Category: Schools

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Grease on the Road

The Pink Ladies in the number "Freddy, My Love" from "Grease": Carly Haling, Ryann Sheehy, Virginia Garey and Lauren Rider.
The Pink Ladies in the number “Freddy, My Love” from “Grease”: Carly Haling, Ryann Sheehy, Virginia Garey and Lauren Rider.

 

Western’s stage production on tour, radio and Web
by Brian Cohen

In show business, you have to show that you have a show, so the audience will show.

Got that?

Western Albemarle High School (WAHS) drama students are not only rehearsing for their March 24-26 run of “Grease,” but also promoting their production at other venues and in media. Due to mainly to the higher-than-average fees for show rights, the school’s drama department has acknowledged that publicity will play a vital role in filling the seats.

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Grease is the Word

Chloe Horner, as Sandy Dumbrowski, and Cutter Mendenhall, as Danny Zuko (center) rehearse "You're the One That I Want" with the T-Birds, Pink Ladies, and other Rydell High students in Western Albemarle's production of "Grease," opening March 17 2016
Chloe Horner, as Sandy Dumbrowski, and Cutter Mendenhall, as Danny Zuko (center) rehearse “You’re the One That I Want” with the T-Birds, Pink Ladies, and other Rydell High students in Western Albemarle’s production of “Grease,” opening March 17.

Grease Is the Word!

by Will Sigmon

Western Albemarle High School will be performing the Tony-Award-winning musical “Grease” in its auditorium March 17-19.

Directed by drama teacher Caitlin Pitts, the rock ‘n’ roll production is set in 1959, when “good girl” (Sandy Dumbrowski) falls in love with (unbeknownst to her) a rough, tough gang leader (Danny Zuko) of the high school gang called the T-Birds over the summer. Once school begins, though, they and their friends struggle with peer pressure, sex vs love, gang violence and other adolescent issues.

Fans of Western’s productions will be treated to a talented cast including newcomers and veterans. In his Western acting debut, Cutter Mendenhall shows off his dancing, singing and acting chops as Danny. Chloe Horner, a “Silly Girl” from last year’s “Beauty and the Beast,” takes the female lead as Sandy. Freshman Ben Nordbrock plays Danny’s gang lieutenant Kenickie. Ryann Sheehy, who starred as elegant Belle in last year’s “Beauty,” shows her rougher edges as Rizzo.

Adult advance tickets for “Grease” will soon go on sale online and at Western for $12, $14 at the door (student and senior citizen prices are $6 and $8, respectively). Doors for the March 17-19 evening shows open at 6:30 p.m.; curtain is at 7:30 p.m. There is also a 2:00 matinee on Saturday. Please note that, due to cancelled rehearsals resulting from inclement weather, performances may be postponed for snow dates to be announced later.

For more information, visit the official Facebook page at WAHS Drama Presents “Grease.”

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WAHS Robotics Competing at UVA on 19 December

WAHS Robotics PhotoIt almost didn’t make it. It almost fell, treads over robotic hook, down the ramp and onto the competition field. Everyone watching knew what was at stake, no matter the experience level. Would the robot hang, suspended from the pull-up bar, or end the match in defeat?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD_Ic7mhVlI&feature=youtu.be&t=170

 

Five robotics teams from Crozet are preparing to compete at UVA’s Slaughter Rec Center on Dec. 19th. Western Albemarle High School Robotics has three student led teams: Her Majesty’s Engineers, Loose Screws, and Geek Gods. These teams commit anywhere from six to ten hours per week building and programming their bots in anticipation of qualifying for advancement to the State competition. Joining the WAHS teams on the 19th are Henley’s Nerd Herd and Rogue Robotics, an independent Crozet team made up of students from Western and Albemarle High Schools.

The Crozet teams and their mentors invite you to come support FIRST robotics and our local student teams. Qualifier competition matches usually start around 11:00 with exciting elimination matches from about 3:30 to 5:30. Parking is available near Slaughter Rec Center.

 

~ Shelby Bowen

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Brownsville Is Getting a New Principal

Two stories here:

1 – Brownsville’s principal is leaving 1 December to become the Director of Accountability & Research

2 – What does a Director of Accountability & Research do?

Just received via email – *

“Dear Members of Our Brownsville Community:

I would like to be the first to share some news with you that impacts our school division and, most particularly, Brownsville.

This afternoon, our division will announce my appointment as the Director of Accountability & Research, and I will be moving to our central office in Charlottesville. The effective date of my appointment is December 1.

My new assignment will give me the chance to work with principals and faculty across our division to improve upon and expand student learning.

The division immediately will begin a search for my successor with a goal of making a decision no later than next spring. As is our division’s practice, you will have an opportunity to participate in the search process through an online survey. Your views on the qualities you value in your next principal will matter a great deal to the search committee.

Barbara Edwards, who retired from our school division after serving for 12 years as principal at Broadus Wood Elementary School, will serve as our interim principal while the search is being completed. I will be working diligently with her to ensure a successful transition.

My five years as your principal have been beyond exhilarating. Our students and staff have earned impressive awards; we unveiled a technology learning center that is a showcase not just in our division, but for our state and nation; we have become among the largest and, I would argue, one of the most successful elementary schools in our country.

But more meaningful than all of these important achievements is the excitement, enthusiasm and energy that welcomes me to Brownsville every day. I love our students, admire our dedicated staff, and am grateful for the incredible support our parents and guardians provide to us. It is your support that makes so many wonderful things possible for our students.

Thank you for being such an important contributor to our school community, which continues to make it possible for our school to build upon its remarkable tradition of excellence.

Best wishes for a highly enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.

Sincerely,

India Haun”

What is “Director of Accountability and Research?” you ask?

Continue reading “Brownsville Is Getting a New Principal”

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Recapping Brownsville’s School Board Forum

Last night was a fun forum at Brownsville. The White Hall and At-Large candidates for school board made some time to lay out their positions and reasons for running for school board.

First thoughts:

I was thisclose to leaving out my opinions, but can’t help myself. The tweets are after the break; I highly recommend you read those.

  • Unless convinced otherwise, supporting/advocating for the county school system building their own private internet is reason for me to disqualify the candidate. Why, exactly, is Albemarle county building their own internet?
  • Supporting SOLs in their current format is reason to disqualify the candidate.
  • Colleges don’t look at SOLs, to the best of my knowledge. This seems to be a baffling & upsetting statement. (stated here as well)
  • I appreciated Dolly Joseph’s thoughts on technology, “hitting it with a technology stick” and her pushing back on the 1:1 technology ratio. We do live in a relatively affluent community (relatively!) – giving kids who already have devices is wasteful. (my opinion: and stupid).

As a friend said last night on Twitter:

I’m glad we all have chance to watch presidential politics tonight, but we’d be a better country if more people paid attention to local govt

Truth.

Read the tweets.

 

 

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What’s on the Ballot in Crozet this Year?

Election day is 3 November, 2015. Now’s as good a time as any to learn who’s going to be on the ballot.

Start here; the Virginia Department of Elections has a pretty good site.

For the first time in I don’t know how long, we have a choice for our School Board rep; neither of whom is the incumbent.

White Hall School Board: David Oberg and Caroll J. “C. J.” Hatcher are competing.

At-Large School Board seat: Dolly R. D. Joseph, Catherine M. Lochner, J. S. “Jonno” Alcaro

More at the excellent CvillePedia’s page.

Click through to see my sample ballot (I live in the Brownsville district) — there are some big elections, namely the school board, Commonwealth Attorney, Soil & Conservation … dig in, and please, please please, be an educated voter. And a personal request: if you’re not going to be said educated voter, consider not voting.

 

Continue reading “What’s on the Ballot in Crozet this Year?”