Far West End Schools & Teachers Receive Top Honors

For the third consecutive year, Colonial Trail and Rivers Edge Elementary Schools have been recognized as Virginia Naturally Schools for their efforts to promote good stewardship of Virginia’s natural resources during the 2009-10 school year. The Virginia Board of Education has recognized the Virginia Naturally School program as the official environmental education school recognition program for the state. […]

November 10, 2010; 4:25 PM • by Downtown Short Pump Staff

For the third consecutive year, Colonial Trail and Rivers Edge Elementary Schools have been recognized as Virginia Naturally Schools for their efforts to promote good stewardship of Virginia’s natural resources during the 2009-10 school year.

The Virginia Board of Education has recognized the Virginia Naturally School program as the official environmental education school recognition program for the state. This program recognizes the efforts of many Virginia schools to increase the environmental awareness of the state’s youngest citizens. Virginia Naturally Schools must meet specific requirements that increase with each successive year a school achieves this recognition.

During the past year, Colonial Trail Elementary School increased recycling material options and celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day with the a school-wide Spring Eco Fest. The school assembled the first fifth grade Green Team and started an Elmer’s Glue Crew Recycling Program.

Rivers Edge Elementary School sponsors “paperless days” to encourage hands-on activities that save approximately 3,000 sheets of paper. Student leaders serve on a “Green Team” to collect recycling bins each week.

Short Pump schools themselves aren’t the only award winners– some of their teachers have been honored, too.

Ten Henrico County Public Schools teachers were honored with 2010 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence for demonstrated excellence in the classroom. Out of 148 applications, 31 teachers in the metro Richmond area were named finalists for the award, and a total of 18 teachers were selected as winners, a total of 7 between both of the categories in the Far West End received awards.

The winners will receive direct cash grants to explore postgraduate studies, attend professional workshops or experience world travel. Winners are expected to convey their educational experiences to their students.

Winners:

Wendy L. Bowles, Rivers Edge Elementary School, Second Grade

Constance K. Fuller, Deep Run High School, English

Todd Allen Phillips, Godwin High School, AP Statistics/Math

Deborah Ann Waldenmaier, Colonial Trail Elementary School, Third Grade

Finalists:

Anthony DiTrapani, Springfield Park Elementary School, Fourth Grade

Melanie Moore, Springfield Park Elementary School, Fourth Grade

Sheryl Vaughn, Twin Hickory Elementary School, First Grade

R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence, sponsored by the R.E.B. Foundation, is a supporting organization of The Community Foundation. The awards serve to identify, recognize, and promote excellence in classroom teaching in area public schools. Established in 1988, the program represents an important private sector initiative to strengthen the quality of public education by focusing on the teacher.

November 10, 2010 4:25 PM 0