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fully97% Accreditation Highlights Many Success Stories
Hampton City Schools saw many scores increase across the division as the district reached 97% accreditation for the second year in a row! High schools increased their scores in every category while elementary and middle schools saw increases across the board as well. The division fell just 0.12 % of being fully accredited this year. According to Paula Brown, the division’s Director of Instructional Accountability, the shortfall boiled down to “one student, one question.” Brown credited the increase in scores, coupled with the division having 97% of its schools achieve state goals, to the “hard work being done in our schools every day by so many caring teachers and administrators.”
Some Accreditation Highlights
· All 7 middle schools reached Full Accreditation
· All 4 high schools reached Full Accreditation
· Schools scoring in the 90’s in ALL Core Content Areas: Armstrong, Asbury, Booker, Tucker-Capps and Kecoughtan
· Booker: 100% of students passed 5th grade assessment of which 57% scored Passed Advanced
· Hampton Harbour Academy: Achieved Full Accreditation
· Bethel: 100% of students passed the Chemistry SOL Assessment (all first-time takers)

2010-2011 BUDGET INFORMATION - new as of 2/9

Hampton City Schools
2010 BUDGET INFORMATION
(Please Revisit Periodically For Updates)

If you have any questions about the 2010-2011 budget, please send them to...
budgetinfo@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us

• RIF Guidelines

HCS BUDGET DEFICIT COULD GROW

Former Governor Tim Kaine, before leaving office, had proposed freezing the Local Composite Index (LCI) at its current level in his proposed budget. However yesterday, Governor Bob McDonnell announced that he will support updating the Local Composite Index (LCI), with an implementation in the upcoming fiscal year. This will mean an additional reduction of some $4.5 million in the 2010-2011 operating budget for Hampton City Schools. While the Governor's announcement is a proposal at this point, this would mean that our budget deficit would grow from $20.3 million to roughly $24.8 million! We plan to continue to keep you informed about these and other crucial budget issues.


The School Division's Proposed 2010-2011 Budget will be presented to the
School Board on Wednesday, March 10.

Other Important Dates:

March 3 - School Board Retreat To Discuss Proposed Budget, 1 pm - 5 pm (Ruppert Sargent Building, Conference Room Side B)
March 17 - Budget Work Session and Public Hearings On The Budget, 7:30 pm (Jones Magnet Middle School)
March 24 - Budget Work Session and Public Hearings On The Budget, 7:30 pm (Jones Magnet Middle School)
March 31 - Approval of the Proposed Budget, 7:30 pm (Jones Magnet Middle School)


ad

starIf you cannot attend any of the forums listed above,
just email your comments to us at:

consolidation@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us


School Consolidation Proposal

Honoring our commitment to keep you apprised of every aspect regarding the 2010-2011 budget, the Division Leadership Team (DLT) would like to share the following information.

As you are probably aware, on Wednesday our School Board approved the plan to close both Mallory and Lee elementary schools. However, faced with a $20.3 million shortfall, next month the DLT plans to present an additional proposal to the School Board regarding school closures and repurposing.

With our current challenge being that of achieving efficiencies in the wake of flat to decreasing enrollments coupled with declining revenue, it is imperative that we seek ways to best utilize our facilities and effectively create a future focusing on the needs of our students and our community. Understanding that these challenges provide no easy solutions, the DLT will therefore present the following proposal next month to our School Board:

*Repurpose Spratley Middle School and create a gifted center there for students in grades 3-8. This will be achieved by:

Closing The Mary Peake Center and moving its gifted program to Spratley
Moving the gifted program from Jones Magnet Middle School to Spratley
Moving our Gifted Parent Resource Center to Spratley
Moving the Excel Art Program to Spratley

Consolidating these two gifted centers will not only begin to address declining enrollments in the division, but will also focus on the student, protect the classroom and achieve efficiencies. For example, closing The Mary Peake Center will recapture over $600,000. In addition, we will realize savings as we make per pupil adjustments, and will be able to increase the lottery slots at Jones Magnet Middle School.

While we understand that change is difficult, we feel this proposal will maximize student achievement, resources and structures for future successes.

As always, should you have any comments or questions, please email them to:
budgetinfo@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us

Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to Hampton City Schools as we all work together through a very difficult year.

2010-2011 Budget
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Week of January 25, 2010

Q:  I was wondering what the division thought about having middle and high school students come to school with laptops as part of their materials requirement? This would make parents more responsible for their child’s supplies, etc.

A: While we agree that this would be a good idea, our challenge is to make sure that all HCS students have access to all instructional resources at school and at home.

Q: I heard a rumor over the weekend that money was found in the budget to save positions at the Magnet and Fundamentals schools. Is that true?

A:  Our budget gap remains at $20.3 M.

Q: Will Spratley be just for the gifted programs? Will the name of the school be changed?

A:  Spratley will be for the gifted programs only.  It is being proposed as the Spratley Gifted Center.

 Q: In the paper an article was written regarding possible program cuts for the 2010-2011 school year. Preschool was one of the programs mentioned in the article. Does Early Childhood Special Education fall under this umbrella?

A:  No, ECSE does not fall under this umbrella.

Q: Where would the current Spratley students attend school?

A:  We are currently working on this, and will keep you informed.

Q: What is the timeframe for the move from Jones to Spratley?  Would that take place next school year or in fall 2011?

A: This move takes place on July 1, 2010.

Q: Could HCS move Bridgeport Academy to The Mary Peake Center?  

A: This is a good idea, however we have two more years remaining on the Bridgeport Academy lease.
Q: What about Lee and Mallory?  Will the schools and grounds remain part of Hampton City Schools or will they be sold or the buildings destroyed?

A:  Both schools are properties of Hampton City Schools. We have made no determination at this point as to whether they will be repurposed, sold or rented.

Q: My concern about the Reduction In Force speaks to the 3 “needs improvements” for an observation. Shouldn't it be a summative or at least two observations? Everyone has a bad day...teachers, administrators...etc.  

A: Multiple criteria will be used to determine the reduction in force.

Q: According to the RIF guidelines, personnel will be grouped into job families.  My question is why?

A: Multiple criteria will be used to determine the reduction in force, to include current job family as well as previous experience in Hampton City Schools.

Q: Each year, we have large, division-wide professional development meetings at some public forum. This year, we will have had two. Please consider cutting the large, citywide professional development meetings. They can always be reinstated when our budget recovers.

A:  Thanks for your feedback. This money was earmarked for training last year. All the consultant fees and part of the Convention Center rental was paid for with last year’s money for all the 2009-2010 Division-Wide training, including the training for February 1, 2010.             

 Q: What is HCS' current assessment of the feasibility of moving to a 4-day school week beginning in 2010-2011?   Will we be more likely to entertain this plan only if other surrounding districts do the same?

A: Should other divisions move forward with this plan we would more than likely strongly consider this as well.

Q: Will teachers who are currently on or have been on a needs improvement plan, be considered first for riffing?  How does this status affect a teacher's job for next year?

A: This is addressed in the recently revised RIF guidelines and is one of multiple criteria that will be used.

Q: Just wanted to say thank you for the e-mail updates.  I appreciate being kept informed of changes as they arise- it helps all of us adjust to the difficult changes Hampton faces. 
Thanks again!

 

The Week Of January 11, 2010

Q. Did the Governor present his proposed budget?

A. Yes. Please review the informative video above by Suzy Scott, explaining what the Governor's proposed budget means for Hampton City Schools.

Q. Do we have established RIF Guidelines.

A. Yes we do. You may find them by clicking here.

Q. Many of the other school divisions around us make parents responsible for this expense of paying for AP exams. I also understand that many of our students are not in a financial position to pay for these exams, in which case -- we could make exceptions to the rule. I would hope that by making parents responsible for this expense, we could possibly save some jobs.

A. The division currently only pays for a student's first Advanced Placement exam. Parents are responsible for any additional exams during the year.

Q. Why would we hire a Human Resources Director when we are experiencing a budget deficit?

A. Human Resources is a key process in Hampton City Schools, ensuring that we attract, train and retain the very best people.

Q. How would you all determine who will lose their jobs? Will education and training among the support staff be taken into consideration this time around? Will the "last hired, first fired" play a significant role this time around also?

A. Please refer to the RIF Guidelines posted on this page, as the guidelines clearly explain this.

 

Week of December 14, 2009

Q: Will the number of years an employee has been with Hampton City Schools determine who will be cut (as was the case last year), or will there be a different set of criteria used this year?

A:  We are currently working on our Reduction In Force (RIF) guidelines, which will be taken to the School Board for approval. We will update this response as more information becomes available.

 

Q: With a possible 24 million shortfall, are jobs going to be cut?  If so, when are people going to be notified? Should staff cuts be expected?  If so, when will those affected be notified?

A: With approximately 85% of our budget in personnel costs, a reduction of $24M will impact staffing. It is anticipated that personnel will be notified prior to the presentation of the budget to the School Board.

 

Q: If there is a pay reduction and an employee rejects the plan, is this person eligible for unemployment benefits? What would be the outcome?

A: Employees would be eligible to apply for unemployment, and the Virginia Employment Commission will determine whether or not they are eligible.

 

Q: I have read the Management Efficiency Report online.  How far are we with the suggested changes recommended over the 5 years? 

A: The Management Efficiency Report contained 102 recommendations. 18 have been completed, 38 are in process, 8 have been implemented by alternative solutions, 16 are pending, 6 have been considered and abandoned, and 16 remain to be addressed.  Savings realized thus far equals $1,758,450.

 

Q: Would furloughs and/or a 4-day week address the shortfalls?

A:  While this suggestion would not address the entire shortfall, it is something we will certainly consider.

 

Q: What will be the format for letting teachers know whether or not they have employment with Hampton City Schools for 2010-2011?

A:  The Human Resources Department will generate notification letters, and principals and department heads will distribute them.

 

Q: Will we know the Governor’s budget on December 18?

A: The Governor will present his budget on the 18th.  The Virginia Department of Education will release division specific information shortly thereafter. At that point we will know specifics about how that will impact HCS.  We will keep you informed as we receive information.

 

Q: Will K-12 education be protected?

A: In a Daily Press article published December 11, Virginia State Senator William Wampler remarked  “K-12 education is the only category that has not experienced big reductions but it may not escape this.” 

 

Week of December 7th, 2009

Q. What is the budget process?

A: Each Division Leadership Team member will meet with their department and school leaders during December to review their current budgets and assess needs for next year. This information will then be used to help develop the 2010-2011 budget. We will continue to provide you with updates on this process, as we plan to present a proposed budget to the School Board on March 10th.

Q: How does the budget look for 2010-2011 as opposed to this year?

A: While last year’s budget was very challenging with a $7 million dollar shortfall, this year’s budget appears to be even more so, with an anticipated $24 million reduction.

Q: Is this budget shortfall only happening in Hampton City Schools?

A: No. These challenges facing Hampton City Schools are by no means unique to our division. With the impact of state budget cuts and the loss of local revenue, coupled with the state of the national economy, public school divisions across Virginia and the nation are facing major budget shortfalls.

Q. Will stimulus funds save us again this year?

A. No. The stimulus funds we received last year were to be spread out over a two-year period. We expect the funds we were to receive for the second year to be cut by approximately $3 million. In addition, there are no expectations for additional stimulus funds.

Q. Do we still plan to open the two new schools? If so, how can we afford to do this?

A. We look forward to opening our two new PreK-8 schools. The construction of these schools was funded in prior budget years.  Any costs associated for the 2010-2011 year will be offset with the closing of Wythe Elementary School and the possible consolidation of other schools.

Q: How will we be kept informed about the budget?

A. With the multi-million dollar shortfall we are facing, our goal is to be open, honest and direct with you.  We will establish communication venues on our website that speak to facts not myths. In addition, you will receive updates via email, and we will continuously add new questions and answers to this document.

A Message About The Budget From HCS Superintendent of Schools

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A Message About The Governor's Proposed Budget, Suzanna Scott, Director of Finance

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• HCS Finance gets International Award

HCS FINANCE GETS INTERNATIONAL AWARD

The Finance Department of Hampton City Schools has won a Meritorious Budget Award from
the Association of School Business Officials International, for the development of the school
division's 2009-2010 annual budget. According to the award letter, this accomplishment
"reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest standards
of school budgeting." Deputy Superintendent Dr. Victor Hellman along with members of the
Finance staff were honored at the February 3 Hampton School Board meeting, where board
member Dr. Henry Godfrey officially congratulated the team on "this prestigious award."

• 2010-2011 Pre-Kindergarten Registration February 22-February 27, 2010

Students must be four by September 30

Location
1435 Todd’s Lane
Northampton Community Center (behind Davis Middle School)

Monday, Feb. 22- 9-6pm
Tuesday, Feb. 23- 9-6pm
Wednesday, Feb. 24- 9-6pm
Thursday, Feb. 25- 9-6pm
Friday, Feb. 26- 9-6pm
Saturday, Feb. 27- 9-1pm

Items Needed:
Proof of Residency-ONLY One of the following:
Mortgage statement, Lease statement, Utility Bill-Water, Electric, Gas or a Residency Affidavit (available at any school)
Parent Identification
Original Copy of Child's Birth Certificate
Child's Pick Up and Drop-Off Address
Must also provide name of person to put child on and receiving child off the bus

Screening appointments will be made at registration. Child's Physical and
Immunization Records are due at the screening appointment.
Call 727-2448 with questions.

• Hunt for Hampton History: From the Sea to the Stars

logoHunt for Hampton History: From the Sea to the Stars

Hampton History Museum

March 6, 2010

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

On March 6, 2010, celebrate Hampton, Virginia’s 400th Anniversary at the Hunt for Hampton History: From the Sea to the Stars, a historical showcase taking place at the Hampton History Museum, Ruppert Sargent Building, and along Franklin Street in downtown Hampton. The event will be held 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. to gather, collect, explore, and share the city’s historic past. Best of all, the event is absolutely free!

The event will include plenty of fun activities and exhibits for the entire family. The “Buckroe Beach Amusement Park” exhibit, located inside the Hampton History Museum, will feature a vintage rollercoaster car, old photos of the park, portions of previous rides, and even an original cash register from the Bay Shore Penny Arcade. “Hampton During War Times”, featuring re-enactors, will transform the bottom floor of the Rupert Sargent building into a living timeline, beginning with the War of 1812 and concluding with World War II. Visitors will have an opportunity to walk through encampments and view real weapons and equipment from each of the wars. The “Native American Village”, a recreation of a Powhatan longhouse, with hunting and fishing village, will house re-enactors demonstrating brain tanning and sewing techniques, as well as the art of making tools and gathering and hunting food.

Other highlights of the Hunt for Hampton History: From the Sea to the Stars include African-American storyteller Sheila Arnold of History’s Alive!, Luther W. Machen Elementary School History Club re-enactors, Rainbow Puppets performing “Footsteps in History”, historic car show (Franklin Street between Queens Way and Old Hampton Lane), neighborhood and school displays, free tours of St. John’s Church, pirate re-enactors, book signings by local authors, and numerous children’s activities. There will also be a very special 400th birthday celebration complete with cupcakes.

For more information please visit Hampton 400.

• PTAs at our NEW PreK-8 Schools
There will be a meeting to set up PTAs at the Andrews & Phenix Schools: March 25, 6:30 pm. Any parents, guardians or family members with children zoned for one of these new schools are encouraged to attend and get involved with their school’s PTA! Location: Wythe Elementary for the Andrews PTA and Bethel High for the Phenix PTA.
• Boundary Adjustment News
During the 2008-2009 school year, the Boundary Adjustment Committee, comprised of a diverse group of parents, school division employees and community members recommended attendance zones for our new schools, Phenix and Andrews. It was noted by this committee that additional savings could be realized by possible consolidation of existing schools. The schools identified for consideration were Bassette, Mallory, Tarrant, and Lee Elementary Schools, as well as Lindsay and Spratley Middle Schools.

Virginia school divisions continue to face major economic challenges, and Hampton City Schools is not immune. In addition to reductions in state funding, projected school division revenues are further reduced as a result of declining enrollment. To that end, the School Facility Utilization Team was formed and is comprised of many of the same members of the Boundary Adjustment Committee. Team membership was broadened to include representatives from the communities who may be impacted by possible consolidation, City of Hampton government, the 2004 School Investment Panel, and community groups.

Tasked with examining the feasibility of merging or consolidating one or more of the schools identified in the 2008-2009 study, the work of this team will focus only on the previously identified elementary schools. The team presented a progress report to the Hampton School Board on November 18th with a final report with recommendations to be presented on December 16th. Public input will be gathered in early January with the Board considering the final recommendation(s) later that month.

Updates will be provided as they are available as well as information about next steps related to the use of school facilities. The process of reviewing school facility utilization ensures that we are fiscally responsible while continuing to provide high quality educational programs.

Questions may be directed to: schoolfacilities@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us
HAMPTON EXCITED ABOUT ITS TWO NEW SCHOOLS

September 2010 will mark the first time Hampton City Schools had opened a new school in over 30 years....and the excitement has spread throughout the Hampton community! This coming fall, two new PreK-8 schools will open with a population of approximately 1,300 students each. The schools are located on two different sites in Hampton. The George P. Phenix School is located on the property of Bethel High School (Big Bethel Road), while the Hunter B. Andrews School is located on Victoria Boulevard. Both schools are currently under-budget!

The construction project, which began some 16 months ago, has allowed many small and minority businesses in the area to participate in what will soon be known as the "gems of the Peninsula." Working with the construction management team of M. B. Kahn and the architectural firm of Moseley Architects, the construction project has a whopping 54% SWAM (Small, Women and Minority) business participation!

Students attending the new schools will be grouped into smaller and separate "learning communities" within the school. The PreK-2 Grade community as well as the Grade 3-5 community will have a capacity of 400 students each, while the Grade 6-8 community will allow for 500 students.

logo
For more detailed information and news including aerial photos and maps please visit the PreK-8 Updates page.


H1N1 Clinics/Pandemic Information

Visit the HCS Health Services web page and click on the "Pandemic Influenza Response Plan" tab for information regarding Swine Flu.

Scheduled H1N1 Clinics:

Open to everyone.

January 26, 2010 4-7:30PM in Kecoughtan High School Cafeteria
February 10, 2010 4-7:30PM in Bethel High School Cafeteria
March 4, 2010 4-7:30PM in Hampton High School Cafeteria

• MGT Efficiency Report

Tuesday, February 2
Second Semester Begins
Friday,, February 12
Report Cards
Monday, February 15
Make-Up Day, all schools and offices ARE open.
Friday, February 26
Early Release for Students (Elem./M.School only)

February 2009

HCS FINANCE GETS INTERNATIONAL AWARD

The Finance Department of Hampton City Schools has won a Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International, for the development of the school division's 2009-2010 annual budget. According to the award letter, this accomplishment "reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest standards of school budgeting." Deputy Superintendent Dr. Victor Hellman along with members of the Finance staff were honored at the February 3 Hampton School Board meeting, where board member Dr. Henry Godfrey officially congratulated the team on "this prestigious award."

October 2009

Tucker-Capps teacher, Deandra Wood, received the Job Turner Award from the Virginia Association of the Deaf.

Kecoughtan High School senior, Trent Johnson, has been selected by the Virginia Historical Society to participate in the 2009 Wyndham B. Blanton Scholars Forum in Richmond on 22-23 October. Trent is the first Kecoughtan student to be so honored and recognized. The theme of this year's forum was the "Gentleman Athlete" and Trent wrote an essay about Jackie Robinson as a part of his application for
this designation. Trent currently serves as the Student Liaison to the Hampton School Board.

September 2009

Hampton City Schools Title I Program won a 2009 Partnership District Award from the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University. This is the second time that Hampton has been honored for making excellent progress in “developing its leadership on partnerships and for guiding schools to develop comprehensive programs of school, family, and community partnerships” in Title I schools.

Hampton Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Linda M. Shifflette, has been named a 2009 Darden College of Education Fellow by Old Dominion University. Nominated by the faculty of the University’s Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership, Dr. Shifflette was cited as having “made significant contributions to the educational leadership profession [as well as having] distinguished yourself in your career field.” Her selection was a unanimous decision of the Selection Committee. The Darden College of Education will honor Dr. Shifflette on November 19, during the observance of American Education Week.

Phoebus High School nurse, Gail Byrd, was rewarded with a WTKR People Taking Action Award, for saving the life of a Phoebus High teacher who had collapsed and stopped breathing at school. Gail said saving the life of a co-worker came naturally. “After all, I had the training and I knew exactly what to do. It was a team effort.”

May 2009

Several Bethel High School choirs received top awards at the Heritage Festivals Choral Competition held in Myrtle Beach. The Bethel Jazz group, Indigo, Cultured Pearls and the Concert Choir all received Gold Awards at the choral competition, with the Gold rating being the highest standard with scores of 95 and above! In addition, the Bethel Choirs received a "Grand Champion" award, while Indigo, the Concert Choir, and Cultured Pearls received the “Festivals of Gold Award” which qualifies them to compete in Chicago, New York, or San Francisco! This is the second time in the past four years that the BHS choirs have been
awarded this honor.

Lindsay Middle School English teacher Carolyn Hopkins had her fifth article published by the Virginia Association of Teachers of English (VATE). Carolyn wrote this fifth published article on linguistic diversity.

At the May 6 School Board meeting, Tracey Pence of Syms Middle School was named Hampton’s Teacher of the Year. Tracey, a lifelong resident of Hampton, is a Social Studies teacher at Syms. Earlier in the year, she had been named Hampton’s Middle School teacher of the year. Sandra Dianna of Armstrong Elementary School was named Elementary Teacher of the Year while
Joyce Corriere of Hampton High School was named the district’s High School Teacher of the Year.

March 2009

Two Hampton schools were honored with the prestigious Governor’s VIP Award for Educational Excellence. They were Armstrong Elementary School and Barron Elementary School.

The following schools received Excellence Awards from the Virginia Board of Education
Aberdeen Elementary
Asbury Elementary
Bassette Elementary
Cooper Elementary
Eaton Middle
Jones Middle
Kraft Elementary
Langley Elementary
Tarrant Elementary
Tucker-Capps Elementary

2007-2008 School Year...

November 2008

HCS Earns Bronze Quality Team Award, a team comprised of Instructional Accountability’s Paula Brown, Bryan Elementary School principal Dr. Vatara Slade, Superintendent Dr. Patrick Russo and Dr. Sally I’Anson, made a presentation on November 17th at the 16th National Quality Education Conference held in Reno, Nevada. The presentation highlighted the division’s Student Achievement Focus Team (SAFT) initiative. Going up against international competition, the Hampton school division took the Bronze Quality Team Award!

Emma Freakley, a third grade student at Armstrong Elementary, won the "My Dream House" 2008 Governor's Housing Conference poster contest. Emma, her family, and her art teacher (Debbie Taylor) were all invited to attend a special luncheon where the Governor was to personally recognize Emma and present her with her award.

Skyland Barbee of Jones Magnet Middle School, won
3rd Place, Division II in the 2008 Virginia Association for Pupil Transportation Poster Contest

Hampton High School freshman Reginald Jones was selected
as the State of Virginia’s Outstanding Future Leader, by the Virginia Jaycees

Ian Masters Dansey, a senior at Phoebus High School, was named
the 2008 Prudential Spirit of Community Volunteer of the Year.

Jenna Napier of Kecoughtan High School won First Place, Poster Contest while Shawn Lugo of Kecoughtan won First Place, License Plate Contest in the 2008 State Driver Education Contest.

Kecoughtan High School was selected a 2008 Virginia Naturally School by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, for its efforts toward environmental stewardship.

Kecoughtan High School’s Katheryn Bodie or Kecoughtan High School, and Joseph Luke of Phoebus High School both received Perfect Scores of 800 on the Verbal Critical Reading section of the SAT Exam (2008).

Jakyll Henry and Johnel Trammel of Bethel High School, Tracie Cabler and Jaclyn Stokes of Kecoughtan High School, and Michelle L. Ammons of Phoebus High School were all named Outstanding Participants in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Gerston James and Bradford Knight of Hampton High School were named Semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Armando Aguilera, Joshua Garber and Grace Miller...all of Kecoughtan High School...have been named Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

October 2008

HCS Social Studies Teacher Specialist, Charles “Chuck” Baumgardner, was named Outstanding Economic Educator of the Year by Christopher Newport University’s Center for Economic Education! His enthusiasm and dedication to teaching were cited as major reasons the Center for Economic Education was certain he was their top choice.

September 2008

Two HCS Teachers Honored By OfficeMax. Two HCS teachers recently had surprise in-class ceremonies after being selected as honorees for the Office Max “A Day Made Better 2008” program. Debra Costa of Tyler Elementary and Kitya Chandler of Tarrant Elementary were the two teachers selected by their principals as educators who have shown both dedication and innovative approaches to education.  Both were presented with over $1,000 worth of teacher resources and supplies.

August 2008

On August 7, representatives from the Farmers Insurance Group visited Hampton Superintendent Dr. Patrick Russo to provide a financial donation to the school division. The $500 donation was viewed “not as a donation but as support” said Russo. The check was presented by Farmers Insurance and Financial Services Agent, Michael Lewis. The funds will go toward implementing Division Leadership Team strategies for continuous improvement, as well as improvement of the division’s accreditation process.

At a School Board meeting held on August 6th, the HCS Technology Department received $15,000 from the Batelle Foundation to continue the internship program between Hampton City Schools, Thomas Nelson Community College and Batelle. For the last four years, the Batelle Foundation has provided HCS with funds to hire an IT student from Thomas Nelson to work for HCS.

June 2008

Cheryl McLaughlin’s 8th grade students at Syms Middle School earned first place state level honors in the annual Project Citizen competition. The Project Citizen service learning initiative is designed to increase students’ awareness of important community issues and how they can influence public policy to help solve these issues. The award winning entry was entitled “Wiping Out Homelessness in Hampton.” The students investigated the local homelessness issue and created their own action plan proposing policy changes to help homeless families in Hampton. Their first-place project will represent Virginia as they advance to the national level!

Anthony Winslow, a second grade student at Mallory Elementary School took First Place in the region in WHRO’s 14th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writer’s and Illustrator’s Competition (Second Grade Category) for his book entitled “Herman the Bear”. There were 600 entries for this year’s competition. Anthony’s book will continue competition on the national level. He has been featured reading his book on WHRO and received $100 and a book bag filled with books/tapes from the Reading Rainbow Program.

Warren Campbell, a Junior at Kecoughtan High School, was the First Place winner of U.S. Representative Thelma Drake's High School Students' Art Competition for the 2nd Congressional District. The competition’s theme was “An Artistic Discovery.'' With entries received from Hampton, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Warren’s winning entry was titled was titled “Warren, Age 5.” His artwork will hang for 1 year in the tunnel between the Capitol Building and the Cannon House Office Building, in Washington, D.C. where members of Congress walk on their way to vote. Warren is also eligible for one of 5 college scholarships.

The Hampton School Division was one of only six school divisions in the nation to be the distinguished winner of the 2008 NEA-Saturn/UAW Partnership Award. Hampton won for its New Teacher Induction & Mentoring Program called “TEACHERS HELPING TEACHERS.”

WHCS-TV Channel 46, our in-house television station, is the recipient of not one, but TWO 2008 Telly Awards! The Telly Awards annually showcase the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations & corporate video departments in the world. It receives over 14,000 entries annually from all 50 states and many foreign countries. WHCS won for the Warrior Classic production (Live Events) and one for its Math Zone program (Student Productions.)

WHCS-TV Channel 46 has been awarded 3 Videographer Awards plus an honorable mention! The goal of the Videographer Awards is to identify & recognize the artisans who excel in the scope of their own environment. The station received an Award of Excellence for Sports Coverage, an Award of Distinction for the Warrior Classic and an Award of Distinction for the HCS Teacher Recruitment Video. They also received an “Honorable Mention” for the Math Zone.

MAY 2008

Tucker-Capps 3rd grade teacher Aretha Livingston was selected as the Virginia Lottery’s Super Teacher of the Year for our region! She was surprised May 22 by Lottery officials and HCS administrators, and is one of only 8 Super Teachers selected across the state of Virginia! Super Teacher Awards are a combined effort by the Virginia Lottery, the Virginia PTA and The Supply Room Companies to illustrate what great teachers we have in Virginia – and to highlight the cream of the crop. She received a cash prize of $2,000, and a $2,000 classroom supplies credit from Virginia based The Supply Room Companies.

MAY 2008

For the second year in a row, Hampton High School has made the list of Newsweek Magazines Top Schools in the nation. Hampton High School was recognized for its highly impressive International Baccalaureate Program. A total of 83 schools in Virginia were listed, with Hampton High being the only school from Hampton to make the Newsweek list.

MARCH 2008


Bethel High School social studies teacher Mary Lynn Everhart Mary Lynn, who in October was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award by the National Council for Geographic Education, has recently been selected to participate in a study trip to Ecuador with 15 other Virginia teachers! The study/travel experience is sponsored by the Geographic Alliance. This is an exciting opportunity to expand classroom instruction, as Mary Lynn plans to certainly integrate her travel experiences into her Human and World Geography classes. That’s cool!

MARCH 2008

The Kecoughtan High School Band program was named a Virginia Honor Band for 2008! This is the highest award a band program can earn in Virginia, and is the second year in a row that the KHS band has earned this honor.

The distinction comes as a result of the students earning a superior rating at marching and concert band festivals. This award is based on the Music Standards Of Learning for Virginia.


MARCH 2008

Hampton City Schools finished 15th in the nation in the first-ever Safe Search Awards Program sponsored by netTrekker! The Safe Search Awards Program recognizes districts that are keeping kids safest when searching on the Internet. HCS was recognized for outstanding usage in the 2006-2007 school year, and for “an extremely successful” district-wide implementation of netTrekker d.i.


FEBRUARY 2008

Congratulations to the staff of Channel 46 WHCS TV! The new HCS Teacher Recruitment DVD…produced by the station…. won a Platinum Award in the Video/ Film/ Recruitment category from the International Ava Award competition. The Platinum Award is the highest level awarded in the competition!

The International Ava Awards recognizes outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, writing, direction, shooting and editing of audio-visual materials and programs. Entries include film, analog & digital productions viewed in a wide variety of mediums – from movie screens to televisions to computers. Entries came from throughout the United States and several foreign countries.

FEBRUARY 2008


Angie R. Smith, school counselor at Smith Elementary School was selected Virginia’s Elementary Professional School Counselor of the Year by the Virginia School Counselor Association. She is a National certified counselor who has worked in public school, education for some 22 years.

JANUARY 2008

The Virginia Association of Secondary School Principal's (VASSP) recognized Kecoughtan High Assistant Principal Tiffany Sanzo, as Virginia’s Assistant Principal of the Year for 2008!

Sanzo, who has been a member of the HCS family for some 13 years, earned her National Board Certification (NBC) and uses that experience to mentor and support NBC candidates through the process.

DECEMBER 2007

The Keep Hampton Schools Beautiful Program won the 2007 Keep America Beautiful National Award for Beautification & Community Improvement. The program is a collaborative effort of Hampton City Schools, Hampton Parks & Recreation, Hampton Neighborhood Commission, the Volunteer Center of the Virginia Peninsula, United Way Day of Caring, the Virginia Cooperative Extension Hampton Master Gardeners, the Hampton Clean City Commission, and many individual and group volunteers. The award was presented at the Keep America Beautiful Annual Conference in Washington, DC on December 7.


OCTOBER 2007


Debby Martin, Hampton City Schools’ Teacher of the Year, has been selected by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) as one of the "20 to Watch" educators for 2007. This special recognition was launched to identify emerging leaders who will be helping to shape the world of education technology for the next 20 years. Martin, who joined the Hampton school division in 2001, is a Career and Technical Education teacher at Phoebus High School. The 20 educators identified this year by NSBA range from classroom teachers and technology directors to a superintendent and a non-profit foundation leader.


SEPTEMBER 2007


Mary Lynn Everhart of Bethel High school is the recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Teaching Award given by the National Council for Geographic Education. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to geographic education and Mary Lynn is one of only 14 educators in the United States to receive this honor!

SEPTEMBER 2007

Mary Hurst of Cooper Elementary Magnet School for Technology was named the 2007 Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Technology Education Association. Mary is currently enjoying her recent retirement from the Hampton school division.

AUGUST 2007

The Hampton School division is the recipient of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) 2007 Golden Achievement Award! The award was given recently for the school division’s Schools Curb Appeal Initiative.

According to the award letter received, NSPRA’s Golden Achievement Award recognizes “exemplary work” with award judges seeking “outstanding achievement.” The initiative, which is an on-going project – serves as a keen example of the positive changes that can take place when schools work hand in hand with the community.

AUGUST 2007

The Hampton School Division won a 2007 Partnership District Award from the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University! This marks an important step in the school district’s leadership in building strong partnerships.

Hampton was honored for making excellent progress in helping schools develop comprehensive programs of school, family, and community partnerships to support school improvement goals. Essential elements included teamwork, leadership, plans for action, implementation, facilitation, evaluation, and network connections.


MAY 2007

The Hampton School division is the recipient of the 2007 Excellence In Education Award, given by the Virginia Tech School of Education. This annual award recognizes successful programs in PreK-12 schools and in community colleges as well.

Hampton won for its program, Community Visioning – HCS Community Priorities Workshop. This workshop, which began when Dr. Patrick Russo took over as Hampton’s Superintendent of Schools three years ago, engages the entire Hampton community in shaping a set of shared outcomes for the division.

APRIL 2007

The American School Board Journal tapped Hampton City Schools as the only school division in the State of Virginia to receive the highly coveted 2007 Magna Award. Over the past 13 years, the Journal has featured excellent examples of school governance, showcasing divisions offering practical advice on how districts solve pressing problems.

The Hampton School Board earned this national recognition for the division’s various program involvements with In-Sync Partnerships to develop collaborations designed to increase school success and improve neighborhoods.

football

Football

 


gaggle Gaggle is our latest partner to help students safely communicate with teachers and classmates, as well as offering an easier way to manage assignments through the digital locker and drop boxes.

Username:

Password:

Hampton's New National Board Certified Teachers Bring Total to 94!19 new teachers have been added to the growing list of National Board Certified Teachers in the Hampton School Division. This brings us to a total of 94 National Board Certified teachers currently teaching in the system. National Board Certification is authorized through NBPTS (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards), which requires applicants to complete an extensive portfolio and take a very detailed assessment in the area of the certification they are seeking. The portfolio process itself takes 150-300 hours to complete, and teachers must demonstrate how they stimulate student learning.

For the 2008-2009 school year, the Hampton school division saw a 4-point gain in the average SAT reading score, resulting in a combined average SAT score for the division of 1,400. Hampton superintendent Dr. Linda Shifflette noted that “we will continue to focus on creative teaching strategies, so as to further improve the division-wide scores in the future.”

To Our Hampton Parents:

Cyber Bullying and Online Predators can be a big problem for the safety of students and schools. While chat rooms and a variety of sites are blocked from the district’s network, tech-savvy students may venture to these web pages from home. Online predators work to gain the trust of children and teenagers, usually for the purpose of exploitation. Some sites also foster cyber bullying – name-calling, telling of rumors, harassment and intimidation – which can often create conflicts at school. Because the welfare of your child is of the highest importance to us, the Hampton School Board and administration wish to provide some tips for keeping your child safe. Check out our Online Safety Tips and Cyber Bullies Brochure (pdf)

Additional Internet Safety Information
On-line Internet Safety Resources

http://kids.getnetwise.org/  GetNetWise:  Online Safety Guide by Internet Education Foundation

http://www.wiredsafty.org/  Internet Safety:  Information for Parents by WiredKids 

http://www.wiredwithwisdom.org/  Web Wise Kids:  Tips for Parents by Wired With Wisdom on how to keep their children safe on the Internet.

http://www.safeteens.com  Safe Teens - Connect Safely and Smart Socializing

http://pbskids.org   Safe learning activities for elementary students

http://ikeepsafe.org  The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is a partnership of government agencies, public health and educational professionals, law enforcement, and industry leaders working together for the health and safety of youth online.

http://www.I-Safe.org  i-SAFE is a non-profit foundation dedicated to protecting the online experiences of youth everywhere.

 http://www.netsmartzkids.org - NetSmartzKids – Cartoon characters, games, music videos, and e-cards related to Internet safety

http://www.chatdanger.com Social Networking - ChatDanger:  How to keep Safe While Chatting Online by Childnet International

http://www.whoswatchingcharlottesville.org/home.html  A community effort in the Charlottesville - Albemarle area of Virginia to educate residents in how to protect themselves online.

 

kidsONCE AGAIN…PARENTS GIVE HAMPTON SCHOOLS HIGH MARKS

For three consecutive years since the Hampton school division made a decision to query parents about their perceptions of Hampton City Schools, the division has received outstanding parent approval!

The 2008 survey results showed that a whopping 80% of our parents gave the Hampton school division an overall grade of “A” or “B”, compared to 78% last school year.  In addition, 95% of the Hampton parents gave the school division an overall grade of “A”, “B” or “C.” This is highly significant in that a national survey conducted in 2006 by the Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll, recorded only 49% of parents awarding their local public schools an “A” or B” rating.

The 2008 Parent Survey consisted of 36 statements in four categories, which were School Environment, Student Achievement, Teacher/Staff Expectations, and Support and Service.  The Response choices ranged from “Strongly Agree” to “No Opinion.”  The Overall Grade category included “A”, “B”, “C”, ”D” and “F”, and the survey also included a section for written comments.

 tcaAs a special service, Hampton City Schools provides FREE access to Triumph Learning System. This web-based program is designed to assist students with the necessary skills for success on the SAT and ACT. The student’s identification number is the username and password. Hampton students have access to the SAT/ACT online program from any computer that is Internet linked, whether at home, at school, or even at the library or an Internet café.

You can log into Triumph via the link below for your school.

testUsername: first 2 letters of your first name, middle initial if you have one, and your entire last name. If your last name has a hyphen, make sure you include the hyphen.
EXAMPLE #1: John Q. Smith would be joqsmith
EXAMPLE #2: John Smith-Jones would be josmith-jones
Password: Your student ID number

Bethel
Hampton
Kecoughtan
Phoebus

Another exciting opportunity for all Hampton high school students is a SAT preparatory course. It is available as a half-credit course and is offered each semester. Students interested in taking the course should see their guidance counselors for more information on requirements and registration.

We are very pleased to be able to offer these services to students. Taking an online prep course or signing up for the SAT half-credit course offers students the opportunity to practice SAT/ACT test-taking skills prior to sitting for the actual exam.

Public School Choice / Supplemental Educational Services

Public School Choice - Under the No Child Left Behind Act 2001 (NCLB), schools receiving Title I funds must show that students are making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) by improving their test scores on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments. Schools that do not make AYP for two consecutive years must offer parents the option (Public School Choice) to transfer their child to a receiving school that is not in school improvement.

Supplemental Educational Services - Schools that do not make AYP for three consecutive years must provide Supplemental Educational Services (SES) - free tutoring offered to eligible students to outside the regular school day. Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch are eligible for supplemental educational services.

Schools Offering Public School Choice and Supplemental Educational Services
Mallory Elementary School
Receiving Schools: Aberdeen - Bassette - Burbank

Schools Offering Supplemental Educational Services
Smith Elementary School*
Wythe Elementary School*

* Participate in the U.S. Department of Education SES Pilot Program that allows the schools to offer SES in lieu of public school choice.

Click here to visit Title I

teencenterThe Center is a year-round hub for high school students to enjoy fun, creativity, self-expression and fitness during out-of-school hours. The Teen Center addresses the unique needs of a diverse teenage population. It is a safe, enriching place to explore an endless variety of activities from socializing to developing real skills for leadership and life. The center operates as a multi-agency, youth/adult partnership; a teen advisory board works with experienced youth development professionals to shape programs, policies and codes of conduct. For a schedule of programs and events check out the website at www.hamptonteencenter.com. Tours and additional information are available by calling 766-1510.