The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
March 2017
Volume 10, Issue 3
Superintendent’s Message
Dear Staff,
After a month of record-breaking warm February temperatures accompanied with early budding
trees, it seems that winter may be rearing its head with predictions of snow showers in the next
several days. March is being true to its name in that all four seasons may be experienced in one
of its days. Let’s hope for many snow-free spring days ahead filled with bright flowering
blooms.
This edition of the Division Digest is brimming over with many examples of student success in
ACPS. Such excellence in academics, fine arts, and athletics is not achieved by accident. It is
accomplished by targeted focus, daily dedication, and commitment to the tasks before us. It is
accomplished by seeing the assets and not the deficits of children. Thank you for your role in
providing a high-quality public education for the 2200 students in ACPS each day. Thank you
for seeing the potential in our children.
Striving
For
Excellence
As we prepare for and begin SOL testing, it requires all staff at every school to assist in this
process. Teaching, remediating, feeding, transporting, cleaning, supporting – it takes all hands
on deck as a team to make a difference in the lives of every student in Appomattox. Being the
only school division in Region 8 and Region 2000 to have all schools fully accredited is due to
your work.
Inside this issue:
School Psychologist
2
The General Assembly has concluded and approved a budget. We are in the process of budget
planning for 2017-18. We were fortunate to be one of the few school divisions in Central Virginia to provide a 3% raise for employees for 2016-17 along with no increase in health insurance premiums for employee only coverage. We appreciate the locality and our Board of Supervisors providing for this raise. We will continue to advocate for employee compensation for
2017-18.
Remedial and Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction
3, 4
Technology, Finance and Human Resources
4
2017-2018 Instructional
Calendar
5
We have a Joint Boards Meeting March 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the School Board Office. Our
School Board and the Board of Supervisors will meet together to discuss the 2017-18 school
division budget. I will provide a budget presentation and request at that time. You are invited
to attend.
6
As spring approaches, there are a myriad of school activities to pick from to experience. Extracurricular events, academic competitions, concerts, and athletics abound during this beautiful
season of the year for us to enjoy.
Cafeteria Corner, Maintenance, Transportation,
Important Dates
School News
Sports
7-11
12
Go Raiders!
Sincerely,
Dorinda G. Grasty, Ed. D.
Division Superintendent
School Board Meetings:
Thursday, March 16, 2017—Joint Meeting with Appomattox County Board
of Supervisors - SBO - 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 23, 2017 - School Board Tour of All Schools 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 23, 2017 - Regular Monthly Business Meeting SBO - 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 6, 2017 - Interim Meeting - SBO - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 27, 2017 - Regular Monthly Business Meeting SBO - 5:00 p.m.
All meetings will be held in the School Administration Building, unless noted
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
The School Psychologist Minute:
Matt Wallin, School Psychologist
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 2
7. CHECK YOUR MEDICINE CABINET
Be ready to start your allergy medication when symptoms begin. That
way, you can limit their severity. Go through your medicine cabinet,
check packaging and labels, and toss anything past its expiration date.
8. GET OUT YOUR SUNGLASSES AND A WIDE-BRIMMED
HAT
Wearing a hat and sunglasses when you head outside will limit the
amount of pollen that blows into your eyes.
Happy March to all ACPS employees! For this division digest, it’s
time for your psychologist to put on the safety/health hat. As Spring
approaches, so do those allergens. In addition, with the warmer weather, pollen may be out even earlier than usual. Allergies can have a big
impact on our well-being, our mental health, and our day to day functioning depending on how much of a nuisance they become. Here are a
few things you can do at home and individually to help reduce allergens in your house to help you and your children:
1. DOUBLE-DOORMATS KEEP ALLERGENS OUT
Did you know that around 85% of the contaminants in your home—
including pollen and other allergens—can be found within about 10
feet of the exterior doors? To keep outdoor allergens from becoming
indoor allergens, put doormats by every door, both inside and outside.
The outside doormat captures the first layer of dirt; the indoor mat
grabs what’s left behind. Be sure to shake out both mats twice a week.
2. WORK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM TO TRAP DUST
As you clean each room, start at the top and work down. Begin, for
example, with the highest shelves in the room. This top-down technique helps to capture any dust that escapes from your dust cloth as
you’re working your way down shelves, wall-hangings and furniture.
3. DUST FIRST, VACUUM LAST
The last thing you want to do when you’re cleaning is scatter dust
around instead of removing it from surfaces. That’s why it’s best to
dust before you vacuum so any dust that falls to the floor can get
picked up with the vacuum cleaner. And remember that a damp dust
cloth will trap more dust than a dry one.
4. LESS OFTEN IS MORE
Good news for those who don't love to vacuum: experts say it's better
to vacuum thoroughly once a week than to bring out the vacuum cleaner every day for a quick run over the carpets. During your weekly vacuuming session, don't forget to use the upholstery attachment on mattresses and padded furniture, where dust mites love to hide.4
5. REMAKE THE BED
As you change out heavy winter bedding for lighter spring blankets,
wash quilts and blankets in hot water (at least 130° F) and dry them
thoroughly before storing them. Do the same with throw pillows and
stuffed animals. Wash or dry-clean your curtains and dust blinds thoroughly with a microfiber cloth.5
6. REPLACE YOUR FILTERS
This is a good time to change the filters in your HVAC system or furnace and air conditioners. Choose those with a MERV rating of at least
10. (The higher the MERV rating, the smaller the particles it can filter.) Keeping your home dust-free can go a long way toward reducing
your dust allergy symptoms. But no amount of cleaning can rid your
home of every last grain of dust.
9. START WATCHING LOCAL POLLEN REPORTS
Keep an eye on local pollen counts, so you’ll know when allergy season kicks off in your area. Use the innovative Allergy Tracker from
The Weather Channel to get a 3-day local forecast of key allergy triggers.
10. ADD MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO YOUR DIET
Fruits and vegetables are powerful sources of antioxidants, natural
chemicals that can help you to fight the inflammation that comes with
allergic reactions.
11. STOCK UP ON GREEN TEA
Green tea contains natural antihistamines that can assist in your fight
against allergies—and a steaming hot cup of tea soothes scratchy
throats and loosens mucus at the same time.
Sources
1. Yale. Allergy tips. http://yalehealth.yale.edu/allergy-tips. Accessed
February 05, 2015.
2. American Chemical Society. Largest USDA study of food antioxidants reveals best sources.http://www.sciencedaily.com/
releases/2004/06/040617080908.htm. Accessed February 15, 2015.
3. Allan K, Kelly FJ, Devereux G. Antioxidants and allergic disease:
a case of too little or too much? Clinical & Experimental Allergy.
Volume 40, Issue 3, March 2010; 40(3):370-380.
4. Melgarejo, E, Medina MA, Sanchez-Jiminez F, Urdiales JL. Targeting of histamine producing cells by EGCG: a green dart against
inflammation? Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry. 2010. 66(3):
265-270.
5. AAFA. Tips to control indoor allergens. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=18&cont=533.
Accessed February 23, 2015.
6. AAFA. Cleaning the right way to remove allergens. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=18&cont=895.
Accessed February 23, 2015.
7. Turner PR, Gibson SMS, Reed AR. Leave it at the door. University
of Georgia. February
2010. http://spock.fcs.uga.edu/ext/pubs/hace/HACE-E-81.pdf. Accessed February 5, 2015.
8. Ogg B. Managing house dust mites. University of NebraskaLincoln. http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/dustmites311.shtml.
Accessed February 5, 2015.
9. AAFA Dust
mites. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=16&cont=48. Accessed February 5, 2015.
10. Sublett JL. Effectiveness of air filters and air cleaners in allergic
respiratory diseases: a review of the recent literature. Curr Allergy
Asthma Rep. 2011;11(5):395-402.
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 10, Issue 3
Remedial and Special Education
tional sessions regarding safe Internet usage by the instructional
coach, the technology team, and the administrators.
Beth Haught, Director
Summer School plans are well under way with
some significant changes taking place. Summer
School 2017 will be held June 5-29 (MondayThursday for four weeks). APS and AES students
will be housed at Appomattox Primary School this
year with AMS and ACHS students going to Appomattox Middle School. Teacher hours will be 8:00 am–12:00 pm
with student hours being 8:30–11:30 am at APS and 8:30-11:45 am
at AMS. Positions available for all schools include building coordinators (1 per school), teachers, and substitutes, with instructional
assistants for APS and AES only. Employment announcements
have been posted to the division website and at each school. Applications will be accepted by building principals through March 10
and will then be forwarded to the School Board Office. Notification
of selection will be provided as soon as possible following presentation to the School Board for approval which should take place in
late March. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. I look
forward to seeing you in the summer!
New Addition to AAEC Staff:
Please join me in welcoming Sarah Wells to Alt Ed as the new special education teacher on-site at AAEC. Sarah came to us to fill the
position that became available when Mahala O’Brien moved to
AMS. Welcome to the ACPS SpEd family, Sarah!
Curriculum and Instruction
Annette Bennett, Director
Page 3

5th grade students and parents signed a contract of agreement
related to expectations and potential consequences for improper
use of iPads.

Sgt. Stephen Anders, from the Southern Virginia Crimes Against
Children Taskforce, presented "Safely Monitoring Your Child's
Social Media Activities" during a Family Night activity.

Monthly newsletters provide tips and reminders for parents regarding Internet and social media safety.

Individual conferences with students and parents occur regularly
on an “as needed basis.”
Middle

All students are given a lesson on Internet Safety by Mrs. Williams, Librarian, at the beginning of the school year.

All students in 6th grade and some 7th graders in Mrs. Sprouse's
Keyboarding Classes receive lessons on Internet Safety.

AMS has asked "Blue Ridge" to present Internet Safety Tips at
the March PTO Meeting.
High

Fred Glover, Regional Teacher Association Representative, presented a program for teachers on Internet Safety.

The newsletter, in February, included a list of Apps to help parents with monitoring children/students’ online activity.

Teachers and administrators talk to students about Internet Safety
on an individual basis.
Internet Safety
Digital Learning Day
The Internet offers a wide variety of resources for students to express their creativity, broaden their knowledge, and interact with
others all over the world. However, with the continued growth of
this resource and its broader use instructionally, there have arisen
new challenges for teachers and students. Cyberbullying, potential
exposure to inappropriate material, and the potential to reveal too
much personal information are just a few of these challenges.
February 23, 2017 was Digital Learning Day. ACPS students may
not have noticed anything different about this day as most days in
our schools are filled with opportunities to learn with digital devices,
Internet, and lots of embedded technology. Enjoy some pictures
below of our students on Digital Learning Day.
To assist our students, teachers, and parents with proper use of the
Internet in and out of school, classroom lessons and other programs
and resources are offered throughout the year. Lessons occur as a
natural part of daily instruction when using the Internet to access
resources and conducting research. Listed below are some specific
opportunities students and teachers have had this year to learn
about Internet safety.
Divisionwide
All students/parents are required to sign the Acceptable Use Policy.
Primary

Computer lab assistant, Mrs. Eagle, conducted Internet Safety
Lessons February 13 - 17 in all of her computer lab classes,
PreK-2nd.
 The second graders signed a pledge about Internet Safety and
the other grade levels were given an Internet Safety Rule
Sheet.
Elementary

5th grade students were provided a minimum of two instruc-
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
ACPS Celebrated Computer Science Education Week
ACPS students participated in Computer
Science Education Week, December 59. Since the latest movement in Computer
Science is coding, schools across the nation are learning the basics of computer
programming. Students of all ages are
learning the fundamentals to running computer programs and Apps. A number of
classrooms in our division participated in
an “Hour of Code” within their classes
using the programs provided by code.org.
Hour of Code is a global event that reaches
over 100 million students in 180 countries.
A technology class at the middle school
built and coded robots to face off with each
other within a circle. Students had to code
the robot’s directions for movement and the
sensor in order to force their opponent’s
robot out of the circle. Students K-12 were
able to join in the fun and learn the basics
of coding.
Technology
Brette Arbogast, Director
The Technology Department would like to reiterate and expand
on the use of the work order system. With the addition of the
Tech Aides, we have heard wonderful things about how helpful
they have been to so many of you and how amazing it is to have
help locally at the schools. An issue that we have been running
into is the heavy use of phone, email or face-to-face requests to
get technology issues fixed. We cannot stress how important it is
that work orders are placed online using SchoolDude. We must
have a record of work to validate the staffing of these positions
that so many of you have come to love and rely on. Please help
your friendly neighborhood Tech Aide and place a work order
first.
Now, having said all that, we have heard of individuals having
trouble logging into the SchoolDude system in order to place a
work request. SchoolDude is the website we use for IT and
Maintenance requests. If you have not been able to place a work
order, here are the steps to register yourself in the work order
system:
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 4
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Go to Division Website
Click the following tabs in this order Staff\Quick
Links\Computer Work Order (This takes you to the
SchoolDude Login Page)
Click on the arrow next to Never Submitted a SchoolDude
Request? Register Here!
Fill out form with your information (If the Account number
box is not prepopulated, enter 519072608 in that box)
Click Register
Fill out the work order for your issue
The TECHHELP password does not work anymore.
You must register individually in the manner stated above in
order to place a work order request.
The password you set does not change your computer log on
information. You will use this password only when logging in to
place a work order.
From all of us here at the Tech Center we wish you a wonderful
March. We thank you for all that you do and we appreciate all
that you sacrifice for the children of Appomattox County.
Finance and Human Resources
Bruce McMillan, Director
June 2017 License Renewals – This is a quick reminder for anyone who is up for license renewal in June, 2017. Once you have
compiled your 180 points and documented that on the License
Renewal Form, you must contact your principal to set-up a brief
meeting. During this meeting, your principal will ask to see your
License Renewal Form and all of your supporting documentation.
Once he or she has reviewed your points and documentation, they
will initial each section and sign the form. Once they sign the
form, a copy of the form should be made for your records and the
original should be sent to me. I will give it a quick review and
send it to Richmond. If you are going to use a college course, I
will need a copy of the transcript. Anyone renewing after June
2014 must complete training in CPR, First Aid, and use of an
AED. We have been using an online training module which covers all three with video clips in about 60 minutes. If you need
information about this online training, send me a quick email and I
will send you the link and instructions. Also, certain endorsements will be required to receive training in VA History by using
another online module created by DOE. We will begin processing
these later in March and continue on through April and May.
Retirement – If you have decided to retire at the end of this
school year, or you are considering it, please contact Tracy Johnson. She can provide you the proper forms or she can provide you
information that might help you make your decision. VRS tells us
that a person who retires should plan on getting their first retirement check three months from the date VRS receives the paperwork.
-Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 5
2017-18 Instructional Calendar Approved
On February 23, 2017, the ACPS School Board voted to adopt the 2017-18 Instructional Calendar as recommended by the 2017 Calendar Committee. This committee was made up of two representatives from each school. This year those representatives were:
Lara Peterson
Judy Johnson Katie Driskill
Carrie Thompson Gwen Rigney Amanda Shappard
Brittany McLean
Stephanie Tyree
After meeting to discuss preferred features for the calendar and community input that had been received, the committee members created several
drafts for consideration. These drafts were narrowed down to two options which were then posted online. Parents and staff were able to view the
two options and vote for their preferred option. The calendar approved by the School Board received the majority of the votes from both staff and
parents. A copy of the approved calendar is shown below. It is also available on the school division website
http://www.appomattox.schoolfusion.us. Thank you to the Calendar Committee for working to complete this task.
2017-2018 Instructional Calendar
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
Cafeteria Corner
Matt Wallin
Top of the morning to all the ACPS employees out there! I hope
everyone has been enjoying all the food from the ACPS cafeterias.
Feedback was given at recent advisory meetings and the food service team has been working on several changes that should be
coming soon. Please keep the feedback coming! Keep in mind that
School Breakfast Week (March 6-10) and National Nutrition
Month (March) are here-so keep an eye out for special activities
that may be going on in your school’s cafeteria this week…and all
month long. As always, make sure to thank your cafeteria workers
for all their hard work prepping and serving the students, and your
own food. I hope everyone has a great third-nine weeks!
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 6
deducted. The person or team with the lowest point deduction is the
winner. Prizes are awarded to the individual and the team winners.
The individual winner will represent our region and compete at the
rodeo at the state competition. Whoever wins for the state will then
compete at the national competition. It is an honor to win at any level
of this competition. It is nice to have bragging rights that your team
or individual is the best in your region, or state. Wish us luck!
*Upcoming Important Dates*
March 13, 2017 – Teacher Workday and Student Holiday
March 17, 2017 – Report Card Day
March 23, 2017 – School Board Tour of All Schools 9:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m.
April 10-14, 2017 – Spring Break
May 1-5, 2017 – Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Maintenance
Timmy Garrett, Supervisor
The Maintenance Department is
beginning their spring clean-up!
Transportation
Matt Lair, Supervisor
Upcoming Bus Rodeo
On April 22nd, our department will be taking four drivers to compete
in a bus rodeo in Keysville. Our region has had this competition for
years but we have never been able to compete because we did not
have the correct size buses. You have to compete in a 65 passenger
bus and until this year we have not had a bus larger than a 52 passenger bus.
Many of you have images of bucking horses and bulls and wonder
how this is done in a bus. As dangerous as that sounds, that is not
what happens. The drivers compete for the individual high score and
then a combined team score. First, each driver has to take a written
test on pre-tripping a bus. Then there is an obstacle course set-up.
The object is to drive through the obstacles without running over any
cones. Every cone that is touched or every time a bus stops in the
middle of an obstacle and readjusts to miss a cone, points are
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 7
School News
APS NEWS
BLACK HISTORY
MONTH
In honor of Black History Month,
APS hosted Rev. Al Jones for an
assembly. Rev. Jones shared
photos and engaged students with
stories of brave African American men and women.
In addition, 2nd graders partnered
with Kindergarten and 1st graders
to read books aloud about Dr.
King.
DR. SEUSS WEEK
February 27 – March 3, APS
celebrated Dr. Seuss Week.
Each day, students participated in activities centered
around Dr. Seuss books. On
Dr. Seuss’ birthday, students
enjoyed a visit from the crazy
Cat in the Hat!
AES NEWS
5th grade students presented "Heroic Characteristics" to parents on
March 7. Students performed a variety of songs
on the recorder and sang
about many attributes and
characteristics that help
us become model citizens.
Black History Month Activities
Fifth Grade Team
Yeatts:
We learned about Garrett Morgan, who invented the electric traffic signal in 1923. The students partner read the book titled
Garrett Morgan and the Traffic Signal (Reading A-Z level J) in
partners. They completed a graphic organizer of “What he did” and
“What he was like,” as well as took a quiz from the book (also from
Reading A to Z). After the book activity, we discussed his achievements and why his invention was so important. The students then
created their own edible traffic lights!
CELEBRATING 100
DAYS!
DIGITAL LEARNING
DAY
APS celebrated the 100th day of
school in a big way! Students
dressed up as 100 year olds,
wore 100 items, or sported their
100 day shirts. They also spent
the day working on literacy and
APS celebrated Digital Learning Day with activities aimed
at having students interacting
with instructional technology.
Garrett
Morgan
A-Z and
graphic
organizer
In Guided Reading groups, students are reading Bud, Not
Buddy, whose main character is an African American foster child
during the Great Depression. We discussed the hardships this child
faces, not only as a foster child, but also as a Black foster child and
the difficulties and mistrust as a result.
Our class read aloud The W atsons Go to Birmingham1963. This story is told from a child’ perspective (Kenny) and centers around his family from Flint, Michigan as they travel south to
Birmingham, Alabama for the summer. There are many sensitive
topics in the story about racism and the acts of people against the
African American community. One specific instance was the church
bombing where many people, including young children, lost their
lives.
STEM
APS is committed to having students explore
and investigate through Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math. Students have explored matter, coded using “Osmo” and
“Code a pillars,” and given design challenges
to build bridges and other structures.
Watsons
Go to Birmingham1963:
Class read
aloud.
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
Edible Traffic
Light-- Batman
Group
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 8
Hogan:
We watched BrainPOP on Jackie Robinson. We also read an AR
book, discussed the book, and took the AR test. Students had two
days during I/E to read AR books on a variety of well-known African Americans. They also read and completed a passage on Jackie
Robinson, along with a writing activity/answering questions.
Nolen:
McCann
We spent time learning about Jackie Robinson through BrainPOP, a
quiz, and reading passage with comprehension questions. We read a
George Washington Carver passage and students completed a comprehension crossword puzzle. In a reading group, we read Take a
Stand, Rosa Parks! Our read aloud is Bud, Not Buddy – Coretta
Scott King Award, main character is African American during Depression. The students had a class research project using compare
and contrast of Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson. We selected
books for students to read during independent choice reading as well
as with assigned reading assignment for comparison.
During the quotation unit, students had
an opportunity to select a famous African American of interest and research
famous quotes by that person. Students
recorded their quote on their desktop,
then they worked to change the quote to
a sentence using quotation marks. Finally, they published the sentence on
paper strip and used elbow macaroni for
commas and quotation marks. Students reflected on the statements and
their meaning, shared with the class and displayed in the hallway.
Jamerson
Are YOU doing your best? Mr s. J amer son’s fifth gr ader s
learned this question that Booker T. Washington would ask his students at the school he started, The Tuskegee Institute. They listened
to Mrs. Jamerson read this accelerated reader book, Booker T. Washington, A Photo-Illustrated Biography by Margo McLoone. Each
day since reading this book, the students have written this question
on the classrooms whiteboard in the hall as a daily reminder to themselves to always do their best!!
We appreciate the efforts of
Mr. Washington in helping us
to be at our best each and every
day.
We learned about Garrett Morgan, who invented the electric traffic
signal in 1923. The students partner read the book titled Garrett
Morgan and the Traffic Signal (Reading A-Z level J) in partners.
They completed a graphic organizer of “What he did” and “What he
was like,” as well as took a quiz from the book (also from Reading A
to Z).
Christian:
In honor of Black History
Month, students were working together to research, by
choice, many different African Americans and their contributions to society. Once
they completed research, they
tried matching what they
discovered of that person to a
clue card of unnamed people.
AMS NEWS
The Appomattox Middle School ALPs Classes had the opportunity
to attend the NC Renaissance Festival on November 19, 2016, after
studying feudalism and the art, science, and historical context of the
Middle Ages in class.
The students enjoyed
seeing examples and
learning about
glassblowing, archery,
blacksmithing, falconry, dancing, theater
and musical styles,
and a joust with the
"King and Queen" of the Realm.
After eleven rounds of words, eighth grader Alexis Cheyanne
Corbin won Appomattox Middle School’s Annual Spelling Bee.
She won by spelling the word “avalanche” correctly. Seventh
grader, Trevilyan Elliott Torrence was runner up in the contest.
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
Classroom Spelling Bee Winners
4-H Public Speaking classroom winners from Mrs. Fort's 6th grade
class. These students have earned the right to compete in the County 4
-H Contest in March. Pictured left to right: Malaya McCoy, Jalynne
Christian, Troy Graham, Mario Rubio, Ava Beckhouse, Conner Swanberg, Cayden Branham, and Andrew Irby. Not pictured: Everett Wilson
All students watched
the “I Have a Dream
Speech” by Martin
Luther King Jr. We
discussed parts of the
speech, paying close
attention to the number
of people in attendance and the parts of the speech where King mentions people working together. Students were asked to write their
dream (for America, themselves, each other…student choice) on a
strip of paper. We talked about how important it is to acknowledge
our dreams, write them down, and work together to make our community and country better.
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 9
Every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, Appomattox Middle
School is holding a tutoring program for students seeking extra academic support. The tutoring program will last until May when SOL
testing begins. Currently, 45 AMS students are enjoying the one-onone or small group attention focused on areas of weakness in their
individualized programs. Students are being tutored in Math, English, Science, and Social Studies at all grade levels, 6-8. When they
gather in the library in the afternoon, all students are provided a
snack and drink to get them
jump-started for the extended
study time. We are also fortunate to be able to provide much
needed bus transportation to
these students so they can take
advantage of this program.
On February 22nd the 6th Grade ALPs Class toured the new facility of Central Virginia Governor's School (CVGS). The students
had a scavenger hunt, sat in on a class, interviewed a current student about gear ratios, and learned about the application procedure
for admittance into CVGS.
The students then traveled to Randolph College for lunch in the
college dining hall and a tour of the college. Students met with the
Dean of Admissions learning the expectations of college applications and viewed college classrooms and dorms with the assistance
of current students, learning the different classes, majors, clubs,
activities, and athletics offered by Randolph College.
Students in Mr.
Lane and Mrs.
Hawks’ 7th Grade
Math Class learned
about surface area.
The students calculated the area of
sheets of cardboard
as review and built
a box around one of
their peers giving
them a visual
demonstration of
surface area.
There is music in the air! Mr. Allgood’s 6th grade band members
gave an impromptu outdoor concert for the listening pleasure of AMS
students and staff.
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 10
Appomattox County High School-National Park Service
ACHS News
Student Exchange Volunteer Program
National FFA Week at Appomattox County High School
National FFA Week was recently celebrated at ACHS. FFA
chapters across the country use this week to teach others about
FFA; and the Appomattox Senior FFA Chapter was no exception.
There was a fun activity for students to participate in each day
of the FFA spirit-filled week.
FFA members demonstrated that leaders don’t blend in, they
stand out. Students donned camouflage on Tuesday. On
Wednesday, students were encouraged to wear their chapter
FFA t-shirts which were sponsored by the Appomattox Farm
Bureau. After school, a large group from the chapter participated in a roller skating and laser tag filled afternoon at Fun Quest
in Lynchburg. Other FFA chapters in the area joined in the fun.
Thursday was teacher appreciation day. FFA members purchased a cake and provided every ACHS faculty and staff
member with an, “I Support FFA” button.
In recognition of the large contribution agriculture makes to the
local economy, FFA members wore hats in the school building
on Tuesday. Students came to school on Friday in flannel. FFA
Week officially ended on Friday with a chapter meeting. Conservation Police Officer, Richard Howald, brought his dog,
Scout, to the FFA meeting. He discussed his role in wildlife
conservation. Howald also explained the process of training
dogs to work with the Conservation Police. Lastly, Scout
demonstrated how she could track and locate people, game, and
other items.
Many FFA members
attended FunQuest in
Lynchburg to roller
skate and play laser
tag during National
FFA Week. Pictured
are AMS and ACHS
members.
ACHS FFA members sponsored
a Faculty and Staff Appreciation
Day during National FFA
Week. Member Noelle Lutes
makes final preparations for a
teacher and staff reception.
Conservation
Police Officer,
Richard Howald,
and his K-9,
Scout, address
FFA members
during National
FFA Week.
The Student Exchange Volunteer Program with the National
Park Service has continued into a third year with nine students
who are undergoing intensive training to become National Park
Service Guides for the 152nd Anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s
Surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to
Ulysses S. Grant and the forced reunification of the United
States in Appomattox in April of 1865. The students have committed to completing a minimum of 90 hours of training and 40
hours of additional volunteer work with the Park Service. In
March and April of this year the students will assist Park Rangers giving tours of the McLean House, where the surrender papers were signed, and other parts of the Park for school groups
and other visitors.
The Sesquicentennial
in April 2015
Senior Nicholas Servis is finishing his third year in the program
and Seniors Sinead O’Neill, Shayla Thomas, Jaisen Williams,
Ian Vesterlund, and David Lutes are completing their second
year. New to the program are Senior Harry Caldwell and Juniors Colleen Caldwell and Hayley Kidd. The students will have
the opportunity to apply for “full time” summer employment at
the Park. Harry Caldwell has already been hired as part of the
Park’s “Living History” Program and he will be portraying a
Federal soldier from the 85th Pennsylvania Volunteers who
served in Appomattox during and after the surrender.
In addition to reading, taking classes with Park Service historians, and job shadowing Park Rangers the students have made
several training trios. To learn about Lee’s retreat to Appomattox the students have visited Petersburg National Battlefield,
High Bridge Trail State Park, and Sailor’s Creek Battlefield
State Park and will be taking an extensive tour of Civil War sites
in Appomattox County. After the anniversary in April the students will travel to Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park and
Antietam National Battlefield to participate in special programs
and tours to help them expand their knowledge of the Civil War
and the National Park Service.
The Exchange Students and
Ranger Chris Bingham at
Petersburg National Battlefield Park
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
The Students touring
High Bridge Trail State
Park.
The Friends of Rachel, or FOR Club, welcomed guest speaker,
Sarah Jones of Braking Traffic, to speak after school on March
6th. Sarah is a 2012 Appomattox graduate who has returned to
the area after spending a year working to educate youth on the
dangers of human trafficking and what can be done to help end
this growing crime. Sarah is studying Criminal Justice at Lynchburg College so that she can continue to work to end this human
rights plague.
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of
force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Human trafficking includes forced labor, domestic
servitude, and commercial sex trafficking. In the United States,
people are being bought, sold, and smuggled, often beaten,
starved, and forced to work as prostitutes or to take jobs as migrant, domestic, restaurant, or factory workers with little or no
pay. The average age of people trafficked is 13 years old. It is
believed that between 14,000 to 17,500 people, mostly women
and children, are trafficked to the U.S. annually. Victims of human trafficking in the United States also include U.S. citizens
and residents trafficked within its borders. It is believed that
there are over 1.5 million victims in North America. It is over a
billion-dollar business.
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 11
Our All-District Chorus participants, Brittany Klein, Laura Boyett, Melody McDaniel, and Makayla Trent, gave incredible performances as members of the Mixed and Treble All-District
Choirs at George Washington High School this past weekend.
During the event, rehearsals and auditions were held for All-State
Choir for which our junior and senior participants sang a prepared
solo song and completed a sightsinging selection on the spot for a
panel of judges. After a long afternoon and evening of auditions
on Friday, we are thrilled to announce that, of only 4 delegates
selected per voice part from each district, Appomattox senior,
Brittany Klein was selected as the Alto 1 second delegate to AllState Choir. (Yes, that means she was the second highest scoring
Alto 1 in the district for the All-State audition!) Brittany will be
representing Appomattox County High School in the All-State
Choir event April 27-29. To equate this choral accomplishment to
athletic terms, Brittany earned the State Title! Congratulations,
Brittany Klein!
District Champs
To learn more about the signs to look for in victims or how you
can help to end human trafficking, go to https://www.dhs.gov/
blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking or https://
humantraffickinghotline.org/mission for more information. This
is a human issue that can happen anywhere, including right here
in Virginia.
On Saturday, March 4, 2017, the Appomattox County Band traveled to Goochland High School to participate in the 2017 Virginia Bands and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) State
Band Assessment. VBODA provides state assessments that score
bands according to standards listed in the Music SOL Handbook.
Our middle school and our high school bands received a perfect
score. All judges gave our bands a rating of superior. This rating is the highest score a band can receive. Out of the many
bands that performed on March 4th only four were given this
rating.
The Division Digest
A Newsletter from the Office of the Superintendent
Sports
Chris Dodge, Athletic Director
ACPS Winter Sports Recap
Volume 10, Issue 3
Page 12
Spring Sports began practicing/try-outs on Feb. 20th. The regular
season games begin on Monday March 13th. The first regular season
games scheduled for ACHS Athletics are on Tuesday, March 14th.
That day the Baseball and Softball Teams play Buckingham County
and the Boys and Girls Soccer Teams play Heritage High School.
The 2016-17 Winter Sports Season finished on February 23rd. Here
is a recap of how the teams did this season.
The Girls Basketball Team finished the regular season in 3rd place
and played Chatham in the Semifinal Round of the Conference 37
Championships. The team fought hard but came up a little short,
losing to Chatham by a score of 55 to 43.
The Boys Basketball Team finished the regular season in 4th place in
Conference 37. They beat Gretna in the Quarterfinal Round of the
Conference 37 playoffs. They went on to play Dan River in the Semifinal Round. They put up a good fight, but in the end Dan River
came up with the victory by a score of 72 to 55.
The Girls and Boys Swim Teams had great Regional and State
Championships. The team had a combined 18 members (boys and
girls) qualify for the Regional Swim Meet held at Virginian High
School in Bristol on Feb 9th. Of those 18 members who qualified for
the Regional Swim Meet, 9 members (combined boys and girls) qualified for the State Championships that were held in Christiansburg on
Feb. 15th. All of the members swam well, dropping time, and setting
personal bests.
The Indoor Track Teams sent members to the combined 1A/2A Regional Championships on Feb. 12th. The boys team was Regional
Runner-Up to Auburn High School, while the girls came in 10th place
overall. The State Championships were held at Roanoke College
Feb. 22-23. The boys team came in 5th place overall, while the girls
team came in 15th place overall.
The Wrestling Team competed in the Region 2A West Wrestling
Tournament and finished in 3rd place in the region only 12 points
behind 2nd place Lebanon. In the Regional Championship, the team
had one 2nd place finisher, three 3rd place finishers, two 4th place finishers, a 5th place finisher, and a 6th place finisher. The team had a
school record when six of the wrestlers qualified for the state wrestling championships which were held at the Salem Civic Center. At
the State Championships, the team had two 3rd place finishers, one 4th
place finisher and three 5th place finishers. The team finished in 4th
place overall.
The Scholastic Bowl Team competed in the Conference 37 Championships on Jan. 21st at Buckingham County High School. The team
came in 2nd place, which earned them a spot in the Regional Scholastic Bowl Competition. This was held at UVA-Wise on Feb. 4th. The
team did well, but did not qualify for the State Championships.
Striving for Excellence