NEWS & NOTES

NEWS & NOTES

Reaching Out With Much Needed School Supplies

Allie Wolf Hersch lives near Claude Thompson Elementary in Rectortown and drives past it almost every day. Occasionally she looks at its website, and was shocked one day to see the data on the lists of supplies needed for each class in the pre-kindergarten through fifth grade school.

“The third grade had only three dry erasers,” she said. “Every class was pretty much the same way.”

And so, she decided to do something about it. She has a Masters degree in public health, and “I’ve always seen the importance of investing in young people and the impact it can have on a community.”

Claude Thompson is a Title One school, meaning that more than 40 percent of the children, grades pre-K-5, live in poverty, and about 45 percent don’t speak English as their first language.

Allie reached out to school principal Marypat Warder to see how she could help, then set up a GoFundMe page with a message that reads “help Claude Thompson Elementary School improve academic achievement among under-served, minority population students in desperate need of support in order to succeed and uplift the community.”

The initial goal was $6,800 and as of late May, nearly $5,000 was raised. Longterm, according to the GoFundMe page, “the dream is to raise $20,000 to provide the resources needed to improve academic performance and proficiency levels…and would have an unprecedented positive impact on the school and their students.”

The money will be used for all manner of school supplies—notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, erasers, glue sticks, calculators and so much more.

“I’ve gotten a lot of calls from people who say ‘I can’t believe this,’” Allie said. “There’s a real need there, and we’re just trying to help.”

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Grace Episcopal Church Montessori in The Plains has hired Jillian Johncox as its new Head of School.

A Pennsylvania native, Jillian is a resident of Marshall and has a great deal of experience working with children and families in the area as an elementary Special Education teacher for eight years in the Fauquier County school system.

Said Rev. Weston Matthews, “Jillian’s experience leading staff, collaborating carefully with parents and community stakeholders, and using her gifts of empathy and wisdom to love children right where they are is impressive.”

Grace Montessori also is opening a third classroom in September as it begins its fifth year in operation.

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The Board of Directors of Long Branch Historic House and Farm in Millwood will salute the accomplishments of two Millwood horse racing luminaries and celebrate Virginia’s rich racing history as part of its annual Summer Celebration party on July 22 from 6-9 p.m.

Florida Derby champion, Forte.

Photo © by Vicky Moon

Forte, the Florida Derby champion, was bred by Amy Moore of Millwood, who was honored as 2022’s Virginia Breeder of the Year by The Virginia Thoroughbred Association. The VTA also recognized Green Up, owned by Althea (Robin) Richards, also of Millwood, as the 2022 Virginia-bred Thoroughbred of the Year.

Long Branch’s own Harry Isaacs had an impressive string of racehorses in his lifetime and created a foundation of stakes-winning bloodlines for others. Many of his trophies are on display in the historic Virginia house.