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 WELCOME TO NNPS NEWSLines: JUNE 2010 Sign up for NEWSLines, the monthly e-newsletter created especially for parents and community members in Newport News. Each month, we'll e-mail you NEWSLines at home or work--or both! Plus we'll e-mail breaking new bulletins such as school closings and other timely announcements. In this issue:
Point Option students make waves Web project wins award. The student body at Point Option numbers only around 75-80 students at any time, but the Newport News Public Schools alternative school has received world notice, winning an award for creativity in the annual Global Virtual Classroom project, a program in which international teams of students collaborate to build educational or culturally significant websites. Point Option was partnered with schools in Madurai, India, and Wako, Japan, for the contest. The local team drew chiefly from students in teacher Renee Raspanti's field biology class. The theme, which would prove to be unusually timely after an oil-rig explosion led to a massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico: ocean conservation. The schools had seven months in which to create a website designed around a globally beneficial theme. Once the theme of ocean conservation was agreed upon, Point Option students and Raspanti, together with Technology Curriculum Integration Specialist Mike McGee, began the process of designing and building the website. Because the teams are composed of students from different countries, communication is a challenge for participants. English is the official language of the project, but distant time zones can test the participants. McGee, who also helped Reservoir Middle School students with a GVC contest entry last year, says the students used e-mail and Nicenet, an online collaboration tool that facilitates information sharing, to stay in touch. The other schools on the team were able to communicate directly. McGee likes the GVC contest as a teaching tool, explaining "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience when you have students who get a chance to meet students from other cultures and communicate with them." Senior Kaylyn Anderson echoes McGee in the feedback section of the website: "My experience on the GVC project was an amazing one. I learned about other cultures and kids in these cultures. One of my favorite projects that the students from India did was the sand paintings. It's crazy, how they made these beautiful pictures on the ground all out of sand. I also enjoyed explaining our culture to kids across the ocean. … We told them about our Thanksgiving holiday, and they explained several of their holidays to us. Since our project was about oceans, we gave them a brief history of our precious Chesapeake Bay. We cleaned up local beaches as a way of showing that we care about our earth and environment and hoped that by showing how much we cared that other people in the community and in communities across the world could take our example and clean up the environment, too." Point Option Principal Mike Bonfiglio sees the contest as a way to help students embrace 21st-century tools. He notes, "My long-term view of this GVC project is the hope that it will motivate our students to become more aware of the value of technology as a learning tool, not just a means of communicating with their friends. We also hope that receiving this award will inspire other teachers and classes at Point Option to get involved with the GVC competition." Bonfiglio hopes Point Option can field two teams in the contest during the next school year. The NNPS students had to do a lot of research about oceans for the site, which includes videos, animation, artwork and photography, a field journal kept by Point Option senior Courtney McDaniel, and more. Here are some of the judge's comments about the website:
The students' work can be seen at
http://gvc0912.gvc09.virtualclassroom.org, and information about the 2010-2011 contest can be found at the GVC site, http://www.virtualclassroom.org. Technology integration cited. Riverside Elementary School has been named winner of the 2010 Elementary School Geddy Award. The Vernon M. Geddy Jr. Award was established by WHRO's board of directors in 2004 to recognize public schools that effectively integrate technology in the curriculum, as well as increasing school efficiencies and student performance. The award is named in honor of the late Williamsburg attorney and former mayor of Williamsburg. At Riverside, students as young as 5 years old are using technology. From iPods and video conferencing tools for students to computers and webcams in the office, tools improve learning, ensure student safety, and keep parents and the community involved. - James Maxlow Foundation honors top students Warwick senior wins scholarship. The Newport News Education Foundation and Newport News Public Schools honored top students May 26 at the Salute to Success banquet. Christopher B. Howard, president of Hampden-Sydney College, was keynote speaker. The event recognized students with the top grade point average in grades 9 through 11, students recognized by the National Merit and National Achievement programs for top scores on the SAT, and valedictorians and salutatorians from each high school. Also featured was the winner of the 2010 Wayne D. Lett Scholarship, Warwick High School senior Katie Lovell. The scholarship is sponsored by the Foundation and honors the former NNPS superintendent, who retired in 2003. Other Salute to Success honorees: National Merit and National Achievement high scores: Ian Abbott, Lauren Akers, Matthew Dallmeyer, Toby Eisenberg, Savannah Gore, Vivian Hsieh, Julia Lentz, Abigail Marshall, Yazmeen Nunez, Wilson Pillow, Taylor Robinson, Kevin Seney, Patrick Walsh, Sara Watson, Zachary Whitesides, Lyniesha Wright. Valedictorians: Chloe Chabonon-Hicks, Toby Eisenberg, Courtney Gilland, Heather Nierle, Wilson Pillow, Taylor Robinson. Salutatorians: Lauren Akers, Kimberly Arceo, Ashley Coffin, Brooke Emerick, Vivian Hsieh, Kasey Sease. Top Underclassmen: Heather Arndt, Katherine Carrubba, Kelly Carson, Kaitlyn Fields, Glenn Getty, Collin Gilland, Desmond Green, Maurice Hayward, Wade Hodson, Nicholas Horner, Alanna Jessee, Chanel Johnson, Kevin Wu Lu, Justice Madden, Matthew Mendonca, Tacara Redfearn, Twymun Safford, Paulene Sapao, Ryan Smith, Collin Taylor, Sarah White. The Foundation is a diverse group of citizens who support NNPS in its efforts to prepare students for the world of work. Read more about the Newport News Education Foundation. Everything shipshape for Huntington team Students second in ship repair contest. A team of students from Huntington Middle School took second place in the fourth annual Virginia Ship Repair Association LEGO Ship Repair Awareness Competition for middle-school students. The contest is meant to promote career awareness of the ship repair industry and boost middle-school students' skills in mathematics and conceptual and analytical skills. The students, under the mentorship of an industry engineering professional, used LEGO digital software to design a ship that is often repaired in Hampton Roads. Students presented their design and model to a panel of industry experts, who judged the entries on design, innovation, and fiscal feasibility. The students had to submit a written report and make an oral and visual presentation. Members of the Huntington team are: Nigel Collins, Marvin Covington, Michael Curtis, Shekinah Huggins, Bryan Johnson, Kahlil Jones, Karon Jones, Karlyle Jones, Kenny Le, Nerriah Miller, Akea Robinson, Carl Stephens, Brittney Suarez, and Anthony Tucker. The team's technical advisors are Huntington teachers Marcia Little and Kurt Van Deusen and Malcolm Fortson from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, the school's business partner. The competition took place at Nauticus on April 23. Just a few points separated the top teams. Ship repair is a major industry in Hampton Roads. Many of the Huntington students participate in the 21st Century Viking Power program. - Alice Alexander Teams from Menchville High School and Dutrow Elementary School represented Newport News Public Schools at the 2010 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals May 26-29. Both teams competed in the Food Court Problem. Menchville finished 11th in its division and Dutrow tied for 27th among elementary school teams. Menchville High School Food Court Team: Katie Depp, Dillon Fail, Catie LeBouton, Wesley Webster, Alicia Morris, Hayley Daniels. Dutrow Elementary Food Court Team: Alyssa Allen, Quandrell Bennett, Macie Downing, Dyiamond Ingram, Bernice Pimentel, Cam'ryn Rascoe, Killian Wassel. A student on the Dutrow Odyssey team, Killian Wassel, also was one of 12 winners in the state in an Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia poster contest. The theme of the contest was "Use a Helmet; Prevent Epilepsy." The purpose of the contest is to remind parents and children about the importance of wearing a helmet while cycling, skateboarding, or riding a scooter or four-wheeler. Some head injuries lead to epilepsy. Killian was honored at an awards ceremony and breakfast in Richmond June 2. He is a fourth-grader. Music ensembles from Gildersleeve Middle School cleaned up at the Music in the Parks competition May 21-22 at Busch Gardens. The Mixed Choir and Treble Choir both received superior ratings and first-place awards. GMS was awarded the best overall trophy for a middle-school choir. The Concert Orchestra received an excellent rating and first-place award, and the Seahawk Orchestra earned a superior rating and first-place award. Gildersleeve was awarded best overall trophy for a middle-school orchestra. The Beginning Band, Seahawk Band, and Jazz Band all received superior ratings and first-place awards. The GMS Jazz Band also won the best overall trophy for a middle-school jazz band. The groups are taught and directed by Martin Blount, Horacetta Harmon, and Anna Moyer. Menchville junior Melissa Wilson won the girl's pole vault and Woodside senior Brandon Burton won the 800-meter run at the Eastern Region track and field championships at Todd Stadium. Burton went on to win the state boys' title (1:53.07) and Wilson finished in a tie for second (11 feet 6 inches) in the state at the AAA Outdoor Track Meet June 4-5. Menchville junior Graham Wilson and Warwick freshman Maureen Slattery won singles titles at the Eastern Region tennis tournament. Wilson and Jake Fields won the boys' doubles title. The three will play in the state tournament June 10-12 in Fairfax. Students and staffers at B.C. Charles Elementary School raised more than $2,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in April by participating in the Pennies for Patients program. The funds will be used for research and patient aid in support of the society's mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and families. Students who donated had their names displayed on paper pennies which were posted throughout the school hallways. Eight classes earned a bronze pennant by collecting over $100. Lee Laine's second-grade class raised more than $200 and earned a silver pennant as well as lunch from Olive Garden. Roberta Schilling Fourth-graders in Katrina Mills' and Laurie Lyon-Duke's classes held a walkathon to raise money for the Special Olympics. The students walked between four and nine miles at Riverview Farm Park and raised more than $1,000. The funds were used to buy shirts, lunches, and water bottles for Special Olympics athletes. - Wenda Bransford Hilton Elementary School students celebrated A Poem in Your Pocket Day at the school on April 29. The students wrote their own poems or selected a favorite one. Each child was given a small envelope for their poem. Some poems were read on the Morning Show during the week of April 26. On April 29, students shared their poems with classmates. - Alice Talbot Students at Denbigh High School helped raise more than $1,000 to help Haiti recover from a catastrophic earthquake that struck Jan. 12. Members of Teens Against Violence, under the sponsorship of Katrina Hines, student support specialist, gave each homeroom collection envelopes and provided collection jars in the cafeteria and the guidance department. The group collected more than $1,000, which it donated to the American Red Cross for Haiti relief. - Katrina Hines Five Newport News Public Schools students received awards in the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Virginia statewide art show. Warwick student Laura Curran received the best-in-show award for her weave drawing (art/colored pencil drawing). Woodside students Christine Tommasino (digital photography/human interest), Rachel Freidt (art/watercolor), and Armando Terrazas (art/black and white pencil drawing) received first-place blue ribbons for their entries. Woodside's Rachel Ward received a second-place, red ribbon (art/pastel drawing). More than 250 pieces were entered in the contest. - Pat Franklin Laura Curran also is the winner of the 2010 Sister Cities of Newport News Young Artist Showcase for her drawing on the theme "Your World." The piece now advances to international competition. - Margot Hall Enterprise Academy students, staff, and parents also raised funds for Haiti relief efforts. Students decorated a big container and named their effort "Hearts Helping Haiti." They also created a bulletin board display. The school raised $400, which was given to Esther Sheppard, a representative of the American Red Cross. - Linda Jones NNPS telecommunications students won several awards at the SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference in April. Woodside senior Katherine Diaz placed second for her Occupational Scrapbook and Warwick senior Kashauna Williams was third in the TV Production – Pre-Produced – Cut Only category. Her entry was a Public Service Announcement about underage drinking. Fourth-place awards went to the team of Tenisha Williams and Mario Lawrence, both juniors at Warwick, in the Television (Video) Production ("Live on Site") category. A second team, made up of Woodside senior Chase Bradley and Warwick senior Cymber Clay, placed ninth. Menchville seniors Christopher Cheely and Nicholas Rehder took fifth place for TV Production – Pre-Produced – Special Effects, for a PSA about H1N1. Warwick senior Medina Lynn placed fifth in the Job Interview category. The four-person Broadcast News Production team took sixth place. Members were Diaz, Heritage senior Marvalous Foster, Menchville senior Rachael Schofield and Kashauna Williams. Schofield placed sixth in the TV Production – Pre-Produced – Cut Only category for a PSA about facing addiction. - Beth Scott The Carver Alumni Association presented the Marie Holland Library Media Center at Crittenden Middle School with a collection of new books in April, as part of an ongoing endowment to the media center in honor of past member and media center namesake Marie L. Holland. Carver Alumni Association representatives Flora D. Crittenden, Audrey Williams, Richard Fields, and Maxine Morgan visited Crittenden to present the collection to the students. Four Warwick High School students received free laptops from Google recently. The giveaway program is aimed at giving a boost to promising students in the areas of science, technology, and math. Students Wilson Pillow, Kasey Sease, Michael Warnock, and Elizabeth Hubbard received laptops. Ten Warwick students have received Awards of Educational Achievement from the Southern Regional Education Board. The award is given to students at High Schools That Work who meet three criteria. Students have to complete two of three parts of the HSTW curriculum; complete a concentration in a career or technical area, math and science, or the humanities; and meet college- and career-readiness goals in three subject areas. The students are Alicia Arrington, Terron Banks, John Elder, Sheryce Holloway, Michael Hurdle, Katie Lovell, Larissa Mangum, Alisa Robinson, Tazzmine Stephenson, and Kasey Widgeon. The award was earned by 9,337 students nationwide. - Louisa Slagle. Woodside High School's spring production, "The King and I," was a great success! The musical, which was produced by the Woodside Fine Arts Department April 29-May 1, included a live orchestra, 60 elementary and middle-school students and more than 150 Woodside students who were actors, singers, dancers, and backstage workers. - Bonnie Sousa Tim Shockley from the Newport News Solid Waste Department wowed kindergarteners and first graders at Greenwood Elementary School during the annual observance of Career Day. Professional school counselors Gwen Pendergraft and Michelle O'Flynn organized the event with professionals from the community to support the NNPS Career Pathways Program.- Jennifer Jordan The Deer Park Elementary School Rangers did a great job in raising funds to help with the Virginia Living Museum's Adopt a Wild Thing fundraiser. Each class raised money for the food, shelter, and care of a VLM animal that lives at the museum. Carol Bennett's fourth-grade class raised the most money, $410. The grand total for a week's fundraising was $2,356, which will help support the 32 animals Deer Park selected. Way to go, Rangers! - Julie Ward Woodside High School's Fabulous 40 braved dreary weather to run for fun April 24 at City Center at Oyster Point in the Trot for Teal. The devoted, informal group of staff and students participate in local area running events throughout the year. Student Remington Roth came in third overall. The event benefits women's cancer awareness.- Bonnie Sousa Moira Conley, a student at Dozier Middle School, received an Award of Merit for Music Composition, Middle/Junior Division, in the national PTA Reflections contest. As Standards of Learning tests drew near, Sanford Elementary School encouraged students to do their best in a campaign involving all grade levels, faculty, and staff. The theme was "Sock it to the SOLs," created by teacher Nancy Rickabaugh. The school began activities by engaging in a spirit week. On Monday, Sanford "socked it to the SOLs" by wearing crazy socks. Tuesday, students "flipped for the SOLs" by wearing flip-flops. Everyone wore crazy hats on the next day as it was "hats off to the top students"! Favorite team jerseys were seen in the hallways as Sanford "teamed up against the SOLs" on Thursday. The week ended on Friday with a pep rally. "Captain SOL," Principal Tim Edwards, emceed the rally. Staff T-shirts were designed by teachers Laura Haselton and Kathryn May. Many other activities helped prepare students for the assessments. - Marcia Binns Bottom Dollar Food Store, Langley Federal Credit Union, and Fort Eustis collaborated with Lee Hall Elementary School on May 11 for Family Math Night. The store was transformed into a classroom as students and their families worked together on math skills. Activity sheets were designed for the students, and volunteer soldiers helped families complete their math projects. - Denise Favors Del. Jeion Ward and former Del. Mary Christian were the guest speakers for third-marking-period awards assemblies at Lee Hall Elementary School. They encouraged Lee Hall Elementary students to improve and to always attempt to achieve the highest academic standards. Del. Ward and Dr. Christian took pictures with all of the classes that attended the awards assemblies. - Joan Wickham On May 20, first-graders from Epes Elementary School visited the Virginia Living Museum. They learned about where animals live, how they move and got to see many different kinds of animals. - Kimberly Pulliam Triple Helix, the Menchville High School robotics team, participated in the Relay for Life at Todd Stadium June 4-5. As a way to uniquely participate in the event, the team designed and built a robot specifically to complete laps around the track. Much effort was put into the robot during the past two months, and the effort very clearly paid off as the robot successfully completed 100 laps around the track – 25 miles! The robot never once required repair, just a battery change every 5 to 10 miles. - Matt Wilbur For the second year, Dutrow Elementary School students have racked up quite a bit of miles in the Dutrow Walking Club. More than 200 students walked a total of 6,120,576 steps, which is about 9,538,704.1 feet or 1,803 miles from October through early May. Physical education teacher John Cork provided each student with a pedometer and, with the help of parent volunteers Rita Kearney and Claudia Sellers, was able to keep track of the students' progress. - Theresa D. O'Brien Each summer, the Newport News Public Library System sponsors a summer reading program for youth and adults. This year's program runs from June 21 through July 31. The theme for elementary students is "Make a Splash…Read!" Programs will be offered at each library during the summer. Prizes are earned for every five books a child reads. NNPS-TV Cox 47/FiOS 17 will air "Salute to Success 2010" Saturdays and Sundays in June at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. It will air Monday-Friday, June 7-18, at 12:30 and 8:00 p.m. (no play on June 15, due to School Board Meeting). Graduations replays begin June 21 at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Details are available at http://nnpstv.com. A lot of fathers are looking for advice about how to do one of their most important jobs: raising children. The Nurturing Fathers Program sponsored by Mary Immaculate Family Focus and Fort Eustis Army Community Service is designed to teach parenting and nurturing skills to men. Each fathering class provides proven, effective skills for healthy family relationships and child development. This free, six-week workshop, taught by a father, will give dads ideas to draw upon. Sessions will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays between July 13 and Aug. 17 at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital Health Resource Center, 2 Bernardine Drive. Participants will learn: Family Fun Calendar The Summer Sounds on Styron Square concert series happens through September 22 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Port Warwick. Bring a chair or blanket and a snack. Free. 875-9351. The lineup: The Thursdays by the Lake concert series continues for a seventh year through July 29 beside Lake Maury at The Mariners' Museum. 6 p.m. Thursdays. Free. 100 Museum Drive. 596-2222. The lineup: Every month, the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center will present a film rich in the cultural arts for family viewing. Free pizza will be available before the movie. June's film will be shown at 6 p.m. June 11. "Michael Jackson's This Is It!," is a behind-the-scenes look at the late performer as he develops and rehearses for a sold-out London concert series. 2410 Wickham Ave. 247-8969. The Fridays at the Fountain concert series happens weekly from 6-9 p.m. at City Center Fountain Plaza, City Center at Oyster Point. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Free admission and free parking. 873-2020. The lineup: The Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center will present a free production of "FM: My African Secret" at 8 p.m. June 18. The production tells the story of Mariama, a 13-year-old girl from a West African village. Her dream is to finish school, become a doctor, and help make a difference in her community. But, one afternoon her life takes an unexpected turn when her father forces her to marry an older man she has never met. 2410 Wickham Ave. 247-8969. Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center will hold a Juneteenth Celebration from noon-4 p.m. June 19 at the Farmer's Market on Jefferson Ave. There will be historic re-enactments, music, merchandise and food vendors, children's crafts and activities, and community resource information. Sponsored by The Newsome House Museum, The James A. Field House, and the Downtown Newport News Merchants and Neighbors Association. 247-2360. The Hampton Roads Bird Club has monitored the bird population of Newport News Park since 1965. Join club volunteers in the Picnic Area I parking lot at 7 a.m. through Dec. 19 every first and third Sunday of the month for early morning bird walks. Be prepared to car pool to several areas in the park. Beginners are welcome. Binoculars and field guides are recommended. Free. First and third Sunday each month. 13560 Jefferson Avenue. 886-7912. The Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, in collaboration with Wickham Avenue Alliance partners the C. Waldo Scott Center for H.O.P.E., the Doris Miller Community Center, the Pearl Bailey Library, and the YWCA Virginia Peninsula will celebrate the start of summer by offering a Summer Carnival for children from 1-3 p.m. June 21. The carnival will feature games, crafts, miniature golf, sidewalk chalk artwork, Ronald McDonald, music, treats, and more! Free. The Wickham Avenue Alliance also will offer a Summer Movie Series at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays from June 22-August 24 at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center. Free. 2410 Wickham Ave, The lineup: School and Other Dates June 2010 12-13 High school graduations. View the 2009-2010 graduation ceremony schedule. Calendars for the 2010-2011 school year have been approved (en español). Students will report for classes Sept. 7, 2010. The last day for students is June 16, 2011. NNPS NEWSLines is published by Newport News Public School Office of Community Relations, 12465 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23606. Director, Public Information and Community Relations: Michelle Price. NEWSLines Editor: Marguerite Hargreaves. |
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