Preschool Program Default Post Page
On Wednesday, March 29th, the FACE Committee hosted the Hugh Mercer Patriots and Lafayette Lions, who squared off for the 2023 Family/Faculty March Madness Tournament championship trophy. It was an incredibly exciting and close game that went into two overtimes. The Lafayette Lions clenched the win, with a final score of 43 Lafayette Lions, 40 Hugh Mercer Patriots. The evening was a blast! The amazing turnout of approximately 500 attendees made the evening a highlight of the week! Let’s be sure to recognize the cheerleaders with their waving pompoms and exuberant enthusiasm that kept the crowds cheering until the final play of the game.
خانواده های مکاتب دولتی شهر فریدریکس بورگ یا (FCPS) سلام بر شما!
امروز دقیقاً به شما توضیح خواهم داد که چگونه می توانید اکثریت محتوا ها را در وب سایت ما ترجمه کنید. انجام این کار بسیار آسان است و فقط اندکی از وقت تان را می گیرد. اجازه دهید به شما نشان دهم
Today's Tech Tuesday at FCPS shows you again how to operate the translation tool on our website. Please join one of our community members who shows you exactly how to do so in Dari for this version. This handy button translates the vast majority of the content on our site into Spanish, Dari and Pashto in no time!
Ana Johnson: anjohnson@cityschools.com (540-940-8381)
FCPS March Madness concludes with LES vs. HMES on March 29 at 6PM. Tune in to regionalwebtv.com or scan the QR code above to watch live. Don't miss the epic FCPS playoff game of the Family/Faculty March Madness Tournament! Or come in person at James Monroe High School (doors open at 5:30PM).
2020 throwback t-shirts will be available for sale (cash ONLY $10). Parent groups will be selling snacks and drinks. Join the 50/50 raffle! Enjoy the half-time shows!
Questions? Contact Sandy Gillenwater (540-372-1130) or sgillenwater@cityschools.com
On March 23, 2023, Hugh Mercer Elementary competed against Walker-Grant Middle in the FCPS Family/Faculty March Madness Basketball game and won! Before the end of the school day, Dr. Catlett, superintendent, and Dr. Eberhardt, deputy superintendent, led a parade of Hugh Mercer cheerleaders and the basketball players through the student- lined halls. The cheering as they passed by could be heard through-out the school!
The tournament continues with the championship game between the Hugh Mercer Elementary Patriots and the Lafayette Elementary Lions. Plan to join the fun to cheer on the teams, March 29, at James Monroe High School. Doors will be open at 5:30 and the game will start at 6:00. The 2023 FCPS Family/ Faculty March Madness Tournament trophy will be presented to the winning team. Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be available for sale from the school PTAs. The game is a free event for all. See you there!
This time next week, the JMHS Theater Dept will be putting on the show SOMETHING ROTTEN!
Come out and support these students. They are working so hard and having a blast!
Click on the link below for tickets;
🎟️ https://events.ticketspicket.com/agency/444888d9-5c93-439e-b57a-0b6832e49a39
From March 30 - April 1, all times at 7PM start.
Located in the JMHS auditorium, tickets are 15 dollars for students, and 17 for general admission.
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell.
Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick.
Conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick.
Presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
We’re excited to host the next Superintendent Community Roundtable on Wednesday, April 26!
Like previous Roundtables, it will provide opportunities for our community members to meet with division team members and take part in discussions about how we can best plan for the future of FCPS. The event is open to all families, staff, students, and community members.
The event will take place from 8:30 to 10:30 am on April 26, at the Walker-Grant Center (210 Ferdinand St, Fredericksburg). A light breakfast will be available from 8:00-8:30 am.
To RSVP, visit https://bit.ly/fcpsroundtable5.
We hope to see you there!
El Tech Tuesday de hoy se trata de cómo puede usar la herramienta de traducción en nuestro sitio web. ¡Este práctico botón traduce la gran mayoría del contenido de nuestro sitio al español, dari y pashto en un instante! El video de hoy presenta la versión en español del guía con la propia Ana Johnson de nuestro Centro de recursos de conexión que le muestra exactamente cómo hacerlo en español.
Today's Tech Tuesday is all about how you can use the translation tool on our website. This handy button translates the vast majority of the content on our site into Spanish, Dari and Pashto in no time! Today's video introduces the Spanish version of the guide with Ana Johnson herself from our Connection Resource Center showing you exactly how to do it in Spanish.
Ana Johnson: anjohnson@cityschools.com (540-940-8381)
FCPS Family/Faculty March Madness! Come and support your school team, admission is FREE!
Location: James Monroe High School
Game Dates: Listed Below
Times: 5:30PM (Doors Open) and 6:00PM (Game Start)
Hugh Mercer Elementary vs. Walker-Grant Middle (March 23)
Championship (March 29)
2020 throwback t-shirts will be available for sale (cash ONLY $10). Parent groups will be selling snacks and drinks. Join the 50/50 raffle! Enjoy the half-time shows!
Questions? Contact Sandy Gillenwater (540-372-1130) or sgillenwater@cityschools.com
On March 20, 2023, students from James Monroe High School's Environmental Science classes joined Downtown Greens to assist in a tree-planting project. Downtown Greens aims to plant approximately 810 sapling-sized trees at their new property by Braehead Farm. This effort will establish a "forage forest" to improve water quality in the area using the planted trees. This community-oriented, learning opportunity is an extension of the MWEE watershed grant that has allowed for similar experiences for FCPS students.
Fredericksburg City Public Schools is seeking volunteers to serve on its new Branding Workgroup.
Over the next several months, the workgroup will establish a refreshed brand for the school division. The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 27, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Walker-Grant Center.
Those interested in serving on the Branding Workgroup are invited to sign up at www.bit.ly/fcpsbrandingworkgroup.
“Today’s public schools in Virginia and across the country must have a distinct brand if they wish to compete among the variety of options available to families and students,” said Dr. Marceline Catlett, FCPS Superintendent. “Through this effort, we look to establish the division's presence as an ideal option and make the case for why families should have their children attend our schools. We hope to gain the input and insights of families, staff, and community members throughout this process.”
At the end of the process, the workgroup will present an updated brand to the FCPS School Board for its approval.
Additional workgroup meetings are scheduled for May 31, June 21, and July 27. The Walker-Grant Center is located at 210 Ferdinand St. in Fredericksburg.
"Every week, preschool students in Fredericksburg City Schools have garden class, led by volunteers from Downtown Greens, a community greenspace in the city." to read more and to listen to the radio ad that our preschoolers were featured in, click the link below!
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2023-03-08/downtown-greens-aims-to-grow
Today's Tech Tuesday is all about our mobile app. See our news feed on the go, access our staff directory, check the calendar for events, and more! We hope this week's video makes navigating our app easier.
To access the page containing the walkthrough videos for Android and iOS devices, and download links for each, click HERE.
JMHS DECA had an incredible weekend with over 3,500 students at the Virginia DECA Competitive Events this weekend in Virginia Beach. We are proud of how hard all 52 students prepared for their events and for the professionalism they displayed all weekend. The following 14 students qualified for ICDC in Orlando Florida in April by placing in the top 8 out of 50+ students in their events.
Jacob Wigglesworth | 2nd Place Overall | Food Marketing Series |
Alia Durrani | 3rd Place Overall | Social Media - VA Only |
Francesca Hein | 3rd Place Overall | Business Services Marketing |
Palmer Van Zandt | 3rd Place Overall | Business Finance Series |
Yash Neil Patil | Top 8 Overall | Principles of Marketing |
Angelina Baldwin | Top 8 Overall | Automotive Services Marketing Series |
Margaret Rowe | Top 8 Overall | Food Marketing Series |
Sam Snead | Top 8 Overall | Sports & Entertainment Marketing Team |
RJ Turner | Top 8 Overall | Sports & Entertainment Marketing Team |
Sarah Rigual | Top 8 Overall | Hotel and Lodging Management Series |
Mathew Franklin | Top 8 Overall | Accounting Applications |
Lillian Hutcherson | Top 8 Overall | Apparel & Accessories Marketing Series |
Khalil Gil-Perez | Top 8 Overall | Automotive Services Marketing Series |
Amelia Garman | Top 8 Overall | Accounting Applications |
The students listed below received a medal for placing in the top 8 for their role play or comprehensive test.
JT Sherman |
Sydney Van Vorst |
Jamie Weis |
Grace Crow |
Avery Foresman |
The JMHS DECA Chapter received a plaque for the largest membership increase this year in Region 3 and Mrs. Dyer received an Outstanding Advisor Award.
We celebrated our SRO Officers at the School Board Meeting last night. Sargeant Lynch, Officer Florio, and Officer BK, Thank You for being a part of our family. Click the link below to hear thoughtful appreciation from our students and faculty regarding our SRO officers. https://youtu.be/JRTjMdMM2V4
On Monday, March 6th, Shiloh Baptist (New Site) donated $800.00 toward the purchasing of SOL test study materials. We are tremendously grateful to them and to our community partners who continue to put FCPS student achievement on their priority list.
The James Monroe Choir Department traveled today to their State Choir Assessment. Men's Choir, Women's Choir, and Monroe Singers earned a Superior rating from the adjudicators. Congratulations to everyone for working so hard and giving it their all!
Did you know this week is School Social Work Week? FCPS wants to thank our amazing school social workers for all the work they do in helping out our students and getting them the resources they might need. Want to learn more about school social work? Visit the official website of the School Social Work Association of America by clicking HERE. The following is a list of our social workers at each school, so let's give them a big round of applause!
Preschool: Catherine Eicke
HMES: Barrie Massey
LES: Ashley Modesto
WGMS: Jennifer Bunn
JMHS: Jeanette Alexander
Social Worker Support: Stephanie Minor
James Monroe hosted its 2023 talent show, and students brought their best this year. Viewers were treated to a variety of performances, like dance, musical, comedy. The fundraiser contributed to junior and senior prom decorations. A big congratulations goes to Talent Show winner Gannon Britt, who took home first place (pictured with the trophy) and to all our participants. Thank you to everyone who donated as well! To view a photo gallery of more photos, click HERE.
Want to make your voice heard for the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)? Are you a parent or staff member who feels they want their voice heard on Special Education? Well then please come via Zoom on:
March 7 from 5 to 6:30PM
The meeting after that will be May 16th, 2023 from 4:30 to 6PM.
The zoom link is https://cityschools-com.zoom.us/J/86407813069, we look forward to your input!
This week's Tech Tuesday is all about our handy attendance notes form where you can submit notes for your student's absence, take a look!
On February 23, some of James Monroe's students in Ms. Loehr's class visited the local Costco in Spotsylvania Mall in order to get hands on experience. Students toured the store, had a chance to help decorate cupcakes, and ended the day with a catered meal and gift bags provided by Costco. We thank them for their partnership with our students to help them be prepared for transition after high school.
On February 22, students in the RISE program were visted by Callie Brown of Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation. Students actively participated in lessons about our local wetlands, and participants were able to see just exactly how they are created and operate. Future activities for our RISE students involve visiting local wetlands in person, researching them, and making a plan to improve them. We are grateful for Ms. Brown's time and our partnership with Parks and Recreation.
Staff from the Friends of the Rappahannock group visited James Monroe environmental science classrooms to instruct on water filtration and sediment levels. Students engaged in a fun activity where different teams constructed their own filtration system and were judged by the amount of sediment and other material left in the bottom of the cup. This hands-on instruction comes as part of a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) grant that FCPS received. We are grateful to the Friends of the Rappahannock for donating their time to help enrich our students' understanding of the watershed.
FCPS is hosting registration nights for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Lafayette's registration night is Wednesday April 5, from 5PM to 7PM at 3 Learning Lane, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401. Hugh Mercer's is Thursday April 6, from 5PM to 7PM at 2100 Cowan Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401. Complete registration to sign your student up for the FREE KinderCamp summer program. At these events you'll have an opportunity to;
1. Visit the school.
2. Participate in sample student activities.
3. Meet families of other upcoming kindergartners.
4. Sign up for FCPS alerts.
5. Practice getting on and off the school bus.
6. Connect with community resources.
7. Tour the SuperCat bus!
Please bring the following items with you to complete registration;
1. Birth certificate, the original, NOT a photocopy, OR a passport (if not U.S. citizen).
2. Photo ID for parent/guardian.
3. Proof of city residency (mortgage/property settlement agreement, lease, AND 1 current utility bill, driver's license cannot be accepted as proof of residency).
4. Immunization record/school entrance physical exam (dated within one year of entering school for the first time). These documents must be signed by a physician and recorded on a state health form, which may be obtained from your physician, Fredericksburg Health Department, or FCPS registrar's office.
5. Parent/guardian will also be required to submit registration paperwork, which can be found online at https://www.fxbgschools.us/resources/new-student-registration
Any questions about registration? Contact the FCPS registrar at 540-940-8380 or ataylor@cityschools.com
On January 16, the Martin Luther King (MLK) Day of Service, over 80 students at the University of Mary Washington (UMW) spent their afternoon giving back to different organizations in the Fredericksburg community. One of the UMW student-run organizations created fleece blankets and filled hygiene supply bags for students in Fredericksburg City Public Schools. In total, the students made 32 blankets and prepared 80 bags for students at Hugh Mercer Elementary, Lafayette Elementary, and Walker-Grant Middle School. Three members of the Community Outreach and Resources (COAR) and a UMW sponsor for the organization delivered the blankets and bags to the schools. We are incredibly grateful for our community partners like COAR and UMW.
Today's Tech Tuesday is all about our exciting new community events page. This page contains a variety of different events happening around the Fredericksburg area in an easy to use and filter format. Let's dive in!
To view the corresponding video, whether on a mobile device or a desktop/laptop, click the buttons below.
Did you know? Every FCPS student has either a laptop or iPad at their fingertips as part of our mission to provide Excellence in Education. Students plan, problem-solve, create, analyze, and demonstrate learning with tools, sites, and resources.
To celebrate Virginia’s Digital Learning Day, Fredericksburg students will participate in learning that highlights new and existing technologies in their classrooms. Look for features, tips, and more throughout the week. #DLDay
Today, Ms. Cuevas-Orlando celebrated Digital Learning Day with her Spanish 2 students. She collaborated with Mrs. Heller, JMHS's Instructional Technology Coach, to present her students with an activity that allowed them to discuss in English and Spanish how the pandemic impacted the use of technology in schools, the pros and cons of technology in schools, and to give their feedback on how technology could be used to make learning better. Students shared their voices through short video responses on Flip.
FCPS Family/Faculty March Madness! Come and support your school team, admission is FREE!
Location: James Monroe High School
Game Dates: Listed Below
Times: 5:30PM (Doors Open) and 6:00PM (Game Start)
Preschool/James Monroe High vs. Lafayette Elementary (March 8)
Hugh Mercer Elementary vs. Walker-Grant Middle (March 23)
Championship (March 29)
2020 throwback t-shirts will be available for sale (cash ONLY $10). Parent groups will be selling snacks and drinks. Join the 50/50 raffle! Enjoy the half-time shows!
Questions? Contact Sandy Gillenwater (540-372-1130) or sgillenwater@cityschools.com
Did you miss the show last night?!! 🎬 No worries! Grab your tickets now to catch a show. See you there! Purchase 🎟️ here: https://events.ticketspicket.com/agency/9f8d9c6a-86d1-4d6f-bb64-5d0706130d23 Photos here: https://wellermanphotography.pixieset.com/shrektheplay/
Are you currently in the process of earning a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and want to learn more about teaching as a possible career choice? There will be opportunities for those who have a Bachelor's degree and would like to pursue a career in education to get information on alternative paths to licensure. Register to attend this job fair.
Preregistration preferred; however, walk-ins are also welcomed.
Fredericksburg City Public Schools’ Human Resources staff will be available
- to provide an overview of the teaching profession
- to discuss various routes to obtaining teacher licensure
- to answer questions
A representative from the Shenandoah University's career-switcher program will also be present to answer questions.
If you’re interested in attending, please register at http://ow.ly/Bfy850HSK4X
For additional information, please contact Human Resources at (540)372-1130.
James Monroe High School CTE students attended the Chamber of Commerce Intern Expo today and gained real-world experiences in interviewing and speaking with local businesses and non-profits. An axe or two may have been thrown as well. FCPS remains grateful for our community partnerships and the opportunities they provide our students. To view more photos from this amazing day, visit the gallery at the top of our dedicated CTE page; https://jmhs.fxbgschools.us/cte
This past weekend students from Walker-Grant Middle School traveled to Richmond to compete in the Regional Geography Bee. They all did a phenomenal job representing our school.
The following students placed and qualified for the National Geography Bee in June and the International Geography Bee that will be held next summer.
Elham Azimi placed 2nd in 6th grade.
Adam Loudabachi placed 3rd in 6th grade.
Zyair Franklin placed 2nd for 7th grade.
Thomas Castellarin placed 4th for 7th grade.
Adam Brough placed 4th for 8th grade.
Congratulation to all students who competed, and shout out to Ms. Cissell for organizing and preparing students for this competition.
Welcome back to Tech Tuesdays, our weekly informational release by FCPS showing families and community members how to navigate certain tech-oriented resources we have. Our second release is showing how to get to and navigate the "Division Calendar" page on our site. This page shows a wide variety of upcoming events within our schools and other dates of note. We hope you find these videos helpful. Of note, the videos are also accessible for our EL families. When viewing the video on YouTube, simply turn on auto captions and select the relevant language.
Come out and see the WGMS production of Shrek Jr. the musical!
Thursday, February 16 is a dinner theater production with doors opening at 5:30PM.
Friday, February 17 is a student matinee production at 3PM followed by a full performance at 6PM.
Saturday, February 18 is a matinee production at 1PM.
Directed by Barbara Powell, Susan Ingebretsen and Ashley Rea.
Dinner theater performance costs 15 dollars per ticket, all other shows are 10 dollars a ticket and 5 dollars per student. Kids 5 and under are free!
To get tickets, click HERE.
Lafayette Elementary students are hard at work protecting the environment by recycling and picking up trash. Pictured are students in Jennifer Brady's class practicing environmental stewardship by recycling (bottom left and middle). Also pictured is a member of Lafayette's own Green Team, organized by Victor Duran (bottom right), which helps keep the Lafayette campus clear of trash and debris. We are immensely proud of all our students for taking such good care of their school environment.
Welcome to Tech Tuesdays!, a new weekly informational release by FCPS showing families and community members how to navigate certain tech-oriented resources we have. Our first release is showing how to get to and navigate the "Community Resources" page on our site. This page is a goldmine of resources and activities that families may need and is updated regularly. We hope you find these videos helpful. Of note, the videos are also accessible for our EL families. When viewing the video on YouTube, simply turn on auto captions and select the relevant language.
Walker-Grant Middle School students had the opportunity to get "A Seat at the Table" today. Students mingled and received advice from school board members and local community leaders, including FXBG law enforcement, city council members, and business owners. Together they enjoyed an FCPS-catered breakfast. Walker-Grant Middle School teacher and event organizer Rosella Sprow said, "Arming our students with information and resources about the pathway to a successful life after high school is of utmost importance to us." We appreciate our community leaders for volunteering their free time and empowering the new generation of leaders with the knowledge they need to thrive.
To browse a more comprehensive list of photos from the event, click HERE.
Join our FCPS families for FCPS Family Night on February 22, 2023 at James Monroe High School (2300 Washington Avenue).
Doors will open at 5:00 for families to visit school tables for resource information.
Dinner will be served from 5:15 to 6:00 PM.
At 6:00 PM the local Red Cross and the FXBG Fire Department will share tips on fire prevention and opportunities for FREE Fire /Smoke Alarm installation.
After the safety presentation, join your school families in the designated location for a discussion with school administrators about “Why School Attendance Matters!”
Please register your family for dinner using the QR code or by contacting your school FACE Committee member listed below.
Preschool FACE rep; Megan Dougherty (mdougherty@cityschools.com)- 540-372-1130
HMES FACE rep; Lita Brown (lbrown@cityschools.com)-540-372-1115
LES FACE rep; Jonathan Williamson (jwilliamson@cityschools.com)-540-310-0029
WGMS FACE rep; Marco Padilla (mpadilla@cityschools.com)-540-372-1145
JM FACE rep; Bryan Godfrey (bgodfrey@cityschools.com)- 540372-1100
For additional information please contact Sandy Gillenwater, Director of Family and Community Engagement at (540) 372-1130.
Fredericksburg City Public Schools is partnering with our local government and colleges by showcasing a variety of resources for Black History Month. Visit our community resources page and see the new "Black History Month Resources" tab to explore a variety of great lectures, events, informational sessions, and activities. All hosted by our local partners: Fredericksburg City, Germanna Community College, and the University of Mary Washington.
Nearly 75 community members participated in the fourth Superintendent Community Roundtable, which focused on academic achievement and the need for additional student supports. Six guest panelists represented a diverse cross-section of the Fredericksburg community and spoke on student support, from Pre-K to 12th grade. Panelists shared how they've supported the City's children by creating safe spaces, so that children may have more opportunities to learn and achieve. "And never, ever give up on anyone," guest panelist Mrs. Trudy Smith-Wilson concluded.
Community members then collectively discussed responses to the following questions:
- What do you think are the challenges for student academic success in FCPS?
- What can the community do to directly address these challenges to support the students and schools?
- What are you currently doing or what can you do to partner with FCPS to further student academic success?
Community answers were recorded and will be shared out formerly at a later date.
Would you like to know more about how the community is showing up for FCPS's students' achievement? Please feel free to email Sandy Gillenwater (sgillenwater@cityschools.com) with specific questions or interests.
Fun Fact: Fredericksburg City Public Schools has never before engaged in a branding workgroup.
On Thursday, January 27th, the volunteer Mission & Vision workgroup gathered for the second time this school year to further conceptualize what makes a great mission statement: focusing on our student population, determining what makes FCPS unique, and identifying themes that reflect our school community.
In groups, participants drafted mission statements to reflect answers to the following questions:
- What do we do?
- Whom do we serve?
- How do we serve them?
Following a gallery walk and identification of commonalities, the workgroup voted on words which reflected the uniqueness of our division.
Would you like to see the presentation? https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qe1qtQYKxlvAHu1KtiL3WXzKGft5ZTWOogwlMi645W0/edit?usp=sharing
The workgroup will meet again on April 27, 2023 to continue the process of constructing Mission & Vision statements for the division.
Have questions or want to know more? Please feel free to message Katie Hornung (mhornung@cityschools.com).
Fredericksburg City Public Schools is excited to announce the Division Spelling Bee Champion, Adam Loudhabachi. Adam is a Walker-Grant Middle School student in Grade 6 and the son of Mohamed and Eya Loudhabachi. Our runner-up winner was also a Grade 6 student from Walker-Grant Middle School named Nanjeeba Moral. Nanjeeba is the daughter of Tanni Moral.
The competition was held at the Walker-Grant Center on January 27, 2023 at 9:00AM. We will recognize Adam and Nanjeeba at the February School Board meeting and Adam will continue on to compete at the Regional Bee on February 25, 2023 at 10:00AM. The regional competition will be held at James Monroe High School.
Congratulations and great job to all our grade level spelling bee winners who competed in the FCPS Division Spelling Bee. They are as follows:
HUGH MERCER Grade Level Bee Winners:
- 3rd grade champion- Molly Young
- 3rd grade runner up- Azarias Fallon
- 4th grade co-champions- Maliyah Bass and Liam Clark
- 5th grade champion- Eva Brody
- 5th grade runner up- Owen Hensley
LAFAYETTE Grade Level Bee Winners:
- 3rd grade champion- Keani Jarvis-White (absent for Division Bee)
- 3rd grade runner up- Maleah Monroe
- 4th grade champion Matthew Palko
- 4th grade runner up- Emma Ouk
- 5th grade champion- Taneisha Savage
- 5th grade runner up tie- Reagan Gaines, Nicolai Eure
WALKER-GRANT Grade Level Bee Winners:
- 6th Grade champion: Nanjeeba Moral
- 6th Grade runner up: Adam Loudhabachi
- 7th Grade champion: Jaedin Matthews
- 7th Grade runner up: Wynasia Parker
- 8th Grade champion: Eve Wenger
- 8th Grade runner up: Mya Stewart
FCPS Division Bee Winners:
- Division Champion: Adam Loudhabachi- W-GMS/Grade 6 (Pictured center of collage)
- Runner-Up Winner: Nanjeeba Moral- W-GMS/Grade 6
On Friday, January 20th, James Monroe's new laundry facility, "Tough City Suds," celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebration. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, City Councilman Tim Duffy, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Marci Catlett, FCPS School Board members Jaanan Holmes and Katie Pomeroy, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Matthew Eberhardt, and Anderson Oil Company President Mark Anderson and staff were honored guests at the celebration. James Monroe Athletic Trainer/Teacher Tammy Clark, founder and coordinator of the Giving Tree and Tough City Suds, opened the ceremony with a welcome and the history behind the vision for Tough City Suds. Dr. Duffy, Dr. Catlett, James Monroe, Principal Mr. Marcus Petty, Trina Bellamy and Mark Anderson from Anderson Oil offered up words of support and excitement over how this project will make a positive impact in support of our students. The generosity of the Fredericksburg community has driven both the Giving Tree and Tough City Suds to fruition and thrive.
Tough City Suds aims to provide services to families in need beginning the first weekend of February. Two-hour time slots on weekends and some weeknights will be available to access Tough City Suds, with all supplies provided for free.