Eagle Express
LHS Staff Newsletter--Year 18, Vol. 21, 01/28/19
I Make a Difference
From Rey Manlunas
It is with honor that I pass the “I Make a Difference” award to Ms. Sarah Culpepper. She was one of my mentors when I first arrived here in August 2006 fresh off the jumbo jet from the Philippines. She has helped me in a myriad of ways to survive my first two years of teaching at Landstown High School. Her passion and dedication to the teaching profession are worthy of emulation. She has her own creative ways of making learning enjoyable and engaging for all her students. As a teacher, she continues to cultivate within her students an aristocracy of the mind and the heart, thus providing them with the essential tools to process information and make well-informed judgements while at the same time forging a sense of responsibility and accountability. Her innumerable contributions to our school community have definitely earned her the utmost respect from students and fellow teachers. Congratulations to my dear colleague, Ms. Sarah Culpepper.
Semester Bash
Make plans to attend the end-of-the-semester bash at Ynot Pizza at Landstown Commons on Thursday, January 31 right after school. The Sunshine Committee will provide Pizza Squares, Stromboli Strips, and Subs. Beverages will be offered at discount prices. Please RSVP using this form.
Family Movie Night
Upcoming Events
Monday, 01/28 (A)
Semester Assessments, Block 1A & 2A
PBA PL, 2:20, Library
Academy Staff Meeting, 2:15, ECC
Tuesday, 01/29 (B)
Student Activities Coordinator Appreciation Day
Semester Assessments, Block 1B & 2B
PAC Meeting 2:20, ECC
Wednesday, 01/30 (A)
Semester Assessments, Block 3A & 4A
Dropout Task Force Meeting, 1:00, ECC
Book Talk, 2:20, ECC
Student Engagement PL, 2:15, Library
Basketball @ OLHS, 5:30
Thursday,01/31 (B)
Semester Assessments, Block 3B & 4B
Student Advisory, noon, ECC
Indoor Track @ Boo Williams, 1:30
One-Act Preview, 2:10, Auditorium
End-of-Semester Bash, 2:30, YNot Pizza
Wrestling @ Tallwood, 6:00
Gymnastics, 6:00
Friday, 02/01 (A)
Virtual Learning Day
Staff Work Day
Chili Cook-Off Luncheon, 11:30, Library
Dive @ PA Rec Center, 4:00
Basketball @ Bayside, 5:30
Saturday, 02/02
SCA Elementary School Leadership Workshop
Swim @ PA Rec Center, noon
Schedule for February 1
February 1 is now a staff work day and Virtual Learning day in the division. The schedule for the day is as follows:
7:15 - noon: Work on inputting grades & VL office hours
All grades must be submitted by noon
11:30 - 12:30: Lunch--Chili Cook-Off--in the Library
Your department chair/AP may arrange for department meetings in the afternoon.
The department meeting originally slated for February 11 will now be our monthly staff meeting.
Trivia question: What historically significant contract was signed on January 28, 1959? The first ten people to email the correct answer to Dr. Askew will win Eagles Brew coupons!
Career Teacher Allowance
The $1,000 Career Teacher Allowance is an incentive using a comprehensive approach to identify a teacher’s commitment to his/her profession and desire for high student achievement and learning. The process focuses on four major areas: Teaching and Learning, Building Leadership Capacity, Professional Development, and Community Relations. The Career Teacher Application for 2019 will be available for downloading from the Intranet (Forms/Human Resources/Career Teacher Application) beginning in February. Every teacher requesting consideration for a Career Teacher allowance needs to:
- Complete the Career Teacher Application 2019.
- Collect supporting documentation as directed by the building principal to verify actions in each of the four categories of the form. (Teachers keep all of the supporting documentation with a copy of the completed application for their records.)
- Request the signature of the building principal on the cover sheet between Feb. 1, 2019, and the last day of school, June 21, 2019.
- If applicable to the application, include a copy of the National Board Certification if not already on file in the Licensure Office.
All applications must be scanned by Mrs. Muench in the main office. Applicants will be notified by email upon receipt of their application. Once the Career Teacher Application is reviewed and processed, the teacher will receive another email indicating approval or denial of the application.
Here Comes the Bus
Beginning February 4, 2019, VBCPS will be implementing an innovative mobile device app and website entitled, Here Comes the Bus®. This application allows parents to view the real-time location of their child’s school bus on any smart device. Here Comes the Bus enables the parent to:
- See the location of their child’s bus both before and after school.
- Confirm that their child’s bus has arrived at the bus stop, at school or both.
- Receive a notification when the bus is near the child’s stop, has been substituted, or when we have important information to relay.
Media and Communications will inform parents via a divisionwide AlertNow. The vbschools website will include information on how to set up accounts.
Announcements & Reminders
End-of-Semester Grading Calendar
- Monday, 1/28 - 2nd Quarter posting opens in Synergy
- Thursday, 1/31 - 1st Semester ends
- Friday, 2/1, noon = Grades are due to be posted for ALL sections.
- Friday, 2/1 - Virtual Learning Day (“A” Day) / Staff Day
- Monday, 2/4: B Day (Start of Semester 2)
- Monday, 2/11 - Distribution of Report Cards through 2A classes. Be sure to check your mailbox!
Parent Contacts: All parent contacts for students receiving an E for semester 1 must be documented in Synergy by February 12th.
JV Softball Coach Needed: We are currently looking for a JV Softball coach. If you are interested, please see Dave Siock in Student Activities as soon as possible.
Volunteer of the Year: The PTSA is seeking nominations for the Volunteer of the Year. If you know of someone who volunteers at LHS and is worthy of recognition, please complete this form and submit it to Terri Muench by Friday, February 1.
Teacher Assignment (Wish List) Form: Don't forget to submit your input on your assignment for the 2019-2020 school year. You can access the form here. It must be completed by Friday, February 8.
Upcoming PL Pathway Meetings
Technology: 2/13 & 3/13 [Stanley & Diehl]
Agency & Engagement: 1/30 and 2/27 [Bryant & Chambers]
PBA: 1/30, 2/8, 3/18 & 4/11 [Nelson & Singer]
Effective PLCs: 2/13 (March & April TBD by participants) [Askew & Muñoz]
The Student Agency PL pathway meeting on Wednesday, January 30th will feature Dr. Abbott, GRT at Green Run Collegiate. Dr. Abbott will introduce participants to Orbitals – a student-centered strategy that reinforces inquiry through a self-guided discovery of content. Examples of Orbitals in various content areas will be shared. Information on all pathways can be found in the Schoology group Resources folder.
Leadership Opportunity
We are looking ahead to the 2019-2020 school year and our plans for Advisory and are looking for folks who are interested in serving as grade level leads. This is a work in progress so those chosen to be grade level leads will have a voice in shaping what Advisory looks like at LHS and in their particular grade level. If you are interested in serving as a grade level Advisory lead, please complete this form by February 15.
Kudos
Kudos to our boys and girls swim teams for their victories over Green Run on Friday night. The boys score was 213-82. Multiple event winners were: Nic Noto (200 IM, 400 freestyle), Ryan Koprowski (100 fly, 100 breaststroke). The girls won 199-79. Mulltiple event winners: Dannielle Salcedo (100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle), Courtney Edwards (50 freestyle, 100 fly).
Kudos to Terri Gayer and her One-Act play students for their performance at Saturday's competition. While they did not advance to the next level, with a team of 24 and only 4 returning members, this was by far one of the greenest teams Landstown Theatre has ever had. They are eager to keep learning and performing!
Kudos and thanks to T'na Bell for her efforts with our seniors. Forty-six seniors showed up for the Senior Grade Recovery on Tuesday and Wednesday. Not only did the students work diligently but their response was overwhelmingly positive.
STUDENT RECOGNITION
January 30: Russ Cunningham, Special Ed
January 31: Jessica Ernst, SECEP
January 31: Lakesha Haywood, Special Ed
January 31: Barbara Riddick, Custodian
January 31: Dana Zumbrum, Fine Arts
February 1: Anibal Acosta, World Languages
February 2: T'na Bell, Grad Coach
February 2: Troy Ware, Custodian
Teacher Assistant of the Year
Principal's Advisory Committee
The Principal's Advisory Committee serves in an advisory capacity to address employee concerns as they relate to site conditions that negatively impact on high student achievement and high employee morale. The PAC is committed to resolving issues professionally and in a timely manner. The following staff members have been elected to serve on this year's PAC: Katie Bennett, Caroline Clark, Jae Clark, Terri Gayer, Woody Gehlert, Kay Gramling, Kathy Holbert, Suzette Johnson, Connie Martinez, Michael Robinson, Kelly Singer and Anne Marie Sprague. Use this form to submit concerns to the PAC.
Our Guiding Questions
- How do students determine and engage with their learning targets?
- What is the evidence that students are exercising their voice and choice throughout the learning process?
- What evidence is there that the teacher has planned opportunities for students to choose from a variety of tools/structures during their learning?
- How are teachers using assessment tools as part of their assessment strategy?
- What evidence exists that supports student collaboration, exploration, and creation efforts?
Landstown High School
Email: cheryl.askew@vbschools.com
Website: http://www.landstownhs.vbschools.com/
Location: 2001 Concert Drive, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Phone: 757-648-5500
Twitter: @LandstownEagles