Schools

Ecoff educator named tech teacher of the year

By Danielle Ozbat on September 2, 2019 Schools, Teachers

Heather Russell recently received an award for her commitment to STEAM. (Danielle Ozbat photo) When Heather Russell was asked to be the STEAM lead at her school, she didn’t know what STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) was. After doing her research, the Ecoff Elementary School teacher realized she’d been doing hands-on learning so she accepted the role. Once the position of STEAM resource teacher opened up, she jumped on it because hands-on learning is her passion. Russell’s passion recently led to her being named the Virginia elementary school technology education teacher of the year by the Virginia Technology Engineering…

Convocation speaker

By Press release on September 2, 2019 Community, Schools

Abby Segrest, a Thomas Dale High graduate and senior at Radford University, and was recently chosen to speak to over 1,800 freshmen at the university’s convocation on Aug. 25 to welcome the class of 2023. Segrest is a marketing major and plans to graduate in May 2020.

School year offers staggered start dates for students

By Press release on August 27, 2019 Back-To-School, Schools

Chesterfield County Public Schools are doing something a little different this year in relation to the first day of school. •All students in grades 1-5 will report on Tuesday, Sept. 3. •Half of a kindergarten class will attend school Sept. 3-4, while the other half will attend Sept. 5-6. Schools will assign specific dates and communicate them to parents. •All K-5 students will report to school starting Sept. 9. These adjustments will help new students to elementary school reduce anxiety, build community and start their formal education in CCPS off on the right foot, according to a press release. Middle…

Contract approved for new Ettrick Elementary School

By Caleb M Soptelean on August 23, 2019 Schools

A $24.57 million contract for construction of a new Ettrick Elementary School was unanimously approved last week by the Chesterfield County Public Schools board. Oyster Point Construction Co. of Newport News was the low bidder out of five. The others were Kenbridge Construction Co., Southwood Building Systems, Sorensen Gross Construction Services and Gulf Seaboard General Contractors. The highest bid was $24.897 million by Kenbridge. The total budget for the project is $27.1 million, including an estimated additional cost of $1 million for an expanded gymnasium. The county – which requested that the school district expand school gyms by 3,565 square…

Pittsburgh native on board at Carver College & Career Academy

By Danielle Ozbat on August 23, 2019 Schools, Teachers

Stephen Hackett is pumped up about being the new principal at Carver College and Career Academy. He called it a huge honor and responsibility and is loving every second. Hackett said he is most looking forward to working with the students, staff and community and seeing a noticeable change in the student experience. One of his goals is to build a connection with Carver’s roots, and he said he wants every student to be extremely proud of the school’s history. The building opened in 1948 for black students as Carver High School, and it closed in 1970. It later was…

New principal on board at Meadowbrook High School

By Danielle Ozbat on August 6, 2019 Schools

Marcie Terry is pictured with artwork at Meadowbrook High School, 4901 Cogbill Road. Meadowbrook High School has a new principal: Marcie Terry. She grew up in Brunswick County and received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Her original career goal was to be a biochemist, so she moved to Atlanta and attended Georgia Tech, where she received her master’s degree in biochemistry. While there she did breast cancer research, and her work was published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry in 2013. Later she began teaching science Avondale High School in DeKalb County, Ga. She eventually moved back to Virginia, where…

Marching Knights perform in Disney parade

By Press release on July 23, 2019 Activities, Community, Schools

The Thomas Dale High School Marching Knights traveled to Orlando during spring break in March. Students visited the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios. The highlight of the trip was marching in the evening parade at Disney’s Magic Kingdom on March 29. The band explored backstage and performed on a half-mile parade route traveling right past the castle at the center of the park. The group was led by their director, Sarah Klinger, and one of their associate directors, Madeline Barker. Front row, from left, Martha Tyler, Kimberly Diaz, Gavin Walker, Barker, back, Klinger, Wyatt Walker, Taylor Johnston and…

Local business giving away backpacks

By Press release on July 16, 2019 Business, Schools

Students in Chester are about to benefit from a national backpack giveaway! On Sunday, July 21, more than 850 participating TCC and Wireless Zone stores are teaming up to donate 187,000 backpacks full of school supplies to children through TCC’s annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway. Between 1-4 p.m. on July 21, participating TCC stores are inviting local families to bring their children to the store to pick up a backpack filled with pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders, glue and more. The Chester store is located at 12101 Branders Creek Drive. For a list of other participating locations in Virginia,…

VSU to host Industrial Hemp Field Day

By Press release on July 9, 2019 Announcements, Schools

On Thursday, July 25, Virginia State University will host its third annual Industrial Hemp Field Day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the university’s Gateway Conference Center, 2804 Martin Luther King Blvd., Colonial Heights. The event will provide a forum for potential growers, researchers, marketing experts and industrial hemp product users to discuss the future of the crop in Virginia and neighboring states. Attendees will receive an update on the legislation governing industrial hemp production in the state well as learn about the challenges and opportunities for cultivating this crop. Speakers will also discuss the wide variety of products…

Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Niagara Cares bring improvements to TDHS

By Lamar West on June 25, 2019 Business, Community, Schools

A crew from Niagara Bottling of Chester helped with improvements at Thomas Dale High School last week. (Courtesy photo) The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and Niagara Cares recently teamed up to give Thomas Dale High School’s fitness facility and urban garden a $75,000 renovation. Four times a year, the foundation and Niagara Cares collaborate on a two-day community enhancement project to promote a healthy style of living in communities. The locations are chosen based upon school needs and proximity to the Niagara bottling plants. Thomas Dale was chosen from a variety of schools across the country, and this was the…

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