Private, In-Home Tutoring in Roanoke, Virginia

Cave Spring Elementary School is located at 5404 Springlawn Ave, Roanoke, VA 24018. Cave Spring Elementary School covers kindergarten through fifth grade. Contact Cave Spring Elementary School at (540) 772-7558. The story of Cave Spring Elementary is rife with traditions and evocation. The school,  nestled on 11 acres of southwest Roanoke County, has a welcoming, enchanting air about it, and they find gratification in the benefaction they have given to the students and families that they serve. First opening their doors in 1962, Cave Spring Elementary included a library, a kitchen, 20 classrooms, and a cafeteria. A gymnasium was added in 1971. In order to provide for an ever expanding student population, a new library was built in 1994, and a kindergarten wing was added in 1987. The school was totally renovated in 2010, which added on a brand new administrative wing, and replaced the original kitchen and cafeteria. Cutting edge geothermal heating and air conditioning systems were also added during the renovation, in order to provide students maximum comfort while learning. Every classroom is now furnished with “Promethean ACTIVclassroom equipment”. In the way of technology, students also now may use 2 computer labs, laptops, iPads and iPods. The staff consists of 25 classroom teachers and 17 resource personnel in the following areas: Library/media, Guidance, English Language Learners, Physical Education, Special Education, Reading Resource, Computer technology, Music, and Art. Cave Spring Elementary School is a performance based school with both self-contained and semi-departmentalized classes. Graduating students may attend Hidden Valley or Cave Spring Middle Schools which feed Hidden Valley and Cave Spring High Schools.

Cave Spring Middle School is located at 4880 Brambleton Ave Roanoke, VA 24018. Cave Spring Middle School covers sixth grade through eighth grade. Contact Cave Spring Middle School at (540) 772-7560. The original CSMS building, built in 1956, housed Cave Spring High School. In 1966, the high school moved to a recently completed building, and the vacated building became Cave Spring Junior High, which was also the first junior high in Roanoke County. In 2002, the school then transitioned from a junior high and the school became Cave Spring Middle School. The middle school was relocated in 2011 to a new, state of the art building. The original building was demolished that year, followed by a series of rennovations and rebuilding in order to create a new, cutting edge facility. The new building was opened up in time for the beginning of the 2013-14 school year. CSMS has pledged to provide each and every student with a high quality education, within a safe and encouraging school environment.

Cave Spring High School is located at 3712 Chaparral Dr, Roanoke, VA 24018. Cave Spring High School covers ninth grade through twelfth grade. Contact Cave Spring High School at (540) 772-7550.  In 1956, the original Cave Spring High School was opened, twelve years later, the high school moved into the current site; Cave Spring Junior High School was established in the old building, later transitioning to become Cave Spring Middle School in 2002. Cave Spring held grades 10-12 over 30 years, until 2002, when approximately half of its grade 10-12 population moved to Hidden Valley High School after the completion of that building. The mascot is of CSHS is a knight, and the sports teams currently play in the AA River Ridge District and Region IV. Before Hidden Valley opened, Cave Spring was an AAA school, playing in the AAA Western Valley District and before that in the AAA Roanoke Valley District until its dissolution.

Educating Our Parents: Understanding the Roanoke District Curriculum

English focuses on written and oral communication skills. Students in Language Arts and Reading learn to research and write on different topics and provide material to support a point of view. In Reading, students learn to identify key ideas, and concepts, and to give both oral and written summaries and analysis of the reading material. Language usage including grammar is part of the high school instruction in writing and composition. Composition includes learning to write for different purposes.

Mathematics builds on basic computation through geometry and algebraic functions. Science incorporates technology, experimental learning, and didactic study of the world. History covers current events, world studies, as well as Virginia history. Middle and high school students build on this foundation with courses offered in a wide variety of subjects. Students are allowed to focus study on arts, engineering, mass communication, performing arts, visual arts/museum studies, technology, and skilled apprenticeship. Dual enrollment and Advanced Placement opportunities are available to all students.

Roanoke is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is located on the Roanoke Valley, and it is the largest municipality in Southwest Virginia; Roanoke is relatively large, covering an area of 110km2, and housing a population of 97,032. Divided in half by the Roanoke River, Roanoke is an industrial and societal centre for a large portion of Southwest Virginia and portions of Southern West Virginia. The town first called Big Lick was established in 1852 and chartered in 1874. It was named for a large outcropping of salt which drew the wildlife to the site near the Roanoke River. In 1882 it became the town of Roanoke, and in 1884 it was chartered as the independent city of Roanoke. The name Roanoke is said to have originated from an Algonquian word for shell “money”. The name for the river was that used by the Algonquian speakers who lived 300 miles away where the river emptied into the sea near Roanoke Island.

At the 2000 census, there were 94,911 people, 42,003 households and 24,235 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,213.2 per square mile (854.6/km²). There were 45,257 housing units at an average density of 1,055.3 per square mile (407.5/km²). 22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years.

Mill Mountain and the Roanoke Star

A quintessential symbol of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the Roanoke Star is an absolute must visit when touring the region. The star stands atop the Mill Mountain, overlooking the entire region around, as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains. It dutifully stands as a beacon and invitation to any and all visitors, lighting up every night. Currently, it is the largest unsupported, man-made, neon start in the world, which makes it extremely attractive for photo ops. Consequently it is one of the most photographed attractions in the area, with the scenic outcropping that overlooks the valley being a popular stop for an incredible view.  Constructed in 1949 and intended to be a seasonal Christmas and holiday shopping decoration, the star is formed by over 2000ft of neon tubing, forming three nested stars. This was accomplished through a sponsorship from the Roanoke Merchants Association, Roy C. Kinsey of Kinsey Sign Co., along with his three sons, Roy Jr., Bob and Warren, designed and built the star. On November 23, 1949, the star was lit for the first time. In the 65 years since, the star has become a symbol of the region, and is still one of the most recognizable icons of Virginia. Mill Mountain is also home to the Mill Mountain Zoo and Discovery Center, two great resources with a variety of fun, educational activities for kids.

Virginia Museum of Transportation

The Roanoke Transportation Museum, which was first created as a partnership of the Norfolk & Western Railway and the City of Roanoke, opened for the first time in 1963 in Wasena Park along the Roanoke River. All modes of transportation were represented, but the Museum naturally, made telling the story of Roanoke’s rich rail heritage its first priority. A private, not for profit corporation was established to operate the Museum, and in 1983 the Museum was designated as the Official Transportation Museum of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Subsequently, the Museum was renamed the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The Museum’s collection includes around 2,500 objects, with more than 50 pieces of locomotives and other rail cars, including the largest collection of diesel locomotives in the South. The Museum has expanded its collection to include automotive, aviation, transit, and other artifacts and frequently exhibits loaned objects. Today, the Virginia Museum of Transportation welcomes guests from across the nation and around the world. The Museum exists to preserve Virginia’s transportation history and to honor the workers whose talents created the transportation marvels in our collection. As a partner in the newly established “Virginia’s Rail Heritage Region,” it is our privilege to preserve their stories and accomplishments for future generations. For more information, please visit their website here.

Interesting Facts

• Roanoke is located within a day’s drive of 2/3 of the U.S. population
• Money Magazine ranked Roanoke as one of the “Best Places to Retire in the United States.”
• Roanoke was derived from the Indian word “Rawrenock,” a name for the shell beads worn by Native Americans and used as trade goods. Before Roanoke was officially chartered in 1882, the city was known as “Big Lick.”
• The Natural Bridge, north of Roanoke, is a sprawling, 200-foot-high limestone arch carved out by the creek that runs beneath it. George Washington once surveyed the bridge and carved his initials at one end, and Thomas Jefferson owned the arch for a time. At night there’s a bizarre light-and-sound show under the bridge called “The Drama of Creation.”