Community Collaboration Corner

Bayside High Launches Partnership with
Armada Hoffler on Groundhog Job Shadow Day

Ten students from Bayside High School had a spring in their step as they participated
in a Groundhog Job Shadow Day on February 2, 2004. Armada Hoffler hosted BHS students
interested in accounting, entrepreneurship, architecture, business/human relations,
and engineering. The students had the opportunity to tour Town Center, learn about
a variety of careers, and were treated to breakfast and lunch at the offices of Armada Hoffler.

According to Christina Straddeck, development director, “Everyone here at Armada Hoffler is very excited about the partnership with Bayside High School. We appreciate this opportunity to give back to the community and feel strongly about doing as much as we can to participate in the education of the future workforce of Virginia Beach. We feel that Groundhog Job Shadow Day was an excellent way to connect ‘learning to earning’.” According to Christina Straddeck, development director, “Everyone here at Armada Hoffler is very excited about the partnership with Bayside High School.

Mitzy Cromwell, business teacher and partnership coordinator at Bayside High,
organized the event. “This event was a great opportunity for students to
understand the critical link between education and success in the real world of work.
The students left feeling very motivated and inspired to continue to do well in school,”
she said. “The day was especially rewarding for me as a teacher; I enjoyed learning
about downtown Virginia Beach with the students. An added bonus was the fact that the day
was planned by one of my former students who is the marketing coordinator at Armada Hoffler.” After the visit, the students expressed interest in careers in human resources, accounting, commercial real estate, architecture, and marketing. One student set a goal to become “CEO of a company.”

Events like these are made possible through VBCPS partnerships with more than
2,000 organizations throughout our community. School/community collaborations
expand educational opportunities for students and provide avenues for businesses
to be actively involved in public education. If you would like more information about
partnership opportunities with Virginia Beach City Public Schools,
contact Melissa Baar, Partnership Coordinator, at mmbaar@vbschools.com.