All county public schools receive state accreditation
ANNOUNCEMENTS

Photo courtesy of CJW Medical Center Dr. Katherine Dec, a sports medicine physician at CJW Medical Center, returned recently from Beijing, China, after assisting the U.S. Paralympic Games team as a doctor during their competition there.

All Chesterfield County Public Schools are fully accredited for the 2008-09 school year, making the school system the largest division in Virginia to achieve this status.

"The No. 1 goal in Chesterfield County Public Schools' Design for Excellence [sixyear strategic plan] is academic excellence for all students," said Superintendent Marcus Newsome. "The full accreditation of every Chesterfield school is a tremendous testament to the commitment of our students, teachers, parents and community to outperform Virginia's education standards."

The county's students made significant gains on Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, outscoring state averages in every area and, in some cases, achieving pass rates of 100 percent. Accomplishments of county students include:

• 92 percent passed their science SOL tests, up from 91 percent last year. Across the state, 88 percent of students passed their science tests.

Photo courtesy of James River crew program The James River High School crew program will host the Annual Head of the James Regatta on Saturday, Oct. 11. The first race begins at 9:30 a.m. at Robious Landing Park behind the high school. James River High's crew team trains and competes under the direction of coaches Hank Holswade and Ann Wingen, with help from Aaron Lee, Chris Shores and Ben Coffey.

• 87 percent passed their math SOL tests, up from 83 percent last year. Across Virginia, 84 percent of students passed their math tests.

• 90 percent passed their reading SOL tests, maintaining last year's level. Across the state, 87 percent of students passed their reading tests.

• Twelve county schools achieved 100 percent pass rates on one or more of the tests.

Middle schools in particular made signifi- cant gains in math and U.S. history over the past two years.

• Falling Creek Middle - a 59.9 percent increase in seventh-grade math scores.

Photo courtesy of DSCR First Lt. Miquel Lopez-Oquendo, an industrial engineer at Defense Supply Center Richmond and member of Company E, 429th Brigade Support Battalion of the Virginia Army National Guard, recently returned from a yearlong deployment in Kuwait and Iraq. Lopez's unit was responsible for transporting large trailers and containers, mineresistant armored vehicles known as MRAPs, uniforms and other supplies and parts. His unit's convoys were hit by improvised explosive devices more than a dozen times, resulting in the death of one soldier and the serious wounding of three others.

• Salem Church Middle - a 55.4 percent increase in sixth-grade math scores.

• Bailey Bridge Middle - a 51.4 percent increase in seventh-grade math scores.

• Providence Middle - a 51.4 percent increase in seventh-grade math scores.

• Chester Middle - a 46 percent increase in sixth-grade U.S. history to 1877 scores.

• Midlothian Middle - a 45.1 percent increase in sixth-grade U.S. history to 1877 scores.

Daniel

• Manchester Middle - a 45.1 percent increase in sixth-grade U.S. history to 1877 scores.

The county school system is the largest in Virginia to have all students enrolled in algebra by eighth grade. The significant gains in math come after a new math test was introduced two years ago and scores were significantly lower.

Two new middle schools in the county are conditionally accredited, which is the case with all new schools in the state where students have not yet taken SOL tests. Accreditation status for schools is established each year by the Virginia Department of Education based on student achievement on Standards of Learning tests in English, mathematics, history and science during the previous school year.

Organizations

The Love of Jesus Health Clinic recently received a $3,000 grant from the Elis Olsson Memorial Foundation to help meet the needs of those without health insurance. For information about the clinic, call 674-7499 or visit www.LOJHealthClinic.com.

The Salisbury Garden Club is open to men and women who share an interest in flowers and gardening. Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. Creative programs are presented at each meeting. The group will take a field trip to Chadwick and Son Orchids in Powhatan for the Oct. 15 meeting. For more information, call Kim Benson at 594-0175.

The Silver Rail Club will set up a train display at Brandermill Woods Retirement Community, in the clubhouse meeting room, on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The scene will feature old Lionel trains and the oldest, most identifiable "O"-scale model railroad trains. Those who attend are encouraged to bring their own trains to run on the track. Cleaning and minor repairs will be provided on-site. Members of the club will be on hand to answer questions and reminisce.

Oldies But Goodies Classic Cruizers hosted its annual car show last month, raising more than $14,000 for the Children's Hospital in Richmond. For more information on the club, visit www.obgcc.com.

Government

Chesterfield Fire and EMS recently collected $44,100 for the 2008 MDA Fill the Boot campaign, surpassing last year's $42,000. Rebecca Denius, Chesterfield's MDA Goodwill Ambassador and the 2008 State Ambassador of Virginia, and Jeff Logan, firefighter and MDA coordinator, presented the check during the local MDA telethon held at WRIC Channel 8.

Capt. Paige W. "Chip" Foster recently retired from the county's Police Department after 27 years of service.

Charles H. Foster Jr. recently left the Richmond Metropolitan Authority Board after 15 years of service.

The county board of supervisors recently reappointed Gary Thomson and Dale District Supervisor Jim Holland to serve on Virginia's Gateway Region Board, which assists Chesterfield, Dinwiddie and Prince George counties, as well as the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg, to enhance economic development opportunities.

The National Federation of Independent Business has named Eric Cantor, whose Congressional district includes a portion of Chesterfield, a guardian of small business for his outstanding voting record on behalf of America's small business owners in the 110th Congress.

Business

Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. has taken steps to increase the capital of both the corporation and its subsidiary, Village Bank, which will allow the FDIC to more quickly consider its planned merger with River City Bank. Village Bank is a full-service, Virginiachartered community bank headquartered in Midlothian. Once the merger is completed, it will become the largest commercial bank with headquarters in the metro Richmond area, with about $550 million in assets and 15 area branches.

Lexus of Richmond in Midlothian, in partnership with WRLH-TV FOX, 1140/WRVA and 910/WRNL radio stations and Richmond Magazine, will award a $20,000 college scholarship to one area high school senior through its 14th Annual Pursuit of Perfection Leadership Awards program. School administrators are invited to submit applications on behalf of students who meet the selection procedure criteria, including academics, athletics, leadership, citizenship and community service. A finalist will be selected each week for 29 weeks from entries received, and one finalist will receive the scholarship in May. There is no limit to the number of applications school administrators may submit. More information is available by e-mailing lexusofrichmondscholarshipprogram@ clearchannel.com.

CJW Medical Center recently held a transportation fair to help its employees learn about transportation options offered through a partnership with RideFinders, a division of GRTC transit system. RideFinders will help match CJW employees with others with whom they can create a carpool or vanpool. Vanpoolers will use a RideFinders vehicle instead of their own, saving on wear and tear of their personal vehicles.

Richmond BMW/Crown Mini's Midlothian location donated $100 for each car sold during August to Richmond's SPCA to help care for homeless dogs and cats. The dealership's two locations donated a total of $20,100. Athletics

Chesterfield resident Danny Oughton, 11, recently earned the distinction of Best All-Around Rider in the state for his cycling and road- and cyclocross-racing skills. He had the highest combined score in all of the state championship races, and he is the Virginia state Hill Climb champion in his age category. His brother, Anthony Oughton, is the 2007 Virginia State Cyclocross champion in the 13-14 age category, and continues to win races.

Matoaca Elementary School fourth-grader

Tristan Avery recently became the 65cc Grand National champion for 7-11 year olds in flat track motorcycle racing.

A mud-volleyball tournament was recently held at Colonial Heights Baptist Church that involved students from Thomas Dale and Matoaca high schools, Matoaca Middle School and Richmond Christian School.

The Midlothian Youth Soccer League recently completed the construction of three new soccer fields, known as Phase III, at its Midlothian Youth Soccer Park on Hensley Road. The first field on Phase III will be designated the Lexus of Richmond Field to honor a new partnership between the soccer league and the car dealership. Other

Sylvia Hoehns and Doug Hensel created the winning campaign in the "Turning American from Eco-Weak to Eco-Chic" contest sponsored by Hines Horticulture, Project EverGreen and Today's Garden Center magazine. The campaign, which was implemented at The Great Big Greenhouse in Midlothian, included a display at the nursery, writing a column for a Web site, conducting seminars at the nursery and promotion and publicrelations efforts. They received a $1,000 cash prize.

Chesterfield resident

Sadie Daniel recently won the Miss Congeniality award in the Miss Pre-teen Richmond Pageant. She is a fifth grader at Clover Hill Elementary School, and the daughter of Timmie and James Blystone and Scott and Amy Daniel.

Chesterfield resident

Glenn Kemp was recently awarded the State Neighborhood Advocate of the Year award by the Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference. The award recognizes the accomplishments of those who work to enhance the quality of life in their communities.

Midlothian resident and artist Robert Caldwell has two pieces of work - "Out of the Darkness (Saw-whet Owl)" and "Sewanee Barn (Feral Pigeons)" - in the 2008 Kentucky National Wildlife Art Exhibit in Henderson, Ky., that runs through Nov. 7. He also has one graphite drawing, "2008 (Rat)," in the 48th Annual Exhibition of the Society of Animal Artists, which runs through Nov. 2 in Green Bay, Wis.

Compiled by Gwen Sadler

Announcements can be e-mailed to news@ chesterfieldobserver.com, faxed to 744-3269 or mailed to Chesterfield Observer, Attn: Announcements, P.O. Box 1616, Midlothian, VA 23113.