School News
Fauquier County Public Schools
May 26: Memorial Day holiday, no school
June 7: Graduation for both Fauquier High School and Liberty High School; FHS graduation exercises at 8 a.m. at Falcon Field; LHS graduation exercises at 7 p.m. at Nissan Pavilion.
June 10: Half day for all schools (exams)
June 11: Fourth nine-weeks ends
June 12: Teacher Work Day
CTE students headed to nationals: Two students from Fauquier County Public Schools won first place in the state in career and technical education competitions at the SkillsUSA 44th State Leadership Conference and Skills Championships in Hampton, Va., on April 26.
Liberty High School student Douglas Dunn won first place in the automotive service technology competition, and Fauquier High School student Matt Scandalis won first place in technical drafting.
The two will represent the Commonwealth of Virginia at the National SkillsUSA competition June 22-28 in Kansas City, Mo., where more than 4,500 CTE students -- all state contest winners -- will compete hands-on in approximately 90 different trade, technical and leadership fields.
In total, five students from four of Fauquier High School's CTE programs participated in the state SkillsUSA competition Saturday. In addition to the two first-place winners, Fauquier High student Michael Lewis placed third in architectural drafting, Liberty High student Jonathan Davis placed seventh in collision repair refinishing, and Fauquier High student Mary Currier placed ninth in residential wiring.
Advisors for these SkillsUSA winners are instructors Harold Mullins, technical drafting and architectural drafting; Scott Freeman, automotive service technology; Craig Canard, collision repair; and Randy White and Bill Troiano, residential wiring.
Parent Resource Center
(PRC located in Warrenton Middle School, 244 Waterloo St., Warrenton, (540) 347-6117, prc@fcps1.org; Marilyn McCombe, Parent Coordinator; 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday)
Lunch and Learn video series
At PRC
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, May 8; Dr. Phelan video, "Managing Difficult Behavior."
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, May 22; Dr. Phelan video, "Encouraging Good Behavior, Independence and Self-Esteem."
Talking Books PowerPoint tutorial
Wednesday, May 14, 9-11 a.m., with Jennifer Rockefeller. Bring USB stick and information to use to build an interactive educational presentation. RSVP to PRC, (540) 347-6177 or prc@fcps1.org. Seating limited.
IEP workshop
Thursday, May 29, 11 a.m.-noon at the PRC; IEP overview with Sheri Leddy.
Parent groups
• Southern Fauquier Parent Support Group for all disabilities, all grades; will start in fall; pattyrunge94@gmail.com or (540) 439-3993.
• Parent Connections Group, 11 a.m.-noon Monday, May 19 at PRC; meets monthly, all parents welcome.
Grace Miller
Dates to remember:
April 27-May 23: PALS Testing for grades K-2
May 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 5: Third grade poetry reading assembly, 1:30 p.m.
May 6-9: Plant sale, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
May 6-23: SOL testing
May 20: Volunteer Appreciation Tea, 4 p.m.
May 29: Second-grade GT Expo, 9 a.m.-noon, in the PE room
May 29-30: Great Reading Raffles in the afternoon
Plant sale: Grace Miller's annual spring plant sale runs this week, from Tuesday, May 6, through Friday, May 9. Students will have an opportunity to shop with their classes just in time for Mother's Day. Plant sale hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. All are welcome.
Field Days: Grades K-2 will be holding their field day (in the morning only) on Tuesday, June 3rd; grades 3-5 will hold their field day (in the morning only) on Wednesday, June 4. PE teacher Diana Klein is looking for parent volunteers. A letter will be sent home with students very soon regarding these special events. Please contact Ms. Klein at dklein@fcps1.org if interested in volunteering.
P.B. Smith
May 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6: Third Grade History SOL
May 7: Fourth Grade Reading SOL
May 8: Plant sale; Fifth Grade Reading SOL
May 9: Fourth Grade G/T Shakespeare performance; Third Grade Reading SOL
May 12: Fifth Grade Science SOL
May 13: Third Grade Math SOL
May 14: Fourth Grade Social Studies SOL
May 15: Third Grade Science SOL
May 16: Kindergarten orientation; Fifth Grade History SOL
May 19: Fourth Grade Math SOL
May 20: Fifth Grade Math SOL
May 22: Fifth-grade field trip (Dennee/Roach); second-grade program, 1:30 p.m.
May 23: Fifth-grade field trip (Heatwole/Eppley); kindergarten field trip, Great Country Farms
May 26: Holiday, no school
May 27: Willy Wonka, 7 p.m.
May 28-30: Camp HighRoad
Miss DiMucci is looking for a top hat and two tweed jackets (men's) in any condition.
Auburn Middle School would like to invite rising sxith-grade students and their parents to attend a Family Night Book Fair the first week in June. The fair is to promote summer reading and will be stocked with books from Auburn's recommended summer reading list.
Mary Walter
Those who missed the kindergarten registration dates are asked to contact the school as soon as possible at (540) 439-3279 to register.
Veronica Talbert, Brianna Ciuffo and Clair Huffine recently had their articles published in the Free Lance Star.
SOL testing for third, fourth and fifth grades will be done during the month of May. Please make sure that your child(ren) get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast, and arrive at school on time.
Cedar Lee Middle
Are there chromosomes in a fruit fly's salivary gland?
Megan Pater, a 13-year-old GT Science student, has been pulling the tongue out of several fruit fly larvae looking for the salivary glands. All this had to be done under a microscope with micro-dissection instruments because the larva is only 1 mm long and the salivary glands are only about 0.01 mm in length. Megan has been running lots of experiments on fruit flies, including breeding them and testing her hypothesis about crosses of sex-linked recessive genes.
This was not the beginning. Megan has been investigating DNA for over 5 months. She has been sponsored by a microbiologist at Ward's Natural Sciences, who provided her with all the materials necessary to conduct various gel electrophoresis experiments, including DNA from a crime scene and four possible suspects.
Megan already has some of the skills necessary to be a scientist: dedication, curiosity, and a strong work ethic. She never gives up and she has worked endless hours perfecting her technique. The most recent lab she completed was designed at Yale University for biology majors.
Marshall Middle
Congratulations to the Marshall Middle School seventh and eighth grade band for receiving a Superior rating, first place in their class, and second place overall in the Junior High/Middle School Band division at the Music in the Parks competition at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg.
The judges were music professors from ODU and the University of Richmond and were very complimentary. One wrote "Awesome!" on the scoring sheet. The students themselves represented Marshall and Fauquier County very well, showing poise and talent on stage, and school spirit and courtesy while enjoying Busch Gardens all day. The school couldn't be prouder!
Taylor Middle
Congratulations to the new seventh-grade NJHS members who were inducted on April 30. The last NJHS meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, until 3:30 p.m.
There were 28 students who participated in the St. Jude's Children's Hospital Math-a-Thon and collected $1,650. Kori Mayhugh collected $555.
Sixth-grader Bobby Highley will be attending a weekend workshop for Young Writers this spring. The class covers several areas, including science fiction writing.
Fauquier High
FHS Theatre to Scotland: Word was recently received that Fauquier High School's Theatre program has been chosen to perform at the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF) in Edinburgh, Scotland, in conjunction with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, in August 2009. The Fringe Festival is the largest and most prestigious theater festival in the world. FHS received this honor, along with approximately 55 other high schools nation-wide (only two schools in Virginia received the honor).
For more information about the AHSTF, visit www.ahstf.com/AHSTF/pages/index.asp.
All-Virginia Chorus: Cassie Machamer and Rachel Smith represented Fauquier High School and District IX at All-Virginia Chorus in Harrisonburg. The three-day, three-choir event began on Thursday, April 24, and concluded with a public performance on Saturday afternoon. Alternates for District IX were Julia Nashwinter and Hannah Brice.
Selection for these choirs is the result of a double audition. Only high school juniors or seniors who have made District Honors Chorus are eligible to re-audition for All-State Chorus. Each of the 16 districts is limited to sending 24 singers. Whether the girls sing in the Women's Choir or the Mixed Choir is decided by an odd and even pattern that alternates each year. This year Cassie, alto and Rachel, soprano both sang in the 128-voice Women's Chorus.
After two days of rehearsal, they performed a polished concert, including a song that was not given to them until their first rehearsal. Saturday's concert was opened with a performance of the ACDA Middle School All-State Chorus. The program closed with the 256-voice Mixed Choir.
First Tee Program: Michael Bassette, assistant golf pro/manager from the Medal of Honor Golf Course in Quantico, has been visiting Mr. Funk's classroom to teach the students The First Tee Program.
This program involves the the teaching of Interpersonal Communication, Controlling and Managing Your Emotions, Self Confidence, Goal Setting, and Respect. These life skills and golf skills have been seamlessly intertwined to give each participant a fun way of learning the game of golf. The students also are learning how to use these skills not only on the golf course but also in school, at home and out in public, while enabling them to progress through school and a future career.
Participants in this program include Roy Carpenter, Donovan Carpenter, Lyndon Cole, Heather Cogley, Nathan Kridler, Jose Molina and Samone Parker.
DECA/FBLA news: DECA and FBLA students walked for the March of Dimes the morning after Prom. They each collected donations to help prevent premature births. They were Mary Beth Hume, Mandy Thomas, Stevie Knutson, Lauren Smith, Melissa O'Neil, Abby Wiedenhaefer, Adrienne Essiaw, Ricky Sneed and Kiana Davenport.
Yearbooks: FHS yearbooks will be available to seniors on May 20 in the cafeteria from 2-3 p.m. Seniors and underclassmen can pick up their books at the distribution event on May 27 in the cafeteria from 2:30-5 p.m. If students do not pick up their books during those two times, they must wait until May 30, June 2, or June 3, when they can pick up their books in room 302 from 2:30-4 p.m. Buy yearbooks online at www.jostensyearbooks.com, available until May 9.
Park Day: Students from Richard Deardoff's World History and Government classes participated in the annual Park Day sponsored by the History Channel and Civil War Preservation Trust by spending Saturday, April 12, landscaping the Graffiti House on the Brandy Station battlefield.
Participants included John Stapleton, Caleb Mathews, Viki Sherbin, Anna Hadley, Lizzye Crandall, Emily Kacsmar, Priscilla Ferrufino, Sara Hite, Juliana Haley, Paxton Cope, Alex Ritchie, Tim Wyld and Cat Tazier.
Local businesses donated over $1,200 for the purchase of equipment, plants, trees and mulch. These businesses included Tana's Kitchen, Robinson's Electrical Services, Jim Harris Olds, Rankins Waterloo Shopping Center, Lindsay Vision Center, Servants Heart Home Care, White Elephant, Fauquier Chiropractic Office, Jimmie's Market, Kidwell Caterers, The Madison Tea Room, W.E. Miller, and Jennifer Layman.
AP, SOL tests: AP Testing will begin May 5 and continue through May 16. Students who were enrolled in an AP class term 1 or who are currently enrolled are required to sit for the exam.
SOL tests also begin May 5, but only for seniors needing certain tests to graduate. For all others, testing will start Monday, May 12, with the English 11 exam and will be completed May 30 with the math make-up exams. Parents should make sure their children are in school during these all-important days.
Plant sale: The Fauquier High School Horticulture Department Spring Plant Sale will take place from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, May 16, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 17. They will be selling annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs. For more information, call (540) 428-2160.
Liberty High
Congratulations to Sally Toms, a junior at Liberty High, who has been accepted and will be participating in this years Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts held at the University of Richmond this summer.
Wakefield
May 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 9: Fifth-grade field trip to Airlie, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; first and second grade concert, 1:30 p.m.; Lower School Arts Festival, 3-5 p.m.; Middle School PAC VI dance, 7-9 p.m. in dining hall.
May 12: Pre-K and third grade to National Gallery, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
May 15: Field Day, Spartans vs Athenians
May 16: Fourth grade celebrates Immigration Day; first grade to Skyline Caverns, 10:15 a.m.-2 p.m.
May 18: Wakefield Play Day at Dominion Valley, 2-4 p.m., call (540) 253-7600 for details.
May 22-24: Second annual All School Play, "The Ugly Duckling;" check www.wakefieldschool.org for details.