Woodside dance students stage fall ballet
Students in Woodside High School’s Center for the Arts & Communications dance magnet program performed their annual fall ballet, which this year was a re-imagining of “Swan Lake” entitled “Black Swan/White Swan.” Performances were held in November during free matinees for more than 1,000 Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) elementary school students and for the general public.
The ballet was choreographed by former Woodside Director of Dance Hope Hunter and premiered for the fall ballet in 2019. It was presented this year as a tribute and token of gratitude for all that Hunter contributed to Woodside dance, according to new Woodside Director of Dance Dr. Denise Purvis.
Woodside’s dance magnet, which is the only place in NNPS where dance is taught, offers students instruction in ballet, modern dance, jazz, choreography and dance history. Students who participated in the fall ballet worked on its choreography both in class and at after-school rehearsals.
CNU and Newport News Community Walk visits Warwick
Warwick High School’s school community warmly welcomed Christopher Newport University (CNU) President William Kelly’s series of community walks on October 31. This was the fourth time the CNU and Newport News Community Walk has visited Newport News Public Schools.
The Community Walk contingent of approximately 200 people included Delegate Shelly Simonds and Newport News School Board Chairman Dr. Terri Best, Vice Chair Maritsa Alger, board member Lisa Surles-Law and Superintendent Dr. Michele Mitchell.
Warwick’s cheerleaders greeted the guests with a specially-created CNU cheer and the band played several selections. Student groups including the NJROTC, representatives from the Governor’s Health Sciences Academy, International Baccalaureate Programme and several Warwick Raiders athletic teams were on hand to welcome the visitors.
Oyster Day focused on regional bivalves
Students in Booker T. Washington Middle School’s Marine Science Magnet program learned all about oysters during their annual Oyster Day on November 7.
Sixth graders participated in rotating stations of learning, exploring and working on projects to introduce them to the bivalves that are a big part of the Chesapeake Bay regional waterway.
Community partners shared knowledge from their areas of expertise and answered students’ questions. Stations covered biology and conservation of oysters, building oyster cages and water filters, oyster harvesting and waterway law enforcement.
“This all ties into our marine science,” said Daniel Ellis, lead marine science teacher at the school. “For sixth grade, oysters are our focus. And this is a kickoff event to get students interested in oysters. In English, they’ve done research projects about oysters.”
