In the news
w&l students make a historical first
It has been a long time in the planning stage, but on September 14, 2019, it all came to fruition. Over a dozen students and parents joined together under a Virginia Defense Force (VDF) tent and signed up to be the first Cadet group of the VDF in the state of Virginia. Excitement was evident from the military leaders to the prospective Cadets. Student were measured for uniforms and invited with their parents to the first full briefing of the VDF Eagle Corp.
Major Jim Stanley and Sgt. 1st Class Robert Greene spoke to the group about the history of the Virginia Defense Force and the impact of their contributions through the years. The Virginia Defense Force is an all-volunteer, formal military organization. Its mission is to assist the Virginia National Guard in performing state missions as specified by the Governor.
The students and parents received a review of what the Cadet requirements are: parental permission, be a W&L student, maintain good grades and behavior in school and the community; give your best efforts; attend drills and activities “clean and neat;” have a positive “can do” attitude; be part of the team; and ask for help if you need it.
Students “earn” the privilege to wear their uniforms. When they attend two drills and have their black boots and collared sport shirt, they are issued pants. The third and fourth drills earn you a hat and uniform shirt. By the fifth and sixth drills you earn your name tape, patches, and finally you are pinned with your rank.
All Cadets will be trained in land navigation, emergency management, color guard, teamwork, self-respect, patriotism, and service. The VDF Eagle Corp will be supporting the upcoming Fall Festival, school events, the Richmond County Fair and the Westmoreland Sheriff/Fire events.
Attending the first session for VDF were Major Jim Stanley, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Greene, Master Sgt. James Swain, and Sgt. Michael Burke. Coach Joe Taylor of W&L will be the school representative. The first VDF Eagle Corp members are James Gilhuly, Abigail Bennett, Nevach Wakefield, Ariel Smith, Ziahra Thompson, Mary Martin, Jesse Fulkerson, and Jesse Jett.
This is an exciting time to be an Eagle. Congratulations to these students and their parents for becoming part of the school history.
Major Jim Stanley and Sgt. 1st Class Robert Greene spoke to the group about the history of the Virginia Defense Force and the impact of their contributions through the years. The Virginia Defense Force is an all-volunteer, formal military organization. Its mission is to assist the Virginia National Guard in performing state missions as specified by the Governor.
The students and parents received a review of what the Cadet requirements are: parental permission, be a W&L student, maintain good grades and behavior in school and the community; give your best efforts; attend drills and activities “clean and neat;” have a positive “can do” attitude; be part of the team; and ask for help if you need it.
Students “earn” the privilege to wear their uniforms. When they attend two drills and have their black boots and collared sport shirt, they are issued pants. The third and fourth drills earn you a hat and uniform shirt. By the fifth and sixth drills you earn your name tape, patches, and finally you are pinned with your rank.
All Cadets will be trained in land navigation, emergency management, color guard, teamwork, self-respect, patriotism, and service. The VDF Eagle Corp will be supporting the upcoming Fall Festival, school events, the Richmond County Fair and the Westmoreland Sheriff/Fire events.
Attending the first session for VDF were Major Jim Stanley, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Greene, Master Sgt. James Swain, and Sgt. Michael Burke. Coach Joe Taylor of W&L will be the school representative. The first VDF Eagle Corp members are James Gilhuly, Abigail Bennett, Nevach Wakefield, Ariel Smith, Ziahra Thompson, Mary Martin, Jesse Fulkerson, and Jesse Jett.
This is an exciting time to be an Eagle. Congratulations to these students and their parents for becoming part of the school history.
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raptor safety system installed
When parents and other visitors arrive at one of the four Westmoreland County Public Schools next week, they will be asked to sign in with a new security system. The Raptor K-12 Visitor Management system increases security within the school district. It scans each and every one who enters the school. The system automatically screens and track everyone, alerts staff of violations, and provides district-wide reporting of all visitors.
After reviewing a number of devices, the IT Department decided that 26,000 K-12 schools can’t be wrong. The Raptor Safety System is easy to use and dependable. According to Raptor Technology the system has “flagged more than 50,000 registered sex offenders and has issued over 250,000 custody alerts.”
The system offers instant sex offender screening, custom custody databases, helps maintain accurate visitor records with the ability to create reports for the whole district, and has an emergency panic button that allows front desk personnel to instantly alert a customized list of first responders and school officials.
Parents and visitors are asked to bring a state-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, to the schools when picking up a student or visiting a school. Once the information is scanned, the information remains in the files for faster processing.
After reviewing a number of devices, the IT Department decided that 26,000 K-12 schools can’t be wrong. The Raptor Safety System is easy to use and dependable. According to Raptor Technology the system has “flagged more than 50,000 registered sex offenders and has issued over 250,000 custody alerts.”
The system offers instant sex offender screening, custom custody databases, helps maintain accurate visitor records with the ability to create reports for the whole district, and has an emergency panic button that allows front desk personnel to instantly alert a customized list of first responders and school officials.
Parents and visitors are asked to bring a state-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, to the schools when picking up a student or visiting a school. Once the information is scanned, the information remains in the files for faster processing.
conway payne begins another decade
When a young strapping Conway Payne began work for the transportation department at Westmoreland County Public Schools in 1979, the 18-year-old youth could purchase gas for 79 cents a gallon. President Carter was in the news when a wild rabbit chased his boat while fishing and the Viet Nam war toiled on. The average cost of monthly rent was $280 and a new Toyota Corolla could be purchased for $3,698 and Conway Payne made a decision to start work at WMLCPS and who knew he would stay on for 40 years.
Conway faced the choice many young people do when they graduate from a rural town, stay or leave for a big city. He decided that he would stay where he had grown up and care for his Mom. That decision has boded well for Westmoreland County Public Schools. Now going into his 41st year working in transportation, Conway has worked his way up to Fleet Manager and Assistant to the Transportation Manager. In his long career, he has been a mechanic, CDL trainer, and VA state inspector.
Conway is a product of a “Job Shop” program. Popular during its time, Job Shops offered local teenagers the opportunity to work and learn at local businesses. Equivalent to a paid internship, Conway did custodial work during his 11th and 12th grade years at Montross Middle School. He learned about the value of a job and how to conduct himself as an employee. In 1979, the Job Shop ended and Conway looked at opportunities at Westmoreland County Public Schools. While waiting for an opening, he worked very briefly for a local nursery and then got a call to come and be a mechanic’s helper. His first tasks were washing school buses. When he finished those tasks he hung around the mechanic garage. One day, James Thompson, his immediate supervisor, saw his interest and the next thing Conway knew was he was moved up to assisting with brake work and other tasks. He received his CDL license in 1980 and started to drive school buses and drove the sports equipment truck to games.
Always a hard worker, Conway has followed a basic rule; “include God first, read outside your norm, and work outside your norm.” He is a firm believer in life-long learning. Conway has attended training classes from bus companies, truck manufacturers, and many web courses. Conway worked part-time at Walmart in Tappahannock for the past 20 years. He started in the automotive department and moved up to floor supervisor. He “retired” from Walmart in 2017. To this day, Conway is still studying his craft and learning the best ways to maintain WMLCPS buses and transportation vehicles.
Despite his cool demeanor, Conway has a wicket sense of humor. He remembers fondly the times Mr. Thompson had a condenser compressor that needed to be energized with a battery. He had it rigged so anytime Conway or anyone else touched it they would receive a nasty shock. Many laughs were found there.
Unfailingly polite, he is always considerate to his peers and the first one to open doors for the ladies and pick up after others. A member of Siloam Baptist Church for over 42 years, he is a member of the building committee and head usher. Conway does not see himself slowing down or retiring anytime soon. His pleasures remain homebased, doing crossword puzzles and enjoying his mother’s great home cooking. He tries to “read something of God and educational every day.”
Conway has been a loyal employee for a lot of years. He tries to show by example “that hard work is a worthy trait, especially when it is done for the right reason.” Above all else, he has lived a life of service to God, his family, and Westmoreland County Public Schools and the safety of its most precious cargo, its students.
Conway faced the choice many young people do when they graduate from a rural town, stay or leave for a big city. He decided that he would stay where he had grown up and care for his Mom. That decision has boded well for Westmoreland County Public Schools. Now going into his 41st year working in transportation, Conway has worked his way up to Fleet Manager and Assistant to the Transportation Manager. In his long career, he has been a mechanic, CDL trainer, and VA state inspector.
Conway is a product of a “Job Shop” program. Popular during its time, Job Shops offered local teenagers the opportunity to work and learn at local businesses. Equivalent to a paid internship, Conway did custodial work during his 11th and 12th grade years at Montross Middle School. He learned about the value of a job and how to conduct himself as an employee. In 1979, the Job Shop ended and Conway looked at opportunities at Westmoreland County Public Schools. While waiting for an opening, he worked very briefly for a local nursery and then got a call to come and be a mechanic’s helper. His first tasks were washing school buses. When he finished those tasks he hung around the mechanic garage. One day, James Thompson, his immediate supervisor, saw his interest and the next thing Conway knew was he was moved up to assisting with brake work and other tasks. He received his CDL license in 1980 and started to drive school buses and drove the sports equipment truck to games.
Always a hard worker, Conway has followed a basic rule; “include God first, read outside your norm, and work outside your norm.” He is a firm believer in life-long learning. Conway has attended training classes from bus companies, truck manufacturers, and many web courses. Conway worked part-time at Walmart in Tappahannock for the past 20 years. He started in the automotive department and moved up to floor supervisor. He “retired” from Walmart in 2017. To this day, Conway is still studying his craft and learning the best ways to maintain WMLCPS buses and transportation vehicles.
Despite his cool demeanor, Conway has a wicket sense of humor. He remembers fondly the times Mr. Thompson had a condenser compressor that needed to be energized with a battery. He had it rigged so anytime Conway or anyone else touched it they would receive a nasty shock. Many laughs were found there.
Unfailingly polite, he is always considerate to his peers and the first one to open doors for the ladies and pick up after others. A member of Siloam Baptist Church for over 42 years, he is a member of the building committee and head usher. Conway does not see himself slowing down or retiring anytime soon. His pleasures remain homebased, doing crossword puzzles and enjoying his mother’s great home cooking. He tries to “read something of God and educational every day.”
Conway has been a loyal employee for a lot of years. He tries to show by example “that hard work is a worthy trait, especially when it is done for the right reason.” Above all else, he has lived a life of service to God, his family, and Westmoreland County Public Schools and the safety of its most precious cargo, its students.
eight awesome days of august
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The people were standing two deep as they anxiously waited for a treat from a chocolate fountain. Anne Evans, a Cople teacher, was placing sliced fruit and other treats into the melted chocolate as fast as she could. Her students’ exhibit, The Party, showed how students can plan and serve a party to their peers or family. Other exhibits lined the walls in the W&L cafeteria as students and teachers excitedly presented the finished projects from their Eight Awesome Days in August program. Judging from the size of the crowd, parents and guests were equally enamored with the efforts of the students grades 3- 8.
The Westmoreland County public school students were very proud of their work. They stood by the exhibits and joyfully talked about what they did on their project and whether it was successful. Three young men, Andrew Cottom, Marek Kingsburg, and Semaj Bryant-Newman were showing their various house designs that could resist a wolf’s attempt to blow it down. They explained how they had to plan and budget for the homes. Like the builders of the Tiny Houses, the students were required to talk to a “client,” do a building plan, get prices, do a layout and execute a home. The third graders decided to build their own unique homes. They used feathers, popsicle sticks, and an assortment of other “tools.”
The builders of the Tiny Houses utilized their laptops and digitally designed two Tiny Houses. One of the builders, Kera Hamlet, showed how she “interviewed her client” and then turned her ideas into a Tiny House, complete with blueprints. Fourth graders, Gemari Yerby, Terrill Lee, and Marcus Samuels explored the jungles of Africa and identified endangered animals. They used displays and even clay to reproduce the animals.
The grade 8 students worked on the Chesapeake Bay watersheds and created a study and map. Students Courtney Tolson, Chasity Tolson, Estaban Valdez, Lacey Howell, and Shyla Wilson created books about sea animals, complete with pictures. Another group of 8th graders also worked on the water with their project entitled “Trash Talk.” Virginia Marine Policeman Austin Brown had visited the students to assist them with understanding their topic. Their extensive display showed how well they learned. Another display called “Taco Land” and “Jakyra’s Best Cupcakes” featured how to price out products and make them marketable. The creators, Evelyn Ramos and Jakyra Gaskins manned their table and expertly discussed their products with guests.
The other sites featured a large Ferris wheel at the “fair” and carnival rides. Patrons grabbed tickets to try their hand at the “Carnival” games and win a prize. There was something for everyone to visit and enjoy. Congratulations on a job well-done by the teachers and students at the Eight Awesome Days in August.
The Westmoreland County public school students were very proud of their work. They stood by the exhibits and joyfully talked about what they did on their project and whether it was successful. Three young men, Andrew Cottom, Marek Kingsburg, and Semaj Bryant-Newman were showing their various house designs that could resist a wolf’s attempt to blow it down. They explained how they had to plan and budget for the homes. Like the builders of the Tiny Houses, the students were required to talk to a “client,” do a building plan, get prices, do a layout and execute a home. The third graders decided to build their own unique homes. They used feathers, popsicle sticks, and an assortment of other “tools.”
The builders of the Tiny Houses utilized their laptops and digitally designed two Tiny Houses. One of the builders, Kera Hamlet, showed how she “interviewed her client” and then turned her ideas into a Tiny House, complete with blueprints. Fourth graders, Gemari Yerby, Terrill Lee, and Marcus Samuels explored the jungles of Africa and identified endangered animals. They used displays and even clay to reproduce the animals.
The grade 8 students worked on the Chesapeake Bay watersheds and created a study and map. Students Courtney Tolson, Chasity Tolson, Estaban Valdez, Lacey Howell, and Shyla Wilson created books about sea animals, complete with pictures. Another group of 8th graders also worked on the water with their project entitled “Trash Talk.” Virginia Marine Policeman Austin Brown had visited the students to assist them with understanding their topic. Their extensive display showed how well they learned. Another display called “Taco Land” and “Jakyra’s Best Cupcakes” featured how to price out products and make them marketable. The creators, Evelyn Ramos and Jakyra Gaskins manned their table and expertly discussed their products with guests.
The other sites featured a large Ferris wheel at the “fair” and carnival rides. Patrons grabbed tickets to try their hand at the “Carnival” games and win a prize. There was something for everyone to visit and enjoy. Congratulations on a job well-done by the teachers and students at the Eight Awesome Days in August.
washington district elementary welcomes new assistant principal
When the doors swing open September 3, 2019 at Washington District Elementary School, excited students will meet an equally excited new administrator. Mr. Forrest Clift was recently selected to be the assistant principal at WDES. He brings 17 plus years of educational expertise to the school and is eagerly awaiting the beginning of school. “My hope for this year is to become a valuable team member to the principal, Ms. Herdle, and the WDES faculty and staff, while watching our students work hard academically. I’m excited to see how Project Based Learning is becoming part of the educational fabric of Westmoreland County Public Schools. With technology being so prevalent in the lives of children, I think there is tremendous value in getting kids talking about and working in the community to identify problems and search for solutions.”
“I think my biggest focus for this year is to integrate myself into the WDES community and make connections with faculty, staff, students, families, and the community. I want to understand the climate of our schools and community and do my part to make it successful and thriving.”
Mr. Clift is not a stranger to the Northern Neck. He grew up in Stafford County on the edge of King George County. As a child, Forrest and his family would vacation at Westmoreland State Park, swimming and looking for shark’s teeth. His father, a bona fide history buff, loved to visit Stratford Hall and relish the historical sites of the area. His mother “always canned vegetables and made jelly from the strawberries from Westmoreland Berry Farm.”
He never planned on being an educator. Even though he loves reading and writing, Forrest really wanted to be a Broadway actor when he graduated from high school. Needless to say, that never happened. However, his strong love for live theatre and the movies has stayed with him and Forrest makes frequent journeys to New York to enjoy the shows. He also loves antiquing and scouting thrift shops, which fortunately there are a plethora of in the Northern Neck. Forrest is an avid fan of hockey and roots for the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks. And he slyly noted, “Who doesn’t like the Dallas Cowboys?”
Forrest’s career path veered into business management and technical writing before he “took the plunge” into education. “My family has always been encouraging about me following my interests and my passions. When I left a high paying job with GEICO to teach 5th grade, nobody questioned my reasons. They saw my excitement and eagerness to make a difference in people, which was my reason for leaving the corporate world and go into public education.”
“Public education oftentimes gets a bad rap. People can sometimes come down hard on our teachers…educators, in general. Having worked in schools from urban to suburban to now rural, I know that those educators, working in buildings across the country, are committed to the success and safety of their students. Teaching is not an easy job, and teachers deal with more than a classroom full of students. There is planning, assessment, professional development, conferences, interventions, resource development, continuing education…the list is endless, yet these educators come in daily with smiles, spirit, and goodwill and create interest and excitement for learning. Public education and children today are the future of our communities and our world.”
“I knew if I went back to K-12 education I would want to be in administration since I had a principal who was the opposite of supportive and encouraging. I wanted to learn how to be an administrator/leader who could support and guide a team and individuals to doing the best job possible. And I’m excited to have this opportunity to work with Ms. Herdle to do just that.” Forrest is currently finishing his doctorate in education at Eastern Michigan University. “I’m at the ‘ABD’ section…..All but the Dissertation stage. I’ve completed all my coursework, and I’ve written and defended the first 120 pages. There is just another ‘step’ to complete, but life happens and it takes a backseat for a while. But it will happen!”
Forrest welcomes the challenges that lie ahead. “I love seeing children smile and laugh. It reminds me that they are children, even though they may face personal or private difficulties. Whether teaching or being an administrator, I love the pride a student takes in his/her learning and you see that ‘a-ha’ moment when they ‘get it’ and they want to share their excitement. Nothing feels as wonderful as that.”
Forrest’s energy and excitement are evident every day. His positive attitude is a welcome gift to the community and the WDES students. He is a man who has found his niche in life and now shares his gift of knowledge with the Westmoreland County school family.
“I think my biggest focus for this year is to integrate myself into the WDES community and make connections with faculty, staff, students, families, and the community. I want to understand the climate of our schools and community and do my part to make it successful and thriving.”
Mr. Clift is not a stranger to the Northern Neck. He grew up in Stafford County on the edge of King George County. As a child, Forrest and his family would vacation at Westmoreland State Park, swimming and looking for shark’s teeth. His father, a bona fide history buff, loved to visit Stratford Hall and relish the historical sites of the area. His mother “always canned vegetables and made jelly from the strawberries from Westmoreland Berry Farm.”
He never planned on being an educator. Even though he loves reading and writing, Forrest really wanted to be a Broadway actor when he graduated from high school. Needless to say, that never happened. However, his strong love for live theatre and the movies has stayed with him and Forrest makes frequent journeys to New York to enjoy the shows. He also loves antiquing and scouting thrift shops, which fortunately there are a plethora of in the Northern Neck. Forrest is an avid fan of hockey and roots for the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks. And he slyly noted, “Who doesn’t like the Dallas Cowboys?”
Forrest’s career path veered into business management and technical writing before he “took the plunge” into education. “My family has always been encouraging about me following my interests and my passions. When I left a high paying job with GEICO to teach 5th grade, nobody questioned my reasons. They saw my excitement and eagerness to make a difference in people, which was my reason for leaving the corporate world and go into public education.”
“Public education oftentimes gets a bad rap. People can sometimes come down hard on our teachers…educators, in general. Having worked in schools from urban to suburban to now rural, I know that those educators, working in buildings across the country, are committed to the success and safety of their students. Teaching is not an easy job, and teachers deal with more than a classroom full of students. There is planning, assessment, professional development, conferences, interventions, resource development, continuing education…the list is endless, yet these educators come in daily with smiles, spirit, and goodwill and create interest and excitement for learning. Public education and children today are the future of our communities and our world.”
“I knew if I went back to K-12 education I would want to be in administration since I had a principal who was the opposite of supportive and encouraging. I wanted to learn how to be an administrator/leader who could support and guide a team and individuals to doing the best job possible. And I’m excited to have this opportunity to work with Ms. Herdle to do just that.” Forrest is currently finishing his doctorate in education at Eastern Michigan University. “I’m at the ‘ABD’ section…..All but the Dissertation stage. I’ve completed all my coursework, and I’ve written and defended the first 120 pages. There is just another ‘step’ to complete, but life happens and it takes a backseat for a while. But it will happen!”
Forrest welcomes the challenges that lie ahead. “I love seeing children smile and laugh. It reminds me that they are children, even though they may face personal or private difficulties. Whether teaching or being an administrator, I love the pride a student takes in his/her learning and you see that ‘a-ha’ moment when they ‘get it’ and they want to share their excitement. Nothing feels as wonderful as that.”
Forrest’s energy and excitement are evident every day. His positive attitude is a welcome gift to the community and the WDES students. He is a man who has found his niche in life and now shares his gift of knowledge with the Westmoreland County school family.
W&l Art student wins congressional art competition
Congressman Rob Wittman's office has announced that W&L art student Arianna Barajas has won the 2019 Congressional Art Competition for District 1. Her art piece is titled "Lynx" and was made on scratchboard. Her art piece will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel leading to the Capitol for the next year. Congratulations to Ms. Barajas.
Dr. perry presents facilities update
Dr. Michael Perry, Superintendent of Westmoreland County Public Schools, was the guest speaker at Little Zion Baptist Church on May 22, 2019. He spoke to the church’s Senior’s Luncheon group on the status of the proposed new high school.
Dr. Perry began the presentation by guiding the audience through the lengthy process of planning the school from 2016 and culminating with the opening of the bids on May 15, 2019. He stressed that tariffs, last year’s hurricanes, and local delays and the federal government shutdown all affected the rising costs of the new high school construction. The bids that were received reflected these factors.
The lowest bid came from Branch Builds in Herndon, Virginia. Their base bid was $51,239,0000. The County had authorized the borrowing of $42,500,000.00 from Rural Development, though they were hoping for a bid coming in at $40,000,000.00. This cost gap is the amount that has to be bridged.
Because of this large divide, the school system has started meeting with the architects and the low bidder, Branch Builds, to see what can be changed to bring the costs down. The division and the architects have sixty days to bridge the gap by July 15, 2019. All parties are committed to making as much progress before that date arrives.
At the end of the presentation the audience was given the opportunity to ask questions. One man asked a key question, “What can we, as a community, do to help?” Dr. Perry reminded the crowd to start by contacting their Board of Supervisors representative to express their concern about the new school and why it is important to the community and its students. Dr. Perry told the audience that there are individuals who do not believe a new school is needed. He also told them that to build a new school, taxes may have to be raised. “Some may want a school but don’t want to pay for it. A new school requires new taxes.”
Another person wanted verification that the land where the sign advertising the new school is indeed the site of the high school. Dr. Perry affirmed that it is. He also noted that the athletic complex would be behind the school and contain a local sports field that will be shared with the school. When asked about the size of the auditorium, the group was pleased to hear that it would hold 450 -500 people.
Dr. Perry addressed the question of how the courthouse got built before the school. He noted that he was not here at that time and they should contact their local supervisor. It was his understanding that no local tax money was used for the facility. This was confirmed by a gentleman at the meeting.
Westmoreland County Public Schools thanks the ministry of Little Zion Baptist Church for inviting Dr. Perry to speak to their members and appreciates their interest in the students of Westmoreland County.
Dr. Perry began the presentation by guiding the audience through the lengthy process of planning the school from 2016 and culminating with the opening of the bids on May 15, 2019. He stressed that tariffs, last year’s hurricanes, and local delays and the federal government shutdown all affected the rising costs of the new high school construction. The bids that were received reflected these factors.
The lowest bid came from Branch Builds in Herndon, Virginia. Their base bid was $51,239,0000. The County had authorized the borrowing of $42,500,000.00 from Rural Development, though they were hoping for a bid coming in at $40,000,000.00. This cost gap is the amount that has to be bridged.
Because of this large divide, the school system has started meeting with the architects and the low bidder, Branch Builds, to see what can be changed to bring the costs down. The division and the architects have sixty days to bridge the gap by July 15, 2019. All parties are committed to making as much progress before that date arrives.
At the end of the presentation the audience was given the opportunity to ask questions. One man asked a key question, “What can we, as a community, do to help?” Dr. Perry reminded the crowd to start by contacting their Board of Supervisors representative to express their concern about the new school and why it is important to the community and its students. Dr. Perry told the audience that there are individuals who do not believe a new school is needed. He also told them that to build a new school, taxes may have to be raised. “Some may want a school but don’t want to pay for it. A new school requires new taxes.”
Another person wanted verification that the land where the sign advertising the new school is indeed the site of the high school. Dr. Perry affirmed that it is. He also noted that the athletic complex would be behind the school and contain a local sports field that will be shared with the school. When asked about the size of the auditorium, the group was pleased to hear that it would hold 450 -500 people.
Dr. Perry addressed the question of how the courthouse got built before the school. He noted that he was not here at that time and they should contact their local supervisor. It was his understanding that no local tax money was used for the facility. This was confirmed by a gentleman at the meeting.
Westmoreland County Public Schools thanks the ministry of Little Zion Baptist Church for inviting Dr. Perry to speak to their members and appreciates their interest in the students of Westmoreland County.
telling our story - mms poetry quilt
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Changing a perception can take a long time. Students and teachers, alike, have faced confrontations about going to school and working in Westmoreland County and have heard many untruths about the district for a long time. Even as these issues have been addressed for a number of years, the perception still is alive and wrong. No one is more aware of that than 8th grade Montross Middle School English teacher, Jacob Spears. When he first came to the area to teach, he had heard what a difficult district it was to teach in and heard “horror” stories about the community and schools. After working elsewhere in the Northern Neck, he decided to give the district a chance “despite all of the negativity I had heard about the county.” Thankfully, he found that his initial perception of Westmoreland County was wrong. “There is closeness to this community that is unlike others I’ve been connected to. While working here, I have continued to hear disparaging comments about our community and our students from those who know nothing about either. The kids hear it, too. They hear it when they leave the community to go shopping in other counties or when they show up for competitive events. After a while, they wonder if what others are saying is true. I wanted to change that, or at least try to change it.”
Enter Project Based Learning. On a recent Wednesday morning, Montross Town Manager and School Board member, Patricia Lewis, talked to an enraptured audience of 8th grade students who are participating in the first Poetry Quilt. Featuring the poems of Mr. Spear’s English classes, the young poets have been learning about the use of language and how to use their poetic voices to tell their stories. Mrs. Lewis talked to the students about her journey and how each event of her own life has given her a new perspective on addressing misconceptions and understanding right from wrong. She had the students read the “Optimist Creed” and then discussed how she used her dreams of youth to attain a college education and “plan” her life journey and how that journey has led her to a good life in Westmoreland County that includes her husband and two sons and how their journey continues.
Mrs. Lewis told the students that she changed perception by 1) embracing a personal style that was her own 2) practicing kindness every day 3) being confident in all her decisions and learning from her mistakes, and 4) remaining positive no matter what. She then told the students about a woman she admires, Oprah Winfrey, who overcame a horrific childhood and embraced positivity to become the famous person she is today. “It doesn’t matter where you come from,” is a mantra Ms. Winfrey uses frequently. You just have to learn empathy and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.”
Mrs. Lewis handed each student a copy of the “I Am from Poem.” This template has students filling out the blanks to create a final poem draft to share. The students dutifully embraced this exercise and started another exercise in writing.
Why poetry? MMS Reading Specialist, Mrs. Evans, had introduced Mr. Spears to a novel that she thought his students might enjoy, Bronx Masquerade, by Nikki Grimes. “I instantly loved the novel, which focused on kids in the Bronx of New York, finding their voice through poetry in their 10th grade classroom. We started a novel study in my classes to see if the kids would buy into poetry and the release that it can give. They bought in quickly.”
Why a Quilt? “My mom, Evelyn Spears of Wilson, North Carolina, is a retired postal worker. She has two granddaughters, my nieces, who also live in Wilson. Through the years she has been making quilts for their classes as fundraisers. This year she offered to do the same for me. I didn’t know how I could incorporate the quilt. After introducing the idea of a poetry quilt to the students and getting supportive responses, I posed it to Mr. Bowen, our principal. With his approval, my mom priced the materials for the quilt and the school will reimburse her for the materials. Mom has been quilting for years. Out of necessity, she learned to sew very young and made clothes and mended items for her five siblings. She makes quilts for gifts for marriages, graduations, and important life events. Now that she is retired, she’s able to create even more.”
The poems. Over 40 poems were submitted for the quilt. Each student has designed and written a piece for the poem sections for the quilt. They are being delivered to Mrs. Spears on May 11, 2019, with an anticipated completion date of June 1. Mr. Spears will display the quilt at each of the First Friday events in Montross for the remainder of the summer. Raffle tickets will be sold and the winning ticket drawing will occur at the Fall Festival in October.
The students are very excited about the Poetry Quilt. Several of them commented on the project. “I think the quilt helps us understand poetry a lot better and helps us make an example of poetry we could learn from. It also is therapeutic because it’s like music; it lets us express our thoughts and feelings for something valuable. I have learned how to understand the work that is put into writing poetry and how hard it really is. I like the fact that our poetry will stay on something like a quilt forever and that whoever wins the quilt loves our art and enjoys reading it,” Sandra Dorantes-Serrano.
Allyson Foor continues, “I adored doing this quilt. I learned that poetry can be a form of art and how people feel. Though they are only perceived as poems, they are a reflection of what we feel and the lives we have lived. Being perceived as a bad kid or anything negative has impacted a lot of us negatively. We are not bad kids, ignorant, or mischievous. We are good, smart, respectful kids, and I hope this quilt will help people understand that. I love that this gave us, as students, a voice to say, ‘Hey! We are good people!’ So thank you to everyone who wrote a poem and to the people who made this possible.”
“My thoughts on the poetry quilt is that it’s very interesting,” notes Malinda Haynes. “It is something I would have never thought of at all. I feel like it’s a good opportunity or way to express how you feel, and I also think it’s very helpful for people who can relate to what the students have gathered and written about. I love and like the fact that we got to write poems and to express our feelings whether happy or sad. I hope that this quilt helps somebody to understand that it is okay to have mixed feelings, and I hope they can use these poems for advice.”
Some were more succinct. Abraham Medina simply stated, “I think the poetry quilt is a great idea for students to express themselves.” All proceeds from the raffle tickets will go to the MMS Language Arts Department to purchase more novels like the Bronx Masquerade, a subscription to the Language Arts element of IXL.com, or other materials to better facilitate learning at MMS. The story of the journey of the Poetry Quilt will be closely followed from its inception to the final drawing. Congratulations to Mr. Spears and his wonderful students for this exciting project that has already enlightened his students lives.
Enter Project Based Learning. On a recent Wednesday morning, Montross Town Manager and School Board member, Patricia Lewis, talked to an enraptured audience of 8th grade students who are participating in the first Poetry Quilt. Featuring the poems of Mr. Spear’s English classes, the young poets have been learning about the use of language and how to use their poetic voices to tell their stories. Mrs. Lewis talked to the students about her journey and how each event of her own life has given her a new perspective on addressing misconceptions and understanding right from wrong. She had the students read the “Optimist Creed” and then discussed how she used her dreams of youth to attain a college education and “plan” her life journey and how that journey has led her to a good life in Westmoreland County that includes her husband and two sons and how their journey continues.
Mrs. Lewis told the students that she changed perception by 1) embracing a personal style that was her own 2) practicing kindness every day 3) being confident in all her decisions and learning from her mistakes, and 4) remaining positive no matter what. She then told the students about a woman she admires, Oprah Winfrey, who overcame a horrific childhood and embraced positivity to become the famous person she is today. “It doesn’t matter where you come from,” is a mantra Ms. Winfrey uses frequently. You just have to learn empathy and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.”
Mrs. Lewis handed each student a copy of the “I Am from Poem.” This template has students filling out the blanks to create a final poem draft to share. The students dutifully embraced this exercise and started another exercise in writing.
Why poetry? MMS Reading Specialist, Mrs. Evans, had introduced Mr. Spears to a novel that she thought his students might enjoy, Bronx Masquerade, by Nikki Grimes. “I instantly loved the novel, which focused on kids in the Bronx of New York, finding their voice through poetry in their 10th grade classroom. We started a novel study in my classes to see if the kids would buy into poetry and the release that it can give. They bought in quickly.”
Why a Quilt? “My mom, Evelyn Spears of Wilson, North Carolina, is a retired postal worker. She has two granddaughters, my nieces, who also live in Wilson. Through the years she has been making quilts for their classes as fundraisers. This year she offered to do the same for me. I didn’t know how I could incorporate the quilt. After introducing the idea of a poetry quilt to the students and getting supportive responses, I posed it to Mr. Bowen, our principal. With his approval, my mom priced the materials for the quilt and the school will reimburse her for the materials. Mom has been quilting for years. Out of necessity, she learned to sew very young and made clothes and mended items for her five siblings. She makes quilts for gifts for marriages, graduations, and important life events. Now that she is retired, she’s able to create even more.”
The poems. Over 40 poems were submitted for the quilt. Each student has designed and written a piece for the poem sections for the quilt. They are being delivered to Mrs. Spears on May 11, 2019, with an anticipated completion date of June 1. Mr. Spears will display the quilt at each of the First Friday events in Montross for the remainder of the summer. Raffle tickets will be sold and the winning ticket drawing will occur at the Fall Festival in October.
The students are very excited about the Poetry Quilt. Several of them commented on the project. “I think the quilt helps us understand poetry a lot better and helps us make an example of poetry we could learn from. It also is therapeutic because it’s like music; it lets us express our thoughts and feelings for something valuable. I have learned how to understand the work that is put into writing poetry and how hard it really is. I like the fact that our poetry will stay on something like a quilt forever and that whoever wins the quilt loves our art and enjoys reading it,” Sandra Dorantes-Serrano.
Allyson Foor continues, “I adored doing this quilt. I learned that poetry can be a form of art and how people feel. Though they are only perceived as poems, they are a reflection of what we feel and the lives we have lived. Being perceived as a bad kid or anything negative has impacted a lot of us negatively. We are not bad kids, ignorant, or mischievous. We are good, smart, respectful kids, and I hope this quilt will help people understand that. I love that this gave us, as students, a voice to say, ‘Hey! We are good people!’ So thank you to everyone who wrote a poem and to the people who made this possible.”
“My thoughts on the poetry quilt is that it’s very interesting,” notes Malinda Haynes. “It is something I would have never thought of at all. I feel like it’s a good opportunity or way to express how you feel, and I also think it’s very helpful for people who can relate to what the students have gathered and written about. I love and like the fact that we got to write poems and to express our feelings whether happy or sad. I hope that this quilt helps somebody to understand that it is okay to have mixed feelings, and I hope they can use these poems for advice.”
Some were more succinct. Abraham Medina simply stated, “I think the poetry quilt is a great idea for students to express themselves.” All proceeds from the raffle tickets will go to the MMS Language Arts Department to purchase more novels like the Bronx Masquerade, a subscription to the Language Arts element of IXL.com, or other materials to better facilitate learning at MMS. The story of the journey of the Poetry Quilt will be closely followed from its inception to the final drawing. Congratulations to Mr. Spears and his wonderful students for this exciting project that has already enlightened his students lives.
