Education- and youth-related news
Patrick HiteStaunton News Leader
STAUNTON — The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) is urging parents of school-aged children to make their back-to-school vaccination appointments before school begins.
CSHD has specified hours for back-to-school vaccines to accommodate those students who must receive immunizations prior to the new school year. These appointments are available at the Staunton, Waynesboro, and Harrisonburg health department locations.
In addition, the Harrisonburg location has appointments available after regular business hours. Those wishing to receive services at the Lexington-Rockbridge, Highland County and Bath County Health Departments can visit during regularly scheduled times.
“CSHD is excited to provide additional appointments for back to school required vaccines,” says Marsha Rodeffer, nurse manager at CSHD. “To avoid the traditional rush at the end of summer, we are encouraging everyone with school-aged children to make appointments now for the required vaccines. Keeping your children up to date on vaccines helps to avoid potentially life-threatening diseases and to start school on time.”
Proof of immunizations are required by the Code of Virginia for all students entering daycare and public or private schools. The vaccines should be given based on the schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians.
The required vaccines can be obtained at your child’s pediatrician’s office, at some pharmacies, and your local health department.
These additional appointment slots are anticipated to fill up quickly. Call your local health department today for appointment availability.
- Staunton-Augusta: 540-332-7830
- Harrisonburg-Rockingham: 540-574-5101
- Waynesboro-Augusta: 540-949-0137
- Lexington-Rockbridge: 540-463-3185
- Highland County: 540-468-2270
- Bath County: 540-839-7246
More information can be found about the recommendations for childhood immunizations on the VDH website at: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/backtoschool/
Hershey awards scholarships to Fort Defiance, Waynesboro students
STUARTS DRAFT — The Hershey Company, in partnership with the William E. Dearden Foundation, announced that two local high school seniors have been selected to receive a continuing education scholarship. The students will each receive $5,000 to help cover costs such as books, fees, transportation and other living expenses as they enter the fall semester.
Congratulations to the scholarship recipients:
- Gwynn Johnson from Fort Defiance High School will attend Pennsylvania College of Technology for Welding
- Haley Thorpe from Waynesboro High School will major in education at Bridgewater College
“We are thrilled to announce the selection of these remarkable students for the 2024 Dearden Scholarship,” said Mike Sever, plant manager at the Hershey Stuarts Draft Plant. “The Hershey Company has a rich history of providing opportunities for youth, and we see this as another way to support young people in their educational pursuits.”
The Dearden Scholarship was first introduced in 2023 in the communities surrounding Hershey’s Stuarts Draft, Virginia manufacturing plant. This joint scholarship initiative recognizes the distinguished and highly respected alumnus of Milton Hershey School, William E. Dearden, who served as Chairman of the Board of The Hershey Company and oversaw the construction of the Hershey plant in Stuarts Draft.
In its second year, the initiative expanded to include communities near Hershey’s Hazleton plant in Pennsylvania. Hershey and the Dearden Foundation plan to extend the scholarship to other Hershey manufacturing communities across the U.S., continuing the legacies of Milton S. Hershey and William E. Dearden in supporting youth.
To learn more information about the Dearden Foundation, visit: https://www.deardenfoundation.org/.
Shelburne Middle School youth honored
STAUNTON — Wyatt Ramsey of Staunton was recently named the 2024 Boys and Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton & Augusta County (BGCWSA) Youth of the Year.
"I am proud to announce Wyatt as our Youth of the Year," said BGCWSA Executive Director and CEO Debra Freeman-Belle. "His love for music, quiet leadership, and dedication to helping others make him an outstanding representative of our Club. We are thrilled that Wyatt will receive a $4,000 scholarship and look forward to seeing all he will achieve."
Ramsey joined the Staunton Boys & Girls Club unit in third grade. His interests include band, soccer, hunting and fishing. Wyatt will be in 8th grade next year at Shelburne Middle School.
In partnership with the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, Ramsey has been awarded the Lt. Larry McDowell scholarship of $4,000.
Summer programs inspire Waynesboro students
WAYNESBORO — William Perry, Berkeley Glenn and Wenonah elementary schools all held extended school year (ESY) programs since the end of the 2023-24 school year. These initiatives are designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning in a variety of innovative ways.
WILLIAM PERRY
William Perry Elementary is hosting a summer science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) camp in collaboration with Juice Works 3D from Harrisonburg. This camp teaches students how to use computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D print their creations. There were three sessions of the camp.
“We’re all so impressed with how quickly the kids at camp have picked up the CAD design skills they’re being taught," said Lindsey Britt, William Perry special education teacher, who also serves as ESY program coordinator, along with William Perry school counselor, Brandon Poole. "This has been a wonderful experience."
"The innovative spirit of Waynesboro Public schools, and their decision to invest in their students by providing them with this 3D printing summer STEM camp opportunity, allows us to accelerate their exposure to an innovation mindset, design-thinking, and digital skill sets which in turn will provide their students a competitive advantage in their studies, and in the impact they will make in their community with the STEM skills they learn, for years to come," said Andrei Dacko, founder and CEO of Juice Works.
BERKELEY GLENN
Berkeley Glenn Elementary recently completed its first ever four-day eco club summer camp in cooperation with the Waynesboro Education Farm (WEF). The ecocClub began in the spring semester of 2022 with 18 students in grades 4 and 5, aiming to explore, design, and develop outdoor learning spaces on the Berkeley Glenn campus. The club has grown to 35 students, or 13% of the student population.
“This has been three years in the planning, and that long lead time has given us the opportunity to run after school clubs each semester," said Danny Lee, Waynesboro Public Schools gifted education coordinator and head of the ESY grant committee for Berkeley Glenn. "During those clubs, we learned more and more about what we wanted the kids to do and learn, and how we could best use our resources to deliver on those goals. Partnering with WEF has allowed us to expand this program to encompass much more than we initially thought.”
During the camp, students worked on constructing a cob oven, installing pollinator boxes, learning permaculture, and creating wind turbines and solar stills. They also participated in the Wildrock Stewards program in Crozet.
“The fact that we have elementary aged kids learning the concepts of permaculture, a concept by the way that is usually reserved for adults who want to build farms, is revolutionary," said Ryan Blosser, WEF farm educator. "The impact this could have not only on these kids’ futures, but also on the future of sustainable farming is exponential.”
WENONAH ELEMENTARY
Over the course of six days, 40 students engaged hands-on activities, including coding DASH robots, Ozoboths, exploring electrical circuits, and designing marble runs that incorporate simple machines, during the Wenonah Elementary STEAM camp.
Their camp adventures included trips to Staunton Lanes for a behind-the-scenes tour, Kings Dominion to enjoy the rides that the students had practiced making with marble runs, and various Maker Space projects that incorporated engineering design, mathematical measurements, and creative artistry.
Students participated in trips to Explore More in Harrisonburg to participate in their Maker’s Space program and Amazement Square in Lynchburg, VA to participate in their “It’s Electric!” program, where students built circuits and programmed robots.
On their final day, students spent time at the Virginia Science Museum in Richmond, VA Elizabeth Evans, Wenonah Elementary math Specialist, administrative designee and ESY program coordinator, shares, “Providing these enriching experiences to our students has been a dream come true.”
For more information about these programs, please contact the respective school offices.
Clerk of Court's office names summer interns
STAUNTON — Augusta County Clerk of Circuit Court Steve Landes today announced that three university students have been named interns for the summer.
Troy Porter, Mary Winters Blanchard, and Eamon Lalley are the 18th, 19th and 20th students to be selected for the clerk’s office internship program.
“We are very pleased to have Troy, Mary and Eamon join the clerk’s office as our summer interns for our clerk’s internship program,” Landes said. “We very much look forward to working with all three students in the office this summer.”
Porter is a senior at James Madison University completing a bachelor of science in public policy and administration with a concentration in management, and a minor in criminal justice. Blanchard is a rising senior at the University of Virginia pursuing a bachelor of arts in economics and art history, with a minor in social entrepreneurship. Lalley is a rising senior at James Madison University pursuing a bachelor of arts in history, with a minor in political science.
The Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office provides internship and mentorship opportunities to high school and college students. An internship is provided to those students who are interested in Virginia government, the Virginia judicial system, or the law. The clerk’s office Interns assist staff with numerous assignments and tasks.
The Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is in downtown Staunton at the Augusta County Courthouse. The Clerk serves as the recorder of deeds and probate judge, issues marriage licenses and is the official court administrator for all civil and criminal cases.
The clerk creates and maintains all court files and records, prepares court orders and jury lists, contacts jurors and issues summons and court processes. More information about the services of the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office can be found online at www.co.augusta.va.us/government/circuit-court-clerk.
Mary Baldwin podcast
STAUNTON — Mary Baldwin University announced the launch of its new podcast,"Bluestocking Stories," an interview series dedicated to exploring the dynamic and inspiring stories within the MBU community and beyond. This podcast spotlights its guests’ unique stories across a variety of career fields and interest areas while providing relevant and actionable advice to its listeners.
"Bluestocking Stories"explores a wide range of topics, reflecting MBU's commitment to fostering a community of curiosity, learning, and growth. This inaugural season, focused on creativity, features interviews with alumni Stori Ayers, making her Broadway debut; local photographer and alumna Kate Simon; MBU’s VP and Dean of the Murphy Deming College of Health Science, Dr. Todd Telemeco; MBU freshman, New York City native, and early-education major TyRon Simmons; and more members of the MBU community.
Key Features of Bluestocking Stories:
- Diverse Voices: Episodes feature a mix of MBU students, faculty, alumni, and guests from various backgrounds to highlight their creativity, even in unexpected fields.
- Engaging, Personal Content: Listeners can expect to hear about groundbreaking research, innovative projects, leadership experiences, and personal reflections.
Listeners are invited to join the conversation and be inspired by the incredible stories that define the MBU community. For more information and to listen to episodes, search"Bluestocking Stories"on your favorite podcast app or visitmarybaldwin.edu/podcast.
More: AccuWeather: 'Ferocious' heat moving into area next week
More: Juneteenth observances and ceremonies to be held in Staunton, Virginia, area 2024
—Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Instagram @hitepatrick.Subscribe to usatnewsleader.com
