ABS Technology Architects and Advanced Technology Center
 ABS Technology Architects has provided thousands of dollars worth of equipment to the Advanced Technology Center, but the students view the mentor and internship experiences provided by the company as priceless. Student Noel Mitchell says, "Interning at ABS as a junior network engineer not only assisted me in my networking education and understanding, but also provided me with a detailed understanding of the business aspect of networking. Working at ABS gave me a chance to learn from multiple network engineers in a professional environment." These internships prove to be mutually beneficial, as ABS consistently hires these well-trained interns directly into its workforce. Professionals from ABS also serve on the Cisco Academy Advisory Council, provide expertise as guest speakers and class mentors, and took the lead on the development of a senior project for Cisco Academy students. Because ABS has been so willing to bring its knowledge into the classroom, ATC students are extremely well prepared to meet the high expectations and changing needs of the industry outside of the classroom when they graduate.
Beachevents/Live Nation and Salem High School
 There is a call for "lights, camera, action" at Salem High School's Visual and Performing Arts Academy thanks to Beachevents/Live Nation, the entertainment contractor for the city of Virginia Beach. Academy students have become producers, performers, marketers, sound and light technicians and more for some of the city's finest entertainment events. Students also coordinated events like Kids Arts Palooza and participated in performances such as Schoolhouse Rock, LIVE! and Seussical, the Musical at the 17th Street Stage at the Oceanfront. Internships and job shadowing with the American Music Festival and McDonald's Holiday Lights at the Beach, gave students hands-on experience with stage set up, lights, production and more. Following her son's experience with the Music Festival, one parent wrote: "I see that Robert feels more sure of himself. He enjoyed working on different projects and learning something new each day. He didn't complain about the long hours or getting up early to work. He enjoyed meeting the production staff and rock bands, but he didn't feel intimidated. Rob has grown and is now eager to learn new things all of the time. Thank you for everything." Beachevents/Live Nation has the gratitude of many students in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy for these valuable on-the-job experiences.
Chick-fil-A and Tallwood High School
 Chick-fil-A and Tallwood High School are working together to give students in the school's Vocational/Work Experience program a firsthand look at work in the fast food industry. Franchise owners Kim and Billy Davis have been instrumental in creating valuable work experiences for these students. The owners visit Tallwood to provide in-class training and to discuss workforce readiness skills. The students also gain job-site experience by working at Chick-fil-A during business hours. They are evaluated daily on their performance and demonstrate a growing understanding of what it takes to obtain a job and function as an effective employee. Tallwood's Vocational/Work Experience students are ready for the workforce thanks to their friends at Chick-fil-A.
Eastern Virginia Medical School and Bayside High School
If you need some medical information"stat", one of Bayside High School's Health Sciences Academy students may be able to help as a result of the school's partnership with the Edward E. Brickell Medical Sciences Library at the Eastern Virginia Medical School. Since 2005, this unique rotation has given more than 100 academy students an up-close look at the health care related profession of medical librarian. They learn that these librarians are medical researchers who assist medical staff in learning about diagnoses, innovative treatment for diseases, and new pharmaceuticals. Academy coordinator Luisa Zirkle credits the librarians for the success of the partnership. She writes, "The librarians are amazing mentors and advocates for education. Their enthusiasm and energy make this clinical rotation a most enjoyable experience for the students." And, the students agree! One writes, "My favorite part was meeting the librarians. They explained everything so well. I have a brand new appreciation of the medical library and of the job of a medical librarian. Thank you for sending me to this clinical rotation."
Food Lion and Woodstock Elementary School
 Students and staff at Woodstock Elementary are roaring over their partnership with Food Lion store #600. School Partnership Coordinator Laura Smart states that"Woodstock Elementary School is a better place because of our partnership with Food Lion," and there is no shortage of examples to show why. During a store field trip this year, kindergartners learned about expiration dates, freshness measures, food temperatures, meat preparation, recycling, machine operation, cash registers, customer service, and much more – and all while wearing specially ordered hair nets to meet OSHA regulations! The store was instrumental in helping the school when it lost a beloved cafeteria monitor to cancer in October. They have donated items such as turkey dinners to needy families, Christmas presents for the school's Angel Tree,"Student Tool Kits" full of supplies, and cards to mail to soldiers serving overseas. Given this strong collaboration, it is only fitting that Woodstock students would be honored guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the store's Grand Re-Opening this past fall. Woodstock is equally honored to have found such a supportive community partner in its local Food Lion store.
Great Bridge Presbyterian Church and College Park Elementary School
 Great Bridge Presbyterian Church is helping make great things happen at College Park Elementary School. The church's adult Sunday School class has played an integral role in many students lives by becoming mentors, providing resources, and volunteering their time at the school. Over the summer, these adults designed a Back-to-School activity book for students to prepare them for the upcoming year, and mailed it to their homes. Congregation members also served as anonymous buddies, writing notes to the students and providing small gifts like bookmarks and pencils. The children looked forward to Mondays and"mail call", and were delighted to meet their secret buddies at a luncheon at the end of the year. College Park Elementary students and staff are grateful for Great Bridge Presbyterian Church's support and partnership.
Green Run Homes Association and Green Run Elementary School
 Since 1993, the Green Run Homes Association has been making a splash with its support of Green Run Elementary School. While the Association is best known among students for its help with the annual fifth-grade pool party, it consistently provides the school with volunteers, resources, and special events. Employees from the Association serve as science fair judges, field day volunteers, reading month guest readers, and school planning council members. They are also instrumental in the Staff Member of the Quarter project. Each quarter, the Association reviews nominations of Green Run Elementary staff members, selects a recipient, and presents the staff member with a plaque and other donated items. And, as spring approaches, fifth graders are eagerly awaiting the fifth-grade pool party as their send off to middle school. The Homes Association provides the lifeguards and volunteers to ensure that the pool party is a safe and fun experience for all involved. For Green Run Elementary School, there is no better neighbor than the Green Run Homes Association.
Honey Bee Golf Club and Virginia Beach Technical
and Career Education Center
 Students in the Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center's Turf Management Class can be found weekly on the back nine of the Honey Bee Golf Club. But, they are not taking it easy with a round of golf; they are hard at work! Honey Bee employees, mechanics, irrigation specialists and crew assistants work side by side with students as they gain hands-on experience with procedures and techniques used in golf course management on a weekly basis. Students learn proper operation of equipment and follow routine maintenance schedules of fertilization applications, irrigation practices, mowing procedures, and bunker upkeep and settings. The Honey Bee crew has also visited the school to lend their equipment and expertise with the construction of a putting green at the Tech Center. As a result of Honey Bee's support, students have had experiences that cannot be duplicated in a classroom/lab setting and are well prepared for employment opportunities in the field.
Jostens Renaissance Program and Salem High School
 For almost two decades, the partnership between Jostens and Salem High School has benefited students and staff. Jostens' Renaissance Program aims to increase student performance and support teachers by promoting and recognizing academic achievement. On Renaissance Fridays, classes are visited throughout the building to check for perfect attendance and zero tardiness. Classes meeting that goal are rewarded with pizza or doughnuts. A Renaissance showcase highlights Students of the Month, and students nominate Teachers of the Month for their commitment to education. Jostens also recognizes student achievement with various incentive cards that provide coupons and discounts, and the school holds Renaissance Rallies at the beginning of each semester to recognize Renaissance students. One sophomore wrote of his Renaissance experience: "There are countless kids out there who want nothing more than a little recognition and respect, and Renaissance is just the thing to do it. Each little pen or coupon, as insignificant as it may seem, was like a pat on the back, a little "keep it up, you're doing great." Salem High School thanks Jostens for helping them motivate and encourage their students to keep doing great!
Land and Coates Inc. and Virginia Beach Technical
and Career Education Center
 Students in the Outdoor Power Equipment program at the Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center are workforce ready thanks to Land and Coates. Through job shadowing, guest speakers, and internships, students receive valuable training and gain a better understanding of employer expectations. Land and Coates professionals help with mock job interviews, participate on advisory boards, and attend school open houses to answer questions about the program posed by interested parents and students. The company's donations of lawn equipment and supplies helps the students obtain the best classroom training, and the Land and Coates door is always open to gain on-the-job experience and future employment opportunities. Land and Coates is one of many partners helping the Tech Center show its students what it means to be, what the Center calls, "gold collar workers" in today's workforce.
NAS Oceana, Fort Story, and NAB Little Creek
and Virginia Beach City Public Schools
 Virginia Beach City Public Schools enjoys a large military population, and, in response to the unique needs of military students and their families, developed the Military Child Initiative. This initiative aims to reach out to military families to facilitate a sense of connectedness as they manage situations related to transition, deployment, academic requirements, and other challenges. The partnership with NAS Oceana, Fort Story, and NAB Little Creek resulted in some of the following initiatives: a Military Welcome Packet designed for military families new to Virginia Beach; training for staff, students, parents, and community members on meeting the unique needs of military families; and more resources on the school division's Web site to assist families. Another exciting innovation, VBSchools Troop Tube, broadcast high school graduations live via streaming video so that deployed family members around the world could see the memorable event for themselves. The VBCPS Military Welcome Packets has been requested from as far away as Germany and Portugal, and the Military Child Initiative was awarded the 2007 Gold Medallion Award from the National School Public Relations Association. Most recently NAS Oceana personnel and the Office of Community Relations has launched a revamped Partners in Education program designed specifically to increase military partnership in schools. They are also exploring options for deploying service members to schools to serve as mentors to at-risk students. These strategic outreach efforts to unite the school division and the area military ensures that military students and their families always feel connected to schools and results in a"win-win" for schools and the military!
Virginia Beach Police Department and First Colonial High School
 Since its inception, the Legal Studies Academy at First Colonial High School has had the support of the Virginia Beach Police Department. The Department was involved in the planning process and helped establish academy classes. Today, the students benefit from internships in every department precinct, field trips related to law enforcement, and guest speakers on topics ranging from ballistics and toxicology to search and seizure and arrest procedures. A memorable moment in the partnership was the dedication of the Academy's courtroom in May 2007. An Academy student discovered that William Black, a Virginia Beach Police officer and First Colonial graduate, died in the line of duty in 1971. The students wanted to dedicate the courtroom in Black's memory. The Police Honor Guard offered their services for the ceremony, and Chief Jacocks helped arrange for Senator Ken Stolle, Officer Black's partner in 1971, to speak. Academy Coordinator Paige Scherr called the ceremony one of her "proudest moments" since becoming coordinator, and First Colonial High School is also proud to call the VBPD one of its partners in education—and, in fact, a 2008 Model Partnership.
Virginia Beach United Methodist Church and W.T. Cooke Elementary School
 Virginia Beach United Methodist Church's CBC program – Care by Community – has truly lived up to its name. This program allowed W.T. Cooke Elementary School to extend The Anchor Club, its after school program for homeless children, from two days to four days each week – which means more time for tutoring, mentoring, recreation and hot meals. Every Monday and Wednesday, students are taken to United Methodist Church where they spend the afternoon with church staff and volunteers, but the impact extends well beyond the church walls. Teacher Tamra Crigger states that her students in the program are not only completing assignments, but are eager to share their work the following day ."They are more attentive, participate more, and are self-motivated," she says. Teacher Penny Morrisette also notes similar academic benefits and adds that "a general feeling of caring and protection has been provided," and that her kids say "today is a CBC day" with a smile on their faces. Students are also smiling thanks to the eyeglasses, art supplies, donations, and Christmas presents provided by the United Methodist Church family. The church's Care by Community program has shown W.T. Cooke students that its community does care about them and their academic and personal well-being.
U.S. Navy Fleet Readiness Center Midlant Site Oceana
and Windsor Oaks Elementary School
 Military mentors from the Fleet Readiness Center Midlant Site Oceana are making at difference at Windsor Oaks Elementary School. These sailors are an encouraging group of adults who are committed to bolstering the self esteem and academic performance of students. Teachers report marked progress, both academically and behaviorally, for students working with mentors. Additionally, the Oceana sailors volunteer their time to participate in reading month activities, assist with evening PTA events, provide tutoring, eat lunch with students, and help with annual field day events. School Partnership Coordinator Katie Knapp writes, "Senior Chief Hubbell and the men and women at Oceana stepped up and offered to help wherever needed. The determination and community spirit of this group of individuals has been phenomenal." The positive role models from the Fleet Readiness Center have helped make Windsor Oaks students ready to behave and perform their best in school.
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