Luray Middle School

Library Appreciation Month continues today with our celebration of Luray Middle School librarian, Cathleen Grady. Favorite Books: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Atonement by Ian McEwan The House at Riverton by Kate Morton Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson Favorite authors for middle school students: Suzanne Collins Jennifer L. Holm Ann Rinaldi Gordon Korman L. M. Elliott Laurie Halse Anderson Roald Dahl Favorite Hobbies: Reading Hanging out with my family and my five dogs Binge watching comedies and BBC dramas Education: B.S. Early Childhood Education M.S. Adolescent Literacy and Learning M.S. Higher Education Graduate Certificate - School Library Media Science Graduate Certificate - Integrating Technology Into the Curriculum Favorite Quote: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” -- Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird

While April has been known as Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s, leading organizations across the country have started shifting the language to match the need for acceptance within our communities. Autism Acceptance Month aims to foster acceptance through improved support and opportunities in education, employment, accessible housing, affordable health care, and comprehensive long-term services.

What exactly is a school librarian? Have you ever wondered what their roles are within schools? Watch this video from the Virginia Association of School Librarians (VAASL) and discover more about what they do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdIODAcQ6HU

2021 VSBA Valley Regional Art Contest Winner Congratulations to Saphira Hoover of Stanley Elementary School. 1st Place Elementary School Winner Saphira Hoover Stanley Elementary School Page County Public Schools Local school board members were treated to an impressive display of creativity and judges faced some tough decisions in selecting the 2021 winners in the Virginia School Boards Association’s Valley Regional Art Contest on March 24, 2021. For each of the nine VSBA regions, a winner is chosen for the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This year, because the contest was completely virtual, the winning artwork will be featured on the VSBA website (https://www.vsba.org/resources/competitions-and-challenges/spring-regional-art-contest/) and spotlighted during the VSBA Annual Convention, as well as featured in VSBA publications throughout the year.

In April, we continue highlighting our division's librarians. This week we begin with Page County Middle School librarian, Tammy Rhinehart. Ms. Rhinehart has been with Page County Schools for the past 33 years. 21 of those years she spent at Grove Hill Elementary. She has been a librarian for the school system for the past 30 years. Favorite Books: Boxcar Children - Gertrude Chandler Warner Holes - Louis Sachar Love You Forever - Robert Munsch Favorite Quotes: "Children may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you make them feel." Favorite Pastimes: Reading, being outside, camping, and crafting.

This is a reminder that tonight, Monday, April 12, 2021, is the regularly scheduled school board meeting. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. and can be viewed LIVE on our YouTube Channel. Comments are due by 4 p.m. and must be directly related to the agenda. Agenda: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/pcss/Board.nsf/Public Comments: https://forms.gle/kJWResXD2t3vSyV88 View Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuXbZphxqrM

This is a reminder from PCPS. Masks are required in school for all children. Please be sure that your child wears a clean mask to school each and every day. Thank you for your help in this matter. Please share.

It's School Library Month and we are highlighting our division librarians. Carrie Campbell is our librarian at Luray High School. Mrs. Campbell has been in education for 20 years. 12 of those years have been with Page County Public Schools. She has served as librarian for 9 of those years. Her favorite books of all time are Angela's Ashes by McCourt, Jane Eyre by Bronte, and The Outlander series by Gabaldon. Favorite Quote: "In a gentle way you can shake the WORLD."-- Gandhi Her favorite pastimes include reading, she's a writer, a DIYer, thrift store fan, and an upcycler.

In continuation of honoring our division's librarians, next up we have Mrs. Jewelee Painter of Luray Elementary School. Mrs. Painter is a proud HOKIE. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2002 with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies and minors in English and History. In 2013, she graduated from Longwood University with a master's degree in Education in School Librarianship. Mrs. Painter has worked for PCPS for the last 8 years. Prior to joining PCPS, Mrs. Painter worker for the Shenandoah County Public Library as the Children's Specialist, and Handley Regional Library as the Circulation Specialist. Favorite Pastimes: READING! Spending time with her 5 boys and husband. She enjoys hiking, swimming, watching her son play baseball, and her husband's rugby activities. Mrs. Painter's Favorite Book-- The Road, by Cormac McCarthy (Her 3rd son is named Cormac) :) Favorite Quotes: “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them” - James Baldwin- Nobody Knows My Name (1961) "We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?” - Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” - Rosa Parks

To kick off Library Appreciation Month we will spotlight the librarians from around our division . First up is Stanley Elementary Librarian, Elizabeth Kite. Ms. Kite is thrilled to work at Stanley Elementary, the very school she attended as a child. This is her 20th year of teaching . She decided to switch from being a 3rd grade classroom teacher to librarian just this year, after earning her master's degree from ODU.

Happy Librarian's Day to all of our PCPS librarians! "I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of a library." -Jorge Luis Borges

Dear Parents and Students, As we approach the conclusion of the 2020-21 school year, please remember that students will be expected to complete all coursework and assessments (unlike the 2019-20 school year, when schools were ordered closed). We are also expecting students to participate in the SOL tests at their respective grade level or course. The Page County Public Schools promotion/retention policy (IFAC) will be enforced. At the elementary school level, students in grades 1-5 must pass English Language Arts and Mathematics in order to be promoted. Any student in grades 4 and 5 who fails a core subject will be required to attend summer school to be considered for promotion. At the middle school level, students must pass English, Math, and Science or History in order to be promoted. Any student who fails any of these subjects will be required to attend summer school to be considered for promotion. Failure to attend and demonstrate proficiency in the necessary skills will result in retention. At the high school level, all classes that students are enrolled in at the high school level are needed for graduation. If students do not pass, they will be required to attend summer school or enroll in those classes next year. We look forward to continuing to work with you to make sure your student(s) has what is needed in order to finish the 2020-2021 school year successfully. If you have questions or concerns related to academic achievement, you are encouraged to reach out to your school administrator or counselor. Eric W. Benson Page County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Accountability & Innovation

This is a reminder to Students, Parents, and Community Members. The deadline to complete the survey in regards to the superintendent search is Friday, April 9, 2021. Survey Link -- https://forms.gle/bAFNnN7KV9PEieCz8 A webpage has been created to keep the public apprised of our progress in selecting the next superintendent of PCPS. Updates, survey results, and information from the school board will be posted here- https://www.pagek12.org/o/pcps/page/pcps-superintendent-search-2021.

April is School Library Month. Celebrate our school libraries and librarians. <3

Page County Public Schools has begun the search for the next Superintendent of Schools. A web page has been created to allow you to follow along with updates from the school board. For parents, students and community members, we would like your input. A survey has been created to allow you to openly share those attributes that you feel are necessary for the board to consider when hiring for superintendent. Deadline for the survey is April 9, 2021 Community Survey Link --https://forms.gle/bAFNnN7KV9PEieCz8 Web Page Link --https://www.pagek12.org/o/pcps/page/pcps-superintendent-search-2021 Thank you, and please share

Thank you to our Girl Scout friends for sending our staff off with a surprise to ensure a SWEET Spring Break!

This is a reminder that tonight, Monday, March 22, 2021, is the regularly scheduled school board meeting. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. and can be viewed LIVE on our YouTube Channel. Comments are due by 4 p.m. and must be directly related to the agenda. Agenda: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/pcss/Board.nsf/Public Comments: https://forms.gle/7LLfN5zFqC35b8Nw8 Watch Live: https://www.youtube.com/c Thank you, and please share.

Some great news to share from PCPS! Governor Northam has announced preliminary guidance that permits in-person graduations with increased crowd sizes. PCPS has already been actively planning outdoor graduation ceremonies in addition to a virtual format. The increased crowd size will allow us to have more family members in attendance. While we are excited with the recent news, we must remember that some things will still be different due to health mitigations that will have to be adhered to during the ceremony. High School seniors and families should expect more detailed information in the coming weeks. Please share.

JV Girls' (grades 8-10) Soccer out of season workouts for Thursday, March 18 will be from 6-7 p.m. in the Luray Middle School gym. All participants must have a completed VHSL physical to attend.

Congratulations to these players for being selected to the All-State Teams by the Virginia High School Coaches Association, and to Coach Joe Lucas for being selected as Coach Of The Year. 1st Team Emilee Weakley (Player of the Year) Brynlee Burrill Sarah Thompson (Gate City) Olivia Harris (Glenvar) Hailey Sutherland (Ridgeview) Alexis Kizer (Floyd) Macey Mullins (Gate City) Taylor Hankins (Page) Amber Kimberlin (Marion) 2nd Team Melaysia Donaldson (Glenvar) Brooklyn Frazier (Ridgeview) Haley Smith (Fort Chiswell) Anna Hagy (Marion) Kylene Franklin (Stonewall Jackson) Maria Wilson (Virginia) Amaya Lucas (Buffalo Gap) Laney Cline (Radford) Coach of the Year: Joe Lucas --