Commander Jim Visits Eagle Rock Elementary

On January 19, 2011 the students of Eagle Rock Elementary received one of the greatest surprises of their school careers. James Robertson, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard (Commander Jim), their pen pal for over a year, took time on his way home from his assignment in Iraq to meet the students whose letters, gifts, and support meant so much to him. Students from Eagle Rock began correspondence with him while he was stationed in Alaska and have followed Commander Jim in his travels for the past year.

Commander Jim was greeted by enthusiastic applause and huge smiles. He was so emotional that he was rendered speechless, “… just the emotion in the room. He was touched to the point of tears, which had a lot of people (including a few kids) also tearing up. The kids were SO excited and the excitement was all over their faces.” Kelly Miller, 3rd grade teacher. “It was so awesome to see how much the letters and contact meant to him. I will never forget him getting emotional when talking about the whole experience. I don’t think the kids will ever fully understand the impact they made on him. Now that I’ve seen him in person, I won’t forget him either!” Lauren Tribble, 4th grade teacher. Commander Jim’s contagious smile, high energy, and true dedication to the country and people he dearly loves and proudly serves was humbling.

Last year, Mrs. Debbie Johnson, an Instructional Assistant at Eagle Rock, asked students in Mrs. Hipes’ second grade class if they would like to make Valentines for a soldier serving in the war. The kids were excited about the idea! Now Mrs. Johnson needed the name of a soldier. She told a friend about the idea and to make a long story short she emailed a soldier’s wife a few days later in Alaska. Mrs. Johnson had the name and address needed for the mailing of the Valentines Mrs. Hipes’ students had created in their art class. The Valentines from home were appreciated by U.S. Coast Guard Commander James Robertson and his office staff. The Commander said he enjoyed reading the children’s cards and his staff decorated their office with the Valentines. Other classrooms followed with art works, letters of thanks and encouragement to the Commander. Students’ cards and letters were mailed periodically throughout this past summer by Mrs. Johnson. Commander Jim not only responded with class letters, he also responded personally to over 100 individual students.

In a letter accompanying the children’s mailings to the Commander, Mrs. Johnson, shared a conversation that she had with a then 2nd grade student, Jonny Church. In November of 2009, Jonny and Mrs. Johnson were in the gym when the Pledge of Allegiance, led by SCA officers came on over the speakers. While Mrs. Johnson was repeating the Pledge of Allegiance Jonny stopped her and said, “Mrs. Johnson, how can you say the Pledge? We have a flag in our room but we don’t have a flag in our gym!” The Commander appreciated the patriotism. He requested permission to have a flag flown over the base in Iraq in honor of the students at Eagle Rock Elementary School. The National Ensign flew over the U.S. base in Camp Bucca, Iraq, on August 25, 2010 which was the students first day back to school!

The Flag was presented to the students during opening exercises for Heritage Day events by Principal, Jessica Martin. Ms Martin spoke to the students about the Nation’s symbol, respect for the Flag, and what it has stood for in past and present times. Jonny held the folded Flag while this year’s newly elected S. C. A. president and vice president, Alexis Gluth, and Zack Hodges led the student body in the pledge to the Flag followed by the Character Counts pledge. The flag and certificate of authenticity are framed and in the school gym. A copy of the certificate was also sent to Jonny.

In January 2010, James Robertson, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, assumed command of the Port Advisory Coordinating Element, working with Iraqi port officials to develop and implement a port security program to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. Through his letters, the students at Eagle Rock have made a real connection with one of our servicemen. They have learned so much from Commander Jim through his travels and work. His beliefs in the importance of education as well as his compassion and believe in community are apparent. Commander Jim and his unit’s efforts have not only opened safe ports but promoted commercial sustainability that created job opportunities.

After much work and little rest, Commander Jim is going to spend some time with family in New Jersey before returning to his wife, sons, and duties with the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska. The staff and students of Eagle Rock Elementary are honored to have a friend in Commander Jim and are so appreciative of his service and devotion to our students!

Letters written to our school by Commander Jim can be found on the sidebar of the school website at www.sites.google.com/a/bcps.k12.va.us/eagle-rock.

submitted by Jessica Martin

Eagle Rock spelling Bee participants

Eagle Rock Elementary held its annual spelling bee on January 21. Pictured are the participating students. (back row, left to right: Kaitlin Manness, Hannah Jordan, David Kuenzer, Zachery Boggess/ front row, left to right: Ashley Britt, Makayla Saville, Brianna Dunbar, Amiah Allen, Brittany Crawford, Shayne Howard, Emily Dooley). David Kuenzer is the school champion. Zachery Boggess is the runner-up. Dr. Richard Teaff, President of Dabney Lancaster Community College was the caller of the words. All participating students are members of Mrs. Cindy Harris’ fifth grade. The Spelling Bee was facilitated by Mrs. Lauren Tribble.

submitted by Tammie Teaff

Spelling Bee winners from Breckinridge

Breckinridge Elementary School announced the annual spelling bee results. On the left is Brianna Zicafoose-runner up and on the right is Kaitlyn McClung-winner.  Both are 5th graders.

submitted by Stephanie Harris

Emily Morejon

Emily Morejon placed first in the Natural Bridge District for her photography entry in the Reflections program.

Submitted by Lynn Morejon.

Caleb Sink placed third in the Northside Invitational. Caleb, 7th grade, was 10-1 this season for Central Academy Middle School. Caleb was undefeated during the regular season.

Submitted by Jessica Sink.

Caleb Sink shows off his medal.

Botetourt Gymnastics Academy competed in the Rockstar Invitational meet at Eastern Montgomery High school on January 29th and 30th.  The girls brought home 2 first place All Arounds and several other awards.

Results were as follows:

Level 4 Age 9-10
Cora Blom
Vault: 8.80-3rd
Bars: 8.55-2nd
Beam: 8.525-1st
Floor: 8.75-4th
All Around: 34.625-1st place

Level 4 Age 11+
Sydney Keyes
Vault: 8.45, 3rd
Bars: 8.60, 3rd
Beam: 8.50, 3rd

VAOP Intermediate
Age 10-12
Hannah Burch
Beam: 8.825, 7th
Floor: 9.00, 6th
All-Around: 34.325, 7th place

VAOP Intermediate
Age 13+
Alicia Ralston
Vault: 8.50, 5th
Beam: 9.00, 2nd
Floor: 9.05, 4th
All Around: 35.35, 2nd place

Emilee Duffy
Vault: 8.50, 4th
Bars: 9.15, 4th
Beam: 9.15, 1st
Floor: 9.20, 3rd
All-Around: 36.00, 1st place

Submitted by Susan Powers.

Emily Overbay of Botetourt placed first All Around in the Level 4 9A Age group at the Rockstar Invatational Meet on Sunday, Jan. 30. Hunter Fender, also from Botetourt, placed second All Around. Both girls train at Roanoke Academy of Gymnastics. The Roanke Academy level 4 team placed first in the large team division.

Submitted by Lee Overbay.

Volunteers staff the Botetourt Food Pantry like Jane Powers and Myrtle Simmons.

Over in Fincastle at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the Botetourt Food Pantry served over 5,200  people on a year’s worth of  Saturdays  in 2010.  Every week between 35-50 families come to get food. With many churches setting out to do food pantries as an outreach mission, the need is great to have donations to come into the  BFP as it is the designated food pantry for the county.

Participants in the program are often referred by Social Services. The pantry is also one that buys and receives food from Feeding America (formerly Second Harvest) especially when donations are down and demand is up as it has been for the past several years. Volunteers from churches and organizations  staff the pantry along with St. Mark’s Episcopal members. Kathy McClung and Martha Rodgers direct the pantry.  Many young people from youth groups and school organizations and  scouting troops are among the volunteers. Stocked boxes of Feed America  that are filled by Kroger patrons as well as  bread from Kroger are also  distributed by the BFP. In the freezer, hunters  donated a large amount of  venison for distribution as well.

Teen volunteers bag dog food

Currently all canned and monetary donations are welcome but especially dry cat food, dry dog food, toiletries like soap and shampoo, paper goods like toilet paper and paper towels and always canned meats and protein items. Why pet food? Often the  companion animal of an elderly person or a person with health issues are the recipients of the owner sharing his or her meager  food supplies with the beloved pet. The Roanoke Valley SPCA will send dry food but currently the  supply is nil at the BFP for dry cat food.  Volunteers scoop the dry food into bags for distribution on Saturdays.

The donations  are accepted at Fincastle Library  during operation hours as well as the church office M-F from 10 a.m. -1:30.

Kathy Rickman passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.

Kathy Rickman taught at Greenfield Elementary School where she taught special education preschool at the school. Rickman had battled a returned cancer for the better part of 2010. Said her brother, Marty Rickman, “She had a real tough time of it at the end.  Yesterday at the funeral about 60 teachers stood up when asked to do so at her funeral.” The funeral was held at Botetourt Funeral home in Buchanan on Sunday, January 30.

Rickman had taught in the school system for 32 years.  She was 54 years old. To read her obituary and leave remarks for the family please click here.

Wendy Frazier would have loved the Blue Ridge  Library  dedication event for the quilt lovingly made in her memory. Nice folks stood-up and said nice things that were very true of her– she loved people, birds, flowers, cooking and cats. Best of all not only did her cat “Cotton” get a featured prominence on the  quilt dedicated in her memory, but he also came to the event. The quilt is remarkable in composition and color.

Frazier passed unexpectedly away on January 28, 2010. For those who were patrons and staff at the library it was a terrific blow to loose Wendy.  Her family  members came to the event notably her sisters, Marcella Armes and Phyllis Clary and brother Ralph Frazier and his wife Shirley and other extended family.  Speakers  addressed the love she had not only for them but her extended family of friends and co workers.   Armes,  her sister said, ” We had a  quote in our family started by my mother, “I love you best of all.” The blended family she said felt God’s plan in their lives to keep them close and loving.  She said, “What a blessing from God are those precious memories that we have.”

The Blue Ridge Quilters Guild felt the same way. Memories of Wendy Frazier are captured in the  quilt.

Frazier was a member of the group that meets at the library. With the help of Librarian Steve Vest and his staff, many people made a quilt block for the quilt. The brightly colored quilt hangs on an east wall facing windows  toward the white pines and the outside world of birds and sounds in the warm months that Frazier so dearly loved. The brightly colored quilt is a reflection of Frazier’s sunny disposition and full of recollections of her from those whothought highly of her.

Tina Dietz of the Guild spoke of the design and handiwork involved in making the quilt. Vest accepted the quilt  in memory of Frazier on behalf of the Library. Cotton came out of his wheeling carrier and posed for a photo with Phyllis Clary, Frazier’s sister and other relatives.

Those who worked on the quilt included from the BRQG: Kathy Wickham, Tina Dietz, Jo Bell, Laural Peregino, Loretta Twilford and from the staff, Doris Mullins, Cathy Ripley, Vickie Anway and volunteer Bev Kessler and Eileen Lau machine quilted the quilt for the group.  A patron, Charlie Walker purchased the quilt hanger for the library.

After the dedication, Friends of the Library provided  cookies and punch for the guests.