Eagle Express
Year 17, Vol. 1, August 28, 2017
Standing Tall Together
We had a great first day on Thursday and appreciate your positivity throughout the long day. The slideshows from our opening meeting and the nuts and bolts sessions have been uploaded to the LiveBinder. They are all under the "Nuts & Bolts" tab. Don't forget to visit the photo booth and tweet out pictures using the hashtag #StandingTallTogether. Also, don't forget to put your "WHY" on one of the hearts provided in the mailroom for our wall of why.
Monday's Talent Ed Session
Please take a few minutes to review the materials you will find in the LiveBinder under the "TalentEd Information" tab before Monday's 1:00 session in the Schola. Stephanie Enzmann from the division's Human Resources department will be here to give us helpful information regarding these valuable tools.
Info for 8/28 - 9/1
Some folks have inquired about dress for the remainder of the inservice week. On Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, please feel free to dress comfortably as we know you will be working in your classrooms preparing for the arrival of students. On Wednesday, professional dress is expected as we move into our Back-To-School night event at 6 p.m. where we will greet our parents and guardians. On Thursday, 8/31, please remember to wear your LHS staff polo and either khaki or black slacks for our Eagle Family picture at 10:15 in the gym.
Testing Technology in Your Classroom
On Monday (8/28) from 10:15 to noon, Krissy will run a video so that everyone can check the technology in their classrooms. If you have any issues, please complete a service ticket for Dotrell immediately. We will be using a video on Wednesday evening for the opening of our Back-to-School night event instead of everyone gathering in the auditorium for the PTSA meeting. It is imperative that every classroom has access to this video!
Computer & Network Security
- Never provide your personal information in response to an email as doing so could cause you to become the victim of identity theft or a phishing scam.
- Do not open attachments from any unsolicited email.
- Do not click on a link in any email until you verify the link by hovering over it and ensuring the link displayed matches the text of the link.
- Never share your password with anyone, and do not write it down.
- Always secure your computer when you step away from it.
- Never allow anyone to use a computer that you have logged in without monitoring their activities.
- Do not allow students to "shoulder surf" or stand over your shoulder as you enter your username and password.
- Treat all information as though it is sensitive data.
- Do not download any software from the Internet to your desktop or laptop without the approval of the TST/DOT.
- Do not print confidential information to an unattended printer.
- Do not send student data or other confidential data via email whether working within the VBCPS network or from outside locations. Place data on a secure shared network location and use links to the file and location for sharing information.
- Do not make copies of data containing confidential information on school division or personally owned computers, mobile devices, or external storage devices.
VB Education Foundation Grants
Please consider applying for a VB Education Foundation Grant if you have ideas for innovative projects you wish to implement to engage students in hands-on learning activities. The Innovative Learning Grant application is available on vbcps.com under Hot Topics and is due October 6, 2017, by 4 p.m. Each approved grant awards up to $2,000 for innovative projects that benefit students.
Request from the Fine Arts Department
Were you in band, chorus, or orchestra in school? If so, the music department would like to know! Email Martha Springstead what voice part or instrument you played with a photo if you have one! Deadline is August 30th.
Time Sheets, Work Schedules and Reporting Absences
- Non-exempt employees must accurately record when they begin and end work, as well as any meal breaks they take. It is not appropriate to wait until the end of the workweek or pay period to fill in times. Nor is it appropriate for non-exempt employees to use generic start and end times rather than actual start and end times each day. Failure to accurately record time worked can be considered falsification of records.
- Non-exempt employees must record all time worked.
- Non-exempt employees must receive prior approval to work any overtime. Failure to obtain authorization in advance may result in corrective action.
- Any adjustments in work schedules (flex time) must be pre-approved by building administration.
Annual or Personal Reasons Leave is not guaranteed. There may be times it is not possible due to operational needs. For this reason:
- These requests should be submitted as far in advance as possible.
- Employees should not assume this leave will be approved. For example, they should not buy plane tickets before the leave has been approved.
- Leave is not to be taken during the first 10 workdays or the last 10 workdays of the school term or the day before or after a holiday period.
- Absences cause a great deal of classroom disruption, therefore, leave may be denied if absenteeism has already been an issue during the school year.
- If requests for annual or personal reasons leave are denied, and the employee then calls out sick for they date(s) requested, a doctor's note for the absence will be expected.
Sick leave is to be used for a personal illness or injury; the illness or injury of a covered family member; incapacity due to pregnancy or childbirth; funeral leave (as outlined in Regulation 4-16.1); medical appointments that could not be scheduled during non-work hours.
Employees must provide a doctor's note for any absence of five or more days. A doctor's note may also be required if the absence occurs immediately before or after a holiday; is during the first or last 10 workdays of school; sick leave is taken in lieu of a request for annual or personal reasons leave; there is a pattern of absences or frequent absenteeism; the absence occurs immediately before or during testing periods.
An employee must submit a Family Medical Leave packet to the Employee Relations Office in HR if he/she will be absent for 10 or more work days; needs to take leave on an intermittent basis; needs to take leave by reducing his/her work schedule.
National Board Support Program
The National Board Certification process is a rigorous professional learning endeavor reflecting both achievement in content knowledge and teaching practice. The division is offering a support program designed to promote and assist candidates seeking certification. Please see the attached memo for information related to opportunities available through this program.
LHS Earns Sportsmanship Award
Landstown High School is one of 27 schools in the state and one of only three in Virginia Beach to earn the coveted Claudia Dotson VHSL Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award. This award recognizes member schools that have established policies and procedures that make sportsmanship a priority and an expectation within the school and school community. This is Landstown's 11th recognition of this award.
LHS Senior Nick West's Summer Adventure
Nick West, a senior in the Governor's STEM Academy, had an exciting summer tracking an asteroid. Nick's experience was featured in several publications including the Core, the division's online blog, and Slice--the division's newsletter. Check it out here.
Prudential Spirit of Community Award
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and Prudential Financial in 1995 to honor middle and high school student who make meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service. If you know a Landstown student who has volunteered or made other contributions to the community, please submit their name to Dr. Askew via email by September 30th.
Happy Birthday!
9/01 Margaret Burgess, Data Tech
9/02 Dave Siock, Student Activities Coordinator
9/03 Sabrina Conner, Special Ed TA
Upcoming Events
Golf vs OL @ RW, 2:30
Volleyball @ Salem, 4:30
Wednesday, 8/30
Eagle Nation Orientation, 2:00
Back-to-School Night, 6:00
Thursday, 8/31
Staff Picture, Gym, 10:15
Golf vs PA @ KG, 2:30
Football vs Bayside, 7:00