Students from the Classroom to Cafeteria Project at VanDevender Middle School were recognized Tuesday for their part in the project which allows students the chance to grow herbs and plants that will then be used in the school’s cafeteria. From left are Hollie Best, director of child nutrition, Andrew Henderson, Douglas Newberry, Carson Dobbins and Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The stage in the Blennerhassett Middle School auditorium was filled with students Tuesday night as the Wood County Board of Education held numerous recognitions.

“That is the fun part of this job,” Board member Judy Johnson said during board comments. “This is why we’re here.”

The board recognized a group of Blennerhassett Elementary School students who built a rendition of the new addition at the school using Legos. A full list of names can be found in the online edition of this story.

“They did an amazing job,” Blennerhassett Elementary Principal Kristin Garretson said. “It’s a scaled model of the classroom additions to our school.”

The board also recognized a group of VanDevender Middle School students who worked on the Classroom to Cafeteria project which gave students the chance to grow herbs and other plants in school, with the help of the child nutrition office, to be used in their cafeteria.

Blennerhassett Middle School students were recognized Tuesday for their completion of the reading and/or math sections of the i-Ready program. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Director of Child Nutrition Hollie Best said about four weeks ago the department received some hydroponic towers which have circulating water and glow rings to help the plants grow. She said school principals and teachers agreed to allow their students to help.

“(They) all agreed to allow their students to come help us grow lettuce that we’re going to be able to utilize in the cafeteria,” Best said.

Best said the students check the pH of the water being used, they add plants to the towers, and also look for leaves and measure the plants growing. A full list of those involved with the program can be found in the online edition of this story.

The Blennerhassett Middle School seventh and eighth grade honor band welcomed everybody Tuesday night by performing in the lobby and was also recognized by the board. A full list of names can be found in the online edition of this story.

“We’re incredibly proud of our arts programs here, and Blennerhassett Middle School band is definitely something to be proud of,” said Ashlee Beatty, director of curriculum and instruction.

Edison Middle School students were recognized Tuesday for their completion of the reading and/or math sections of the i-Ready program. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Beatty said they were being honored for being selected as a WVMEA honor band. She said a message from band director Will Cosby said it was like winning the Super Bowl for middle school band.

“So, they won the Super Bowl everybody! And we are here to recognize them,” Beatty said.

The board also recognized a group of students selected to participated in the various WV Governor’s School this summer. A full list of those names can be found in the online edition of this story.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

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Edison Middle School students were recognized Tuesday for their completion of the reading and/or math sections of the i-Ready program. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Blennerhassett Middle School students who worked on the Lego rendition:

* Jacob Allman

* Easton Anderson

* Braxton Bailey

* Aubrynn Balderson

Hamilton Middle School students were recognized Tuesday for their completion of the reading and/or math sections of the i-Ready program. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

* Brixton Balderson

* Liam Barre

* Brody Bayne

* Kaidyn Bever

* Emma Blair

Jackson Middle and Williamstown Middle School students were recognized Tuesday for their completion of the reading and/or math sections of the i-Ready program. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

* Desmond Boot

* Eliza Boot

* Jack Brown

* Aubrey Buffington

* Karson Burdette

* Omri Campbell

* Riley Carmichael

* Drake Casto

* Cyrus Cline

* Michail Cobb

* Miles Crites

* Brenna Cronin

* Leila Curry

* Halle Daggett

* Hannah Davis

* Avah Diaz

* Paxton Dobson

* Jacob Eddy

* Ryan Ellison

* Zion Enoch

* Jude Ferrebee

* Dylan Fingers

* Aria Fitcher

* Bentlie Fought

* Abigail Gibson

* Lincoln Gura

* William Hickman

* Hudson Hinkle

* Kasen Inman

* Khloe Jennings

* Elyse Jolley

* Clayton Karr

* Heather King

* Case Knotts

* Kailyn Lee

* Sophia Leonard

* Kayana Litton

* Armando Lopez

* Logan Lumeyer

* David Machamer

* Jayden Mathew

* Cygienken Matugas

* Scarlett McCartney

* Marlee Moeck

* Sherry Montgomery

* Brycen Moore

* Zen Morgan

* Mercedes Nichols

* Nevaeh Parsons

* Aiden Philpott

* Jamiya Powell

* Alena Powell

* Reed Province

* Chase Radabaugh

* Chloe Rollison

* Hannah Ruble

* Waylon Sams

* Zayden Shields

* Xander Shockey

* Tatum Simons

* Lisa Smith

* Alana Smith

* David Sprouse

* Ryker Stover

* Kaden Strong

* Serenity Talbott

* Luke Titus

* Jase Varian

* Carter Ware

* Emma Whited

* Hendrix Wilcox

* Silas Wines

* Zander Wines

* Cameron Wood

* Braelynn Wright

* Bailee Yonker

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Classroom to Cafeteria Project members:

Teachers:

* Doug Newberry

* Matt Kirby

* Angie Keith

Students:

* David Blackburn

* Leland Bush

* Carson Dobbins

* Owen Dugan

* Amber Gayheart

* Ashley Gayheart

* Jasmine Gayheart

* Andrew Henderson

* Nicholas Hutson

* Thomas Knopp

* Landen Shriver

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Blennerhassett Middle School – 7th Grade Honor Band Members:

* Alice Abbott – Flute

* Nathan Banta – Flute

* Ellie Hill – Flute

* Allyson Jolley – Flute

* Khloe Blouir – Clarinet

* Logan Dawson – Clarinet

* Garrett Full – Clarinet

* Noah Grubb – Clarinet

* Paisley Maone – Clarinet

* Laythen Deserio – Saxophone

* Brandon Drake – Saxophone

* Evelyn Murray – Saxophone

* Alana Willis – Saxophone

* Jayden Kelley – Tenor Saxophone

* Cayden McPherson – Tenor Saxophone

* Amelia Auville – Trumpet

* Emma Barker – Trumpet

* Owen Burris – Trumpet

* Meggan Starcher – Trumpet

* Nikolas Amos – Trombone

* Owen Karr – Trombone

* Brayden Marlow – Trombone

* Neil Arnold – Tuba

* Logen Arnold – Percussion

* Walker Barre – Percussion

* Lorelei Dent – Percussion

* Rogen Easton – Percussion

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Blennerhassett Middle School – 8th Grade Honor Band Members:

* Brayden Boothe – Flute

* Grace Milhoan – Flute

* Neveah Gonzalez – Clarinet

* Maddie Riel – Clarinet

* Lily Sundstrom – Clarinet

* Brooklyn Taylor – Clarinet

* Haylee Reynolds – Bass Clarinet

* Kaden Frum – Saxophone

* Lillian Kruger – Saxophone

* Natalie Scott – Saxophone

* Jacob Reiner – Bari Saxophone

* Chloe Barnhouse – Trumpet

* Lucas Karr – Trumpe

* Benjamin Marks – Trumpet

* Alton Auville – Baritone

* Jackson Carmicle – Trombone

* Makalyn Lewis – Trombone

* Carter Simpson – Trombone

* Abigail Griffith – Bassoon

* Shaylee Carpenter – Percussion

* McKenna Cunningham – Percussion

* Luci Hitt – Percussion

* Landis Scott – Percussion

* Hailey Thorn – Percussion

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The following students were selected to participate in WV Governor’s School this Summer:

Governor’s School for the Arts

* Daphne Cockerham – Parkersburg High School

* Regan Freed – Parkersburg High School

* Grace Miller – Parkersburg High School

* Brittany Ward – Parkersburg High School

* Ellie Nedeff – Parkersburg South High School

Governor’s Honors Academy:

* Shannon O’Connor – Parkersburg High School

* Pallavi Sundaram – Parkersburg High School

Governor’s STEM Institute

* Lena Skidmore – Edison Middle School

* Lillian Traugh – Edison Middle School

* Scarlet Poling – Jackson Middle School

* Liya Tewodros – Jackson Middle School

* Savannah Villarreal – Jackson Middle School

Governor’s School for Literacy Through Arts, Culture, and History:

* Baylee Hale – Edison Middle School

* Jaelyn Kalika – Jackson Middle School

Members of the Blennerhassett Middle School band were recognized as a 2023 WVMEA Honor Band Tuesday night during the Wood County Board of Education meeting. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Students chosen to participate in some of the WV Governor’s School this summer. Those include the Governor’s School for the Arts, Honors Academy, STEM Institute and the School for Literacy Through Arts, Culture, and History. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Students from the Parkersburg High School Science Teams were recognized Tuesday during the Wood County Board of Education meeting. From left are Lily-Rose Walker, Hunter Trippett, Nathaniel McPeak, Isabel Bhati, Rohan Malik and Timothy Isaacs. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)