Here are just a few of our many contributions:
On November 21, 2011, St. Bridget School welcomed approximately 50 “new students” for the day. The first James H. Blackwell Scholar Roll field trip rewarded students from Blackwell Elementary School in grades 2-5 who worked hard and earned Honor Roll status on their report card during the first quarter.
The Blackwell Scholar Roll students visited their counterpart class at St. Bridget School. They participated in classroom activities, enjoyed lunch together, and played during recess. While in the classrooms, they experienced interactive lessons using the Smartboards, played fun games, and learned a lot about each other.
This partnership grew from the volunteer efforts of St. Bridget parishioners. Alicia Meyer is one of those parishioners who is a very active volunteer at the Blackwell School. The Blackwell School is an inner city Richmond school that has approximately 800 students. Their needs are great, as you can imagine. Alicia has worked tirelessly with a host of other parishioners who give regularly of their time volunteering to tutor, gather contributions, and do whatever they can for these students.
The principals of both school discussed ways in which the school could form a partnership, and this field trip was the first joint activity. It was a huge success, and plans are in the making to continue this activity for the second and third quarters as well. Lauren Holcomb, volunteer coordinator for Blackwell School, expressed her gratitude to the St. Bridget teachers and principals. “Thank you SO MUCH for welcoming us so wholeheartedly for our first James H. Blackwell Scholar Roll field trip! Our students had a wonderful time and can’t stop talking about the new friends that they made on the trip…we will all be counting this experience among our Thanksgiving blessings this year!”
“It goes without saying that the children LOVED being there. One little girl told Mrs. O’Grady that she wanted to move in there!” said Alicia Meyer, Blackwell volunteer. She captured the essence of the experience for everyone, “There are some few times in life when you think, this is a WOW moment! I had one of those today when the Richmond Public School bus was beginning to pull off—the Blackwell children waving out the windows—and I turned around and saw all the St. Bridget children waving back. That was my WOW moment.”
Department of Education
Blue Ribbon School Award 2007