We believe

Final Four fever is contagious, and there is an epidemic at Jacobs Road Elementary.

Jacobs Road feels a special connection to VCU’s Final Four-bound basketball team because VCU guard Bradford Burgess is Principal Myla Burgess’ son, and the team has spent time at Jacobs Road, encouraging students to achieve.

I was glad to be there yesterday when Jacobs Road surprised their principal with a high-energy pep rally. Students and staff members made clear that they believe VCU can win the national title.

Mrs. Burgess accepted their encouragement, then expressed to her students that they can achieve at high levels. That is an attitude that we can all rally around. Each and every one of us, whether we are students or adults, can work to achieve our goals and reach our own Final Four.

Go, Rams! Go, Jacobs Road!

Chesterfield’s got game

When Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond play their Sweet 16 games tomorrow, Chesterfield County Public Schools will be well represented.
Three players have ties to our school system:

• UR’s Justin Harper graduated from Meadowbrook.
• UR’s Darien Brothers played for Monacan before switching to Benedictine.
• VCU’s Bradford Burgess played for Manchester before transferring to Benedictine.

It’s possible that Chesterfield has more Sweet 16 alumni than any other school system this year! Chesterfield County Public Schools has another connection with Bradford Burgess: His mom, Myla Burgess, is principal of Jacobs Road Elementary, and VCU basketball players and coaches have spent time there with students. The photo at the top of this blog shows Bradford Burgess during a reading celebration in October at Jacobs Road Elementary. Congratulations to our hard-working, talented alumni. Go, Rams! Go, Spiders!

Reading is Fundamental

I love reading, which is the foundation of all academic success. Yesterday, I read aloud to preschoolers at the Children’s Museum of Richmond as part of National Reading Month. On Dr. Seuss Day, “Green Eggs and Ham” was what I shared with students at Watkins Elementary.

I encourage students and families to spend time reading every day, because I truly believe what Dr. Seuss wrote in another book: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”