School Happenings

James River students, parents and staff turned out to cheer on the College of William & Mary Tribe women’s basketball team on Thursday January 26 in Kaplan Arena. The Tribe defeated Old Dominion 83-30 which was the first time since 1975  that they defeated the Lady Monarchs!  Fifth grader Carrie VanLeliveld did a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem to open the game. The James River Dolphin mascot and W & M Griffin mascot roamed the bleachers to greet all the students and families. The event was organized by the James River PTA co-presidents Shayna Walker and Dawn Olesky. CLICK FOR PHOTO GALLERY

Fifth Grade Ocean Projects

James River 5th graders recently completed their IB Unit “Sharing the Planet.”  As a culminating activity, they created a marine creature using what they learned in the oceanography unit.  They had to consider: What zone does the creature live in?  What are its predator and prey?  What adaptations does it have and why? How does it produce its young? 

The students had to draw a sketch, make a three dimensional representation and write a paragraph describing their organism.  They showed great imagination, creativity and knowledge that produced student-created marine organisms.

Third Grade Learns about Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome

Mr. Matt Webster, Director of Historic Architectural Resources for Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, visited the third grade students at James River Elementary School on Wednesday, December 7th.  During his presentation he discussed important architectural features of ancient Greece and Rome and how they influenced important structures in the United States.  He then worked with students in Mrs. Webster’s class to create salt-clay models of the three types of columns: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.

Pictured:  Cooper E. and Matt Webster, Director of Historic Architectural Resources  

Third Grade Greek Festival

As a part of the study Greece, third grade held a lively Greek Festival on Monday December 19, 2011.  Students dressed in traditional Greek togas and head bands, began the morning creating Baklava with the guidance of school nurse Mrs. Kathy Haramis, a native of Greece who then led the students in a Greek dance.

Read the very first edition of the Dolphin Digest