Hawk Highlights

We want to continue to support our students competing in CTSOs. Our HOSA students work hard and intentionally prepare to compete every year in the State HOSA competitions. Due to health and safety concerns, the State HOSA Leadership Conference was cancelled. The State is exploring creative possibilities to enable at least some of the competitions to occur although this is not a certainty. The news was hard for our students to accept. This week's challenge is to review the list of students that were scheduled to compete in HOSA on our website or click https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10-o7F7IsD0QEN1ka-W-8PcOPhbO_JJJjBk9OMNKmlV0/edit?usp=sharing Reach out via school email account to a student and let him/her know that you recognize their efforts, empathize with their situation, are proud of them, and express hope that they will have an opportunity to showcase their skills and talents in some way. Visit the link above and let us know which student(s) you reached out to and the message you sent. The goal is to have every student on the list contacted by a staff member showing their support.

We just received word that the NCCVT Student Activities Coordinators will post skills USA winners at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow on Schoology and Facebook so students will know how they did since we won't have an awards ceremony. We will have a breakfast for students when they return and distribute medals and get photos. I'm requesting that we show our support by leaving congratulatory messages on Schoology and Facebook tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. Our students work hard to showcase their skills, so please take the time to celebrate their efforts. Go Hawks!

• Reapplication: We are starting the internal reapplication process next week and will be considering students’ grades, discipline, and attendance as criteria for CTE program assignments. If you are aware of any unusual circumstances about a ninth grade student that may have had a negative impact on any of these criteria, especially attendance, please provide the information at https://forms.gle/LKGeZi9VARRGCPjJ8 by the end of business Monday, March 16th. Finally, please make sure any 1st or 2nd marking period grade changes have been finalized. Please see Dr. Harrison with any questions.

• Freshman Welcome Day: Due to recent world-wide health concerns, Freshman Welcome Day has been postponed. A date later in the spring of this year has yet to be solidified. We will communicate details as they become available. In advance, we appreciate everyone's flexibility.

• Current staff and students: Need to Get Something You Forgot? NCC Vo-Tech will open school buildings on Monday, March 16, between 9 and 11 a.m. Offices will not be open. This is in order for Parents/Guardians to retrieve any necessary medications from the School Nurse's office, to get a Chromebook or iPad and charger that was left if a student was absent last week and did not bring it home, etc. This will be the only time that schools will open next week. This is not a time for students to meet up at the school or for parents to ask questions or to drop off freshmen registrations. Also, the gym and weight room will be off-limits. This is a courtesy to all for retrieval of an item your student must have in the next two weeks. Reminder: Students cannot retrieve a controlled medication prescription. It must be a parent or guardian. Please note that you should not plan to meet with students and it is not an expectation that you come in - just a courtesy. We are not "Open for Business" in the school offices for outsiders.

• Updates: Please make sure you check schoology for updates. I will email and post the action plan that's being developed by instructional services sometime tomorrow. We truly appreciate your patience.

Hi everyone! Due to recent circumstances, we may be feeling a lot of stress and anxiety, therefore, it is imperative that we find ways to cope with those feelings:

Things you can do to support yourself:

• Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage of COVID-19.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep.
• Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Try to do some other activities you enjoy to return to your normal life.
• Connect with others. Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships.
• Try to maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking.

As a parent, things you can do to support your children at home:

• Reassure your child that they are safe. Let them know if is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
• Limit your child’s exposure to media coverage of the event. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
• Be a role model; take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members and rely on your social support system.

This week's Bright Spot is recognizing our staff for everything they do to support students especially those that carry hidden backpacks.

We all remember Bones Hyland and how we rallied around him during his critical times of need. Bones broke VCU's single-season freshman three-point record. He made 63 three-pointers with a shooting percentage of 43.4 percent this season. He has also been named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie Team. Congratulation to Nah'Shon!

"There is not an easy position to have in education. I want to give a collective shout-out to our hard-working team. A special thanks to our maintenance team. They are the unsung heroes going above and beyond wiping down surfaces and highly touched areas to provide the best protection possible before even being asked. A special thanks to teachers and support staff working in our classrooms for helping students navigate a unique health challenge that today's world has never faced. Thanks for providing stability. A special thanks to our secretaries for fielding phone calls and calming concerned parents and answering their questions with a confident telecommunicated smile. I am grateful for the building administrators I work with. They are supportive, provide appropriate comic relief, and provide valuable input into decisions impacting our operations this week. I would be remiss if I did not thank Dr. Joe Jones and the District admin team. They have provided the clearest guidance and communication that can be expected in an emerging situation. What they have done as far as staying abreast of the situation, planning, and communicating has exceeded expectations." ~Shanta Reynolds