In light of the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School., VBCPS has partnered with its sister divisions in Hampton Roads to unite our efforts to provide comfort to the Newtown, Conn., community. If you feel led to help the Sandy Hook families and community, we would encourage you to donate to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, which has been set up by the United Way of Western Connecticut.

For more information, please refer to following message from Dr. Merrill:

Colleagues,

All of us are heartbroken by the tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary. School administration has received many questions about how we as a school division can help this Connecticut community. Likewise, my fellow superintendents in the other South Hampton Roads communities have been contacted by their own concerned staff members and citizens. After much discussion, we decided that the best thing we can do corporately is to provide the community of Newtown, CT, what they have said they need – monetary donations through the United Way. Consequently, we will work to encourage our respective citizens to give to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund. We have set up a special page on vbschools.com for that purpose.

Public education professionals are compassionate by nature. So, I don’t discount that schools and individuals already may have their own outreaches planned. However, I knew that you would want to know how Virginia Beach City Public Schools plans to help. Certainly, all of us hope that the outpouring of support from across the country brings this grief-stricken community some comfort.

Jim Merrill