School News from Around the County
By Staff
Chappell's Corner
Vote in on proposed school budget
By a vote of 4-1 the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved the appropriation for the RCPS budget for 2008-09 as recommended by County Administrator John McCarthy. Mr. McCarthy had recommended a $250,000 decrease in the $470,709 additional local funds requested by the School Board for the 2008-2009 school year. Mr. McCarthy proposed an increase of $220,709 in local funding. The "bottom line" approved by the Supervisors is $11,813,799. This figure includes revenues from State, National and local sources and is $283,135 lower than the budget for the 2007-08 school year. The School Board already approved $358,000 in budget reductions before sending the budget to the BOS. I will recommend additional budget reductions of $250,000 – based on the decision by the BOS - to the School Board on May 13.
Latin student excels
RCHS student Malcolm Perry has won a silver medallion in the 19th annual National Mythology Exam sponsored by the American Classical League and taken by over 10,000 students. Malcolm scored over 94 percent on the sections of the examination he chose: general Greek and Roman mythology, the myth of Theseus, and Homer's Odyssey.
Set for nationals
Scholastic Bowl Team Captain A.J. Collins placed 7th of 32 teams in the State and ranked 163rd of 703 schools nationally. The Panther Scholastic Bowl Team is preparing for the National Championships at George Mason University on May 31-June 1.
Kindergarten registration
Kindergarten registration for children who will be five years old on or before September 30th, 2008 will be held at Rappahannock County Elementary School today from 9:00 to 11:30 and 1:00 to 3:00 by appointment only. This registration must be done by a parent with legal custody of the child being registered. The parent will need to bring the child's birth certificate, social security card, School Entrance Health Form (available from the child's doctor), and completed immunization record. Please call the RCES office at 540-987-8259 to schedule your appointment. Parents are requested to bring your child to the registration for a short evaluation activity and an opportunity to visit a Kindergarten classroom!
SOL Tests at RCES
Report from RCES Principal Carol Johnson: "Students in grades 3-7 will be taking SOL tests May 13 - May 23. Please mark your calendar now to ensure your child's attendance in school during these two weeks. Students in grades 5, 6 and 7 will be taking their tests on the computer."
Teacher turnover
The RCPS had 12 percent turnover in the teaching staff following the 2006-07 school year. The teacher turnover rate for surrounding counties ranged from 8 – 17 percent following the 2006-07 year. Of the 10 Rappahannock Teachers that resigned during or following 2006-07 five (50 percent) left to go to higher paying school districts. Three (30 percent) retired. One moved out-of-state with a spouse. One left the teaching profession.
Rschoolnewsphoto
Photo by Ann Pankow
Wakefield's Environthon Team placed third overall and won a berth at this year’s state competition, to be held later in the month at James Madison University.
Wakefield Country Day School
Wakefield’s Spring Auction raises funds for scholarship program
WCDS’s annual spring auction held last Saturday evening had as its theme, An Evening in Monte Carlo, and by all accounts it was a great success. Over 200 people attended this "sold-out" affair, and the proceeds generated will help underwrite the school’s scholarship program for 2008-2009. As noted by Head of School Kathleen Grove, "From the silent auction, full of bargains large and small, to the dinner and highly entertaining live auction presided over by Doc Mitchell, the night contained something for everyone." Wakefield’s Sean O’Connor (grade 11) greeted guests as they arrived with his beautiful violin music, WCDS parent Tom McGunigal provided entertainment with his band, GrooveJet, multiple raffles kept everyone’s attention, and the Marriott provided excellent service and cuisine. Many thanks to co-chairs Jennifer Phillippe and Alison Seaborn, along with their talented volunteer committee, who together made the auction not only highly successful but also fun.
Earth Day Recognized
On Monday, April 28, grades three and four presented their Earth Day Celebration. Preschool, prekindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students rotated through Earth Day stations, watching student-made videos, playing recycling games, and painting rocks. Wednesday’s assembly continued the Earth Day festivities. Grade three presented a series of scenes portraying the negative effects of the use of Styrofoam, advocating elimination of its products from the school. Then the fourth grade shared two visual presentations: Joseph Dowell and Nikolas Patton showed their video on recycling, with scenes from the center in Rappahannock County, and Brier Clough and Alyssa Hamilton had a power-point presentation on the positive environmental effects of donations to the Salvation Army.
WCDS Earns a Slot in State Envirothon Competition
Last Tuesday, Wakefield sent seven of its prep school students to Warrenton to represent the school and the Culpeper district in the Region II Virginia Envirothon competition. This national program is sponsored in our state by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and 46 local soil and water conservation districts sponsor local programs. Wakefield’s team, which consisted of Emma Clark, Taylor Hammelman, Neil McClung, Derek Perry, Audrey Speer and alternates Christine Pankow and Katherine Russo, were tested on their knowledge of wildlife, aquatics, soils, forestry, and specific environmental issues. WCDS came in second place in the Aquatics division, second in the Special Topics division, and third in the Wildlife division. Among the stated goals of the Envirothon program is, "to have participants gain a deeper knowledge of the effect individual actions have on environmental problems; the interactions and inter-dependencies of our environment; current environmental issues; the agencies available to assist in resource protection concerns; the need to become environmentally aware, action-oriented adults."
May Day tradition continued
On Thursday, May 1, the lower school celebrated May Day. Grade six students described the history of May Day, read original spring poetry, and emceed the event. The preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten classes sang a May Day song, as did the first, second, and third grades. A group of grade three girls then danced the May pole dance, weaving long ribbons around the flagpole. After the sixth graders gave each student a flower lei, small groups of students set off with parent drivers to deliver May baskets to Wakefield neighbors.
Hearthstone School
May Day is an ancient festival honoring the changing of the seasons from darkness to light. This traditional spring festival was celebrated on May 1 at Hearthstone School. Students with their families, faculty and friends gathered to sing, dance and weave ribbons around two maypoles. Some former students also attended and helped to weave a beautiful display of color that now stands in the schoolyard till next spring. Food and games followed on what turned out to be a wonderful spring day.