PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Head Start
The Head Start/Virginia Preschool Initiative Program is recruiting for two new 4-year-old classes starting in January. The child must have turned 4 by Sept. 30, 2009, to qualify. Call 540/368-2559.
LEAP Nutrition Education classes are Wednesday through Friday, 9-11 a.m., at the Melchers Complex. Brooke Point Head Start students will receive their LEAP Nutrition Education class Wednesday at 10 a.m..
The Policy Council meets Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Community partners, Head Start families and friends are invited to the annual Family Thanksgiving dinner Thursday at 6 and 7 p.m. Please RSVP.
The following program meetings have been scheduled:
Community PRISM, Friday at 10 a.m.
Mental Health PRISM, 10 a.m. Nov. 23
Child Health and Development PRISM, 1 p.m. Nov. 23.
Dental screenings for all students will take place Monday, at 9 a.m. Family Literacy Night is at 5 p.m. that evening.
Food safety and recycling will be discussed at the next Foods and Skills meeting Nov. 24 at 9 a.m.
Students of the Week were Nehemiah Jackson, Jonah Escobar-Ayala, Jorge Guzman-Cervante, Kassidi Dodson, Daniela Espinal, Thomas Gibson, Joseph Galloway, Mariah Conaway, Bryce Jones, Jason Ector, Nyla Forde, Randdy Guevara-Martinez, Edsel Hill and Justyn Escobar.
--Alice Thompson
Kate Waller Barrett Elementary
Fifth-graders participated in the November problem-solving contest. The following students had top scores: Cougar Conley, with six out of six; and Trenton Pettigrew, Ronald McKnight and Dayzha Brooks.
--Carmen Healy
Anthony Burns Elementary
The following new staff members are welcomed: fourth-grade teacher Sarah Serrano and third-grade teacher Helaine Love. New paraprofessionals are Mimi Marshall, Diana Collins, Barbara Neflin and Theresa Gilliland.
The following students were winners in the math problem-solving contest:
Natalie Burlew--first place
Sol Lee and Jacob Niemeyer--second place
Derek Avery, Alex Barton, Troy Boswell, Alexandra Dederer, Micah Harris, Elexis Pierre, Christian Reihms, Kelsey Ryan and Diana Shoup--third place.
Picture makeup day is Thursday.
--Pat Loew
Conway Elementary
Students in grades three through five recently competed in the November math challenge. Top performing third-graders were Evie Frields, Leorenz Altamirano, Wesley Burton, David Rogers and Kaitlyn Parker. Fourth-graders receiving top honors were Grace O'Hara, Zachary Thomas, Rachel Good, Kevin Dreeke and Bobby Rafferty. Fifth-graders with top scores were Haeyun An, Maddie Clark, Daniel Symons, Becca Millson and Rose Ernst.
--Lynn Schulin
Falmouth Elementary
There was a terrific turnout o for the annual "Donuts for Dads," sponsored by the PTO.
The Shining Stars who showed great responsibility during October were:
Kindergarten--JaKeira Curtis, Whitney Williams, Colin Hepler, Norah Sutton, Jamirah Groons, Morgan Taylor, Sam Reber, Heidi Stone
First grade--Jack Hauke, Hannah Pippin, DessiRae Ingram, Meghan Ponton, Haley Henderickson, Kayla Wallace, Kaegan Jessee, Anna Romanello, Madison Comerford, Camryn Stinson
Second grade--Amelia Gilley, Julian Long, Jalen Cosby, Erin Logan, Justin Hepler, Gabriela Villatoro-Rodriquez, Sasha Ramirez, Susie Webb
Third grade--Sharalyn Berry, Hunter Taylor, Caden Nelson, Alex Sullivan, Angelica Grigsby, Erik Rojas, Grant Fuller, Michaela Sizemore
Fourth grade--Cody McIntosh, Mary Romanello, Jackson Dukes, Alexis Warthen, Cassidy Crabtree, Michael Lopez, Christian Huff, Savannah Gallahan
Fifth grade--Jesse Hicks, Graham Major, Haley Schooler, James Shellington, Jocelyn Mendez, Logan Welch, Jonathan Marrs, Lindsey Sullivan.
There will be a Student Council Association meeting today from 4 to 5 p.m. Parent-teacher conferences are tomorrow, by appointment only, after the early dismissal. Thursday is picture re-take day and Friday is Be Excited About Math Day.
--Mary Garrett
Garrisonville Elementary
First-graders learned about Veterans Day last week. Cindy Patton's class made a beautiful Veterans Day bulletin board. The students wrote about their heroes. In science, they are starting to explore day and night and in math they are counting, adding and subtracting using number lines. Students are rereading stories and poems to build their reading fluency.
Mary Jo Hiles' third-grade class has written "I Wonder" statements about different pictures. These statements are posted on the bulletin board in the third-grade hall. Third grade will be designing Greek pots and Greek temples as a part of a study on ancient Greece.
Parent-teacher conferences are Wednesday. Please pick up Market Day orders on Wednesday in the cafeteria between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Chick-fil-A Spirit Night is Nov. 24, 5-8 p.m.
--Amy English
Hartwood Elementary
Caeli O Reilly has been elected president of the Student Council Association. Mazzan Shalaby is vice president and Kayla Mason is secretary. Representatives are Ethan Sinclair, Demetri Funnell, Jason Scotto, Christian Chew, Emily Speer, Myles Huntington, Toger Caputo, Brooke Myers, Ahni Kolandjian, Leah Brodie, Grace Mamon, Hannah Hanscom, Jacob Wilhelm and Cheyanne Cole.
Kaeli Anderson, Andrew McDaniel, Avery Geller, Brandon McCarther, Samantha Bates, Michaela Broyer and Ivan Calderon are the most recent fifth-graders to qualify for the Accelerated Reader party.
Several Marines from Task Force East visited Hartwood to thank the SACC (YMCA before- and after-school care) students and others for letters and drawings they received while serving in Iraq last year. The Marines delivered replies and drawings of their own to the students.
--Marilyn Thompson
Rocky Run Elementary
The following families helped with first-grade reading rotations:
Jennifer Williams' class--Mason Cochran, Zachary Haines, Jordan Sheek, Marcus Woody
Lori Willden's class--Trevor Bush, Brandon Nast, Farah Soliman, Bradley Warren, Karin Lea
Sara Caswell's class--Jacob and Steven Dean, Wesley Conrad, Jamie Loder, Logan Parker
Debbie Olson's class--Jasmine Parker.
The U.S. 17 Chick-fil-A made a generous donation of straws for math measurement day.
Kindergarten has been working on needs and wants. They have been creating hands-on activities where the children have to make choices about how to spend their money. Soon they will be talking about Thanksgiving, as well as Pilgrims and American landings. In math, the children have been working on exemplars. These exemplars give them an opportunity to show how they are thinking about math.
--Kathy Mimm
Stafford Elementary
Fifth-graders participating in the countywide problem-solving contest used many different strategies to solve six difficult problems this month. The top scorers are Joseph Knight, Dorothy Castelly, Joey Heindrichs, Jezreel Chitty and Margo Rayner.
The PTA Beautification Committee held its annual "Tuck in the Garden" Day on Nov. 7. Volunteers made sure the gardens were properly prepared for the winter.
A fabulous red, white and blue Veterans Day celebration was held to honor family and friends of Stafford Elementary who have served the country. The PTA invited guests to speak about their experiences in the armed forces. Patriotic music was presented by music director Jason Collet, and snacks were provided by parents.
Be Excited About Math Day is Friday, with a learning lab for parents to observe a class having a math lesson. The primary lesson will be taught at 9:30 a.m. and the intermediate lesson will be taught at 1:30 p.m. There will also be pre-sessions to explain what you will see and a post-session to answer any questions you might have. Questions concerning this program should be directed to Becky Parker at
Email: rparker@staffordschools.net.
Kindergarten parent conferences are today, 3:40-6:30 p.m. and tomorrow, 1:40-7:30 p.m. Awards for first marking period will be given Monday at 2:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Parents are asked to continue to support the Fall Food Drive by dropping off or sending in canned food with their children until Friday.
--Suzie Ludwig
Widewater Elementary
Widewater is honoring veterans with a special bulletin board for family members who are serving or have served in the military. Students and staff are encouraged to bring in pictures.
Thursday is the 50th day of school. Kindergarten is encouraging staff and students to dress up in clothes representing the 1950s. PTO will be doing Scrip gift card orders beginning Friday. Orders are due Dec. 4.
Kristen Buechner joined the staff as a Reading Center paraprofessional. Librarian Angela Hopkins was named Teacher of the Year.
In the library, the train has pulled out of the Grand Central Bookfair station. Each class was given a chance to guess how many pieces of coal were in the gallon jar. One winner from each class chose a prize from the treasure suitcase. All the classroom winners were placed into the drawing for the grand prize. Third-grader Naois Blanco from Cindy Giffin's class won a "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" T-shirt and marker set.
Classroom winners were:
Kindergarten--Kaina Biggs, Allen Jones, Kyra Gatlin, Angelina Boling, Pavel Ayala Coria
First grade--Melanie Diaz, Alexus Casador, Tim Chapman, Tommy Stewart, Mureed Sarwari
Second grade--Zoya Bukhari, Adrianna Nesbit, Chris Castillo, Kimberly Moreno, Riley Hensley
Third grade--Naois Blanco, Taheed Conteh, Sarah Stewart, Patrick Welch
Fourth grade--Daniel John-stone, Tyler Sinclair, Grace Akoto, Austin Nicely, Jordan Lusby
Fifth grade--Damon Wright, Donte' Stefan, Tiarra Hodges, James Kennedy, Dionte Reeves.
Report cards go home today. Wednesday is a 1 p.m. early dismissal for parent-teacher conferences.
--Nancy Brothers
Stafford Middle
The following students participated in All-County Choir: Kristen Nunnally, Jaileen Roman, Alyssa Smith, Ashana Amen and Amber Eldridge.
The following students were chosen to participate in All-County Band: Robert Walker, Nikki Tushoski, Julia Kroeger and Wesley Pippen.
Seventh-graders Dominique Boch and Laura Yang have read all 10 Virginia Readers' Choice books. They received gift certificates and invitations to attend an ice cream celebration.
Other students receiving Virginia Readers' Choice awards are Jonathan Fauth, Mystique Gray, Tristan Hume, Maryem Neberai, Jazmine Northern, Nayra Palomares, Jazebo Raja, Kaitlyn Rose, Sabrina Sammel, Nicole Simpao, Ben Sindle, Van Stephenson, Chris Ware, William Wilcox and Henry Wu.
--Liz Featherstone
A. G. Wright Middle
The annual Veterans Day Tribute was organized by social studies, chorus, strings and band teachers, and featured patriotic music, student presenters, a guest speaker and a color guard.
Lt. Col. Mark A. Bradford, chief of the state and local exercise branch for the National Guard Bureau, spoke about the country's appreciation of veterans and why it is important.
The school chorus and orchestra performed "America the Beautiful" and a selection that highlighted the first chorus of each of the service hymns. Members of the audience who were on active duty or were veterans were asked to stand and be applauded when their hymn was played.
The evening's events were dedicated to the late retired Marine Col. Curtis Southwick, who began his career as a teacher at A.G. Wright after retiring from the military.
Guidance counselor Carol Carpenter has been named Staff Person of the Month by her colleagues.
--Bridgett Roos
Brooke Point High
The following students were selected for All-District Honors Choir:
Rebecca Patterson, Soprano 1
Crystal Bratti, Soprano 2
Brittany Shaw, Alto 1
Linsey Schumacher, Alto 2
Josh White, Tenor 2
Shayne Brayshaw, Tenor 2
Daniel Lewis, Tenor 2
Jonathan Litalien, Bass 1.
The All-District Choir concert is Feb. 12-13 at King George High School.
PTSO Designer Bag and Gift Card bingo is tonight at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds go to the scholarship fund. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Students are $10 at the door.
The Marching Blackhawks earned a rating of superior at the Virginia Band and Orchestra Director's Association Marching Band Competition.
--Tom Coen
Colonial Forge High
Learn and Serve's third annual Turkey Drive benefits the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, with a goal of collecting 1,500 pounds of turkey. Bring a fresh or frozen turkey Thursday, between 6:30 and 8 a.m.
Colonial Forge Drama won first place at the Virginia Theatre Association Competition. The next stop is as Virginia's representative at the Southeast Theatre Competition in Lexington, Ky., in March. To help pay for the trip, send checks to Colonial Forge Drama Boosters, 550 Courthouse Road, Stafford, Va. 22554.
--Julie Bates
Stafford High
The Marching Band took second place at the Warrior Classic in Hampton with a score of 90.3 out of 100. The top score was 93.3. The band placed first in music, second in marching, second in percussion, second in flags, first in drum major and second overall. The director is Chuck Hite.
Thirty-eight students were selected for All-District Chorus: Rachel Rochte, Alyssa Bornschein, Michelle Sloan, Tony Clowes, Alannah Paule, Kelly Burcher, Ashley Chenoweth, Caitlin Rosedale, Lauren Pettera, Leah Jennings, Erin Wicker, Zachary Bullock, Lexington Bowler, Joshua Sheats, James Baron, John Reichard, Derek Wood, Richard Chambers, Seth Catalano, Garrett Jefferies, Jason Change, Rusty Baron, Patrick Clark, Richard Abel, Janus Chidester, Analisa Wall, Samantha Trice, Temple Hammen, Flora O'Reilly, Megan Walton, Laura Chilton, Aroyia Jones, Taylor Campbell, Claire Colburn, Katelynn Jarrells, Jodie Clowes, Taryn Mauldin and Mersadees Henry. Joe Eveler is the choir director.
They will be attending the event in February, and the juniors and seniors on the list are eligible to audition for All-Virginia Chorus.
--Suzanne Gill
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Blake Farm Dayschool
Chanthon Swart's five-day preschool class made applesauce, apple butter and churned butter. They started laying down the foundation of their longhouse. In the immersion class, students are studying apothecaries. They made rosewater and ginger syrup to make their own ginger ale.
Lauren Bevard's kindergarten class won an ice cream party for bringing in the most box tops during the first quarter.
The school is collecting canned and nonperishable food for the food bank. Collection boxes are in the foyer and each classroom. This project will run for the remainder of the school year.
School will be closed for Thanksgiving, Nov. 23-27.
The Adopt-a-Family Snowflake Campaign begins Nov. 30.
The Gingerbread Shoppe is scheduled for Dec. 7-11. Donations of hand-crafted gifts are needed to sell. Information will come home this week.
The Holiday Program is Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m.
--Susie Hawk
Fredericksburg Christian Schools
Sixth-graders from the Stafford Campus and lower school participated in the annual Egypt Day by donning Egyptian costumes and researching topics on ancient Egypt. The students taught younger students about their individual subjects.
The annual alumni Turkey Bowl is Nov. 28. Participate in or watch the alumni women's basketball game at 1 p.m. and the alumni men's basketball game at 3 p.m.
Stafford campus kindergartners in Maria Lippart's class held a Teddy Bear Picnic in honor of the letter B.
Middle school students will be lending a hand to the community Thursday in their annual Rake-a-Thon. The day will be spent as a service project in which students will minister to those who need help with raking, including the elderly, infirmed, widowed and military with deployed spouses.
Stafford Campus All A Honor Roll students are:
Fourth grade--Riley Brown, Gabe Manry, Isabel Santos, C.J. Sinon, Brittney Solomon, Mazie Wright
Fifth grade--Hannah Brett, Tori Calvert, Danielle Hargis, Mikayla McDonald, Grant Pennington, Taylor Sansom, Autumn Swain, Maddison Wester, Emma White, Darius Winstead
Sixth grade--Kourtney Peters
Seventh grade--Dillon Brown, Marin Faherty, Nicole Shannon
Eighth grade--Abby Manry.
Lower School All A Honor Roll students are:
Fourth grade--Moyosore Abbey-Bada, Alyssa Aldrich, Emily Amelung, Jacob Chang, Benjamin Christie, Faith Fidgeon, Megan Griffis, Elizabeth Hamlett, Rebecca Heth, Ryland Leupold, Matthew Petitt, Kirsten Knox, Alesi Veale
Fifth grade--Leah Beverly, Jared Brewer, Ian Dow, Ethan Dudley, Lauren Ashley Frye, James Hammett, Kaelie Haynie, Kurt Karpin, Logan Ladue, David Lambertson, Carolyn Paterson, Alyse Powell, Grace Sharlun, Lydia Sumpolec, Jaquelyn Wilson
Sixth grade--Hannah Berkley, Anne Bock, Kelsey Cook, Carter Garrison, Rebecca Hamlett, Scotland Kemper, Trenton Montgomery, Lucas Noble, Jordan Rasure, Andrew Reynolds, Austin Simmons.
Upper School All A Honor Roll students are:
Seventh grade--Amelia Askew, Elizabeth Bjornsen, Isabella Dillon, Emily Frank, Courtney Jones, Emma Morris, Sophia Nicholls, Aaron Petitt, Bridgitte Root, Jessica Trementozzi, Audrey Williams
Eighth grade--Jacob Huber, Katana Lippart, Alexis Love, Ashlee Middleton, Chelsea Schafer, Teresa Tripodi
Ninth grade--Mary Copeland, Alexander Garner, Hannah Hodges, Christopher Hughes, Michaela Kelley, Jamieson Ledoux, Josiah Manry, Sara Wengstrom
Tenth grade--Rebecca Harrington, Paige Marple
Eleventh grade--Carson Houser, Emilia Larach.
The Stafford Campus Scholastic Book Fair sold more than $10,000 worth of books and made a profit of $2,700. The students donated $173 to our ACSI school in South Africa, which means Scholastic will donate $173 to local charitable organizations.
--Jill Shigley
Holy Cross Academy
Volunteers distributed the H1N1 vaccine to 300 students, siblings and parents recently. The Knights of Columbus Annual Christmas tree sale begins Saturday, and ends Dec. 22 at St. Mary Catholic Church. Call the school for preorder details.
HCA dads enjoyed Donuts with Dad on Nov. 11.
--Beth Loveless
South Stafford Christian School
A A Honor Roll is:
Second grade--Abigail Bui
Sixth grade--Wilson Pezzuto.
The Thanksgiving Feast is Nov. 24at 11:30 a.m.
--Kimberly Horn