Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
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Thursday, February 4, 2010
Henry and Patrick counties’ schools will be closed again today due to last weekend’s snowstorm, and Martinsville schools will operate on a two-hour delay, officials said Wednesday.
Today will mark the fourth day that students in the two counties have missed classes due to about a foot of snow that blanketed the area Friday and Saturday.
Melany Stowe, spokesman for Henry County Schools, said that although some roads in the county are clear, others are not in good enough condition to open schools.
“Henry County Public Schools’ first priority is the safety of all students,” said a news release from Stowe.
She added that school officials traveled various county roads Wednesday to examine conditions and found some that were not ready for school buses.
Lisa Price Hughes, resident engineer with the Virginia Department of Transportation’s office in Bassett Forks, said many county roads are still slick because cold temperatures caused the ice to bond to the pavement. VDOT crews are busy trying to get all of the snow and ice removed, she said, adding that warmer temperatures and sun will help thaw roads.
Even if they can’t go to school, students still can learn, school officials said. In the release, they provided a list of ideas that can keep students engaged on snow days.
“Inclement weather days provide parents and grandparents with more time and opportunities to expand on instructional activities that they don’t have when students are in school,” stated Bill Bullins, director of elementary education for Henry County schools.
The recommended activities include:
• Sorting various objects by color, size, and shape;
• Reading recipes and practicing measurements;
• Using the most recent weather forecast to practice plotting temperatures and predicting the next day’s forecast;
• Writing letters to friends and family members;
• Playing memory games;
• Older children can tutor younger siblings;
• Completing crossword puzzles;
• Use the Internet (with adult supervision) to take virtual field trips and complete WebQuests;
• Practice math facts;
• High school seniors can complete scholarship applications, specifically the essay portions; and
• Parents of seniors can complete their 2009 tax returns, which are a requirement for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Educational resources also are available online, the release said.
“For homes with Internet access, there are many free educational websites such as pbskids.org and sproutonline.com,” it said. “Also on the Henry County Public School System’s website, there is a link to several health and fitness online games located under the students tab.”
The link is www.henry.k12.va.us/Games---Activities---Health-and-Fitness.html. |
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