SHS Weekly Update

SHS Varsity Debate Wins VHSL 4AB Super Regional Debate Tournament

This past Saturday (3/18) the SHS Varsity Debate team travelled to Mechanicsville High School to compete in the VHSL 4AB Super Regional Debate Tournament! This is the last tournament before they compete for the VHSL State Title at JMU in April. These young adults absolutely SLAYED the competition. The Policy Debate Division saw Mr. Cameron Barrett and Miss Sidney McAlear take 1st Place while the team of Jack Wesdock and Ayden Elliott took 2nd. Student Congress saw Mr. Elijah Smith take a hard won 2nd Place while Miss Micah Spicer was nominated as "Most Outstanding Senator." The Public Forum division saw the team of Miss Maddie Bresnahan and Miss Mary Tomlinson take 1st Place with an incredible and immaculate 5-0 record for the day. The Lincoln Douglas division saw none other than SHS's own, Mr. Ayden Shannon, take a hard fought and well deserved 1st Place victory over his competitors. These wins collectively produced enough team points to see Smithfield High School win 1st Place in Sweepstakes for the tournament. The next stop is JMU where these phenomenal debaters have a very real shot at winning the VHSL Division 4 State Title. Congratulations, Packers!

SHS Named a National Beta School of Distinction

The SHS Beta Club has received the National Beta School of Distinction Award, which is an honor for Beta clubs striving towards academic achievement, exemplary character, demonstrated leadership and service to others. With an ongoing quest to instill these qualities in more students, the National Beta School of Distinction Award is designed to award those schools that show an increase in membership for the current school year. Growth is evaluated based on student membership from the close of the previous school year to student membership as of the deadline.

Pictured: Beta President James Fitchett and Principal Cuffee

SHS Engineering III/IV Collects Trophies and Superlatives at the Eastern Regional KidWind/Solar Challenge Competition at ODU

There were 15 HS division KidWind teams and seven HS Solar Division teams competing at the Eastern Regional Competition Mar 22, 2023. Team Aztec, Team Hungry Chickens and Team AirBenders move on to state competition!

Team Aztec’s solar irrigation system racked up the superlative awards by taking home “People’s Choice” Award, Solar Geek Award (for best knowledge test score) and “Circuit Master” Award (for the most comprehensive knowledge of the circuitry). Team members include Seneca Register, Kevin Parker, Ammon Rawlings, Timmie Edwards, Anthony Forwalt and Aidan Gibson.

Team Hungry Chickens (Peyton Bosmans and Jaxx Leibhart) took home third place and an invitation to state competition with their solar-powered chicken feeder.

The Wind Wizard Team (Phillip Johnson, Colson Turner, James Stephens) took home the Sportsmanship Award in the Kidwind Generator division.

The Goon Squad team impressed the judges with their thorough presentation and engineering design process. Team members include Nick Evans, Eli Robbins, Shelby Huffaker, Lindsey Greer, Jacob MIller and Aiden Hall.

The AirBenders team took home both the Wind Geek award (for the best score on the knowledge test) and third place for their creative and innovative wind turbine design. Team members include: Kyle Nester, Katie Lutz, Liam Lutz, Emma Forbes, Jaylen Marble, Patrick Leslie and Jackson Elliott.

SHS Blood Drive Receives Honors

22 MAR 23 – SMITHFIELD HS – Today the Red Cross recognized the Smithfield HS JROTC February 22nd Blood Drive as the American Red Cross Blood Drive of the Week. This honor recognizes an organization that exemplifies outstanding dedication to the community blood program. The drive was selected because “it is a terrific example of the blueprint of what makes a drive successful. The drive collected 85 units of blood on a goal of 73. The drive was well run and overproduced!”

“I am so proud of our cadets as they are the ones who plan, organize, coordinate, and execute the blood drive in coordination with the Red Cross. The Cadets invest a lot of time to make sure we have a successful drive and it is nice to see them recognized,” said LTC Pete Badoian and 1SG Marvin Hunter.

We hope this accolade encourages more SHS students to sign up and give the gift of life as this recognition is a reflection of their selfless service. Our next drive is April 25th and 26th. Sign up now at Redcrossblood.org to reserve an appointment and see first-hand the #1 High School blood drive in VA four years running.

SHS Choraliers Earn Rating of "Excellent"

Congratulations to the SHS Choraliers singers for earning a rating of Excellent (2) for their performances of “Earth Song” and “Festival Sanctus” and a perfect sight-reading score of Superior (1) for Choral District Assessments at Indian River High School on March 17. Way to go, Choraliers!

The SHS Concert Chorus and Choraliers will be presenting a Pyramid Concert with Carrollton Elementary, Hardy Elementary, Westside Elementary, and Smithfield Middle School choruses on Thursday, March 30 at 6:30pm in the SHS Auditorium. Please come out and support our IWCS singers as they make beautiful music together!

Art in the Heart of Smithfield Contest

The educational purpose of this contest is to give high school students enrolled in Isle of Wight County Schools an opportunity to express their artistic talent through the art of storytelling based on specific themes. The project will benefit and bring awareness to the Prolific Place Community Garden and the StormWater Retention System in Windsor Castle Park. See the link below for more information.

Family Life Education

Attention parents/guardians for ninth and tenth grade students currently enrolled in Health/PE 9 or Health/Driver Ed./PE 10: We will be conducting our unit on Family Life Education in the upcoming weeks. Please review the attached materials and contact your student's instructor if you have any questions. You may opt our child out of this lesson by completing the corresponding form and submitting to the school