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Briefs ; Hugh Mercer Elementary; Walker-Grant Middle; James Monroe High; Battlefield Elementary; Berkeley Elementary; Brock Road Elementary; Courthouse Road Elementary; Courtland Elementary; Robert E. Lee Elementary; Livingston Elementary; Parkside Elementary; Riverview Elementary; Salem Elementary; Spotswood Elementary; Wilderness Elementary; Chancellor Middle; Ni River Middle; Spotsylvania Middle; Thornburg Middle; J. J. Wright Middle; Courtland High; Massaponax High; Spotsylvania High; Fredericksburg Academy; Fredericksburg Christian Schools; Holy Cross Academy; Sonshine Academy

March 12, 2003 1:07 am

city schools

After-school programs continue next week from 3 to 3:50 p.m.

Reminder that Stanford 9 tests are approaching in April. Concerned parents may contact teachers for individual grade level information.

An assembly has been planned for March 19 with Bill Wellington.

Permission slips will be coming home soon for students to see "Once On This Island," a musical by James Monroe High School students on March 20.

Don't forget to wear something green on Monday for St. Patrick's Day.

--Michele Phillips

The fourth- and fifth-grade students will participate in Hoops For Heart after school today and the sixth- and seventh-graders will participate tomorrow

Winners of the divisionwide spelling bee were honored at the School Board meeting on Monday. First place was Michael Konieczny and Joshua Wise was runner-up.

--Valerie Morgan

The following students won awards at the Virginia Distributive Education Clubs of America State Leadership Conference held in Richmond on March 1 and 2:

Jeana Johnson, first place for Technical Information Role Play, Restaurant Marketing and Quick Service

Katherine Betz and Trinity Brown, state finalists for chapter Public Relations Project

Danielle Buckner and Kim Hunter, second place overall for Chapter Free Enterprise Project

Vernon Keeve III, first place overall for State Selling Event

Danielle Buckner and Kimberly Hunter have earned the right to attend the International Distributive Education Clubs of America Competitive Events and Leadership Conference in Orlando in April.

Trinity Brown was named the recipient of a $1,000 Virginia Distributive Education Clubs of America Scholarship.

Stacy Chapman was named as the recipient of a Virginia Distributive Education Clubs of America Merit Award.

The James Monroe Chapter of Distributive Education Clubs of America also won the highest level of chapter achievement award, The Blue Chip Award. The award was presented to only 10 of the 220 chapters in the state.

The following DECA competitors also earned a proficiency award for their competition: Jessica Barnwell, Katherine Betz, Trinity Brown, Danielle Buckner, Melissa Caldwell, Tameka Christopher, Jeana Johnson, Vernon Keeve III, Kimberly Hunter, Shanleigh Galligan.

Tiffany Redding and Allyson Duggins were the two third-place winners from James Monroe of the divisionwide spelling bee on Feb. 25.

Parent-Teacher conferences will be tonight from 7 to 9.

--Heidi Miller

county schools

The fifth-graders will be participating in the World's Largest Concert tomorrow. This is the first time any group from Spotsylvania has been in the concert.

The school joined with others around the nation to celebrate Read Across America Day on March 2. Each grade level planned activities to honor Dr. Seuss and promote lifelong readers.

Language Arts Supervisor E.J. Brletich started the day with the schoolwide recitation of a reading pledge. Marion Wiltshire, a former first-grade teacher at Battlefield, came as Mother Goose to share nursery rhymes with kindergartners. A bookmark contest was held and murals of Dr. Seuss characters were created to decorate the halls.

--Lynne Jennings

The school celebrated Read Across America Day on March 4.

Individuals from the School Board office enthusiastically came to read to our eager students.

--Sue Mastalski

The following third-graders received the Purple Pup Award for fairness: Greg Lumpkin, Hallman Stevick, Jon Meyer, Joran Collis, Kaylee Stake, Lauren Usher, Tony Sequera, Jonathan Petty, Sue Huggi, Nathan Zweeres, Samantha Nichols, Curtis Williams, Brandon Ferrante, Semone Sinclair, James Weaver, Summer Zelman, Hunter Harris, Shelby Goldsmith, Marcus Thomas, Sarah Wood, Caleb Severn, Andrew Tiedt, Tyler Rollison and Spencer Samuels.

The following kindergartners demonstrated fairness during the third six weeks and received the Kool Kids Award: Dylan Guizar, Elisha Richardson, Elaine Roper, Leo Zagaruyka, Jamal Hunt, Kayla Newbill, Zachary Sisk, Lee Harris, Connor Smith, CJ Evans, Kyle Donovan, Lauren McCaffrey, Emanuel Sims, Fernanda Correia, Rebekah Danner, Emilio Garcia, Monica Kelley, Brandon Bixby, Derick Lyon, Zachary Bennett, Justin Jones, Chloe Bradfield, Jacob Carver and Amanda Kovack.

--Cheryl Gallello

Students jumped all over heart disease and stroke by participating in Jump Rope for Heart. All students participated in this year's event, which raised more than $13,000 for the American Heart Association. Students are still turning in money and the school may top last year's total of $14,000.

Tracie Lough of Family Dental Care gave a presentation on dental hygiene to the kindergarten classes.

Amy Dawson and Cathy Harron are Mary Washington College student teachers working with Stephanie Scheff and Rose Davis.

The following students will have artwork displayed at the Courthouse Road Giant food store during the month of March: Ryan Brothers, Courtney Brezna, Leah Smith, Tyler Hegadorn, Marissa Lindner, Christopher Hathoway, Chris Fredette, Erica Lantz, David Summers, Carl Wiltenmuth, Billy O'toole, Chris Triana and April Baldwin.

--Susan Debus

Dana Houck, Debra Pipscomb, and Steve Sparks just sold the first copy of their play "Virginia Live." The three teachers along with Joyce Aaronson wrote the play in the school year 2001-2002 as a project for recertification and to assist the fourth-graders to do better on the Virgina History SOL test.

The following students were on the yearbook staff for 2002-2003 school year: Becky Garnett, Caitlin Puffenberger, Brianne Ryan, Ben O'Callaghan, Scott Wharton, Sam Quinn, Niki Boyda, Marci Mason, Jonathan Brooks, Hilary Patch, Casey Lynch, Laura Simpson and Katelin Dickerson.

The cookie dough sales begin March 17.

--Billie Rae Drake

The students from Mary Merritt's and Stephanie Fox's classes are looking forward to the results of the Atlantic States Poetry Contest. The deadline for the contest is April 4. The winner could have their poem published professionally and receive a copy of the book. The following students are participating: Eric Anderson, Liz Limerick, Justin McArdle, Dylan Meadows, and Melisa Webb.

--Hunter Frischkorn

Haley Cordle, Jason Davis, Vincent Pace and Amanda Prillaman from Sandy Koch's class have received Super Writer Awards.

From Mary Flint's class, Super Writer Awards for an essay called "A Day When Everything Went Right" were Shannon Coleman, Brooke Comfort, Tiffany Ellis and Elizabeth Cunningham.

The Student Council Association completed a fund-raiser called "Pennies for Patients," a program sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The children and staff donated $340 to this worthwhile cause.

--Teresa Baxter

The 100th day of school was celebrated at Parkside with many special activities including: 100-day pencils, stickers and math problems using the number 100.

--Bill Beck

The winners of the Run for Fun for January are:

Kindergarten: Susan Carl's class

First grade: Kirsten Noakes' class

Second grade: Melissa Parker's class

Third grade: Jerri Westwood's class

Fourth grade: Christa Collin's class

Fifth grade: Elizabeth Reimers' class.

--Nancy Burger

Faculty and staff awarded the Golden Apple for excellence in school program support during a staff meeting on March 4.

Harold Morton recognized Julie Lauver; Jennifer Hawkins recognized June Whitney; Jena Perry recognized Kelley Roberts and Catherine Farmer recognized Bea Harwich.

The six-week schedule has been changed due to snow closures. The early-dismissal day scheduled for Parent-teacher conferences will be March 25, 6-8 p.m. Teachers will notify parents by note of available time slots for conferences.

--Lois Murdaugh

The following fifth-grade students have art work on display at the Spotsylvania School Board office as part of a special Youth Art Month exhibit: Dylan Keen, Anthony Sturk and Bethany Williams.

--Joanne Williams

Outstanding fifth-graders have been selected to serve as Ambassadors. They are: Garrett Bush, Aaron Weeks, Greg Capozza, Maegen McDonald, Josh Hairston, Matthew Rodgers, Nick Delbuono, Hannah Yousefian, Emily Rudy, Danielle Baker, Jake Lacy and Elizabeth Paterson. These students have raised money for the Fredericksburg SPCA and spent a Saturday volunteering at the SPCA shelter. They also organized a canned-food drive for the needy. They conduct new student tours, sponsor spirit days and assist with Career Day.

Students at Wilderness are recognized by their teachers for demonstrating the character qualities of respect, responsibility, fairness, kindness, citizenship and trustworthiness. After being recognized four times they become members of the Principal's Positive Paw Club. The members are Assia Pulliam-Richardson, Brandon Mincey, Maegen McDonald, Shaniqua Whindleton, Jamie Banks, Charlotte Smith, Lauren Dalfonzo, Ellie Maston, Molly Laatsch, Elizabeth Balgoyen and Lucas Epperly.

Colleen Lilly's fourth-grade class made encouragement cards for the children in the recently flooded town of Badger, Newfoundland. Lilly and her family spent last summer in nearby New Harbour where they explored the province. The class decided to respond to the town's plight upon learning of the kindness extended to the United States by the Newfoundlanders after the Sept. 11 crisis.

--Linda S. White

The following students represented Chancellor Middle School at the District XV Workshop Chorus: Amy Ellis, Brittany Evans, Jasmine Frazier, Rebecca Minor, Kaitlyn Thompson, Kelly Bassford, Anna Caliendo, Kierston Wadsworth, Tony Banks and Taylor Keith.

March is Youth Art Month. Wendy Jonas' classes designed bumper stickers, created posters, and designed a bulletin board to showcase artwork in celebration of Youth Art Month. The following students have art work displayed at the Spotsylvania County School Board office: Aryn Garfield, Justin Hitchens, Amanda McCormick and Ben Shannon.

Boys soccer tryouts begin March 31. Tryouts will be from 3 to 5 p.m. after school. Any seventh- or eighth-grade boy interested in trying out will need a completed sports physical and insurance information form to be able to participate in tryouts.

The Art and Literary Magazine staff is as follows: Alissa Hickman, Kristen Highlander, Norman Hurst, Lara Cariker, Jessica St. Laurent, Angel Scott, Amy Morris, Dominique Paquette, Lindsey Horstick, Aryn Garfield, Lauren Makely and Kassandra Thompson.

Spring pictures will be March 19.

--Sue Leiss

The date for parent conferences has changed to April 3 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The following girls made the Ni River volleyball team: Ashley A. Anderson, Amy Bergstrom, Kayla Bush, Samantha Bush, Nicole Christopher, Heidi Corwin, Holly Corwin, Corinne Henry, Kayla Jones, Kirsty Meyer, Kierra Parker, Carly Sullivan, and Bailey Wilcox.

The following Ni River wrestlers placed in the Martin Luther King Invitational on Feb. 19: Jake Meadows, Kevin Ciccone and Matt Lacik placed first with three wins and no losses; Zach Marsh and Jacob Childress placed second; and Chad Leahy, placed third.

Kevin Ciccone placed seventh in the 112-pound weight class for seventh- and eighth-graders and qualified to wrestle for the VAC Middle School United National Team, which will wrestle in the Nationals at the Norfolk Scope on April 11-13.

The Teen Center, located in the Marshall Center at 8800 Courthouse Road, is sponsoring an abundance of activities during March. For details, call 898-PLAY (7529), ext. 224 or 232.

--Angie Branham

The following homerooms received certificates for outstanding attendance for the month of February:

Stephanie Pritchett's sixth grade: 97.2 percent

Jim Grau's seventh grade: 97 percent

Faye Jones' eighth grade: 97.2 percent.

The homerooms will also receive free ice cream courtesy of the SCA.

The Direct Writing SOL Test for eighth-graders will be tomorrow.

--Lisa Simmermon

Seventh-grader David Myers has advanced to the state level of the National Geographic Geography Bee. To move to this level, he completed a difficult written exam after he was identified as our school winner in the school bee. David will be competing against other students from across Virginia at Old Dominion University in early April.

Diana Palazio and Dorsey Bumbrey will advance to the next round in the American Legion Auxiliary Essay Contest, "What America's Future Holds For Me."

The seventh-grade SCOPE class acted as prosecutors and defense attorneys in the mock trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. The attorneys for the prosecution were: Kayli Scheffer, Alexis Moore, Sam Klar and Teddy Gregson. The attorneys for the defense were: Nabeel Gillani, Hannah Gallagher, Chelsea Day and Marissa Fox. Witnesses included were: Caitlin Durham, Victoria Lama, Ashley Montalvo, Mohamed Amin, Heather Murray, Charlie Hall, Neil Kirchner, Aaron Leung, Austin Michel, Michelle Minnich, Rachael Picard, Sierra Newmann, David Myers and Greta Magerowski. Judy Koo, an eighth-grader and last year's defense attorney, was the judge. The bailiff was Karli Comden. The jury was made up of sixth- and seventh-graders.

--Vicky Bowens

Creative Crafts, an after- school club sponsored VCU's Anti-Drug grant, meets on Tuesdays from 2:50 to 5:15 p.m. The following students are club members: Jeannie Perry, Brittany Cranfield, Chelsey Monroe, Heather Skinner, Ashley Tiller, Victoria Majeika, Jessica Price, Rebecca Curtis, Amanda Truslow, Tina Drury, Tiffany Cantrell, Melissa Potoski, Jasmine Washington, Holly Wood, Nicohle Kumble, Eden Conton, Traci Berry, Angel Malicki, Candice Sullivan, and Ashleigh Rose.

Mendy Sullivan, a Spotsylvania High School senior and JJW alumna, is directing a middle-school play as her independent study project for theater arts. Mendy, assisted by Catherine Wunce, conducted auditions for the one-act comedy about how not to take a test. The following John J. Wright Drama Club members were assigned roles in the production: Michael Scaglione, Melanie Justis, Steven Hook, Danny Kartoudi, Lauren Stewart, Emily Hines, Emily Sullivan, Melissa Rosser, Samantha Burke, Elizabeth Daley, Lauren Rowley, Adrienne Johnson, and Kevin Chewning.

Cortney Wolfrey is the stage manager. David Mudre is assisting with technical aspects of the play and Michelle Carter is working with props and costumes. The play will be presented to the student body in April.

The following students visited the Commonwealth Governor's School at Spotsylvania High School on March 3: Clementine Anderson, Stacey Birchfield, Kyle Carlson, Stephanie Dean, Spenser Fleming, Rachel Hicks, Steven Hook, Melanie Justis, Chelsey Lever, Alicia Martin, David Mudre, Matthew Pitts, Melissa Rosser, Robert Satterwhite, Michael Scaglione, Emily Sullivan and Nikki Woodell.

Band Director Donna Jacobs announced that Junior All District Band has been canceled for this school year.

Spring pictures will be taken during physical education classes for parents who wish to purchase a packet.

--Helen Cielakie

Candance Funderburk and Chris Quinones were selected to the All-Virginia Band.

The Public Speaking/Forensics team, consisting of Sarah Stewart, Nicole Wright, Kristen Croskey-Freshwater, Mallory Reeder, Sade Younger, Ashley Semper, Lydia DeRavens, Kimberley Barnes, Emily Carper and Gabrielle Guy, won the Battlefield District Tournament and will now compete at the Regional.

The following members of the Debate Team have qualified for the Northern Virginia Metro Championships: Liz Lauzan, Tiffany Cann, Tom Liles and Nicole Chapman.

--Carolyn Libby

Distributive Education Clubs of America students recently competed in the District Leadership Competition at Spotsylvania Mall. Twenty-one student members represented the chapter. The following students placed in their events:

Nick Daniels: first place Vehicles and Petroleum Test; first place Distribution Role Play; second place Business and Entrepreneurship Role Play

Bill Behrmann: first place Communications

Nichole Althouse: second place Communications

Ben Brightwell: second place Retail Merchandising Management Level Test

Annie DelSignore: second place Retail Merchandising Management Level Professional Development Role Play

Patrick Lamoureux: third place Full Serve Restaurant Management Test and second place Economics Role Play.

The following students placed in the Battlefield District Forensics Tournament on Feb. 13:

Impromptu: Rodney Jones: tied first place

Extemporaneous Speaking: Darryl Coffee, second place; Treneka Gross, third place

Oratory: Nilo Hashim, third place

Storytelling: Katie VanBrent, third place

Prose: Monice Scott, first place

Poetry: Karen Morales, tied first place.

Serious Dramatic Interpretation: Jonell Finley, first place. Humorous Dramatic Interpretation: Caitlyn Tyree, first place

Duo Interpretation: Alyssa Torres and Bridgett Bassett, second place and Kristina Pallen and Lauren Johnson, third place.

Philip Edney and Sarah Lance have been selected to participate in the All-State Chorus. Becca Lane has been named as First Alternate.

Ben DeForest has been selected to participate in the All-Virginia Concert Band.

--Janice Craig

Eight students were among 1,500 marketing students from around the state attending the DECA State Leadership Conference in Richmond. Justin Langridge took first place in his written test and runner-up overall in Retail Merchandising Management, qualifying for the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla., in April.

Marketing students Jennifer McCann, Andrea Clothier, Mendy Sullivan, Ryan Sherrill, Audrey Mills, Ashley Alvord, and Jamie Limbrick also competed.

--Meredith Gompf

private schools

Today students will celebrate Read Across America. Students will be visited by guest readers, have reading partners visit from other grade levels, and will be read to by their teachers. Students will also celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday all week in the library when they "Lie Down in the Library" with books, pillows and flashlights.

On Tuesday, fifth-graders will present Rain Forest Fest. This monthlong integrated study includes work in technology, science, art and music. The students have studied the plight of our world's rain forests and have prepared informational brochures, conducted scientific experiments, painted a mural, and will perform musical selections about the rain forest. Parents and students at FA will visit our classroom rain forest to learn more about how they can help.

--Liz Barnes

We are striving to keep our Ferry Farm Campus open as much as possible. That is why you may see a teacher workday or teacher in-service day scheduled on the FCS school calendar, but the Ferry Farm campus is still open. During inclement weather we may be open, but all of the other campuses are closed. Some points to note:

A two-hour delay and a delayed opening announcement mean the same thing. For the Ferry Farm campus that means the building will open at 10 a.m. Delayed opening for all of the other campuses is 10:30 a.m.

On delayed-opening days Ferry Farm's preschool hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (as stated in the handbook). Lunch will be served to our all-day students after preschool dismissal.

The school campus will be open until 5:30 p.m. as usual unless there is a weather change.

Listen to the entire announcement when you call the hot line or listen to the radio. Listen for Ferry Farm hours as they may differ from other campuses.

Due to the bad weather days, the magazine sale will end Tuesday. All proceeds will benefit the Alpha program for students with specific needs. Questions concerning the Alpha program should be addressed to Carole Bolt at 786-4196.

The next scrip order will be placed on Monday. Checks should be made payable to FCS and should accompany your order. Proceeds will help purchase playground equipment for the new campus.

Please remember that if we have a delayed opening, your child must bring a lunch.

Important upcoming dates:

March 14--class pictures

March 18--sophomores order class rings

For delayed openings and school closings check fredericksburg.com, the school hot line number (372-3270) and local radio stations (please refer to the student handbook for listed stations). Check both morning and evening in the event of a change due to conditions.

Don't forget extended days from now until the end of school. School starts five minutes earlier and ends five minutes later.

Check the weekly campus newsletter or office for details regarding snow makeup days.

The missions teams are raising funds for ministry supplies and light construction materials for all of the trips this spring and summer. Remember to put contributions in the jars available in each homeroom.

--Cindy Gossett

During this time of Lent, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales provide resources for Sunday reflections on the Web site, blates.org. Sundays Salesian is a weekly reflection written on the Sunday liturgy with an emphasis on the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales. Many people contribute to this effort, including Principal Sister Susan Louise, OSFS, who has authored the reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent.

The following students were elected as officers in the "picture perfect" chapter of the National Junior Art Honor Society: president, Paul Saunders; vice president, Nick Rubino; secretary, Meagan Oliver; treasurer, Cara Fenwick; historian/parliamentarian, Margaret Beckwith; coordinator of awards and ceremonies, David Carey; public relations, Kathleen O'Neill and special activities, Mary Catherine Saunders. Induction of all members will be held this spring.

The end-of-season basketball and cheerleading celebration was held last Friday. Participation certificates, letters and pins were awarded to all the athletes and cheerleaders.

The kindergarten through fifth- grade students' Reading Bookworm has wiggled its way all around the gym and still continues to wiggle some more. Free dress will be announced soon for all of our avid and enthusiastic, elementary school bookworms.

--Betsy Moran

March is "Science Month" at Sonshine Academy. Students in all grades are enjoying a variety of science projects and explorations in their classrooms each day. They are also working on projects at home for the annual Science Fair, which will be March 20. Families are invited to attend the event. Every student will receive a certificate of participation.

Sonshine students are also using their creativity to write and illustrate stories titled, "Once Upon A Time" to be submitted to the Free Lance-Star for the annual writing contest.

--Pam Soper