Close Shave at Lees Corner
When second grader Tara Sanker was diagnosed with brain cancer, the staff and faculty at Lees Corner Elementary School got ready to help her through her journey. The first milestone was the day she came into school with a shaved head. Some younger students were confused about the changes Sanker was going through and made some comments and observations that were inadvertently hurtful. Tara’s mom Tammy Sanker, Principal Robert D’Amato and Tara’s teacher Vicki McGorty felt the best way to help Tara was to share her story with the students at Lees Corner Elementary School during the morning news program.
Understanding Autism
In observation of Autism Awareness Month, Union Mill Elementary students participated in a sensory simulation experience during their physical education classes on Thursday, April 4, and Friday, April 5. The activities included an obstacle course which simulated things that children with autism often find to be helpful, such as jumping and bouncing. Other stations included a mirror station that simulated perception confusion, a glove station that simulated fine motor challenges, and a listening station that simulated the filtering of external stimuli, all of which can be challenging for students with autism. The experience gave students a better understanding of autism. The sensory simulation activities were coordinated and led by Union Mill PTA Alternative Education Co-Chairs, Melyssa Plath and Nicole Moore, and PE teachers Jenny Murray and Elizabeth Cross. Several Union Mill parent volunteers were also on hand to assist the students at each station.
Celebrating Erin’s Life
Event promotes her legacy.
Erin Peterson was just 18 when she became a victim of the April 16, 2007 Virginia Tech massacre. But her parents, Centreville’s Grafton and Celeste Peterson, make sure the Westfield High grad’s legacy lives on. They established the Erin Peterson Fund to continue their daughter’s commitment to reaching goals through education and aiding people in need. They also began an annual Gospel Celebration in remembrance of her and to raise money for the fund.
Fenn Convicted of Child Porn Charges
A former special-education teacher at Poplar Tree Elementary has been convicted in federal court of two, child-pornography charges. He is Robert C. Fenn, 27, of Emerald Chase Drive in Oak Hill.
‘They Love Each Other with All Their Hearts’
Chantilly High presents ‘You Can’t Take it With You.’
A funny and heartwarming story of an American family is portrayed in Chantilly High’s upcoming production of “You Can’t Take It with You.” It’s the school’s Cappies show and, said Director Ed Monk, “It’s double-cast because we have such a huge group of talented juniors and seniors.”
30 Years Prison for Handyman’s Death
Champean sentenced for May 2010 Centreville homicide.
Jose Cardona was a handyman and gardener on a huge, Centreville estate. On May 17, 2010, he also became something else — a hero who died protecting his employer’s son from armed intruders.
Student Peace Award Winner
Mountain View High School selected senior Aracely (Chely) Cifuentes to be its recipient of the Student Peace Award. Originally from Guatemala, Chely believes in the power of mentoring, tutoring, and motivating young people in the foster care system as a means of assuring survival.
Time To Play Ball
SYA baseball held its opening-day ceremony Saturday, April 6, at Cub Run Elementary. Teams carried banners and paraded around the field before playing their games.
‘Oompa, Loompa, Doompety Doo’
“Willy Wonka Jr.” is at Rocky Run Middle.
Get ready for oompa loompas and chocolate; Rocky Run Middle is presenting “Willy Wonka Jr.” The performance dates are Thursday-Friday, April 18-19, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 20, at 2:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 at the door and during school lunches.
Fundraisers Set for Police Unity Tour
Centreville’s Kevin Whalen is riding for his sixth year in the Police Unity Tour (PUT) Virginia ride, May 10-12. It’s 230 miles from Richmond to Charlottesville to Warrenton to Centreville, and to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Chantilly Robotics Team 612 Honored
Chantilly Robotics Team 612 was presented with the 2013 Judges Award at the DC FIRST Robotics Competition, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on March 29-30. Each year FIRST challenges students, working with adult mentors, to design a robot to play an original game, and to design and build it in exactly six weeks. This year at the DC FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Regional Competition, robots built by 59 teams faced off in a game called “Ultimate Ascent.”
School Notes CV 4/10/2013
Email announcements to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon. Photos are welcome. Carolina Sosa, a sophomore at Westfield High School, was among 50 girls from 23 states and Puerto Rico to participate in the ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership program.
Schools
School Notes
Email announcements to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos are welcome. More than 300 JMU students embarked on 30 spring break trips around the country and world. Students spent the week living simply, focused on service in their destination community but also on teamwork and reflection within their group. The following students participated in alternative spring break: Emma Stewart, Adrienne Lowry and Rachael Donnelly
Ready to Take on the World
Rocky Run students heading to FIRST Lego League championship in St. Louis.
After capturing the FIRST Lego League state championship, Rocky Run’s seventh-grade team, R2D2, is ready to take on the world. The five girls and two boys are heading to St. Louis to participate, April 24-27, in the world championship.
Carry on Erin Peterson’s Legacy
Annual Gospel Celebration of Life is Sunday, April 14.
Erin Peterson was a basketball star at Westfield High and was almost finished with her freshman year of college, on April 16, 2007, when she became one of 32 people killed in the Virginia Tech massacre. Just 18, she was sitting in her French class when her life ended.