American Funds Corporation and Bayside Elementary School
As stakeholders in public education, American Funds Corporation is making an investment in the future through the students at Bayside Elementary School! Whether it be financing a trip to the zoo, helping kids write their Santa lists for the Holiday Gift Shop, or funding a visit by the Virginia Stage Company for an SOL related play, American Funds Corporation recognizes the value of each and every student by becoming an active part of the lives of the students at Bayside Elementary. Beyond volunteering their time, American Funds awards scholarships to 10 deserving Bayside 5th graders each year! These scholarships have become one of the most anticipated parts of the fifth grade promotion ceremony. The excitement of receiving this most generous gift can be seen on the faces of not only the students that it is awarded to but the parents that stand next to them; proud of their children and grateful for the impact the American Funds has had on their entire family. This partnership is worth a million!
Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialist and Bayside High School’s
Health Sciences Academy
“My visit to Dr. Budorik’s OR was a once in a lifetime experience,” says Kim Cholko, a senior at Bayside High School’s Health Sciences Academy. Through Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialist, Dr. Timothy Budorik and his staff further the interest in medicine of junior and senior students of the Health Sciences Academy at Bayside High School by offering a glimpse into the world of orthopaedic surgery through a day long, hands-on experience at Virginia Beach General Hospital. Spending the day in the operating room with Dr. Budorik has become the most coveted clinical rotation. Students have the opportunity to witness a variety of orthopaedic surgeries and procedures as well as see first hand actual surgical procedures that would otherwise only be seen in medical videos. Dr. Budorik has graciously shared that his staff members enjoy the students and their provocative questions and that their engaging presence helps to refresh and rejuvenate his surgical team. Make no bones about it; time spent with Dr. Timothy Budorik and Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists has helped to further the interest of all students in the area of medicine at the Health Sciences Academy at Bayside High School.
Bullock and Cooper, Attorneys at Law and First Colonial High School’s
Legal Studies Academy
 Legal Studies Academy students are seeing double both inside and outside of the courtroom! Identical twin sisters, Tanya Bullock and Wanda Cooper, attorneys at law, offer students an invaluable hands-on experience both through job shadowing and through becoming student interns at Bullock and Cooper. From the inception of the partnership in 2005, Ms. Bullock and Ms. Cooper have accepted numerous interns for placement. They make each student’s experience meaningful by engaging the students and involving them in every aspect of their practice. As graduates of VBCPS, these attorneys are firmly dedicated to giving back to the community by becoming one of the Academy’s most active partners. Whether it’s taking students on a trip to the courtroom, assisting with the trial teams while preparing for a competition, or serving as guest speakers at the internship seminars, attorneys Bullock and Cooper serve as positive role models for the students at First Colonial High School’s Legal Studies Academy. They make each student’s experience in the legal studies program “doubly” rewarding.
Chick-fil-a at Salem Crossing and Salem High School
 The phrase “Eat More Chikin,” has never meant more than it does to the faculty, staff, and students at Salem High School! With over $22,000 worth of coupons, free dinners and lunches, and cash donations generously given by the Chick-fil-a at Salem Crossing, this model partner provides a much needed resource to each and every Sundevil at Salem High School. Whether it’s to award the winning class of the SCA’s Food Drive, encourage membership in the FBLA or PTSA, attract customers to the NHS’ Car Wash, or recognize a student for outstanding academic achievement, Chick-fil-a at Salem Crossing’s generosity is overwhelming. As a result of this relationship, students are given the opportunity to gain new insight into the business world. Through their dealings with Chick-fil-a while coordinating a fundraiser, students gain skills in such areas as marketing, budgeting, finances, goal setting and attainment, and interpersonal relationships. Thanks to this partnership, everyone at both Salem High School and Chick-fil-a are happy, even the cows!
GEICO and Lynnhaven Elementary
A valuable and consistent partner since 1999, GEICO’s contributions to Lynnhaven Elementary have “insured” that this long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship will exist for many years to come. This model partner has provided much needed materials, incentives, and perhaps most importantly, emotional encouragement for each and every student at this Title 1 school. As a dedicated band of volunteers themselves, the employees at GEICO can be seen handing out water bottles at the Field Day, wrapping packages at the Santa Shop or awarding “Gecko” prizes at Bingo Night. In addition, for the past 9 years, GEICO has funded the ever popular Shakespeare Goes Elementary program with an annual cost of up to $3,000. For the past 6 years GEICO employee’s “Penny Collection Campaign” has provided all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders with durable daily planners that are used to instill a sense of organization throughout the year. This model partner’s donations of time and money have strengthened students’ chances for success by providing greater access to caring adults and the wealth of cultural resources those adults have to offer. Thanks, GEICO!
NASA – Langley and Ocean Lakes High School and First Colonial High School
 The students at Ocean Lakes and First Colonial High Schools are “taking flight” thanks to NASA’s Office of Strategic Communications and Education at Langley! Teaming with NASA-Langley, students at First Colonial High School’s Legal Studies Academy presented a Space Law presentation at a conference designed by both parties and with the help of NASA employees created a lunar based settlement project. Students attended break-out sessions throughout the day-long seminar focusing on topics such as “How the UN Treaties Govern Space” and “NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration.” Making real-world connections within their Materials Science course, students from Ocean Lakes High School visited NASA –Langley to learn how composites are used in research projects conducted by NASA. Employees of NASA presented a design challenge to the students and were asked to build a composite wing that could hold as much weight as possible. The winning design team returned to NASA-Langley to test their wings at their test facility. Beyond these real-world, or should we say “out of this world” experiences, the students were afforded the opportunity to interact with various NASA employees in a professional environment and use advanced technology to perform tasks, an opportunity which is seemingly “light years” away for most high school students.
National Network of Partnership Schools and VBCPS Citywide
 Helping schools to support each other through a collaborative network, National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) shares the best practices in the field of effective parent/family involvement and as a result “lifts all boats” in the pursuit of the ultimate goal – student success. The partnership between VBCPS and NNPS involves school Action Teams attending one of several day-long training events outlining the NNPS model for parent/family involvement which include parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, and collaborating with the community.
Teams then develop an action plan that is specific to their school using their particular demographic data and implements a strategy to increase parent/family involvement. In addition to the NNPS outreach, VBCPS has worked with NNPS to refine the VBCPS mission to include military families and single-parent homes. As a result of this outstanding partnership, Action Teams learn that effectively involving parents, families, and the community in schools boosts student achievement. It’s all in the family with NNPS and VBCPS!
Navy and Marine Intelligence Training Center and Princess Anne Elementary
 In its 14th year, Princess Anne Elementary and the Navy and Marine Intelligence Training Center (NMITC) are proud to be one of the school system’s longest lasting partnerships. Princess Anne Elementary envisions the purpose of their partnership with NMITC as a viable way to increase student achievement through positive community interaction with supportive role models and to initiate a life long sense of civic responsibilities in their students. Employees of NMITC interact with students through programs such as an on-going, year long project of teaching students how to have a healthy lifestyle, to hosting field trips for students in honor of Black History Month, to coordinating a family math night whereby 30 members of the NMITC staff direct various activities to help students enhance their math skills. These dedicated, disciplined employees share their military careers with students and in turn the students give the NMITC employees an opportunity to “see who they are fighting for when they have to go into combat for our country.”
Well done!
Norfolk Botanical Gardens and Linkhorn Park Elementary School’s
Math and Science Academy
 Everything is coming up roses between partners Norfolk Botanical Gardens (NBG) and Linkhorn Park Elementary School’s Math and Science Academy! A beautiful environment in which to do research, students from the Math and Science Academy at Linkhorn Park conduct hands-on experiments and develop research information that is not only for the student’s benefit but also for the use of Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Students observe, collect, collate, and document data and share their findings with NBG to add to their existing research. With the help of these students, Norfolk Botanical Gardens are well on their way to fulfilling their goal to become a noted research facility. It’s a beautiful, win-win situation when it comes to the partnership between Linkhorn Park Elementary School’s Math and Science Academy and Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Health Center and Rosemont Forest Elementary
 Every day’s a holiday when Our Lady of Perpetual Help Health Center (OLPH) and Rosemont Forest Elementary get together! From Halloween to Thanksgiving, from Valentine’s Day to Mother’s Day and all festive dates in between, the residents of OLPH love spending time with their younger friends from Rosemont Forest Elementary. Besides sharing their home with the students of Rosemont Forest Elementary, the administration and staff of OLPH are very generous with their resources by donating paper products, food items, and other much needed supplies to the school’s programs and events throughout the year. In the words of one of the school’s employees closely involved in this intergenerational partnership, “Our world becomes a better place, when people of diverse backgrounds (and ages) spend quality time together.” Wonderful!
Pace Collaborative and Advanced Technology Center
 The students of the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) are “gearing up” for another productive year with the help of Pace Collaborative! For the past two years, the mechanical and electrical engineering firm Pace Collaborative, invites ATC Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) seniors, along with their instructor, Mr. Andrew Smith, to attend their workplace for a presentation on “What Does It Take to Become an Engineer?” Over 40 students spend the day attending a presentation, touring the facilities with Pace employees, and finally breaking out into small groups with the engineering staff for in-depth informational interviews. Mr. John DeVan, president of Pace Collaborative, has enjoyed their relationship with the well-trained students so much over the past 6 years that he has hired 10 out of 10 applying ATC graduates (including 4 interns) as Pace employees! We couldn’t have “designed” a more outstanding partnership!
Spartan Prep Academy-Norfolk State University and VBCPS Citywide
 Interests are sparked for higher education by students of VBCPS because of the Spartan Prep Academy of Norfolk State University! Spartan Prep Academy, a college awareness program designed to introduce diverse groups of students to the advantages of continuing education beyond high school, selects VBCPS middle school students that agree to enter a NSU student mentoring program designed to coach them on topics such as time management strategies, college survival skills, and future career choices. As they transition into high school, students feel supported by Spartan Prep Academy activities and as a result, the number of first-generational college bound student increases as well as individual increased academic success. Although the main focus for Spartan Prep is academic, students are also treated to a Norfolk State football game and a theatre production by the NSU Fine Arts department! Go Spartans!
Thalia United Methodist Church and Malibu Elementary
 They’re serving up something wonderful at Malibu Elementary thanks to Thalia United Methodist Church! Called “friends with experience”, members of Thalia United Methodist spend time mentoring students at Malibu Elementary through a Lunch Buddies Mentoring program sponsored by the guidance office. Volunteers from Thalia United Methodist church, many of which are retirees, attend a training session conducted by the guidance office at Malibu and then agree to develop a relationship with their mentee by having lunch together each week at the school in the Lunch Buddies Café. Students get to know their mentors through a long standing relationship that continues through their elementary years. Studies show that the key to a child’s resilience is having one great adult in their life. This has certainly proven true at Malibu Elementary thanks to a wonderful group of committed volunteers from Thalia United Methodist Church!
Trantwood Elementary School and Cox High School
 Parlez vous francais? The students at Trantwood Elementary do thanks to the efforts of French and German students at Cox High School. Students at Trantwood Elementary elect to enroll in a six-week program whereby students from Cox teach classes in both French and German. The Trantwood students engage in oral activities, games, learn folk dances, and enjoy a variety of cultural activities related to both countries. The students at Cox receive extra credit for their participation in the program, gain community service hours, and fulfill one of the goals of the honor societies to which many belong by promoting the study of the French and German languages. Besides learning a new language and gaining experience in teaching a language, both sets of students develop a wonderful mentor-mentee relationship. How do you say, “Way to go!” in German?
USS San Jacinto and Arrowhead Elementary
All hands are on deck thanks to the sailors of USS San Jacinto and the students of Arrowhead Elementary. As a means to promote academic achievement for struggling students at Arrowhead Elementary, the sailors of the USS San Jacinto visit the school on a rotating basis each Friday to have lunch with their lunch buddy. 20 sailors arrive at school for the 1st grade lunches and stay until the 5th graders have had lunch in order to spend time with all the grade levels. In addition, over 120 sailors correspond on a regular basis with five 3rd grade classes at Arrowhead sharing with the students what it means to be a sailor in the US Navy. The USS San Jacinto also donated over $600.00 in school supplies for students in need which enabled many students to arrive for school in the fall with backpacks full of necessary supplies. As another means to share with the students “Navy life”, The Chief Petty Officer’s Association and the Officers Association sponsored a Patriotic Essay contest for 5th graders. The winning essay was voted on by the entire ship and the winning student was awarded a savings bond and presented with ship memorabilia. The partnership is kept “afloat” by the generosity of the sailors of the USS San Jacinto!
VBFD-Court House Engine CO #5 “A” Shift and North Landing Elementary
 The partnership between VBFD-Court House Engine CO #5 and North Landing Elementary is on fire! Firefighters from CO #5, all members of the North Landing PTA, have helped build and maintain the schools outdoor garden campus by donating plants, using their carpentry skills to construct garden plots, and weeding the gardens on a regular basis. In addition, the firefighters have an established fund at the station and the money from this fund is used to buy many gifts for needy children at North Landing Elementary! Firefighters also are invited into the classrooms during Reading Month to read to the students. The two classes with the highest Accelerated Reader comprehension rates are rewarded with a field trip to the station. Students can then see first hand the fire hydrant painted by the winners on each grade level as a result of a contest during Youth Art Month sponsored by Engine CO #5. As members in the school’s PTA, firefighters also become active participants in all events sponsored by the North Landing PTA. This partnership is smoking hot!
Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Department and Strawbridge Elementary
 There’s no need for a new sheriff in town at Strawbridge Elementary! Members of the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Department are staying involved with their community by enthusiastically volunteering to read to the students of Strawbridge Elementary throughout January in celebration of Reading Month. Their tutoring and reading provides positive examples to the students, and encourages those students that struggle. Sheriff Department employees also spend countless hours working to improve the appearance of the school grounds by providing mulch and spending time maintaining the flower beds around the building. From planting flowers to providing the “muscle” for various landscaping projects, the help of the Virginia Beach Fire Department can always be counted on. As always, the Sheriff’s Department is committed to the school’s DARE Program. As a result of this program, taught by officers from the Sheriff’s Department, over 150 students are now better equipped to make responsible, life-saving decisions about drugs and alcohol. This model partnership is a shining example of success!
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