student advocate the...february 2018 | the student advocate 3 mr. t. nathan collins, principal 1200...

Student AdvocateA PAID SUPPLEMENT FEBRUARY 2018 VOL. 20, NO. 2

STAUNTON CITY SCHOOLS NEWSPAPER

Division-Wide News 2 • R.E. Lee High School 3 • Bessie Weller School 4 • A.R. Ware School 5 • Regional & State Operated Programs 6

Dixon Educational Center 8 • T.C. McSwain School 9 • Shelburne Middle School 10 • Sponsors 11, 12

FIND UP-TO-THE MINUTE INFORMATION ABOUT STAUNTON CITY SCHOOLS AT www.staunton.k12.va.us

inside…

THE

Opportunities for Excellence

Our Guiding Philosophy: “…students get smarter when adults get smarter.”

— DR. GARETT SMITH, SUPERINTENDENT

SCS University

■ Builds expertise to improve

instruction

■ Thirteen course offerings

■ Designed for both new and

returning teachers

■ Available during summer

semester

Alternative Suspension CenterStudents:■ receive transportation, meals, and instruction at Dixon

■ participate in restorative justice sessions■ resolve existing conflicts

Diversity and Inclusivity Plan

■ Partnered with VA Center for Inclusive Communities and Community Foundation of the Blue Ridge

■ Focuses on issues specific to each school

■ Offers student/employee focus groups

■ Provides community listening sessions

2 The Student Advocate | February 2018

Staunton City Schools116 W. Beverley Street, Staunton, VA 24401

540-332-3920 • Fax 540-332-3924 • www.staunton.k12.va.usDivision-Wide NewsEditors

Terry Boyle

Susan M. Polly

School LiaisonsKatie Avoli-Miller, R.E. Lee High School

Tabitha Bartley, Shelburne Middle School

Amy Bradley, T.C. McSwain Elementary

Carol Fox, Bessie Weller Elementary

Mistie Aistrop-Vanhook, A.R. Ware Elementary

Melissa Allen, Dixon Educational Center

Leslie Schallock, Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center

Amy Pultz, Valley Career and Technical Center

Anne Jeffrey, Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School

Richard Elias , Commonwealth Center for Children

Dr. Garett Smith, Central Office

Requests for additional copies, advertising information, and editorial submissions should be sent to the following address. The Student Advocate has made every effort to provide accurate information. It is not responsible for changes made in scheduling after the paper has gone to press. Comments can be sent to the attention of the editors of the following address:

The Student AdvocateStaunton City Schools

116 W. Beverley Street, Staunton, VA 24401540-332-3920

2017–2018 STAUNTON CITY SCHOOL BOARD

Mr. Robert Boyle, Vice-ChairMrs. Amy Guffey Darby

Ms. Laura KleinerMr. William Lobb, Chair

Mr. Ronald RamseyMrs. Angela Whitesell

2017–2018 STAUNTON CITYSCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Garett Smith, Division SuperintendentMrs. Stephanie Haskins, Executive Director of Instruction

Mr. Tom Lundquist, Director of Technology ServicesMr. Earl McCray, Director of Operations

Mr. Jon Venn, Chief Human Resource OfficerDr. Jelisa Wolfe, Executive Director of Student Services

STAUNTON CITY SCHOOLS ISAN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

As required by Federal laws and regulations, the Staunton City School Board does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, disability, age, or national origin in employment or in the administration of any of its educational programs or activities.

Greetings and Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that we are already past the midpoint of the school year. Our staff and students con-tinue to shine brightly and make us proud, as you will read in this edition of “The Student Advocate.” During the second marking period, the Lee High School foot-

ball team played brilliantly and made it to the state championship game for the first time ever. At the same time, the Lee High School Drama team won its first state championship for its unique one-act play, “Mackers.” In this message, I would like to highlight Staunton City Schools’ progress with achieve-ment, advancement, and youth development by detailing a few of our programs currently in place: the creation of our Staunton City Schools University, an update on the SCS Diversity and Inclusivity Plan, and the imple-mentation of our Alternative Suspension Center.

SCS University We started the year by visiting classrooms to observe teachers and students at work and to provide meaningful feedback. Next, we analyzed the data that we collected through this process to identify areas of strength and places where we could improve our practices. Students are now more engaged in the 5 Cs of critical thinking, creativity, collabora-tion, communication and citizenship—while teachers have become more adept in their role as facilitators. This semester, we are rolling out SCS University to give our instructional staff free opportunities to build their expertise and continuously improve their craft. We have 13 different course offerings that will be presented by SCS staff, including ones focusing on interactive teaching strategies, technology integration, and problem solving, just to name a few. We will use the SCS University structure to develop newly hired teachers, as well as our returning teachers, during the summer semester. One of our guiding philosophies in SCS is that students get smarter when adults get smarter.

Diversity and Inclusivity Plan We are about halfway through our Diversity

Dr. Garett Smith,Division Superintendent

Superintendent’s Messageand Inclusivity Plan. All staff received training through our partnership with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) during the first semester. Later this month, each school will develop an Equity Team that will participate in two more days of training with VCIC. Equity Teams will focus on issues specific to each school and provide additional training to staff through a “train the trainer” model. We are fortunate to have another highly respected partner support us in this endeavor, The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. In March, students and employees will participate in focus groups. By July, community members will have the opportunity to engage in their own focus groups. We will also host community listening sessions that will be open to the public in July. All of these sessions will be facilitated by VCIC and the end result will be the development of a strategic plan. Everyone who is interested will have the chance to share their feelings, thoughts, and experiences as a stakeholder in Staunton City Schools. Our goal is to be a shining example for other communities who are dealing with similar issues around diversity and inclusion.

Alternative Suspension Center The Alternative Suspension Center (ASC) opened at Dixon at the start of the second marking period. Middle and high school students who are suspended out of school in SCS do not spend days at home. Instead, we provide transportation, meals, and instruction to them at the ASC. In addition to academic instruction, students partici-pate in restorative justice sessions specific to the infraction that got them in trouble. Students are expected to resolve any exist-ing conflicts before returning to school. One unexpected but positive outcome that we are hearing from students in the ASC is that they are grateful for the opportunity to close the gap on missing work and reduce their stress levels. Students are returning to school caught up academically and socially. Please enjoy the stories of our students, staff, and families contained in the follow-ing pages. We are looking forward to an outstanding second semester! As always, we welcome your thoughts and ideas and sincerely appreciate your support of Staunton City Schools.

More from Shelburne Middle School

Alexandria Broughman, Grade 8, Mrs. Cooper

Karman Warren, Grade 7, Mrs. Cooper

Rosemarry Cruz-Pinto, Grade 7, Mrs. Cooper

William Ruiz, Grade 7, Mrs. Cooper

February 2018 | The Student Advocate 3

Mr. T. Nathan Collins, Principal1200 N. Coalter Street, Staunton, VA 24401540-332-3926 • Fax 540-332-3994 R.E. Lee High School

January 11th marked the end of Lee High’s academic team’s sea-son. They finished an impressive two-loss season with a sweep of the district co-champions, Stuarts Draft High School. “I’m glad that we finished our season strong by winning the district,” commented team captain James Garrison. Lee high shares the district champion-ship with Draft, both teams having two losses on the season. The actual final match between Draft and Lee was one for the books.

The Lee High School 2018 Forensics team’s season is about to kick into full gear. Forensics, the art of dramatic public speaking, has been coached by Mr. Brian Shutt for the past five years. A person can compete in ten different Forensic categories. Some of these categories are for a single person while some are for duos. These categories range from Poetry and Storytelling to Extemporaneous Speaking. At the State competition last year, Mausam Mehta won the Impromptu division. Mr.Shutt said, “This year is a rebuilding season because we have lost some stars but the team is lucky to have the key players that we do.” The team’s Regional meet was February 12, with Super Regions on the 24th. If the team makes it to its State competition, it will be held on March 24. Senior Henry Goodson, who was has been on the team for two years and was third at the state

It’s Wednesday morning, and the Coalter Street Coffee Shop is already busy preparing for its first wave of hungry customers at 8:30. For the past three years, the coffee shop has prepared a wide variety of treats such as: crumb cakes, s’mores brownies (a Lee favorite), and other seasonal items. “The program gives our students the chance to develop the necessary everyday skills that they will need in the future,” says Mrs. Chelgren, one of the leaders in the Special Education program,

“Plus, our students love interact-ing with other high schoolers and teachers that they may not have the chance to see every day, making the experience even more fulfilling.” The Coffee Shop is operated by 18 students at Lee. Hosting the Coffee Shop on a weekly basis gives their class an opportunity to learn and practice marketable skills such as how to handle currency, food preparation, cleaning, and com-munication. Many of the students involved also represented Lee in the Unified basketball tournaments during the fall. When they are not showing hustle on the court, these athletes spend lots of time prepar-ing for their next shop opening. To accomplish this, several students take weekly trips to the grocery store to find the ingredients they will need the following week. The reci-pes, found by Mrs. Wells, are made

the day before the Coffee Shop is set to open. Once Wednesday morning arrives, shifts are divided among the students before their custom-ers come to browse. “Most of the money we make is recycled back into the program for supplies we need in our regular classroom and ingredients we will need the follow-ing week,” said Mrs. Chelgren. “We save the other portion for field trips we plan to take in the future.” With the money that they have made in the past, the class was able to take a trip to a buffet and plans to either go bowling or visit an aquarium in the future. While Lee is not the only school with a variation of the Coalter Street Coffee Shop, Mrs. Chelgren recom-mends that other schools aiming to create a similar program take the time to understand how their students will react to the added stimulation of sounds, smells, and constant interaction. Careful planning makes the Coffee Shop the success that it is. For example, classes planning to visit the Coffee Shop are asked to sign up for a specific time slot. This fairly new system prevents overcrowding and allows the Coffee Shop crew to prepare for a predictable flow of customers. This semester, students and faculty should expect to see a new variety of cheesecake-bites

A-Team Wins DistrictLuke Gaines, Grade 11

Left to right. Freshman Brice Coleson Coach William Terry, Senior Michael Koch, Coach Monica Zinn, Senior James Garrison Captain, Nicholas Laterza.

Mausam Mehta competes at the State competition.

Forensics Begins aRebuilding SeasonKitty Tillen, Grade 11

The Coalter Street Coffee ShopImani Hankinson, Grade 11

Kevin Lewis serves brownies to a customer.

Iman Waller counts money made after a sale.

on the Coffee Shop’s menu and Valentine-inspired desserts in February. Kevin Lewis and Kara Parker, two of the Coffee Shop’s crewmates and members of the Junior Class Homecoming Court, recommend the s’mores brownies and snickerdoodles to their customers. It is possible that members of the Staunton community may also be able to enjoy the Coffee Shop’s treats at football or basketball games in the future. For now, however, the Coffee Shop will remain on Coalter Street.

The Leemen took an early lead with 105 points in the first toss up round, but Draft closed the gap by scoring 120 points during the directed round. In the final three questions of the second toss up round, Draft came within 20 points of the Leemen until junior Victor Gaines pulled a clutch tessellation out to clinch the victory, and the district. If any of our readers were so inspired by this glorious tale, all they would have to do to join in

on the fun would be to talk to Mr. Terry at any time, any day. No judgment will ever be held on you and it looks great on a college application..

Mr.Shutt is so proud of the Forensics trophies.

last year said, “It challenges me to think on my feet and be able to speak confidently in public.” Good luck to the team as they start their season!

The first grade has been busy exploring, estimating, and mea-suring length and weight. They have been using important math vocabulary words such as length, unit, and measurement. We have learned to measure using nonstandard units, like colored tiles, paper clips, paper feet, craft sticks, and unifix cubes. We have practiced measuring items such as the Smartboard, the door, students’ feet, shoes, the desk, books, and the carpet. Our class utilized the balance scales to measure the weight of different objects within the classroom using nonstandard units. This hands-on measurement unit has been a hit with first grade!

Measurement ExplorationMs. Karen Marx, Grade 1 Teacher

First grader Dashayla White learns to measure numerous items in her classroom.

More from Bessie Weller Elementary School

To recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and to illustrate to our stu-dents how important it is we treat everyone with kindness and respect, the first grade students participated in an activity that showed them how inequality can make people feel. While this lesson covered our SOLs, it taught the students something much greater than any standard could. Students came away with a life lesson about celebrating dif-ferences and showing respect to others. In their special lesson, a hand-ful of students were selected to help with an experiment. Then, all students in the class were given a star sticker, except those students who were previously selected by the teacher. These students knew about the lesson and what would happen before the lesson began, and Ms. Sharp made certain they were comfortable with the lesson. These students without stars were treated unfairly by the teacher in a few different instances throughout the morning lessons. There were opportunities for the starred stu-dents to share with or stand up for the starless, but they were not prompted by the teacher.

The class then read the book The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss. When the story was over students were asked to make a connection from the story to what happened in class that day. This is when it was revealed that the starless students were working with the teacher and it was all an experiment. Students then had a discussion about how the experiment made them all feel, and they began making connec-tions to the themes of kindness and respect. As one student put it, “I felt sad because you weren’t being fair to the other kids.”

4 The Student Advocate | May 2017

Mr. Richard Fletcher, Principal600 Greenville Avenue, Staunton, VA 24401

540-332-3940 • Fax 540-332-3959Bessie Weller Elementary School

Ms. Sharp’s students celebrate Dr. martin Luther King, Jr.

First Grade Celebrates MLK, Jr.Ms. Somer Sharp, Grade 1 Teacher

Bessie Weller Elementary is work-ing diligently to strengthen literacy development in our students as we strive to develop lifelong readers through a variety of literacy oppor-tunities and incentives. In addition to strong and engag-ing literacy instruction in the classroom, a “Book Club Cafe” was organized for several fourth and fifth grade students. Approximately 16 students were selected to par-ticipate in this pilot program that supported current literacy research regarding the benefits of getting stu-dents hooked on reading series as a way to increase time in text, fluency, and comprehension. The students gathered one time each week for eight weeks during lunch and recess to have a guest reader, often a volun-teer from Mary Baldwin University, read with them. The book series sets were donated by members of the Staunton community and each student who attended all of sessions took the book series home with them at the end of the fall session. In addition to the “Book Club Cafe,” students in kindergarten through 5th grade are participating in the 40 Book Challenge by setting a goal for themselves as to how many books they aim to read by the end of the school year. Students receive a “brag tag” for every five books they read! Students are also

participating in the Pizza Hut “Book-It” program, reading to receive a free pizza each month for meeting their reading goal! Students are being provided the opportunity to create post-ers to recommend their favorite books to other students and then display those recommendations on the cafeteria tables in the lunchroom. Students are also encouraged to record a book review and recommendation video that can be shared during the morning announcements or class meetings as another way to encourage reading. The staff shared their favorite piece of children’s literature, which is displayed on a large poster in the hall. Students have been encouraged to talk with the staff about their favorite book and to read some of the staff rec-ommendations. Staff members also post what they are reading outside of their learning space so students begin to understand that their teachers are lifelong lovers of reading! Literacy development, across the grade levels and curriculum, is a major priority at Bessie Weller Elementary School. Through high quality instruction and a variety of opportunities, our goal is to further develop strong readers!

Bessie Weller Loves to READ!Ms. Carol Fox, Associate Principal

Chris and Emily Lassiter volunteer for the Book Club Café with help from Bob Boyle, vice chair of the school board.

Has your child ever wondered how plants take up water through their roots and how it gets all the way to the leaves? Second grad-ers conducted an experiment to show how colored water travels up a celery stalk. Students made a hypothesis about what they thought would happen and com-pleted an activity in small groups, sharing their predictions and recording them. During the experi-ment students observed the celery throughout the day and into the next. The results showed how the food coloring moves up the celery and into the leaves. This experi-ment was engaging for students

Bailey Flory and Kaylen Dean in Mrs. Monger’s class pose the question, “What would happen if you put celery stalks into different cups with food coloring and water?”

Second Graders Use the Scientific MethodMrs. Renee Monger, Grade 2 Teacher

and allowed them to make observa-tions and draw conclusions. The food coloring made it very visible for students to see how water is drawn up through the roots and travels through the celery stalk. Students observed the inside of the celery the next day with excitement, and one student even posed the question, “What would happen if we did this experiment again using a flower?” The second grade students love to investigate and learn new things. This is one of many hands-on learn-ing experiments we have done this school year, and the students look forward to discovering more.

After that the students watched an educational children’s cartoon about Martin Luther King, Jr. When the video was over they discussed how what he dealt with related to what they learned from the Dr. Seuss story and from the morning activities. They recog-nized that in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s time people didn’t have stars, but instead people were treated differently because of their skin color. Students began to make connections to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s important messages. When asked if he would have treated unstarred students differ-ently if he were in the class that morning, one student replied,

“Yes, because he helped the people who weren’t treated fair.” Finally, students talked about the importance of celebrating our differences. Each student chose a paint swatch that matched his/her skin color and read off the fun names they all had. Students put them all together in a wheel and recognized how beautiful our differences make us, and how our world would be a lot less beauti-ful if we were all the same. We hope our learning experi-ence inspired our students to think deeply about the importance of kindness and appreciating every-one just as they are.


Dr. Sharon Barker, Principal330 Grubert Avenue, Staunton, VA 24401540-332-3938 • Fax 540-332-3957 A.R. Ware Elementary School

It has been an exciting year in the fifth grade. Students have par-ticipated in many activities focusing on various ways to learn, oppor-tunities to grow and service to our community. Students have enjoyed rotating from class to class as they participated in our first Circuit Circus! Hands-on learning was the key to success in this enlightening opportunity. Students were able to build circuits, electromagnets and discovery the properties of static electricity. While completing the Sound Rodeo, students were able to”round up” a greater understand-ing of sound while participating in and completing nine experiments on sound. This rotation approach has worked so well that the teachers integrated it into our nine weeks reward. Students rocked their 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s attire while they journeyed through the decades completing activities and celebrat-ing great behavior and success! We have made it a priority to get our students learning in the out-doors, including several field trips to local parks. While on these field trips, we have completed activities

After reading Blood on the River in literacy, the fourth graders were presented with a challenge. They had to build a boat that had a mast, could carry passengers and cargo. They could use materials in the STEM lab to create their boat. After a brainstorming session, students worked two days afterschool to build their individual boats. Each person tested his/her boat with passengers (plastic bears), cargo (wooden cubes), and water. Each student shared how many pas-sengers and cargo his/her boat carried. Students were given an opportunity to write about the

First graders have been busy with a Gingerbread Man Unit. We just finished before winter break. We read different versions of The Gingerbread Man and compared the books. The students worked in pairs to build a trap to catch the Gingerbread Man. They used Legos and their imagination to create awesome traps. Each group explained and shared their trap with the class. As a final step in our unit, students wrote about how their traps worked. A picture of their project and writing was displayed in the hallway.

Fifth Grade Adventures IN LEARNING AND LIFE

Ms. Tish Moore, Grade 5 Teacher

such as tree classification, nature journaling, and studying local history. The students have had conversations with local botanists/arborists and other professionals. Both students and teachers enjoy this type of learning and look for-ward to future outings. Fifth graders love giving back to our community and learning about all it has to offer. During the winter season, we provided caroling for residents and workers of local facilities. Sharing the gift of music brought joy to many. Students were inspired by the gratitude shown by so many. Mrs. Gingerelli worked hard to coordinate a wonder-ful opportunity for our students to give back. We also visited the Blackfriars Playhouse where we watched Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol. Students watched in awe as the actors told the beau-tiful story. They also enjoyed the music performed by the actors and the beauty of the theatre itself. As we look forward, we are excited to continue our adventures in learning together!

Clockwise from top left. We are all “thumbs up” about the Circuit Circus! We’re Having fun at our fifth Grade Retro Reward Day! Fifth grade is working diligently on their Nature Journals. Using our five senses helps to make our writing rich and descriptive! City Horticulturist Matt Sensabaugh meets with students to discuss and answer questions about a tree’s life and photosynthesis.

STEM Club Sponsors Boat Building ChallengeMrs. Karen Grady, Grade 1 Teacher

Gabby Bryant and Abbi Ringgold are getting ready to test their boats that they created for 4th grade STEM Club.

Left. Kellan Moats and Joslyn Hale show off the gingerbread trap that they created with Legos. Right. Henley Myers and Cael Pence show off their gingerbread traps they made with Legos.

changes they would make for next time if presented with the same challenge. After a very wet challenge,

Every year the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School organizes a team to build a robot for competition. In a short six weeks, we have to construct a machine that faces unique and complex challenges poised by the First Robotics Challenge. We divide ourselves into small sub-teams (such as design, programming, and fabrication) to spread the work out and make the end goal more

SVGS Tackles First Robotics ChallengeBen Rochforte, R. E. Lee, Grade 11

attainable. This year, our team is working to make a robot that drops crates at different heights and ends the round by pulling itself up off the ground. When we go to our qualifying competitions (Glen Allen from March 9 to 11, and Blacksburg from March 23 to 25), we’ll work with randomly selected alliances to climb the scoreboard-- hopefully making it to the state level, and

possibly beyond. In past years, our team has won the prestigious Engineering Inspiration and Judges awards and has competed at the state level. No matter how far we get, all of us will have awesome hands-on experience, scholarship opportunities, and a lot of fun. We’re looking forward to an innovative and successful season!

More from SVGS

Gingerbread TrapsMrs. Karen Grady, Grade 1 Teacher

the students were surprised by how many passengers and cargo each boat could carry.


Valley Career and Technical Center - Ms. Darla Miller, PrincipalGovernor’s School - Ms. Lee Ann Whitesell, DirectorRegional & State Operated Programs

SVGSLeft to right. Chad Showalter (Waynesboro, Grade 12), Carlson Lunger (Waynesboro, Grade 11), and Trinity Obaugh (Riverheads, Grade 11) perform in “Lucky Stiff,” a comedy with a dead man as the main character. The play was presented at ShenanArts Jan. 18-21.

Over the past month, students enrolled in Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School’s Network Security course have been partic-ipating in the preliminary rounds of Radford University’s RUSecure Online CTF Challenge. This com-petition is designed to educate students in various aspects of Network Security, containing categories such as Cryptography, Stega nog raphy, G enera l Networking, Reverse Software Engineering, and Linux Terminal Operations. Out of nearly 120 par-ticipating teams, both of SVGS’s teams placed in the top 15, with

The fall term saw a lot of assemblies for students featuring a celebrity guest speaker, student drama productions, and an all-school spelling bee. Back in October, the school played host to orca whale advocate and thriller documentary, Blackfish, star John Hargrove to help wrap up a nonfiction unit on whales in captivity. Ms. Quintero, ELL teacher, invited him to speak to our students about his first-hand experience as a SeaWorld trainer and why he has chosen to testify against SeaWorld policies. He talked about his book Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish, his critics, and most importantly how he achieved his childhood dream of training orca whales. Many students found his success story inspiring and wrote him letters. A few weeks later, Ms. Quintero was busy shaping her own class of celebrities with a theater class with ELL young men. They started with the history of Greek theater, premiering with a Spanish interpre-tation of Trojan Women. For many students, this was their first experi-ence performing for an audience. Students created their own vam-pire props and staging conditions

in the production of a Spanish Dracula. Lines were memorized, and so their final challenge for the term was a Broadway medley! Ms. Quintero arranged classic songs from hit Broadway musicals like Rent, Sound of Music, and Annie, switching between Spanish and English. Singing added a new challenge, but nothing the soloists weren’t ready to take on. They have since asked for more opportunities to perform. The final assembly of the term was an all-school spelling bee. After practicing in separate English classes, students came together to compete for top speller. Scripps National Spelling Bee compiles a list of practice words every year ranging from first grade words like “rock” to eighth grade words like “eucalyp-tus” and “recusant.” To prepare, students studied the list of Scripps words and also practiced in class using the review platform Kahoot! Forming these study teams help students support one another in the bee. After forty-five minutes, we had a winner. The winning word?

"Delicate". We hope it becomes an annual event at our school.

SVGS

Network Security Course Boasts Two Teams in Top 15Michael Koch, R. E. Lee, Grade 12

Ms. Quintero’s ELL theater class in their adaptation of "Trojan Women".

SVJC

Special Events: Whales, Vampires, and Bees—Oh my!

Ms. Schallock, English Teacher

Chelsea DeMattia is a senior at Robert E. Lee High School and is currently enrolled in Culinary Arts II at Valley Career and Technical Center (VCTC). This is the second year that Chelsea has been honored with the privi-lege of representing VCTC and SkillsUSA- District Six as presi-dent. She placed second last year in the district SkillsUSA baking competition and competed this year on February 2. She plans on continuing her education at Mary Baldwin University with a double major in psychology and mathematics. Her ultimate goal is to return to graduate school to become a clinical psychiatrist. With the culinary skills she has obtained during her coursework at VCTC, Chelsea plans on work-ing in the food service industry while continuing her education.

Below. Chelsea DeMattia

VCTC

DeMattia Focuses on Future Goals

team JEBM (Mausam Mehta, Elias Nafziger, Bo Bowersox, and Joseph Reilly) placing eleventh and team CoffeeSec (Michael Koch, Drew Kelley, Jay Patel, Katelyn Neighbors, and Ben Rochforte) placing first overall. CoffeeSec’s success in the competition is mainly due to its outstanding performance in the Cryptography category, as they were one of only two teams to suc-cessfully solve the most challenging problem in the category. Both teams will move on to participate in the qualifying round, which takes place in mid-March.


Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center - Ms. Theresa Davis, Program DirectorCommonwealth Center - Ms. Barbara Lambert, Program Director We Teach the Best

What could be a better way to cel-ebrate the holidays than with STEM challenges? The middle school math and science classes joined up with the high school math and science classes to problem solve, engineer, and collaborate with each other. Some activities included:• Studying the crystallization pro-

cess and then creating crystals. While watching the crystals form students learned about capillary actions, chromatography, and chemical reactions.

• Applying the scene of how Max, the dog, pulls the Grinch’s sleigh full of Christmas presents up and down mountains How the Grinch Stole Christmas to an Engineering Challenge. The students had to design and build a sleigh that could hold presents that would stay in the sleigh. The students learned about potential and

Celebrated on November 9, 2017 at CCCA, Veterans Day provided an opportunity to hear from a local Marine veteran, Chad Ellinger, who was severely wounded in the Iraq War. Hearing about how a wall fell on him, crushing his bones and vital organs, and his years-long recov-ery gave students an idea of what United States military veterans are willing to face and endure. Ellinger’s story also told of the bravery of fel-low Marines as they put themselves in harm’s way to rescue him and get him to safety and medical care. During the presentation, students experienced the physical weight of the Marine combat uniform and other gear carried by each Marine. They heard about MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat) and how the soldiers shared and traded food with each other. Students listened to some

CCCA

A Marine’s StoryMs. Debra Combs, Resource Teacher

CCCA

Christmas CollaborationMs. Abigail Pennington, Science Teacher

Top. Students examine the crystallization process. Above. Students simulate how the Grinch’s sleigh loaded with presents could move up and down mountains.

kinetic energy, gravity, mass and applied one step equation concepts to determine how many presents successfully made the trip.

• The students also applied the Scientific Method to determine which liquid would dissolve a candy cane the quickest. They studied reaction rates, chemical reactions, mixtures and solutions, molecules and compounds, and applied data analysis to verify their results.

• The last major activity they par-ticipated in was based on Elf on the Shelf. The Elf was stuck at the top of the bookshelf and couldn’t get down. He needed the help from his student volunteers to engineer a vehicle and a method for him to get down from the top of the bookshelf safely using only recycled materials.

of Ellinger’s story while he spoke through a gas mask, demonstrat-ing how difficult communication was during various combat assign-ments. Most importantly, students learned how our military personnel serve in the midst of dangerous circumstances and sometimes, are severely injured or worse. They

also witnessed the story of this wounded soldier who was brave enough to work through years of recovery and rehabilitation, so that he could live his life as a husband and father. After the pre-sentation, students wrote letters of thanks to Ellinger, as well as other veterans employed at CCCA.

On December 19th, fulfilling their mission of; “…exploring the English Renaissance stage and its practices through performance and education,” three performers from the American Shakespeare Center brought Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to CCCA for the holidays. Instead of the ASC actors per-forming all the parts, students were invited to put on costumes and join them on stage to act out characters in a scene from the play. Students were also enlisted to create sound effects for the show. They chose what instru-ments to use to create appropriate sound effects, as well as deciding when in the script they thought

CCCA

American Shakespeare Center comes to CCCAMs. Abigail Pennington, Science Teacher

the sound should happen. At the end of the skit, the stu-dents were given an opportunity to choreograph a dance for everyone to participate in. The students and adults had a great time. Laughter filled the air and smiles stretched from ear to ear.

We start out the New Year at CCCA welcoming two new mem-bers to our team. Tina Capuano has accepted the position of Assistant Principal. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work from JMU, a Master’s Degree in Special Ed from JMU and endorsement in Education Administration and Leadership from JMU. Tina worked as a Social Worker - Prevention Specialist with at-risk youth for Staunton Community Services Board, and as a counselor at Massanutten Military Academy.She has taught Special Education for 16 years at Stewart

CCCA

CCCA Welcomes New StaffMr. Richard Elias, History Teacher

Middle School, CCCA and East Rockingham High School. Tina lives in Bridgewater with her husband Matt and their son who is a junior at JMU. Their oldest son is a graduate of Bridgewater College and lives in Fredricksburg. Filling the position of Administrative Assistant is Donna Petry. Bringing a wealth of experi-ence and skill to CCCA, Donna comes to us from Staunton City Schools, Department of Student Services. She began her career with Staunton City in Human Resources in 1999. Donna lives with her husband Randy and their daughter and “a spoiled dog and a rotten cat.”


Dr. Jelisa Wolfe, Executive Director of Student Services;Mr. Robert Craft, Program Director for Genesis1751 Shutterlee Mill Road, Staunton, VA 24401Dixon Educational Center

On Thursday, November 9th, a small group of Genesis students took the long trip to James Madison’s Montpelier. The group was a mix of high school and middle school students who had been studying Government and Civics & Economics, respectively. The purpose of the visit was to learn about Madison and his contributions to the United States of America when it was still just a great experiment. Students toured Madison’s home and learned in more detail about the Constitution, the influ-ence of John Locke, and early American society. Students also handled reproductions of arti-facts and analyzed those artifacts to learn more about the lives of those enslaved at Montpelier. However, the best part of the day, according to the students, was when they were welcomed into the archaeology lab to meet with the Montpelier archaeologists, handle real artifacts, and look at the technology in the lab. Overall, it was a wonderful learning experience!

Students at Dixon preschool are rockin’ and rollin’ this winter. The almost 80 students in the three-year-old class and four-year-old classes play instruments, sing both alone and with a group, act out musical stories, practice careful listening, and dance together every day. “Young children are particularly hardwired for music, because hear-ing is the first sense that babies develop,” said music teacher Charlotte Gingerelli. “They hear a steady beat and the rhythm of words, long before they are even born. Music is one way children relate to the world around them.” Dixon students have music class every day for about 20 minutes. After a month, the students transition to art. The art and music teachers switch monthly throughout the year. Ms. Gingerelli also teaches music at Ware Elementary and Bessie Weller Elementary. Educators and neuroscientists including Howard Gardener and Eric Jensen champion music as essential to learning. Research ties music closely with literacy acquisition, and early music programs actually help to develop many pre-reading and math skills. For example, using a symbol to represent a sound can

be explored through music long before students recognize letters and their sounds. The rhythm and cadence of language ties directly to fluency, and tracking from left to right helps prepare students for reading. “But really the emotional con-nection is the most important piece of the puzzle for young children,” Ms. Gingerelli said.

“Music at this age is about joining in, holding hands in a circle, and making a happy song all together. Music helps children explore how they feel as an individual and connects them through emotion to a group.” In his book, Arts with the Brain in Mind, Jensen said, “Things that matter the most in our world: order, integrity, thinking skills, a sense of wonder, truth, flexibility, fairness, dignity, contribution, justice, creativity, and coop-eration. Does that sound like a tall order? The arts can do all that. Education needs more of the arts because they can do more of that than any other discipline.” So while Dixon students think they are just rockin’ and rollin’, actually they are learning. (But, shh, don’t tell them and spoil all the fun.)

Staring this school year, the focus of third grade Social Studies learning has changed. While much has remained the same, there is now a greater focus on the ancient civilizations of our world. Third graders are traversing the globe through a year- long tour of ancient Egypt, China, Greece, Rome, and Mali. Through online research, articles and activities, students are learning a great deal about these innovative cultures that have helped shaped our world. Of course, books and the internet can teach us a lot, but they can only take us so far. To truly experience the beauty of these civili-zations, students need to dig in and create! Enter the traveling studio pro-grams of the Children’s Art Network, a non-profit organization serving local area schools. These special programs further encourage exploration by allowing students to have engaging, hands on art experiences under the guidance of experienced artists and educators. Already this year students have explored the culture of Ancient Egypt, where they were able to act out a

Genesis Visits MontpelierMs. Morgan Willer, Teacher

Left to right. Eleventh grader Tyler Gomez-Vera, eighth grader Chris Neal, Ms. Willer, and eighth grader Damean Wipf explore Montpelier Gardens.

Music Rocks at Dixon PreschoolMs. Charlotte Gingerelli, Music Teacher

Dixon preschool students Shane Gallimore and Penelope Craig in Mrs. Allen’s class explore high and low pitch sounds with Ms. Gingerelli.

Third Graders Explore Ancient CivilizationsMrs. Chapman, Mrs. Fregosi, Mrs. Love, Ms. Van Fossen-Grade 3 Team

traditional Egyptian funeral, use hieroglyphics on real papyrus, and create a life-sized mummy. Later, during a study of ancient China, students learned about the first emperor and viewed a life-sized copy of the famous Terracotta soldier. Students also created original good luck dragons, Chinese Opera masks, and were able to write Chinese calligraphy using bamboo paint brushes. But more learning and creative fun is still to come. Upcoming this winter, third graders will continue their explorations of ancient civilizations with programs on ancient Greece, Rome and Mali. They will design a discus worthy of the first Greek Olympics, cre-ate pieces for the ancient Roman game “knucklebones,” and paint unique designs on Malian mud-cloth. Through it all, students will continue to examine, learn, and deepen their understanding of these important civilizations that have contributed so much to the world today.

More from T.C. McSwain Elementary School

Left. These students use their creativity to design their mummy case. Right. This student works hard on writing his name in hieroglyphics.


Ms. Kimberly Crocker, Principal1101 N. Coalter Street, Staunton, VA 24401540-332-3936 • Fax 540-332-3955 T.C. McSwain Elementary School

In remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. second grade stu-dents thought about their dreams to make our world a better place. After listening to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., students were asked to write about a dream for a better world. The students expressed their thoughts in writing while focusing on composing complete sentences, using correct capitalization, correct spelling, and ending punctuation. All students had wonderful ideas for helping make our world a better

Engineers help people! That’s what students in Mrs. Smith-Reeps’s fifth grade success block have been learning for the past several weeks. This unit of study comes from the National Science Foundation and has children exploring engineering. Children learned that engineers work together, along with commu-nity members to identify and solve problems. Students identified the need for a locker redesign and got right to work! They created surveys for community members to com-plete about locker use satisfaction that included performance and design and based their redesign on the data they obtained. Some of the criticism of school lockers included size, color, lack of light, lack of power for charging phones, a need for a cooling compartment for lunches, and placement of shelving. After learning to calculate scale factor, students created paper models of their new lockers. The culminating project for this unit was to use Tinkercad to create models of the new lockers on the 3D printer.

The winter break can be a hectic time. We all get so busy that sometimes we need a little reminder to slow down and enjoy reading. The First Annual McSwain Marshmallow Challenge was a cre-ative and flexible way for students and families to read whatever they wanted in some common and not-so-common ways. Students chose at least 10 marshmallow challenges like: “Read under the Christmas tree” or “Read wearing your mit-tens.” After completing their challenges at home over the winter break, students returned their

“mugs” of hot chocolate filled with marshmallows of reading fun. Go to the library to check out some of the most popular reading choices our students made over the break. The top five were reading in pajamas, reading in bed, reading at night, reading on the couch, and reading under the Christmas tree. However, when asked which was their favorite, students quickly replied

that reading with grandparents, parents, and other family mem-bers was tops. Of course, reading under that Christmas tree was a close second! I hope everyone had fun and created some great memories completing our reading challenge, but it doesn’t have to end now that students are back at school. Challenge yourself and your stu-dents to find some creative ways to read. Here are a few to get you started: sit together as a family and take turns reading a book together, sit in the closet and read with a flashlight or finger light, read with funny hats on, read books aloud using funny voices, etc., etc. The possibilities are end-less! If you come up with some great ones, please share them with Mrs. Peterson in the library. Who knows, we may try them out in the library. Keep warm and keep reading!

Second Grade Students Share Their DreamsMs. Kim Eldred, Ms. Katie Lockridge, Ms. Kristi Newman, Ms. Shannon Shuey-Second Grade Team

Left. Students in Ms. Shuey’s room work hard on their dream paragraphs.

Engineers Help People!Mrs. Heather Smith-Reeps, Math Coach

Right. Students came up with a variety of ideas, such as these designs. Students are excited to see them come to life soon!

Reading and Marshmallows?Mrs. Karen Peterson, Librarian

Students proudly show off their mugs full of marshmallows.

place. Some examples were wish-ing that a cure for cancer existed, people would stop cutting rain-forests down, global warming would end, all homeless people would have a home, all people would be kind to one another and there would be peace in the world. This was a culminating activity to incorporate literacy and social studies. We all enjoyed remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and discovering our students’ dreams for our world.


Ms. Jennifer Morris, Principal300 Grubert Avenue, Staunton, VA 24401

540-332-3930 • Fax 540-332-3933Shelburne Middle School

Shelburne Middle School is a very giving community. The faculty and staff at the school know how impor-tant it is for the children to learn to be givers in their community. Giving should be a natural part of every child’s life. The faculty and staff instill civic mindedness in their students by modeling behavior and provid-ing opportunities for the students to participate in service work and heading up clubs that teach them how to reach out to others. Mrs. Davis, the librarian clerk and drama sponsor, organized a scarf drive for the Valley Mission in Staunton, Virginia. In three weeks time she was able to inspire her coworkers, friends, Staunton City School alumni and Central office staff to crochet, knit or donate scarves. Many times she had driven past the Mission only to see so many folks standing out in the cold. Even more astounding was the number of folks with families, children and babies. When she saw a former student and her family and another student, she knew she had to do something. By the next day, Mrs. Davis was organizing the scarf drive. Scarves

During the month of October, students at Shelburne Middle School participated in a read-a-thon to benefit hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. The project had two goals: to encourage students to read, and to connect students and their communities to the larger world.Before the read-a-thon, students learned about Hurricane Maria and its devastating effects in Puerto Rico. Then, with their Language Arts classes, they learned how they could link their independent read-ing with a humanitarian project. Students made a reading goal for themselves, and then asked family and community members to sponsor their reading progress

from teachers and staff across the school system started flowing in immediately. On Christmas Eve, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Monica Zinn and Aidan Roth (senior from Lee High School) met at the Mission to give out the scarves, hats and gloves to the resi-dents during their Christmas Brunch. They also had treat bags with candy, crayons and a holiday coloring book for the children. Aidan Roth was one of Mrs. Davis’ drama students when he was at Shelburne. Aidan’s family had decided to forego giving each other gifts this year. Instead, each member of the family would donate to a cause they felt connected to. Aidan was having difficulty making a decision about his donation. He was on the verge of giving up when the 100 Scarves Project came about. Aidan was so moved by the idea that he came to help hand out the scarves to the Valley Mission residents. On that morning, he gave Mama Davis (as Mrs. Davis is known to her many Drama kids) a beautiful Christmas card with a $50 donation in the form of a Michael’s gift card (so that we could do the 100 Scarves Project next year).

Mrs. Davis says, “It was such a joy to be able to meet and talk to the residents of the Valley Mission. I had such fun helping the residents choose a scarf! It truly felt like Christmas, being able to share with our neighbors in need.” Plans for the 100 Scarves Project has begun already. The project has received three scarves since December 25, 2017. The Michael’s gift card was a great way to purchase more yarn to make more scarves (the after holiday yarn sale helped the $50.00 go far). Mrs. Davis will be continuing to take donations of handmade scarves, knitted, crocheted or sewn throughout the year. Donations of yarn will also be taken and given to people want-ing to knit or crochet the scarves. Donations may be dropped off at Shelburne Middle School. The goal of the 100 Scarves Project for 2018 is 200 scarves! If you would like to crochet or knit and need the yarn, please contact Mrs. Davis at [email protected]. In addition, Mrs. Marie McCauley has been encouraging her students to be givers by organizing a pet

Shelburne Middle School: A Community of GivingMs. Dawn Davis, Librarian Clerk

Top. A Christmas tree is decorated with scarves at the Valley Mission. Above. Adian Roth and Ms. Dawn Davis are overjoyed by the scarf drive at the Valley Mission.

Read Puerto RicoC.J Hill, English Teacher

The SMS Woodwind Ensemble is made up of 7th and 8th grade Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, and Horn players. Each year they prepare a number of festive holiday tunes and take a tour of Staunton! This year the group got to perform for

Woodwind Ensemble Field TripMr. Charles Nesmith, Band Teacher

Above. The Shelburne Band performs Holiday music.

supply drive for area animal shel-ters. Mrs. McCauley fosters dogs for Augusta Dog Adoptions and for years has organized the pet supply drive here at Shelburne. On Fridays, stu-dents from Mrs. McCauley’s Success Block come by the classrooms to pick up donated items. The students bring in blankets, towels, dog toys, animal food, treats, cleaning supplies. The donations are then taken to area shelters and organizations such as Augusta Dog Adoptions, Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center (takes in strays and owner- surrendered dogs )in Lyndhurst and the local SPCA ( low cost neuter/spay clinic). It is wonderful to see the students bringing in items for the animals. Mrs. McCauley and her Success Block are still taking donations. After review-ing a list of needed items, you may drop off your donations at Shelburne Middle School. Lastly, Mrs. Katherine Funkhouser, guidance counselor, sponsors a Kindness Club that meets afterschool. It gives the students ways to show kindness to their fellow classmates. In the past the student taped notes of positive thinking around the school.

Dixon, Ware, McSwain, Bessie Weller, and City Hall. The crowd sang along with favorites including "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and

"Frosty the Snowman". This was a great opportunity for the Shelburne students to learn some challenging

with pledges. Students then read to meet their goal, and collected pledged sponsorships before donating money to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Maria relief. This project was especially significant for students because many of them knew individuals who were personally affected by the storm. It was also an effective way for students to take their classroom goals home. By link-ing their pledged sponsorships to their reading progress, stu-dents were motivated to reach and even exceed their goal. In total, students donated nearly five hundred dollars for hurricane relief.

music and it was also great for the elementary students to see what is possible within the first couple years of learning to play an instru-ment! The students also enjoyed this trip as it included a lunch break at CiCi's Pizza.


YES! I would like to support the continued publication of

The Student AdvocateName: (as you wish to be listed in any sponsor acknowledgements)

________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: ___________________________________________________________

Phone number: ___________________________________________________________

E-mail: __________________________________________________________________

Please return this response form toThe Student Advocate

116 W. Beverley Street, Staunton, Virginia 24401

Please include me/us as:____ a business sponsor in the amount of $_____________. Business sponsor donations of $250 or more may submit a business card or logo for publication. The size of advertisement is in proportion to the amount of the donation.____ a personal donor in the amount of $____________. o Contribution enclosed. Checks should be made payable to The Student Advocate o Please bill me at the address above.____ I am unable to help financially at this time, but can offer in-kind assistance and support as follows:

Please be an Advocate.

Thank you.The students and staff of Staunton City Schools are grateful to the following

individuals whose generosity has made this publication possible!

They are true “Student Advocates”!

OUR SPONSORSIssue 2 (as of February 18)

Black Swan Books and Music

BotkinRose PLC

Bob and Terry Boyle

Pat and Steve Claffey

Betty Collins Critz

The Darby Family

The Degen Family

The Depot Grille

Mrs. Thomas Dixon

Louisa Dixon

Joe and Evy Harman

Louella Hill and Alan Bergland

Cinda Hinegardner

Ernest M. Holley

Jim and Pam Huggins

Amy Laser Kiger

Bill and Jane Lobb

Linda L. Lunsford

Harry and Melanie Lunsford

Dr. and Mrs. Preston Manning

Lois Ramsey McClure

T.C. McSwain PTA

Dave and Debbie Metz

Morgan-Miles Picture Frames and Gallery

John Mozian

Margie and Walt Obenschain

Roderic and Linda Owen

C.K. and Susan M. Polly

Ron Ramsey

Shenandoah Valley Water & Coffee Company

Larry and Jann Shenk

Charlotte Shnaider

The Garett Smith Family

George and Sharon Sproul

Frank L. and Nancy V. Summers

Daniel and Jean Swift

Paul and Martha Vames

Bill and Fran vonSeldeneck

A.R. Ware Elementary PTA

The Ware House, Doll Houses, Miniatures, Restorations

Hugh and Connie Westfall


THIS NEWSPAPER IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES.

42 Middlebrook Avenue, StauntonWhile water and coffee are our products, service is our business.

Used, rare and unusual booksUsed and new recordsBought and sold

1 E. Beverley St. Staunton, Va. [email protected]

BLACK SWANBOOKS AND MUSIC

Talented ArtistsClockwise, from top left.

Jasmynne Carter,Grade 11, Ms. Ciszek

Lauryn Wade,Grade 10, Ms. Ciszek

Kayleigh Helmick,Grade 11, Ms. Ciszek

Katelyn McDermott,Grade 11, Ms. Ciszek

www.morgan-milespictureframes.com | 540-866-2241 | 128 W. Beverley St.

MOVING SALE! New location: 1617 W. Beverley St.

Moving date: April 1, 2018

Up to 50% off on gallery art and gift items.

15% Off Complete Custom Conservation Frame Jobs

25% Off Gift and Framed Items in Our Gallery

Visit our art gallery featuring works from local and national artists.

student advocate the...february 2018 | the student advocate 3 mr. t. nathan collins, principal 1200...

Documents