Varina Elementary

Are you already wishing for activities for your Varina Hawk to do? For the summer, HCPS has put together Reading Activities for Summer 2026. Students received a printed copy of a summer activity booklet in addition to the Unit 10 Benchmark packet. Your student will also have access to many of their current digital resources through their Clever login on your personal devices. Booklet is located here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZNV0tiBpZdZbcua4jcLwe1oUdcjd3TTsys8UPOepXeY/edit?usp=sharing

We had our last character breakfast of the year! This quarter focused on inclusivity great job to all of our student students who joined us for character breakfast!

We had a fun successful field day! Starting off by sliming Dr. ME and Mrs. Song for working so hard on the SOLs!

Bree Canady exemplifies what it means to be our Hawk of the Week through her unwavering commitment, leadership, and positivity. While stepping up to fill in as team lead, she has continued to shine as our Science TLA, all while coordinating a meaningful moving up ceremony and providing targeted math remediation in preparation for SOLs. Bree’s dedication to meeting the needs of all learners is evident in her work with both collaborative and gifted students. On top of her full-time teaching responsibilities, she is actively pursuing her administrative degree, modeling lifelong learning and professional growth. Her can-do spirit and infectious positivity uplift both colleagues and students, making a lasting impact on our entire school community.

We were honored to welcome Lisván Valdés, a former professional basketball player from Cuba, who played in the Cuban National League and was recognized for his leadership and talent on the court.

Since relocating to the United States, Lisván has been courageously rebuilding his life from the ground up. While he no longer plays professionally, his journey is a powerful story of resilience, perseverance, and reinvention.

As someone learning English for the very first time and adapting to a completely new culture, Lisván shared experiences that deeply connect to the journeys of many of our students— His message about overcoming challenges, embracing change, and continuing forward even when life feels unfamiliar was both inspiring and impactful.

Thank you, Lisván, for sharing your story and reminding our students that strength, determination, and hope can carry us through even the toughest transitions.

Congratulations to our Hawk of the Week! Kerensa Smith brings energy and enthusiasm to everything she does!

She makes learning hands-on and exciting for her students and has been instrumental in helping plan an engaging end-of-year social studies civilizations experience. Beyond the classroom, she gives her time to coach Girls on the Run, supports students through LEGO Club, and is always ready to jump into spirit days with positivity and school pride.

Thank you, Kerensa, for your dedication, creativity, and commitment to our school community! 🦅✨

Students at Varina Elementary showed the power of kindness and community by donating items to create “Busy Bags” for families at Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Our Henrico Heroes students worked alongside their mentors to sort donations and assemble the bags, helping bring comfort, activities, and smiles to children and families during hospital visits. All busy bags were delivered by Mrs. Phelps on Saturday!

Congratulations to Ryan for receiving a positive office referral for showing respect! She received a book from the vending machine and chose to be recognized on social media. Way to go, Ryan!

This week we are celebrating our incredible Reading Specialist, Kate McRae! She has jumped into her role with passion, purpose, and a vision for growing a strong culture of literacy throughout our school.
From leading meaningful data digs to helping facilitate PLC meetings, she has been instrumental in supporting teachers as they target areas of need and make data-driven decisions for students. Her collaboration, positivity, and dedication to student success are already making a lasting impact across our building.
Thank you for all you do to help our Hawks soar! 📚✨