Recently Added – Page 8

Salem High’s SRO named ‘Top Cop’

Salem High School Resource Officer, Herbert Brandon, was recently recognized as the “Top Cop” for the Virginia Beach Police Department. In order to be honored, Brandon was nominated for his “high level of commitment to a safer Hampton Roads community.” The award was given at the 15th Annual Celebration of the Greater Hampton Roads Regional Crime…

Arrowhead’s relaxing time with the VBRC

Teachers at Arrowhead Elementary School were recently given the opportunity to get together and learn more about the Virginia Beach Reading Council (VBRC). Arrowhead Elementary’s Reading Resource Teacher Silvia Babcock and Library Media Specialist Kellee Kraft set up a “relaxation station” where snacks and door prizes were offered. Many teachers showed their support for literacy…

Johnson takes part in Western Bayside College-Community Initiative

Dr. Paula Johnson, principal at Bayside Middle School, recently participated in the Western Bayside College-Community Initiative held at Virginia Wesleyan College (VWC). This initiative seeks to build mutually beneficial campus-community partnerships committed to enhancing both the Western Bayside area and VWC by changing perceptions, improving quality of life, and increasing civic involvement. Tell your friends!…

Sticking to a good cause

Everyone knows that administrators are connected to their buildings, but some have taken it one step further. Administrators have once again allowed themselves to be duct-taped to the wall of their school in exchange for their students raising funds and goods for worthy causes. At Arrowhead Elementary, students and staff were given the opportunity to…

2016-17 school year calendars up for review

This January, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) administration will present a recommended 2016-17 school year calendar to the School Board for consideration. Before making a final recommendation, a calendar committee has been asking for feedback from teacher groups, principals and community members. The 2016-17 Calendar Committee has presented these calendar options to all of…

Ocean Lakes and Landstown high schools only two 21st Century Learning Exemplar Schools in Virginia

Landstown High School has been named a 21st Century Learning Exemplar School by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21). Landstown now joins Ocean Lakes High School as two of just 60 schools nationwide (and the only two schools in Virginia) to earn this honor. “Landstown High School is deserving of this incredible honor,” said…

Dr. Spence talks on national radio program about digital learning

Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence was invited as a guest on the national Internet radio program, “Education Talk Radio: Pre K-20,” with host Larry Jacobs. The daily national radio show features leading education administrators and experts to talk about education trends as well as innovative products and initiatives. Spence was…

Thalia’s Pastros goes all in for United Way

Not too many people would risk their sense of smell just to raise a couple extra dollars, but Thalia Elementary School’s Principal Pam Pastros has shown she is dedicated to the United Way drive in her building. Students at Thalia voted for Pastros and assistant principal Andrea May to “Snuggle a Skunk” as part of…

The not-so-celebratory celebration at Woodstock

There was only one smiling face in the halls of Woodstock Elementary, and that belonged to fifth-grade teacher, Judy Nutt. After teaching for 30 years in Virginia Beach, Nutt made the decision to retire. The fifth grade teaching team at the school had some fun celebrating Nutt’s retirement by dressing in the colors of Ohio…

Thomas named Reading Teacher of the Year

Alanton Elementary School’s Heather Thomas was named the 2015 Reading Teacher of the Year. This honor, which comes from the Virginia Beach Reading Council, goes to one teacher each year who exceeds in efforts to build literacy in students. For a complete list of all school Reading Teachers of the Year, see below: Alanton Heather…

Student slimes teacher to celebrate Jump Rope for Heart success

Veronica Cash tried to delay the inevitable, but the Three Oaks Elementary School (TOES) second-graders would have none of it. It was, after all, her idea. “Slime Ms. Cash!” they chanted. “Slime Ms. Cash!” Their grade level had the highest participation rate in the school for the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart campaign,…

Seward earns second trip to alma mater’s Hall of Fame

Luxford Elementary Instructional Technology Specialist Janet Seward was inducted into her former high school’s Athletic Hall of Fame for the second time this October. Seward graduated from Hauppauge High School in New York in June of 2000. She was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2010 for her individual accomplishments. Seward was…

50 is nifty at Hermitage Elementary

Kindergarten teachers at Hermitage Elementary School and their students dressed in 1950’s attire to celebrate the 50th day of school. Teachers and students use calendar math skills daily including counting each day of school. Pictured are the members of the kindergarten staff (left to right) Susan Szerokman, Ty Shand, Tamara Miller, Angie Breuer, Lisa Kubat…

Superheroes out to save the day at Pembroke

Not all superheroes wear capes. At Pembroke Elementary School, superheroes are found walking the halls daily. They are the administrators, teachers, custodians and other support staff who make up The Squad of Superheroes (SOS) Mentoring Program. It’s not flying through the air, super speed or even the ability to see through walls that makes these…

Virginia Beach teachers win AFCEA honors

Landstown High School’s James Barger and Keith Leonard, First Colonial’s Charles Thomas and Renaissance Academy’s Joy Simone each took home the 2015 STEM Teaching Tools Award from the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Hampton Roads chapter. According to the AFCEA, this award “is a joint effort of the AFCEA International Educational Foundation and the…

Leadership Matters: Situational awareness

In day-to-day leadership operations, school principals and their leadership teams have responsibilities that extend well beyond spreadsheets, signature pages and approvals. There is also a distinct and essential paradigm and in many ways a tactic key for leadership success: situational awareness. According to the U.S. Coast Guard Team Coordination Training Guide, situational awareness is the ability…

VBEF awards $110,000 to support innovative teaching and learning

Budding botanists at Creeds Elementary School will record data from a school garden they will plan and create this year. With the help of Wonder Workshop robots, first-graders at John B. Dey Elementary will learn to write code as well as develop their problem-solving, writing and math skills. Ocean Lakes High School students will create…

Counselors tour ATC for Innovative Endeavors

The Advanced Technology Center (ATC) Innovative Endeavors for Counselors was a huge success. Including staff, more than 60 counselors, central office administrators, school board members and gifted resource teachers attended. Guests experienced life at the ATC, and heard success stories from students, employers and alumni. They experienced hands-on activities from working with fiber optics, to…

First Colonial staff present at ABA Conference

Legal Studies Academy (LSA) Coordinator Angelique Phillips and LSA teachers Aaron Pratt, Joseph Winn and Melissa Disher presented at the American Bar Association Division for Public Education’s National Law-Related Education Conference in Philadelphia Oct. 29-30. The conference explored the theme The Bill of Rights in the Digital Era to consider how, and if, the digital…

Harrison named 2015 VSTE Innovative Educator of the Year

Each year, the Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VTSE) recognizes exemplary educators who demonstrate innovative educational practices and champion the smart integration of technology. Kim Harrison, Instructional Technology Specialist at Indian Lakes Elementary School, has been named as the 2015 VSTE Innovative Educator of the Year. Harrison began her career with Virginia Beach City…