September 17, 2007 -- EES Teachers Use Grant Funding to Support Innovation in their Classrooms

Elkton Elementary students in Sarah Pritchett's and Julia Bair's classrooms listen to iPod Nanos every day during school. But instead of songs, these students hear their teachers' voices through headphones as Ms. Pritchett and Mrs. Bair lead them through pre-recorded individualized word study exercises. See video and read more about these teachers' efforts to make curriculum come alive for their students ...

September 24, 2007 -- Pleasant Valley Elementary School - A SMART School

SMARTBoards are impacting the teaching and learning process throughout Rockingham County schools. So effective and widespread is the use of these electronic whiteboards at Pleasant Valley Elementary School, the SMART company awarded the school a $30,000 grant to supply classrooms with more SMART products. Learn more about this technology at PVES ...

October 2, 2007 -- Middle School Math Programs Adopt New Delivery Methods

Montevideo Middle School Algebra I teacher, Ann Shultz, traded in her chalkboard for a stage. Now, her classroom is filled with sounds piped through stereo speakers coupled with video, animation, and graphics sent to a SMARTBoard through a ceiling-mounted projector. An Algebra lesson is now a carefully scripted performance and students eagerly engage themselves as participants. Learn more about what Mrs. Shultz and other middle school Algebra teachers across Rockingham County are doing to enhance their instruction with the use of interactive whiteboard technology ...

October 15, 2007 -- Chris Dodson's "Special Stars" Shine

Chris Dodson’s "Special Stars," his severe and profoundly disabled students, have assembled a rock, gem, and fossil collection that would be the envy of most museum curators. Classrooms across Rockingham County visit their exhibit in order to learn about Geology. And they leave having learned even more about life. Read more about how teacher and SHS girls’ varsity basketball coach, Chris Dodson, uses this exhibit and other unique means to establish a conduit between his students and the world outside their classroom doors.

October 23, 2007 -- MES Teachers and Students Make a Difference

Any parent who has ever stood in a slow grocery line with a young child while surrounded by tempting displays of candy and toys can easily relate to a Kindergarten teacher whose task it is to teach “needs versus wants.” Yet Heather Gigliotti and Therese Warner (Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten teachers, respectively) at McGaheysville Elementary found a way to forever cement these concepts into the minds of their students. Their idea was so compelling that the Virginia Council on Economic Education awarded them first place honors among all elementary school projects in their Economic Education Awards Program; and now MES implements their “Helping Hands – Happy Hearts” concept as a part of a school-wide initiative. See more about how Mrs. Gigliotti, Mrs. Warner, and other MES teachers turned Economics SOL requirements into real life lessons about helping those in need …

December 10, 2007 -- Singing Sisters Marry Music and Math

Math has become a toe-tapping experience for some students in Rockingham County, particularly those in Emily and Amanda Fagan's math classes at Broadway High School and Wilbur S. Pence Middle School. Read more about how these teachers are using music as a strategy to help their students remember math formulas and facts. Hear and download their songs!

January 3, 2008 -- JWES Recognized in Virginia Wildlife Magazine

For over 10 years, John Wayland Elementary School has fostered an environmental education program so comprehensive and successful that Virginia Wildlife, published by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, saw fit to highlight the school’s accomplishments in its December 2007 issue. Into its second decade, the school's environmental program continues to gain momentum as John Wayland teachers and administrators plan new initiatives to enable their students to make a positive impact on their community and environment. Read more ...

April 7, 2008 -- Turner Ashby's Brian Bocock Makes Major League Debut as Giants' Shortstop

For Brian Bocock, 23-year-old son of Pam and Tom Bocock of Dayton, his story writes like a good Hollywood script. The club’s veteran major league star goes down with knee surgery. The franchise looks deep into its farm system for a solid defensive replacement and taps a promising, young Class-A shortstop from the California League on the shoulder, offering him a rare opportunity to prove himself at the game's highest level. Fast-forward a few short weeks to the end of Spring Training. The rookie earns a starting position at shortstop and makes the most of his chance, turning heads and double-plays along the way. Read more ...

April 21, 2008 -- Spotswood's "No Other Channel" Broadcast Entertains Weekly

Jokingly, SHS junior Jon Forish offers visitors to his Photojournalism II class a season pass for $14.99. And after seeing two of their 30-minute weekly broadcasts called “No Other Channel,” it’s clear that Jon’s price is an absolute bargain.

This talented mixture of sophomores, juniors, and seniors provides a unique and highly entertaining show every Friday morning at 8:25 to the Spotswood High School student body through its closed circuit television system. A fact not to be ignored is that each NOC broadcast is LIVE.

Read more ...