John Stewart with WVU was at New River Primary on December 11, 2023 and gave a set of science tool kits to Mrs. Vandall’s 2nd grade class. The creation of the kits was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. The kits will be available for all 2nd grade classrooms at NRP to use. Mr. Stewart also gave a presentation to her class about filtered lights, where kids experimented with blue and red filters and how the filters make colors change or, they seem to disappear. Students really enjoyed the presentation and were excited to share what they learned.
New River Primary Student Support Team hosted their 2nd annual Gingerbread Night on December 7, 2023, which is one of their many Family Engagement activities organized throughout the school year. This event was a collaborative event among the Student Support Team, PTA, Save the Children, and Early Steps to School Success. Family engagement is when families and educators, including teachers and administrators, partner together to share the responsibility of supporting student’s learning. These activities are so important for staff and families because it helps improve parent/family communication among staff, helps encourage parent/family involvement, and allows fun to be incorporated into learning and academics! This event also helped support New River Primary’s three goals, which are: Improve Student Achievement in Reading, Improve Student Achievement in Math, and Improve the School Culture and Climate for Students and Staff. The event consisted of a lot of fun activities which included: writing letters to Santa, coloring/cut and paste Grinch and gingerbread activities, building gingerbread houses, making a “melting snowman” cupcake, face painting, making reindeer food, and taking pictures with Santa and the Grinch.
Midland Trail outdid themselves with today's menu ! They started off by offering a breakfast of birthday smoothies and granola. Lunch consisted of bacon cheeseburgers with a range of customizable toppings and condiments, paired perfectly with fries and a salad.
New River Primary participated in the 2023 First Lady Student Ornament Competition. The theme this year was, “Deck the Halls with Puppy Paws!” Pictured is 2nd grader Forest Elam and 1st grader Emma Stonestreet.
Fayette County Schools recognized Olivia Honaker on Tuesday November 28, 2023. Olivia is a senior at Oak Hill High and has received two nominations to The United States Military Academy at West Point New York, one nomination to the Air Force Academy in Colorado, one nomination to the Merchant Marine Academy in New York, and has been offered a 4 year ROTC scholarship to WVU. We cannot wait to find out what which institution of higher learning she will attend. Good luck and Congratulations Olivia.
We are proud to present Oak Hill High School Students and some members of Fayette County Student Support Team participating in a panel discussion at the WVDE Student Support Conference.
It ain’t easy being cheesy, but Midland Trail truly excelled Tuesday with their delicious lasagna! This was served with garlic bread, a side of marinara sauce, steamed broccoli, and a vegetable-packed salad with a side of fruit.
The taste test conducted by Nicole Mitchell from WVU Extension at New River Primary was a huge success! Each class had the opportunity to taste fresh locally grown carrots and voted positively or negatively on the taste of carrots. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with the majority of students enjoying the carrots. It was not only a delicious experience but also an educational one, as they learned about carrots being the second most popular vegetable in the world along with their nutritional value. This event has sparked excitement for the upcoming Food of the Month in December, where students will have the chance to try more new and healthy foods. We are thrilled to continue promoting healthy eating habits among
students!
We would like to express our gratitude to Jack McClung and Brandy McClellan from Jan Care Ambulance for their valuable contribution of teaching CPR to the students in Aleah Dennys' health class at Oak Hill High School. Jack and Brandy will be returning to teach the other health class in the near future. This will ensure that more students have the opportunity to learn and become certified in First Aid and CPR. Aleah Denny's involvement in assisting with the five-day classroom portion of the First Aid training is commendable, as it allows for a comprehensive learning experience for the students. By obtaining First Aid and CPR certifications, these students will be prepared to take on various responsibilities such as lifeguarding, rafting, guiding, and babysitting. This not only enhances their personal skills but also contributes to the overall safety and well-being of the community.
Midland Trail had a special lunch yesterday. The students and staff were treated to a Thanksgiving celebration held in advance!
Thanksgiving lunch featured a delectable spread of turkey with gravy, creamy mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and delicious pumpkin pie. Despite facing a small obstacle of a broken dishwasher, the cooks at Midland Trail quickly adapted and used styrofoam to serve a delicious holiday meal to everyone. Their resourcefulness and determination ensured that the spirit of Thanksgiving was not dampened.
New River Primary students honor and celebrate Veteran’s Day 2023! Students in Mrs. Reed’s 1st grade class thanked veterans for their service and colored their own soldiers.
Mrs. Vandall’s 2nd grade class at New River Primary received a gardening lesson from WVU Extension Service agent Nicole Mitchell. Students planted their own garlic! Gardening is a wonderful skill for students to learn (especially in West Virginia) because children can learn where their food comes from, and they gain the appreciation and knowledge why this is important. Students are always very proud of their produce and really enjoy their gardening lessons.
Lunchtime on Monday November 13 at Valley Pk-8 was a culinary experience. Students were treated to a delightful lunch consisting of Chicken Alfredo paired with Broccoli. The addition of a cheese stick, salad, and a variety of fresh fruits complemented the Alfredo dish, providing a balanced and diverse meal for the students. During lunch today, students were offered a special taste test as the exciting activity. This taste test likely added an element of surprise and fun to their mealtime, allowing them to sample new or different foods and provide feedback on their preferences. This month's featured food was carrots, and what made them even more special was that they were locally grown. It's always exciting to have the opportunity to try new and locally sourced ingredients, and the students at Valley Pk-8 were fortunate to have such a diverse and fun lunchtime experience that everyone enjoyed. Special thanks to Nicole Mitchell from WVU Extension services for all her help with the tasting.
Homeless and Hunger Awareness week
Fayette County Schools will be closed Friday November 10 in observance of Veterans Day. We want to wish our deepest thank you for all those who work for Fayette County Schools who have served, or who are still serving in the National Guard.
Congratulations Myra Moore, Fayette County School Psychologist for receiving the National and and WV award for field supervision. We are very proud of you Myra! 🏆🏆💯🎊🎉🎈
How do we say no to substance abuse? Pictured are several strategies to use for those from ages 1-100.
Lunch at Oak Hill Middle School offers a range of amazing options. Yesterday the students had Chinese dumplings, scrumptious fried rice, a salad packed with fresh greens with a variety of toppings. Included to make this a well-balanced meal the lunch had fresh fruit with a choice of kiwi or peaches. Lastly, a fortune cookie for some added sweetness. Whether students are in the mood for savory dumplings, flavorful rice, a refreshing salad, or some juicy fruit, yesterday's lunch at Oak Hill Middle School has something to delight every palate. How can they make lunch better today?
Taco 'bout delicious! Meadow Bridge Elementary had an incredible taco lunch today. These tacos were perfectly complemented by a side of juicy peaches and crunchy celery. How would you like the celery? You could dip the celery in your choice of creamy ranch or peanut butter. This lunch was one that everyone enjoyed!
We had a successful final Farmer's Market at New River Primary yesterday, marking the end of our season. The process began by harvesting produce at New Roots Farm and transporting the produce to schools for our pop-up farmers markets. This program wouldn't have been possible without our partners: New Roots Community Farm and WV Extension Service. The students thoroughly enjoyed the pop-up markets and gained valuable knowledge about the benefits of fresh, local produce benefiting economy and the environment.
We would like to express our gratitude to the farmers at New Roots, as well as our helpful collaborators Noel Mitchell and Elanor Marshall. We also had help from
AmeriCorps members: Tyler Bowers and Jazlynn Hambrick. Finally, we had community volunteers Karen Willis and Demonica Parrish. Thank you all for a fun-filled 5 weeks of markets!
