Suffolk Public Schools

Suffolk Public Schools is excited to kick off another year of All District Reads, featuring the delightful book The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney. This district-wide initiative ensures that every elementary student receives their own copy of the book, creating a shared reading experience that connects classrooms and families throughout Suffolk. Thanks to the generous support of local partners like the Rotary, the Birdsongs, and TowneBank, we are thrilled to bring this program to life once again. ADR kicks off on Friday, November 1st.

John Yeates Middle School (96.84%) and Creekside Elementary School (96.37%) have achieved a student attendance rate of 90% or higher for the month of September. Each school will receive $500. This accomplishment reflects the dedication of students, families, and staff in prioritizing consistent attendance as a key to academic success.

Across our school division, efforts to promote attendance include family engagement events, incentive programs, and classroom activities that make coming to school each day both educational and enjoyable. We believe every school day is a chance for students to learn, explore, and build confidence. High attendance rates help our students thrive and reach their fullest potential. Congratulations to John Yeates Middle School and Creekside Elementary School for leading by example and demonstrating that, together, we can achieve great things!

Congratulations to Oakland Elementary School for receiving the 2024-2025 Board of Education Highest Achievement Award. This prestigious award recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional success across all school quality indicators, including closing achievement gaps and ensuring strong student performance in core subjects. To earn this distinction, Oakland Elementary achieved Performance Level One for reading, mathematics, and science across all student groups, meeting rigorous pass rate standards. Additionally, the school maintained minimal performance differences among diverse student groups and excelled in indicators like Chronic Absenteeism, Graduation and Completion Index (GCI), and Dropout Rate. This achievement reflects the school's dedication to providing an inclusive, high-quality education for every student.

Congratulations to Lakeland High School for earning the 2024-2025 Board of Education Continuous Improvement Award. This recognition celebrates schools that have shown significant progress over multiple years, reflecting a commitment to academic growth and student success. Lakeland High School met the criteria by achieving a steady increase in the combined rate for math, reading, and science over the past three years, with a total growth of ten points or more. The school also improved the Graduation and Completion Index (GCI) by over four percent and reduced the dropout rate by 15% or more from the initial year. This accomplishment highlights the school's dedication to fostering improvement and closing achievement gaps.

Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers’ 2024 ‘Vote for a School’ Contest Engages Over 4,000 Community Members, Distributing $15,000 to Hampton Roads Schools. Congratulations to Hillpoint Elementary School and Dr. Shaka Miller for earning 3rd Place and receiving a monetary donation of $2,000.

The purpose of the SPS Saturday Academy is to offer remediation and acceleration sessions for students. SPS teachers and staff will provide hands-on, interactive instruction and additional support based on recently taught content. Instruction will reinforce identified power skills within specific content areas' Standards of Learning.

Applications for the November 9th session will open on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 by 8:00 AM and close November 4, 2024 at 5:00 PM. To apply, please complete the form by using the link provided on our Suffolk Public Schools website: www.spsk12.net.

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Suffolk Public Schools Military Family Resource Fair on Thursday, November 7, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at King's Fork Middle School. This event is designed to support and empower military families within our school system. This event aims to connect military families with valuable resources, services, and information to enhance their educational experience and well-being. Attendees will be able to learn more about the services our school division offers to support our military families and network with other organizations that support our military community. Dinner will be provided by our SPS Food and Nutritional Services team.

Registration for this event is encouraged. To register, please complete the following Military Family Resource Fair Attendance Registration Form. If you have any questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to contact our Communication and Community Engagement Officer, Anthonette Dickens, at anthonettedickens@spsk12.net or 757-925-6750.

All current grade 8 students are encouraged to apply for our Suffolk Public Schools Specialty Programs: The Center for Performing and Production Arts, International Baccalaureate, Project Lead the Way Engineering, and Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences. Students should see their school counselor for eligibility criteria.

Complete the following form to apply: Suffolk Public Schools Specialty Program Application for the 2025-2026 School Year. Please view the program requirements and additional components for the application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed. The application deadline is Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ONLY SUBMIT ONE APPLICATION. For questions or to make changes to your application, contact Dr. Keisha Melvin, Coordinator of Advanced Instruction and World Languages, at keishamelvin@spsk12.net.

NOTE: Specialty Program grade 8 presentations will be at each middle school on Thursday, October 31 through Thursday, November 7.

Mark your calendars! The 2024 ACCESS College Foundation Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Expo will be held on Wednesday, November 13th, at King's Fork High School. All students, parents, and community members are welcome! For questions or additional information, contact Adrienne Miller, ACCESS Advisor, at 757-923-5240 or adriennemiller@spsk12.net.

Visit www.spsk12.net to learn more about our SPS Virtual Job Fair.

As we near the end of Bullying Prevention Month, please remember that parent involvement in your child’s education plays a crucial role in preventing bullying in schools. When parents actively engage with their child’s learning and school environment, they build strong communication channels that allow them to recognize signs of bullying or behavioral changes early on. Involved parents can reinforce positive behaviors, teach empathy, and model conflict resolution skills, helping children understand the impact of their actions on others. A strong partnership between parents and schools creates a supportive network, and a respectful atmosphere where bullying is less likely to thrive.