FIRST GRADE

First Grade at PHSSA is a great place to be. Your child will learn through investigation in places that support the creative thinking process.  First Grade is a time where your child's love for reading will really start to grow along with understanding of number sense. As a First Grader, your child is expected to go out on weekly park trips to investigate the many topics being discussed each week. Children learn in our outdoor classroom, PHSSA Gardens, Reedy Creek and Forest Hill Park. We focus strongly on building a respectful community among the entire First Grade team. Some topics that we cover throughout the year include: community service, family history, plant life cycles, and leaders of our past and present.

Please visit the PHSSA First Grade website to learn more.
FIRST GRADE TEACHERS
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Katie Durham (kbranch2@rvaschools.net) -- This is Mrs. Durham's first year teaching First Grade at PHSSA. She had been part of our Kindergarten team. Before teaching at PHSSA, she taught preschool at Reveille Weekday School.  She received a B.A. in environmental education-ecology and biodiversity from the University of the South-Sewanee, Tennessee. She received her Masters in the Art of Teaching from Mary Baldwin College.  Mrs. Durham is originally from Richmond and loves being back in her home town. She loves to travel, cook, and garden.
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Shae McGrath (slamere@rvaschools.net) -- Mrs. McGrath is excited to share her passion of teaching through creativity and exploration. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she received a B.S. in Mass Communications with a concentration in Creative Advertising and Design. After working in graphic design, she decided to go back to school where she got her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Mary Baldwin College through an integrated and inquiry based teaching program.
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Stacey Newman (snisenso@rvaschools.net) --  Mrs. Newman received her Undergraduate and Master’s Degree from James Madison University in teaching. She is a Richmond native and is happy to be back in her hometown doing what she truly loves. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Newman's passions include helping others, vacationing, and spending time with family and friends.
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Emily Pendleton (ependlet@rvaschools.net) -- Ms. Pendleton joined the PHSSA First Grade team in 2019. She had been part of our Fifth Grade team. Prior to PHSSA, she spent time in Nashville, Tennessee working for Teach for America while earning her Master's of Education in English Language Learning. Ms. Pendleton grew up in California and earned her B.A. in Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping, reading, and riding her bike around town.