NPS NOW NEWSLETTER

Every school year at this time, I think “How have we already started the second half of the school year?” Second quarter report cards have headed home, and now we begin the home stretch toward concluding a year of teaching and learning with end-of-grade testing, promotions, and graduations.

With that in mind, this newsletter contains several important reminders to keep your children on track toward their grade-level goals. Norfolk Public Schools provides several educational supports available to all students, including Edmentum and Lexia. These programs reinforce classroom instruction in mathematics and reading.

We also offer FREE homework help and tutoring through FEV Tutor for students in grades 3 – 12; schedule regular appointments by sending an email, or access on-demand homework help.

Attendance is crucial to students’ success. Our School-to-School Attendance Challenge helps students recognize that coming to school is important and FUN!

Additionally, this time of year also brings the annual budget proposal for next school year. You can find my proposed budget and my message to the School Board online. You can learn of our plans to expand support for students in the proposed budget.

Finally, I assure you that school safety and security is our number one priority. We continue to implement best practices to ensure safe, secure learning environments for our students and staff. We regularly review our protocols and provide training to our employees, along with drills for students and staff. We thank you for your support and ask that you reinforce our message at home. Please talk with your child(ren) about the importance of: (1) safety at school, (2) refraining from making any comments that could be perceived as a threat, even as a “joke,” and (3) our shared responsibility for keeping our schools secure.

Together, we can ensure a productive second semester of school as we Continue our Drive toward Equity and Excellence for All.

Each and every day, Norfolk Public Schools strives to ensure that our schools and everyone in them are safe.

This effort requires attention from everyone in our buildings, from our principals to our teachers. It also requires the help and support of our students and families.

A few things to remember:

• Be prepared to show identification when visiting our schools. Our staff is trained to check IDs for EVERYONE.
• Talk to your child(ren) about how to maintain safety and security while at school. We need all students to pay attention and actively participate in our school safety and security drills. During drills, all doors are kept closed.
• Reinforce to your child(ren): “if you see something, say something.” We want all children to feel comfortable telling their teachers and other trusted adults about a potential safety and security threat. Report bullying or other concerns through our Vector reporting system and call 911 if an emergency situation occurs.
• The school division takes safety seriously. That does not leave room for jokes. Any statements, texts, telephone calls, or social media posts that appear to be threatening will be investigated. Disciplinary actions will be taken in alignment with the NPS Student Code of Conduct.

Thank you for joining Norfolk Public Schools in this important work. We appreciate your support in keeping our schools safe and secure for all.

NPS has partnered with VectorSolutions to provide students, parents/guardians, and staff a safe way to report bullying and student-related matters anytime, anywhere, on any device through the Vector Alert Tip Reporting System application.

Text us, call us, e-mail us, or report it through the website, while remaining anonymous. As always, every tip is taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.

Download the app to your device today! Use “SafeSchools Alert” at the Apple Store and “Vector Alert” in Google Play.

To learn more about the Vector Alert Tip Reporting System, please visit nps-va.safeschoolsalert.com.

Superintendent Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong presented her Proposed Operating Budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to the School Board in a meeting held Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

The proposed budget outlines a $495.4 million expenditure plan for the division, the largest portion of which is the $401.9 million General Fund (operating) budget. The General Fund budget, which underwrites the daily operations of the school division, focuses on five key priorities: compensation; employee recruitment and retention; safety and security; building maintenance and repairs; and additional resources for schools and students.

Among the major recommendations outlined in Dr. Byrdsong’s presentation: substantial pay raises for all staff; targeted recruitment and retention strategies, particularly in employment shortage areas; and measures that heighten safety and security.

Specifically, the proposed budget recommends pay increases for teachers, administrators, and classified staff such as bus drivers, school nutrition staff, and others, and recommends continuation of a variety of employee bonuses. Proposed safety and security enhancements include: pay raises for school security staff that improve retention and recruitment; 18 additional school security officers; and installing a weapons detection system at every school.

The School Board will deliberate on Dr. Byrdsong’s recommendations in the coming weeks and will accept public comments on the budget at its meeting on February 15th. The School Board may vote to adopt the budget on March 15th. The School Board must provide a budget to Norfolk City Council for consideration by April 1. In May, City Council will adopt a municipal budget that includes funding for schools.

A comprehensive overview of what is contained in the Superintendent’s proposed operating budget for FY2023-2024 is now posted on the NPS website at this link Budget-at-a-Glance: Superintendent’s Letter

Bring your family to fun school MATH nights! Check out the schedule below and mark your calendars for a countdown to numeric fun! These events provide mathematics activities

for families to help reinforce concepts students learn in the classroom.

Event nights are listed in order of date.

Blair Middle School

Tarrallton Elementary

St. Helena Elementary

Tanners Creek Elementary School

Oceanair Elementary School

Academy for Discovery at Lakewood

Easton Preschool at Fairlawn

James Monroe Elementary

Chesterfield Academy

Camp Allen Elementary School

Ruffner Middle School

Ghent School

Southside STEM Academy at Campostella

Bay View Elementary

Ocean View

Students in grades K-5 are using Lexia® Core5® Reading—a fun, computer-based program that has helped millions of students improve their literacy skills. The activities in Core5 support and build on your child’s classroom curriculum and focus on developing reading skills in six areas: phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Middle school students are using Lexia® PowerUp Literacy®, a computer-based program that tailors instruction to their specific needs. The activities in PowerUp support and build on our English/language arts classroom curriculum, focusing on three areas essential to becoming a proficient reader: word study, grammar, and comprehension.

Tips for Home Use:

• Try to set a schedule that helps your child reach his or her personalized weekly goal. Talk about the progress your child is making toward the weekly goal and the number of units completed. Keep in mind that the target number of minutes is for the entire week, not per day!
• Provide a quiet space for learning and check the volume before each session. (Headphones can be helpful but aren’t necessary.)
• It’s important to let your child work in Lexia without help from parents, siblings, or other caregivers.
• Celebrate progress and success. Each time your child logs in, they are making progress toward their reading goals. Ask your child to share what they have learned!
• Follow Lexia Learning on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to view tips and resources.

Norfolk Public Schools uses an online learning program from Edmentum called Exact Path to personalize mathematics instruction for students from kindergarten to their enrollment in Algebra I. It starts by targeting each child’s academic strengths and weaknesses with an adaptive assessment, and then prescribes a tailored learning path of lessons, practice, and assessment based on specific strengths and needs. Children who spend 60 minutes per week in the program make the greatest academic growth. Your child will be using this program at school, but they can also continue learning at home. Your child's teacher may assign practice time at home on the platform, assign additional lessons for practice within the system, or they may print and send home activities for students to complete. Students can access the program via Clever on any device.

Tips for Home Use:

• Discuss Exact Path trophies earned for new mathematics skills on a weekly basis.
• Ask your student about skills they are practicing or learning in Edmentum.
• Provide a quiet place for your student to focus on assignments from Edmentum.
• Contact your child's teacher for a list of skills in which your child demonstrates mastery, growth, or struggle in the Exact Path platform.

For more information about Edmentum's Exact Path, visit https://www.edmentum.com/products/exact-path.

School attendance is critical to students’ success!

Norfolk Public Schools wants to ensure that our families know how important it is for students to attend school every day, which is why NPS has created the school-to-school #AttendanceChallenge!

At this time, NPS schools are in a friendly competition each week to display how much attending school means to their students and staff. Challenge ideas have ranged from spirit weeks involving Superhero Costume, Crazy Sock and Pajama Days, to getting an opportunity to tape a counselor to the wall and “pie” some favorite teachers. Each week ends with the participating school tapping another school to carry on the challenge.

Teachers and students have been so creative! So far, Lindenwood, Tidewater Park, Ingleside, James Monroe, and Coleman Place Elementary Schools have taken part. Next up: Sherwood Forest! Standby schools! Be ready to receive the call!

As always, Norfolk Public Schools is grateful for the support of our parents and guardians. Please help to promote student attendance and make sure your child (ren) arrive(s) at school on time, every day.

Please schedule non-school appointments outside school hours as much as possible. Keep the lines of communication open! Let your child’s teacher or school administration know if there is something standing in the way of getting your child (ren) to school. Norfolk Public Schools wants to help. Strong attendance is one component that contributes to our promising growth in academic achievement in the coming year, and supports our continued drive toward equity and excellence for all.

Finally, stay connected by following NPS on Facebook, Twitter, and the division website to learn more about attendance campaign activities and incentives throughout the school year!

On Friday, January 13, 2023, Berkley-Campostella Early Childhood Center received the 2022-2025 Apple Distinguished School Award.

This is the third time Berkley-Campostella has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School, and it is one of only four early childhood schools in the world to receive the honor.

Norfolk Public Schools will be highlighting Black History Month observances and celebrations throughout the division in February, and bringing them to you on social media, our website, and Channel 47.

Observances include a performance of “Justice on the Bus,” a play written by Larchmont Elementary Assistant Principal Dee Crisco; musical and other presentations by students at Jacox Elementary and the Lake Taylor School, and recognitions of Andrew Heidelberg, one of the Norfolk 17 who forever changed the course of history for black students in Norfolk Public Schools.

Follow along this month on our website. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to the NPS YouTube channel to catch these stories and more NPS news.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day was first observed in 1987. It is a day to celebrate women and girl athletes and all of their achievements.

Norfolk Public Schools will join school divisions throughout the state to celebrate School Board Appreciation Month in February. The theme of this year’s celebration, “Rising to the Challenge,” reflects the leadership of the local school board members as they serve their local divisions and advocate for public education with local, state, and federal leaders on behalf of all students. We thank and appreciate our School Board for Rising to the Challenge.

The VSBA Board of Directors has designated the third week in February as VSBA School Board Clerk Appreciation Week. School Board clerks assist school board members, superintendents, and our local schools. Norfolk Public Schools’ Board Clerk is Karen Tanner. Thanks for all you do, Ms. Tanner!

Applications are now available for Norfolk Public Schools’ newest specialty program, the Compass Academy at Ruffner.

The Compass Academy specialty program will open with the 2023-2024 school year for students in grades 3 through 8, with programming designed to facilitate students’ academic and career pathway exploration. Ruffner will hold an Open House on February 9, 2023, at 6 p.m. for interested families and students.

Elementary school students (grades 3-5) enrolled in the Compass Academy specialty program will explore potential careers in four pathways – engineering and sciences, fine and performing arts, technology, and leadership and service. Students in middle school grades (6-8) will choose one of the pathways from the choices above and participate in electives and enrichment activities aligned with their chosen pathway throughout their years in middle school. All students enrolled at the school will participate in Compass Academy specialty programming.

This exciting new program, which will offer courses unique to the Compass Academy at Ruffner, is available to all third through eighth-grade students in Norfolk. The application period for middle school specialty programs has been extended to February 24, 2023, to accommodate applications from interested students. Students are encouraged to reapply even if they have already applied for another specialty program prior to the announcement of this exciting new specialty programming option.

Transportation will be provided to students enrolled in the Compass Academy specialty program.

For this year only, students in any grade from 2 through 7 may apply. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, applications to the Compass Academy at Ruffner will be open only to rising third graders and rising sixth graders during the same application period as the school division’s other specialty programs. Students who are enrolled and continue to meet eligibility requirements in the Compass Academy specialty program in the elementary grades will continue in the middle school Compass Academy specialty program without having to reapply for 6th-grade entry.

The DECA chapter at Granby High School was awarded the Achievement Level for the 2022-2023 school year. Norview High School was awarded the Achievement Level for the 2022-2023 school year.

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

“For the Granby High School community, this award was huge,” said Alicesa Foster Graves.

“It brought a tighter bond within our chapter as well as creating a buzz around DECA and what it is.”

At the District Leadership Conference (DLC) competition, the competitors are given either one or two role-playing assignments. Students must become the ‘lead’ and pitch the idea to a judge. The judges are recruited from teacher specialists, teachers, and volunteers.

Judges awarded prizes for each roleplay as well as the testing component of the competition. Exam proficiency was awarded to all competitors who scored 70% or above.

Below are the results from the District Leadership Conference Competition (DLC).

Six out of seven students placed—all but one are first-year competitors. (Student Aniya Saunders is in her second year on the team.)

DLC DECA Results:
Sports and Entertainment Marketing

Roleplay#1 2nd Place: Raymon Anderson

Roleplay#2 2nd Place: Raymon Anderson

Overall 3rd Place: Raymon Anderson

Principles of Marketing

Exam Proficiency Award: Jaymyson Burden

Comprehensive Exam 2nd Place: Jaymyson Burden

Roleplay 2nd Place: Jaymyson Burden

Overall 2nd Place: Jaymyson Burden

Apparel and Accessories Marketing

Roleplay#1 3rd Place: Ja’Kayla Tavers

Roleplay#2 3rd Place: Ja’Kayla Tavers

Hotel and Lodging Management

Roleplay#1 3rd Place: Akivah Washington

Quick Serve Management

Comprehensive Exam 2nd Place: Miyhari Bell

Roleplay#1 2nd Place: Aniya Saunders

Roleplay#2 1st Place: Aniya Saunders

Overall 1st Place: Aniya Saunders: — Aniyah is headed to the state-wide competition!

Join us for an in-person training event!

Along with our partners at the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), we'll be hosting Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities on Friday, February 10, 2023.

A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided!

Register here: https://forms.gle/3dbEQVEhzTGKzxRG6.

The Norview High School NJROTC Marksmanship Team placed 13th at the Navy National Air Rifle Championship held Feb. 3-4, 2023 in Sandy, Utah. The two-day competition brought the best Navy JROTC marksmen from around the country together to crown both team and individual champions. Team members who attended this event were seniors Yariliz Torres and GianCarlo Martinez, sophomores Preston Everette, Quamir Barham, and Reginald Ford, and freshmen Julia Yamomo. The team is coached by Lieutenant Commander Stuart Littlejohn and Master chief Kim Lewis.

Yariliz Torres placed 16th overall at the Championship and earned her third consecutive invitation to compete in the All-Services Championship. The All-Services (Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy) JROTC Championship will be held at the Civilian Marksmanship Program Headquarters in Port Clinton, Ohio, March 23-25, 2023. Cadet Torres shot a 1070 with 34 bullseyes to retain her title as “Top Shot” in the state of Virginia. There were two teams from Virginia and two individual qualifiers from the state who received invitations to participate in the Championship. Nearly 2,500 individual cadets representing 548 teams from across the country participate in the Navy marksmanship program, but only the top 121 marksmen and top 21 teams were invited to participate in this event. Cadet Torres is the only cadet from Norfolk Public Schools to ever qualify to compete in the All-Services Championship; two years ago, she placed 42nd at All-Services (held virtually due to Covid-19) and last year she placed 51st .

In January, the Norview High School Marksmanship Team won the Area Five Air Rifle Championship held in Patuxent, Maryland. That makes them the BEST Air Rifle Team in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Delaware!

Air rifles use compressed air to shoot pellets and are commonly used for target shooting.

Norview’s victory qualified the team to compete in the Navy National Air Rifle Championship in Sandy, Utah, on February 2-4.

This is the first time that a team from Southeastern Virginia has won this title! Air rifle competitions have historically been dominated by teams from Northern Virginia and rural Maryland.

Individual medalists at the Championship were:

Yariliz Torres: 4th (Veteran)

Preston Everette: 7th (Veteran)

Julia Yamomo: 2nd (Novice)

Reginald Ford: 5th (Novice)

Team members include:

Yariliz Torres

Giancarlo Martinez

Preston Everette

Quamir Barham

Ryan Rydl

NiChawn Paige

Reginald Ford

Julia Yamomo

Joshua Buszek

Peyton Harrison

Andreyona Smith

This victory was truly a schoolwide effort – the team gives thanks to Ms. Tricka Jamison, of the School Nutrition Services staff for the outstanding job she did designing and printing the team’s T-shirts!

Norfolk Public Schools has partnered with FEV Tutor to provide students with high-quality, live, one-to-one virtual tutoring and homework help for students in grades 3 to 12.

Virtual tutoring sessions can be scheduled in advance or requested on-demand. This virtual program can be accessed any time, anywhere, and with any Internet-connected device. Simply visit www.fevtutor.com, and login with Clever.

To schedule tutoring sessions, email NPS@fevtutor.com with the student's name, grade level, subject area needs, and the days/times of the week that work best for you.

If you have any questions about this free virtual tutoring program, please contact FEV Tutor directly at NPS@fevtutor.com or 855-763-2607. FEV Tutor's Support Team is happy to answer any questions and work with you to create a personalized tutoring experience that best suits each student.

Granby High School welcomes Kendal Jefferson as its new head football coach.

Jefferson, a graduate of Maury High School, is no stranger to Norfolk Public Schools. Jefferson previously held coaching positions at Lake Taylor Middle School, Maury High School, Norview High School, and Booker T. Washington High School.

Welcome to the Comets, Coach Jefferson!

Next Step to Success is an after-school program for students aged 13- 16. This free program, offered at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, provides after-school activities and youth social development that includes homework assistance, cooking classes, STEM activities, visual arts, modern dance, music, gardening, photography, and sports. Students also participate in weekly field trips to colleges, cultural institutions, and other sites of interest. Community partners help with financial and other support for these activities.

Next Step also provides summer camp opportunities from late June to mid-August at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Activities focus on promoting each teen’s social, emotional, and educational development. Students will have fun discovering new hobbies and making friends. For more information on Next Step to Success and its summer camps, visit https://nextsteptosuccess.org/program-information/. Thank you, Next Step, for helping to enrich the educational experiences of our students!

Norfolk Public Schools welcomes positive, collaborative, meaningful partnerships between our schools and our communities to enhance student academic learning and success. For more information on community engagement, contact LaEunice Brown, Community Engagement Coordinator, Office of Communications & Community Engagement, (757) 628-3459.