April 2023

Spring is here. Check out two unique views of our schools. Rappahannock is beautiful!

Aerial view of high school by Tim Stockdale

Elementary school by Holly Jenkins

The Profile of a Graduate team and Laurel Ridge Community College hosted a Career Expo for juniors and seniors on April 4th. Sixteen businesses participated in this event and offered a variety of jobs and career opportunities. To prepare for this event, juniors and seniors completed a generic job application and were given 10 copies to hand out to employers. Students learned what dressing in “business casual” attire meant, and the importance of presenting themselves with confidence.

“There were opportunities for everyone. I liked learning about the employers’ stories. I felt more prepared and less nervous this year,” said senior Emma Jenkins.

Thank you to the following businesses for making today successful: Child Care & Learning Center, VDOT, Gray Ghost Winery, New Iberia, Little Washington Winery, Puller Veterans Care Center, Racer Construction, US Senate, All Roads Company, Rappahannock County Sheriff's Office, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, Graves Mountain Lodge, VA Career Works, The Inn at Little Washington, WG Construction, Laurel Ridge Community College.

Photo by Holly Jenkins

Earlier this month, first-grade students enjoyed an outdoor egg hunt at the end of the school day before departing for spring break.

Photo by Holly Jenkins

RCHS welcomed Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton on April 12th for a tour of a few of our Career & Technical Education programs. Joined by members of the Board of Supervisors, the School Board Members, and county administrators, Principal Carlos Seward and Dr. Shannon Grimsley proudly showcased a few of the many offerings that RCHS has available for students. In the agriculture academy, Ms. Michele Fincham explained a few hands-on skills the students learn as the special guests observed the Small Animal Care class. The tour continued with a visit to the building and trade shop, where Mr. Scott Schlosser shared various student woodworking projects, such as handcrafted Adirondack chairs, bowls, and pens.

Photo by Holly Jenkins

On April 13th, Commit to Be Fit was thrilled to welcome Ms. Liz Beling, Regional Farm to School Liaison, back to RCES to lead a Harvest of the Month taste test for students. This month's featured harvest, lettuce, was featured in a mandarin orange and lettuce salad with poppy seed dressing. Yum!

Photo by Holly Jenkins

RCHS Juniors and Seniors observed a car crash simulation led by Kathryn Waters of Rappahannock County Fire & Rescue Department and Robyn Murray, RCES Nurse and RCHS Introduction to Health and Medical Services Teacher. Multiple county companies were in attendance (Washington Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department, Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad, Amissville Volunteer Fire And Rescue), as well as the Virginia State Police and the Rappahannock County Sheriff's Office. While this was a training exercise with real time response, it served as an opportunity for the students to witness firsthand the serious consequences from driving under the influence. In the simulation, the students observed the aftermath of a serious car accident, which resulted in multiple injuries and one fatality (played by a teacher). The students watched as the surviving passengers, played by students in Ms. Murray’s class, were extricated from the car and treated for injuries. Additionally, they observed as the driver took a field sobriety test and was placed in handcuffs and escorted to the police car. In the final portion of the simulation, one student was “airlifted” from the scene by an actual helicopter. Following the scenario, Lieutenant Janie Jenkins, who serves as the Division Commander of the 911 Center for the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office, spoke to the students about her own personal tragedy after losing her sister, along with four other people, in an alcohol-related car accident years ago.

Throughout the day, the Virginia State Police led a distracted driver simulation. Students were asked to drive a golf cart through an obstacle course while Trooper Eric Smith asked them to check text messages, spin a basketball on their finger, and more. This exercise showed how quickly accidents can happen while driving while texting or not fully paying attention to the road. Also, students had the opportunity to try on goggles that impaired vision and mimicked the effects of alcohol.

RCPS would like to thank everyone that participated in today’s simulations, which aimed to educate the students on the importance of safe driving and the hazards of drinking and driving.

Photos by Holly Jenkins

RCHS Prom Night 2023! Held at Region's 117 in Lake Frederick, VA, the students enjoyed dinner and dancing and an all around fun evening!

Photos by Tim Stockdale

Recently, RCES students raised an impressive $29,000 for playground upgrades during the Rappahannock PTO Fun Run fundraiser. The upgrades for the upper playground will include sand for the volleyball court, new tether balls, a shade structure, and possibly new swings.

As a reward for meeting the Fun Run goal, the PTO arranged for Ms. Echo Uzzo from Echoes of Nature to present her Animals Around the World Assembly for the entire school. Ms. Uzzo has been sharing her knowledge of wildlife for 20+ years as the education director and presenter for Echoes Of Nature. Before that, she was in the education department with Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, VA, and The Maryland Zoo when it was The Baltimore Zoo.

Students enjoyed seeing the special live ambassadors present at the assembly: a hawk, ferret, red foot tortoise, and a Hog Island boa.

Photos by Holly Jenkins

To celebrate Earth Day, RCES students enjoyed a fun, interactive assembly featuring Billy B., an educator turned songwriter and performer. The children learned about the Earth’s atmosphere, weather, climate, and more through musical lyrics and lively dance moves. Thank you, Rappflow - Rappahannock Friends and Lovers of Our Watersheds, for sponsoring this engaging, kinesthetic learning opportunity.

Photo by Holly Jenkins

This month, students represented RCPS at the 17th Annual Special Games Event in Culpeper. The students participated in all events, modeled perseverance, and came out smiling. Both staff and students had a wonderful day. Congratulations to our student-athletes!

Photo by Lynn Rice-Takahashi

On April 20th, the RCPS Music Department hosted an Open Mic Coffee Shop, which featured the RCHS Guitar Ensemble. Participants enjoyed hearing a variety of performances while enjoying an assortment of pastries, baked goods, and warm beverages.

During April, the Rappahannock Department of Social Services and RCPS sponsored a t-shirt design contest and a coloring contest during Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. Thank you to all the students who submitted entries. In the t-shirt design contest, there were so many wonderful entries conveying the theme Every Child Matters. For the 8th-12th grade group, Natalie Campbell's entry was selected as the most reflective of the theme Every Child Matters. For the 4th-7th grade group, the entry selected as the most reflective of the theme was from MaKenna Keane. Additionally, her entry was selected as the best entry overall, and her design has been placed on a t-shirt! All entries will be on display in the Pinwheel Garden at Sperryfest on April 29th, along with the coloring contest entries from PreK through 3rd-grade classes! The t-shirts will be available for a small donation at the SperryFest event at the Social Services pinwheel garden.

Photo by Dr. Shannon Grimsley

CLICK HERE to view upcoming events in May.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, RCHS will be offering behind-the-wheel training! To view the informational flyer, visit https://content.myconnectsuite.com/api/documents/d874699a4a9243e3af05003ca6e61864.pdf

RCPS is generating an internal list of students who qualify for this program based on eligibility requirements for students in grades 10-12. Parents/guardians will be contacted once the schedule has been created. For additional questions, please contact Dani Pond at dpond@rappahannockschools.us. If you are the parent/guardian of a NON-RCPS student who is eligible and would like to receive more information, please fill out the form using the QR code on the flier.

To view the list of helpful mental health and wellness resources for students and families, CLICK HERE.

Children need healthy meals to learn. Rappahannock County Public Schools offers daily healthy meals that meet the standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Your child(ren) may be eligible for free meals or reduced-price meals if your household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. To view the eligibility chart and learn more, CLICK HERE.

To apply, visit our SCHOOL NUTRITION page and select from either an online application or paper application.

Website: www.rappahannockschools.us
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rappahannockcountypublicschools
Instagram: www.instagram.com/_rcps_