Penguin Press
Newsletter of the Rawls Byrd PTA
Volume 6, Issue 5 February 2006
Rawls Byrd Elementary School 112 Laurel Lane Williamsburg, VA 23185 (757) 229-7597 wjcc.k12.va.us/RB
President’s Corner PTA Reflections Program
Well, no snow yet…I want to thank the many children
in all grades who entered the PTA Reflections contest.
Wrap Up
Our evening social for the students who entered was a Congratulations to the 72 talented students who
lot of fun. We have been receiving lots of penguin
artwork for the 2006-2007 T-shirts. I always love to see entered very creative artwork, music composition,
the creativity of our children. If you have not submitted literature, and beautiful photographs! Many of you
your penguin drawings yet, send them in soon. entered more than once. We had 80 entries this
year! We were fortunate to have had “expert judges” in
In February we celebrate Black History month and
prepare for a fun filled International Night on Friday, each category; a local artist, a freelance photographer,
February 10 from 6:30-8:00pm. We hope everyone is and a college English professor. Without these judges,
able to attend. If you do not have transportation to the there would be no results.
event, please contact us. We will make sure you have
a ride to and from the school. The PTA has adopted a And the Winners Are…
program with Williamsburg Taxi for parents who are not
able to make it to school for conferences and events. In the artistic category:
Your PTA wants to help parents be involved at Rawls
Byrd. Outstanding: (K-2) Liam Walters, (3-5) Dylan Burks.
My focus in the upcoming months will be Excellence: (K-2) Kayleigh Harris,
recycling. National Environmental Week is April 16-22,
(3-5) Corbin Kenaley
2006. Let’s talk to our kids about how recycling affects
the community. Details for an Earth Day contest will be Merit: (K-2) Michael Luck, (3-5) Alaina Ambler
coming soon. And as always if you have any questions
or concerns about how your PTA can involve more In the literature category:
parents, please let me know. There will be a PTA
Board meeting Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00pm. All Outstanding: (K-2) Ryan Kenaley
parents are invited, as always. Hope to see you there!
(3-5) Tanya Nicole Vold Hoatson
Your PTA president,
Michelle Broady 221-6619 Excellence: (K-2) Caroline Nice, (3-5) Neil Huckstep
broadypta@widomaker.com
Merit: (K-2) Taylor Herrin, (3-5) Jessica Bresnaham
"Meet Your School Board and Superintendent" In the music category:
February 13, 2006 at 7:00pm Outstanding: (3-5) Tyler Iorizzo
The PTA Council and Matthew Whaley PTA are co-hosting And lastly, in the photography category:
this reception so that parents may meet and interact with the
School Board and Dr. Mathews in an informal environment. Outstanding: (K-2) Erika Powell
There will also be a ceremony to recognize our local Excellence: (K-2) Danielle Hackemeyer
Reflections winners. This event will take place in the Media
Center of Matthew Whaley Elementary School.
(continued on page 3)
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO ATTEND!
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Library Corner
The Beacon of Freedom Award
This award is presented annually to an author whose
International
Night
work introduces American history, from Colonial times
to the Civil War, to children in a historically-accurate
and engaging manner. The Colonial Williamsburg
Foundation and the Williamsburg Regional Library
invite 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to judge the annual
Beacon of Freedom Award. This year, Rawls Byrd’s
judge is 5th grader Caroline Utne. Her alternate is 5th
grader Kamran Rahman.
On February 1st, Caroline will join other
representatives from local schools (public and private)
at the Williamsburg Regional Library to discuss and
decide on the recipient of the 2005 Beacon of
Freedom Award.
Each fall six history books are selected by the Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation and the Williamsburg
Regional Library and presented to each school’s Friday
February 10, 2006
library/media center. This year the books were
purchased for the schools by the Disabled American
Veterans, Patrick Henry Chapter No. 34.
Each of the books was introduced by Mrs. Pedigo 6:30 – 8:00 pm
during regular library lessons. The students had the
opportunity to read the books and to select their
favorite. The students could volunteer to be the Calling all Rawls Byrd Penguins!! Come to
representative from Rawls Byrd. To volunteer, the the International Night at Rawls Byrd on
student had to have read all six books and be willing to February 10th where you will have the
express the opinions of their fellow students.
opportunity to visit 15 different countries
For more information about this program, please from all over the world. There will be
contact Mrs. Pedigo at the library/media center. music, snacks, passports, and games. You
won’t want to miss this amazing cultural
event!! All children must be accompanied
Lost and Found
by an adult. Please enter the multipurpose
We have LOTS and LOTS of lost items that room via the parking lot doors. The entire
need to find there way back to our Penguins. evening will be free and heaps of fun.
Please take a moment during International So mark your calendars right now!!
Night to look through the Lost and Found
(located in the Cafeteria).
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(Reflections Awards continued from page 1)
Fire Safety Program All participants were invited to a dessert awards
ceremony on Thursday, January 19, 2006. All
children received a Brewster’s Ice Cream card, a
certificate, and a Rawls Byrd wristband.
I am truly amazed at the level of creativity our
students possess. Thank you to all who entered and
all those who encouraged them!
Holly Kenaley, Reflections Chairperson
Reflections Winners Advance
The third grade fire safety program is new in the
Williamsburg-James City County schools this year.
This program has met with a great deal of success. It Congratulations to Tyler Iorizzo and Ryan
focuses on the home fire escape plan, with a great Kenaley! These students were finalists in the
video that shows the children the important steps they Reflections competition at the Council level. They
and their families need to follow to prepare for a fire in will now advance to the District competition. Rawls
their homes. Every year, children die in home fires - Byrd is proud of these students for representing our
they can't access or open a screen or a window, school so well and we wish them luck!
simply don't know what to do so they try to hide, or (See page 7 for a list of all the Council winners).
even never wake to the alarm.
The home fire escape plan helps to overcome these Redistricting Forums
obstacles; it is the gold standard for being prepared for
a fire in the home. Rawls Byrd was the first school to The Community Task Force for Redistricting (CTFR) will
have the program this year, and the entire team of host six Community Forums in February and March
teachers excelled at reinforcing the material to ensure to present boundary lines for the eighth elementary school
that the children would be safer from fire. They held a and third high school. At the forum, three proposals will be
poster contest and even placed some of the posters presented and CTFR members will solicit feedback, record
on a board in the main hall of the school, where any recommendations and questions, and address concerns of
visitor to the school could see them. This important attendees. The proposed boundaries will not be finalized
life safety message can't be stressed enough. I truly until after the forums so we can have as much community
appreciate the efforts of Mrs. Lewis and the entire third input as possible. The dates of these forums appear in
grade team! “Upcoming Events” on page 6. Please plan to attend at
least one of these meetings. Your input is important!
Sincerely,
Margaret Tucker, Public Fire Educator
Ann Anderson
James City County Fire Department
CTFR Representative for Rawls Byrd
------------------------------------------ cut out and return to teacher --------------------------------------------
Where would you like to see the PTA focus attention and funding? Submit
your ideas to your teacher and they will be forwarded to the PTA Board.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Penguin Press 3
Fundraising is easy! Box Tops for Education
(For Parents…and Kids)
*New Opportunities for Fundraising*
Here’s the scoop on the Box Tops for
Farm Fresh - turn in your Farm Fresh Education Program:
receipts in order to earn sports equipment for
Rawls Byrd. ***(Receipts from January are 1. Kids, check those pantries…. if you see any of
worth double the points). the General Mills or Pillsbury products listed on
the next page, grab those scissors and cut out
the official coupon.
Remember to mention Rawls Byrd when you
sign your child up for an activity at WISC. 2. Put them in a bag or envelope and give them to
your teacher by Thursday February 23, 2006.
Our school can receive a portion of your
registration fee. 3. The PTA sends all those little coupons to
General Mills and they give Rawls Byrd money
Don’t forget our ongoing that we use to buy important items for our
fundraisers… classrooms.
*Box tops for Education - clip and turn in your box 4. Our school can also earn bonus points for
tops (worth 10 cents each)! We earn an average of every family that joins the Box Tops 4
$162/month with Box tops…think how much more we Education Booster Club…… by logging on to
could earn if everyone participated. www.boxtops4education.com. Click on the
Booster Club icon.
*Tyson Project A+ - on most Tyson products -Clip
the Tyson labels (worth 24 cents each)! 5. Also enter the “ONE MILLION BONUS
BOXTOPS Buried Treasure.” See
*Campbell's soup labels - save labels from www.boxtops4education.com for more
information.
Campbell's products (this helps us earn gym and
science equipment).
*Food Lion - register your MVP card and a portion of
Recycle for a Reason
your total will come back to Rawls Byrd. You must
register each year for this to count. You can register at Did you know?
Foodlion.com or by calling 1-800-210-9569.
Aluminum cans can be dropped off in the library
*Ink Cartridges - send in your used ink cartridges on Fridays. Recycle 100 cans and Mrs. Pedigo will
(Staples gives us $3 for each one). We accept all give you a free book at the end of the school
except Epson. year!
Art Supplies are always needed. Recycle your
*Ukrop’s - make sure you register your Ukrop’s card plastic meat trays to be used for painting in the art
and a portion of sales will come back to Rawls Byrd. room. Paper towel rolls are also used in
classrooms.
*Target - use your Target Guest card or Target credit Campbell’s Soup labels are used to get FREE
card. We get 1% of your sales! Make sure your card is stuff for Rawls Byrd.
linked to Rawls Byrd Elementary School. Used Printer Ink Cartridges are recycled. We
receive $3.00 per cartridge.
*Schoolpop- if you like to shop on-line, go to
Each Box Top is worth 10 cents.
www.schoolpop.com. Many of your favorite retailers
Farm Fresh receipts give Rawls Byrd audio-
participate, and up to 20% of your purchase will come
visual equipment, books and computers.
back to Rawls Byrd!
It’s a fun and an important family activity that
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle teaches the fundamentals of saving and learning
Holdsworth (221-0146 or mandmx3s@aol.com) responsibility.
If we all recycle just a little, it will help to
keep our earth clean.
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Penguin Press 5
Reflections 2005-2006
Upcoming Events
February Council Finalists
February The following entries will represent Williamsburg-James
Black History Month City County Public Schools on the district level. Each
student’s name, grade and school is identified.
February 7
PTA Meeting - 7:00pm (400 building) Literature:
*All parents are invited.
Olivia Speight (K) Norge
February 10 Maria Esch (1) Matthew Whaley
International Night (6:30-8:00pm) Ryan Kenaley (2) Rawls Byrd
February 13 7:00pm (Matthew Whaley) McKenzie Riley (2) Clara Byrd Baker
“Meet your School Board and Superintendent” reception Braden Troy Wilson (2) Stonehouse
*All are invited.
Thomas Baker (4) Matthew Whaley
February 14 Amariah Brooks (5) Norge
Valentine's Day Alexa Palmer (6) James Blair
February 15 Maxim Paskalutsa (6) Berkeley
Planning Meeting for Family Fun Night Laura Reinhart (8) Toano
Contact Susan Reese if interested 220-1137, spreese@cox.net
Musical Composition:
February 16 – Community Forum on Redistricting*
Katie Stanton (1) James River
James River Elementary (Cafeteria) 7-9pm
Hannah Cummins (3) Norge
February 20 Alexandria Arthur (4) Clara Byrd Baker
No School - President's Day
Tyler Iorizzo (5) Rawls Byrd
February 21 Community Forum on Redistricting* Alexa Allmann (8) Berkeley
Jamestown HS (Cafeteria) 7-9pm
Photography:
February 23 Caecilia Armstrong (1) Stonehouse
Turn in your Box Tops for Education (outside office)
Katie Stanton (1) James River
February 28 Joshua Kaurich (3) Matthew Whaley
4th grade play (2:00pm and 7:00pm) Evan McCoy (4) Stonehouse
February 28 Community Forum on Redistricting* Patrick Snyder (8) James Blair
Norge Elementary (Gym) 7-9pm Gabrielle Christner (12) Lafayette
March Visual Arts:
Markus Mullins (K) Norge
March 2 Community Forum on Redistricting*
Jarrett Nirmaier (1) Clara Byrd Baker
Lafayette (Commons) 7-9pm
Gabreila Santana (1) Stonehouse
March 3 Eli Collins (3) Clara Byrd Baker
End of Interim Period
Sophie Leruth (3) DJ Montague
March 7-8 Meg Carper (7) Berkeley
5th grade- Writing SOL Rebecca Dobosy (8) James Blair
March 8 Community Forum on Redistricting* Arthur Gibbs (10) Lafayette
Berkeley Middle (Auditorium) 7-9pm
The students listed above will be recognized and
th
presented with a certificate on February 13 at the "Meet
March 9 Community Forum on Redistricting*
Your School Board and Superintendent" reception. The
Rawls Byrd (Multi-purpose) 7-9pm
reception will be held at Matthew Whaley Elementary
school and will begin at 7pm.
Penguin Press 6