Virginia Beach City Public Schools ’ Department of Media and Communications Development garnered 12 awards, including four prestigious Golden Achievement Awards, from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for a variety of print, mixed media, and electronic media projects.

The winning entries were selected from among 1,170 items in the NSPRA 2007-2008 Publications and Electronic Media Contest. Submissions came from public and private schools; vocational-technical schools beyond 12 th grade; two-year community colleges; state/national education groups; and any public relations agency or private business serving such schools and colleges.

NSPRA’s Golden Achievement Award is presented for outstanding accomplishment in the four steps of a public relations program: 1) analysis of need; 2) planning to meet the need; 3) execution and communication of program; and 4) formal evaluation. Virginia Beach City Public Schools received 2008 Golden Achievement Awards for the following four public relations plans:

• Appropriate Cell Phone Use During the Instructional Day – an initiative designed to inform parents and students about the cell phone use policy and changing discipline guidelines;
• The Last Walk: The Legacy of Princess Anne County Training School and Union Kempsville High – a community outreach bringing former students of the city’s first secondary school for African Americans together prior to the building’s demolition;
• VB Schools Troop Tube – a communications initiative which allows military parents serving overseas and family members around the world to view graduation ceremonies via live streaming video on the Internet;
• Removing Barriers to Parental Involvement – designed to improve school-home connections, this initiative included identification of under-served populations, research of common barriers, and implementation of divisionwide and school specific outreaches.

“I am extremely proud that an organization such as NSPRA recognizes the hard work of this department,” said Kathy O’Hara, assistant superintendent for media and communications development. “The entire staff strives for excellence and is committed to enhancing school-community connections through positive communication,” O’Hara added.

In addition to the four Golden Achievement Awards, the department of media and communications received the following honors:

• Award of Excellence – My Year in Kindergarten School Year 2007-2008 (handbook)
• Award of Excellence – How in the World (television series)
• Award of Merit – Elementary Parent/Student Handbook 2007-2008 School Year (handbook)
• Award of Merit – Kaleidoscope (staff newsletter)
• Award of Merit – We Care About the Environment (electronic newsletter)
• Award of Merit – School Construction and Modernization (electronic newsletter)
• Award of Merit – Podcast/Video/Audio Library New Feature!
• Award of Honorable Mention – Virginia Beach School Board Program of Work (brochure)

For additional information about the school division’s Department of Media and Communications Development or the NSPRA awards call 263-1949.

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