Bessie Weller Earns State Award for Academic Achievement | |
Bessie Weller Elementary School has just been recognized as one of 64 schools to receive the Exemplar Performance School Award, one of the highest academic achievements for a school in Virginia.
The award is part of the Virginia Board of Education's Exemplar School Recognition Program. It is given to schools that exceed performance requirements or show continuous improvement on academic and school quality indicators.
Bessie Weller is one of 27 Virginia schools to earn the Board of Education Continuous Improvement Award, while 37 other schools earned the Highest Achievement Award. Schools that received these awards met at least one of three criteria based on their performance and practices during the 2022-2023 and prior school years.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons extended her congratulations to the award winners and said, "When high expectations are set, and our schools achieve them, they deserve to be celebrated ... They should be very proud of all that they have achieved.”
Board of Education President Grace Turner Creasey also expressed her excitement, saying, “Recognition in this program is one of the highest achievements a school can receive in the Commonwealth. Congratulations to the staff, students, and communities who support these remarkable schools for their success.”
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Congressman Ben Cline Visits with SHS Government Students | |
WATCH: Preschool, SHS Partner for Early Childhood Education Class | | |
Eighteen Staunton High School students have been getting an introduction to early childhood education in a new class this year. The goal is to grow more preschool teachers from within. | |
City-School Partnership Restores Montgomery Hall Park Tennis Courts | |
Before and after photos of the tennis courts at Montgomery Hall Park. | |
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Our school division's high school athletic facilities for outdoor sports are located in Gypsy Hill Park, which is a unique partnership between the city and schools.
This partnership is essential as our high school campus cannot accommodate all our athletic facilities. We are grateful for the continued collaboration and are excited to announce that Staunton High's tennis matches will soon be held in Montgomery Hall Park. Thanks to leftover funds from the high school renovation project, the tennis courts at Montgomery Hall are nearly restored, and finishing touches are being made now.
Superintendent Dr. Garett Smith said, "We always look for win-win solutions that benefit the city and schools. Our philosophy is to be good stewards of taxpayer money, partner with the city whenever possible, and promote equity, and this project checks all three boxes. We're excited that the tennis courts in such a historically important city park are restored for the community and our students to enjoy."
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Coins for Kindness Drive Nets Over $200 for Project Grows
We were thrilled to present a check for just over $222 to Project Grows after our students and staff collected donations in our Coins for Kindness drive in February. The students and staff at Staunton High School collected the most cash and were awarded our kind letter display in front of the school for the month of April. We are grateful to everyone who supported this vital SCS partner organization! Check out Project Grows' upcoming Plant Sale.
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Celebrate the Last Day of School with Kona Ice
Kona Ice of Staunton has been partnering with Staunton Staples to support our Kindness Fund for the last two months. That support will culminate with a celebration at Staples on the last day of school. Owner Jill Sproul will generously donate 25% of proceeds from sales between 4 and 6 p.m. on May 22 to Staunton City Schools. We appreciate her commitment to elevating kindness in our schools and community.
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7th-Grader Wins Statewide "If I Were Mayor" Essay Contest
Aiswarya Vinu, a 7th-grader at Shelburne, was honored at a recent city council meeting after winning the statewide "If I Were Mayor" Essay Contest for Region 3. The contest asked 7th and 8th graders to describe what solutions they would implement for issues affecting their community if they were mayor. Aiswarya's essay focused on teacher salaries in Staunton.
Ten other Shelburne students received honorable mentions, including Aaliyah Sprouse, Alex Carpenter, Cameron Boyle, Catherine Montijo, Francis O’Shea, Giuliana Migliaccio, Jacob Holsinger, Jossalyn Mask, Katelyn Blackwell, and Logan Campbell.
Regional winners receive a $150 gift card and a plaque, and their essays will be featured in Virginia Town & City magazine. Congratulations to Aiswarya and all the students mentioned!
Read the winning essays.
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Staunton Lodge 13 Donation Helps McSwain Clinic
| The Staunton Lodge 13 recently made a generous donation to McSwain Elementary School's clinic. Lodge member Shawn McDaniel contacted School Counselor Leslie Hite to find out what our students needed most and delivered their second donation of the school year. We're so grateful for their kindness. | |
Drug Awareness Program Speakers Make Big Impact | Staunton City Council Member Alice Woods and Julie Hofmans, also known as Wyatt's mom, recently joined us for a powerful drug awareness program for middle and high school students. They each shared their personal stories in an effort to help prevent young people from making harmful choices. Many of our students and staff were deeply moved by their stories, and we want to thank Mrs. Woods and Mrs. Hofmans for their courage and support. | |
Fun-Filled Learning at 'Adventures at the Museum' | We partnered with Augusta County and Waynesboro public schools to host the annual Adventures at the Museum in April. The event attracted more than 450 SCS students and their families to the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, and a combined total of 3,119 students from all three school divisions were in attendance. Adventures at the Museum allows students to explore the living history museum with their families while enjoying food and activities. We thank the 57 SCS student and staff volunteers who contributed to the success of this event. | |
Kieran Puit Wins 3rd Place in VSBA Art Contest | Kieran Puit, an 8th grader in Mrs. Cooper's Art II class at Shelburne Middle School, won third place in the Virginia School Board Association's Spring Regional Art Contest. The contest showcases art from the region, with each school division submitting an entry for elementary, middle, and high school. Congratulations, Kieran! | |
SHS Students Participate in Model General Assembly | In March, more than 20 students from Staunton High participated in the Annual Linkous/Bosserman Model General Assembly. This event provides a unique opportunity for students to gain an in-depth understanding of the legislative process in Virginia. Students engage in debates on various legislative issues in committees, as well as on the floors of the House of Delegates and Senate. In addition to acting as delegates and senators, students also take on other roles, such as lobbyists, reporters, and officers. | |
Shelburne's Economics Fair Comes Roaring Back After Hiatus | Shelburne 7th-graders got a taste of entrepreneurship and all the ups and downs that come along with it as they put on an Economics Fair in April. Students created their own businesses and "sold" goods to staff in the 7th-grade hallway and classrooms. There was everything from cotton candy and baked goods to origami and jewelry. It was the first time the Fair had been held since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it returned to rave reviews and high attendance. | | |
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Trout in the Classroom Program Expands
Our participation in the Trout in the Classroom program expanded this year to include Shelburne Middle School, while Ware Elementary School continued its participation from the previous year. At the end of April, both schools successfully released 140 Brook Trout, the official state fish of Virginia, into their natural habitat.
Mrs. Evans and her 6th-grade science students released approximately 65 fingerlings into the South River at Constitution Park in Waynesboro, while Mr. Brubaker's 5th-grade class at Ware Elementary School successfully raised almost 75 fingerlings and released them into Christians Creek.
Both schools have been raising the fish from eggs since last fall, learning about watersheds and the significance of caring for rivers and streams. The Lewis Creek Watershed Advisory Committee, Friends of the Middle River, and Trout Unlimited of Waynesboro provided valuable guidance and expertise throughout the program.
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MAY 5
Party in the Park
Bring your lawn chair or blanket and join us at the Gypsy Hill Park Bandstand from 3 to 7 p.m. May 5 for Party in the Park! This annual spring music concert features bands and choirs from all of our schools. Food trucks will be on site. The rain location is the Staunton High School auditorium.
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MAY 6-11
Teacher Appreciation Week
Here's your chance to show some appreciation for our teachers and staff as we round out the school year! Share your gratitude all week long with a note, encouraging word or token of thanks.
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MAY 11
Kids Matter Day
This free event for children and their parents in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County showcases community resources and activities. Visit safety and resource stations provided by local community organizations, including Staunton City Schools, to receive dental imprints, first aid information and much more. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gypsy Hill Park Gym. Learn more.
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MAY 9-11
Shelly's Garden Annual Plant Sale
Shelburne Middle School is hosting its annual plant sale May 9-11, just in time for Mother's Day. The sale will feature an assortment of organic heirloom varieties of cooking herbs, vegetable plants, and flowers. Stop by the greenhouse just outside the Hern Gym lobby to shop. Don't have time to shop? Place your plant order online and pick it up!
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MAY 10 & JULY 26
Back-to-School Clothing Drive
Area schools are hosting a clothing drive for the next back-to-school season. You can donate gently used clothing at Dixon Educational Center on May 10th and July 26th between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more info, please contact Ashley Whitesell at 540.245.5133.
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MAY 10-12
"The Massacre at Paris"
The Storm Theater presents three special performances of Christopher Marlowe's final play, "The Massacre at Paris," on May 10-12 at the Blackfriars Playhouse in partnership with the American Shakespeare Center. The play is a dramatization of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre and the War of the Three Henrys, performed by the Advanced Acting classes of Staunton High School. Tickets are available at the door—$8 for general seating and $10 for VIP seating. Don't miss this exciting (and very bloody) play!
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MAY 18
Graduation Day
Graduation Day is fast approaching for the Staunton High School Class of 2024! The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18. If you have any questions about graduation, please contact the SHS Counseling Center for assistance.
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MAY 22
Last Day of School
May 22nd marks the last day of school for this academic year. Stay safe, have a blast, and we'll see you on August 7 for the start of another exciting school year!
Get the 2024-25 academic year calendar.
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JUNE 1-JULY 30
Summer Feeding Program
Staunton City Schools will host free Summer Meals again this year and partner with the Augusta County Library to broaden our reach and increase food access. Check our School Nutrition website after May 22 for more details.
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116 W. Beverley St.
Staunton, VA 24401
540.332.3920
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