Inside A3 PHS presents ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
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Vol. XXXIII No. o. 21
November 20, 2019
PHOTOS BY LAURA McFARLAND
Powhatan groups honor Veterans Day By Laura McFarland Editor
P
OWHATAN – Powhatan County recently paid tribute to the men and women who have served in the nation’s armed forces with special Veterans Day tributes. Local organizations, schools and individuals used music, performance, and special speakers to draw attention to the sacrifices made by veterans and to honor them for their service. Several of the events are annual tributes to veterans. On Nov. 8, Powhatan Elementary School invited a large number of veterans and family members to attend the annual Veterans Day Salute put on by fifth-graders. Powhatan Post #201 of the American Legion of Virginia kept the tradition alive of holding a special ceremony at 11 a.m. on Veterans Day.
POWHATAN ELEMENTARY
HUGUENOT SPRINGS
This year marked the 100th anniversary of the first Armistice Day, which took place on Nov. 11, 1919, one year after the Allies of World War I and Germany signed an armistice to end hostilities. The 15th annual Huguenot Springs Veterans Day Candlelight Service also honored those who have served and fought in America’s conflicts through the years and the sacrifices they made. Other recent events held to honor Veterans Day included the annual Veterans Day Musical Show held Nov. 3 at Powhatan High School and special activities the local schools did with their students to impart the importance of the recognition.
AMERICAN LEGION POST #201
Heroes don’t always wear capes The fifth-graders at Powhatan Elementary School entertained a packed room on Friday, Nov. 8 as they read poems and sang songs to honor those who served in a program coordinated by music teacher Gina Dickerson. The fifth-graders performed songs such as “America, My Home,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and a patriotic mash-up of “Land That I Love” and “America, the Beautiful.” Powhatan Middle School band students performed see VETERANS, pg. 6
School board still gathering input on calendar By Laura McFarland Editor
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POWHATAN – Powhatan County Public Schools is looking for input once again on whether the district will switch to an earlier start date next year. Tracie Omohundro, assistant superintendent for instruction, gave an updated presentation to the Powhatan County School Board during its meeting on Tuesday, Nov.12 about the question of the di-
vision’s start date. The school board is considering a staff proposal to start the school year two weeks early, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year. In July 2019, legislation went into effect that would allow divisions that haven’t already sought a waiver to start their school year up to two weeks prior to Labor Day, Omohundro said. Those divisions that do choose to start early are required to be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. At last week’s meeting, Omohundro presented the findings of the division’s school calendar committee, which has been reviewing this issue of a potential calendar change. Of the 42 committee members surveyed, 35 responded, with 73.5 percent voting in favor of a start date two weeks before Labor Day and 26.5 percent wanting to stay with a start date on the Tuesday after Labor Day. Omohundro noted that when the committee started meeting to review this topic, the majority of them were not in favor of changing the start date. The change in opinion for many came after thorough review and discussion, which the public may not have had. At their last meeting on Oct. 24, some of the major discussion items among committee members were impact on childcare, vaca-
tions, and academics. The committee’s recommendation will be one factor in the school board’s ultimate decision, Omohundro said. Another factor will be the results of a poll, which is going on right now. Every year, parents and staff are asked to choose between two calendar options, she said. This year, one of those options will feature a pre-Labor Day start date. Omohundro mentioned a previous survey sent out that received 1,564 responses from middle and high school students, parents, and employees. However, in that survey, they were asked if they would consider changing the calendar to begin two weeks early. Of the 1,564 responses received, 47 percent said yes, 37 percent said no, 13, percent said maybe, and 3 percent had another response. With the new poll, parents and staff will actually be choosing between the two calendars, she said. The Calendar A option, which features a post-Labor day start, would see school starting on Sept. 8, 2020, and ending on June 18, 2021. The Calendar B option, which starts before Labor Day, would see the first day of school on Aug. 24, 2020, and the last day of school on June 4, 2021. see SCHOOL, pg. 8
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Powhatan resident Fred Bates catches an eastern water snake on the set of ‘The Good Lord Bird.’ As a wildlife wrangler, he and other locals safely relocated animals during filming.
Locals wrangle wildlife for film productions By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – What do you get when a black snake crosses the road? For some local residents, a new business opportunity. Three years ago, Landon Graham agreed to let
filming for the television show “Homeland” take place on his property in northern Powhatan County. When the crew was unnerved to see a black snake crossing a gravel road one day, they asked Graham if he knew anyone see FILM pg. 4
Powhatan Education Foundation awards classroom grants By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan Education Foundation recently awarded almost $30,000 in grants to local educators to enrich student learning. During the Powhatan County School Board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, the nonprofit handed out 15 grants to staff and teachers to be implemented at the district’s five schools. The mission of Powhatan Education Foundation (PEF) is see GRANTS, pg. 9
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Shown are members of the Powhatan Education Foundation and some of the educators who were awarded PEF grants to implement in Powhatan’s schools.