YAY JONATHAN SPENCER AND JADE WILLIAMSON! Jonathan Spencer and Jade Williamson, exceptional education teachers at Twin Hickory Elementary School, are today's "Yay of the Day" honorees! Superintendent Amy Cashwell honored them at Twin Hickory. 👏
YAYWORTHY:
Nominator Alysa Tavel said,
"They are the dream teachers every parent hopes for — building a positive, collaborative classroom, keeping clear and consistent communication with families, celebrating student wins with photos and updates and connecting to each child’s interests to inspire learning.
"A specific example of a time this person made a positive impact is when they built my child’s social skills by encouraging daily self-affirmations like 'we believe in you' and 'never give up — you’re amazing.' Their support turned what could have been a difficult school transfer into an experience my child now sees as something wonderful."
Thank you for all you do, Jonathan and Jade, to make a positive difference and move HCPS forward!
Array Bakery Takes the Cake! 🍰
Our 3rd-grade Trailblazers celebrated the end of their Multiplication & Division unit with a sweet classroom transformation: The Array Bakery! 👩🍳🧁
Students rotated through four deliciously engaging stations:
• Bakery Stories: Solved story problems by picking cinnamon rolls off a baking sheet.
• Pie Fact Triangles: Chose pie slices to complete multiplication/division fact families.
• Commutative Sheet Cakes: Matched cake cards showing array models like and then drew their matches.
• Bakery Array Craft: Created cookie arrays using stickers, sequins, and lots of creativity!
Each station baked in the Henrico Learner Profile traits- Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creative Thinking, and Communication.
We’re incredibly proud of our THES 3rd grade teachers for designing such engaging, student-centered learning experiences and we’re especially grateful to our Trailblazer families and generous PTA. Your support at events like the Fall Festival directly funds classroom materials and helps provide each teacher with $125 in classroom funds to bring learning to life. Thank you for making this possible!
Our 3rd-grade Trailblazers celebrated the end of their Multiplication & Division unit with a sweet classroom transformation: The Array Bakery! 👩🍳🧁
Students rotated through four deliciously engaging stations:
• Bakery Stories: Solved story problems by picking cinnamon rolls off a baking sheet.
• Pie Fact Triangles: Chose pie slices to complete multiplication/division fact families.
• Commutative Sheet Cakes: Matched cake cards showing array models like and then drew their matches.
• Bakery Array Craft: Created cookie arrays using stickers, sequins, and lots of creativity!
Each station baked in the Henrico Learner Profile traits- Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creative Thinking, and Communication.
We’re incredibly proud of our THES 3rd grade teachers for designing such engaging, student-centered learning experiences and we’re especially grateful to our Trailblazer families and generous PTA. Your support at events like the Fall Festival directly funds classroom materials and helps provide each teacher with $125 in classroom funds to bring learning to life. Thank you for making this possible!
What a YearTrailblazers! 🎉
As we wrap up another incredible school year at Twin Hickory Elementary, we want to send a huge THANK YOU to all of our amazing families for your support, energy, and partnership. 💜
This year was filled with learning, laughter, and unforgettable memories. We are so proud of everything our Trailblazers have accomplished!
🌸 Have a restful, fun-filled summer- you’ve earned it!
To our rising middle schoolers: Keep shining bright, you’re ready for this next adventure! Remember, once a Trailblazer, always a Trailblazer! We hope you’ll come back and visit us soon!
We can’t wait for the 2025-2026 school year. Until then, stay safe, stay curious, and keep blazing trails!
Spotlight on Ms. Berumez and Mr. Juarbe! 🌟
We’re excited to share that Ms. Berumez, a first-grade teacher, and Mr. Juarbe, a second-grade teacher, at Twin Hickory Elementary, presented at and attended a technology conference together! 🎉 Inspired by the event, they set out to bring 3-D printing into their classrooms. Together, they worked to fund a project for 3D pens through DonorsChoose. 🖊️✨
Our hands-on principal, Mrs. Traylor, even popped into the classroom to join in on the 3D doodling fun herself! 😄
This is a fantastic example of teachers supporting each other and integrating technology into the classroom in innovative ways. By using 3D pens, they are teaching durable skills and incorporating technology without relying on screens. This hands-on approach makes learning engaging and fun for our students.
The entire first-grade team, including Ms. Letson, Ms. Seligman, and Ms. Statmore, bring creativity and excitement into their classrooms every day. Ms. Berumez and Mr. Juarbe are shining stars among all the amazing teachers at Twin Hickory, dedicated to making learning engaging and fun for our students.
Happy Lunar New Year!🎊
Mrs. Albornoz and Mrs. Brooks recently teamed up for an amazing music and movement activity to celebrate Lunar New Year with our students. This fun and educational event was a fantastic way for our students to embrace citizenship, global awareness, and respect for all cultures.
The highlight? Our students created a vibrant dragon and paraded it through the hallways! 🐉 The joy and creativity were infectious as the kids danced and brought their colorful dragon to life. It was a wonderful sight to see everyone working together and having a blast.
🌟Our Amazing School Counselors🌟
We are incredibly grateful for Mrs. Helquist and Mrs. Morning, the dedicated and compassionate school counselors at THES! 💖 Their dedication and kindness make a world of difference in the lives of our students every single day.
School counselors play a crucial role in fostering a supportive and nurturing environment. They guide our students through challenges, celebrate their successes, and help them grow into confident, resilient individuals. 🌱✨
Mrs. Helquist and Mrs. Morning visit classrooms to support both teachers and students. They deliver essential lessons on goal setting and social-emotional development, helping students build important life skills. These lessons empower students to manage their emotions, set and achieve personal goals, and develop strong interpersonal relationships.
We want to thank you for being the guiding lights our students can always count on. Your impact is immeasurable, and we are so lucky to have you as part of our THES family. 🏫💕
We're bursting with excitement to announce that our amazing first-grade teacher, Donna Letson, is a finalist for the REB Award for Teaching Excellence!
Donna, a National Board Certified Teacher, is a true inspiration. Her innovative teaching style and passion for education make learning an adventure for her students. Let's give her a round of applause for this well-deserved honor!
Ms. Letson, Ms. Cangelosi, Ms. Rechenbach, and Ms. Austin have earned the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education, National Board Certification! Congratulations on completing this rigorous process. This demonstrates your commitment to excellence in teaching and dedication to THES students!
