Learn the groundbreaking resources and techniques in sustainability today – and be a part of the conversation that explores the role it can play in our schools and classrooms. The 2013 Hampton Roads Sustainable Living Expo will be held Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 1-5 .m. at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. VBCPS teachers…

Princess Anne High School’s Betsy DiJulio won the SchoolArts Magazine “Keep Inspiration Alive” lesson challenge. For her efforts, DiJulio won $500 in art supplies for her classes at Princess Anne. In her submission, DiJulio highlighted her class activity of creating sketchbooks for her students using old children’s books from thrift stores. Examples of her students…

Linda Lavender, the Advanced Technology Center, Computer Network Administration teacher received her Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) certification this past summer. This certification will allow access to additional resources and software from Microsoft which can be used for additional professional development and student instruction. Congratulations! Tell your friends! Follow us!  

Beginning today, Aug. 1, a new leadership structure is in place for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Notably, former Deputy Superintendent Sheila S. Magula will serve as interim superintendent. Magula will hold this post until the School Board appoints a successor for former Superintendent James G. Merrill. Watch for updates in Kaleidoscope as the School…

The Environmental Protection Agency, as required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of October 1986, requires all school facilities to have an inspection for asbestos-containing building materials and to have a detailed management plan identifying these materials.  The AHERA Management Plans are available in each school’s main office for review by parents, teachers…

UPDATE: Please review this FAQ for any questions you have. If your question is not answered, please email askbenef@vbschools.com. The purpose of this communication is to advise school system employees of Health Care Plan changes that will go into effect at the start of the new plan year, Jan. 1, 2014. Since city and school…

Congratulations to the 63 schools who were named recipients of the 2012-2013 Sustainable School Recognition Award: Alanton Elementary Arrowhead Elementary Bayside Elementary Brookwood Elementary Centerville Elementary Christopher Farms Elementary College Park Elementary W.T. Cooke Elementary Corporate Landing Elementary Creeds Elementary Fairfield Elementary Glenwood Elementary Green Run Elementary Hermitage Elementary John B. Dey Elementary Kempsville Elementary…

Virginia Beach School Superintendent James G. Merrill will step down this summer to lead Wake County Schools, the largest school system in North Carolina and the 16th largest in the United States. He was identified as a finalist for the Wake County position in early May. “This is a bittersweet time for me,” Merrill said.…

Kemps Landing Magnet School and Old Donation Center are two of only eight schools in the Commonwealth eligible for three-year waivers from annual state accreditation by Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright. The schools qualified for the flexibility by achieving pass rates of 95 percent or higher in all four tested Standards of Learning…

The dust had barely settled from the 2012-13 school year, and staff at Diamond Springs Elementary were already in gear for 2013-14. Diamond Springs has a group process for setting-up classes for the next school year.  Next year, the school will have 16 kindergarten classes and 17 first grade classes; therefore, it takes a whole…

Fairfield Elementary’s Teacher Book Club received the “Teachers As Readers” grant from the Virginia Beach Reading Council. The money received went toward the purchase of sets of books for the school The initiative brings both students and teachers together with some of the great works in children’s literature. First, teachers would read the books as…

James Perkins, a physical education teacher at Glenwood Elementary School, was awarded a Lifetime PTA Membership for his many years of support to PTA functions at Glenwood Elementary School. Congratulations! Tell your friends! Follow us!  

John B. Dey Principal Lee Capwell will be retiring soon and her staff had some little surprises up their sleeves for her this week. Specifically, she had a complete office redecoration waiting for her when she got to work this week. More than 800 students wrote messages on post-its and the post-it committee papered her…

It’s the end of an uncharacteristically cold school day in late March. Snowflakes are falling outside, and huddled into a training room are about a dozen School Plant employees – some still bundled in thick winter coats, others proudly bearing their School Plant polo shirts. This is not a service call. The buildings are heated.…

Who are these people going to our beach? It’s Tacky Tourists from Point O’View Elementary. POV’s SCA sponsored a day after SOLs for students and staff to dress as ‘tacky’ as they could as if a tourist visiting Virginia Beach. Check out just how far into character these Point O’View staff members went:   Tell…

The John Marshall Foundation recognized Mr. Dennis J. Borgerding, United States history teacher at Kemps Landing Magnet School, with its Annual Teacher Award. The award is given to any public or private middle or high school classroom teacher in Virginia who has been teaching for a minimum of five years and has demonstrated a deep…

Frederich’s Ataxia (FA) is a degenerative musculoskeletal-skeletal disorder that is passed down genetically and affects about 1 in 50,000 people. A fundraiser called FARA Fest, which includes a 5k race and many other activities, was set up to raise money and awareness for FA. Many Centerville faculty and staff signed up to run in the…

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The Superintendent’s Spotlight Award was established in 2007 to acknowledge the exemplary work of staff members across all employee groups. All VBCPS staff were invited to submit nominations for the Superintendent Spotlight Award for colleagues who exceeded expectations and contributed in an exemplary manner throughout the school year. The Superintendent’s Recognition Committee reviewed nominations earlier…

Marion Broglie, a teacher at Lynnhaven Middle School, and Andrea Stover, a government teacher at Ocean Lakes High School, will travel to Washington, DC this June to attend the prestigious Supreme Court Summer Institute. After a highly competitive application process, 60 teachers were selected to participate this year. The Institute, open to teachers in the…