Where Every Child Moves Forward!
Home Principal’s Message Information Instruction News and Events Staff Student Activities Partnerships Contact Us!
Schools and businesses working together support children who “Bloom” and who “Reach for the Stars” is the new slogan being taught at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School since its partnership with the new Bloom Grocery Store located on Minnieville Road. The Partnership made official on Monday, November 20^th during a school ceremony which featured speeches by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steve Walts and School Board Chairman, Lucy Beauchamp as well as a story by Coles District School Board Member, Dr. Michael Otaigbe. Also on hand to show their support for this new partnership was Coles District Supervisor, Martin Nohe; Brentsville District Supervisor, Dr. Wally Covington; Area 1 Associate Superintendent, Alison Nourse-Miller; and Associate Superintendent of Student Learning and Accountability, Pam Gauch. The new partnership began prior to the ceremony with a visit to the Bloom Store by Mrs. Woughter’s and Mrs. Bampton’s class. The two classes visited the store to learn about the grocery store process and to shop for their annual Thanksgiving Feast. The students tasted a variety of products, enjoyed a demonstration on cupcake decorating, and showed their talents for running the checkout. The Thanksgiving Feast, which included the students, their teachers, administrators, Bloom Store personnel, Dr. Walts and Mrs. Nourse-Miller was held prior to the partnership ceremony. The students did an exceptional job preparing many of the Feast entrees as well as the set up of the event. Bloom Grocery has shown support for McAuliffe by providing items for school events, programs, and staff meetings. The store will soon begin to send their employees to the school to participate in tutoring programs and the school’s Be Enthusiastic About Reading (B.E.A.R.) program. Plans are also in place to hold a McAuliffe Day at the store with school staff members helping in various departments throughout the store. A holiday caroling event with the members of the Parents as Educational Partners (P.E.P.) program singing carols in English and Spanish outside the store, will take place in December. Store manager, Von Barron, was the first to contact Cynthia West, McAuliffe’s Principal, with the partnership proposal. Ms. West stated, “I am very pleased with this new relationship as I believe it will support the county’s focus on student achievement and literacy and support our pursuit of a world class education.”