NPS NOW NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year! I trust that you enjoyed the winter break and spent quality time with your families and friends. While you were away, our team began the work of installing water bottle filling stations in our schools. We are working in collaboration with our contractors to finalize this process as soon as possible. The school division will provide each of our scholars with a refillable water bottle when this process has been completed. NPS used federal COVID-19 mitigation funding, known as ESSER III, to purchase these supplies along with other supports for our students. Follow us on Facebook (available in Spanish, too!) and Twitter to find out more!

Allow us to celebrate some of our successes a little this month, too: NPS won an award for its budget presentation; several schools were honored with Purple Star designations: NPS was awarded a VDOE grant in the amount of $221,061 for security equipment; and we are rolling out an anytime, anywhere mobile app for timely reporting of bullying and other student-related matters.

I look forward to a continued successful and prosperous school year working alongside you on our journey toward equity and excellence for ALL in 2022!

The Virginia Department of Health has provided interim guidance for K-12 schools following updates from the Centers for Disease Control.

The new guidance allows individuals to return five days after a positive Covid test if the following criteria have been met:

1. They have no symptoms, or their symptoms have resolved (no fever).
2. They wear a well-fitting mask for five additional days when interacting with others.
3. They maintain proper social distance.

When children have to remove their masks to eat or for other reasons, they need to be in a setting that allows for six feet of distance between them and others. If they cannot be six feet apart when they return, they cannot benefit from the reduced five-day quarantine and will need to follow the 10-day quarantine. If they can stay six feet apart when unmasked, they can use the five-day option.

These guidelines will evolve as state and federal public health experts review COVID-19 caseloads and scientific analysis. We will continue to keep you posted on any updates.

For additional information on COVID-19 mitigation and quarantine measures, visit www.npsk12.com/Page/18167 or www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/.

NPS has collaborated 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.

Every tip is taken seriously and will be fully investigated.

The app is available now to download to your device.

To learn more, please visit https://nps-va.safeschoolsalert.com.

COVID-19 mitigation measures required closing most school water fountains. Now ESSER III funding will help Norfolk Public Schools install water bottle filling stations in schools to restore access to this fundamental resource.

NPS received $113.3 million in funding under the American Rescue Plan Act for Elementary and Secondary School Relief (ARP/ESSER III). Let us know your thoughts on the plan and what areas we should consider for additional support at TellUs@npsk12.com. Please use ARP/ESSER III in the subject line.

Norfolk Public Schools has received the 2021–2022 Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). The district has been participating in the MBA program for two years. According to ASBO, the award recognizes best budget presentation practices in school districts. Participants submit their applications and budget documents to a panel of school financial professionals who review the materials for compliance with the MBA Criteria Checklist and other requirements and provide expert feedback that districts can use to improve their budget documents.

If your family is in danger of eviction, the Norfolk Eviction Diversion and Support program may be able to help. Funding is available to all households; some eligibility requirements apply. Assistance includes: rent arrears, advance rent payments, childcare, utility payments. Call 757-664-RENT (7368) or visit www.norfolk.gov/evictionprevention.

Students at Chesterfield Academy had some special guests on December 15th: staff representing Capital Concrete, Inc., Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D., and SANTA! These visitors helped with a Community Clean Up Day. "It's the most wonderful time of the year to take pride in our school and community," their invitation said.

December 11th wrapped up an exciting fall athletics season when the Maury Commodores took home the runner-up trophy in the Class 5 State Football Championship. The Commodores are also recognized for sending six teams to the VHSL Class 5 State Tournament this fall. Congratulations to all our student-athletes on an exciting fall athletic season.

To stay up-to-date on all our teams during the winter season please visit the NPS Athletics page.

Congratulations to the following Middle School teams on their championship wins! More pictures can be found on the Athletics News Webpage.

The deadline to apply for specialty programs is fast approaching! Applications must be completed and returned no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022.

Specific programs include:

• The Academy of the Arts at Booker T. Washington High School

• The Academy of Leadership and Military Science at Lake Taylor High School

• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Granby High School

• The Leadership Center for the Sciences and Engineering at Norview High School

• The Medical and Health Specialties Program at Maury High School

• The Norfolk Science, Technology and Advanced Research (NORSTAR) Program at The Rosemont Center

• The Academy of International Studies At Rosemont

• Young Scholars at Rosemont

• International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood

• Medicine and Health Care at Blair Middle School

• Southside STEM Academy at Campostella

Applications are also being accepted for the Ghent School lottery and the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood 3rd-grade program.

Please visit our website at www.npsk12.com/specialtyprograms for information, including our Specialty Programs Virtual Showcase videos for middle and high school students. You can also find these videos on our YouTube Channel:

• Middle School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU5J2sUry60

• High School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApxX9omQRps

Norfolk Public Schools continues to seek input from the general public as part of the evaluation process of its School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. Find the full plan and take our survey.

Deadline to comment is Friday, January 7, 2022.

NPS’ List of Purple Star Designation Schools Grows to Include Two High Schools

More than a dozen NPS schools have been selected for the Virginia Purple Star Designation, including two high schools!

The Virginia Purple Star Designation is awarded by the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The designation goes to military-friendly schools that meet rigorous qualification criteria.

Norfolk Public Schools is proud of the distinction and what it states about the schools’ commitment to our military community, especially our military-connected students.

Purple Star Designation schools receive a resolution of recognition, an award coin, and the opportunity to proudly display the Purple Star logo for three school years.

NPS’ impressive list of Purple Star recipients can be found here.

Click here for more information on the Purple Star Designation.

Did you know…

NPS now has an entire Facebook page en Español! Be sure to stop by and give Norfolk Public Schools en Español a like!

And if you haven’t already, please follow us on our English-language Facebook page and also on Twitter! You’ll see pictures, videos and news from around the division as well as event reminders!

The Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Program’s mission is to strengthen students’ literacy skills. The 22-year-old program is doing just that at Chesterfield Elementary, Granby Elementary and Larrymore Elementary.

Students recommended for the program by their teachers and/or reading specialist meet one-on-one each week with a BeAR mentor. The students in the program not only improve their reading skills, but also their attitudes toward reading and learning, which change as their self-esteem flourishes. The program is supported by a group of dedicated mentors from United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, and is restructuring to continue to meet the needs of students during the pandemic.

Thank you for your commitment to our students, BeAR!

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.

Interested in becoming a teacher?

The Teacher in Residence (TIR) Program is now accepting applications. TIR offers a tuition-free master’s degree through Old Dominion University with licensure in math, science, or special education, all while earning a stipend during the program!

For more information on the TIR Program and to apply click here.

Applications are due by January 7, 2021.

Questions? Contact Dr. Kala Burrell-Craft at Knburrel@odu.edu.

Email: TellUs@npsk12.com
Website: https://www.npsk12.com/
Location: 800 E. City Hall Avenue Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757)-670-3945
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorfolkPublicSchools/
Twitter: @NPSchools