March Newsletter
Message from the Superintendent
It is never too early and never too late to think about high school graduations. Our seniors are working extremely hard now to make sure they have fulfilled all graduation requirements and to prepare for that big walk across the stage in June. Norfolk Public Schools’ graduation coaches, working in all five of our high schools, support our students in their journey toward graduation in many ways, from attendance tracking and credit recovery to home visits and individual support sessions. Please read the story in this newsletter about how a graduation coach spurred a Norview High School student on to success.
These success stories permeate throughout our school division, from the Read with MEac contest winners to Blair Middle School students who demonstrated their superb STEM skills for an admiral from the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff to our senior director of school nutrition who was recognized by her peers as one of the best in the state. Join us and be part of this incredible team! Norfolk Public Schools offers career options in many fields, and we are hiring!
Finally, welcome to our newest community partner, Harris Teeter (HT). HT’s employees jumped right in to help with events at Booker T. Washington High School and Lake Taylor School. I am grateful for each of the more than 100 community partners that support Norfolk Public Schools.
Read with MEAC winners announced!
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the City of Norfolk, and Norfolk Public Schools have once again teamed up for the Read With MEAC elementary and middle school reading contest, sponsored by TowneBank and Dominion Energy. The winners were announced in late February.
Read With MEAC is a citywide reading contest that encourages Norfolk Public Schools’ students to read as much as possible. Participants’ reading progress was monitored through the Renaissance Star Reading program from September through early March.
“Read With MEAC is one of the most important initiatives we have as a conference,” MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills said. “I’m proud to see this program thriving in its 15th year, and I appreciate the City of Norfolk, Norfolk Public Schools, TowneBank, and Dominion Energy for their support. Thank you to Norfolk Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong for her commitment to this program, and congratulations to all our winners this year.”
The reading contest, organized by MEAC Senior Associate Commissioner Alexiss Robinson along with MEAC member institutions’ Senior Woman Administrators, is aimed at encouraging education and promoting a love of reading.
The program is in its 15th year.
“Norfolk Public Schools’ students are always excited about reading, and we love adding to that enthusiasm by participating in the Read with MEAC contest,” Dr. Byrdsong said. “This partnership with the MEAC showcases both the fun and the fundamentals. And we are so thrilled that students of our winning school were able to enjoy an in-person celebration with the MEAC for the first time since the pandemic. It is a tradition we have certainly missed.”
The 2023 winning school, class, and top readers were recognized in a celebration at W.H. Taylor Elementary on Tuesday, March 7. This was the first in-person Read With MEAC celebration since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The winners are:
First-Place School
W.H. Taylor Elementary ($2,000)
Second-Place School
Tidewater Park Elementary ($1,500)
Third-Place School
Ingleside Elementary ($500)
Winning Class
Teacher Matthew Buchinger, 2nd grade, W.H. Taylor Elementary ($1,000)
Top Readers
Annabella Hardner, 2nd grade, Norview Elementary*
Isabella McKenzie, 2nd grade, Larchmont Elementary*
Henry Martins, 2nd grade, Ghent School
Harper Baylor-Morse, 3rd grade, Ghent School
Zachary Ross, 3rd grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Juliet Anderson, 4th grade, Larchmont Elementary
Kai Hiyama, 4th grade, W.H. Taylor Elementary
Isabella Clark, 5th grade, Tarrallton Elementary
Giovanni Jackson, 5th grade, Bay View Elementary
Anise Moore, 6th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Arden McCammon, 6th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Esme’ Courson, 7th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Byron Gordon, 7th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Gabriella Chambers, 8th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Elisa Bowes, 8th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
The NPS Department of Human Resources Hiring Initiatives
We’re Hiring!
Are you interested in joining the Norfolk Public Schools’ team? NPS seeks to expand our workforce by hiring teachers, bus drivers, school nutrition and clerical staff, security guards, and more!
NPS offers signing bonuses for teachers and bus drivers. No CDL? No problem. We will train you!
What are you waiting for? Visit our website for openings and to apply!
Mark your calendars for our next in-person division-wide job fair on Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Crossroads K-8 School where we will welcome applicants for specific classified and certified openings. Contracts will be offered to successful candidates on the spot!
Stay tuned for additional job fairs scheduled through August 2023.
#YOUbelongwithNPS
HR on Campus
HR on Campus is a new NPS recruitment initiative. The Department of Human Resources sends recruiters to school-based events to speak with attendees about job opportunities available within the school division. Human Resources representatives have attended events including math nights, STEM family nights, Black history programs, and music programs.
Watch for Human Resources representatives at your child’s school and learn about all that employment with NPS has to offer!
Finders Keepers
Finders Keepers is an opportunity for current, full-time, non-administrative employees to earn $250 for referring a teacher who successfully begins employment with Norfolk Public Schools. The one-time bonus is paid in a lump sum to the referring employee.
School Board approves 2023-2024 Academic Calendar with pre-Labor Day start
The City of Norfolk School Board voted to approve the 2023-2024 NPS Academic Calendar. Next school year, Norfolk Public Schools’ students will return to their classrooms before Labor Day on Monday, August 28, 2023.
School Board members voiced support for providing more instructional time for students and teachers at the beginning of the school year.
The School Board voted to approve the Academic Calendar Option 4.
Other highlights of the approved calendar include:
- First day of school: August 28, 2023
- Teacher Workday / Professional Development Day: September 1, 2023
- Labor Day: September 4, 2023
- Early Release/Parent-Teacher Conference Day: October 9, 2023
- Teacher Workday / Professional Development Day: October 30, 2023
- Teacher Workday / Professional Development Day: November 7, 2023
- Veterans Day: November 10, 2023
- Thanksgiving Holiday: November 22, 2023, to November 24, 2023
- Winter Break: December 25, 2023, to January 5, 2024
- MLK Day: January 15, 2024
- Teacher Workday / Professional Development Day: January 22, 2024
- President’s Day: February 19, 2024
- March Break: March 11, 2024
- Teacher Workday / Professional Development Day: March 29, 2024
- Spring Break: April 1 to April 5, 2024
- Memorial Day: May 27, 2024
- Last Day of School: June 7, 2024
The official calendar can be found here.
School Board considering Superintendent’s Proposed Budget
Superintendent Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong’s proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 includes funding for:
- Pay increases for all employees, including teachers, bus drivers, security officers and school nutrition staff;
- Recruitment and retention efforts such as incentives and bonuses;
- Security enhancements including additional security officers and supervisors, security camera upgrades and weapons detection systems for all schools;
- Building maintenance and improvement projects including HVAC, doors and windows, and electric upgrades;
- New school buses;
- Continuation or enhancement of educational programs including tutoring, algebra and science kits, literacy and mathematics support;
- Replacement of Chromebooks, iPads, and MacBooks for students; and
- Upgrades to major division-wide technology such as the student information, internet security, and payroll management systems.
The City of Norfolk School Board is scheduled to vote on the Superintendent’s Proposed Operating Budget on March 15. To submit comments on the budget, please sign up to speak at the March 15th meeting, or e-mail the School Board Clerk (schoolboard@nps.k12.va.us) prior to the start of the meeting.
You may also send public comments via e-mail to the same address by 4:30 p.m. the day prior to a School Board meeting.
NPS cannot guarantee anonymity for those submitting public comments. Commenters are required to note "Please post for Public Comment” or “Do not post for Public Comment” in the subject line or within the e-mail message. All comments will be provided to School Board members for that meeting.
Following the School Board’s vote, the proposed budget will then go to Norfolk’s City Council no later than April 1 for consideration and approval. The City Council must adopt a budget in May.
Norfolk Public Schools’ Lisa Winter Named School Nutrition Director of the Year
The School Nutrition Association of Virginia has named its 2023 School Nutrition Director of the Year - and she is right here with Norfolk Public Schools!
Lisa Winter, Senior Director of School Nutrition, was secretly nominated by her team as a show of appreciation for her hard work. In the application, the team wrote: “When staff was polled, the following words or phrases were used to describe our fearless leader: passionate, energetic, determined, dedicated, thoughtful, integrity, respectful, compassionate, knowledgeable, motivated, pillar of strength, fair, and tenacious.”
Winter was shocked to learn of her win.
“I was surprised and honored to find out my team nominated me for this award, and grateful to be chosen out of all the directors in Virginia. School Nutrition employees recognize that nutritious food is the most important school supply because hungry students can’t learn,” Winter said. “Our team works hard to make sure all of Norfolk Public Schools’ students and families have what they need. I’m honored to have that work recognized.”
Under Winter’s leadership, NPS has expanded its Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program from 10 schools to 23 schools. Winter expanded the Child and Adult Care Food Program to 47 schools, with some hosting both snack and supper programs. Additionally, with Winter’s support, School Nutrition has worked with departments across NPS to provide opportunities for students and families.
According to the nomination, Winter’s leadership extends to support for her team. Renee Swank, District Supervisor, was awarded a national Healthy School Fellowship through the Chef Anne Foundation. With support from Winter, Nutrition Specialist Alyssa Hughes participated in a Scratch Works Annual Gathering.
Winter will be presented with the award at the SNS-VA conference in March, which will be held in Hampton.
Mary Calcott and W.H.Taylor teacher receives award from Scholastic
Jadah Jones, an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT) at Mary Calcott and W.H. Taylor Elementary Schools, has been chosen by Scholastic to join its inaugural Teacher Fellow Cohort. Jones will serve with 11 other K-8 instructors.
Jones has been with NPS for six years, teaching fourth grade at Mary Calcott for five years and then becoming an ITRT.
“I am honored to have been selected,” Jones said. “The opportunity to represent our diverse community and stakeholders at … Scholastic is a significant privilege.”
Jones said she hoped to continue to bring her teacher’s perspective to the forefront of educational decision making.
“This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with educators across the country on projects that will transform how we approach education, educational materials, and professional development. It is an exciting time as we move forward to improve education in a post-pandemic world, and I am pleased to represent and advocate on behalf of our region and community.”
Graduation coaches help students into caps and gowns
Graduation coaches for Norfolk Public Schools help students stay on track toward graduation to walk across the stage on graduation day.
Each of our five high schools across the division employs two graduation coaches who identify, assist, encourage, and connect students who are at risk of not graduating on time with the options and resources they need to be successful.
Interventions with graduation coaches start as students enter high school, and coaches work with school teams to ensure students have appropriate supports to graduate on time, ready for college and careers.
Jacqueline Eley, a graduation coach at Norview High School, said graduation coaches use many approaches. They monitor identified students through progress reports, home visits, and individual support sessions. They track attendance, a key indicator for academic success, academics, and behavioral progress. Graduation coaches also offer tutoring, Saturday academic remediation sessions, and even help students with transportation, and adult education service placements, when appropriate.
Former NPS parent Carisa Samboy recently wrote to Norfolk Public Schools to thank Eley, her son’s graduation coach. Justis I. Samboy, of the Norview High School Class of 2019, joined the U.S. Navy after graduation and now serves in Europe. Justis Samboy worked with Eley to make up lost credits over six months, pass his Standards of Learning tests (SOLs), and graduate.
“I wanted to take this time to say thank you,” Carisa Samboy wrote. “Thank you for believing in my son when he didn't believe in himself. You know they say it takes a village to raise a child. Thank God you were part of our village.”
NPS parents and students in need of graduation coaching, even if they have previously dropped out, should call their high school.
Granby Drum Line
Granby High School’s Drumline, "Raw Ambition," went to the head of the line with an outstanding performance in Dallas, Texas. The drum line, the only team from Virginia to compete, won first place in the Clash of the Drumlines invitational.
Report bullying and student concerns anytime with Vector
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.
Download the app to your device today! Use “SafeSchools Alert” at the Apple Store and “Vector Alert” in Google Play.
To learn more about the Vector Alert Tip Reporting System, please visit nps-va.safeschoolsalert.com.
Admiral Christopher Grady visited Blair Middle School
Sixth graders at Blair Middle School showcased their collaborative and innovative work in the presence of a U.S. Navy Admiral.
A few weeks ago, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS) Admiral Christopher Grady and his wife, Christine, invited students in Westley Knight’s Future Problem Solving Program to participate in the VCJCS STEM Challenge.
The students formed teams and began designing and engineering a device to hold a can of vegetables.
With Superintendent Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong, Executive Director of Secondary Schools Dr. Barbara Kimzey, Principal Dr. Patrick Doyle, Teacher Mr. Westley Knight, and Mathematics Department Chair Mr. James Riggs looking on, Vice Chairman Admiral Grady and Mrs. Grady scored each team’s creations.
Congratulations to all the young scholars who participated in the challenge, and a special “shout-out” to the teams that placed: 1st-AstroTechs, 2nd- Corn Catchers and The Sergeant Navy Engineers, and 3rd- Colonel Corn.
FREE tutoring and homework help through FEV Tutor
Norfolk Public Schools is pleased to partner with FEV Tutor to provide students with FREE 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, e-mail 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.
April is Month of the Military Child
Join Norfolk Public Schools in April as we celebrate #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild to underscore the important role children play in the Armed Forces community.
NPS is proud of the more than 4,000 students in our division who are identified as military-connected.
We encourage all schools and families to participate in the following Military Child Appreciation Spirit Days:
- Wednesday, April 5, 2023 - Wear Red, White, and Blue Day
- (No observances during the week of April 10-14 due to Spring Break)
- Wednesday, April 19, 2023 - National Purple Up! Day
- Wednesday, April 26, 2023 - Favorite Branch of Service Camo Day
- Friday, April 28, 2023 - R.E.D. Friday (Remember Everyone Deployed by wearing red)
Please note that April 19, 2023, has been designated Purple Up! Day for 2023 and is included in the spirit days. The color purple symbolizes all the branches of the military, as it is the combination of the five branches of the military service: Army green, Marine red, Navy blue, Air Force blue, and Coast Guard blue. All students and staff are asked to wear purple on that day in honor of our military-connected students. Share on social media with NPS’ handles and hashtags:
@NorfolkPublicSchools (Facebook)
@NPSchools (Twitter)
#NPSSupportsOurMilitary
#NPSPurpleUpDay
#PurpleUpVA
#navalstationnorfolk
For more information about NPS’ dedication to making sure that all of our military-connected children thrive, visit https://www.npsk12.com/domain/919.
Take swim lessons at Old Dominion University
Learn to swim at ODU! American Red Cross pre-school, youth, and adult swim lessons are available to the local community. The next four-week session begins March 13th. Sign up online!
Observances:
Women’s History Month
March marks Women’s History Month, when we commemorate and celebrate the vital role of women in American history.
Youth Art Month
March is Youth Art Month! For the first time since the pandemic, Norfolk Public Schools students will be able to see displays of their work in person. Students from elementary, middle, and high schools will share their works of art at exhibitions throughout the month.
For the first time, the Kroc Center in Norfolk will host an exhibition of artwork from elementary students, with a reception on March 9 from 5:00 p.m. until to 6:30 p.m.
An exhibition of middle and high school artwork is also planned, with details to be announced soon.
The theme for this year’s Virginia Art Education Association’s celebration of Youth Art Month is “Your Art Your Voice.”
National School Social Work Week was March 5-11
The first full week in March was dedicated to honoring school social workers across the nation.
School Breakfast Week
National School Breakfast Week was March 6-10, 2023.
The theme this year was Dig In To School Breakfast. NPS celebrated with special National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) items on the menu every day – assorted cereals for preschool students, cereal plus BarFresh Smoothie with graham crackers for elementary and middle school students, and turkey sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches and cereals for high school students.
Research shows that eating breakfast may help students do better in school by improving their mood, memory, alertness, concentration, attendance, and more! Norfolk Public Schools provides FREE breakfast and lunch to ALL students.
National Athletic Training Month
NPS Celebrates athletic trainers for National Athletic Training Month. As healthcare professionals, they are highly educated and dedicated to our student athletes.
Athletics
High School Winter Season Results
One-act play: Maury HS Region 5b champions and qualified for the Class 5 State championship
Scholastic Bowl: Granby HS Region 5b champions
Indoor Track: Maury HS Girls Indoor track Region 5b champions, Maury HS Boys 4x200 relay team Class 5 State Champions, Maury HS Girls 4x200 relay team Class 5 State Champions.
Wrestling: Leonard Ashley(Granby HS) won second place in the 150 pound weight class.
Basketball: Norview girls basketball team Region 5b runner up and qualified for Class 5 State Girls Basketball Tournament.
Maury Boys basketball team Region 5b runner and qualified for the Class 5 State Boys Basketball Tournament.
Lake Taylor Boys basketball team Region 3a runner up and qualified for the Class 3 State Boys Basketball Tournament.
Community Partner Corner: Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter, a new partner to Norfolk Public Schools, believes in recognizing, understanding, and supporting the value of differences. Its Multicultural Resource Group worked with Norfolk Public Schools in February to encourage students to reach their full potential academically and to prepare them for their future in the workforce. At Booker T. Washington High School, NPS students participated in mock job interviews to practice interviewing, receiving feedback, and developing interviewing skills. Many students who participated currently take a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course.
At Lake Taylor School, Harris Teeter employees assisted teachers with decorating their doors to display the contributions of people whose work made a positive impact on our society.
The Harris Teeter Multicultural Resource group has offered to present on career days and participate in Cooperative Education Mock interviews throughout NPS. Thank you, Harris Teeter, for helping to enhance our student’s education!
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.