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| Parent
Connection to host workshop in January
 Save
the date! Make plans to attend the Virginia Beach City Public
Schools Parent Connection workshop
on Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 8:00
a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Landstown High School. The
event is free and open to all parents, families, and community
members. Attendees will gain valuable insight and advice on a
variety of parenting topics from some of the area’s most
prominent doctors, financial counselors, child and family development
experts, and educators.
The
keynote speaker, Dr. Ann Corwin will present “The Child
Connection: Simple Parenting Solutions.” Her presentation
will address:
- Why
kids have tantrums and what you can do about them
- What
it means when kids start asking “why”
- Why
when you speak to kids can be as important as what you say
- Non-verbal
ways to reinforce good (or bad) behavior
- Parenting
solutions for communicating with adolescents
Following
the keynote address, parents will have the opportunity to attend
several breakout sessions, including topics such as: Special Education,
Financial Literacy, Family Stress Management, Positive Discipline,
Higher Education Planning, Military Families, Internet Safety,
and Single Parenting.
Throughout
the day, parents will be able to visit resource tables from city
organizations, Partners in Education, PTA, VBCPS Academy and Advanced
Academic Programs as well as tour the Reading Bus and enjoy giveaway
items, food, and music. For information, contact the Office
of Community Relations at 263-1936, or email melissa.mcquarrie@vbschools.com.
Special thanks to Parent Connection partners at CHKD and Kohl’s
for helping make Dr. Ann Corwin’s visit possible. |
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| Luxford
Elementary hosts family events in the community and at school |
 Luxford
Elementary School invited families to the Bayside Public
Library for a family night in October. Parents brought their children
to browse and check out books. Luxford teachers helped parents and
students select books, and Bayside librarians distributed a schedule
of upcoming library events. Denisha
B. and her mother review several book selections. |
 Also
in October, Luxford Elementary held a Math Night
for families. Nearly 200 parents attended and participated in classroom
math games. Parents were also able to sign up for a free math kit
to keep at home for more family fun.
Fourth
graders Zami, Lynese, and Aubrey play Multiplication Top-It with
Lynese's uncle Kyle Milkey.
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| Shadowing
programs take parents back to school |
 Various
schools hosted events this fall to allow parents to experience a
day in the life of their children at school. Approximately 450 Salem
Middle School parents participated in “Parents Day”
activities, spending the day in classes and at lunch with their
children. |
 In
November, Lynnhaven Elementary School kicked off
American Education Week with a shadow day. Parents, grandparents,
guardians and mentors were invited to see what their student's school
day is like.
James
H. and his mom work on a class assignment together.
|
 During
National Lunch Week, White Oaks Elementary School
fourth-grader Bryanna B. and her parents enjoy lunch together in
the school cafeteria. |
 Also
during National Lunch Week, Whitney Coleman visits Diamond
Springs Elementary School to have lunch with her daughter
Taniya B., a first grader at the school. Also joining them are Sienna
C., Jaleah C., and Nakiya P. |
| Parents
learn about the Habits of the Mind |
 More
than 120 parents attended Cooke Elementary School’s
“Parent’s Night Out” event to discuss the schoolwide
initiative related to the Habits of the Mind program. This
program is designed to foster a mindset of diligence, responsibility,
and success among children. Cooke’s gifted resource teacher
Leslie Wildman conducted training how on parents may incorporate
the habits at home, and several teachers shared how they are using
Habits of the Mind in their classrooms. |
| PTA
event promotes family fitness |
 Green
Run Elementary’s PTA hosted a Family Fitness program
following one of its meetings to promote healthy living styles and
activities. Parents, like Tamisha Shellman, participated in
hula hoop, basketball, and relay-team activities alongside their
children. Additionally, community partners such as King
Tiger Martial Arts, Curves, Sentara
Heart Health, Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Department
were present to provide and assist with activities and demonstrations.
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| Preparing
pre-K students (and parents) for school |
 Woodstock
Elementary School hosted a Wee Woodchucks program in October
for future Woodchucks (ages 2-5 years old). Parents accompanied
their children through various activities related to art, music,
and reading in order to give parents ideas of how to prepare their
children for kindergarten, both academically and socially. Woodstock
teachers directed the lessons, and the school’s community
partners provided snacks, purchased t-shirts, bought books, and
helped supply “goodie bags” for all attending. |
| Four
schools sponsor Military Family Information Night event |
 Military
families were invited to learn more about the military’s support
services and Virginia Beach City Public Schools at an information
night in October sponsored by Hermitage, Shelton Park, Luxford
and Bayside elementary schools. Navy School Liaison Officers
John Hammer and Patty Gajan provided information regarding their
services related to transitions, deployment, and relocation. Dr.
Brenda Reid of the VBCPS Parent Support and Information Center informed
families of the school division’s services for special needs
children. Hermitage Elementary School principal Holly Coggin showed
parents how to use vbschools.com, school
websites, and School Net as resources for more school-related information.
School counselors, such as Janice Blauert from Hermitage Elementary
(photo), explained Virginia SOL testing across and how
to support student success in academics. |
| Teachers
thankful for parent assistance in the classroom |
|
Kindergarteners
at John B. Dey Elementary prepared several Thanksgiving
dishes with the help of parent volunteers. The kindergarteners
followed step-by-step directions, used different tools for measuring,
and worked together in small groups to make the food. Parent volunteers,
like Rodney Patterson (below left), helped students prepare
dishes such as mashed potatoes. Parent Kim Barnett (below
right) worked at another station and helped students with
cooking measurements. The next day the kindergarteners had a little
feast and sampled all the food they made together.
Parent
volunteers lend a hand to small groups. Rodney Patterson helps
mash potatoes and Kimberly Barnett reviews cooking measurements.
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| New
program provides weekend food to families |
 Virginia
Beach City Public Schools’ Office of School Social Work Services,
Parent Connection, and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia joined
forces this fall to launch a new program – Beach Bags.
The program is designed to help parents feed students during the
weekend when school breakfasts and lunches are unavailable.
“Some families must rely on school breakfast and lunch programs
to help maintain a healthy diet for their children,” says
Gay Thomas, coordinator for School Social Work Services. “Unfortunately,
when the weekend and holidays approach, there aren’t always
sufficient food items to sustain healthy family meals. This program
will provide additional meals and snacks during these time frames.”
The
program started with approximately 200 students in grades K-5
at Birdneck, Cooke, Diamond Springs, Newtown, and Bettie F. Williams
elementary schools. School social workers helped identify families
in need and coordinated their participation. Students receive
a Beach Bag containing at least 10 specific shelf-stable food
items to take home in their backpacks every other Friday.
 As
news spread about the program and the need for food donations,
many individuals and organizations answered the call for more
support. Donations from St. Nicholas Church, Preceptor Alpha Xi
Sorority, and various school honor societies/service organizations
have provided more Beach Bags to more schools.
“Now more than ever, the Beach Bags program and
similar programs in other local school divisions are providing
a lifeline for many families,” said Debbie Kleeger, Child
Nutrition Manager for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. “In
these tough economic times, some families must choose between
paying for electricity and buying groceries.”
For
a list of Beach Bags food items, visit the Parent
Connection page on the school division’s website, vbschools.com.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Melissa McQuarrie,
director of the Office of Community Relations at 263-1700 or by
email at Melissa.McQuarrie@vbschools.com. |
|
Three
Oaks Elementary School fourth grader Marty S. enjoys the
school’s “Pastries with Parents” event with his
mother. 
Before
the Thanksgiving holiday, Holland Elementary School
invited its parents to visit and have breakfast with their children
before going to work. While sharing breakfast together, parents
and students had fun comparing their artistic creations by drawing
with crayons on paper-covered cafeteria tables. 
Green
Run Elementary School’s cafeteria was at full capacity
for its "Dads and Doughnuts" event. Dads enjoyed breakfast
with their sons and daughters and had the opportunity to talk
with school staff and administrators. A
teacher shared that one little girl said to her as the girl's
dad was leaving, "Isn't he big, strong and handsome?"
