School news

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Published: October 10, 2008

Brooke Point High School

Brooke Point High School Athletic Booster Club will hold a Powder Puff Flag Football Game. The senior girls will face the junior girls on Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. at Brooke Point High School stadium.

The cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students. The gate opens at 2:30 with tickets being sold at the gate only. The junior and senior boys will be the cheerleaders for this event.

— Deb Johnson

Ferry Farm Elementary School

Ferry Farm’s PTA will be hosting the Annual Octoberfest on Oct. 17 from 4:40 to 6 p.m. throughout parts of the school. Many volunteers will be guiding the students through games and activities. Food and school spiritwear will also be available to purchase that evening. Book Fair will also be ending on Oct. 20.

Sarah Durkin’s fourth-grade class decorated Virginia shaped cookies Oct. 2 to represent the regions of Virginia. White icing was used as a base, and in their groups, the students added various decorations to signify the landscape of the different regions. Goldfish and green sugar was used for the Costal Plains, fruit roll ups for the Piedmont, Hershey Kisses, pumpkin candy, and gummy apples for the Blue Ridge Mountains, chocolate chips for for the valleys and ridge, and mini marshmallow for the Appalachian Plateau. After discussing the regions, they ate their creations.

Ferry Farm’s Annual Book Fair begins Oct. 10 and runs through Oct 20. Early dismissal will take place Oct.10 at 1 p.m. and there will beno school for Columbus Day, Oct. 13.

— Janet Smoot

Garrisonville Elementary

Go Red, White and Blue over Reading is the theme this year at Garrisonville Elementary. Each month students will fill out ballots voting for their favorite books. Students are encouraged to show their patriotism by reading books about America, learning traditional songs, and identifying national symbols. The students earn rewards for reading at home as well, so encourage reading nightly.

The first graders have been studying about Fire Prevention.  Their homework encouraged them to review the following with their parents: check the batteries in the smoke detector, have a safe place to meet outside their home, know how to call 911 in case of a fire, practice fire drills at home, and know how to stop, drop and roll.

As the election for President draws closer, the fifth grade is beginning to focus on the election process. Betty Fitzhugh, the focus resource teacher, is working with her students to convince other students to vote for their teacher for president. They are creating posters to highlight their teacher’s leadership qualities. 

To celebrate the Virginia Readers Choice books for the year, GES Librarian Linda Burke and Betty Fitzhugh have started the Breakfast Book Bunch. To participate, students in grades 3-5 must have read at least one of the books on the list. The meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month, October through December (due to school closings, November’s meeting will be held on the 18th). At the meetings the students will explore the books further through games and book activities. Each meeting will begin at 7:45 am.

The monthly Box Tops for Education challenge has begun!  Send in Box Tops throughout the month to see which classroom in each grade level can earn a treat.  This is an easy way to help Garrisonville earn free money. 

October 25 is Garrisonville Elementary’s annual Fall Festival.  Any crafters or home business owners interested in renting a table at the event please contact Jennifer Bostick at (540) 220-6293.

— Amy English

Head Start

Free Adult Education classes are offered at Head Start. The Adult Basic Education/GED test preparation classes meet four days per week, through Monday through Thursday. The morning classes meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Evening classes meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  For more information call (540) 898-8165. Parents are invited to a workshop for day care training on Oct 8, and a Money Smart workshop for parents has been scheduled for Oct 9 at 10 a.m. Head Start will be collecting Campbell’s Soup label UPCs for education. Proceeds will be used to purchase equipment for our school and classrooms. The National School Lunch Week will be Oct 13 through 17. Head Start’s theme will be “A Rainbow on My Plate, Vote for School Lunch”. The week will also give parents a great opportunity to volunteer in their child’s classroom and enjoy having lunch with their Head Start student. On Oct 10 at 10 a.m. the Transportation PRISM meeting will be held. The Disabilities PRISM discussion will take place Oct. 14 at 1 p.m.

There are no classes in session at Head Start or the VPI class at Brooke Point on Columbus Day, Oct 13. Also no family literacy night activities are scheduled for that day.  The next Family Literacy Night will be Oct. 20 beginning at 5:00 p.m. Ages and Stages of Child Development will be discussed at the Foods and Skills meeting Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. On Oct. 15 at 11:30 a.m. the Policy Council will meet. A First Aid and CPR training class has been scheduled for parents Oct. 16 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

—  Alice Thompson

Rockhill Elementary

Fifth-grade teacher Tiffany Black is the October P.T.O. Employee of the Month. Chosen employees receive a front row parking space, gift certificate to a local restaurant, banner for their classroom and a certificate of appreciation.

School is closed on Oct. 13 for Teacher Inservice. PTO Night at CiCI’s pizza is Oct. 14. The PTO will sponsor an Ice Cream Social at its first meeting of the year, being held on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. The Rockhill Singers will perform.

— Marilyn Butters

Stafford Elementary

Renee Hassen’s kindergarteners have been studying the life of Johnny Appleseed. Johnny Appleseed Day was held Sept. 26. The day began with each student bringing in his or herfavorite
apple. There was then a reading about Johnny and finally a special recipe was followed to create a one of a kind applesauce to be shared with friends. The apple theme continues in October as the students begin a science unit on the life cycle of an apple.

”Christopher Columbus” will be arriving soon as primary classes begin units in Social Studies.

Dolphins will use their mapping skills to make sure Chris arrives safely! Fifth-graders will be busy with exploring as well. They will use the IBooks to help understand what obstacles many explorers faced as they crossed the oceans to the new world.

The Stafford County School Board will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the final reports for the elementary and middle school attendance zone studies Oct, 15 at 6 p.m. The hearing will be held at Brooke Point High School located at 1700 Courthouse Road.

And, the whole SES family has been invited to enjoy a night of fun activities on Oct. 16.

Kim Debski’s class has enjoyed two mystery readers already this year and they look forward to many more! This year her class will participate in a “Mystery Reader” program.  At least twice a month a “Mystery Reader” will go in and read to the students.

— Suzie Ludwig

Winding Creek Elementary

The Winding Creek SCA officers for 2008- 2009 School Year are: President: Michael Johnston; Vice President: Camryn Curry; Recording Secretary: Abby Stanford; Corresponding Secretary: Jennylynn Johnson; and Treasurer: Conor Rogan.

WCES students are celebrating Reading Month. The theme of reading month is “Vote for Books.” 

Physical Education teachers Ryan Mytrysak and Margie Lathers announced the “Athletes of the Month.”  These students are Brian Anderson, Audrey Arner, Andrew Connolly,  Mary Stanford, William Bailey, Emily Dietz, Connor Merk, Kiley Merritt, Nakoa, Kya Bosserman, Dwayne Williams and Madilyn Tsirlis.

— Martha Ross