Schools

Matoaca Middle School teacher brings Latin alive

By Danielle Ozbat on April 3, 2018 Schools, Teachers

Lori Brown has been the eighth-grade Latin teacher at Matoaca Middle School for three years and her journey to get there was not conventional. She danced when she was younger, but her injuries forced her to go to physical therapy school. A patient-caused injury then led her to back to her first love, and she was the ballet mistress at a performing arts school for 12 years. Brown’s husband was in the Navy and when they ended up living at a boys’ boarding school, she decided to take Latin with the students. Her love for the language caused her…

‘Health school hero,’ Coyner one of 13 winners of national award

By Press release on March 27, 2018 Schools

School Board member Carrie Coyner starts some days by motivating other adults to be fit and healthy during her early-morning exercise class at the local YMCA. But, as a mother of three children and an engaged PTA member, the Bermuda District representative understands that healthy habits start at a young age. Recently, Coyner was named an Action for Healthy Kids 2017 Healthy School Hero award winner for her work and dedication to wellness in the life of Chesterfield County students. Through Coyner’s leadership and innovative ideas, Elizabeth Scott Elementary has created a culture of wellness that allows students to live…

New Honor Society organizes memorial for 17

By Caleb M Soptelean on March 20, 2018 Activities

“We have a duty to make our environment safer. Tonight we are making a stand. Enough is enough. We will not be next.” With those words, Thomas Dale High School senior Makayla Callender may have summed up the feelings, thoughts and emotions of some 75 students who stood on the field in front of the school on a cold, windy March 14 evening to commemorate the 17 people killed Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Callender said she was one of the students from the newly-formed National Social Studies Honor Society who organized the…

Students receive top honors for regional MLK Jr. art and essay contest

By Press release on March 20, 2018 Community, Schools

CHESTERFIELD – Six Chesterfield County Public Schools students recently received top honors for their entries in a regional essay and art contest, “Working Together We’ll Sow the Seeds of Peace,” sponsored by the DuPont Spruance plant to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Falling Creek Middle students swept the essay category for middle schoolers. Jamaal Goodson received the top honor in the essay contest, while Chasity Elise Ford and Andre Yarbrough were awarded second and third places, respectively. Chesterfield County Public Schools students also swept the top three honors in the art contest. Marguerite Christian Elementary student Matthew James Elwell won…

Communities in Schools hosting family event on March 24

By Press release on March 13, 2018 Schools

CHESTERFIELD – In the spring of 2017, Communities in Schools of Chesterfield hosted its first “CIS Fest” as a way to bring about awareness to the organization and its critical roles operating within Chesterfield County Public Schools. The response exceeded the organization’s expectations. “We’re not new to the community; we’ve been here for more than 20 years,” CIS Executive Director Chesterfield Jay Swedenborg said. “When we decided to host a festival-style event to spread the word about what we are doing – and our next big project – we weren’t sure if anyone would show. Boy, were we wrong!” CIS…

CCPS students to use Soundtrap digital audio app

By Press release on March 13, 2018 Schools

CHESTERFIELD – Chesterfield County Public Schools recently purchased a license to use Soundtrap, an online music and podcast recording studio, which will be rolled out to its 60,000 students. Initially, 33,000 middle and high school students will access the program as part of an innovative push to promote creativity and engagement, with the remaining students receiving the application later in the year. Having won numerous awards of excellence from educators around the world since its 2016 introduction, Soundtrap has now begun transitioning from a favorite learning tool deployed by individual teachers to a school-wide software program becoming part of the…

JTCC student shares story with legislators

By Press release on March 13, 2018 Community, Schools

CHESTER – Elena Brancato wants to be a role model for her son, so she decided to pursue a new career with the help of John Tyler Community College. Brancato says she chose Tyler because she liked its supportive environment. Her story is just one of several that John Tyler Community College students shared with state legislators during this year’s legislative session. The students were accompanied by college president Edward “Ted” Raspiller on trips to the Virginia Capitol. Brancato wants to challenge herself and realize new successes in the workforce. She worked for a while as an office manager at…

Family support drives artist’s passion

By Press release on March 8, 2018 Community, Schools

CHESTER – From a young age, Tallie Frost knew she was an artist. It’s how she saw herself. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a cartoonist, but over time, her goals shifted. She joined the military and spent six years serving in the Army National Guard, but her desire to express herself creatively never vanished. When the time came to re-enlist, Frost, a Memphis, Tenn., native now living in Chesterfield, chose to transition out of the military. With the encouragement of those around her, she also decided to pursue her lifelong interest in art. “It was a combination of…

Spelling Bee runner-up Aashna Arora (left) and winner Arinan Johri.

Fourth-grader Johri wins county-wide spelling bee

By Press release on March 8, 2018 Community, Schools

CHESTERFIELD – Alacrity. Tapirs. Vociferous. Generalissimo. Uncoquettish. Mitochondria. Cabochon. These were just a few of the words that participants in the Chesterfield County Public Schools spelling bee were challenged to spell to be crowned champion and advance to the regional spelling bee. Arinan Johri, a fourth-grader at Marguerite Christian Elementary, is this year’s top speller in Chesterfield County Public Schools. He beat out 18 other Chesterfield students to win the county-wide spelling bee. Arinan correctly spelled “mouthiness” and “trespasser” to win the competition. He will represent the county school system in the regional spelling bee March 17 at the Library…

School Bus Driver Job Fair scheduled

By Press release on March 8, 2018 Schools

Are you interested in a 10-month work schedule with summers off? Do you want to have a schedule that mirrors the schedule of Chesterfield County Public Schools students? If so, heck out the Chesterfield County Public Schools Bus Driver Job Fair on March 9 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the North Courthouse Library, 325 Courthouse Road. The starting hourly rate for a Chesterfield County school bus driver is $14.27, and Chesterfield County Public Schools will train and pay approved bus driver applicants to earn a Commercial Driver’s License. In addition, once applicants have successfully completed the required training, they will…

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