Recently Added – Page 3

PLP session introduces PE teachers to archery

“Can I kill it?” Elizabeth Werbiskis asked Karen Holson of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). Werbiskis was distracted by a large insect crawling in her direction just as she and her classmates assumed a shooting stance and steadied their archery bows. She would use her shoe, not an arrow, Werbiskis clarified,…

VBCPS CTE programs earn regional and state recognition

Each year, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and Virginia Community College System (VCCS) honor exemplary career and technical education programs and partnerships with Virginia Career and Technical Education Creating Excellence Awards. Awards are presented in three categories – advisory committee, business and industry partnership, and programs – and VBCPS was among the honorees recognized…

School division bids farewell to nearly 10,000 years of service

The year was 1965. The Vietnam War was escalating; the space race was in full swing; the Rolling Stones were performing on a world tour; and Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston to claim the heavyweight championship of the world. That same year, Allen Johnson began working in the school division’s plumbing shop. Fast forward 51…

Custodians celebrate end of year at annual Custodian Appreciation Day

The message was clear to everyone in the packed Kellam cafeteria: No matter your official title with the school division, everyone working in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) teaches. That was the heart of Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence’s opening remarks shared at the 2016 Custodian Appreciation Day. This end-of-year celebration was held June 20 at Kellam…

Students illustrate their appreciation for inspiring teachers

“Going to middle school was very hard,” reflected eighth-grader Abbey Urch. “Especially going to an academy away from a lot of my friends,” she added. “It took some time to get used to it, although I can always remember being excited to go to English.” According to Urch, being in Louise Jeffries’ English class in sixth…

New name and new logo for Virginia Beach Digital Campus

When Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) created its online learning program about 12 years ago, it was named “Virtual Virginia Beach e-Learning.” Fast forward a few years later, and the state of Virginia unveiled a new online program, which would offer online Advanced Placement (AP), world language, core academic and elective courses to students…

School Board approves final VRS transfer

At its meeting Tuesday night, the Virginia Beach School Board approved the final employee contribution to the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) for all employees. This means that all staff members in the division will be contributing five percent of their salaries to the VRS beginning July 1. This latest action is in addition to the…

2015-16 Pearl School Award Winners named

Lynnhaven River Now has released the complete list of winners for the annual Pearl School Awards. VBCPS had 70 of its 86 schools and centers recognized for the honor, which is awarded for excellence in environmental education, stewardship and sustainability. The program started in 2006-2007 school year. Congratulations to the 2015-16 Pearl School award winners:…

Building a culture of growth and excellence for all employee groups

More than 70 Virginia Beach City Public Schools custodians and cafeteria staff took part in leadership and management training this year through the Office of Professional Growth and Innovation (PGI). To be eligible for classes, interested staff submitted applications accompanied by recommendations from their building administrators. With more than 150 applicants, the first cohort rapidly…

New partnership will benefit VBCPS and student teachers

Beginning in fall 2017, VBCPS and the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia are teaming up to roll out a new way to prepare and retain high quality teachers. The Curry Teaching Fellowship bridges the gap between teaching preparation at the university and teacher induction into our school division. VBCPS will hire…

Harris, Reinen named to ASCD Future Leaders program

The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) selected 50 educators across the country to join its 2016 class of emerging leaders. Of these 50 educators, VBCPS had two staff members make the cut. Salem Elementary School Assistant Principal Micah Harris and Professional Learning Specialist Bevin Reinen have been named to the Emerging Leaders program.…

VBCPS offers continuous learning event for employees

Thinking of a degree, certification program or maybe just a class or two? Wondering what programs are out there to meet your needs or interests? Stop wondering. The Office of Professional Growth and Innovation (PGI) will host the first College and Continuing Education Information Program for VBCPS employees. This event will be held Thursday, June…

Register for VBEF Educator’s Golf Challenge by June 18

School division employees have until June 18 to register teams for the Virginia Beach Education Foundation’s (VBEF) 16th Annual Educator’s Golf Challenge. The event will be held Tuesday, June 28, at the Heron Ridge Golf Club with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Teams are registered on a first come, first serve basis. The registration…

14 VBCPS schools named to Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) list

Governor Terry McAuliffe and the state Board of Education announced the 2016 Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) award winners Tuesday. This year, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) had 14 schools earn a VIP award. Kemps Landing/Old Donation School, Kingston Elementary, Strawbridge Elementary and Thoroughgood Elementary all received 2016 Board of Education Excellence Awards. According…

Long receives 2016 Esther Goldman Teacher Award

Virginia Beach Middle School eighth-grade English teacher Mary Long is the recipient of the 2016 Esther Goldman Teacher Award. The award includes a full scholarship for the 2016 Alexander Lebenstein Teacher Education Institute at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Virginia this summer. In addition, she was awarded $200 for her exemplary teaching strategies of…

Virginia Lottery surprises Super Teacher Maurice Cullen with honor

This was no SOL pep rally. Dr. Sandi Brown wasted no time in owning up to her deceit. After a quick cheer from the Virginia Beach Middle School cheerleading squad, Brown made her way to the podium on the brightly decorated stage and came clean. It was all a ruse. Though she had convened the…

Congratulations to the Teacher Assistants of the Year

Congratulations to the VBCPS Teacher Assistants of the Year! Tonya Snow, Adult Learning Center Sandra Willie, Alanton Elementary School Susan Brewington, Arrowhead Elementary School Jennifer Greiner, B. F. Williams Elementary School Eve Stocks, Bayside Elementary School Michele Parker, Bayside High School Melvin Francis, Bayside Middle School Carol Wilson, Bayside Sixth Grade Campus Gail Hinson, Birdneck…

Stark earns top Horizons honor

Andrew Stark, a third grade teacher at Seatack Elementary: An Achievable Dream Academy received the Horizons Lyn McNaught National Teacher of the Year Award. Stark was honored for his participation with Horizons Hampton Roads, which is a six-week summer educational enrichment program for low-income K-8 grade public school students in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach. McNaught,…

Rosemont Forest students ‘Teach it Forward’

Fifth-grader Jace Thrasher asked the small group of kindergarteners to open their eyes and share “in a whisper voice” their guesses of what was in the shoebox. On the count of three, the Rosemont Forest Elementary School (RFES) students quietly responded together, “Feathers.” They explained the mystery items were soft to the touch, one of…

Nurse at Pembroke Meadows awarded the 2015-16 School Nurse of the Year award

Representatives from the Virginia Beach School Nurses Association (VBSNA) presented the 2015-2016 School Nurse of the Year award to Robin Latchford, RN at Pembroke Meadows Elementary. Congratulations! Tell your friends! Follow us!