SSPF Wins $6,000 Grant!

Interactive educational materials for K-6 grades and additions to the oral history of Rosenwald Schools in Rappahannock County–from the wish list to the “to do” list.

We’re thrilled to announce that the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities has awarded the Scrabble School Preservation Foundation with a $6,000 grant to accomplish these two goals.  The grant will also pay for us to incorporate both into our website.     That we are the only organization that received the full amount we requested attests to the value of this work not just to Scrabble, but to the broader community of Rosenwald Schools.    It also reflects the confidence we have earned based on our work to date and the expertise of the team we have gathered for the project.   That includes Dr. Andrew Mink of the UVA Curry School of Education, historian Lynn Rainville of Sweet Briar College, and filmmaker Lance Warren.  Lynn and Lance did an incredible job on the first phase of our exhibit, and we are delighted to work with them again.    This is SSPF’s 4th VFH grant.

1st Annual May Day Celebration–A Great Success

Children danced around the May Pole at Scrabble School on Saturday, May 28, 2011.   It was the first time in years. 

Scrabble board members served up hot dogs, baked beans, chips, brownies, and drinks to everyone.  Games and races that were favorites among school alumni — including the ever popular Toilet Paper Over and Under Relay–allowed some to work off the calories!

May Day was a favorite annual celebration for Scrabble students and so the Scrabble School Preservation Foundation plans to make it an annual event.

A Great Turn Out for Black History Program!

It was standing room only Saturday, February 19, 2011, when the Scrabble School Preservation Foundation presented its first annual Celebration of Black History at Scrabble School. 

Guest speakers  Dr. Aldridge A. Boone, Superintendent of Rappahannock County Schools, and Stephanie Deutsch each spoke about Rosenwald Schools in relation to the Civil Rights movement.  The Unity Choir performed several songs to the delight of the audience.   

Scrabble board members served soup and corn bread, as well as deserts, following the program.    

Visiting Scrabble School

Scrabble School is a historic site, but it is also the Rappahannock Senior Center.

 Individuals or small groups are welcome to visit Scrabble without

an appointment during the Senior Center’s hours:

Monday – Thursday (excluding holidays)  10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

(Please note that Senior Center staff are not available to give tours.) 

If you would like a guided tour and/or a school or group tour,

we will be happy to schedule one when the Senior Center is not in use.

To make an appointment, contact:

 Melanie Kopjanski at 540-987-8876 / email <mkopjanski@aol.com>

or Dorothy Warner at 540-987-8103.

First graders especially liked the interactive portion of the exhibit!

 

Heritage Exhibit Opens

Dorothy Warner and former Rappahannock County Supervisor Bob Anderson flip the switch to officially open the exhibit. Warner's husband E. Franklin Warner worked tirelessly to restore Scrabble School until his death in 2003.

On Saturday, May 1, 2010, the Scrabble School Preservation Foundation unveiled an exhibit dedicated to the stories of its students.  Oral histories of Scrabble alumni are the foundation of the exhibit–a virtual version of which is available on this website.

Remember Show & Tell?

Remember the excitement you felt when it was your turn at show & tell day at school?

Think of the Scrabble School Heritage Center as your opportunity to share your story, experiences, and memorabilia from your days at Scrabble. Please leave a message here and we will contact you. And thank you in advance!

These are the stories and items that will make the exhibit come alive and give it the most meaning.

History at Your Fingertips

The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities has awarded a $6,000 grant to the Scrabble School Preservation Foundation to underwrite the creation of an interactive website that will allow visitors at the school and online to explore the school’s history. To see what this technology looks like, go here. This project is a collaboration with the Virginia Center for Digital History at the University of Virginia.

Renovated Scrabble School Opens

On May 2, 2009, a dream came true as the renovated Scrabble School was rededicated as a Senior Center and African-American Heritage Center. The Heritage Center is not yet open to the public.