SHS Weekly Update

Smithfield High School took 1st place (by a 600+ point lead) in the 2025 Great Computer Challenge - Cybersecurity Competition, held Saturday, March 15, at Old Dominion University.

All teams are headed to state competition April 12 at JMU.

First Place HS Wind Turbine Division: “The Goon Squad” - Katie Gallahorn, Seneca Register, Andrew Shipman, Sophie Shipman and Vyncent Simpson

Second Place HS Wind Turbine Division: “The Wizards of Wind” - Brennan Thompson, Kollin Hicks, Ethan Whitlow and Logan Taylor

Third Place HS Wind Turbine Division: “Windstorm” - Camden Lawrence, Brody Syring, Jack Rowe and “Blown Away”-Jeremiah Pettaway, Collin Phillips, Draven Munro and Hayden Williams

Second Place HS Solar Structure Division: “Project Bluebird” - Will Flythe, Aiden Montgomery, Jaydon Ruffin, Evelyn Newman, and Vincent JaimeSawyer

Third Place HS Solar Structure Division: “Parker Brothers’ Off the Grid Barn” - Kyle Parker and Ayden Parker

Smithfield competed at the 4AB Super Regional competition at Henrico High School on Saturday, March 15, placing first overall with 45 Sweepstakes Points.

Individual Awards went to:

2nd Place Policy Debate: Mazzy O'Hanlon and Amma Maddy

1st Place Policy Debate: Jack Wesdock and Gabrielle Johns

Both teams advance to States.

4th Place Public Forum and alternate to States: Alyze Pizzaro and Abigail Wahl

1st Place Public Forum and advance to States: Reagan Bresnahan and Abigail Sikes

3rd Place Lincoln Douglas: Sophie Shipman

1st place Lincoln Douglas: Dianna Leang

Both advance to States.

In Student Congress:

3rd Place and Most Outstanding Senator As Voted by their Peers: Liam O'Boyle

2nd Place: Seth Bakers

1st Place: Camryn Hicks

All three advance to States, in addition to Wyatt Richardson, Andrew Thompson, and Reese Wicker.

Pictured, left to right: Sophie Shipman, Abigail Wahl (back), Abigail Sikes (front), Reagan Bresnahan, Alyze Pizzaro, Reese Wicker, Camryn Hicks, Tristan Duffy, Seth Baker, Liam O' Boyle, Andrew Thompson (back), and Wyatt Richardson (front).

York, VA - 15 March - The SHS JROTC Packer Battalion Rifle Team competed in its last side by side match of the year at the inaugural Tabb Tiger Spring Ahead Invitational at Tabb High school. Thirty-four Cadets on nine teams from five schools participated in the match. The SHS Veteran Team led by seniors Nymiar Towns and Ryder Swedland along with sophomore Joey Frey and freshman Miranda Hensley finished in 1st place. The SHS Novice Team consisting of Jayden Hedgepeth, James Goodrich, Leila Cameron and Nikolai Szymaski also finished in 1st place. Nymiar Towns and Ryder Swedlund finished 2nd and 3rd overall in the Veteran Division and Miranda Hensley finished 3rd overall in the novice division individually.

“It was another great day for the team and it is always nice to shoot side by side instead of in a postal match because the team gets to interact with other marksmen from around the area,” said LTC (Ret) Pete Badoian, the team coach. “We also want to thank the Tabb Tigers for hosting the event and putting on both a coaches forum and shooters clinic as part of the match. The forum and clinic were a huge value added for our shooters and this coach to learn from others that are more successful and knowledgeable.”

Pictured: The Packer Rifle Team Poses at Tabb High School with their two first place trophies and three individual medals (Left to right: Nymiar Towns, Ryder Swedlund, Jayden Hedgepeth, James Goodrich, Leila Cameron, Nikolai Szymanski, Joey Frey and Miranda Hensley)

• Cap and Gown Delivery March 27th during all lunches. Please be prepared to pay balances (cash or check) If you have not ordered, Jostens will have cap and gowns on site for purchase. The cost is $66 with tax. Cash or check accepted
• Sweet Frog Social March 28th (Pay senior dues by Monday, March 24th to participate)
• Senior dues are due now. Please submit cash or check to Mrs. Mayes in room 217. Make checks payable to Smithfield High School.
• Senior Signs: If you would like to order senior signs, Michelle Jones will be here on March 27th to collect forms and money during packer block in the commons. The order form is attached below.

Please continue to email your college acceptance letters to jbright@iwcs.k12.va.us to be featured on our scholarship wall. We update our bulletin board with new acceptances on Fridays. Additionally, you can also send in your scholarship award information to be featured in our graduation program.

Isle of Wight Nurse Aide, PCT, and HOSA students are hosting a Flower Bulb Fundraiser — just in time for spring and Mother’s Day! 🌷🌼🌺

All proceeds will help support our HOSA students with competitions, events, and educational opportunities. This is a great way to brighten your garden while supporting a great cause!

💻 Order Online Here: https://abc.launchfundraising.com/FundraiserHomeInfo/0/F5QJ7Z

📆 Fundraiser Ends: April 13, 2025

🚚 Orders Arrive: ~2 weeks after the fundraiser closes

Not a gardener? No problem! Donations are also accepted through our online store.

Thank you for your support in helping our future healthcare professionals grow!

Current 9th-11th graders: The deadline to submit a CTE Student Application for the 2025-26 school year has been extended to March 31.

If a student wishes to be considered for more than one double-block CTE course, a separate application must be submitted for each program of interest. Students currently enrolled in a double-block CTE course do not need to reapply to continue in the same course for the upcoming year.

All students currently enrolled in Health/PE 9 and/or Driver Education/PE 10 will be participating in Family Life Education in the coming weeks. Below you will find the standards of learning for this content, an informational letter from Central Office and an opt-out form for any parents that would like to exclude their student from this lesson. Please review this information and reach out to Ms. Cuffee if you would like to review any of the instructional materials.

The SHS counselors are meeting with students for scheduling. Please be on the lookout for a mailing and reach out to your student’s counselor if you would like to be present for the scheduling meeting. Counselors are available via appointment for in person, zoom, or telephone meetings.

Ms. Rachael Davidson

Last Names: A-D

rdavidson@iwcs.k12.va.us

757-357-8778

Ms. Meredith Hynes

Last Names: E-J

mhynes@iwcs.k12.va.us

757-357-8781

Ms. Jeneisse Howell

Last Names: K-O

jhowell3@iwcs.k12.va.us

757-542-3197

Ms. Jordan Respass

Last Names: P-R

jrespass@iwcs.k12.va.us

757-357-8779

Ms. Lana Booth

Last Names: S-Z

lbooth@iwcs.k12.va.us

757-357-8780

Prom Date: May 3rd

Theme: Night at the Casino/Las Vegas

Tickets are $50/per person BEFORE Spring Break; $60/ per person AFTER Spring Break (until we sell out)

Check out the SHS spirit wear now available through Jostens: https://themascotshop.jostens.com/1119382

Ready to purchase your yearbook? Click here to order.

In an attempt to actively identify, locate and evaluate children 2 through 21, who are in need of special education services and/or protection under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Isle of Wight County Schools will be holding Child Find Screenings on the dates listed below.

If you suspect that your preschool child or private schooled/homeschooled student may have a disability, please join us for a brief screening of your child’s communication, social-emotional, adaptive, motor and cognitive abilities.

Parents of enrolled students, who are suspected of having a disability, may request a Child Study meeting at their zoned/attending school.

March 24, 2025

9am - Noon

Carrollton Elementary School

14440 New Towne Haven Lane

Carrollton, VA 23314

March 26, 2025

Noon - 3:00pm

Windsor Elementary School

20008 Courthouse Highway

Windsor, VA 23487

Please ensure that all absences for your child are properly excused. To clear unexcused absences:

• Parents may submit up to five parent notes per semester for any reason.
• Doctor's notes are unlimited and can be submitted at any time.

To receive credit for a class, students must not exceed five unexcused absences. Any student with more than five unexcused absences in a class will not earn credit for that class, regardless of their grade. These students will need to go through the Attendance Appeal Process to address the issue.

Please send in all absent notes as soon as possible to ensure your child’s attendance record is updated. Thank you for your cooperation! Shs-attendance@iwcs.k12.va.us

• Drop-off in the line in front of the school ONLY! There is to be NO student drop-off in ANY parking lots by parents or older siblings.

• No left turn onto Turner Rd from the parking lot during morning drop-off!

If you are planning to pick up your child early from school. Please send an email to shs-attendance@iwcs.k12.va.us by 10:00 am with the time you are picking them up. We will put your child’s name on the early release list. They are responsible for letting the teacher know they have “Early Release.”

Website: https://shs.iwcs.k12.va.us/
Location: 14171 Turner Drive, Smithfield, VA, USA
Phone: 757-357-3108
Twitter: @OfficialSHSPack