The Concert of Christmas Music was held on Friday, December 11, in the Jessup Auditorium. Directed by Mr. Jerry King and Mr. Mike Vinson, the musicians performed recently popular holiday songs as well as traditional Christmas music.  The video may be viewed here. Photos are here.

On Sunday the School's traditional Candlelight Service will be held at 5PM. Students who participated in the Concert of Christmas Music and who will participate in the Candlelight Service include Hussam Akhter '17, Jared Brown '17, Hansel Chang '19, Frank Chen '18, Jack Cline '18, Josh Colon '17, Spencer Cook '17, Fuller Crocker '16,  Alex Dillard '19, Paul Du '19, Taku Endo '18, Eli Faunteroy '19, Franck Germain '18, Koko Huang '17, Howard Jiang '19, Chris Jones '16, Christian Joskowiak '18, Andrew Kerchner '18, Hayden Kim '18, Junfeng Liu '18, Paul Lu '18, Juan Mareco '18, John Moreno '18, Kamryn Norwood-Blackwell '17, Tanay Pandey '17, In Yong Song '18, Zach Temin '16, Jaab Veskijkul '18, Tom Wang '16, Tony Wang '16, Jonah Werner '16, Haotian Wu '16 and Jason Yu '18.

TUCK SHOP: Thanks to the efforts of Chaplain Anne West, the Tuck Shop has reopened in a new location upstairs in the Student Center. The boys may choose among hot food items, snacks and drinks as well as home-baked goods prepared by Anne and other community members. Anne reported that business was brisk this past weekend, and it was wonderful to see the Center full of activity on a Saturday evening. Several boys have volunteered to help her. All profits will go to support the Blue Ridge School Food Pantry that is open to area families every Saturday. Please consider having your son return from break with canned foods, boxed meals, granola bars, diapers and other necessities for the pantry. 

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

COLLEGE NEWS: Congratulations to those seniors who have received college acceptances. They include:  Spencer Ammen - University of Mississippi, University of Arkansas, University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama ; Colby Burchfield - Beacon University ; Harry Buchanan - University of Alabama; Charles Gao - Michigan State University, University of Indiana ; Ziyue Zhou - Purdue University ; Cole Jackson - University of Mississippi ; Fuller Crocker - Delta State for Commercial Aviation. Please let us know if your son has received an acceptance letter and is not listed above. 

ATHLETICS: Congratulations to the Blue Ridge wrestling squad for an impressive showing at Massanutten Military Academy on December 5. Jose Espinoza '16 won a first place medal in the 132-pound class as he pinned his opponent in each of his five matches.  See more here. 

The JV Basketball team beat Hargrave Military in its first home game. The team totaled 7 three-pointers (four of these were made by Marcus Valeiras '17), and Taku Endo '18 added 16 points.  The final score was 63-30. On Tuesday JV beat Charlottesville High School in another home game. This was a truly exciting game - the final score was 39-35. For photos of all the home games, click here.

The Varsity team beat Hargrave 78-50 in its first home game as well. On Tuesday, the Varsity squad traveled to STAB for another exciting game in which the Barons came out on top 62-51.

SPORTS MEDIA COVERAGE:

Channel 17

S crimmage Play news story and photos

Scrimmage Play video 

Daily Progress 

Channel 29 

GINGERBREAD HOUSES: On Sunday, December 6, twenty-four students created gingerbread houses to display throughout the School. It was a competition organized by the ELL Director Sarah Kushwara and her husband Nick Patnaude.  "It was difficult to judge a winner since there were at least four houses that could have won," says Ms. Kushwara. Cameron Norwood-Blackwell '17, Jonah Werner '16 and Tony Wang '16 tied for first prize with Michael Flanary '17 and Adam Maisano '19.  For more photos, click here . 

   

From The Parent Association:

The Blue Ridge School faculty deserves our thanks every day, but we set aside one day in the fall and one day in the spring to let them know how much they are appreciated.  On December 18, 2015, the day the students depart for Winter Break, the Parent Association will be hosting a cookie exchange so that all of the hard-working faculty may take home a tin of treats for their holiday celebrations.  In order to do this, we need at least seventy dozen cookies!!  And that's where you come in!  Please consider dropping off cookies to Sareena Ryan in Battle House when you come to pick up your son. If you have any questions, please contact her at sryan@blueridgeschool.com.

Thank you to everyone who supported the SWAB program!  This weekend our boys will be helping twenty children shop for gifts for their families for Christmas.  
 

Support Blue Ridge and complete your holiday shopping at the same time! Click here  to view and purchase several great items, including the 2016 school tie, a popular hoodie and much more.

SPRING PARENT WEEKEND FRIDAY, APRIL 22 - SUNDAY, APRIL 24:

STUDENT PORTRAITS: TSS Photography will be on campus January 8 to retake photos, take portraits of the boys who missed the first round, and to take portraits of your son in his sports uniform. If you'd like to have the latter done, please contact: Elizabeth Giglio ( 434.973.2960 or 888.922.3181).