Friday Feature - October 25

We will be accepting submissions for our holiday card contest starting November 1! Submissions can be given to homeroom teachers or emailed to ldavis2@mail.dps.k12.va.us. First place will receive $200, and we will use their design for the DPS holiday card. Second place will receive $100. ALL students K-12 are invited to participate!

Please note: to be considered, cards must have covers that can be digitized through scanning. Elements such as 3D items and glitter cannot be digitized or recreated.

DPS employees, please remember to complete your ALICE training by Wednesday, October 30. You should have received an email about training from Navigate360. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sheree Spencer at sspencer@mail.dps.k12.va.us

The fall application window for School Choice 25-26 is now open!. Applications are available for the following schools and programs:

Activ8 STEM Academy

Galileo Magnet High School

6th Grade Academy at Schoolfield

Westwood international Academy (NEW for 25-26, Grades 6-8)

Arnett Hills international Academy (NEW for 25-26, Grades K-5)*

Virtual Academy (Grades 6-12)

Early College Program

Innov8 STEM Academy (NEW for 25-26, Grades 6-8)

Motiv8 STEM Academy (NEW for 25-26, Grades 9-12)

*Students currently zoned for Johnson will automatically be zoned for Arnett Hills.

View our 25-26 School Choice Guide here to find out more information about our new and returning programs.

October 25 - GW Varsity Football home game vs. Halifax starting at 7 p.m.

October 28 - Galileo Scholastic Bowl home meet vs. Altavista at 5 p.m.

October 30 - Middle School Football home game vs. Martinsville at 5:30 p.m.

October 31 - GW JV Football home game vs. Mecklenburg at 6 p.m.

*Check out school websites for school-based events!

On October 18, twenty-four theatre students from all grade levels at Bonner hopped on a bus and headed to Ferrum College, nestled in the heart of Ferrum, Virginia. It was a packed day of exploration and learning! Our students got an insider’s look at the college campus and theatre department, learning about life as a college student, available majors and minors, and even the honors program.

The highlight of the day? Our talented Bonner students took the stage! They performed scenes from our fall play for Ferrum’s theatre professors and students. Shout-out to two incredibly brave sixth graders, Caroline Wilson and Grace Michalski, who performed monologues all on their own!

After the performance, students grabbed lunch outdoors and took part in Ferrum’s Renaissance Fair. The students had a blast playing games, learning how medieval printing presses worked, discovering how berries and nuts were turned into ink and makeup, practicing their quill-writing skills, trying their hand at toy archery, tackling a scavenger hunt, walking a tightrope, and so much more!

To top it off, they were treated to a unique performance of Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night"—with a twist! The play was set in rural Appalachia, complete with southern accents and bluegrass music. Some of our students even got to participate in the performance. After watching the first act, the Bonner crew split into groups and teamed up with Ferrum students to create skits imagining how they thought the play would end. It was a fantastic learning experience and lots of fun! They wrapped up the day and headed back to school, feeling inspired and energized!

Mrs. Argyrakis would like to recognize her Nurse Aide II students for an outstanding performance this week at their off campus clinical rotation at Roman Eagle Health and Rehabilitation Center. She would also like to give a shout out to her NA I students for dressing as Future Health Professionals each Thursday.

Check out two of Mrs. Bartee's students at Westwood enjoying free reading time.

In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, faculty, staff, and students are filling the Kindness Wall with compliments and notes of encouragement.

Sixth graders from Schoolfield engaged in an interactive experience at the Greensboro Science Center, exploring the aquarium, museum, and zoo during their field trip.

Principal Bennett and Assistant Principal Smith treated the faculty and staff to a hot dog cookout in celebration of Park Avenue's full accreditation. A special thank you to Superintendent Hairston, Keisha Walker, and Tyrell Payne for joining the celebration!

Central Office held a pumping decorating contest as a fundraiser for the United Way campaign and the Employee Engagement Committee. There was a tie for first place with 19 votes! Congratulations to Vanaita McWilliams with the Minnie Mouse pumpkin and Amy Taylor with the poisonous apple pumpkin!

Congratulations to Miss Miller, the winner of our Quarter 1 perfect attendance challenge! Being at school every day has earned her a new bike.

On Friday morning, Mr. Cressell jumped right in to sub for the sunshine period Driver's Education course. He even quizzed the scholars on road signs!

Park Avenue was vibrant with rainbow colors as faculty, staff, and students dressed in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple to represent their grade levels!

On Friday, Mrs. Hogan's class performed text feature surgery. Students used nonfiction texts to identify text features, cut them out, then glue them to their "patient."

Mrs. Wilkerson and Coach Perdue's classes at Westwood play Pickle Ball.

Fifth grade students at Park Avenue recently visited the Virginia Museum of Natural History, where they explored exhibit galleries, participated in scavenger hunts, and engaged in the hands-on "Speedy Building" program, making for an exciting and educational day!

The Virtual Academy held an Awareness Spirit Week Oct. 22-25. We wore different colors to raise awareness for Bullying, Domestic Violence, and Breast Cancer.

Tuesday, Oct. 22 - Orange for Bullying Awareness

Wednesday, Oct. 23 - Purple for Domestic Violence Awareness

Friday, Oct. 25 - Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness