Recently Added – Page 32

More than a century of service at Woodstock

Four members of the Woodstock Elementary School staff recently celebrated more than 100 years of dedicated service to Virginia Beach Schools! Vicki Wilmouth, 35 years, Susan Richardson, 25 years, Sheree Novick, 25 years, and Linda Milan, 40 years, are all at Woodstock now and have a combined 125 years of service. Thank you for all…

VB staff knows how make to reading fun

VBCPS celebrates Reading Month in January, and this past month staff from across the division made books and reading come to life. Check out some of the highlights: Tell your friends! Follow us!

Pitre named Outstanding Educator of the Year

Congratulations to Jennifer Pitre, eighth-grade teacher at the Renaissance Academy, for being named Outstanding Educator of the Year by Wave City Care. In addition to her superb role in the classroom, Wave City Care also acknowledged the great lengths Pitre takes outside the classroom to ensure the academic and personal success of her students. Pitre…

ATC’s Troxell travels to Brazil for graphic design competition

Lee Troxell, a digital design instructor at the Advanced Technology Center, traveled to Brazil to serve as the United States Expert in Graphic Design at the WorldSkills Americas competition. “Working with graphic design experts from all over the western hemisphere was an amazing experience,” Troxell said. “I am very proud to be able to bring…

It is not too late to be heard

The 2013 School Climate Survey for Teachers, Administrators and Teacher Assistants is currently underway. By now all teachers, administrators and select teacher assistants should have received an email invitation for the online survey. Don’t miss your chance to provide feedback about the division’s schools. The last day to complete the survey is Friday, March 1.…

Bayside takes passion project to the skies

Jessica Johnson, a seventh-grade science teacher and club sponsor for The Green Team at Bayside Middle, has a longstanding relationship with a certain four-flippered reptile: the sea turtle. For five years, Johnson has volunteered as a part of the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center’s stranding team, which helps rehabilitate injured and abandoned wildlife. In…

VBCPS redecorates for ‘Go Red’

Windsor Oaks Elementary is supporting the Virginia Beach Education Association’s community service project, “Paint the Town Red,” an initiative started by the American Heart Association. Lynnhaven Elementary staff members participated in a Go Red for Women fundraiser on Valentine’s Day. Bayside High School and Health Sciences Academy celebrated National Wear Red Day by sponsoring a…

Virginia Beach named Best District in U.S. by USGBC

The U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools has named Virginia Beach City Public Schools as the Best School District in its annual Best of Green Schools list. This list highlights schools and districts from across the country that excel in creating healthy and high-performing learning places. Among many other accomplishments, VBCPS’ current LEED…

TeacherDirect debuts subscription option to send SOL resources directly to your inbox

Here’s a new way to get new SOL information and tips sent right to your email The Virginia Department of Education’s TeacherDirect (located at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/teacher_direct/index.shtml) now offers a subscription option. By providing your email address, you can begin receiving weekly updates with information on SOL resources and other information. Each update will contain approximately 10…

Celebrating a special 70th at Christopher Farms

Christopher Farms Elementary recently celebrated the 70th birthday of Charles “Chuck” Kenison, a fifth grade teacher at the school. Staff and faculty surprised Kenison with balloons and 70 cupcakes. And, as a special gift, staff members were each given a golden ticket to write down a favorite memory about Kenison. The tickets were collected and…

Bringing Reader’s Theater to life

Looking for a way to make literature come alive? Check out Glenwood Elementary’s Library Media Specialist Tammie Soccia’s article in Library Media Connection magazine. In the article, Soccia highlights the use of Reader’s Theater, where students read and perform a script adaped from literature, but without staging essentials – such as props and costumes- which…

Impending changes to your paycheck

The following is an email from Chief Financial Officer Farrell Hanzaker to all VBCPS staff detailing impending changes to your paycheck: Colleagues, It is likely that many of you followed the news regarding Congress’ work to avoid the fiscal cliff, which would have resulted had tax cuts put in place by former President George W.…

Gearing up for the CWRA

A new assessment will be gauging your students’ capabilities for beyond high school. Students enrolled in English 11 courses will soon be taking part in the College and Work Readiness Assessment (CWRA), developed by the Council for Aid to Education (CAE). The CWRA is a problem-based test designed to measure critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem…

Sending love to Linkhorn

Linkhorn Park knows how to look out for one of their own. Andrew Brown, a fourth-grade teacher at Linkhorn Elementary School, is currently fighting cancer. To help support the Brown family, the school has a “jeans day” every Wednesday, where staff pay $2 or more to wear jeans as well as either the color blue…

Elvis has left the building…and entered Larkspur

Larkspur Middle School’s Spirit Week got a special boost from rock and roll royalty. The King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley stopped by for the day. Tell your friends! Follow us!

ELA wants to hear from you

The Department of Educational Leadership and Assessment is preparing for the 2013 School Climate Survey for Teachers, Administrators, and Teacher Assistants. This online survey provides an excellent opportunity for school-based staff to provide feedback about the division’s schools. Data from the survey are reported as part of the Annual School Report Card and are also…

Getting creative with assessments

Looking for some new ideas on how to assess your students’ learning? Check out the article written by Princess Anne High School’s Betsy DiJulio in School Arts Magazine. http://www.schoolartsdigital.com/schoolarts/201211#pg35 In the article, DiJulio uses a recent example of basing her assessments off the popular Food Network TV show, “Chopped.” Feel free to leave other creative…

VBCPS staff tapped for expertise

Several staff members from across the division have been asked to take on great responsibilities at local and regional events as well as to serve on professional committees. Virginia Beach’s administration is proud to have the school system so well represented and wishes the best in all future endeavors. Congratulations to the following Virginia Beach…

Halpin earns Quality Connection ACCOLADE

Kathy Halpin, a Quality Connection Distance Learning Teacher Assistant at Kempsville High School, earned an ACCOLADE award from the VBCPS Quality Connection team. To earn an ACCOLADE award, one must give a special contribution to the students, staff or Quality Connection program. Nominated by Karen Plymale at Tallwood High School, Halpin recently went the extra…

Congratulations to VBCPS’ Teachers of the Year

Congratulations to the following teachers of the year who have been named Teacher of the Year by their respective school. Each of these teachers will be evaluated to see who will be named Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ Division Teacher of the Year. Adult Learning Center Sandra D. Turner Advanced Technology Center Katharine Sargent Alanton…