Eagle Express
LHS Staff Newsletter--Year 18, Vol. 18, 01/01/19
Happy New Year
I Make a Difference
From Daniel Jimerson
I would like to start the New Year off by nominating Melissa Christoff-Porter for the “I make a difference award”. Over the past 12 years I have worked with Ms. Porter, I have watched her teach, love, invest in and care for countless Eagles that have come through the “Nest”. Many of these students reaching out to Ms. Porter years after coming through Landstown. Ms. Porter’s love for travel and seeing the world brings a unique and real perspective to her students. Her healthy obsession or love for the “Rocky” movies speaks to her never give up attitude. It is an honor to nominate Ms. Porter for this award.
Advisory Info
This week’s Advisory, which will take place on Wednesday, January 2, will be an extension of the lesson we did just before the holiday. There are no tasks for students to complete in Schoology, so they will not need their Chromebooks this time. Teacher notes, including links to everything you need for the lesson, will be placed in Schoology in the LHS Advisory Group by Monday. Remember, once in the group, click Resources to access the grade level folders and then the January 2 folder. Since students do not need access to anything in Schoology this time, you once again DO NOT NEED to copy this week’s folder into your own Advisory course; instead, you can simply access the Teacher Notes from within the LHS Advisory group. After you have reviewed the lesson, get in touch with Kelly or Krissy if you have questions prior to Advisory day.
Professional Learning Pathways
As educators, we all understand the need for continuous, lifelong learning. The way we hone our craft is to dedicate ourselves to learning in order to help our students learn at the highest levels. Based on input garnered last year through PAC and this year through a PL survey, we have developed four focus areas in which we will provide ongoing professional learning sessions. These areas support our work with transformational learning and Compass 2020. The four focus area strands are Student Engagement & Agency, Performance Based Assessment, Effectively Integrating Technology, and Effective PLCs. Every teacher and counselor selected one of these strands in which to participate. Those who did not make a selection by the deadline were assigned to one of the four pathways.
All teachers and counselors will accumulate a minimum of 6 PL points this year through participation in these pathway sessions. You can choose to attend sessions outside your chosen pathway, but the expectation is that you accumulate at least six points through your pathway. Most importantly, you should continue to grow professionally and transform the learning at LHS.
Guidelines for Final Assessments--Semester Classes--January 2019
Monday, January 28: Blocks 1A and 2A
Tuesday, January 29: Blocks 1B and 2B
Wednesday, January 30: Blocks 3A and 4A
Thursday, January 31: Blocks 3B and 4B
Guidelines for final assessments in semester classes can be found here.
The next upcoming Virtual Learning Day will be on Friday, February 1st, a designated A Day, which is on the last day of the second quarter. For semester classes, the VL assignment must be given to students in advance and the grade must recorded in the first semester.
For teachers teaching yearlong courses, you can reflect this grade in the second quarter or in the third quarter. Please recall the 10 day window for completion of the assignment. If you do plan to count it as a grade in the second quarter, you must prepare in advance of February 1st.
Grades must be posted by noon on Friday, February 1st. If you need further clarification, please see your administrator.
Upcoming Events
Monday, 12/31
Winter Break -- No School
Tuesday, 01/01
Winter Break -- No School
Wednesday, 01/02 (A)
Advisory Day
Thursday,01/03 (B)
Have a Thoughtful Thursday!
Friday, 01/04 (A)
Basketball vs OL, 5:30
District Wrestling Tournament, Kellam HS
Dive @ Bayside Rec Center, 3:30
Swim vs Tallwood, Great Neck Rec, 7:30
Saturday, 01/05
District Wrestling Tournament, Kellam HS
Announcements & Reminders
Missing Equipment: Our custodial staff is missing two red hand trucks. These items are vital to the work our custodians do. If you borrowed these hand trucks, please return them to Millie immediately!
Emilie Tilley Graduate Study Grant: The Emilie Tilley Graduate Study Grant was created to provide resources to Virginia Beach City Public Schools employees for graduate-level study to enhance classroom instruction. Selection and distribution of awards will be based on applicant need and available funds. Completed applications for:
Spring 2019 courses must be received by Jan. 25, 2019.
Fall 2019 courses must be received by April 26, 2019.
You can access detailed information on this study grant here.
Chromebook Password Expiration Notification: In recognition of the fact that password change reminders do not appear at login on a Chromebook due to the limitations of the Chrome environment, instructional staff will begin receiving emailed reminders to their Office 365 accounts. Students will continue to receive their password change reminders via email sent to their VBSchools Gmail accounts. Teachers and students must check their respective email accounts for these important and timely notifications to avoid passwords expiring. It is also highly recommended that students and staff register for Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) which allows them to unlock their accounts and reset forgotten passwords. With the many phishing attempts that include false reminders to change your passwords, it is imperative that all staff and students be reminded that the Department of Technology (DOT) will never include links to a password change page or ask for any account/password information in these messages.
Lunch Review Committee: Are you interested in serving on a committee that will review feedback related to our Lunch processes and develop improvements? If so, please submit this quick form.
Counseling Corner
Academic Advising & Course Registration for current 9th and 10th graders will begin Monday, January 7th, 2019. The school counselors will meet with students through their ACADEMIC SUPPORT BLOCKS. This is a change from the past when we have met with them through academic classes. This decision was intentional in order to protect your instructional time with students! There may be some growing pains as we catch nearly all faculty members up to speed with the registration process, but we are hopeful this will be a positive shift for everyone involved. In the next few days you will receive a schedule which will indicate which day your ASB students will meet individually with their school counselors. On that day the students will be called down to the School Counseling office and students will rotate in and out of class throughout the block.
Preceding these meetings, on Thursday and Friday, January 3rd and 4th, 2019, we will ask that you direct your ASB students to a Course Registration video in Schoology. There are two separate videos for 9th and 10th graders. The videos will give them information about what to expect during the course registration process, and things to consider as they select their courses for the 2019-2020 school year. We will also ask you to provide students with the handouts they will need when they meet with their school counselors. These handouts will be provided to you by the end of the day on January 2nd, either in your classroom, or in your staff mailboxes. Instructions for how students may access the videos will also be provided.
We appreciate your collaboration and support with this very important process for our students. If you have any questions please see Melody Cariello in the Counseling office. Happy New Year!
Book Talk PL Available
"What if education could be better--for students and for educators? Our changing world demands creative thinkers and collaborative problem solvers, but too often, schools stifle growth and discovery in favor of getting through the curriculum or preparing for "the test." Learning opportunities and teaching methods must evolve to match the ever-changing needs of today's learners. When we tell learners to complete an assignment, we get compliance. When we empower learners to explore and learn how to make an impact on the world, we inspire problem solvers and innovators. This required change in education involves more than providing training for administrators and teachers to implement new curriculum or programs and resources; it demands that we, as teachers and leaders, create an environment where learners at every level are empowered to take risks in pursuit of learning and growth rather than perfection. This book is for you if you are wondering . . . What if learners were valued for their diverse talents and not just our traditional model of "smart"? What if I could create new and better experiences for those I serve? What if I could inspire students to learn, to discover their passions, and to share their ideas with the world?"
If this synopsis peaks your interest and you are interested in participating in a book talk on the book, Learner-Centered Innovation, please complete this form by Monday, January 7 so we know how many books to order. The group will meet on Wednesdays after school starting January 30th and PL points will be awarded.
Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation Scholarship Program
- $2,000 for the first place essay, and $1,000 for the second place essay, submitted in each of the state's eight public high school regions.
- An additional award of $10,000 will go to the student who submits the most outstanding essay in the state. Therefore, the winning essay will be awarded a total of $12,000.
The application and reporting forms are located on the LeeJackson Educational Foundation website at http://www.lee-jackson.org. The deadline for students to submit applications and essays to their high school principals is February 1. Each superintendent will select the five best essays and forward the applications, essays and the completed Division Superintendent Summary Form to the designated chair of the regional screening committee. Winners will be announced May 15.
Kudos
Congratulations to our DECA students for a fantastic showing at their district competition right before the winter break. Sixty LHS students competed with 15 overall 1st place winners, 9 overall 2nd place winners and 6 overall 3rd place winners. Many other students also placed in their exam and/or role plays. Click here for a detailed list of our winners.
Congratulations to our January Students of the Month:
9th: Amber Thompson
10th: Toi Noel
11th: Clarence Quezada
12th: Efrain Geurrero
Don't forget that you can nominate a student for this honor any time using the link at the bottom of the Eagle Express.
Congratulations to Taeveon Lane who was named to the first team All-Tidewater Team and to Luqman Haskett and Kenan Luchan who were named to the second team.
Congratulations to our colleagues at Green Run HS who were recently featured in an article about their innovative work with their students. You can read about it here.
Happy Birthday to You!
January 3: Millie Hernandez, Head Custodian
January 4: Wendy Barcroft, Science
The Great LHS Chili Cook-Off
If you will be bringing in chili, please complete this quick form. Thanks!
Lunch Appointment Form
- Open gradebook for one class
- Click on reports
- Select either (Detailed Progress Report or Student Missing Assignment Report)
- Select the students (All, At risk, or select individual students)
- Paste your detention notice into the Header (see example below)
- Check "show signature box"
- Click "Run report"
- Print and distribute to students.
Example header:
This Progress report will serve as notification of Lunch Detention on Date with Teachers name due to missing assignments in Name of course. Students should arrive in room A-113 no later than 11:50AM and students are encouraged to bring a lunch. The students will be dismissed at 12:15 if they need to purchase a lunch. They are expected to work independently and quietly on missing assignments. Failure to attend this Academic Lunch Appointment may result in after school detention or a referral.
Calendar Shift
Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) will use February 18 (Presidents’ Day) to make up instructional time lost during Hurricane Michael. Given the length of time out of school thus far, the division will also extend the first semester from Monday, January 28 to Thursday, January 31. Consequently, the division’s previously scheduled staff day/virtual learning day will now be Friday, February 1 and the second semester will begin Monday, February 4.
Report cards for the second nine weeks/first semester will be sent home Monday, February 11.
The 2018-2019 school calendar has been updated to include the makeup day and semester changes. The updated calendar is available on www.vbschools.com. Updated 2018-19 Calendar
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.
Quarter 2 Grading Dates
Beginning Date--November 6
Progress Reports Issued--December 14
Ending Date--January 31
Report Cards Issued--February 11
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