 11. The class is learning how to conduct interviews while learning about their fellow students and staff. The first edition of their newspaper had been uploaded to the Student Project page of Employment Resources Inc.'s Web site at eri-va.com.

The Oberle Interact Club kicked off their year by selling "ducks" at the Ferry Farm Wal-Mart on Sept. 25 and 26. Since its inception, the club has helped raise money to support humanitarian projects supported by the Stafford Rotary Club. Their current project is part of the Rotary Club's Annual Wings, Wheels and Ducks event Oct. 7. Students will help raise money by chaperoning children in the moon bounce. The Interact vice president was incorrectly listed in last week's submission. The vice president is Grant Webers.

Learn and Serve classes are off to a great start. Students assembled recycling boxes and placed them around the school and Employment Resources Incorporated's office. They are raising money to assist the local Habitat for Humanity program. Students have visited the recycling center twice to collect money for Habitat.

The classes also met with participants of the Westwood Clubhouse, a day program for people with brain injuries. The students will begin biweekly visits to the Clubhouse at their new facility, behind Gander Mountain, to assist in preparing and serving nutritious meals.

Students enrolled in the transition training program are interviewing with local employers for their community-based training. Recent training site placements include Roxbury Mills Farm and Garden Center, University of Mary Washington's Dining Services, Illusions Auto Body Shop, Corky's and Santa Fe Car Wash. Scott Lee used the work-readiness skills he learned to obtain a permanent job at Lowe's in Stafford.

Holy Cross Academy

Students were invited to participate in the diocesan poster and essay contest in conjunction with the diocesan pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Oct. 13. The contest theme was "Our Lady of Fatima, Open our Hearts to Christ." The following students were selected in the poster category: Katie Becker, Danny Purcell and Claire Simons.

The following students were selected in the essay category: Emily Strickland, Jason Wiley and Elizabeth Carroll.

Middle-school students held their first semester Student Council elections. The nominated officers are: Audrey Dyer, president; Jeri Hetrick, vice president; Marcus Duquiatian, treasurer; Courtney Hoffman, recording secretary; Erin Dyer, corresponding secretary; Monica Mitchell, historian and Alex McCarthy, liaison.

Patti Hoffman, who has served as athletic coordinator for the past two years has decided to step down. Hoffman's service to the athletic program and her dedication to the student-athletes over the past two years is much appreciated. Denise Erwin, founder and first director of the athletic program, has agreed to take charge of the program.

Students interested in selling World's Finest Chocolate after Masses at St. Mary, Holy Cross or St. Jude during the candy sale time should sign up in the school office. There are four spots per Mass over three weekends.

St. William of York

Student Council Officers for the 2007-2008 year are:

President--J.C. Baron

Vice president--Rachel Marton

Secretary--Chelsea Gil-more

Treasurer--Paige Donohue

Historian--Jennifer Morgan.

Class representatives are fourth grade, Lexi Weber; fifth grade, Morgan Burke; sixth grade, Garrett Quigley; and seventh grade, Ben Kennedy.

Volunteers are reminded that they must complete the background check, fingerprinting, and the VIRTUS class, which will be at St. William of York on Nov. 10, at 9 a.m. To attend, you must register online at virtus online.org.

Oct. 5 is an early dismissal day. Classes end at noon. There is no extended day.

There is no school Oct. 8, in honor of Columbus Day.

All sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders are invited to join the Junior Catholic Youth Organization. There is an open-gym night on Saturdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For details, call Benjamin Mann at 540/659-5705 , ext. 31.

Volunteers are needed for the hot lunch program. For details, call Kathy Walker at 540/288-2059.

The girls volleyball team begins their games the first week of October. The girls are getting new uniforms for the upcoming season, so please support the bake sale to defray costs.

The boys baseball team is running a fall intramural program for grades six through eight every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. They are building team spirit and skill in anticipation of the upcoming season. For details, call Tony Greco at 540/ 657-1852.

The girls basketball team is looking for a new head coach. Volunteers are also needed to assist with concessions, girls softball, and boys and girls soccer. For details, call Tony Greco at 540/657-1852.

The eighth-grade students and their teacher, Ashley Nocera, attempted to make "metric munchies" in science. The class was successful at converting from the English system to metrics. The munchies were not so successful.

The kindergarten class celebrated Johnny Appleseed day on Friday. Teachers Rosemary Moretti and Lydia Lang helped the students with apple paint stamping, an apple relay race, and investigating apples. Then they ate an apple treat.

The Needlework Club is for any student interested in knitting, crochet, or other needlework. The next meeting is Oct. 22. For details, call Jennifer Jedrych.

The Math Club will meet every other Tuesday from 3:10 to 4 p.m. The next meeting is Oct. 9. For details, call Jennifer Jedrych or Kathy Walker at 540/288-2059.

Sandlot Baseball needs players. Boys in grades six through eight are invited to the ballfield for Sandlot Baseball after school on Wednesdays. This is a great opportunity to play baseball and just have fun. No experience is necessary. Games start Oct. 3, 3:10-4:45 p.m.