School news

staff reports
Published: June 5, 2008

Ferrry Farm Elementary

The Ferry Farm Reading Center awarded 125 students who had read 10 books of Virginia Reader’s Choice to an ice cream party June 2 in the school cafeteria.Vanilla ice cream sundaes with every topping you can imagine: chocolate, caramel, Oreos, M & M’s , whipped cream, cherries and more, were passed out to the students. On June 4, 15 students were then treated to a doughnut party in the Reading Center for reading 15 out of the 20 Virginia Readers’’Choice books.While eating their treat, the students drew on paper covered tables with crayons and markers.

— Janet Smoot

Head Start
Head Start will continue to accept applicationsfor its preschool program for the 2008-2009 school year.  Call (540) 368-2559 for more information.
As rising kindergartners move up to their new schools; it is the hope of Nancy Sanderson and the cafeteria staff that the children will continue their “head start” in making good nutritional choices and continue to eat their “colors,“ which will help them to learn and grow.
Head Start wishes the best of luck to our families and their future kindergarteners. 
Employees of The Month were:  Ben Jones, Jenny Errico, Jessica Harrison, Crystal Hale, Denise Homan, Jennifer Holmes, Valerie Preston, Christa Stoots, Sue Shafferman and Charlotte Hooten.

Volunteers of The Month were:  Robert Caulfield, Whitney Shelton, Nike Owolabi, Michelle Corbett, Mary Ingoglia, Gary Ingoglia, Courtney Beeson, Diana Williams, Angela Carosi, Veronica Williamson and Lidia Siles.
The following classes grraduated May 30: Trudy Johnson-Kay; Charlotte Hooten.; and Sue Shafferman. The following classes graduated June 2:  Robin Migaleddi; Jane Barry; and Valerie Preston. Graduation ceremonies took place in the library.
Students of The Week were: Adam Johnson, Kylie Schindel, Skye Jackson, Elijah Lucas, Nicolas Hurtado-Pedraza, Alena Johnson, Rayvon Gibson, Heyssi Portillo-Cabrera, Deandre Dickerson, Ryan Patterson, Kennedy Nicholson and Nakaiya Samuel.
The last day for Head Start students was on Tuesday.

— Alice Thompson

Rock Hill Elementary

Jenna Jerrell, Reggie Thomas, and Taylor Pedigo were recognized for their participation in the Virginia Young Readers program. They successfully completed and tested on all the 2007-2008 Virginia Readers Choice book titles. Fifth-graders will attend the annual countywide DARE Day on June 11 at Pratt Park. Fifth-grade Recognition Night will be held June 12 at 6:30 p.m. Field Day will be held June 12. Volunteers are needed.  Please contact P.E. teachers Debbie Broadhurst and Debbie Hamilton.The P.T.O. is selling school supply packets. Order forms are available in the main office and are due back before school ends on June 13.

— Marilyn Butters

Stafford Elementary

WSES is Stafford Elementary School’s morning news show that is produced live every morning under the direction of T J Ucciardi, Alexis White and Louise
Zwileneff.  The anchors, cameraperson and video controller are all fifth-grade students. Each team of students works on the morning announcements for three weeks. At the end of the three weeks, we have special news show that is pre-recorded and edited to feature more students in our school. During “Turn off the Television Week” the news is still presented live but like a radio talk show instead.

On June 9 Carrie Jenner and her first-graders have challenged classroom parents to a friendly game of “Are You Smarter than a First-Grader?” The fun is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Dolphin cafeteria. Last Month Jenner’s Dolphins also participated in the very first “Decoding Detectives” game that reviewed grammar, phonics and spelling.

Jenny Parker’s kindergarteners wrapped up their community helpers unit last week with two fun-filled days of pretend play. The children had the opportunity to be chefs, firefighters, farmers, veterinarians and construction workers. They also completed the writing prompt “When I grow up…” which is currently on display in the hallway. Parker’s students also continue to work with addition and subtraction and review the vocabulary associated with both such as, more than, less than, plus and minus.

Kindergarteners also went on their final field trip of the year June 5. They had a wonderfully sunny day visiting the national zoo!
Fifth-graders will participate in the annual DARE Day at Pratt Park on June 11. Special recognition goes to DARE officer Rebecca Childress. Academic Awards will be presented beginning at 9:15 a.m. on June 6. This year “graduates” will be honored with their diplomas, special awards such as The Presidential Awards and American Citizenship on June 13 beginning at 9:15 a.m. in the Dolphin Dining Room. Years ago a tradition began and will continue in honor of our fabulous fifth-graders. They will be the focus of a special video that will be the conclusion of this ceremony-bring the tissues! The PTA-sponsored “Moving On Celebration” will begin at 1:30 p.m.

The winners of a monthly, countywide math contest were - First Place: Jacob Morris and David Rhett; Second Place: Jonathan Cartwright and Matthew Heindrichs; Third Place: Laura Sweet; Fourth Place: Donald Portwine and Jon Runstrom; and Fifth Place: Caylyn Newcomb and Chaselyn Trentley.
The following students had first-place scores in the Wordmasters Contest: Grade three - Joey Heindrichs; Grade four - Sam Wilcox; Grade five - Jonathan Cartright. Joey and Sam will receive trophies for each coming in fifth in the county of Stafford.

— Suzanne Ludwig