PCPS PSAs

1) Vernon Johns students join peers in meeting with Governor 2) Art gets a boost in PCPS from award-winning teacher 3) PCPS halls come to life through artists’ talents 1) Vernon Johns students join peers in meeting with Governor Petersburg students from Vernon Johns Junior High School joined their peers from several other Virginia school districts on Friday […]

January 16, 2009; 11:33 PM • by brenda p

1) Vernon Johns students join peers in meeting with Governor
2) Art gets a boost in PCPS from award-winning teacher
3) PCPS halls come to life through artists’ talents

1) Vernon Johns students join peers in meeting with Governor

Petersburg students from Vernon Johns Junior High School joined their peers from several other Virginia school districts on Friday for a meeting in Richmond with Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. Sponsored by Dominion Inc. and held at the Dominion offices, the event gave the young people a chance to talk directly with Gov. Kaine and other dignitaries about leadership and the historic significance of the recent presidential election.

Dominion has typically celebrated each presidential inauguration, but the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American president called for something more, said Dominion President and CEO Thomas Farell II. Thus, the special event Friday.

The students agreed.

“This election has shown me, a young Black man, that any goal that I set is attainable. I hope that President Obama will usher in a new era of world peace,” said VJJHS student Timothy Brown.

Gov. Kaine asked the students a number of questions and reminded them that “history is not just something you read about, it is something that you make.”

The students also talked about their respective schools, the most influential persons in their lives and what they felt makes for a good leader.

Such a person must be sensitive to the needs of people, said VJJHS student Mercedes Kate.
“My mother is the best example of a good leader,” said VJJHS student India Burns, daughter of Petersburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Cassandra Burns. “I tell her everything and she gives me good advice.”

When the discussion ended, Dominion presented each school that was represented with a $5,000 check to be used to implement leadership programs.

2) Art gets a boost in PCPS from award-winning teacher

Dewey Cashwell has been an art teacher in the Petersburg City Public Schools for the last ten years. For the last eight years he has had 21 winners in the Virginia Association of Pupil Transportation Poster contest.

This year there were six winners from Robert E. Lee Elementary School, which means that half of the calendar this year comes from Lee. He has also had one cover winner in that time frame.

All together his art students have been rewarded with more than $1,600 of savings bonds. The PCPS congratulates Mr. Cashwell — keep up the excellent work with students in Petersburg!

3) PCPS halls come to life through artists’ talents

Despite the gloom of winter outside, the inside walls of the Petersburg City Public Schools are bright and cheery, adorned with the artwork of several talented individuals. Artist and PCPS teacher Dewey Cashwell’s colorful designs brighten the hallways of R.E. Lee Elementary School and Blandford Academy. More recently, another artist has put his gifts to work at Westview Early Childhood Education Center.

Jerome Wiggins is soft-spoken and gentle in demeanor, but his murals at Westview are bright and full of fun. From realistic frogs to whimsical rabbits, and even a few abstract designs, his work captures the attention of visitors and students alike. Some of the paintings are even tied to the school’s curriculum, based on illustrations from the students’ textbooks and thus serving as a visual reminder as they pass by.

Wiggins has previously submitted artwork in a contest sponsored by New York City and in recognition of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“I’ve been painting since I was a little kid,” Wiggins said.

“We are very fortunate and so grateful that he came here to do this,” said Quvarda Bailey, principal at Westview.

The enthusiasm is rubbing off, too; one Westview teacher is already learning some drawing skills from Wiggins and hopes to share those skills with his students.

Everyone knows the fable of the lazy grasshopper — and now he’s a fixture on the wall at Westview.

Jerome Wiggins works on his latest creation.

January 16, 2009 11:33 PM 0