Eagle Express
LHS Staff Newsletter--Year 18, Vol. 38, 06/03/19
The tragic event that occurred on Friday, May 31, has had an impact on all of us. When we see things like this on television, it may seem surreal and distant. We are tempted to think that something like that would never happen here. Friday's event destroyed that sense of dispassion and we will be forever changed.
No doubt many among us have loved ones and friends associated with Building 2. Some of us had a connection with one or more of the victims. Throughout the upcoming week, school counselors, Student Support Services and staff in the department of School Leadership are available to help anyone who is having difficulty dealing with their grief. These resources are available to all staff and students. Please notify an administrator if you or any of your students are in need of assistance.
This event also underscores the importance of remaining vigilant during these last two weeks of the school year. Some important safe schools reminders:
- Keep students in class. Students should not be out of class roaming the hallways at any time.
- Make sure your classroom door is locked. It can be open as long as it is locked.
- Be visible in the hallways between classes. Students may need an extra sense of security during these last two weeks.
- Be sure to stand your Lunch duty. Your presence at these duty stations is imperative.
Thank you in advance for holding the point as we close out this great school year.
Optional Staff Input Meeting Today
The ILT will use the input garnered from this roundtable as they prepare for the 2019-2020 school year this summer. The roundtable will run from 2:20 to 3:15.
Student Transportation Information
All 1A teachers received an envelope in their mailbox with a Registration for Student Transportation form for their students in grades 9-11. It is essential that all students return the form to their 1A teacher on Tuesday, June 4th. As students return the forms to their 1A teachers, check off their names on the 1A roster provided in the envelope. Once all of a teacher’s students return their Registration for Student Transportation forms, return the envelope with the completed forms and roster to Mrs. Mitchell or Mrs. Laramay in the main office. A student must return the student transportation form before the last day of school to guarantee his transportation to and from school on a school bus next year. This data will be used by the Department of Transportation to develop bus stops and routes this summer. This form is not optional; all students in grades 9-11 must return this form whether he thinks he will ride the school bus next year or not.
If a student does not return the form on Tuesday, June 4th, please call home and ask the parents to complete the Student Transportation form. Return the completed transportation forms to Mrs. Laramay or Mrs. Mitchell in the main office by no later than Thursday June 6th, even if all students did not submit their forms. Continue to require your students to submit the forms after June 6th, but the main office will start tracking how many students have returned their forms on June 6th.
Final Assessments for Underclassmen
Tuesday, 6/11--Blocks 1A and 2A
Wednesday, 6/12--Blocks 1B and 2B
Thursday, 6/13--Blocks 3A and 4A
Friday, 6/14--Blocks 3B and 4B
The first exam will run from 7:20 to 9:20 and the second exam will run from 9:30 to 11:35.
Celebrate the Class of 2019 with the VBGradWall
Family members and friends of graduates in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) Class of 2019 may share their congratulations now by posting a message on the VBGradWall. Messages can be shared using #VBCPSGrad on Twitter and Instagram or directly on the VBGradWall page on vbschools.com. The wall will be available through June 30.
Monday, 6/3 (B day)
Senior Assessments 1B/2B
Academy Senior Celebration, 6 p.m., Auditorium
Tuesday, 6/4 (A Day)
Senior Assessments 1A/2A
AP Chemistry Demo Day
Chorus/Orchestra Banquet, 6 p.m., Cafeteria
Wednesday, 6/5 (B Day)
Senior Assessments 3B/4B
SCA Inductions, 2:15, Auditorium
Spring Sports Banquet, 6 p.m., Cafeteria
Thursday, 6/6 (A Day)
Senior Assessments 3A/4A
Academic Letter Assembly, 7:30, Auditorium
Chorus Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium
Friday, 5/31 (B Day)
Senior Awards Assembly, 8:30, Gym
Senior Day Activities, Stadium
Post Graduation Staff Party Set
SCA Classroom Cleanup Assistance: Would you like some help cleaning up your classroom as we near the end of the school year? The SCA is willing to help. If you are interested in having SCA student assistance, just fill out this form and a student will be assigned to you!
Attendance Waivers for Underclassmen: Attendance waivers for students in grades 9-11 are available today and are located in the attendance office and the main office. Although attendance waivers for students in grades 9-11 will be available through June 27th, ideally students will submit their waivers by Friday June 14th. Please encourage your students to submit their waivers as soon as possible. Parents were notified on May 31st that attendance waivers are now available, and the list of students who need attendance waivers will be shared with teachers in a separate email. Please remind your students that waivers can only be turned in to Mrs. Everhart. Students will receive a purple receipt from Mrs. Everhart when they submit their waivers.
Activity Bus: This Thursday is the final day our activity buses will run.
Planning Ahead: Don't forget that we will again be using Mondays for various meetings in the 2019-2020 school year. Reserve Mondays for these meetings and do not make appointments and other commitments for Mondays during the school year. Monday meetings will begin at 2:20 and last no longer than one hour.
Kudos
Congratulations to the following students who received awards at the Annual Art Exhibition at Pembroke Mall:
Nita Nicole Arabella Dalisay, First Place
Tim Delrosario, Honorable Mention
Mercedes Felciano, First Place
Nicole Tria, Honorable Mention
Also a shout out to Mateo Paras who came in third place for his skateboard design (pictured here) at the Steel Pier Classic Surf and Art completion. He will receive a trophy and a cash prize.
Kudos to Danielle Gish, Suzette Johnson and the senior class for a lovely prom on Saturday night. It was an exceptional event!
Congratulations to sophomore, Mia O'Neil, for her state championship in the 400 this past weekend!
Congratulations to the 27 students inducted into the National Honor Society last week!
I Make a Difference
From Allison Haley
Coach. Counselor. Confidant. Faithful friend.
37 precious and productive years spent supporting kids reaching for lofty goals, whether perfecting their jump shot or being accepted into the college of their dreams. A career full of early mornings welcoming students to school, afternoons reassuring worried parents, and late nights training student athletes. Ricky Hailey is the epitome of a team player - his presence alone brings a sense of support, encouragement, and leadership to any situation. I can’t even begin to imagine the impact that this extraordinary man has had on countless lives over the past 37 years in education and coaching. As he begins his retirement journey at the close of this school year, Landstown HS will not be the same without him. So, Ricky, in your own infamous words, “Thank you for the day”... and the years, and the differences that you have made EVERY day. It is a blessing and privilege to call you my friend, and you will be greatly missed.
June 3: Woody Gehlert, Fine Arts
June 3: Daniel Goffigan, Social Studies
June 6: Lisa Boardman, SECEP
Senior Grades
Teachers will submit senior failure notices to the school counseling office each day of senior exams. Senior grades are due in Synergy by 8:00 am on Monday, June 10th. Once all senior grades are submitted on Monday, June 10th, we will begin the process of calculating the rankings for Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor Graduates. NO grade changes can be made to senior grades in Synergy after this point. If you identify an error in your grade calculations, you must notify Margaret Burgess and Beth Pickett immediately.
The First Annual Great LHS Bake-Off!
June 17 Flexible Work Day
All teachers and teacher assistants may work a flex schedule for the staff day on June 17, 2019. Teachers and TAs must keep a log of the time worked by indicating the extra time worked on your Wise Time Sheet. Teacher assistants, ISS coordinators, and library assistants may not work more than 40 hours in any one week. The time sheets will provide documentation to support the hours reported in WISE. We are also offering hours towards the June 17 work day to eligible employees who help chaperone prom on June 1 and to those who attend graduation on June 15. There will be a sign-in sheet for prom. Attendance will be taken at graduation and folks will earn three hours for this event.
The flex day applies only to the following group of employees:
- All teachers whose schedule ends on June 17
- Teacher assistants, ISS coordinators, and library media assistants
Security assistants are not eligible because of security needs of the building. Eligible employees who do not choose to make use of the flex day and do not wish to report on June 17, 2019, may choose to take personal reasons leave with approval of the building principal.
Maintaining High Quality Instruction
As we proceed to the close of the 2018-19 school year, please remember that the division's expectation is that high quality instruction based on the VBCPS Teaching and Learning Framework continues in every classroom. As the school year draws to a close and many instructional units have been completed, teachers are encouraged to utilize instructional time to engage students in inquiry-based learning experiences that integrate content and foster the 5 Cs. Teachers may wish to utilize the many curricular embedded suggestions and resources for performance tasks and Problem Based Learning. Promoting student agency through the Teach disposition will ensure an environment highly conducive to student learning.
In the past, parent calls to central administration have expressed concern that students “watch videos” or “just play” the days after testing is completed. These final school days should be productive learning days for students. Do not hesitate to contact the departments of Teaching and Learning or School Leadership should you need any recommendations for teachers and/or students.
Closing Down Schoolnet
The division will be closing out Schoolnet at the end of this school year. As a part of the closeout process, Schoolnet is extracting all tests (classroom, common and district assessments) from the 2018-2019 school year that were scheduled prior to May 1. The Division Schoology team has been working closely with Certica and Schoology over the past few months to create a partnership so VBCPS can continue to utilize Certica test items embedded within many teacher and division-created assessments located in Schoolnet. Plans are moving forward to have the Certica item bank available within the Assessment Management Platform (AMP) in Schoology for fall 2019. Because of this new partnership, Certica has permitted Schoolnet to extract Certica items as part of the closeout process. If a teacher desires a PDF or Word copy of any assessment, it can be printed from Schoolnet prior to June 30.
2019-2020 Professional Learning Program Information
Fourth Quarter Grading Info
April 1: 4th quarter begins
May 10: Progress reports issued
June 14: 4th quarter ends
June 21: Report cards mailed
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