Pictures and info submitted by Tammy Dean, J. Frank Hillyard FACS Teacher & FCCLA Adviser

J. Frank Hillyard FCCLA Members (Click to view larger image)

Fourteen J. Frank Hillyard Middle School students traveled to Virginia Beach, Virginia, to attend the FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) State Leadership and Recognition Conference April 26 – April 29. Eleven FCCLA members competed in STAR (Students Taking Action for Recognition) Events, receiving several state medals.

Bailey Morris, Mariah Trimble, and Emily McPherson

Stephen Lowe and Justin Shirkey

Mrs. Carr with students in her 4th grade class at Elkton Elementary

Jennie Carr, 4th Grade teacher at Elkton Elementary, was recently named a “SMART Exemplary Educator,” presented by SMART, maker of the interactive whiteboard found in RCPS classrooms.

“This is a great honor for Jennie as she is a leader in technology at EES and RCPS. To earn this award Jennie submitted ways that she incorporates SMART Technology in her lessons,” praised EES Principal Rad Dansey.

From SMART: “The SMART Exemplary Educator program recognizes educators who are leading the way in using SMART products to engage students and improve learning outcomes. The educators choose pathways that guide thier experience in the program. Each year, SMART offers opportunities and resources in the areas of research, content creation, peer education, education advocacy, and market and product advisory. Throughout the school year, SMART Exemplary Educators are able to share best practices, collaborate with peers, create content, provide feedback on SMART’s existing and future products and participate in programs, workshops and events sponsored by SMART.”

Congratulations to Mrs. Carr!

Various students from East Rockingham, Broadway, and Turner Ashby recently earned the honor of participating in the P. Buckley Moss Invitational, a juried student art show hosted by Pat Moss, the artist from Waynesboro known internationally and most commonly for her depictions of rural scenery and the simple lifestyle of the Amish and Mennonite people.

Pat Moss with Heather Offenbacker. Heather holds her winning teapot that Mrs. Moss now owns!

At the show’s opening, Mrs. Moss was on hand to meet the Rockingham students and help critique their work. And in one case, she even purchased student work. ERHS student Heather Offenbacker was thrilled when the artist offered to buy HER ceramic teapot she made in Michele Rosengarth‘s class at East Rockingham! Heather’s work earned an honorable mention award.

RCPS students competed for 1st – 3rd  place and honorable mention (monetary awards) with others from Albemarle, Augusta, Bath, Highland, Nelson, and Rockbridge counties and cities of Waynesboro, Staunton, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Lexington.

ERHS’s Ashton Dean took first place honors in the Sculpture category while Broadway’s Ida Blanchette took the top prize in the Mixed Media category.

“This is quite an honor for our students,” praised Mrs. Rosengarth.

Their artwork will continue to be on display at the P. Buckley Moss Museum in Waynesboro through May 26.

The following art students were accepted into the show:

Ashton Dean won first place in the Sculpture category at the Moss Invitational.

East Rockingham High School
Ashton Dean – 1st place (Sculpture)
Heather Offenbacker – Honorable Mention (Sculpture)
Jessica Hinkle
Kelsey Stoneham
Josh Gooden
Abigail Lopez
Clara Churchill
Danielle Kuzma

Turner Ashby High School
Michelle Heatwole
Rachel Leweke
Rebecca Clark
Sara Hildebrand

Broadway High School
Ida Blanchette – 1st place (Mixed Media)
Evan Wachter

Pictures submitted by East Rockingham High School. Info from Michele Rosengarth (ERHS), Cynthia Shank (TAHS), and Martha Maddox (BHS)

The English-Speaking Union
National Shakespeare Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Christopher Broadwell
212-818-1200 x 226
shakespeare@esuus.org

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

For Teen from Turner Ashby High School

NEW YORK, NY (April 24, 2012) – Captivating audiences with a performance of a sonnet and monologue from Shakespeare, Colin McLaughlin from Harrisonburg, Virginia, a student of Cecille Deason at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater placed as a semi-finalist at the 29th annual English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition.  The competition was held on April 23rd at Lincoln Center in New York City for 58 winners of ESU Branch competitions nationwide.  Colin had won the ESU Lexington, VA Branch regional competition.

Colin McLaughlin, semi-finalist in the 2012 English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition at Lincoln Center in New York City.

This year’s winner of the English-Speaking Union Charlottesville regional competition, Tiffany Ames, won first prize in the ESU National Shakespeare Competition, winning a full Scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art’s Young Actors Summer School in London, England.  Second place winner, Cyler Winnie, representing the Portland Branch, won a scholarship to attend the American Shakespeare Center Theatre Camp.  Third place winner, Katie Weatherseed, representing the Greenwich Branch of the ESU, won $500 from the Shakespeare Society.

The English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition is a school-based program to help students develop their speaking and critical thinking skills and their appreciation of literature as they explore the beauty of the language and timeless themes in Shakespeare’s works.  In three progressive competition levels, students memorize, interpret, and perform monologues and sonnets in their own schools, at ESU Branch sponsored community competitions and at the National Shakespeare Competition.  Inaugurated in 1983, the program has engaged more than 250,000 young people.

As the winner of a local English-Speaking Union Branch Competition, Colin was awarded the trip to New York City for the final stage of the Competition.  They provided the Branch finalists with two full days of activities, including an acting workshop at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and tours of New York City.  Perhaps best of all for these teenagers was the opportunity to spend a weekend in New York City with other students from across the country who share their love of theater, language and, particularly, Shakespeare.

Among the distinguished judges for this year’s Competition were Shakespeare scholar and Rutgers University Distinguished Professor of English Maurice Charney; Director of Mission and Co-Founder of the American Shakespeare Center Ralph Alan Cohen; New York University Tisch School of the Arts Classical Studio Director Louis Scheeder; Artistic Director of The Shakespeare Society Michael Sexton; Program Director of the Poetry Foundation Stephen Young; Casting Director at the Public Theater Heidi Griffiths and Peter Francis James, an actor who just finished his role as Oscar in Edward Albee’s The Lady from Dubuque.  The judges were asked to evaluate three components of the students’ performances: understanding of the material, ability to effectively communicate to the audience and artistic expression.

The English-Speaking Union of the United States is a non-profit, non-political educational organization whose mission is to celebrate English as a shared language to foster global understanding and good will by providing educational and cultural opportunities for students, educators and members.  The ESU carries out its work through a network of 70 Branches, sponsoring a variety of language and international education programs.  For information on joining the ESU, visit www.esuus.org or call 212-818-1200.

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THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION OF THE UNITED STATES
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

144 East 39^th Street, New York, NY  10016
Tel: 212-818-1200    Fax: 212-867-4177

Email: info@esuus.org    Website: www.esuus.org