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FAMILY ENGAGEMENT CENTERS

Contents01 | Family Engagement 02 | STEM News 03 | Eagle Chat 04 | Eagles in Action

We will have two family engagement centers coming soon! One in the elementary school and one in the middle school. We hope both centers will be open to Prince Edward County Public School families in late February. These centers will be fully stocked with art supplies for families to come and work on projects and homework. You will find educational resources, including computers, games, and take-home packs. We will host classes for our parents, such as Active Parenting, coming in March. We hope that families will find this as a comfortable space with relevant tools to strengthen school-to-home relationships. If you have ideas for resources you would like to see in these centers, please reach out to jennifer.kinne@pecps.k12.va.us. We love feedback.

February 2019

UnpackingYour Supplies!

P A G E 0 2S T E M B Y M S . T A M M Y H U R T , S T E M C O O R D I N A T O R

Happy New Year! We are excited to announce that the new Virtual Reality (VR) Goggles have arrived for our elementary school, and teachers will soon be able to check them out for their classrooms! The middle school has seen a lot of progress with the new STEM Labs. Teachers and students will soon be asked to complete a survey to gain valuable feedback on potential STEM programs and resources. The high school has also been exploring the STEM resources. Recently, Mrs. Ashley borrowed the VR Goggles to further engage her students in World History II by taking them on a Google Expedition to view Renaissance and Medieval art and architecture to better understand the progression of both. Ms. Ramsey, the high school Media Specialist, also continues to provide students with various STEM activities. Students who visit the library are able to spend a few minutes solving Rubik's Cubes, building with LEGOs, and solving puzzles. Ms. Ramsey plans to expand these opportunities by creating an engineering station where students can use resources such as KEVA planks to solve various challenges. Teachers: Keep an eye out for many new training opportunities that will be available very soon. There will be offerings on campus as well as virtual training! More information is on the way!

Stay focused. Don't be afraid of trying new

things, and be helpful.

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P A G E 0 3E A G L E C H A T | H I G H L I G H T S F R O M E A C H S C H O O L

Band | Miss CrouchMembers of both the high school and middle school band recently participated in All-District Band Auditions. To be part of these ensembles requires extensive preparation and skill. It is an honor for these students to have been accepted into these ensembles for the opportunity to make music with other phenomenal musicians in our area. Benjamin Roberts has been ranked as the top trumpet player IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. He and Abigail Swanson are now eligible to audition for All-Virginia Band, which is the highest honor a band student can receive. Congratulations to the following students. They have worked SO HARD! 2019 All-District Audition ResultsHigh School:Benjamin Roberts, Trumpet, 1st Chair Symphonic Band.Abigail Swanson, Clarinet,6th Chair Symphonic Band.Rebekah Godfrey, Clarinet,12th Chair Symphonic Band.Clare Calhoun, Flute, 1st Chair Concert Band.Hannah Roldan, Alto Saxophone,1st Chair Concert Band.Jordan McDougald, Trumpet,7th Chair Concert Band.Lucas Dudley, Euphonium, 1st Alternate

PECMSThomas Hamilton, Flute, 12 Chair Jr. Concert Band.Gabrielle Roldan, Trumpet, 2nd Alternate.Congratulations, and GREAT JOB TO EVERYONE who auditioned!! Reading | Mrs. Biggers & Mrs. LucasThe second grade students in Mrs. Biggers’ class worked together writing and illustrating a class book. As a class, they brainstormed and voted on the title, the setting, the main characters, and events. Once the idea was in place each student contributed an individual page for the book. They were able to work over several weeks through the writing process of rough drafts, edits, and a final copy. The hard copy of their book is expected to arrive in February. They are very excited to see their hard work in print! Charity Hoops | Mrs. CarterMiddle school teachers and students experienced the joy of giving during The Annual Charity for Hoops Basketball Classic on the eve of Winter Break. The entry fee for the event was a non-perishable food item, and the generous giving of some Eagles made it possible for all to attend.

Follow your gut and your goals. Don't let any doubters set you

back.

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Teachers and members of the boys' and girls' basketball teams squared off at center court, dribbled, and scored points in front of hundreds of cheering fans. Two close games ended with the faculty teams victorious. After the games, twelve large boxes of canned food, pasta, and snacks were then delivered to FACES, the local food pantry, by members of the school’s Young Gentlemen for Life and Ladies for Life clubs. 21st Century Show Choir | Mrs. CarterThe 21st Century Show Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Christian, performed for members of the community and fellow students prior to leaving for Winter Break. Donning black and white outfits, hats, and even a cane, members of the Show Choir sang and dance to classic tunes such as Where is the Love and Purple Rain.

P A G E 0 4E A G L E S I N A C T I O N

January brought new faces and new titles to the school board. Position titles were voted on and Beulah Womack remained the chair of the school board. Vice chair took on a change but remains a familiar face. Lucy Carson, former PECMS principal and current school board member was nominated and accepted as the new vice chair.

PECPS also welcomed Doug Farley as a new board member elected to the seat vacated by General Jenkins. Also re-elected was our clerk of the board, Janet McConville. McConvilleis a fairly new face around the school board office as of September 2018. She is also employed by PECPS as payroll clerk, serving under the direction of Director of Finance Cindy Wahrman.

Strive for excellence!

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New Kids on the Block

{Carson} {Farley} {McConville}