For coverage information contact Tiffany Woods, Director of Public Relations for Roanoke City Public Schools, at tdwoods@rcps.info or 540.853.2905.
May 11
EVENT: Garden City Elementary Receives Nearly $5,000 from Lowe’s for Gardening Project
SCHOOL: Garden City Elementary
DATE/TIME: May
DETAILS: Garden City Elementary is the recipient of the 2011 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant. The school recently received nearly $5,000 to be used for the “Learning through Gardening Connections” project. Garden City students have been instrumental in maintaining the garden that was recently planted at the school as part of an environmental and educational initiative.
EVENT: Patrick Henry and William Fleming Math Chair Wins National Math and Science Teacher of the Year Award
SCHOOL: Patrick Henry/William Fleming High School
DATE/TIME: Date of banquet in Washington D.C., May 26
DETAILS: The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) recently named RCPS teacher Ben Bazak as one of the 2011 All American Teachers of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding math, science and English teachers in NMSI’S Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program who contribute to the intellectual growth of students and the teaching profession. Bazak, who is the math chair at both Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools, will receive a cash award and will be recognized during a luncheon in Washington D.C., on May 26, 2011. NMSI was founded by Exxon Mobil Corporation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.
EVENT: Patrick Henry Student One of Twelve Students Across the Country to Win Prestigious Scholarship
SCHOOL: Patrick Henry High School
DETAILS: Patrick Henry student Locher Grove, has been selected to participate in the prestigious Bezos Scholars program. Students in the Bezos Scholars program are able to collaborate, learn and grow during the Aspen Ideas Festival. The journey begins in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado each summer and scholars return home with inspiration, tools and resources to launch their own big ideas.
During the all-expense paid week, scholars connect with international leaders, journalists, entrepreneurs and artists from diverse fields. Alumni scholars have swapped stories and shared meals with retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’ Connor, and Tom’s shoe founder Blake Mycoskie to name a few.
EVENT: Five ROTEC students Win Roanoke Valley Kiwanis Scholarships
SCHOOL: ROTEC
DATE/TIME: May
DETAILS: The Roanoke Valley Kiwanis club recently awarded five ROTEC students with scholarships to help them pursue further education. The finalists had to go through a panelist interview, present a portfolio of their academic and career accomplishments and show evidence of community service and internship experience. The winner of the $1,000 Chauncy Logan Super Achiever award was Eric Johnson. Johnson will attend Lynchburg College to pursue a career in broadcasting. The following four students received $500 scholarships:
Shaneequa Durham –Marketing
Sam Cardona-Culinary Arts
Gabriela Peregrino-Marketing
Nick Padgett-Welding
Several local businesses helped to sponsor the scholarships for the ROTEC students.
May 12
EVENT: Mock Crash to Promote Prom Safety for Patrick Henry Students
SCHOOL: Patrick Henry
DATE/TIME: May 12, noon
DETAILS: Red Cross and Roanoke City Police will conduct a mock crash on Thursday May 12, 2011 at noon to teach Patrick Henry students about the dangers of drinking and driving just before prom season. The event will take place on the front lawn of Patrick Henry.
May 16
EVENT: RCPS and nTelos Surprise 2011 Teacher of the Year with $1,000 during Awards Banquet
LOCATION: Zee’s Salon, Fitzpatrick Hall- Jefferson Center
DATE/TIME: May 16th, 3-5:45 p.m. at Zee’s Salon, 6 p.m. at Jefferson Center
DETAILS: On Monday, May 16 all of the 28 RCPS division wide teacher of the year nominees will be pampered at Zee’s salon before being escorted by limousine to the Jefferson Center for the awards banquet. During the banquet Patrick Henry student Judi Jackson will perform live music with the Jefferson Center’s Cyrus Pace. A representative from nTelos will announce the winner of the 2011 Teacher of the Year program and present them with a $1,000 check. The winner of the RCPS division Teacher of the Year program will advance to the regional TOY comepetition.
May 19th
EVENT: Superintendent Presents College Readiness Workshops for 7th & 8th Grade Parents and Students LOCATION: William Fleming Auditorium
DATE/TIME: May 19th, 6:30 pm
DETAILS: Superintendent Rita Bishop will be conducting a workshop for parents and students to help them prepare for admission into top colleges and universities. The workshops will be focused on the following topics:
academic planning
PSAT/SAT preparation
college selection
navigating the application process
financial aid
The workshop is free and parents who are interested need to RSVP at 853-2090 to participate.
May 13
EVENT: Wasena and Virginia Heights Students Set Sail to Smith Mountain Lake for Education Lesson
SCHOOL: Wasena and Virginia Heights
DATE/TIME: May 13
DETAILS: Fifth grade students from Wasena and Virginia Heights Elementary will set sail on May 13th for a field trip to Smith Mountain Lake. The event will be hosted by the Virginia Inland Sailing Association (VISA). Students will learn how to sail and have an opportunity to participate in a water study by the Clean Valley Council and Save our Streams. The students will also visit a dam and learn about the electricity it provides to the surrounding area.
May 19-26
EVENT: Fine Arts Festival Week Features Unique Talents of Patrick Henry Students SCHOOL: Patrick Henry High School
DATE/TIME: May 19-26
DETAILS: Patrick Henry is hosting a Fine Arts Festival Week featuring a dance recital, visual art reception, fine arts performances, a jazz band concert, choir concert, guitar concert and orchestra concert. The schedule is as follows:
May 19, 7pm -dance recital (auditorium)
May 20, 9am-8 pm Visual Arts Reception (Fine Arts Hall)
May 23, 7pm-Choir Concert (Auditorium)
May 24, 7pm-Guitar Concert (Auditorium)
May 25, 7pm-Orchestra Concert (Auditorium)
May 20, lunch period-Fine Art’s Performances (Outdoor Senior Café’)
The evening performances are free and open to the public.
May 26:
EVENT: ROTEC Awards Presentation
LOCATION: The Jefferson Center
SCHOOL: ROTEC
DATE/TIME: May 26, 6:00 p.m.
DETAILS: Annual ROTEC student awards presentation. Students will be honored for their achievements and graduating students will receive their graduation chords. Light refreshments will be served.
May 27-29
EVENT: Three RCPS Teams Head to Odyssey of the Mind World Competition Memorial Day Weekend
SCHOOL: James Madison and Crystal Spring
DETAILS: Three RCPS teams will head to the World Finals in College Park Maryland Memorial Day weekend. Two teams from James Madison and one team from Crystal Spring will head to the University of Maryland in May for the World Finals. All of theteams placed either 1st or 2nd during the State Finals which qualified them to advance to the world competition.
June 5
EVENT: Baccalaureate Ceremonies
SCHOOL: Patrick Henry and William Fleming High School
DATE/TIME: June 5, Patrick Henry at 4 p.m. and William Fleming at 7 p.m.
DETAILS: Awards and scholarships will be presented to the 2011 senior class during the Baccalaureate ceremonies at Patrick Henry and William Fleming. Patrick Henry will hold its event in the gym at 4 p.m. and William Fleming will host its ceremony in the auditorium at 7 p.m.
June 8
EVENT: Forest Park Academy End of the Year Ceremony
SCHOOL: Forest Park Academy
DATE/TIME: June 8, 6 p.m.
DETAILS: Forest Park Academy will celebrate its graduating seniors during a special ceremony at the Jefferson Center. Forest Park Academy is a program for overage and under-credited students.
June 10
EVENT: Patrick Henry and William Fleming High School Graduations
SCHOOL: Patrick Henry and William Fleming High School
DATE/TIME: June 10, William Fleming at 10 a.m. and Patrick Henry at 2 p.m.
DETAILS: The 2011 senior class for both Patrick Henry and William Fleming will be graduating on June 10, 2011 in the Roanoke Civic Center.