NPS Now Newsletter

Within this newsletter, you will find information related to the goals of our recently approved division-wide strategic plan, entitled “Continuing the Drive: Equity and Excellence for All.”

This plan includes five goals that will guide our work moving forward and will support our efforts to focus our time and attention on the most important and impactful levers for division-wide improvement: Student Excellence; Workforce; Resources; Community; and Safety and Climate.

As we continue to collect baseline data for our strategic plan, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals that outline expectations for division-wide achievement are being finalized in collaboration with the City of Norfolk School Board. To access the updated data and follow our progress over the five-year plan visit https://www.npsk12.com/Page/19322.

In the meantime, please continue reading for updates from around the school division, as well information regarding helpful resources such as tutoring and homework help through FEV Tutor and a discount on home Internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Plan.

As always, we thank you for your partnership and continue to look forward to a safe and productive school year.

As the 2022-2023 school year began, Norfolk Public Schools’ administrators have ensured school staff are informed of and are consistently implementing safety protocols for all visitors entering our buildings. Updated technology in every school is being used to keep students and staff safe and secure. Take a look at what every visitor should expect when visiting a school below.

Norfolk Public Schools works closely with our partners in the Norfolk Police Department and Norfolk Fire-Rescue who play a vital role in the safety and security of our schools. We appreciate our students’ and families’ partnership in this effort. Please, if you see something, say something. Find more information about Norfolk Public Schools’ safety and security plans, as well as resources, on our website.

Did you know you automatically qualify for a $30 monthly discount on your home or mobile Internet service through the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program? NPS’ families qualify because of the division’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which also provides free breakfast and lunch to all students in our schools.

Norfolk Public Schools encourages all its families to claim this benefit and start saving on Internet service. You are also eligible for a one-time discount of $100 for a laptop, desktop, or tablet purchased through a participating provider if you pay a $10 - $50 co-pay.

For help with the application or to find participating Internet service providers nearest to you, visit affordableconnectivity.gov or call 1-877-384-2575 to request an application. You will need the division’s CEP letter to apply. Once you complete the application, you can contact a participating Internet service provider to start receiving your monthly discount.

You can learn more about the benefit by visiting www.fcc.gov/ACP. The website includes Frequently Asked Questions that can help you.

Cost should not be a barrier to accessing the Internet! Being connected can help you access almost any information, communicate with anyone else in the world, and access telehealth services. Internet access can save time and transportation costs. With affordable Internet service, students no longer need to rely on Wi-Fi hotspots to complete their homework or for distance learning.

Claim your benefit and get connected today!

MEB Construction constantly seeks new ways to help support great causes in its community. In August, hoping to find a volunteer opportunity that matches its overall mission, MEB contacted NPS with an idea for a school beautification project. MEB’s strong belief in giving back to its community was shown through a donation of supplies, time, and volunteers to improve flower beds, basketball courts, and outdoor gathering spaces. Students at Booker T. Washington High School and Larrymore Elementary School returned in September to beautiful areas to socialize and play. Thank you, MEB Construction, for transforming these spaces in two of our schools!

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.

Current and rising high school students in NPS can attend a program focused on the arts (dance, instrumental music, musical theater, theater/film, visual arts, and vocal music) by applying to attend the Governor’s School for the Arts. Current 8th through 11th grade students are eligible to apply. If you want to learn more about the Governor’s School for the Arts, make plans to attend the following two October events:

• Norfolk Virtual Meet GSA Night (October 11th at 6:30 p.m.) for an informational session for students and parents/guardians about how to apply to GSA. Register online for the Norfolk specific date. You will receive a Zoom link via email.
• GSA Open House (October 26th at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) for walking tours of the facilities, meeting current students, and more.

October brings a bountiful fall harvest of observances!

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Hispanic culture is known for close ties with family, as well as rich culinary, musical, religious, and holiday traditions that are passed down through generations.

This year’s theme is Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.

At the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood, students in Beginning Spanish class created a Frida Kahlo collaborative mural. Students have learned about Hispanic figures including Sonya Sotomayor, Desi Arnaz, Laurie Hernandez, Sandra Cisneros, Roberto Clemente, Cesar Chavez, and of course, Frida Kahlo.

October 2 was National Custodian Appreciation Day. We love our NPS custodial staff; they work year-round to keep our schools gleaming!

Tami White, principal of Easton Preschool at Fairlawn, had special words of thanks for Building Supervisor II Ray Hall and Brandon Green on his staff:

“Mr. Hall and Mr. Greene are such an important part of Easton Preschool at Fairlawn!” she said. “They worked tirelessly all summer to get our new building ready for staff and students. They spent countless hours making sure that we were ready to greet students with a sparkling and welcoming space!”

Thank you to all NPS’ custodial staff!

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and Norfolk Public Schools remains committed throughout the year to raising awareness about bullying and the effects it has on our students.

As we do our part to raise awareness throughout October, one day has been set aside for us all to come together. Please wear orange on Unity Day, October 19, 2022!

Mark your calendar and help support our efforts to celebrate Unity Day!

October also marks Disability History and Awareness Month. Did you know that Virginia is the only state that offers early childhood special education services (ECSE) starting at age two?

Norfolk Public Schools partners with the city’s Infant Toddler Connection (ITC) to transition children as early as two years old to school and with our Department of Early Learning to provide inclusive preschool services for our youngest learners.

Wonderful things are happening in preschool! If you have a child two to four years old who you suspect has a disability and needs to be evaluated, please contact the Norfolk Public Schools’ Preschool Assessment Team at (757)852-4630 Ext. 3510 or preschoolassessmentteam@nps.k12.va.us.

From speech-language pathologists and physical therapists to teachers assisting students who are deaf, hearing or visually impaired, we salute Norfolk Public Schools’ team of educators dedicated to meeting the unique needs of NPS' students with disabilities. Watch our social media pages all month long for more information about this observance.

Visit our website to learn more about our disability services.

Finally, October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. The Virginia Department of Education is hosting two virtual workshop events to celebrate:

• October 12, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Recent Findings on the Language Basis of Dyslexia: Assessment and Intervention Implications by Dr. Tiffany Hogan, Harvard University
• October 26, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literacy Success by Sarah Sakyo, National Center on Improving Literacy

September was Attendance Awareness Month.

Research shows that missing as little as two (2) days of school every month, or 10 percent of the school year, can have a significant impact on students and their ability to learn.

Let us help students build a habit of good attendance early and often!

Norfolk Public Schools has kicked off a rolling campaign to promote student attendance, and you can show your support by making sure your children arrive at school on time, every day!

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.

The app is available now to download to your device. To learn more, please visit nps-va.safeschoolsalert.com.

NPS’ Athletics Community Partner Appreciation Day recognized partnerships with Sentara Sports Medicine and Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists. Click here to view the partnership event.

Final Standards of Learning (SOL) data have been released by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Twenty-four (24) schools within Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) (57.1%) will be accredited, and eighteen (18) schools (42.9%) will be accredited with conditions for the 2022-2023 school year. For detailed data on the performance of each school, please visit www.npsk12.com.

While accreditation this year has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, there are encouraging signs of recovery. For example, when examining the spring SOL combined performance rates, 81% of the division’s schools experienced an increase in the combined performance rate for English, while 48% recorded an increase in the combined performance rate for mathematics (comparing performance during the 2021-2022 school year to pre-pandemic tests results). However, science proved to be an area of needed growth for Norfolk Public Schools, and thus, a barrier to an improved accreditation scenario.

Several schools within NPS worked diligently to develop school improvement plans that would fuel progress. One of those was St. Helena Elementary School. Principal Angel Robinson was quick to point out the first full-year of in-person instruction following the pandemic at St. Helena was met with enthusiasm by students, staff, and parents/guardians. “We all came back from the pandemic with excitement. We were more appreciative of being in school and, frankly, I believe that appreciation played a big part in our academic gains,” she said.

St. Helena recorded a 20% increase in the combined performance rate in English and an 18% increase in mathematics on the spring SOL tests. Only science kept the school from meeting all accreditation standards.

For more information on the school division’s SOL scores and accreditation ratings, visit the District News section of www.npsk12.com.

With a historic investment of $167.6 million in its capital improvement plan, Norfolk Public Schools is poised to undertake generational construction and building improvement projects that directly address one of the division’s top priorities: improving our aging infrastructure so that our students are educated in buildings that are worthy of them.

Most of this investment, approximately $150 million, is needed to replace or renovate Maury High School, a building that has served Norfolk families for more than a century. The time has come to provide a permanent solution to this deteriorating structure.

The School Board is currently considering four options for Maury High School. Two options propose major renovations. Two propose new construction with demolition of the current structure. Conversations about Maury High School will continue through the fall, with further discussion by the School Board. The first community meeting was held on September 28, 2022, at Maury High School, 322 Shirley Avenue. A second meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. October 12, 2022, at St. Helena Elementary School, 903 S. Main Street.

Approximately $30 million has been designated to provide HVAC, roof, and window replacements at Booker T. Washington High School. Additionally, the school division has begun work on a feasibility study of the school’s academic programs, with a focus on the existing specialty program, and how they align with the current physical structure. Further discussion of these plans will also continue through the fall by the School Board.

The first community input meeting was held at 6 p.m., September 22, 2022, at Booker T. Washington High School. Check out highlights from the event here. Another meeting was held at 6 p.m., October 6, 2022, in the cafeteria of Ruffner Academy, 610 May Avenue.

Finally, during the 2021-2022 school year the School Board approved a plan to transition Ruffner Middle School to a school for grades three through eight with a specialty program that offers divison-wide choice seats. Planning for this transition, including community conversations, will take place during the 2022-2023 school year, with the new program slated to open for the 2023-2024 school year. As part of this transition Tidewater Park Elementary School will close, and its zoned students will enroll at Ruffner.

For updates on all these projects, visit www.npsk12.com/educationalplanning throughout the year.

Stay connected and stay up to date on all things NPS! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and YouTube, e-mail us at TellUS@npsk12.com, or call us at 757-670-3945!

Our platforms offer a listening ear and a view into daily life at Norfolk Public Schools while supporting the school division as it works to strengthen relationships, build partnerships, and inform students, parents/guardians, and community members about how they can affect public education in Norfolk.

Additionally, please ensure that your family’s contact information is up to date with your child(ren’s) school(s). That helps us contact you with essential information such as school closings for inclement weather or division-wide announcements.

We look forward to connecting with you!

Norfolk Public Schools is pleased to partner with FEV Tutor to provide students in grades 3-12 with high-quality, division-sponsored, live, one-to-one virtual tutoring and homework help.

Virtual tutoring sessions can be scheduled in advance or requested on-demand. This virtual program can be accessed anytime, 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.

Are you interested in joining the Norfolk Public Schools’ family? What are you waiting for? Visit our website for openings and to apply!

Also, check out the latest incentives for teachers and bus drivers!

And be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming job fair for classified positions on October 19, 2022!

#YOUbelongwithNPS