Please join me in congratulating Mr. Jacob Gruse, Business Instructor at Dan River High School, on his selection as Pittsylvania County Schools’ Employee of the Week. Please click on the following link to find out what our employees do to make this A Great Place to Learn and Work!

The 2011-2012 HOSA (Health Occupations Student Association Club) officers have been elected! The Club’s mission, Helping Hands, Helping Others, was evident when the newly elected HOSA officers held a school-wide 9/11 presentation. The power point showed a powerful video clip and interesting facts. A candle was lit in memory for each flight and the lives that were lost. Special guests attending were members of the Blairs and Mt. Hermon Volunteer Fire Departments, JROTC members, representatives from the Central Office and civil servants from the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Department. To show support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, HOSA members held a school-wide Pink-Out on October 28, 2011. Informational posters were placed throughout the building for students and staff to read about cancer facts and statistics. Also, members of HOSA plan to support our area veterans by marching in the Veterans Day Parade on November 6, 2011. It is my understanding that the HOSA creed suggests that students using the knowledge and skills they have learned in the Health Occupations program will propel them on the pathway to becoming responsible citizens.

Recently, eleven (11) members of the Gretna Harriers Running Club (Gretna Middle School), participated in the 15th annual Chatham 5k/1 mile race. The following are the results:

• The mixed team of Cole Worley, Hunter Cline, Dylan Cline, Walker Cline, and Tabitha Patterson won the mixed team category.

• Tabitha Patterson was the 3rd female overall in the 5k race. Cole Worley was 2nd in the boy's 14 and under category, and Hunter Cline was 3rd in 14 and under division.

• Sophia Short was 1st in the girl's 14 and under category. Dylan and Walker Cline provided solid team support with 24 minute finishes. Cory and Sean Hammock also had strong finishes in their first 5k race experience.

• In the one mile race Nathan Rowland finished 3rd overall (2nd in the boys’ overall race) with an eight (8) minute run. Jayla Davis finished 3rd in the girls’ 13 and under division. Eric Anderson also had a strong finish in his first one mile race.
  
  All of these students have demonstrated great enthusiasm, sportsmanship and a solid work ethic during the last two months of preparation. Accolades to Ms. Julie East, 7th grade science teacher, who has provided invaluable assistance with the club, including designing and coordinating the purchase of the Gretna blue and gold Harriers shirts. Also, special thanks to former Gretna High School track coach, Wayne Owen, for his guidance and assistance.

Recently, National School Lunch Week was observed at Kentuck Elementary School. The theme, Let’s Grow Healthy, inspired nearly 150 parents to eat with their children during the week. Students learned where food comes from and that school lunch helps kids grow strong and healthy. Special thanks are extended to the cafeteria staff for making this event exciting and enjoyable for the students, parents and faculty. Also, the students and staff at Gretna Middle School enjoyed watermelons, grape tomatoes, cabbage and apples all grown in the Hillsville and Martinsville, Virginia areas. There were daily prizes, and Miss Amber Short, 6th grade student, sang "American Honey" as part of the festivities.

Congratulations to Read Your Way to the Top winners! Each will receive a ticket to the race this weekend in Martinsville, Virginia. Blake Dalton, Jr., in Ms. Megan Lackey’s class from Southside Elementary School, will participate in the Kroger 200 Pre Race. Ms. Jamie Yancey’s class from Kentuck Elementary School will lead fans in the Pledge of Allegiance for the Kroger 200 on Saturday, October 29, 2011. Finally, Ms. Amy Lovern’s class at Stony Mill Elementary School will have a pizza party held at the race track.

During the month of October, thirty-five (35) of our bus drivers and aides were certified in American Heart CPR/AED. Kudos go out to these people who volunteered their time to be better prepared to care for their daily charges. Special thanks go to Ms. Debbie Shelton, Executive Administrative Assistant for Pupil Transportation, for arranging the classes for the drivers and aides.

Ms. Julia Lovelace's grade 5 science classes at Hurt Elementary School recently made musical instruments to test how sound vibrated on surfaces, strings, or columns of air. They also experimented with pitch by making instruments using straws. This was also reinforced in music class taught by Ms. Cassandra Westbrook.

Visit http://www.pcs.k12.va.us/media/index.html to (1) request media presence on site to cover an upcoming event or (2) to request media coverage (without media on site) of an upcoming event or (3) to report news from a past event. Thank you for identifying the great things happening in our schools!