King George students detail Chesapeake Bay fieldwork, earn state and NAACP recognition

Students from King George High School told the school board that in‑class instruction paired with field experiences gave them a new appreciation for local waterways and wildlife.

"We didn’t know anything about the role [oysters] had in the ecosystem until we got to dissect them," said Kimberly, describing a classroom visit by Friends of Rapahhanic. Freshman Jenna Parker said the program taught classmates how road runoff and trash can harm water quality and drinking sources, and Lindsay Hawthorne said field trips helped students connect school learning with nearby habitats.

Board members read a letter from Kaledon State Park thanking ninth‑grade students for a beach cleanup that removed 174 pounds of litter from the shoreline. Presenters said the Miwi (Meaningful Watershed Education Experience) grant supports 9th‑grade field trips across the Northern Neck and that the division seeks a no‑cost extension through summer 2027 to continue the program.

Separately, Art Sheffield of the King George chapter of the NAACP presented the NAACP student initiative awards, honoring high‑school and middle‑school student work in art and writing tied to Black History Month; nominees included Kayla Posie and Lamaya Bright. Mrs. Harris then introduced Yavon Richard, a computer‑science teacher nominated for a state educator award in recognition of work to expand computer‑science instruction and lead a grant effort supporting K–12 CS learning.

The recognitions highlighted partnerships between the division and community organizations and underscored staff efforts to extend classroom learning with hands‑on experiences. The board thanked the students and community partners and noted plans to continue similar programs in the coming school year.