PATRIOTS’ PRESS Hugh Mercer Elementary School February 2014 “A Foundation of Excellence” Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal Address: 2100 Cowan Boulevard Email: mtankersley@cityschools.com Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Web: www.cityschools.com Telephone: (540) 372-1115 Fax: (540) 372-6753

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Families and Friends, I doubt if anyone is sad to see the end to January. Oh, what a month of crazy weather! Let’s hope we’re through it and can begin to look forward to spring. To encourage heart health in our students, the P.E. department will be conducting their annual Jump Rope for Heart event during regularly scheduled P.E. classes from February 3 through 14. Report cards had to be delayed due to missed school days for bad weather and will be sent home on Friday, February 7. Because we deliberately schedule Parent-Teacher Conference Evening AFTER report cards go home, we will change our conferences to Thursday, February 13 from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Our scheduled quarterly half-day professional development for teachers and staff will be Friday, February 7. Therefore, students will be dismissed at 12:45 P.M. In celebration of Black History Month, we have a Black History Art/Essay Contest. It will be supervised by classroom teachers and will run from February 10 through 21. There are so many outstanding black personalities, and we encourage all students to participate in this very worthwhile effort. If your child is looking for good ideas, encourage him/her with online and/or

library resources, or just ask the teacher. There is no shortage of good resource material from which to draw ideas. A bright spot in every dreary February is Valentine’s Day. Classroom Valentine’s Day Party will begin at 2:30 P.M. on Friday, February 14. I’ve already seen cute packs of Valentine cards in the stores, and if your child is feeling REALLY creative, he/she can make homemade cards. As a classroom teacher and mother, I always loved doing this with my children. With all the red and pink, Valentine’s Day is just so pretty! Friday, February 28 promises to be a very exciting, enlightening, and enjoyable day. That is the day of our African-American Assembly followed by traditional African-American fare for faculty and staff members. Of all the things we do throughout the year, these two events are the ones many of us, myself included, look most forward to. It brings to a close a very special month full of educational activities, many of which honor the great contributions of African-Americans. Here’s hoping the worst weather is over and looking forward to balmy days ahead. We thank you for all your help and support. Sincerely,

Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February 2014

February 3 – 7 TERC Testing (Grade 2) February 3 – 14 Jump Rope for Heart (PE classes) February 7 Report Card Distribution

Early Dismissal of Students @ 12:45 PM February 10 – 21 Black History Art/Essay Contest February 11 PTA Meeting (6:30 PM) – cafeteria February 13 Parent/Teacher Conferences (4:00 – 6:00 PM) February 14 Class Parties @ 2:30 PM Feb 25 – May 1 After School Programs (Session#2) – Tues, Wed,

Thurs February 22 Saturday School (for required students) February 24 Indoor Field Day @ Field House (Kindergarten)

9:00 AM – Noon Feb 25 – May 1 After School Programs (Session #2 – Tues, Wed,

Thurs) February 28 Black History Month Assembly

Patriot Pride Fun Day

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION – We’re #1! Way to go, parents and students! Hugh Mercer School has collected the most Box Tops for Education among area schools (Spotsylvania, Stafford, Manassas, Dumfries). Hugh Mercer is also ranked #10 in the state for submissions! A HUGE thank you to our P. E. teachers (Ms. Jonas, Mrs. Roohi, Mr. Wishard) for all their hard work in collecting and submitting box tops.

Dads Who C.A.R.E. (Character Building, All-Star Attitudes, Role Models, Encouraging Success)

Thank you to the Daily Dads for the month of January: Omar Rivera, Tom Blalock, Ryan Addair, Donya Johns, and Keith Mellinger. These dads committed to spend the day at Hugh Mercer to assist with bus duty, car rider duty, in the cafeteria, and in classrooms. To find out how you can participate in this program, contact Mrs. Libba White, guidance counselor, at ewhite@cityschools.com or 372-1115 (x 2011).

PASTA FOR PENNIES

Our annual campaign to raise money to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society begins February 3 through 14. Each classroom will have a collection box for donations. The class with the most donations will receive a catered lunch from Olive Garden Restaurant. For more information, please contact Mrs. DeNae Overton, guidance counselor, at doverton@cityschools.com or 372-1115 (x 2012).

PTA Many thanks to the following PTA volunteers whose names were omitted from the January issue of The Patriots’ Press: Brooke Kingsley, Alejandra Lopez, and Pamela Ross.

PERFECT ATTENDANCE (December) Congratulations to the following students for having perfect attendance during the month of December: KINDERGARTEN Brooklyn Adams Aiden Addair Ghazi Alanazi Sujad Alemy Merrell Al Hanif DeAvion Allen Kaelyn Allen William Alvarez Edwin Alvarez-Benitez Rodolfo Andino-Martinez Hadi Attie Alivia Austin Christopher Bahena Diego Bahena Dyshon Barnes-Rivera Nicholas Battista Charles Battiste Nathan Bayton Olivia Bennett Aaron Berrios Ramirez Darrien Bland Kraig Bolte Maddox Bond Kalie Bonilla-Osorio Ramyah Bonner Michael Bridgeman

Zyion Brooks Maleah Brosseau Ameena Brown Christian Brown Kiera Brown Tylaysia Brown Jayden Bryan Kira Bugge Katelyn Burns Chloe Bustle Ryan Butler Sidney Byrd Samuel Carrasquillo Fuertes AnnMarie Casey Kaylee Castaneda-Valle Krystal Castro Mendoza Hansel Cedeno Corrine Chapman Conor Clarke Luis Colon Catherine Contreras Amber Coppage Roberto Cruz-Vasquez David Cunningham Elijah Davis

Ryan Davis Leah Deane Mia DeAngelo Breanna Dempsey Daniel Diaz Dario Diaz Soledad Alia Durrani Jazmyn Encarnacion Christopher Edwards Jaiden Edwards Grayson Escueta Brandon Estrada Mikayla Fernandez Basmaina FNU Ethan Foley Jaeshawn Ford Gael Garcia Timnite Gebreegziabher Evan George David Giamette Jackson Gravatt Andres Gomez Kayleigh Gomez Terick Goodwin Je’Veon Gowdy Dominic Graham

Aaniyah Graves Naszil Grice Andres Gomez Kayleigh Gomez Christopher Gonzalez Je’Veon Gowdy Marelli Guadarrama Mohammad Hady Jordan Hardison Finn Hardwick Emmet Hart Mary Claire Hart Adriana Henderson Alexi Henriquez Emily Hernandez-Fernandez Roman Hernandez-Presa Brodie Herrera Mia Herrera Skylar Hill Lurence Holloway Nasir Holmes Alyssah Housey Brayden Hueter Kelise Hunter Remas Husein Daniel Jackson Liliana Jahnke-Aragon Kasaan Jennings Damir Johnson Laniya Johnson Tyler Johnson June Jonas Dylan Joy Yashpal Kaur Donald Kearsley Kilyn Khanna Austin Lee Jasmine Lincoln Jaylah Long Luna Lopez-Valdivia Jonathan Lovos Ari Lucas Camila Maldonado Amina Mansaray David Martinez-Reyes Madison Martino Jerry Marquez-Machado Mackenzie McAllister

Liam McCormick Evangeline McFarland Luca Meli Emma Micks Andres Miguel-Francisco Brianna Mitchell Jayden Mitchell Jacob Mkhail Emran Mohammad Ty Montgomery Mary Muldrow Mariana Murcia John Myles-Mills David Nettles Daylen Norris Evelyn O’Brien Kaitlyn O’Daniel Kamdyn Orange Genesis Ortega Cuevas Kelvin Ortiz-Funez Gabrielle Ott Oneil Oussantidja Alexander Parker Dreonn Parker-Brown Madison Panholzer Jason Pereira Vincent Phan Kyliegh Pinkney Clara Pompilio Kimberly Portillo-Hernandez Jaidan Pressley Niyanna Queen Jasen Ramirez Jonatan Ramirez-Ortega Adam Reiner Kenneth Reyes-Bonilla Christopher Reyes Gamez Allison Reyes-Gomez Ashley Reza-Hernandez Soloman Rigelhaupt Maelee Ritchie Jessica Rivas Juvenal Rivas-Argueta Karen Rivas-Reyes Dennis Roberts Alexia Robinson Luke Rossi Holly Rowland

Bogdan Rus Jean Paul Saba Brianna Sargent Desiree Scott Ka’Leeyah Scott Ella Sherfield Finch Shewfelt Jordyn Smith James Snyder Melvin Soto-Lechuga Brianna Stanley Niya Stevenson Ray Stitt Gemma Sweeney Arwin Sydnor Amaziana Taimanglo Doneal Taylor Jordyn Taylor Malichai Terrell Anisah Thomas Liam Thomas-Rensink Haidyn Thompkins Marcell Thompson Mason Thompson Michaela Thornton Xavier Tinnermon Kiondre Toney Kristian Toney Bella Tooker Curon Torres Xeo Torres Kassandra Tovar Paige Turner Milton Valiente-Lopez Yoanni Vanegas Amiyah Vannorman Griffin Van Zandt Carlos Vargas Elizabeth Vezina Mikayla Vezina Tiffani Walker Olivia Warren Taliyah Watson Justin Weldon Jaden Wever J’Mylah White Amirah Whitties HyZaun Williams Tyzarah Williams

Elijah Wilson Jaedin Winn

Samara Word Richard Yang

Heriberto Zarate

FIRST GRADE Sara Abdul Shakur Shiaunta Adams Raegan Adgerson Luis Alvarado Zamora Orlando Alvarez Benitez Brianna Alvarez Lopez Eber Amaya Guevara Ezatullah Anayatuallah Melin Andrade Lovo Justin Andreoni Adonai Annor Ashly Arana Garbiela Arredondo-Bravo Khadija Askari Paola Badillo Ventura Karuna Baniya Lavyeska Barrera Camacho Jordan Barrier Ashley Barrios Tyler Beck Jayley Beer Tyler Belance Claire Berardino Keanan Berry Ja’Niyah Berryman Heaven Betancourt Jackson Billingsley Katherine Blalock Michael Bonilla Dasia Bostick Ava Brewer Justin Brewton Alessandra Brisbin Lorenzo Brooks Abigail Brown Avonte’ Brown Damien Brown Jaylen Brown Kameron Brown Nevaeh Brown Trevin Brown Jeremiah Buckner Nicholas Butler Jayden Bumbrey Cival Burton

Makenzie Burton Parish Burton Cedric Byers Azhari Byrd Michael Carella Oscar Castro Mendoza Joziah Chaos Caedon Clark Jadon Cook Nathan Copeland Addison Cornett Rhett Coulon Sophia Coulon Damarion Crawford Cameron Cressman Elkin Cruz Vida Cruz Joshua Cruz Diaz Aleasecia Davis Destin Davis Lucy Davis Ethan DeAngelo Abigail Denson Peter Descorbeth Christian Diego Juan Alexsandra Dominguez Jordan Dominguez Johnathan Doud Maggie Dougherty Charles Edson Daija Edwards Daijon Edwards Michael Edwards Victoria Edwards Coffman Addison Everett Isaac-Ezekiel Ellis Brian Farish Sammara Ferguson Miska Fnu Delaysia Foster MyNashia Fox De’Sean French Elizabeth Furrow Raven Furrow Rebekah Furrow

Abigail Gentry Gregory Gibson Maria Gomez-Gutierrez Victor Gonzalez Yovani Gonzalex Sanchez Anthony Granados Emerson Guevara Santos Taylor Hardwick Jermaine Harris Lyric Harris Madison Hawkins Marquis Hawkins Jamison Healey Aleah Henderson Brissia Hernandez-Luis Jefferson Hernandez Alyssa Herrera Nathaniel Hill Spogmai Himat Katherine Hooks Joseph Hooks Duncan Hoosier Tre Hope Addyson Hough Arianna Housey Jin Huff Boysie Hux Mindi Huynh Sanaa Ingram Adan Ismalej Sorto Jared Jackson Jeyren Jimenez Donya Johns Franklin Johnson Jacoby Johnson Rasheed Johnson Raymond Johnson Eleanor Jurlando Navi Kawesi-Mukooza Shanyah Kelly Aniyah King Teandra King Queen-Zaria Kirkman Claire Kulper Anna Kurylo

Vivian Lau Brooke Layton Toby Levin Jeremiah Lewis Walter Linsner Nicole Lopez Brooke Loscomb Jessica Lovos Israel Lucas Elyass Mahgoub Logan Maiden Hannah Malin Kateryn Marin Cecilia Martinez Cruz Ryan Marquez Brayan Martinez Zamorano Jamie Martino Desmond Maul Kaleb Matthews Grant May McLane Maynard Clara McCane Carlos McClain Russell McFadden Jaden McKoy Cheyanne McNeil Aaron McVade Oscar Mejia Cecilia Mellinger Luna Mendoza Castro Randy Merchan Rosario Middleton Nevaeh Millsap Dinita Misidor Janelle Mkhail Inti Mooney-Guerra Tristan Morales Emerson Moriarty

Angel Murcia Alvarenga Keyonna Murphy Nathan Nettles Ismael Nicolas Hernandez Brittany Orellana Isabel Para Zamihrah Parker Ameyah Parson Ian Pendergraft Keyshawn Pendleton Nathaniel Perrin Ty’Kori Pettus Christy Pham Yoselin Pineda Valiente Rosemary Portillo Lovo Jayden Pratt Tikiyah Randolph Aran Rashad Molly Rathgeb Samantha Recinos Quinton Reed Adam Reiner Elizabeth Reyes Keri Rivas Machado Aiyana Robinson Dezaun Robinson Gabriela Rosario Pellot Joseph Rose Ishmael Ross Jasmine Ross Madelyn Rowe Kevin Samayoa Melendez Darian Samuel Axel Sanchez Javier Sanchez Valiente Mahki Sands Yasmin Santos Alyssandra Serrano

Nadia Shalaby Jakya Sims Destiny Singleton Alyssa Smith Iyana Smith Kendrell Smith Emma Souza Payton Spellman Alivia Teri Darnell Thigpen Jamin Thompson Gabrielle Thurman Isaiah Torres Jermaine Turner Melei Turner Jaice Tyler Elijah Tyree Justin Urban Isabelle Valentine Nathan Vestal Brooke Walters Olivia Warren Samim Wellezadi Tyra Wester Llance Wever Naziah Wilkerson HyZaun Williams Walter Williams Jocelyn Wright Caprice Wright Tyauna Wright Te’Ron Woolen Ethan Wyatt Lei Yang Simon Young Ruben Zarate Andrea Zavala

SECOND GRADE Gustavo Abraham-Reyes William Aguiliar Gonzales Mahmood Alemy Maniyah Alston Daniela Alvarez-Portillo Jordan Austin Brooke Baldwin Karuna Baniya Nakiya Banks

Durell Barnett Joseph Barrera Isaac Battista Mihaila Baylor Owen Benedict Keila Berrios-Ramirez Marcus Berry Mia Beverly Payton Billingsley Savannah Bolte

Carolien Bond Diara Bonnilla Isaiah Bouchard Ashton Bragg John Brindley Jayden Broach Shaylah Brooks Damien Brown Mariah Bryan Aria Bryant

Daylen Bumbrey Aliviyah Byrd Catherine Byrd Jackson Clarke Carley Coghill DreQuan Coleman Biranna Collins Keshawn Comfort Elyjah Dangerfield Christa David Julius Davis Kiaerstin Davis Olivia Delgado Nicole Deza Nicholas Deza Diego Diego Juan Aiden Duncan Nooria Durrani Alyssa Edwards Reanna Ellis Yaretzi Esquivel Jordan Fleming Timothy Ford Avery Foresman Malakia Francis Donovan Frost Dennys Garcia Amelia Garman George Garzon Martinez Jason George Samuel Gertner Jada Gilchrist Addison Gindlesperger Oscar Gonzalez Evan Gravatt Erin Hancock Teagan Hardwick Lyric Harris Addison Heasley Ivan Hedgepath Taliyah Heflin Francesca Hein Bianca Hernandez Alvarez Daniel Hernandez Victor Herrera Johnathan Hill Milo Hohman Lauren Holland Adan Ismalej Sorto

Tahvon Johnson Jose Juarez Barrios Zulfiqar Juda Regis Keddie Hewit Keeler Innea Kersey Josselyn Kilby Piper Kingsley Jahiem Kirkman Zamyah Knox Grant Kornegay Margaret Lacy Stephanie Landaverde Miles Landeck Isabella Lawrence Camden Lapp Alyssa Layton Aiden Lee Ashlynn Lee Jayde Lewis Zanaya Lightfoot Jakyiah Lincoln Cecilia Lucas Tyrelle Lucas Malik Lundy Abigail Lyles Kaniyia Mack Phoeboe Martin-Cole Anan Martinez Zahory Martinez Paz Brayan Martinez Zamorano Ty McDonald Noel McFee keShawn McLaughlin Gabriel Melinger Blake Morin Isaac Morris Patrick Mozingo Justin Maldonado Rosemary Muraca Regina Ndihokubwayo Jennifer Nguyen Neema Niyokuri Angelo Oickett Kasper Olson Kirstyn Orange Britney Orellana Zaryah Parker Zammihrah Parker

Krisha Patel Kan’yae Patterson Aiden Payne Ella Penney Guadalupe Perez Nino Angelo Pickett Essynce Pierce Anders Pineda Cameron Plajzer Jocelyn Pland Delphine Pomeroy Sabrina Portillo-Marin Jacori Preston Harmoney Prue Tatiana Railey Noah Randell Cedric Rashed Cristian Reyes Saenz Malachi Richardson Isaac Robinson Gloria Rodriguez Lilyan Rose Tamya Ross Alaijah Royster Jeremy Saavedra Aiymere Sanchez Carlos Santos Nathan Scharf Adriannah Scott Estiny Scruggs Elsa Sesay Darrin Sever Joseph Sherman Andrew Smith Brianna Smith Marcus Smith Mason Smith Khameen Smithers Disaya Spinner K’Johnn Spires Olivia Stanley Amera Stephens Marrion Stevenson Amya Stitt Locke Strejcek Symphoni Swain Peter Tankelewicz Timothy Perpening Ava Thorpe

Aryanna Tovar Nathanile Tremper Melei Turner Gabriel Valentino-Foster Karla Valle Rivera Aubreee Van Wey Palmer Van Zandt

Anthony Vargas Gonzalez Nicholas Vestal Zowie Voje Isaiah Walker Zarius Ward Tyvoughn Washington Ryliegh Watson

Xzzyvion Watson Aidan Williams Alexis Williams Brian Wilson Montel Wilson Kaila Wright Lily Yager

ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM The following classrooms have been adopted through the Adopt-A-Classroom Program:

Mrs. Chase’s second grade (Black Knight Technology, Crimson Consulting, Jim and Elizabeth Hohman, Lolli Fensterer and Tim Davis)

Ms. Overstreet’s second grade (Isaac Morris’ mom) Mrs. Schwarz’s first grade class (Black Knight Technology , Lolli Fensterer and Tim Davis, Tom and Lauren Blalock)

Mrs. Flanagan’s first grade (Terry and Erica Johnson)

Mr. McClung’s kindergarten (Crimson Consulting)

For more information about the Adopt-A-Classroom Program, please contact Mrs. Barbara Donaldson, Assistant Principal, at bdonaldson@cityschools.com or 372-1115 (x 2004).

REFLECTIONS CONTEST NATIONAL CONTESTANT!

Congratulations to Amelia Garman! Her Reflections Contest original musical composition won at the regional and district levels (Primary Division) and has now been entered in the national competition. Best of luck, Amelia!