December 2, 2011

For coverage information contact Tiffany Woods, Director of Public Relations for Roanoke City Public Schools, at tdwoods@rcps.info or 540.853.2905.

December 2-3

EVENT:  Fishburn Park Songbirds to Perform at Several Community Locations to Spread Holiday Cheer

SCHOOL:  Fishburn Park Elementary 

DETAILS:  The Fishburn Park Songbirds will have three special performances this week, including stops at Roanoke Memorial Hospital and Tanglewood Mall, to help spread holiday cheer around the Roanoke Valley. The inaugural singing group, includes second- and third-graders, as well as intermediate students in the disabled program. Performances will last about 30 minutes.

Upcoming Events:

Dec. 2           10:30 AM       Roanoke Memorial Hospital

Dec. 2           12:00 NOON  Tanglewood Mall

Dec. 3           11:00 AM       Barnes & Noble, Tanglewood Mall

EVENT:  Breckinridge Students Join Q99’s Dollar Makes a Difference Campaign to Benefit Underprivileged Children This Christmas

SCHOOL:  James Breckinridge Middle        

DETAILS:  James Breckinridge middle school students will help Q99 provide Christmas presents for underprivileged children in December as part of their community service efforts. The radio station’s Dollar Makes a Difference Campaign, which runs through December 15, raises money for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Christmas fundraiser. James Breckinridge students regularly take part in service projects to help cultivate a spirit of generosity for those in need within the Roanoke Valley. In October, students collected 438 toiletry items for the Roanoke Rescue Mission. In early November, the school sent 250 cards to the VA Hospital in Salem for Veteran’s Day, and for Thanksgiving, students donated 427 canned and boxed goods to the Feeding American Southwest Virginia Food Bank.

EVENT:  Stonewall Jackson Announces Winners of 2011 WrestleMania Reading Challenge Bookmark and Poster Contest

SCHOOL:  Stonewall Jackson Middle

DETAILS:  Stonewall Jackson Middle School has selected the winners for the 2011 WrestleMania Reading Challenge Bookmark and Poster Contest.  Tierra Brown won in the 5^th-6^th grade category for her creative bookmark, and Michelle Holland won in the 7^th-8^th grade category for her letter to professional wrestler Randy Orton. The students’ work was judged based on creativity, originality, impact of the slogan, and overall visual appeal. Before entering the bookmark and letter contest, the teens pledged to read five library books. The bookmarks and letters will be submitted to the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association. Seven winners in each age group will be selected as finalists and win a trip to WrestleMania XXVIII in Miami, Florida.

EVENT:  Fishburn Park Hosts Successful Kickball Classic to Benefit Roanoke SPCA

SCHOOL:  Fishburn Park Elementary

DETAILS:  In the first-ever Fishburn Park Kickball Classic, the elementary students defeated the teachers 25-23 in a close, highly charged game of kickball. As part of the fundraiser, students donated five large boxes’ worth of items to benefit animals at the Roanoke Valley SPCA. The school’s Student Government Association sponsored the game, which the school hopes will become an annual event.

EVENT:  Virginia Heights Students Donate More Than 60 Pounds of Halloween Candy to U.S. Troops

SCHOOL:  Virginia Heights Elementary

DETAILS:  Fifth-graders at Virginia Heights Elementary School recently donated more than 60 pounds of remaining Halloween candy to U.S. troops through Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude is an organization that sends care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation to U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions.

December 8

EVENT:  Monterey Elementary School to Host 9^th Annual “Holidays Around the World” Celebration

SCHOOL:  Monterey Elementary School 

DATE/TIME: December 8^th, 8 AM-11:45AM

DETAILS:  The 9^th annual “Holidays Around the World” event at Monterey Elementary School will celebrate 15 different countries and eight languages represented at the school. The English Language Learners (ELL) students will display items such as pictures, crafts, and their country’s flag. Students and staff will wear something from a different country/culture. During the week, selected students will briefly speak on the intercom about their country, both in English and their native language.

December 10

EVENT:  Forest Park Academy Students Learn Important Fundraising Skills While Planning Schools’ First Winter Court Formal

SCHOOL:  Forest Park Academy 

DATE/TIME: December 10, 7 PM

DETAILS:  Forest Park Academy students will be hosting the school’s first formal “Winter Court” dance on December 10. The event is a fundraiser for a student field trip to Washington, D.C. and the school’s end of the year prom. Teachers hope that the Winter Court Formal will give students an opportunity to practice fundraising and public speaking skills while meeting with potential donors.  Students who raise at least $50 will be eligible for the title of king and queen. The court selection will be based both on the amount of money raised and votes received from the student body. The formal court presentation will be followed by a winter dance. The event is open to the public, and tickets cost $5.

December 12

EVENT: Breckinridge Middle Students Present Their “Top Issues” to Roanoke Mayor David Bowers

SCHOOL:  Breckinridge Middle School 

DATE/TIME: December 12, 11:30 AM-1 PM

DETAILS:  Roanoke Mayor David Bowers will visit a sixth-grade classroom at Breckinridge on December 12. Teacher Sue Bryson’s students will practice their persuasive techniques by presenting their “top issues” to the mayor. The students will discuss both political and community topics they feel strongly about and they will ask the mayor to consider addressing them.

December 14

EVENT:  ROTEC’s Reality Store Project Gives Students First-Hand Experience on Making Financial Decisions in Life

SCHOOL:  Breckinridge Middle School

DATE/TIME: December 14

DETAILS:  ROTEC will be conducting a career exploration project called The Reality Store with every eighth-grader in the division this school year. The Reality Store is a program that helps to prepare students for career development, interpersonal development, and financial literacy. Each student imagines themselves at the age of 30 and must make monthly essential purchases/payments with the goal of having some money left over. There will be nearly 40 volunteers from the Advisory Council, Foundation, and area businesses to implement the project.

Upcoming date:

December 14  Breckinridge Middle School/NCTLA  8:00am – 3:30pm

E-mail Kathleen Duncan at kduncan@rcps.info with any volunteers from area businesses, or call 853-2803 for questions.