UPDATE 2: Today’s bomb threat at Ni River impacted SOL testing. The bomb threat was found in a student restroom about 1:10 p.m. and the building was evacuated.

As a result, the afternoon’s SOL testing was impacted and needs to be rescheduled, schools spokeswoman Rene Daniels said.

UPDATE: Schools spokeswoman Rene Daniels said students at Battlefield, Brock Road and Chancellor will experience a “significant delay” in their bus routes this afternoon.

Students at five Spotsylvania County schools will be delayed in getting home on their buses this afternoon as a result of the latest bomb threat.

Students were evacuated from Ni River Middle School today after a bomb threat was found inside a student restroom, schools spokeswoman Rene Daniels said.

Ni River students were transferred to adjacent Wilderness Elementary while the fire department conducted a room-by-room search, Daniels said.

Once the all-clear was given, students were allowed back inside Ni River to gather their belongings before boarding their buses.

The delay in releasing Ni River students is having a domino effect on bus transportation for other students.

Students at Wilderness, Battlefield, Brock Road and Chancellor elementaries are feeling the impact of the delays because of the overlap in buses that are used for the middle and elementary students.

This is the third bomb threat at Ni River this year. Wilderness Elementary has had two, including one earlier this week.

The Virginia Council on Economic Education just announced that a team of students from Massaponax High School placed second in a statewide Stock Market Game competition.

Massaponax High School students (from left) Katelyn McKeen, Jennifer Sposato, and Ashlyn Runk.

Below are details from VCCE spokeswoman Judi Crenshaw.

A team from Massaponax High School took an initial $100,000 “virtual investment” and in one semester of the Stock Market Game increased its portfolio to $121,913.

Placing second in a field of over 7,500 students throughout Virginia is quite an accomplishment. Massaponax High School teacher Cindy Wuyek accompanied the team to the Richmond Federal Reserve on May 11 for an awards ceremony and luncheon. 

“Students used real-time stock market data and analyzed current events during every aspect of the Stock Market Game,” said Massaponax teacher Cindy Wuyek. “They’ll definitely apply what they learn in future saving and investing decisions as adults.”

VCEE is an information and training source for the Center for Economic Education at the University of Mary Washington. Director for the Center, Margaret Ray, attended the statewide awards ceremony and made note of the multi-disciplinary nature of the Stock Market Game process that the Massaponax team utilized in building their portfolio.

“The team used math, business, economics, social studies, and language skills to simulate real world investing in the stock market,” said Ray.  She voiced excitement that one of the members of the Massaponax team is attending Mary Washington University in the fall.

Teaching students to make wise spending/saving decisions and to participate in the global economy are what the Centers for Economic Education are all about.

String students at Chancellor High School participate in an after-school group that performs beyond the normal repertoire. Monday night, May 14, the group performed at the Spotsylvania School Board meeting. Here they play Aerosmith’s “Walk this way.”

Monday night’s School Board meeting was filled with student recognitions. Below are some of the highlights.

Student artists from Berkeley, Harrison Road, Livingston, Courtland High and Massaponax High honored

More than 100 student artists from Berkeley Elementary, Harrison Road Elementary, Livingston Elementary, Courtland High, and Massaponax High are exhibiting work at the School Board administrative services’ foyer, back wall, 3-D showcases, side bulletin boards, and behind the dais.  These students will receive a Certificate of Appreciation.

Two students place third in regional art contest

Katrina Buccella of Courtland High and Aaliyah Cutlip of Livingston Elementary placed third in the regional 2012 Virginia School Boards Association Student Art Contest.  Their artwork will be on display for one year in the main lobby of the administrative services building.

Winners named in SkillsUSA competitions

The Spotsylvania Career and Technical Center participated in the Virginia SkillsUSA competitions in Hampton the weekend of April 20-21.  Thirty-two students participated in 30 contests.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure that America has a skilled workforce.  SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations, including health occupations.  It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

The following students took first place honors at the state conference in the following areas:

•  Anthony Barrante – Job Interview

Parent is Lori Mortensen

Teacher: Stephen Tate

•  Jason Cruz – Telecommunications Cabling

Parents are Jose and Marie Cruz

Teacher: Tim McLeod

•  Kyle Embrey – Power Equipment Technology

Parents are John and Kathy Embrey

Teacher: Waller Hunt

•  Tori Hebdon – Radio Pre-produced

Parents are Allen and Julie Hebdon

Teacher: Janet Baker

•  Dean Makovsky – Related Technical Math

Parents are Dennis and Diane Makovsky

Teacher: Stephen Tate

•  William Skinner – Computer Programming

Parents are Cindy Evans and Bill Skinner

Teacher: Stephen Tate

•  Candace Wiltenmuth – Food and Beverage Service

Parents are John and Lea Wiltenmuth

Teacher: Lee Dematteo

•  Justin Winn – Automotive Maintenance

Parents are Hezekiah and Tammie Winn

Teacher: Frank Eberhardt

•  Christine Zimmerman – Advertising Design

Parents are Heather and Raymond Zimmerman

Teacher: Michael Fox

Health Occupations students win awards

The following took first place honors at the Health Occupations Students of America held in Williamsburg on  March 16-18.

HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and Health Science Education. HOSA’s two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.  HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, adult, and collegiate students enrolled in healthcare education programs.

•  Drue Cralle – Medical Math Competition

Parents are Theresa Cooper and L.B. Cralle

Teacher: Virginia Kobersteen

•  Jill Hornung – Nursing Skills Competition

Jill is an adult learner from Spotsylvania, attendedChancellorHigh School, is married, and has 3 girls.

Teacher: Virginia Kobersteen

FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA WINNERS

Following is a list of Future Farmers of America winners at the, national, state, and area levels for Massaponax High, Riverbend High, and Spotsylvania High.

National Chapter Award:  Massaponax High School, Gold Level (will go on to the National Competition in Indianapolis in October)

State FFA Degree Recipients

 Massaponax High School:

Sierra Edenton

Isaac Fulks

Taylor Jones

Ryan Martin

Eilish O’neil

Sung Park

Riverbend High School:

Mara Ansley

Jordan Hoffman

Paryce Bradlly

 Spotsylvania High School:

Travis Waterman

Darien Boutchyard

Chrystal Register

Central Area Award Winners:

Veterinary Science

1st Team: RiverbendHigh School

Kristy D’Alessandro (2nd place individual)

Veronica Thornton (1st place individual)

Taylor Smith (3rd place individual)

Kendra Monteith (6th place individual)

3rd Team: Massaponax High School

Taylor Jones (4th place individual)

Eilish O’Neil (5th place individual)

Ag Mechanics

2nd Place: Riverbend High School

Michael Selby

LoganNelms

Paul White

Racheal Balderson

Horse Hippology:

3rd PlaceSenior Level: Spotsylvania High School

Chrystal Register

Amber Holladay (10th place individual)

Grace Simpson (5th place individual)

Collin Mason

5th PlaceSenior Level: Massaponax High School

6th PlaceSenior Level: Riverbend High School

Floriculture:

Ryan Martin (2nd place individual)

Public Speaking:  Creed Speaking

4th Place: Riverbend High School

Sydney Ormandy

Senior Extemperaneous Public Speaking: Spotsylvania High School

Darien Boutchyard (1st place)

Spotsylvania Superintendent Shelley Redinger just announced the division’s new food service director.

Rose Mallasch has started working with schools and attended Monday’s School Board meeting.

UPDATE: Chief Financial Officer LaShahn Gaines also received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada for fiscal 2012.

The Spotsylvania County School Division’s finance staff was honored by the Association of School Business Officials International for the 2011-12 budget.

ASBO has awarded the school division its Meritorious Budget Award for excellence in budget presentation.  The award is conferred only to school entities that have met or exceeded the Meritorious Budget Award criteria.

To earn this award, the school district submitted its 2011-12 budget for a rigorous review based on stringent criteria.

Developed by ASBO for school districts, the MBA criteria guide school business officials toward a quality school budget presentation by enhancing the school business officials’ skills in developing, analyzing, and presenting a school system budget.

ASBO is honored to present this award to Spotsylvania County Schools’ budget team and the division as a whole for 2011-12.

LaShahn Gaines – Chief Financial Officer

Marcia Stevens – Accounting Manager

Barbara Stombock – Director of Finance

Doreen Flint – Accounting Technician

Cheryl Boyd – Assistant to the CFO

Leah Underwood – Program Analyst

Don Bruce – Supervisor of Data Mining

Donna F.P. Jones – Graphic Designer

Hunter Michielson, a sophomore at Riverbend High and a student in the Commonwealth Governor’s School, is presenting information to the Spotsylvania School Board at tonight’s meeting. He’s presenting research about the link between music experience and math success.

Dr. Shelley Redinger

The Spokesman-Review in Washington state profiled Spotsylvania Superintendent Shelley K. Redinger yesterday. The story included information from the reporter’s visit to  Spotsylvania.

School Board Chairwoman Linda Wieland offered her insights.

Below is the lead-in. For the full story, check out the Spokesman-Review.

Redinger brings fresh direction, expectations to District 81

Jody Lawrence-Turner 

The Spokesman-Review

May 13, 2012 – Updated: 5:51 a.m.

The Spotsylvania school division announced its teacher of the year at a banquet on Thursday where it also recognized the top teacher of each school.

The 2012 Division Teacher of the Year is Lisa Winn, an eighth grade science teacher at Thornburg Middle School.

Spotsylvania's 2012 Division Teacher of the Year, Lisa Winn of Thornburg Middle, with Principal Kirk Tower.

Below is a list of the 2012 teachers of the year for each school.

The teachers are also scheduled to be recognized at tonight’s School Board meeting.

UPDATE: Graduation concluded shortly before 8:30 p.m. Watch for the coverage in tomorrow’s Free Lance-Star and online later. Photographer Pete Cihelka took lots of photos and those will be featured.

Congratulations to the 948 students who completed degrees and certificates.

Germanna Community College students are at the Expo Center, getting ready for the 7 p.m. graduation ceremony.

Faculty get their academic regalia adjusted prior to commencement.

Check back to Fredericksburg.com for coverage of the ceremony.

Jill Johnson, chair of the Germanna college board, chats with student speaker Morgen Jones before graduation.

Germanna President David Sam reviews the evening’s program.

The first students have processed.

Chanelle Felder is about to sing the national anthem.