Cavalier Connection
February 2021
A Message from the Principal
Hello, Cavaliers!
As we close out the first term of this school year, I want to thank you for your hard work, dedication and flexibility as we forged our way through uncharted times of virtual learning, hybrid learning and all the different various ways we adjust to provide meaningful learning experiences to students. Our teachers, students and parents have shown tremendous flexibility and grit in making the best of the daily challenges of teaching, learning and parenting during a pandemic. We are truly thankful for your commitment and look forward to utilizing the lessons learned to make the upcoming second term more manageable.
As we prepare for some of our students to return to the building on February 22nd in a hybrid model, we know that we will still be missing a large number of our students and will continue to engage these students virtually in our school events and activities. Our Open House for the second term will be held virtually on February 18th from 6:00-7:30 PM and will include sessions for our rising 9th grade students and parents. Please look for specific information about our Open House in the upcoming weeks. Thank you for your continued support of our school and we look forward to a success-filled second term.
Danny
Term Two Transition
Term 2 will begin on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Please have your child check his/her Student Vue for his/her schedule. Students should review their new Schoology courses on Monday, February 1 for login information.
Please note the following:
- Mondays will continue to be asynchronous learning days.
- Option 1 students are slated to come back starting February 23. Students with the last names A-K will come on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Students with the last names between L-Z will come on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Bus schedules can be found on Parent/Student Vue under Student Information tab.
- MASKS ARE REQUIRED. Students will be required to wear masks that cover their nose and month completely. Bandanas are not acceptable forms of face coverings.
Textbooks Drop-off and Pick Up Event
The Black History Initiative's Virtual Summit
Registration for 2021-2022!
Counselors have been conducting acadmic planning sessions with students throughout the month on January and will continue scheduling these sessions into February. Parents are strongly encouraged to review the courses selected by their child for the the 2021-2022 school year in StudentVUE/ParentVUE. Please email any requests for changes to your child's counselor by the middle of February!
Yearbook Photos
Upon returning to school, we will hold yearbook photos for students on the following schedule. For Option 1 (face to face) students, we will work with class schedules to ensure that all students have an opportunity to be photographed for this year’s yearbook. For Virtual students, additional information will be sent out regarding registration for their pictures. Please see the attached flyers below for additional information.
AP Exam Registration
The online payment site is through Total Registration and it is now open. In order to register, students should go to www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/471315 or click on the link provided on your high school’s website. To complete registration, students must answer all of the required questions. Please be sure to have a credit or debit card available before beginning registration. Registration is not complete until the student has paid and received the confirmation page that is provided at the end.
If your student qualifies for the free/reduced lunch program, your student is eligible for an exam fee waiver and can take the AP Exam for free. Students must be registered for the exam in AP Classroom and indicate in the payment section of Total Registration (TR), they qualify for free/reduced lunch. AP Exam registration payment will be pending until free/reduced lunch status is confirmed by PAHS. If your student takes an AP course via Virtual Virginia, please indicate that in the payment section of TR and that will be confirmed by the school. Please be sure to have a credit card or debit card available before beginning registration. AP exam registrations that are not fully paid by Friday, March 5, 2021 may be canceled, and exams will not be ordered.
SAT and ACT Testing
The regular deadline for the 3/13/2021 SAT test is 2/12/2021; Late registration deadline is 2/23/2020.
The regular deadline for the 2/06/2021 ACT test is 1/08/2020: Late registration deadline is 1/15/2021.
NOW HIRING: TEENS FOR SUMMER JOBS
If your student is searching for summer employment to earn a paycheck and gain professional experience, explore the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).
- 8-week program @ 27-35 hours per week (June 21 – August 13)
- Opportunities within the City of Virginia Beach and local business partners (see list below)
- Earn competitive hourly wage
- Gain on-the-job training, financial education, and valuable professional experience
- Participants must be Virginia Beach residents between 16-21 years of age
- No previous experience or specialty skills required
Space is limited! Deadline to apply is March 8.
—AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY—
- Accounting and Finance
- Administrative
- Animal Shelters
- Concrete and Welding
- Graphic Design
- Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD)
- Hotels/Hospitality
- Information Technology
- Landscape Management
- Libraries
- Parks and Recreation
- Police Department
- Summer Camps
- And so much more!
—SYEP FEEDBACK—
- 96% gained a better understanding of future career and/or education paths
- 80% learned 3-4 new skills
- 87% gained communication skills
- 15-20% gained permanent employment through SYEP
2021 High School Education Day
You are cordially invited to attend the 2021 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's (CIAA) High School Education Day, which will be held on Wednesday, February 24th from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
This event is free and open to all sophomores, juniors, and seniors and their chaperones from around the country with a desire to learn more about the twelve institutions that make up the CIAA - Bowie State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University (PA), Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the college experience each institution has to offer. Additionally, seniors may have the opportunity to be considered for onsite admissions and scholarship awards.
As you register, please keep in mind the following:
- Due to student emails oftentimes blocking emails outside of the school network, students are requested to use their personal email address. If not, they will potentially miss our reminders and updates leading up to the event.
- Due to the event being delivered virtually, each individual (student or chaperone) will need to register separately. It is expected that each individual access the virtual platform from his/her own device.
- If desired, you may host your own group registration. To do this, select the option to register as a group member, then the option to create a group, and then follow the on-screen prompts. This will allow you to invite group members with your own individual group link as well as send personalized updates to your group.
- Registered participants will receive login credentials to the virtual platform three (3)days before the event.
For more information regarding our program, an overview letter has been attached. To register, please visit https://ciaaeducationday2021-wed.eventbrite.com. Please note that registration end at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10th.
For questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. Please help us spread the word to other colleagues, district personnel, family, and friends!
Save the date! Technical and Career Center Open House, Feb. 3
Students in grades 8-11 are encouraged to check out and apply to the Virginia Beach Technical & Career Education Center (Tech Center), which offers 23 credentialed, technical programs that provide high school juniors and seniors opportunities for career exploration and preparedness. For more information about the Tech Center, its program offerings, application procedures, and their virtual Open House please click HERE.
Do you have dreams of one day becoming a commercial airline pilot and traveling the world? The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC), in partnership with Averett University, Aviation Adventures, and the Virginia Department of Aviation, is offering flight academies at no cost for high school students statewide.
Now in its third year, the Pathways Flight Academies immerse students in learning to fly as a first step to becoming a commercial pilot. A virtual ground school and in-person flight sessions will be offered between June 21 and July 16, 2021 for selected students who have shown an interest in becoming a commercial pilot and have shown an interest and passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM). Students admitted to this intensive program will undertake ground school and flight training that can potentially culminate in their first solo flight!
Funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Pathways Flight Academies is a rigorous program in which students immerse themselves in learning about weather, electronic navigation, flight systems and operations, and FAA regulations. The competitive application process is open to students statewide. Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens, Virginia residents, and 16 years old by the start of the Academy session. They must also be able to pass an FAA flight physical exam upon acceptance into the program. Up to thirty students will be selected. In order to participate in the program, students must make themselves fully available for all activities between June 21 and July 16, 2021. During the flight sessions, students must expect to be present at their designated airport the entire business day and potentially on weekends.
The application package deadline is February 28, 2021. Among the required application elements are: your high school transcript, two letters of reference (collected electronically) and an essay on your background and career aspirations.
Learn more about the Pathways Flight Academies and the application process at http://vsgc.odu.edu/pathwaysflightacademies - application link is available on this page!
Contact Pathways Flight Academies program coordinator Ian Cawthray at icawthra@odu.edu or program assistant Debbie Ross at vsgcpfa@odu.edu
VBCPS Pathway Panel Series Six: Community Colleges, Trade Schools, and Career College
Community Colleges, Trade Schools & Career College will be available on January 28, 2021.
Carefully review the links for participants, contact information and questions that will be answered by the Panelist
Pathway SIX Flyer Panelist and Contact Information:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c4ZcqWKU39kwG6llpF_gkO5AeLGsm3SdulFpI1FfRAM/edit
Pathway SIX Panel Questions
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UaeuxwFVxKWYnIVuJE412CiuUN_z9tLwzR8lHB51sX4/edit
Class of 2021!
ACCESS is here for you!
ATTENTION JUNIORS
- Please join ACCESS for a virtual College Panel on February 24th at 4pm or February 25th at 5pm. We will have admission representatives from NSU, ODU, Va Wesleyan, and VT. Covered topics include college applications and the financial aid process with a Q & A session after the speakers! Look for the Zoom link in Schoology (guidance) and/or Mr. Altman's Virtual Office"
- Be sure to sign up for the ACCESS/Khan Academy Cohort. All the documents needed can be found in Mr. Altman's "Virtual Office" link on the Guidance page of the PA website. You get 2 free SATs when you sign up (a $129 savings on test fees)! Please contact Mr. Altman if you any have questions - daltman@accesscollege.org"
ATTENTION SENIORS
- It's never too late to fill out your FAFSA. Mr. Altman is standing by to assist you. Simply go to the PA website and go to the Guidance page to book an appointment. Please contact Mr. Altman if you any have questions - daltman@accesscollege.org"
COVID Exposure
Please notify Mrs. Dictado, School Nurse at ladictad@vbschools.com if you have been exposed to and/or have been tested for COVID. Documentation of COVID test results for either a positive or negative test must be provided. Please provide a good phone number so the nurse can contact you to advise when the Staff/student will be allowed to return to work/school and what documentation must be provided at that time. The school system is providing contact tracing for students and Staff as well as keeping statistics in conjunction with the Health Department. Work/school related emails are checked on evenings and weekends. Contact will be made to determine if attendance or absence is warranted.
Student Safety Protocols
- Use the COVID-19 Self-Screening Questionnaire prior to coming to school and stay home if you can answer yes to any of the questions.
- Masks or cloth face coverings are required to be worn over the mouth and nose except when eating or drinking.
- When eating or drinking, maintain at least six feet of distance from others.
- Not wearing a mask may result in being sent home and disciplinary consequences.
- Maintain at least three feet of social distance from others while wearing a mask.
- Wash hands regularly with soap and warm water.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (provided in each classroom and throughout the school) when hand washing is not possible.
- Follow one-way directional signs when traveling through hallways.
Welcome to the PAHS Library Media Center!
Hundreds of our wonderful library books from last year were never returned. We understand the past nine months have been trying on us all, but if you could check with your children to see if they have any library books and return them to school, we would be so appreciative. Books can be returned to a book drop outside the main entrance to the building.
7 Cups
Need to talk to someone? 7cups has trained volunteer listeners, specifically for teens, available 24/7 to give emotional support over the phone. When you need someone to talk to, they are available to listen and help you feel better. It's anonymous and completely free, so you can chat confidentially whenever you need to! You can also join their lively teen community forums and chat rooms to share with peers who understand what you're going through. Get support and make new friends along the way.
The 7 Cups app is available on iOS and Android