Ms. Cupp plays the trumpet.
On January 9th, Watauga Elementary School kicked off their second annual One School, One Book Literacy Project. The Trumpet of the Swan, by E.B. White was selected by the school for this year. Students, faculty, and staff received a copy of the book following a school-wide assembly. The assembly was presented by Ms. Amanda Cupp, who demonstrated playing the trumpet, sharing various songs from the story and Mr. David Winship, who introduced the book and read the first chapter. Each day the students read part of the story at school with their classmates and participate in activities and projects. At home families are encouraged to read together and also engage in various activities. This program is an effort to build our literacy community and generate excitement about reading.
Brady and Sarah S. pose with Santa to raise money for Relay for Life.
In an effort to help raise money for our school's Relay for Life Team, Santa made a very special visit to Meadowview Elementary School to take photographs with students. For a small $5 fee, students were given the opportunity to speak with Santa for a moment and pose for a picture with him. Santa, of course, donated his time for the cause! The photographs made beautiful keepsakes for many families in the Meadowview area. Thanks to all the good boys and girls getting their pictures taken, Santa and our students helped our team raise over $1,400.00 to help the fight against cancer!
Some Greendale Elementary students enjoy meeting Rudolph after the play!
Greendale Elementary kindergarten and first-grade students were excited to have the opportunity to take a field trip to the Barter Theatre before Christmas to see “Rudolph!” For many children, the story of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is a Christmas favorite, and according to several of the audience members, this version, adapted by playwright Catherine Bush, really made them laugh! In the story, Rudolph is a reindeer who is left out of activities because his red nose sets him apart from the other reindeer. In fact, not only is he left out, but he is also ridiculed because he is different. Most of us can identify with Rudolph, having had an experience where we felt uncomfortable because we were different. We cheer Rudolph on because he uses his difference to serve an important purpose, teaching us that we can do the same. In addition to enjoying the humor in the play, the children loved getting to meet the actors and actresses who performed!
Chloe C. will participate in the All-Virginia Middle School Chorus
Glade Spring Middle School student, Chloe C. has been selected to participate in the All-Virginia Middle School Chorus! She was the only one of 185 singers chosen from an audition pool that exceeded 700 students. Chloe was also the only Washington County student who made the cut. Chloe had the highest score of any Soprano 1 in the state of Virginia! Congratulations to Chloe and the Glade Spring Middle School Choral Director, Mrs. Kristy Price on a job well done!
Greendale winners of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) essay contest stand with Officer Brandon Owens and Sheriff Fred Newman.
What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right."
- Albert Einstein
As Sheriff Fred Newman congratulated Greendale Elementary fifth-graders on their successful completion of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program sponsored by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, he asked them if they were familiar with this quote. He then emphasized that the lessons they had learned from Officer Brandon Owens about combating peer pressure and making the right choices would be important for the rest of their lives. Students graduated from this program on Friday, December 16, receiving words of encouragement and advice from Sheriff Newman, Principal Sherry King, Superintendent Mr. Jim Sullivan, and D.A.R.E. instructor Brandon Owens. Also attending were Detective Blake Andis and Dr. Janet Lester, supervisor of elementary instruction. The D.A.R.E. program began in 1983 with the premise that education is vital in the prevention of drug abuse. At the end of the six-week program, each participant writes an essay in which he/she discusses the things he/she has learned and how these lessons will help in his/her future decision-making. The winners of this year’s essay contest were Kassidy J., first-place, and Nick F., second-place. After Kassidy and Nick read their essays, every student received a certificate of completion. Greendale Elementary School would like to thank Officer Owens, Sheriff Newman, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for providing this beneficial program each year.