Tagged by the Superintendent
One employee at every school is selected for this honor each semester. The award is given based on the employee's dedication and service to the field of education and to the students of Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
November 21, 2011
Pamela Hobson, Title I resource teacher, Seatack Elementary School
Angelique Phillips, English teacher, First Colonial High School
Cora Sampson, office associate, Arrowhead Elementary School
I Make a Difference
The I Make A Difference award is given to an employee of the school to recognize his or her accomplishments and contributions to the educational process and to the students. Employees are nominated by a fellow employee for the award.
November 21, 2011
Brandon Middle School
Kim Toliver, special education teacher
Brookwood Elementary School
Megan Bilger, second-grade teacher
Brynn Carey, speech therapist
Alli Cook, gifted resource teacher
Elyse Earl, special education teacher
Ken Garrison, computer resource specialist
Debbie Mitchell, physical education assistant
Licia Rossetti, art teacher
Nancy Ruland, cafeteria manager
Jennifer Watson, second-grade teacher
College Park Elementary School
Neph Angoluan, data support specialist
Alissa Easter, fourth-grade teacher
Emily Myers, special education teacher
Fairfield Elementary School
Rosemary Flamman, teacher assistant
Jennifer Mazur, art teacher
Michelle Shipley, fourth-grade teacher
Elizabeth Stone, kindergarten teacher assistant
First Colonial High School
Kim McCanna, health and physical education teacher
Glenwood Elementary School
Susan Cotthaus, general assistant
Paula Gee, first-grade teacher
Jane Ray, fifth-grade teacher
Eileen Roe, special education teacher
Green Run Elementary School
Elizabeth Hawkins, physical education assistant
Contessa Magee, art teacher
Sara Nichols, guidance counselor
Norma Owens, general assistant
Independence Middle School
Trish Brown, office associate
Linda Midgett, cheerleading coach/assistant student activities coordinator
Meghan Timlin, school improvement specialist
Mary Trebon, office manager
Duan Williams, head day custodian
Kempsville Middle School
Willis Cooper, head day custodian
Vui Dinh, custodian
Steve Fentress, head night custodian
Michelle Martinette, guidance secretary
Mary Meekins, data technician
Brigitte Strojek, teacher assistant
Landstown Middle School
Amanda Caruso, school nurse
Christine Elliott, security assistant
Michelle Koral, student activities coordinator
Lynnhaven Middle School
Eric James, student support specialist
Allison Krebs, sixth-grade teacher
Ashley Murphey, sixth/seventh-grade teacher
Brett Poyner, health and physical education teacher
David Ruark, technical education teacher
Princess Anne Elementary School
Elaine Dale, fourth-grade teacher
Meeta Jones, fourth-grade teacher
Karen Kalocay, fourth-grade teacher
Carolyn Walker, second-grade teacher
Shelton Park Elementary School
Cathy Bowler, library media specialist
Dana Shearer, fourth-grade teacher
Christina Troxell, computer resource specialist
Helen White, fourth-grade teacher
Virginia Beach Middle School
Lauren Frantz, eighth-grade social studies teacher
Windsor Oaks Elementary School
Cathy Bookhart, first-grade teacher
Janie Bowen, guidance counselor
Kim Daniels, second-grade teacher
Meredith Moore, second-grade teacher
Carrie Noriega, kindergarten teacher
Karen Reidelbach, gifted resource teacher
Laura Ross, first-grade teacher
Terry Weaver, security assistant
Alisa Williams, fifth-grade teacher
October 31, 2011
Brookwood Elementary School
Holly Bucholz, fourth-grade teacher
Debbie Koger, kindergarten teacher
College Park Elementary School
Nephtali Angoluan, data support specialist
Fairfield Elementary School
Cheri Mandigo, office associate
Glenwood Elementary School
Andrea Blair, guidance counselor
Krista Clark, assistant principal
Tammy Moore, preschool teacher
Cheryl Trahan, school psychologist
Lynnhaven Middle School
John Bois, computer resource specialist
Kristy Holland, special education teacher
Tom Prochilo, eighth-grade science teacher
Leah Rybak, computer resource specialist
Peter Van Schenck, seventh-grade social studies teacher
Kathryn Vincze, office manager
Old Donation Center
Donna Steele, computer resource specialist
School and Office Awards and Recognitions
November 21, 2011
Congratulation to the Cox High School varsity football team for winning The Eagle 97.3 radio station's "Boys of Fall" award, sponsored by country music star Kenny Chesney. During the team's football game half time on Thursday, October 6, an Eagle Jock presented the Falcons with a Kenny Chesney signed "Boys of Fall" plaque. Each team member also received a Boys of Fall T-shirt. The entire ceremony was video-taped and placed on a special section on 97.3 the Eagles website.
Congratulations to Landstown High School on being awarded a $24,000 scholarship from Virginia Commonwealth University. A deserving graduate will be selected to receive $6,000 a year for four years.
Congratulations to Cox High School's outstanding publications, the Falcon Press newspaper and The Talon yearbook, for winning first place designations from the Virginia High School League (VHSL) for the 2010-2011 school year!
Princess Anne Elementary School's SCA helped to raise $700 through the sale of pansies for this year's United Way Drive.
Shelton Park Elementary and Rita's Italian Ice teamed up to collect books from families around the Virginia Beach area. About 80 books were donated to the school. Some of the books were placed in the school library. The remaining books will be part of the school's Partners in Education book bag program put together by third-grade teacher and Partners in Education liaison Shannan Haas. Shelton Park is appreciative of the community's involvement in helping its students grow as readers!
To celebrate October 17-23 being declared GED® and Lifelong Learning Awareness Week by Governor McDonnell, the Adult Learning Center (ALC) hosted "Bring a Friend Day" on October 19 to encourage ABE/GED® (Adult Basic Education/ General Educational Development) program participation. ABE/GED® students extended invitations to friends, who, as a result, will subsequently be entitled to take the next placement evaluation for free, saving $5. In addition, brochures with a $5 coupon for a free placement evaluation for the GED® are available in city libraries and recreation centers!
Princess Anne Elementary School students and staff collected clothing for the homeless and coats for needy children. In all, over 30 bags of apparel were collected.
Cox High School held its PTSA 11th Annual Used Book Sale on Friday, November 18, and Saturday, November 19. Books of all types – including children's books, textbooks, books on tape, fiction and non-fiction were sold, most for $ .50 or $1 each.
Congratulations to the Brandon Middle School's Animal Awareness Club on being named top middle/high school fundraiser at the VBSPCA Walk for the Animals. This is the third year in a row they have achieved this honor. The club is sponsored by band director Amy Pallett.
Holland Elementary students will be going to "college"! As a result of being awarded a Building Futures Grant, the school's fifth-grade students will have the opportunity to go on several field trips to local colleges to get the experience of what college might be like. Before they go, students will conduct online research on colleges in Virginia, and using the writing process will complete college entrance essays.
Ocean Lakes High School (OLHS) is proud to announce the formation of its newest club, The Noble Teens. Affiliated with and supported by The Noblemen of Virginia Beach, The Noble Teens is a service club open to any student in grades 9-12. The philanthropic purpose of the club is to help those in need at Ocean Lakes, whether it be students or staff. The Noble Teens president, Gennie D., is excited to begin working on the club's first service project, VBCPS's "Beach Bags," which are bags filled with non-perishable food for students in need to take home on the weekends. The Noble Teens will be providing "Beach Bags" for both OLHS and Ocean Lakes Elementary students. The club's sponsor is social studies teacher Samantha Lambert.
Who wants to adopt a homeless cat, dog, gerbil or a rat? Malibu Elementary students do, that's who! The Malibu SCA had a very successful fundraiser, collecting $714.41 for the Virginia Beach SPCA. Each grade level donated toward their mascot and created a paper chain symbolizing their link with the SPCA.
Congratulations to the First Colonial High School Patriot Pride Marching Band and band director Wallace B. Wills. On Saturday, November 5, the band was named the U.S. Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) Virginia State Champion in Group 1. The band won first place in music, marching, overall effects and color guard, and achieved second place in percussion.
The Cox High School Marching Falcons and band director Mike Lane recently competed in the U.S. Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) Virginia State Championships and won the Group 2 state championship. This continued an undefeated season for the Cox Marching Falcons and the school moved into final competition in Annapolis, Maryland, for the USSBA NATIONAL championships. The Marching Falcons continue an undefeated run at all local competitions for the third straight year.
Third-grade students in Melissa Raftery and Jill Reigelsperger's class at Salem Elementary School worked during November to persuade Salem families and members of the community to become "Change Bandits" in partnership with 94.9 The Point. Students collected change that was donated and then made cards to send the donations to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD). Students applied principles they learned from their study of economics – including such concepts as needs, wants, goods, services, resources – to plan and promote the fundraiser to make a difference for a worthy cause.
October 31, 2011
What better way could there be to kick off the new school year than with a tailgate-style party on a beautiful Thursday evening on campus beside the school's football field? On Thursday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m., Princess Anne High School's administration and staff played host to rival Ocean Lakes High School's staff for a pre-game picnic outside Cavalier Stadium. The evening was a great opportunity for both groups to meet and enjoy the camaraderie of the year's first football game. Attendees enjoyed a chicken dinner "with all the fixins" catered by Pollard's. On the grounds, games such as nerf golf, corn hole and many other favorites entertained children and adults alike as the groups mingled and families became acquainted. The event set the tone for a night of competition on the field that saw the tenacious Princess Anne Cavaliers go down to defeat at the hands of an able Dolphin squad. Led by principal James Pohl, Princess Anne's administrative team members pitched in to support the event by organizing and joining in activities with enthusiasm. All in all, a great time was had by all!
Congratulations to the Advanced Technology Center on having its Computer Network Administration program win a $1,000 grant from the National Education Association and Target. The funds were used to support students with materials they needed to prepare for Green IT (Information Technology) certification and understanding green energy and environmental issues. Fifteen students earned this certification last year.
Kudos to Alanton Elementary first-grade teacher Susan Anderson for organizing a CHKD (Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters) fundraiser. The faculty and staff raised over $300 for the Children's Hospital.
Congratulations to Tallwood Elementary on holding its week-long Scholastic Book Fair, October 20 through 27.
Kempsville High School’s (KHS) Marching Chiefs hosted the 18th annual Kempsville Classic Band Competition on Saturday, October 1 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Kempsville High. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Scholastic Band Association which is part of Youth Education in the Arts. Thirteen local bands competed and the competition featured an exhibition by the Christopher Newport University Marching Captains. The event was open to the public and served as a fundraiser for the school. Congratulations to KHS band director Tim Gauldin on his organization of the event. Among the bands competing were the following: Bayside High School Marching Marlins; Cox High School Marching Falcons; Indian River High School Marching Braves; Landstown High School Marching Eagles; Princess Anne High School Fabulous Marching Cavaliers; Kempsville High School Marching Chiefs; Churchland High School Truckers; Tallwood High School Marching Lions; Salem High School Marching Sun Devils; First Colonial High School Marching Patriots; Northampton High School Marching Yellow Jackets; Green Run High School Amazing Marching Stallions; and Kellam High School Marching Knights.
Individual Awards and Recognitions
Jane Filz, library media specialist at Luxford Elementary, was recently presented with $1,000 worth of classroom supplies through Office Max's "A Day Made Better" program.
Diamond Springs Elementary is proud to announce that Reading Recovery teacher Anne Russell is its Reading Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations to Rosemont Forest Elementary English as a Second Language teacher Altina Suber. She is a new teacher to the Virginia Beach ESL program and was recently named the 2011 TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Program Regent University Alumni! Check out the details at this link.
Kristen Proctor, third-grade teacher at Luxford Elementary, was recently named the school's Reading Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations to Green Run Elementary's Reading Teacher of the Year Kathi McGovern, a fifth-grade teacher.
Three Oaks Elementary School's Reading Teacher of the Year is third-grade teacher Jennifer Jellig.
Congratulations to Pam Rosenmeier, Reading Recovery teacher at White Oaks Elementary School, who was recently named the school's Reading Teacher of the Year!
Arrowhead Elementary School is proud to announce its Reading Teacher of the Year, Mischelle Keller. She is a second-grade teacher and has been teaching for 10 years.
Congratulations to Lynnhaven Middle School sixth-grade science teacher Trish Bruwelheide on her selection as Teacher of the Month for October.
The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), Hampton Roads Chapter, recently selected 10 area teachers to receive a Science Teaching Tools Award (STTA) grant. Of these, three are VBCPS teachers. Congratulations to our awardees:
- James Barger, technology education teacher, Technology Academy at Landstown High School
- Purchase two 2011 FIRST Robotics Competition Kits, one without the LEGO MINDSTORMS Set for the engineering classes. ($1,000)
- Gregory Nottingham, Renaissance Academy
- Robotics (LEGO MINDSTORM) Equipment and Software for eighth-grade science classes and afterschool STEM program ($894.32)
- Kevin Pace, Technical and Career Education Center
- STEM Robotics Competition (SRC) – to fund the middle school economically disadvantaged students' involvement in the program, which is a citywide program. ($1,000)
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