Superintendent’s Blog
KidWind – What is That?
The KidWind Challenge is a hands-on design competition that engages students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). The KidWind Challenge just like the Google’s Director of STEM Education Strategy, Kamau Bobb aims to inspire and educate students in these fields.
Using the lens of solar and wind energy (among the most rapidly developing and growing career fields right now!), students work in teams to design and construct small wind turbines and solar devices that are tested. The students then meet with a panel of judges to present their design process, demonstrate their conceptual knowledge and generally promote their work.
But that’s not all…
The teams then engage in a variety of Instant Challenges to test their abilities to perform on-the-spot collaborative teamwork and problem solving! Let’s recap the skills these students are mastering through this project: science, technology, engineering, math, collaboration, critical thinking, teamwork, problem solving, creativity, construction, application, presentation, public speaking – we could keep going!
We plan to take 3 wind and 3 solar teams, up to 30 students, to the regional competition in Petersburg on March 13. Last year our teams brought home some impressive honors and I’m confident they will achieve great things this, too.
The early stages of project development at FMS:
Speech Team Wins the Supers!
Congratulations to our Speech Team! They won the “Supers” event that was hosted at FCHS on Saturday, February 25th (“Supers” is the tournament between the regional and state competitions). Fluvanna won sweeps Saturday with 44 points! Brookville was runner-up with 16 points, and Magna Vista placed 3rd with 7 points. Nine FLUCOS placed 1st, 2 placed 2nd, and 1 placed 3rd.
The following students competed, and earned medals in their categories:
Math 24 Experts Burn Up the Playing Field at Carysbrook!
Ever heard of Math 24? It’s a game that is sweeping through Carysbrook Elementary and several young scholars have emerged as true competitors!
Carysbrook students participated in a Math 24 tournament. The top twelve students from each grade are competing at the FMS tournament on March 14th.
The final four will move from that tournament to compete in Orange County in April!
Appreciating Our Counselors
Our counselors play a critical role in the lives of our students and families. Despite wearing multiple hats and bearing responsibility for a wide array of areas, they prioritize direct support and work with our students and we are so grateful for them! As you see your counselors in school and around the community, take a moment to tell them how special and impactful they are. They truly make a difference, every day.
Central Elementary Counselors, Terri Young and Kimberly Heverly:
Carysbrook Elementary Counselor, Tamika Carter:
FMS Counselors, Julie Smith, Lindsey Byam, and Marcus Carter:
FCHS Counselors, Erika Morris, Haden Parrish, Kelly Fallavollita, Maureen Stonesifer and Chris Roberson:
FLUCO Band Members Advance to District Band!
Congratulations to the following students who all successfully auditioned and made it into the district band:
- Abby Davis
- Tyler DeGregory
- Jonah Frank
- Charlie Gibson-Morgan
- Ava Gray
- Brennan Pezalla
- Lionel Straus
- Lexi Wilkins
- Ryan Wilkins
Lexi Wilkins placed high enough to audition for the All-Virginia Band on February 25th, and Brenna Pezalla and Lionel Straus were both alternates for this same audition!
Wonderful work from these exceptional artists and musicians and their leader, Sam Campbell!
Speech Team Wins Regionals (yes, AGAIN!)
FLUCO Spelling Bee Contestants Shine!
Congratulations to some REMARKABLE FLUCOS for their recent spelling bee success! Eighth-grader Annika Bridge won the FCPS Spelling Bee in 10 rounds with the championship word of “roulette.” Annika and runner-up, fifth-grader Phoebe Frank, will represent Fluvanna at the Daily Progress Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 11 at Albemarle High School. Eighth-grader Owen Kaider earned a runner-up finish.
We can’t wait to see how they do and appreciate their hard work and wonderful representation of our great schools!
FMS Leadership Students Visit FCHS!
FLUCO Swimmers Headed to States!
First Grade FLUCOS Learn Value of Coins!
Mrs. Wright’s first grade class is learning the value of coins. Students had various stations where they counted, sorted, graphed, and coded their robot to values shown on a ten frame, arrays, and values of their coins. Students then used the Engineering Design Process they learned in STEAM class.
With their problem of building a bank, students brainstormed ways to design their creation. Then they had to use their plastic coins to purchase all their materials from Mrs. Loving’s
store and their creations began. Evaluations of their designs were completed a students put their coins in their bank. So much fun learning about coins!
