Cavalier Connection
September 2020
A Message from the Principal
Hello Parents!
I hope you have enjoyed your time this summer with your family and you were able to find some time to relax before the start of the new school year. As you enjoy these final days of summer, I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to a new year at Princess Anne High School and to share with you some important information in preparation for the start of school on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. This year will look like no other school year as we are starting our year in a virtual setting and we will be operating on a 4x4 schedule. While our setting and schedule will look different, there is one thing that remains the same…our commitment to providing our students the best learning experiences possible. Part of what makes our school community special is our ability to face challenges head on and turning them into rewarding opportunities to learn and grow stronger. We know that these challenges will test the strength and solidarity of our Cavalier Pride, yet I remind you, these are the types of challenges we work so hard to prepare our students to take on as 21st century leaders. Our theme for this year, Beyond these Walls…Separate but Together will be evident in all of the work we do, the challenges we face and will be reflected in all our accomplishments.
I could write pages about all of the things that we will be doing differently this year…but I won’t. By now, I am sure you have been flooded with emails, AlertNow messages and other media about the changes that will take place in our schools this year. Please continue to visit our school’s website for updates and information.
As we can only anticipate the changes that will shape our new school year, please remember: The more things change…the more they remain the same! Here are a few things that have not changed:
- Our email address – please continue to contact us to share questions, concerns and accomplishments
- Our Phone numbers – please continue to call us to discuss things that may not be appropriately communicated in email messages
- School address – same location for 60 plus years…please make an appointment for visits to our building
- Administrators – please contact your administrator to discuss your student(s) as needed
- School Counselors – please contact your counselor as needed to discuss your student(s)
Regardless of the changes and challenges…It’s a Great Year to be a Cavalier!
Danny
September 8, 2020--First Day of School
All students should login to Schoology and find their first block class on Tuesday. Students should see a welcome video from their teacher and directions on where to find the link to their class. If courses are missing, please contact your students' counselor (counselor assignments are linked in a button below).
To prepare for the start of successful school year, all students should:
- charge their chromebook fully on Monday night.
- log-on to their device to ensure they remember their password. Email Bridget Householder at bdhouseh@vbschools.com to get a password reset.
- know how to access Schoology.
- ensure the camera and microphone are working properly.
To prepare for the start of a successful school year, all parents should:
- check their ParentVue to ensure they are still able to log-in.
- ensure the school has the correct email address and phone numbers.
- help their children with developing a quiet learning zone for their classes.
- become familiar with the virtual schedule.
We are looking forward to a very successful school year!
PA Back to School 2020
Attendance
Welcome back Cavaliers!
We're so excited to start this school year with you all. As you know there have been many changes and adjustments this year that we are all learning about with each new day. One of these changes includes the question, how will attendance be taken? While VBCPS has been busy at work determining the best way to handle attendance for our high schools, we at Princess Anne High School have been focused on keeping you up to date and prepared as we receive this new information.
The Department of Student Leadership has officially released the plan for attendance within VBCPS secondary schools. Along with this email to parents, teachers will be including attendance expectations with students during their first virtual class meeting.
To document students who engage in virtual learning, teachers will be following the guidelines listed below per the Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction:
- The teacher will take attendance by noting all students physically present in a synchronous session as present and students that are not in attendance as absent (UNV).
- If a student was not physically present during the synchronous session, BUT showed engagement through any of the three actions noted below by midnight on the day of the class, then they would be marked tardy (TE) per VDOE guidelines:
a. logged into Schoology or another learning tracking system used by the teacher and accessed content as demonstrated by participation in an online activity.
b. spoke or had email communication with the teacher on that day to discuss learning
c. posted assignments that were part of the synchronous learning session on the day of the class - The teacher should complete step 2 on the next day when taking daily block attendance.
Unlike face to face instruction, in the virtual classroom, excessive tardiness will not result in disciplinary consequences. However, students who are absent, will require documentation excusing their absence if they do not wish to receive disciplinary consequences regarding excessive absences. To submit documentation excusing a student's absence, a parent/guardian is required to email HPAAttendancesecretary@vbschools.com and include the following:
- Student first and last name & student ID#
- The date and class the student was absent from
- A valid reason for being absent
- Parent/Guardian first and last name, signature (digital signature allowed), & phone #
No email excuse is required if the student was present or if they showed engagement through any of the three actions listed above. Email excuses are required for the student is they were absent and did not show engagement through any of the three actions listed above.
Emails received missing any of the above requirements or not sent to the correct attendance email stated above will not be accepted. Though email correspondence is recommended for student's absences, hand-written notes will be accepted as another option for parents and students who are unable to access email.
For all questions regarding attendance policies, please email HPAattendancesecretary@vbschools.com.
We are so excited and look forward to this new school year with you all!
Christina Hargis
Attendance Manager
IB Newsletter Coming Soon
Advisory
It is back to school time!
My name is Kim Henson and I am honored to be the PTSA President here at PAHS! Our Board has worked incredibly hard over the summer planning ways to meet the needs of our school and to give our students and staff a rewarding, fun, and successful high school experience in the midst of these crazy times. As we begin 2020-2021, I would like to welcome you to our PTSA family and encourage you to find a way to get involved here at our school.
Join the PTSA
Together we are stronger, and by joining the PTSA, we can make our voices heard. We would love to meet our goal of 800 members this year—staff, students, and parents are all eligible! Membership begins at $10 and includes State and National Memberships. Our Friends of PA and Family Memberships also include a direct donation to PTSA general funds. Please visit our PTSA Store to sign up, purchase your membership, and shop our spirit-wear selection!
Social Media
Our social media accounts are great ways to stay connected with all things PAHS! Follow us on Twitter @cavalier_ptsa or on Facebook at Princess Anne HS PTSA. Find us at princessannehs.vbschools.com/parents/
p_t_s_a.
PTSA Reflections: “I Matter Because”
Show off your creative talents by submitting an original work to our Reflections Contest. Be on the lookout for more details.
You’ve Been Cav’d Fundraiser
If you would like to send these mighty cavaliers to a friend or to your student at home, place your order on the PA PTSA website: paptsa.new.memberhub.store/store ($25). 10 cavaliers will guard their lawn for 48 hours and then mysteriously march on. (see picture below)
We have so much more planned for PAHS this school year. Stay tuned and have a great year!
Kim Henson
757.816.2686