News

The month of May is an exciting time at Fuqua School. Thoughts of summer break are at the forefront of many students’ and faculty’s minds, while traditions, such as graduations, division award programs, and spring concerts fill the month. Another tradition for both 5th and 6th graders is receiving their class shirts. For the Class of 2029 (5th graders), these are their very first Fuqua School class shirts. The Class of 2028 (6th graders) received their second class shirt as a way to celebrate their first year as a middle schooler. Both the Class of 2028 and the Class of 2029 were able to show off their new shirts with a special dress down day in May. They will also be able to wear them on future spirit shirt days and during the Lower School’s Field Day and the Middle School‘s Class Competition.  We are excited to watch them proudly support their class and look forward to watching them learn and grown in the years to come. 

Congratulations to our 6th Grade Band and our Junior Band who placed in their competition in Williamsburg:

6th Grade - 1st place. Excellent Rating

Junior Band - 2nd Place. Excellent Rating

The Fuqua School Music Department also received the "Esprit de Corps" award.  According to the Music in the Parks Festival, "The Esprit de Corps Award recognizes the participating organization that displays an exemplary attitude of positive support and outstanding personal behavior throughout the festival weekend. Personal integrity, quality character values, a desire for excellence, and a spirit of cooperation serve as the cornerstone qualities of the Esprit de Corps Award."

Students in our PK3 and PK4 classes at The Nest have been learning about the life cycles of plants and insects, particularly butterflies and ladybugs.  Live ladybug larvae and live caterpillars were ordered from an online insect company.  They were delivered and the students and teachers observed their “stages” for 14 days. Both the ladybugs and butterflies were released into their natural habitat. This was an incredible sight to see as days of watching these critters change and grow ended with them flying away. What an amazing, hands-on learning experience for our littlest Falcons!

Recently the AP Environmental Science class completed research presentations on four environmental concerns facing Virginia.  Students were asked to research the following four topics: building a rocket facility on Wallops Island, wind turbines off the coast of Virginia, Natural Gas Pipeline Project, and farm runoff concerns for the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  Students were asked to portray the role of an environmental lawyer to present ideas to the General Assembly of Virginia on whether the state should back the projects or make recommended changes.  Each student presented his/her project and was asked follow up questions to defend his/her points or expand upon new solutions offered.  

The fourth and seventh grade students went on a joint field trip to the Robert Russa Moton Museum in Farmville on Tuesday, May 10th. Both grades are currently studying the Civil Rights Movement as a part of  their history curriculum. Students learned about the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement, in 1951, in Farmville that started with the student walk out organized by Barbara Johns who attended R.R. Moton High School. Students then explored other events that were a part of the Civil Rights Movement, such as the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Decision, Brown II Decision, and other local events such as the Massive Resistance and the opening of Prince Edward Academy. This trip was the first portion of a two-part joint local field trip experience for the two classes. Before the end of the school year, students will be completing the Farmville Civil Rights Walking Tour, which will be facilitated by the seventh grade students.

Students in Mrs. Rutherford’s kindergarten class have been begging her to spend the night at school for a class sleepover.  As this request continued throughout the year, Mrs. Rutherford had an idea.  Instead of the students having a sleepover at school, she invited one stuffed animal belonging to each student, and a snuggly blanket for the animal, to spend the night in the classroom. They even left their class teddy bear, Rupert, in charge! Unfortunately, Rupert fell asleep and mayhem ensued. The stuffed animals watched movies, ate popcorn and candy, drank soda, raced toy vehicles, built Legos, worked on puzzles, got creative with arts and crafts,  made forts, and read many books (in other words, they made a HUGE mess). The kids loved walking into their classroom, the morning after, and discovering the extra fun their stuffed animals had. That day, the students did their work in forts with their stuffies and ate cereal for lunch, all while in their pajamas.