Chesterfield County Public Schools recently recognized outstanding first-year teachers with Beginning Teacher Awards. Here are the 2015 winners and finalists: Katelyn Bell, who teaches second grade at Alberta Smith Elementary, is the Elementary School Beginning Teacher of the Year. Finalists were Jordan Brackett of Beulah Elementary and Nicole Burchett of Woolridge Elementary. Jon Ferguson, who teaches seventh-grade language arts at Providence Middle, is the Middle School Beginning Teacher of the Year. Finalists were Andrew Bowersox and Nicholas Cenname, both of Falling Creek Middle. Pamela Hooper, who teaches special education at Bird High, is the High School Beginning Teacher of the…
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A partnership with the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation adds excitement to summer reading for students in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Elementary students who record their reading minutes online (library.chesterfield.gov/events/summer-reading/) will be entered to win prizes on individual, classroom and school levels. The grand prize will include a back-to-school Redskins Reading Rally to celebrate the school with the highest participation. “The school year ends in June, but learning continues year-round,” said Superintendent Marcus Newsome. “Reading is fundamental for success in education. That’s why we encourage every student to read throughout the summer. We are appreciative of our partnership with the Washington…
Laura Parrish, a Freshman at Thomas Dale High School of Chester has been nominated to attend the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Boston, Mass., on June 28. The congress is an honors-only program for high school students who are passionate about science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be scientists and technologists, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal. Laura Parrish…
Midlothian Middle students mastered 213,181 words and won second place in a 2014-15 vocabulary competition. More than 204,000 students in 16,369 schools located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and nine Canadian provinces competed throughout the school year in the annual Vocabulary Bowl sponsored by Vocabulary.com. During an assembly at 2 p.m. on June 8, Midlothian Middle celebrated and received a Vocabulary Bowl banner, marking the school’s achievement and medals for the top 20 students. “The entire school got behind the vocabulary effort, and we are very proud of our students’ achievement,” said Principal Patrick Stanfield.…
Respect, Responsibility, Effort and Achievement are the elements students need for success. Mega Mentors fills the bill for those in need of some guidance. Mega Mentor Phil “Philly Phil” Daniel stressed these four words about the Mega Mentors program in his opening statement at the Mega Mentors’ fourth annual banquet and awards program on May 28, at the Chesterfield Technical Center. Under the leadership of Greg Cummings, Mega Mentors is an all-volunteer organization where 98 percent of the contributions go toward providing materials, field trips, grants and recognition awards for the students. The organization’s mission it to teach life skills,…
A visiting artist is working with art students at Marguerite Christian Elementary to create a mural focusing on Virginia animals the wall outside art classes. Marguerite Christian Elementary is thrilled to welcome visiting artist Charlotte Rodenberg. Rodenberg is an adjunct VCU professor and local artist who has written, illustrated and published two children’s books: Bronto and the Pterodactyl Eggs and Bronto, Friend of Ceratops. Amy Tirrell is the art teacher at Marguerite Christian Elementary and has been the heart of the project. As the school’s 2014 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Tirrell is using the funds she earned to sponsor…
Public school funding in Virginia has been falling fast. Chesterfield County has felt it in its battle to squeeze all the Franklins out of every shrinking budget. Management has been a concern for a good many citizens, but when you look at state funding you wonder where the shrinking cash is going. Per the report “Is School Funding Fair? A National Report Card,” public school funding in most states continues to be unfair and inequitable, shortchanging the nation’s 49 million public school students, especially those living in poverty, out of the educational opportunities they need to succeed. Despite an economic…
Molly McFadden, a special education teacher from Curtis Elementary was awarded a MCD Grant of $5,000 for the 2015-2016 school year. Ms. McFadden will purchase stand-up desks for a variety of classrooms at Curtis. The purpose of the desks is to accommodate students with different learning styles, allowing them to stand while working if they wish. Students will be given a choice to use the stand up desks during instruction and independent work. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to use the desks here at Curtis!” she said.
English 10 students from Caroline Brown, Gina Hackett, and Beth Lucas’s classes hosted an event on May 29 certain to affect the hearts and minds of the L.C. Bird community while trying to effect real and lasting change in our world. Bird’s “Change the World Extravaganza” was held in the L.C. Bird Library. Students and community members were able to browse the broad range of informational booths, participate in surveys, answer questions and donate food to the hungry, as well as see inspirational videos and educational images, create links on theChange the World chain, and leave as better people. With more than 120…
Austin Leighton, a 10th grader at Thomas Dale High School has been nominated to attend the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Boston from June 28 to- June 30. The Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who are passionate about science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be scientists and technologists, to stay true to their dream. After the event, the experience will provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.…