James Monroe High School John B. Gordon III, Principal

Dear Parents and Friends: Greetings and best wishes for a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year! I hope that the winter break and holiday season energize you and our students for the challenges which lay ahead. On January 3 classes will resume for the final weeks of the first term. Before we turn our atten-tion to final exams, several events are scheduled. The Chamber En-semble will hold a concert on January 11, the Career and Technical Ed-ucation Department will have an electives fair on January 12, and in-terim reports will be distributed in all classes on January 14. School will be closed on January 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Mid-term exams for classes which meet on the A/B schedule will be given January 21—26. Please encourage your student to be in attend-ance for the examination review sessions which will be conducted by all teachers on Monday, January 24. Final Term 1 Examinations and end of course SOL’s will be given January 25—28. January 31 is desig-nated as an SOL Retake/Makeup Day. School will not be in session on February 1, as this is a teacher workday. The second term of the 2010-2011 school year will begin on February 2, and report cards will be sent home with students on February 4. The winter sports season is in full swing. The girls’ and boys’ varsity and J.V. basketball teams have looked impressive in the early part of the season. During the winter break the Yellow Jackets will be on the hard courts in Battlefield District play, and the varsity boys’ basketball team will participate in the Colonial Forge Christmas Tournament De-cember 28-29. In the pool, the boys’ and girls’ swimming teams will resume competition on January 7 as they host Culpeper in a home meet. Great expectations surround these teams, and you are encour-aged to come out and cheer them on. On behalf of the administration, faculty, and staff, I wish you and your children the very best as we enter the year 2011. Sincerely, John B. Gordon III Principal

In this issue...

Page 2 Exam Schedule,

CTE Electives Fair

Page 3 Club Page

Page 4 Fall Sports Awards,

Inclement Weather An-

nouncements

Page 5 Giant Food Bonus

Bucks Update, Bloom,

Congratulations

Page 6 Menu for January

Page 7 Calendar for Janu-

ary

Principal’s Newsletter January 2011 Page 2

FINAL EXAMS Final exams are given in every course and are designed to cover the content objectives and skills of the entire term. Each exam counts 20% of the final grade. Exam periods are two hours long. Students who are absent from examination periods will not be allowed to make up the exam unless they present a doctor’s excuse, court or-der, or have prior approval from Mr. Gordon. Only seniors are allowed to leave their final exam of the day as soon as they have completed it. They must, however, leave the building promptly. ALL underclassmen must remain in the examina-tion room until the end of the examination period. NO EARLY DISMISSALS WILL BE GRANTED DURING EXAMS. It is requested that parents not come to the school during the examination time to secure their student’s release. This prac-tice is disruptive to the examination environment, and classes will not be disturbed for an individual student’s early release. When students are not scheduled for an ex-am, they need not report to school.

SEMESTER EXAM SCHEDULE The first semester/term exam schedule for the 2010-2011 School Year is as follows: Friday, January 21, 2010 7:45—8:45 Period 1 8:50—10:50 Period 2 & B Day Period 2 Exam 10:55—12:40 Period 3 12:45—2:45 Period 4 & B Day Period 4 Exam Monday, January 24, 2011—Review Day for Term 1 Classes 7:45—9:45 Period 1 & A Day Period 1 Exam 9:50—10:50 Period 2 10:55—12:40 Period 3 12:45—2:45 Period 4 & A Day Period 4 Exam Tuesday, January 25, 2011 7:45—9:45 Period 1 EOC Exam/History or Sci-

ence SOL, B Day Period 1 Exam 9:50—10:50 Period 2 10:55—1:45 Period 3 & Period 1 Math or English SOL Wednesday, January 26, 2011 7:45—9:45 Period 2 EOC Exam/History or Sci-

ence SOL, A Day Period 2 Exam 9:50—10:50 Period 3 10:55—1:45 Period 4 & Period 2 Math or English

SOL

Thursday, January 27, 2011 7:45—9:45 Period 3 EOC Exam/History or Sci-

ence SOL 9:50—10:50 Period 4 10:55—1:45 Period 4 & Period 3 Math or English

SOL

Friday, January 28, 2011 7:45—10:15 Period 4 EOC Exam and SOL Monday, January 31, 2011 7:45—12:00 Expedited retake SOL tests and

Make up exams

MID-TERM EXAMS

Mid-Term exams are given in courses taught on the A/B schedule and are subject to the same rules and criteria stated above.

Parents and students in grades seven through eleven are invited to join the Career and Technical Educa-tion Department on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 from 6:00—8:00 P.M. in the library for a special presentation designed to help students discover and research potential career pathways. Come and find out what J.M.H.S. has to offer students in preparing for college and future careers. In addition, learn how students can earn college credit while in high school through dual enrollment, earn an industry certification, or state license before graduating from high school. Participants will be able to meet the CTE teachers, dis-cuss course offerings, talk with guidance counselors about various types of diplomas (including the new ―technical‖ diploma), and talk with a Germanna Community College representative about dual enrollment. Light refreshments will be served. Registration for the evening is preferred, but not required. Registration is available on-line at http://blogit.cityschools.com/jamesmonroehighschool/.

Principal’s Newsletter January 2011 Page 3

Forty-four members of the JM chapters of the Future Business Leaders of America and Distributive Education Clubs of America visited New York City on December 3. Their itinerary included a trip to the Times Square, Rockefeller Cen-ter, Madison Square Gardens, Little Italy, and China Town. Mrs. Barbara Dyer (DECA Advisor), Mrs. Dinah Robinson (FBLA Advisor), and several parents ac-companied the students on the trip.

In December James Monroebotics visited Mary Washington Hospital and met with Dr. Szlyk and his staff regarding the hospital’s robotics program which features the da Vinci robot used to perform surgical procedures. Students learned about both the robot and the benefits of robotic surgery. After the discus-

sion, James Monroebotics members were able to try out the da Vinci robot. Each member and mentor had a chance to move the robotic arms from the control station and place tiny rubber bands on top of different sized cones with extreme precision.

During the months of January and February, James Monroebotics will be extremely active. Club members will

have six weeks to design, to make a prototype, to build, and to test a one hundred and twenty pound, electro-

mechanical, computer-controlled robot that will be able to play a designated game. The season will culminate

in a high-tech sporting event April 7-9 in Richmond where teams from across the state will compete in the game

with their robots. Club members will also be involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

related activities such as workshops, training, and exhibits. In addition they will have the opportunity to meet

and to work with people from industry in the fields of engineering, computer science, math, and drafting. Club

meetings will be held after school Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays before the competition in April.

Anyone interested in seeing the club in action or becoming a part of the team is invited to stop by during those

times.

In October thirty-one new members were inducted into the National Honor Society bringing our mem-bership to sixty-three. The chapter is led by president K.C. Boas, vice-president Zarah Brock, secre-tary Elizabeth Smith, treasurer Erin Comerford, historian Kaaleb Adera, and social chair Ellie Carey. With so many energetic and dedicated young people, the club has been able to tackle the following pro-

jects: The NHS adopted four children for Christmas through the American Red Cross’ Letters to Santa program,

and four jumbo Santa sacks jammed with beautifully wrapped gifts were delivered to the Red Cross in De-cember. Generous members purchased everything from winter coats to train sets.

A carol-a-thon fundraiser was held in December. Members solicited sponsorships based on the number of

homes at which they caroled that night. After dinner at Qdoba and cookies and hot chocolate at the Hamil-ton home, enthusiastic members made the streets of Fredericksburg ring with the sounds of the Christmas season! Proceeds from the event were donated to Micah Ecumenical Ministries to aid our area homeless.

Also in December, the NHS members rang the Salvation Army bell at the Spotsylvania Town Center. Senior NHS members have kept the grounds of James Monroe in pristine condition this fall through their

weekly adopt-a-spot service. In late January the NHS will begin the annual Valentine’s Day carnation message fundraiser, which is always extremely popular!

Congratulations to the following students who were inducted into the BETA Club in November: Burke Hallam, Emily Roth, Eva Gudmundsson, Samantha Kissane, Walton Mahon, Anna Mahon, Nicole Baer, Roaa Abbas, Hugh Willis.

Principal’s Newsletter January 2011 Page 4

In December James Monroe High School honored the fall sports’ athletes with a reception in the commons ar-ea followed by an awards assembly in the auditorium. The evening was sponsored by the James Monroe Ath-letic Department. CHEERLEADING/FOOTBALL M.V.P. Victoria Holloway Incentive Lauren Cox Coaches’ Katie Craig J.V. Coaches’ Danielle Bumbrey GOLF M.V.P. Sam Thomas Incentive Josh Stinson Coaches’ Kyle Hayes FOOTBALL M.V.P. Tyran Bates Incentive Kasine Conway, Jeff Schmitz,

Ethan Preston Coaches’ Ernie Quintana, A.J. Sims J.V. Coaches’ Darryl Dyson and Eric Nelson Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks Competitive Spirit Award & Scholarship Kilo Brooks Calley Farmer Memorial “Lineman Award” Nelson King George Coghill “Special Teams” Award Nick Kroko and Chris Paige Dennis Johnson Memorial Award M.V.P. Lajuan Sims, Kilo Brooks, Charlie McDaniel

Mel Hunter Award Will Campbell CROSS COUNTRY (BOYS) M.V.P. Paul Mason Incentive Burke Hallam Coaches’ Garrett John J.V. Coaches’ Jeremiah Wallace Elvis Jiminez Memorial Spirit Award Eliza Janus and Ryan Haynes CROSS COUNTRY (GIRLS) M.V.P. Caroline Morris Incentive Michelle Salazar Coaches’ Katie Villegas J.V. Coaches’ Catherine Smith FIELD HOCKEY M.V.P. Taylor Herold Offensive M.V.P. Sarah White Defensive M.V.P. Becca Fisher Incentive Emma Miller-Richards Coaches’ Kirby Koch and Hannah Fisher J.V. Coaches’ Kathryn Ann McGinness VOLLEYBALL M.V.P. Sam Ryan Incentive Indra Castillo Coaches’ Jacquelyn Smith J.V. Coaches Lyric Swain

Information concerning school closings or delays for Fredericksburg City Public Schools may be found by checking one of the following: Fredericksburg City Public Schools website: www.cityschools.com www.fredericksburg.com

Local Educational Access Channel 18 WFLS Radio (FM 93.3)

WVBX Radio – The Vibe (FM 99.3) WWUZ Radio – Classic Rock (FM 96.9)

WFVA/B101.5 Radio (FM 101.5) WGRQ Radio (Q 96) WGRX Radio (Thunder 104.5) WTVR Television – Channel 6 WRC Television – Channel 4 WUSA Television – Channel 9 WRIC Television – Channel 8 We encourage parents to visit our website or listen to one of the radio or television sta-tions listed above. Announcements are posted as quickly as possible.

Principal’s Newsletter January 2011 Page 5

UPDATE AS OF DECEMBER 6, 2010:

JAMES MONROE HIGH SCHOOL HAS RECEIVED

23 DESIGNATIONS AND HAS EARNED

$223.50

Taylor Herold, Varsity Field Hockey Captain, was selected First Team All-District and Player of the Year in the Battlefield

District, First Team All-Region and Player of the Year in Region I, First Team All-State and Player of the Year for Group

AA, and All-Area Field Hockey by the Free Lance-Star.

The following students were selected to the All-District Bands:

Brad Burns—2nd Part Clarinet Concert Band

Benyam Adera—1st Part Trumpet Concert Band

Jonathan Ringold—1st Part 1st Chair Euphonium

Rebecca Fisher—District Symphonic Band on French Horn

The next meeting of the Special Education Advisory Board is scheduled for January 26, 2011, at 7:00 P.M. in the confer-

ence room of the Original Walker-Grant. If you would like to attend or have any questions, please contact Mrs. Pam

Steinkoenig at 372-1127.