The Knightly News
Parent Newsletter for Kellam High School - November 2018
Grateful
There are so many benefits to being grateful. It is said that an attitude of gratitude can bring you more happiness, better health, deeper relationships, and increased productivity. We all could use a little more of that in our lives.
We are grateful for the students that you send us every day. As the first grading period is ending, many of our students will be grateful to reap the benefits that hard work and great report cards bring. During our Registration Faire and Knights Rising Program, we look forward to meeting our rising 9th grade students and seeing our current 9th-11th grade students as they explore high school course offerings for next year.
We are grateful for educational opportunities afforded to our students. With blended classes, opportunities for internships, work experiences, and credit for co-op classes, we are grateful for increasing connections being made between what we do on campus and the real world.
Celebrating Homecoming week with school spirit days, hard played game, and a night filled with dancing, gives us a renewed appreciation for our Knight Family. We genuinely and sincerely care about each other and we know how to have fun.
Finally we are forever grateful for the service of our military veterans- Happy Veteran’s Day!
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter: @KellamHigh and Facebook: KellamHS. Our website is updated regularly for more information: http://www.kellamhs.vbschools.com/.
Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
Fundraisers to support the PTSA:
Support Kellam PTSA through Amazon Smile during holiday shopping. By using Amazon Smile, a percentage of your purchase will be donated to Kellam’s PTSA. Click on the following link for more information about how to choose Kellam as your charitibable organization: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_ge_ul_lm_raas.
Kellam PTSA will be selling a few items as the holiday season approaches:
2019 Entertainment Books for $25 each. These updated books come with an app for your phone and include many coupons for retailers, restaurants and services across Hampton Roads.
“Property of the Castle” T-Shirts for $12 each. We have short-sleeved t-shirts in sizes small through extra large.
Please contact kellamptsapresident2@gmail.com if interested in purchasing items.
McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach discounted tickets available! Click here for more information: Flyer link
How you can be a part of the PTSA:
It’s not too late to join the PTSA! Click the following link for the membership form: https://kellamhsptsa.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/kellam-2018-19-ptsa-membership-form2.pdf.
Please join us for our monthly PTSA meeting Wednesday, November 7th at 5:30pm in Kellam’s main office.
School Planning Council Needs you!
uKnight (Advisory)
What does it mean to be future ready? What are the attributes and skills that will enable our students to be successful as they enter the world of college, career, and citizenship? Our students in grades 9-11 delved into these questions as part of their uKnight sessions in October. Students identified experiences inside and outside of school where they develop the attributes outlined in the VBCPS Graduate Profile. Ask your child about how he or she ranked themselves in these areas and what experiences have been beneficial in growing in one or more of these areas.
Parents and guardians of seniors, please ask your child about the College and Career Readiness Rotations. Each student selected three of five sessions to attend during our uKnight advisory time: Career Readiness through Interviews, College Application Q & A, Financial Aid Q & A, Military Service, and TCC as a Pathway.
Questions to Ask Your Child:
- Which choice sessions did you attend?
- Why did you chose these sessions?
- What did you learn and how might the information connect to your future?
- What questions do you still have?
- How will seek out the answers?
Finally, we are looking for individuals who have had or currently have experience in interviewing individuals for a variety of reasons: employment, promotions, selection into a program, etc.If you are interested in serving as a interviewer for our in-depth mock interviews, please contact Robin Hoffman at rlhoffma@vbschools.com.
Castle Counselors
The Counseling Team is looking forward to beginning our one-to-one registration meetings with our rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students.
Our rising 10th grade students (current 9th graders) recently heard a large group presentation from the counseling team about things to consider for registration. Some tips we shared include:
Make sure you are aware of the requirements for graduation. (26 credits needed for an Advanced Diploma, 22 for a Standard) All students in the graduating class of 2022 need 5 verified credits (passed the class and the SOL test) regardless of diploma type.
Keep a look out for Open House notices for ATC and the Career and Technical Education program to see if these may be the right choices for you.
Attend the course registration fair on November 13th to find out more about the courses we offer.
We will begin seeing our current 9th grade/rising 10th grade students through their English classes following this schedule:
Community Engagement-All about the Adventure!
The freshman class has been busy exploring our partnerships in the community, first, with a trip to the Adventure Park. Students worked on developing team building skills, communication skills teamwork, and not to mention the great physical workout they received.
The BioFit (an integrated class with Biology and Health/PE 9) students traveled over to Surf and Adventure for an authentic experience testing the water quality of the Back Bay stream and also getting an upper/lower body workout while kayacking and paddleboarding.
The feedback from our Knights....BEST DAY EVER! Thank you to Adventure Park and Surf & Adventure for your continued support of our community partnership.
Culturally Speaking
Happy Thanksgiving! How many times have you heard that shouted as folks prepare to celebrate the fourth Thursday in November? Nothing wrong with that, right? Not so fast. It seems that culturally speaking, Thanksgiving and its celebration comes with a bit of controversy, and it goes a bit deeper than vegetarians not wanting to see a big bird take center stage.
Our Modern day version of Thanksgiving revolves around eating turkey with family and fueling up for Black Friday. But, to some, the holiday should be viewed as a National Day of Mourning instead of a celebration of the conquest of Native Americans by the colonists. There are Native American groups that make an argument that there was much embellishment in the idea that this day would mark a putting aside of differences between the Pilgrims and the Natives. Others believed Thanksgiving to be a religious matter and should not be proclaimed as a national holiday by government as it is forbidden by the First Amendment.
To celebrate or not is irrelevant. The point to remember is this: With almost everything, there could be a different view to consider, even with Thanksgiving, especially if you are the bird. So with this I will say, culturally speaking, enjoy your extended weekend. May your table be full of all things you like to eat and surrounded by all the folks you love!
From the Desk of KC- Student Activities
Student Activities Top 6 Things You Need to Know in November
1. Winter sports tryouts are right around the corner. If you have any sport specific tryout questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the coaches listed below. All students must have a completed VHSL sports physical dated after May 1, 2018 on file in order to participate.
★ Girls Basketball Mr. Brook Parker, coachp1977@aol.com
★ Boys Basketball Mr. Norm Hassell, Norman.hassell@vbschools.com
★ Gymnastics Ms. Debi Strausbaugh, Deborah.strausbaugh@vbschools.com
★ Swimming Ms. Abbie McGee, Abbie.mcgee@vbschools.com
★ Wrestling Mr. Mike Benzel, Michael.benzel@vbschools.com
★ B/G Indoor Track Mr. Bill Bernard, kellamtrack@icloud.com
2. Senior Bundles are on sale every Tuesday and Thursday during lunch. The cost of a Bundle is $300 until November 21. The price increases to $315 November 26 - December 20. Click here for a copy of the information and order form.
3. Make-up Picture Day for underclassmen is scheduled for Friday, November 2 in the Schola. Students have the option to have their picture taken during study hall or lunch.
4. Senior portraits are due November 16th.
If students have not selected their formal pose from Prestige Portraits, students need to go to www.prestigeportraits.com to choose; otherwise, the yearbook staff will choose the pose for the student.
If students used a photographer other than Prestige, they will need to have the digital file sent to Mr Zanetti at sjzanett@vbschools.com by Nov 16th or they run the risk of not being included in the senior section of the yearbook.
5. Mark your calendars now! Due to Hurricane Michael, the Kellam Field Hockey Drive 4 UR School Fundraiser was moved to Saturday, November 3. Come out to Kellam on November 3 from 9am-1pm and test drive a Ford in support of the Kellam Field Hockey team. For every valid test-drive at this event, Ford will donate $20 back to our field hockey program. If you have any questions about this event please contact Ms. Tess Carawan at carawantd@gmail.com.
6. The Fall Sports Banquet is scheduled for Wednesday, November 14. A pre-pay dinner will be sponsored by the Booster Club and will begin at 6pm. The awards portion of the event will begin at 7pm in the Auditorium. More details to follow. We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of all our fall sports teams.
Please contact Katie Cosimano at Kathryn.cosimano@vbschools.com with any questions.
Registration KNIGHT- Knights Rising and Registration Faire
It's Federal Card Time
Okay, let me calm down. Federal cards will be distributed and collected this week. We appreciate cooperation in completing and returning these cards as soon as possible. Please address any questions or concerns to Terri Weaver, who can be reached by email at tjweaver@vbschools.com or ext. 85130.
If your student loses his or her card, please send them to the Counseling Department immediately for a replacement.
“Mark your calendars for Kellam Drama’s Saturday Kids’ Kamp!
Saturday, November 17th, 9am-4pm
A drama filled day with fun for grades K-8; you won’t want to miss it!
Please visit our website at kellamdrama.com to register.”
SCA News
The first annual Kellam Community Festival will take place November 16th! The outdoor festival is Friday, November 16th beginning at 4:30 PM. Join us for a petting zoo, hay rides, crafts, knockerball, carnival games and more!
Angel Tree Tags are out! In cooperation with citywide SCA, students, groups, and clubs may pick up a Tag from Kellam SCA. Tags are due November 26th to the SCA office.
ATC Open House
The Advanced Technology Center will host a Middle and High School Open House with Planning Ahead Sessions for students and their families on Thursday, December 13, 2018, from 5:30pm – 8:00 pm. In addition, a “Special Event for Girls in STEM” will take place that evening from 4:30PM – 6:00PM. Attendees at the 4:30 event will meet industry leaders who will talk about the opportunities for women in these fields, and all Open House attendees will learn about the certifications students can earn for “FREE”, and explore college credit options at the Advanced Technology Center. The ATC offers courses in: Web Design, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Cybersecurity, Modeling and Simulation, Naval Architecture, Telecommunications, Engineering and so much more. For more information please visit the ATC’s website at www.vbatc.com or contact the ATC at 757-648-5800 or atc@vbschools.com. You can also follow us via www.facebook.com/vbatc or twitter.com/vb_atc
Watch for new online application coming to vbatc.com this fall.
Upcoming Events
For all Beach District and VHSL sporting events involving YOUR Kellam Knights, click HERE.
For sports results and standings, click HERE.
November 5 - End of First Nine Weeks
November 6 - Virtual Learning Day- Students work at home(Staff Day)
November 7 PTSA Meeting (5:30 pm)
November 7 - uKnight Advisory Day (Alternate Schedule)
November 8 - Miss Kellam Pageant (7pm)
November 12 - School Closed (Veterans' Day)
November 13 - Registration Knight:Knights Rising (6pm) and Registration Faire (7pm)
November 14 - Report Cards issued
November 14 - uKnight Advisory Day (Alternate Schedule)
November 15 - Mr. Kellam Pageant (7pm)
November 16 - SCA Harvest Festival
November 17 - Fall Drama Kids Kamp
November 21 - Adjusted Dismissal (Schedules)
November 22 and 23 - School Closed (Thanksgiving Holiday)
November 30 – VBCPS College Night
Stay in-the-know: Access prior issues by clicking on the month below:
The Knightly News
Email: dwsmith@vbschools.com
Website: http://www.kellamhs.vbschools.com/
Location: 2665 West Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Phone: (757) 648-5100
Facebook: facebook.com/KellamHS
Twitter: @KellamHigh