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Two Virginia Beach schools recognized as national models for college and career readiness
Two Virginia Beach schools recognized as national models for college and career readiness

Great Neck and Salem Middle schools in Virginia Beach have once again received distinction as AVID National Demonstration Schools. This elite designation has been awarded to only 200 of 8,000 AVID schools in the United States and around the world. AVID National Demonstration Schools exhibit a college and career readiness culture through rigor and high expectations for all students throughout the school.

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Community Listening Sessions Scheduled March 25 – April 3 ​​​​​​​ to Gain Resident Input on Future Election System

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (March 13, 2023) – The City of Virginia Beach, in partnership with the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, will hold a series of community listening sessions between March 25 and April 3. Residents will have an opportunity to provide their input on the City’s election system and how they elect their representatives. Feedback will be captured by the event moderators and provided to City Council in a final report.

Two Virginia Beach schools recognized as national models for college and career readiness
Two Virginia Beach schools recognized as national models for college and career readiness (opens in new window/tab)

Great Neck and Salem Middle schools in Virginia Beach have once again received distinction as AVID National Demonstration Schools. This elite designation has been awarded to only 200 of 8,000 AVID schools in the United States and around the world. AVID National Demonstration Schools exhibit a college and career readiness culture through rigor and high expectations for all students throughout the school.

Students with "EllRay Jakes is Magic!" book
VBCPS plans a magical month of reading with All District Reads (opens in new window/tab)

Ask any Virginia Beach fifth grader what they’re reading in March, and they’ll all answer the same thing — “EllRay Jakes is Magic!” That’s because Virginia Beach City Public Schools is participating in an exciting literacy program called All District Reads, which puts a free book into the hands of every fifth grader and encourages them to read aloud and discuss the story with their families, classmates and community.

Beach Bags

You can help our community by packing a “Beach Bag” for a beach child!

Beach Bags

The Beach Bags program provides shelf-stable meals and healthy snacks to students who might otherwise go hungry during weekends and over school breaks, including the long summer breaks. Since the program was founded in 2009, more than 154,000 Beach Bags have been distributed. During the 2019-20 school year, more than 24,400 Beach Bags were provided to our neediest students.
Food-insecure students are identified for support by school staff or the Office of School Social Work Services.

Food insecurity is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as "households that are uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet basic needs of all their members because of insufficient money or other resources.” It is impossible to predict the impact that being deprived of food has on a child's development, but parents and teachers agree that even short-term hunger has an immediate negative impact on student alertness, behavior and academic achievement.

Virginia Beach City Public Schools, in partnership with the Virginia Beach Education Foundation, is addressing this critical need through the Beach Bags program, which is funded entirely through donations by generous community members, area businesses, nonprofit and faith-based organizations and school and student organizations. Schools and the community can help by making tax-deductible, financial contributions through the Virginia Beach Education Foundation, by collecting and donating food items, or by volunteering to assemble bags each week. Donations are accepted daily at the School Administration Building located at 2512 George Mason Drive, Virginia Beach, VA, 23456.

For more information about the Beach Bags program, email or call the Office of Family & Community Engagement at 757.263.1949.

Beach Bag filled with food

Each Beach Bag contains:

  • 2- Individual-sized cereal boxes or oatmeal
  • 2- 8 oz. servings of shelf-stable milk
  • 2- Individual-sized meals (ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, macaroni & cheese, etc.)
  • 2- 4 oz. fruit cups and/or 100% juice boxes
  • 2- Snack items (granola bars, raisins, pretzels, etc.)