The Knightly News
Parent Newsletter for Kellam High School - March 2018
School Safety and Digital Awareness
This week, I shared the following message with our students on the morning announcements.
Be Social. Be Smart. Be Safe
This morning, I would like to share with you an important message about school safety and the use of social media. Police and school administrators and I want to remind you that making a threat against our school, online or in person, can result in criminal charges and expulsion from school. Even if you post the message as a joke, we, along with police and prosecutors, will take it seriously. School safety is everyone’s responsibility. If you see or hear something that concerns you, report it to a teacher, administrator or police right away. Remember to Be Social. Be Smart. Be Safe.
Be Social. Be Smart. Be Safe video
We have an important message about school safety and the use of social media. Please watch THIS ANNOUNCEMENT from our School Superintendent, the Chief of Police, and the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Virginia Beach.
On a related note of school safety, I want to remind you of some of the procedures that we have in place at Kellam. We only have one entrance and unlocked door. This door is monitored by security staff from the minute that it is unlocked in the morning until it is locked in the afternoon. Please help us ensure that this remains the only entrance to our building by not letting in anyone into our building from other doors. Never prop or place objects in our doors for them to remain open. If you notice a door open, please shut it and notify a teacher, administrator or security staff.
Finally, mental health is a growing concern across our country and we must all learn to recognize and support those in need. If you ever believe that someone is a danger to themselves or others, it is your responsibility to let a responsible adult know. As I stated earlier, school safety is everyone’s responsibility. This is our school and our community. We are Kellam and I am counting on each of you to continue to make our school the best it can possibly be!
In addition to this announcement, Dr. Spence, our school division's superintendent, released a collaborative message with superintendents from Hampton Roads to address safety in our schools (see below).
The school division also has the following resources to support Mental Health:
- National Suicide Hotline (1-800-273-8255)
- Center for Young Men's Health
- Center for Young Women's Health
Please take this opportunity to talk with your child about their responsibility and their role in keeping our school and community safe.
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)
You can still sign-up to join the PTSA, go to: http://www.kellamhs.vbschools.com/pages/parents/ptsa/ and click on PTSA Membership. Also, click HERE for information regarding Floyd’s Funds.
We are looking for parents to help with the Floyd E. Kellam PTSA. If you want to get involved with your student’s school please come to our next meeting, Monday March 5th at 5:30pm in the Kellam Office. All PTSA Meetings are the first Monday of the month unless extenuating circumstances. We are great group of educators, parents and students working together to make our school run smoothly. There are just 82 more days until the end of school!
BRIEF Survey Input
One piece of data is the information we learn about your perception of climate and culture at Kellam. Please take a few moments (the survey is quite short) and help us determine where we can improve. We appreciate your feedback and the time you spend providing us with it. Thank you!
Click HERE to access the survey.
Community Engagement
STIHL has partnered with Kellam High School’s Advanced Entrepreneurship class this year to serve as a trainer and mentor to student run companies. The goal of this partnership is to create hands-on educational experiences and provide students with guidance in each phase of creating and running a business organization.
STIHL has put together a volunteer team of top executives that come to Kellam weekly to work with the students on their businesses and give their expertise. They have spent countless hours with the students inside and outside the classroom. With the support of STIHL, Kellam hopes to have one of our students’ companies to win Company of the Year and to be invited to the National Student Leadership Summit. The lessons the students are learning from STIHL will be valuable in their future endeavors as they attend college, enter the workforce, and/or one day become entrepreneurs.
Castle Tutoring
DURING SCHOOL
Peer tutoring (All subjects) Block 1A Schola Balcony
Literacy Center every Tuesday and Wednesday
7:30 am – 3:00 pm A119
Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology, and Earth Science
Monday - Thursday
First half of each block D214
AFTER SCHOOL
Algebra 2 Trig and Geometry Every Tuesday and Thursday
2:25 – 3:25 C112 and C135
Geometry Every Wednesday
2:25 – 3:25 C112
Chemistry Every Tuesday
2:25 – 3:25 B212
All Social Studies Every Tuesday
2:25 – 3:25 B114
All subjects Every Tuesday A126
2:25 – 3:25
Questions? Contact Lisa Long, School Improvement Specialist at 648-5123 or Lisa.Long2@VBschools.com
Castle Counselors
Kellam High School engages our students in academic and career planning activities throughout the school year. We want ensure students are informed of academic options and are ready for whatever they choose to do after graduation. Part of this process involves selecting courses for the next school year and we have now completed our valuable one-to-one registration process with our students. Course verification sheets will be going home with the 3rd period Progress Reports the first week of March; PLEASE REVIEW THESE WITH YOUR STUDENT AND RETURN THEM SIGNED. Our 11th grade students will also have their credit evaluation sheets sent home so all parents, students, and counselors are on the same page with the credits and SOLs still required for graduation.
Please review these documents with your student; any changes to the course selections must be communicated to the school by the end of March so the master schedule can be finalized. Also, we encourage you to visit Destination Graduation to learn more about the scholastic experiences provided to your student and how we can continue to work together to ensure your student’s success! Be sure to check out the VB Schools Academic and Career Planning site for more details on this exciting student-driven process.
As always, please let us know how we can best support your student in any area of need; we look forward to working with each and every one of them! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter: @KellamCounselor.
From the SCA
Sunday Knights.
Each Sunday, our SCA will publish events and activities for the upcoming week via social media. This platform is called "Sunday Knights." Give our SCA a follow and stay connected to weekly happenings at the Castle!
Twitter: @KHS_SCA (Kellam HS SCA 17-18)
Instagram: @kellamsca (Kellam High School SCA)
Facebook: KellamHS (Floyd E Kellam High School)
Announcements
- Gifted. Brickell Scholarship information will be made available in March. I will post information in the newsletter as well as on the morning announcements. Eligible juniors will be applying. Stay tuned for more details. Please follow me on twitter @TurnersKnights and subscribe to my newsletter at www.kellyturnergifted.weebly.com where I post classroom updates, announcements, and opportunities for enrichment outside of the classroom.
- Testing Calendar. Testing season is upon us! Please click HERE for the calendar.
- Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up Loop. Parents who drop off and pick up their students from school should do so only at the front loop. Dropping off and picking up students at locations other than the loop can be dangerous for pedestrians and also can compound morning traffic problems. Also, remember that each week, as more students are getting their driver’s licenses, more cars are on the roads to Kellam. Please be aware that you may need to plan on leaving for school earlier to be on time.
Upcoming Events
For all Beach District and VHSL sporting events involving YOUR Kellam Knights, click HERE.
For sports results and standings, click HERE.
March 2 - 3rd Quarter Progress Reports
March 2 - Staff vs. Students Basketball Game (7pm)
March 5 - PTSA Meeting (5:30pm)
March 6 - Tree Planting Ceremony (3pm)
March 13 - uKnight Advisory Day (Alternate Schedule)
March 20 and 21 - Writing SOL for 11th Grade (Adjusted Bell Schedule TBD)
March 28 and 29 - Every 15 minutes Program
March 30 - Staff Day (No School for Students)
Stay in-the-know: There have been over 8,200 views of The Knightly News! Access prior issues by clicking on the month below and stay in-the-know:
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