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The
exterior of Harry Flood Byrd Middle School in Henrico County, Virginia,
gives little clue to the prevailing feeling of warmth and family found
in this community of learners. The building was constructed during an
energy crisis, so the design does not include many windows. Therefore,
we take extra care to bring light, warmth, and color to the inside. From
the bright decorations in the classrooms and display windows to the splash
of colorful murals in the information center, cafeterias, gymnasiums,
music wing, and technology area, one can tell that interesting and exciting
events are occurring. Student-created murals remind Byrd Middle School
students and staff of who we are now, what we wish to accomplish, and
who we wish to be as our future unfolds.
Located
on a sprawling thirty-five acre campus, the one story building
has seventy-nine classrooms with a spacious information center,
two cafeterias,
a gifted program center, art labs, and fully equipped kitchens
for vocational courses. External facilities accommodate a wide
range of athletic and physical education opportunities. This site
includes football and baseball fields, two softball fields, four
tennis courts, a quarter-mile track, and several basketball courts.
An
additional strength of Byrd Middle School is parental involvement.
Each day ten to fifteen parent volunteers work to serve the needs
of students in the main office, clinic, various classrooms, and
the information center. The Byrd Middle School Parent Teacher Association
has been recognized as one of the outstanding chapters in the county
and has been recognized at the state level for excellence.
The
resultant effort of administration, faculty, and parents is a rich education
community dedicated to quality instruction and student performance. Throughout
its history, Byrd has set records on standardized tests. Byrd students
consistently achieve national status in competitions such as Knowledge
Master Open, Math counts, National Geography Bee, and the National Spelling
Bee. At the local, district, and state levels, students in fine arts programs
have attained many awards and honors.
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