The Knightly News
Parent Newsletter - October 2022
Principal’s Message
Hello Knight Families,
We are off to a great start at the Castle. We set the tone for the school year with a spirit assembly organized by our amazing SCA. We heard messages from teachers and students about our core values of leadership, integrity, and unity. We were also reminded of the Knight’s Oath, ensuring that we value Others, Act with kindness and respect, Take responsibility for our actions, and remain Honorable. Each day, I see those characteristics on display in the classroom, on the athletic fields, and through our art and activity programs.
I am also excited to announce that Kellam High School again boasts the highest graduation rate in the school division! Our students have outperformed the division in many categories, and it is through our strong partnership with you that we are able to accomplish this feat. As a reminder, November 3 marks the end of the marking period for year-long classes and the halfway point for 4x4 classes. Continue to monitor your student’s progress through ParentVue and reach out to your student's teacher and/or counselor should you have concerns.
October promises to bring more success for our students as well as the opportunity to continue building our community. We will celebrate our 60th homecoming, and also recognize our feeder patterns during Community Knight this month. Check out this edition of the Knightly News for important information on several items you won’t want to miss, and don’t forget to download the ParentSquare App to stay up to date on all that is happening in the Castle.
Sincerely,
Ryan Schubart
Principal
Kellam High School
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter: @KellamHigh and Facebook: KellamHS. Our website is updated regularly for more information: https://kellamhs.vbschools.com/
Kellam High School PTSA
Commemorate your time at the Castle with this beautiful 4.78” x 2” acrylic ornament of the school. The cost for each ornament is $12.00.
Pre-order your Kellam High School ornament from October 1st through November 23rd. Ornaments will be distributed in early December. Select here to pre-order your ornament.
PTSA Fundraisers
Remember to re-link your Harris Teeter TIE cards to Kellam High School PTSA!
Code 5968
Amazon Smile will donate to Kellam PTSA with each and every purchase you make!
Go to smile.amazon.com
Login using your existing Amazon account or register for a new account.
Select “Floyd E Kellam High School PTSA” as your charity
Create a bookmark or add this to your favorites to create a shortcut
Buy your Amazon purchases through smile.amazon.com not through the regular Amazon site.
Smile.amazon.com
SCAN HERE
SCAN HERE
Kellam Open House Feedback
Kellam Open House Feedback
Parents and Guardians, please take a moment to complete a brief survey. Your feedback is important to ensure that we make this event even better for next year. The link to the feedback form is below.
If you did not attend the Kellam Open House last week, please find the link below to the program and resources.
Parent Partnerships and School Library Collections:
School libraries offer two procedures to partner with parents and legal guardians regarding the materials that their students check out from their school libraries. The link to Destiny Discover (library catalog) and the two forms referenced below can be found at vbschools.com/parents.
A parent or legal guardian may request that their children be restricted from checking out specific titles, authors, or series. They may search their school’s Destiny Catalog via the division website to identify titles that they wish to restrict. They may then complete a “Request for Limited Access of Library Materials (Individual Student)” form and submit it to their school’s library media specialist. The child will be restricted from checking out the items from any VBCPS school library.
When library materials are intended to be used for instructional purposes, parents/legal guardians may determine whether they are appropriate for their children. Library materials are considered instructional materials when used (i) for completion of an assignment, or (ii) as part of an academic or extracurricular educational program. A parent or legal guardian may request that they be notified in advance, given the opportunity to review the material, and request an alternative when their child is attempting to check out a library item for instructional purposes. The child will be restricted from checking out the material until the parent or legal guardian has given express permission that the item may be checked out. Parents and legal guardians who wish to take advantage of this opportunity should complete a “Parent/Legal Guardian Prior Notification for Student Checkout of Library Materials to be Used for Instructional Purposes” form and submit it to their school’s library media specialist.
Culturally Speaking...We've Been Branded!
Counselor's Corner
Parents & Guardians for the Class of 2023
Please bookmark and review our Senior Scoop Page throughout the school year for links and valuable senior information.
School Counselors have started One-to-One Senior check-ins as of September 28. These meetings provide our seniors individual time with their counselor to ensure they are on track for graduation and have support with college applications, employment searches, military enlistment, or any other post-secondary plans they may have.
Students and parents should review this Senior Information Sheet. It includes key reminders and will assist students as they work towards graduation and post secondary goals.
Here is the schedule for the upcoming visits. All students with a SPRING English 12 4 x 4 class or an online English course will be contacted directly by their school counselor to schedule their appointment:
Mrs. Welch: 9/28 and 9/29
Mrs. Stone: 10/3 and 10/4
Ms. McGee: 10/6 and 10/7
Ms. Martinez: 10/14
Mr. Dave Bunting, one of our counselors, is hosting a Q&A panel discussion with some of our most popular universities covering all things surrounding college admissions. The panel discussion will be recorded and shared with parents by the first week of October. This is another great resource for our students and their families.
Grading Periods and Reporting Info
Testing, Testing 1,2,3
SOL Writing Test October 26 and October 27
All students enrolled in T1 4X4 English 11, Honors English 11, and students who need the verified credit to graduate in January, June or August 2023 will be testing. It is a two-part test; therefore, students must test BOTH days.
If your student is testing, make sure they get a good night’s sleep, eat breakfast, and bring their Chromebook fully charged on those days.
All other students will report to 1A or 1B.
All testing will take place in the C2 community and the Library.
Teachers will let students know if their class is moving to a different location.
Tech Center/ATS/ESP afternoon students may leave 2nd block at 10:30 to get lunch prior to departure.
AP Exam Registration is open!
AP exam registration is a two-step process and both steps must be completed by November 7. Please review the 2022-2023 AP Letter for important information regarding AP testing and registration.
For further details on the registration process, please view this AP Registration video.
The 2023 AP Exam Schedule can be viewed HERE. More information will be forthcoming as we get closer to testing in May.
Partners for Safe Teen Driving Seminar
The VBCPS Partners for Safe Teen Driving (PFSTD) parent/guardian meeting is scheduled for 2 in-person and 2 virtual dates in VBCPS for the 2022-2023 school year. During this seminar, you will learn about parent/guardian requirements for teen drivers and how to help your teen avoid distracted driving.
Student Activities Update
The Student Activities department is working to create opportunities for our students to connect and be a part of all that Kellam has to offer. Please visit our Student Activities Resource Guide to explore opportunities in activities and athletics. You can also visit www.kellamstudentactivities.com for additional information on our organizations. Be sure to watch for updates in this newsletter and follow us on social media. You can also visit the Kellam Touch Pro to see the accomplishments of our present and past students.
Twitter: @KellamHigh
Instagram: kellamhigh
Facebook: Floyd E. Kellam High School
Senior Portraits
If you still need to have senior portraits done, you will need to arrange them with Prestige Portrait Studio in Virginia Beach. Please schedule by visiting
prestigeportraits.com/studio or call 800-343-5735, press 2, then press 1.
All senior formal drape pictures must be submitted by November 23. If you have used an outside company other than Lifetouch Prestige, you will need to email the picture as an attachment with your student’s name to bridget.bachman@vbschools.com
- Senior Yearbook Recognition Ads
- Senior Scoop
Use this link: The Kellam Senior Scoop is the place to find important information for seniors. It will be updated regularly and located in the resources on the HKL Grade 12 Schoology Group page.
Senior Cap and Gowns
Seniors should go to jostens.com to order their cap and gown by the end of
October. Invitations and other senior items are also available at jostens.com.
Use this link for additional information: Cap and Gown Info Sheet.
Underclassman Portraits
Make-up underclassman pictures will be on Oct. 17 in the Schola. Students should go and have their picture taken when it is best for their daily schedule.
Kellam Letter Jacket
Fall Activity Bus Schedule
Beginning October 5, there will only be 1 activity bus run and it will leave at 4:45 pm. Click the link to access the schedule: Activity Bus Schedule and Routes
Tickets for Sporting Events
All tickets to attend Varsity and JV Football games are available for purchase through GoFAN. Tickets can be purchased at GOFAN.co. You can attend Field Hockey, Volleyball, Golf, and Cross Country without purchasing a ticket during the regular season. Tickets for ALL FALL SPORTS will be required for region and state events and available for purchase on GoFan. There will not be cash accepted at the gate; however, purchasing a ticket using a credit/debit card will be available at Beach District Events.
Beach District Passes can also be purchased at GOFAN.co. Beach District passes are accepted for all regular season games at any VBCPS High School.
Pass Prices:
$60 for 3 or less
$50 for 4 or more
For easier purchasing and viewing tickets for validation, download the GoFan App in the iTunes or Google Play Store.
Tickets for region games will be available on Gofan.co. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students. ALL REGION EVENTS WILL REQUIRE A TICKET FOR ADMITTANCE.
All state tournament information is available on the VHSL Website.
Winter Sports Tryouts
All athletes planning to tryout for a winter team must have a complete physical
dated after May 1, 2022 to be able to participate.
Athletic and Academic Team Eligibility Requirements
All participants in a VHSL activity or sport must have passed the equivalent of 5 classes the previous semester and be enrolled in the equivalent of 5 classes for the current semester/term. Please review this presentation for explanation of eligibility requirements with the hybrid A/B and 4x4 schedule.
Kellam High School Eligibility
Athletic Schedules
All sport schedule are available on the Beach District Website:
All competitions that occur in the gym or the football stadium will be live streamed on the NFHS network. Use this link to access the Kellam site: Kellam NFHS Network Page
SCA News
SCA is proud to present our 60th Homecoming Half-time Show and Dance
The Homecoming Game is October 14! Kellam Royalty will be crowned during our half-time show. In addition, classes and clubs will participate in a parade around the field celebrating our 60th homecoming and our theme: Magic at the Castle!On October 15, we will hold our Homecoming Dance in the Commons area at Kellam High School.
Tickets will be available for purchase October 10-14 during all lunches and after school in rooms C233 and C230. The cost is $15.
Payment is in cash or by check made payable to Kellam High School
A word about bringing guests to the dance:
Please note: If you plan to bring a guest to our dance from another school, you will need to pick up a guest form in the main office and return it to be signed by our principal and the principal of the school where your guest is enrolled.
NHS News
The NHS Candidate Process is now open to all Seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.5. Seniors who wish to complete the candidate process should join the Candidate Course on Canvas which is posted on the morning announcement slides. Candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to scholarship, leadership, character, and service. Candidate packets are due October 7 at 2:15 p.m. and will be submitted electronically. Candidates should reach out to Ms. Martinez or Mrs. Spreder with questions. The candidate selection process for Juniors and Sophomores will take place in January when we return from winter break.
Important Announcements
Homework and Classwork Help is Here
Homework help and tutoring are currently available for all core subjects for grades 3–12 through Focused EduVation (FEV) Tutor. Students may receive free on-demand homework or tutoring assistance, schedule tutoring sessions, or complete online modules. FEV Tutor will also be useful for quarantined students and students completing work asynchronously. Students may easily access FEV through the Classlink Portal under FEV Tutor.
Additional information about the program can be found through the FEV Tutor Informational Video. Login directions may be found using the FEV Tutor Classlink Directions. Should you have any questions regarding this program, or would like to receive training or more information, please contact Dr. Monica Robinson, Academic Support Programs Coordinator, at Monica.Robinson@vbschools.com.
SchoolCash Online Is Here
To make it easier for you to pay for your child’s school items and fees, our online payment system, SchoolCash Online, will be sending some parents and legal guardians an email.
If you are a parent or legal guardian in the school’s Student Information System and you don’t yet have a SchoolCash Online account with that email address, you will receive an automated invitation from SchoolCash Online to create one. You can always create an account at any time by visiting https://vbschools.schoolcashonline.com/. More VBCPS schools will be using SchoolCash Online this year.
If you are a parent or legal guardian in the school’s Student Information System, and if you already have a SchoolCash Online account with that email address, but you haven’t yet linked your student(s) to your account, you will receive an automated email from SchoolCash Online for each unlinked child. This email will ask you to confirm that you want the system to connect your child to your account automatically.
Attendance Matters, What You Can Do Helps!
Know Kellam High School Attendance policy and procedures. Click on the quick links below:
Tardy Policy: Students are expected to be on time for school and each class. Students not in their assigned class on time each block will be marked Tardy. Tardy will be addressed accordingly by the Discipline Guidelines.
Encourage your student’s attendance and inform them of the impact it makes for a successful academic year.
Communicate with your student’s Administrator, School Counselor, or Teacher if you notice sudden changes in behavior or have issues that can potentially cause attendance problems.
Check on your student’s attendance periodically. To access your student’s attendance profile, log into Parent Portal or ParentVue Mobile App.
Provide parent verification of absences by completing the electronic Kellam Absence Form, available here, to prevent Unverified Absences (UNV).
Please contact the Attendance Office at 648-5105 if you have any questions or email KellamAttendance@vbschools.com.
Bus Transportation
Parent Bus Stop Information:
School Bus and Bus Stop information is now available in your ParentVUE account. If
this information is blank, please call the main office at 757-648-5100 to register for
transportation.
Edulog Parent Portal is a GPS App that allows you to track your student’s bus. In
addition to providing you with planned time and location information for your student,
the app also shows you the GPS location of the bus and sends you a push notification
when it is nearing your bus stop. To sign up for this app, please go to the VBCPS website, linked here. In the Parent dropdown menu choose Transportation, and then follow
the links for instructions.
COVID Guidance: COVID mitigations and guidelines have been posted to VBSchools.com (click here
Upcoming Events
Stay connected to our calendar and mark yours!
Click HERE for all Beach District and VHSL sporting events involving YOUR Kellam Knights.
Mark your calendars:
October 4 – End of 1st Period 1st Term
October 6 – Vaping Webinar (6 pm)
October 14 – Homecoming Game Vs. Bayside (6 pm)
October 15 – Homecoming Dance (7 – 10 pm)
October 20 – Kellam School Planning Meeting (6 pm – 7 pm)
October 28 – Kellam Blood Drive (7:30 am – 1:30 pm)
November 1- Next Edition of the Knightly News
Stay in the know: Previous newsletters can be accessed here:
The Knightly News
Email: ryan.schubart@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