Making news at Chesterfield Community High School

Katie McHale, a sophomore at Midlothian High School, won second place at the Virginia State Fair for her first-ever entry of her peanut butter scones and gingerbread. Photo courtesy of Denice McHale December Students of the Month at Chesterfield Community High School (CCHS), as chosen by their teachers, include Joe Epps, Ashley Sprague, Kevara Williams, Ketara Williams, Vanessa Santos, Jeri Absher, Avalon Leneave, Octevia Rodrigues, Quamesha Adam Coghill, Elena Puckett, Ge ronimo Flores, Christian Flores, LaDannica Smith, Josue Vigil, Keven Corn, Richard Sanger, Black Scruton, Skyla McBrayer, Daquon Brown, Taylor Steward and Kaitlyn Davis. Davis was also recognized for representing the schools’ core value of accountability. The Carver Foundation awarded Puckett $50 as a first-time Student of the Month, and Christian Flores was awarded $25 for making the list more than once.

The RBI Inferno 14U Gold girl’s fast-pitch softball team won the Powhatan End of Season Classic. The team went 7-0 in the tournament, outscoring opponents 49-4. This was the third tournament win for the team this fall. They also took two second-place finishes and one third-place finish. Photo courtesy of Margaret McCabe Students at CCHS making honor roll with a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in the third grading period numbered 55. Another 25 students achieved distinguished honor roll for the same period, with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The American Library Association awarded CCHS a Great Stories grant. The Great Stories theme this year is “New Horizons.” The books selected for use in the program include “One of Those Hideous Books Where The Mother Dies,” by Sonya Sones, “The Afterlife,” by Gary Soto, and “The Rules of Survival,” by Nancy Werlin. Eleven copies of each title have been given to the CCHS library - one copy to be used in the library collection and 10 copies to be given to students to use in book groups.

 CCHS is also the recipient of two Henshaw Scholarships through Communities in Schools. One for $710 will be used to purchase video cameras for students to use in class projects. A $300 scholarship will be used for a pinhole portrait project in art classes, where students will take pinhole portraits of faculty members, allowing them an opportunity to get to know teachers on a one-on-one basis while learning the basics of camera operation.

Winterpock Elementary School recently installed its Student Council Association officers during a candle-lighting ceremony where students pledged their service for the school year. Students who were elected by their peers include (from left) Sydney Williams, historian, Sam Nygaard, reporter, Caroline Patey, treasurer, Emily Martin, secretary, Patrick Pikunas, vice president, and Peyton Badura, president. The SCA works on projects throughout the year that support the school and community. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Rudd Education

For the 2009-10 academic year at Virginia Tech, Jessica Jones of Chester has been chosen to be a house supervisor coordinator. Chesterfield residents Christopher Saccoccia, Azure McFarlane, Quazi Alam, Eric Gunther, Esther Kraines, Rebekah McCann, Sachin Shukla, Dhaval Kumar and Ruth Mikre have been chosen to be resident advisors.

 A ribbon cutting was recently held for Bank of Virginia’s new location at 15001 Dogwood Villas Drive, Chesterfield. Photo courtesy of Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce Sarah Daszkiewicz of Midlothian, a freshman at Virginia Tech, has become a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Regimental Band, the Highty-Tighties.

Four Chesterfield students have been awarded scholarships to Shepherd University in West Virginia from the Shepherd University Foundation: Jonathan Durrett and Carrie Saunders received the Moler General Athletic Scholarship, Michael Haynes was awarded the Burkhart Legacy Scholarship and Xavier Tyler was given the Alumni Football Scholarship.

Samantha Costanzo, a student at Clover Hill High School, was among 14 Virginia students invited to attend the 11th Annual Virginia Historical Society’s Wyndham B. Blanton Scholars Forum, where she heard author and commentator Frank Deford speak.

The L.C. Bird High School PTSA hosted its Reflections Recognition Reception recently to honor 35 students who submitted original artistic works in a program sponsored by the National PTA. This year’s theme was “Beauty Is . . .” Each participant received a Certificate of Recognition. Winners also received a Certificate of Award and a ribbon. Winners in literature included Ana Amaya, first place, Erica Bennett, second place, Eniola Afolayan, third place, and Jeannie Castleman and Stephanie Furnish, honorable mentions. Lindsey Brookmire, first place, Erica Neary, second place, Lexie Barrell, third place, and Neary and Ashley Smigo, honorable mentions, were winners in the photography category. In film production, Morgan Streat took first place and Bryan Chavez was awarded second place. Winners in the visual arts category were Crista Taylor, first place, Petra Fritschi, second place, Jordan Stanford, third place, and Mark Shurland, honorable mention. The works of first place winners in each category will be entered into competition at the county level. Winners at the county level will compete at the district level, and those winners will compete at the regional level.

UTomahawk Creek Middle School students Madison TenKate (from left), Jaclyn Fackler and Clemence Lanniel received first place awards during the Virginia Educational Media Association’s Student Media Festival last month. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Mashburn .S. History students at Chesterfield Community High School hosted a program, “Our Nation Divided,” which depicted the U.S. Civil War from both sides’ points of view. The students were also entertained by music of the time.

Kindergarten classes at Beulah Elementary School visited Defense Supply Center Richmond to learn about the facility’s emergency responders. Firefighters talked about fire safety and donned their protective clothing and gear for the kids.

Jenna Hallen, a 2008 graduate of Manchester High School, was cast as leading lady Desdemona in Longwood University’s presentation of Shakespeare’s Othello.

Millwood School’s junior kindergarten students recently enjoyed the beautiful fall weather by taking a nature walk on nearby paths. The students collected leaves of various sizes and colors and learned about nature. The school’s first-year French students traveled on Amtrak from the Staples Mill station to Ashland, where they attended a French class at Randolph-Macon College. They also toured the campus, ate lunch and visited an art gallery.

A Child’s Place Learning and Day Care Centers received the 2009 Best of Midlothian Award for Child Care Services. The familyowned and operated centers have served the metro since 1984, and have locations in Midlothian at 1211 Walton Bluff Parkway and in the West End.

Chesterfield students named to the president’s list at Bryant & Stratton College include Tammy Bishop, Cheryl Brown, Felisha Collins, Ricky Glaspie, Brenda Haddon and Bridget Hobson. The president’s list represents full-time students who earned grade-point averages of 4.0 during the semester.

Success program students at L.C. Bird High donated their own spare change over a three-week period to purchase more than $450 in toys for children at the VCU Medical Center pediatric unit.

Monacan High School senior April Adkins won first place in the people category of the Fotoweek D.C. Youth photograph contest sponsored by the Washington Post. April was invited to a reception in Washington, D.C., and received a monetary award.

Manchester High School has been recognized by Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) for achieving or surpassing the “5 of 5” performance outcomes, including 90 percent graduation rate, 80 percent positive-outcomes rate, 60 percent employment rate, 60 percent full-time jobs rate and 80 percent full-time placement rate. JAG is a school-to-career program implemented in 1,000 high schools across the country with a mission to keep young people in school through graduation and provide work-based learning experiences that will lead to career-advancement opportunities and a more rewarding career.

Crestwood, Bettie Weaver and Wells elementary schools and Clover Hill and James River high schools have been recognized by Virginia Naturally Schools for increasing the environmental awareness and stewardship of our youngest citizens. This is the 10th year Crestwood Elementary has earned this recognition. Bettie Weaver Elementary was recognized for its recycling efforts. Wells Elementary was selected because of recycling and re-using campaigns that apply Virginia SOLs in real-world situations. Clover Hill High students have the support of the administration, faculty, staff members and community as they promote environmental education and stewardship. James River High encourages students and faculty to reduce their impact on the environment and spread “eco-logic,” which has earned recognition in Virginia Wildlife magazine.

The new Thomas Dale High School gymnasium will be named after the late Thomas J. Davies, a former English teacher and basketball coach at the school who began his work there in 1959 and continued for the next 25 years.

Chesterfield resident Jodie L. Brinkmann has been admitted to the doctoral program at Virginia Tech. Chesterfield residents Allen Brobst, Christopher P. Connell, Frederick C. Grogan, Julie C. Halliwell, Brian R. Nicholson, Erin Despain, Brian M. Equi, Daniel F. Carro, Narendra K. Meruva, Zach D. Parson, David E. Young, Brehan M. Shamlin, Alfie T. Huang, Carlton Lanier, April R. Sturgill, Ralph C. Westbay, Todd J. Perkins and Alex B. Holleman have been admitted to the master’s program at Virginia Tech.

Clover Hill High School student Leah Tams is the Virginia Historical Society’s 2009 Bobby Chandler Student Award winner. The award is presented to a secondary school history student who demonstrates knowledge, creativity and research skill in using primary source materials. The same honor was awarded to Clover Hill student Kathleen Kraines in 2007. Both winners were students of history teacher Jim Triesler, who was the Region 1 Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year in 2007.

The Rainbow Station private school and emergency back-up care facility for mildly ill children, with locations at 7421 Boulder Springs Drive and 7411 Boulder Springs Drive, is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Dec. 18. To celebrate the anniversary, each school will create a time capsule to be opened in 20 years.

Millwood School’s upper school Spanish class visited the University of Virginia recently, where they sat in on a Spanish class and interacted with the professor and students in the class. They also visited the college’s foreign language lab and two exhibits at the Small Collection Gallery on the university’s campus. Millwood’s middle school Spanish students attended the Hispanic Flamenco Ballet in Richmond.

Organizations

The Richmond Salvation Army held the grand opening of its Christmas Center, located at the former Dillard’s store at Chesterfield Towne Center, on Dec. 14. The day marked the beginning of the Salvation Army’s distribution of toys, clothing, coats, bikes and other items to those in need. More than 7,500 children were served through one or more of the Salvation Army’s Christmas assistance programs this year.

Chesterfield-based Rho Iota Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, in conjunction with the Rho Iota Lambda Education Foundation, will host a scholarship breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Fifth Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1415 West Cary Street. The event will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, former chief legal strategist to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Pastor Emeritus of Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in Harlem, N.Y., and current professor at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. The keynote speaker for the event will be Rev. Tyrone Nelson, pastor of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in Richmond. The cost is $30 per person. Proceeds from the event will go to the Rho Iota Lambda Education Foundation Scholarship Fund. For more information and ticket information, call Elbert Brinson at 233-3027 or e-mail education@rhoiotalambda.org.

Magnolia Grange is the recipient of a copper light fixture handcrafted and donated by Steve Eisenhart of Iron Stag Copper Craft in Amelia. The all-brass lantern is a reproduction of original gas fixtures used in the early to mid-1800s. Larger models were mounted on posts and used as street lamps.

The Chesterfield Court Appointed Special Advocates program (CASA) recently celebrated the contributions of its volunteers who advocate for abused, neglected and abandoned children in Chesterfield County and the city of Colonial Heights. CASA gave special recognition this year to volunteers and staff celebrating five-year and 10-year anniversaries with the program. Five-year plaques were presented to Pam Conde and Cynthia Pickering. Those who were honored for 10 years of service included Holly Abbott, Richard English, Tara Kunkel and Caroline Smith.

Capt. Joush Mulford stopped in at a meeting of Boy Scout Troop 800, sponsored by Bethel Baptist Church, to thank them for the gifts the troop sent him and his squad last Christmas. He presented senior patrol leader Scottie McTague with a flag that was flown over the base in Iraq where Mulford was stationed. He also told the scouts how being an Eagle scout helped and guided him while a cadet at Virginia Military Institute and as an officer in the U.S. Army. Troop 800 is sending a gift package this year to another Eagle scout from troop 800, 1st. Lt. Mark Pollak, who is stationed in Iraq. The scouts and their families also support the Wounded Warrior Fund.

The Chesterfield Children’s Theatre (CCT), the only non-fee-based training theater in the state, has been granted nonprofit status. The organization casts everyone who auditions regardless of race, religion, background or disability. CCT teaches about performing arts on stage and takes children on field trips to see Broadway shows and concerts. It offers performances to the community at low or no cost, and is seeking support for its efforts. Donations may be sent to Chesterfield Children’s Theatre, P.O. Box 2804, Chester, VA 23831. For more information, call 691-7235 or e-mail ChesterfieldChildrensTheatre@hotmail.com.

Business

The Richmond Flying Squirrels and Puritan Cleaners collected over 500 coats during a four-hour period recently as part of the Ballpark Warming Party at the Diamond. Nearly 1,500 fans participated in the event, which included ballpark renovation tours, carnival games, karaoke and food sampling. Puritan has Chesterfield locations at 11665 Midlothian Turnpike and 12026 Southshore Point Drive.

Goodman & Company recently held the Goodman Accounting Challenge, an interactive and educational competition created to promote the integrity of the accounting profession and recognize outstanding accounting students. The winners of money for team members and their schools included two teams from Salisbury and James Madison universities, and one team each from the University of Virginia and American University.

Ace Waste, located at 13101 North Enon Church Road in Chester, was the recipient of the James River Green Building Council’s Green Building Leadership Award for the private sector. Bryna Dunn, vice president of Moseley Architects, with a location at 601 Southlake Blvd., was the individual recipient of the same award.

Three Chesterfield members of the Home Building Association of Richmond (HBAR) have been honored for their distinguished service to the homebuilding industry and to the association. Lloyd Mason Poe of LifeStyle Builders & Developers and past president of HBAR was one of two association members to be inducted into the group’s Hall of Fame.

Roger Langford of Professional Warranty Service Corporation received the 2009 Ernest E. Mayo Member of the Year Award based on his high level of character, integrity and service to customers; his professional knowledge and ability; and his overall contributions to the association during the past year. Becky Accashian of Century 21 Signature Realty in Bon Air was the recipient of the 2009 Guy B. Hazelgrove Jr. Membership Development Award. She was selected based on demonstrating the most significant contributions to membership recruitment and retention, as well as her overall contributions to HBAR during 2009.

Bon Secours Health System, including St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian, has expanded its Performance Solutions partnership with GE Healthcare, a business unit of General Electric Company. The partnership saved over $5 million nationwide over a fiveyear period.

Scott Wharton, franchisee of House- Master ® of Richmond, a home-inspection organization, attended the company’s 30th anniversary annual conference recently, where he learned about plans for a service solution for lenders and consumers to address the changes associated with a new good faith estimate form. Contact the business at 745-4588.

School Crossing, a Midlothian toy retailer located at 13726 Hull Street Road, is the recipient of a 2009 Tillywig Cutting Edge Fun award, an honor recognizing the store for its track record in introducing new and innovative toys to the public.

Announcements can be e-mailed to news@chesterfieldobserver.com, faxed to 744-3269 or mailed to Chesterfield Observer, Attn: Announcements, P.O. Box 1616, Midlothian, VA 23113.