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Virginia Beach City Public Schools salutes the following for their innovative programs and accomplishments related to diversity awareness:
- Bayside High School has established the Bayside Minority Achievement Club (BMAC) to increase the achievement of African American males. Eleventh and twelfth grade African American males provide personalized support to assist ninth and tenth grade African American males.
- Sra. Amelia Bardales, an elementary school teacher with 22 years experience in Honduras, spoke to Mrs. Lopez's Spanish class at Independence Middle School about the history and geography of her country. She compared the education of Honduras with that of the U.S.
- Landstown Elementary School's fourth graders are bridging the gap between cultures. Ms. Miyoko Dote, a teacher with the Hirsohima Prefecture Board of Education, will be conducting Japanese Enrichment lessons at Landstown Elementary School on February 4 and 5. Her lessons will involve the Japanese culture and language as well as creating origami art forms and listening to Japanese fairy tales.
- The Special Education Advisory Committee participated in "Every Kind of People," a diversity awareness training facilitated by Organizational Development Specialists Joanne Lucas and Yolanda Young, on Monday, January 14 at the Laskin Road Annex. This committee meets to discuss current issues regarding special education for students with disabilities, and is composed of parents of students with disabilities and agency representatives who provide services to families of students with disabilities. "Every Kind of People" was also facilitated for the VBCPS Math Coaches on Friday, January 25; and for the faculty of Rosemont Elementary School on Monday, January 28.
- White Oaks Elementary second graders proudly displayed their traditional Native American homes. Students made original Pueblo homes representing the southwestern region of the United States.
- Lori Merkel, from the Contemporary Art Center, recently visited all of the second graders at White Oaks Elementary School. She presented each class with an educational program, titled Egypt, Gift of the Nile, where students participated and experienced life as an Ancient Egyptian.
- John B. Dey Elementary second graders dressed to celebrate Native American Day at the culmination of the unit of study.
- "What's your fortune?" was the question asked by many during China Day. Malibu Elementary second graders enjoyed Chinese food, writing, culture and activities as a culmination of their unit on Ancient China.
- Cooke Elementary fourth grade teacher, Rebecca Thomas, has formed a partnership with her students and the seniors from the Atlantic Shores Home. On Monday, December 17 they visited Cooke to hear Mrs. Thomas' students read poetry and sing carols. The seniors will return on Friday, February 8th for more interaction with the students.
- To integrate diversity awareness into Reading Month, Cooke Elementary celebrated Reading Around the Globe with an emphasis on world literature. In addition, Art teacher, Mary Carol Lynch assisted Art Club students in creating flags from other countries, PE teacher, Craig Davis, introduced students to a cultural dance, and Michael Burke taught songs from different countries.
- Mrs. Lynn Steinberg and her American Sign Language 3 class of Ocean Lakes High School will offer two-hour sessions in American Sign Language techniques at the Bayside Area Library on Monday, March 10 (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.). Sessions include: Rugrats Sign-Along (ages 5-10), Laurent Clerc's Time Machine (ages teen-adult), and Introduction to ASL (ages 11-adult). Call 385-2680 to register.
- Ocean Lakes High School's Megan M. was awarded a Bronze Medal in the American Council of Teachers of Russian National Russian Essay Contest.
- Miyoko Dote, a teacher in an exchange program between VBCPS and Hiroshima Board of Education, visited Fairfield Elementary School on Tuesday, February 19. She provided fourth grade classes with lessons on Japanese language and culture.
- Fairfield Elementary School hosted a Soaring Around the World Multicultural Night/Art Expo on Monday, February 25 from 6:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Classrooms were open with displays from various heritages and cultures, and food and musical presentations in the gym and cafeteria.
- Carol Olsen from Lee's Friends (an organization dedicated to offering emotional and practical support to those suffering with cancer) will visit the Center for Effective Learning's exhibit of "chemo caps" on February 29 at 10:00 a.m. Several of Mrs. Elaine Lombardi's CEL Teen Living students who had completed their regular sewing projects were seeking extra work. Using fleece fabric donated by current and former CEL staff, these students voluntarily have sewn over 100 "chemo caps" for donation. "I am really proud of all my participating students, but especially Paige H. who has sewn over 50 caps," said Mrs. Lombardi. "Our young people have the compassion and understanding and desire to help, they only need an avenue for it, and we're grateful to Lee's Friends for allowing us to share our time and talents." The "chemo caps" will be distributed by Lee's Friends (located in Norfolk) to those patients undergoing cancer treatments at centers throughout the Tidewater region.
- Malibu Elementary second graders will present Native American plays beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the school cafeteria on Friday, March 14, 2008.
- Students from Mrs. Fischer's first grade class at Bayside Elementary celebrated Black History Month by creating a quilt honoring George Washington Carver.
- Green Run Elementary School presented a Black History Month assembly on Wednesday, February 27 featuring the children"s choir and a staff choir.
- Diamond Springs Elementary students presented a program highlighting African American History through song, recitations, and dance. The program highlighted African Americans from the kindergarten and first grade Standards of Learning and the Scat, Jazz, and Spiritual music styles contributed by African Americans. In addition to the program, displays were placed throughout the building and a Black History fact was presented daily during the morning announcements.
Diversity Youth Advisory Council (DYAC)
A DYAC is organized in several VBCPS middle and high schools and the goals are: (1) to heighten cultural awareness in our schools and community; and (2) to promote reciprocal respect. The following are DYAC-sponsored activities at various middle/high schools during the 2007-2008 school year:
Technical and Career Education Center (Marvella Phillips, DYAC advisor)
- Diversity Calendar: DYAC utilized the diversity calendar from the website to obtain diversity facts. Throughout the school year, a student read the diversity facts during the morning announcements.
- Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: DYAC worked with the English As a Second Language students and the Culinary Arts students to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The students perform authentic Latin dances and the culinary students prepared foods from Latin countries.
- Holidays around the world: DYAC researched and created an exhibit displayed in our media center, which introduced the students how the different cultures celebrate holidays.
- Women’s History Month: DYAC prepared a PowerPoint presentation the importance of women in the workforce and their contributions to the medical and legal professions.
- Black History Month: DYAC participated in the African-American Read-in on Monday, February 4, 2008, sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teacher of English. Teachers and students from the Cosmetology, Dental, Legal and Medical Systems Administration read passages from African American authors such as Maya Angelou, Nathan McCall, and Sojourner Truth. Parents were invited to come and observe the readings. The school received a certificate for participating.
Tallwood High School (Rebecca Gurley, DYAC advisor)
- Students attended summer training at Virginia Wesleyan
- Students led Diversity Training Session for Global Studies and World Languages Academy 9th Grade Orientation
- Students assisted with Back to School teacher luncheon and were recognized
- Students assisted with Country of the Week Bulletin Boards
- Students assisted with registration at Living the Dream Summit for African American Males
Cox High School (Olga Rosario and Maria Ester Roy, DYAC advisors)
- Monthly DYAC meetings
- Collaborative International Dance Activity in March
- Open House Meeting in January
Bayside High School (Natasha Pitt, Advisor)
- Diversity- related activities has been centered on the Bayside Minority Achievement Club (BMAC), an African-American peer mentorship program. This year, the organization has grown in stature with multiple guest speakers, such as Derrick Rose, a WAVY news television reporter.
Salem High School (Erin Badran, Bernadine Duncan, and Ray Obispo, DYAC advisors)
- DYAC students and advisors engaged in “courageous conversation” concerning hypothetical scenarios dealing with diversity.
- Plans for a second Plus One activity scheduled for Thursday, May 29th.
Green Run High School (Frances Matthews, DYAC advisor)
- DYAC informational meeting
- DYAC went to the Ropes Course for team building activities in April.
- DYAC members are preparing to do a presentation on diversity awareness for a selected Green Run student organization.
Kempsville Middle School (Karl Whitley, DYAC advisor)
- DYAC students will perform an original diversity skit emphasizing peer pressure and stereotyping at the Gifted Gathering Program on May 3rd.
- Planning for DYAC students to perform the diversity skit for selected VBCPS elementary schools.
The Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School presented their spring mainstage production of Clare Boothe Luce's The Women April 24- 26. It is a story set in the 1930's that addresses the society and culture of women. It focuses a comic eye on the lives
of a group of friends and explores the dynamics of the female relationship with its accompanying allegiances, manipulations, facades, struggles and victories.
Dr. Roseann Runte, President of Old Dominion University, was guest speaker at Virginia Beach Central Academy in recognition of Women's History Month. Students participating in the program along with Dr. Runte were Jordan B., Amanda E., Brooke F., Brandi H.,
and Kristian S.
Kristyn H. is a member of the deaf community and a student at Ocean Lakes High School. She attended a session entitled "Dimensions of Diversity" during the Ocean Lakes Founders Week Celebration. Kryistyn was tasked during the session with having to write a diamante (a seven-line poem) about diversity, and this is what she created:
Deaf
Silent, unique
Silencing, signing, gesturing
Helen Keller, Gallaudet University, teacher, speaker
Speaking, listening, discussing
Sound, talking
Hearing
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Diversity in Action!
