Cavalier Connection
May 2021
A Message from the Principal
Hello Cavaliers!
I hope that you and your family had a safe, relaxing and rejuvenating spring break. This week we returned students to 4 days a week of in-person learning and the excitement and energy of our students and staff has been incredible. Student voices, smiles, conversations, laughter, and hellos are once again filling our hallways.
We are especially excited for the return of our seniors to the building and look forward to the school year’s end with hope and anticipation of providing memory making opportunities in our final weeks together. Our senior class sponsors and our PTSA have been working together to provide seniors special treats and goodies on the 21st of each month. On May 10th our Senior Walk will provide seniors an opportunity to walk the halls of the building and say goodbye to teachers and staff while finding surprises along the way. While we recognize that this is not a replacement for Ring Dance or Prom…both of which this senior class has missed out on, it is an opportunity for our teachers and staff to show our appreciation for their perseverance and commitment to make the best of this unfortunate situation.
We recognize the importance of social activities in our school community and are supporting our SCA and class sponsors in planning several events to help all of our students transition back into the building. Spirit week, a modified version of Homecoming Hallways and a movie night are a few of the planned events. We could spend a lot of time naming the things that we have missed out on this school year, but we would rather embrace the time that we have together and continue to make it a Great Year to be a Cavalier!
Let’s finish Cavalier Strong!
Danny
May 3-7--Teacher Appreciation Week!
Option 1 Students Return 4 Days a Week
Any current Option 2 (virtual) families who may wish to return to Option 1 should contact Dr. Remian at shana.remian@vbschools.com to make the request, but that request may or may not be accommodated based on space limitations. Please understand that we cannot allow any student to return to in-person instruction unless all their classes have the physical space.
No changes will be approved until May 3 at the earliest as schools will need the week of April 27 to assess classroom space availability.
Planning for 21-22 School Year
VBCPS is planning for the next school year, and families will have the choice of in-person or virtual instruction.
As Superintendent Dr. Spence announced at the April 13 School Board meeting, it is the division’s intent to provide in-person instruction five days a week during the 2021-22 school year for those families who choose face-to-face learning.
For families who choose virtual instruction for the 2021-22 school year, the Virtual Virginia (VVA) program will be the primary learning platform. VVA courses are aligned to Virginia standards of learning, taught by certified teachers across the Commonwealth, and all costs are covered by VBCPS. This option is open to all current students and to any family who resides in Virginia Beach and enrolls their child into VBCPS for school year 2021-22.
All families choosing VVA will receive 100% of their instruction virtually for one full year. Students will be assigned to a VBCPS home school based on their address. Enrollment in VVA will not include any VBCPS academy or advanced academic programs as that curriculum requires in-person learning at the home school. Students may participate in extracurricular activities at the home school, including athletics, SCA and clubs. Participation in any activities at the home school will require the student to provide their own transportation.
A pre-enrollment survey will be available to all families through ParentVUE Thursday, April 29. A survey will need to be filled out for each child enrolled in VBCPS.
Next week, we will have details about virtual information sessions where you will be able to ask questions of both VVA and VBCPS staff. A hotline will be set up to answer questions May 3.
Until then, a FAQ page is available on vbschools.com, and there is also a wealth of information on the Virtual Virginia website.
Senior Walk--May 10
Dear Class of 2021,
We know this year has not been what you expected. We would like to give you a moment to try to make up for some of the events you have missed in the last year. We would like to invite you to our Senior Walk, which is meant to honor you and give you a chance to say goodbye to the building, teachers, and staff at PAHS.
You will be able to walk through the building, see your favorite teachers, and find some surprises along the way. We encourage you to wear your formal Ring Dance/Prom attire, college gear, or anything that makes you happy (as long as it is school appropriate). You will need to schedule a time to come so we can meet our COVID mitigation protocols. Please see the link below to sign up for a time. You may come in groups of up to 10 people, but your group must show up at the school together for your time slot. This event is only for PAHS SENIORS, both Option 1 and Option 2 are welcome.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904094BAEA728A4F58-senior1
Please see Ms. Armstrong or Ms. Baker if you have any further questions. We can't wait to see and celebrate you on May 10 beginning at 11:30 am!
PARENTS: The PTSA is collecting donations to help with this event. For more information, please see the link below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0444ADA62BA2FF2-donations1
Class of 21 on the 21
Along with their cap and gown, our seniors picked up a tassel keepsake, personalized with PA, Class of 21 from our awesome PTSA!
Our next senior event will be on Friday, May 21 from 2:30-4:30. Be sure to check out your Schoology messages, Instagram, and your teacher announcements for more information!
As a reminder, we will do something special for our senior class each month to show them how much we love and miss them! If you have any donations (money or coupons) or ideas, please email Dr. Remian at shana.remian@vbschools.com.
Cap and Gown Pick Up Information!
Make-Up Pick-up Date--Friday, May 21, 2021, 2:30-4:30
- A-L 2:30-3:30
- M-Z 3:30-4:30
If you have not ordered your graduation cap and gown please contact Eric Harvell at eric.harvell@jostens.com
If you have not ordered your senior announcements and other senior items please visit www.jostens.com
I look forward to seeing all of you soon!
Thank you!
Eric Harvell, Jostens
Seniors must return all books prior to graduation. Please encourage your child to return any library books as soon as possible. We lost many books last year, and we would like to get as many of them back as possible.
Please follow us and encourage your child to follow us on social media! We share important info about the library program and PAHS school activities and events.
Twitter: @pahslmc1
Instagram: @pahslmc
Family Life Education
Due to an abbreviated year for in-person and remote learning and the sensitive nature of some of the topics covered in Family Life Education, Family Life Education lessons will not take place this year for students in grades 9 and 10. The topics addressed in these lessons will be covered the next year that your child has Family Life instruction.
If you wish to engage your child in conversation around the topics that would have been covered this year, please call the school (648-5600), and we will provide you with a link to resources and suggested discussion questions for the Family Life Education topics.
GIFTED NEWS
GIFTED TESTING
If you would like your child to be tested for gifted services, please see this information and visit https://giftedapplication.vbcps.com/ to learn more about the process and begin the application. Students will be tested at Princess Anne in May (dates TBD). Email kara.kimball@vbschools.com if you have any questions.
Check out our NEW AP Google Site for Information and Support for AP Testing
SOL Testing
SOL test dates for students currently enrolled in SOL related courses and for students who were enrolled in a term 1 SOL course, who did not test in January, are listed below. Testing will begin at 7:20 am each day.
End of course SOL testing will take place at 7:20 am, in June as follows:
- June 1- VA/US History, World Geography, World History I, and World History II
- June 2- Biology, Chemistry, and Earth Science
- June 3- Reading (English 11 or IBMYP English 10)
- June 4- Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2
If you have questions about SOL testing, please contact Ms. Caruana, 757-648-5623, or via e-mail: sherry.caruana@vbschools.com.
ASVAB Testing
The ASVAB, which can be used as an entrance exam for the military or as a career assessment tool with no obligation to the military, will be offered at PA on Monday May 3rd at 10am in the school library. The ASVAB is only for juniors and seniors, 16 years and older. All juniors and seniors received an email on 3/23/21 with further information and a permission slip attached. The permission slip can be dropped off at the school, emailed back to me with an electronic signature, or a parent can email me giving permission for their student to take the ASVAB. The deadline to register is April 30th. Please remember that the ASVAB will be given on a Monday so students will have to provide their own transportation. Any questions or concerns, please see Mr. Hunter, School Counselor.
Summer School
Programs:
- Students who failed a course during the 20-21 schoolyear and need to retake the course will have the synchronous option of face-to-face instruction or virtual instruction through Schoology at one of the two high school sites.
- Students taking a course for the first time will utilize VB Digital Campus. Please check with your school counselor on which course selections/options are the best option for your child.
Dates: Tuesday, June 29-Monday, August 16
- Session 1: June 29-July 21
- Session 2: July 26-August 16
Times: 9:10-1:10 PM (1:40-5:40 afternoon session, if needed)
Registration through Webstore:
- VB Digital Campus (first time/new courses): May 18 at 12:00 noon
- Face-to-face/Virtual (for repeated courses): June 1 at 1:00 PM--June 23 at 8:00 AM
Cost (discounted for this year only):
- $65 per session/$125 for yearlong course
- Free for students receiving free/reduced lunch (must complete free/reduced meal form to be eligible).
Please contact your counselor if you have any questions about summer school!
Virginia Beach City Public Schools Pathways Series
College Admissions
Scholarships and Financial Aid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6LZgLIsSac
Out-of-State Schools
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcKT6x50naM
Military Academies
Military Recruiters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThZqmGAIhc0&t=22s
Two-Year and Trade Schools/Programs