The class with the most overall reading minutes for April was Maureen Cremmins' fourth-grade class with 22,699 minutes. Second place went to Christina Seibert's fifth-grade class with 21,858 minutes. Other classroom winners were: kindergarten, Emailee Owens; first grade, Amee Mirskov; second grade, Ann Steimer; and third grade, Brenda Mason.

The school Science Fair was held recently. The following students placed with their projects:

Kindergarten

First place--Sean Commerford

Second place--Sam Chapman

Third place--Aidan Draughn

First grade

First place--Jamison Mulvihill

Second place--Joe Edwards

Third place--Nolan Henslee

Second grade

First place--Joseph Ryerson

Second place--Duncan Geissler

Third place--Nathan Chapman

Third grade

First place--Thomas Ryerson

Second place--Allie Steimer

Third place--JD Dickinson

Fourth grade

First place--Tabitha Paulus

Second place--Malijah Ford

Third place--Kory Bliss and Mark Shapiro

Fifth grade

First place--Jeffrey Truong

Second place--Bethany Flaco

Third place--Dylan Sweigart and DMitri Stevens.

Students in third through fifth grades have been participating in the WordMasters Challenge. This competition is sponsored by Destine Bradshaw, Focus Resource teacher. Winners were:

Third grade

First place--Marion Kamara

Second place--Augstine Duku

Third place--Adalyn Perez

Fourth grade

First place--Tyler Sivia

Second place--Riley Henslee

Third place--Raven Whitehurst

Fifth grade

First place--Dennis Geissler

Second place--Trey Clark

Third place--Caleb Duniver.

--Nancy Brothers

Gayle Middle

Physical education teacher Carolyn Erbaugh and Gayle Middle School are the recipients of the $1K Play 60 Challenge Fitness Grant for Region 3. The fitness grant is sponsored by the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and the commonwealth of Virginia and is designed to help the school with its physical fitness initiatives. This includes purchasing new equipment or helping to fund programs that encourage students to get 60 minutes of physical activity each day and to continue healthy fitness habits throughout their lives.

--Bet Fitzgerald

Shirley Heim Middle

The following students were selected for the Shirley Heim Middle School softball team: Grace Alford, Khayla Easley, Anna Folwaczny, Kate Maher, Lauren Olsson, Victoria Pellot, Kyra Quinerly, Jessica Romero, Sierra Smizer, Lindsay Tarr, Jordyn Vannes, Kelsey Waugerman and manager Mercedes Barnes.