From the VA Dept. of Education website on AYP: The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires states to set annual measurable objectives of proficiency in reading and mathematics, participation in testing, and graduation and attendance. These objectives are in addition to the high standards for learning and achievement required under Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL) program. Schools and school divisions that meet the annual objectives required by the federal education law are considered to have made adequately yearly progress (AYP) toward the goal of 100 percent proficiency of all students in reading and mathematics by 2014.

Read more >

Saint Joseph School will host an Open House on August 3, 1pm to 3pm, for families interested in enrolling their children at the school.

Read more >

The Petersburg High School juniors who have been accepted into the first year of the Middle College High School (MCHS) partnership program with Richard Bland College (RBC) of the College of William and Mary, along with their parents, have been invited to a reception to be held Tuesday at the RBC campus.

Read more >

In today’s P-I:
Test scores jump: Secondary schools show improvement in nearly all subjects
In today’s RTD:
Petersburg to seek school help - Bids will go out for firms to work with up to three schools to boost scores

Read more >

Students from Vernon Johns Middle School (VJMS) in Petersburg recently won first place in Robot Design in the Virginia/DC First LEGO League Regional Qualifying Tournament, which came about through their participation in the Digital Inspiration for Interactive Video Game Design and Programming Project sponsored by Longwood University. Longwood, in collaboration with Virginia State University, sponsored the competition.

Read more >

The second grade students in teacher Nancy Grosvenor’s class at A.P. Hill Elementary School in Petersburg have been learning this semester how to write simple phrases and words in Chinese – the language of more than a billion people.

You “Stand at the Threshold of the Infinite” and “the choices made propels you through the doorway to your destiny” was the advice given to local high school students by guest speaker Colonel (Ret) Larry Watson as the members of the Southside Virginia Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) gathered to honor the 2008 Roper Memorial Scholarship winners. Participants in the competition must be the child or grandchild of a former military service member in order to qualify for entry.

Read more >

From the folks at JustChildren of the Legal Aid Justice Center: The Virginia Department of Education’s Draft Special Education Regulations make major cuts to parents’ rights to partner with schools. In addition to putting up barriers to family involvement, the draft regulations also create unfair rules and propose changes which will hurt the success of students with disabilities. The voices of families, teachers, students, and others who care about children with disabilities need to be heard at upcoming public hearings to ensure the draft regulations go back to the drawing board! Virginia needs to continue current protections and improve students’ opportunities for long-term success.

Read more >

Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier combines learning, camaraderie, and fun at its three-day History Day Camps this summer.  Campers experience first-hand how people lived during the American Civil War, both as soldiers and civilians, and programs instill an appreciation of how teamwork and cooperation contribute to success.

Read more >

The Main Gallery at PAAL presents the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School Visual Arts “Spring Gala”.  Grades 9 through 12 will be represented with their photography, graphic design, painting, drawing and sculpture.  The exhibit highlights the best work done throughout the school year. 

Read more >

Per the RTD, the decision to stay open was announced this afternoon. An article in the Washington Post is cited as having helped generate 11th-hour donations from N.VA and Washington, which ‘are continuing to come in.’

Read more >

Per the RTD.

As noted previously, PPS will hold a meeting tonight on the reconfiguration of Petersburg’s secondary schools (the meeting will be at 6pm at Vernon Johns Middle School). Click here to view/download a .ppt presentation (1.53MB) entitled Secondary Schools Restructuring Proposal.

A reader brought to my attention that last week the RTD posted an article entitled In Petersburg, no more free field trips after this school year.

Attorney General Bob McDonnell will visit St. Joseph School Monday, April 14, at 10:15am. The Attorney General will tour the school with Principal Ruth Bonner, meet the students, and learn more about the challenges the school currently faces.

Read more >

Focus INC, the Cameron Foundation initiative established to provide affordable, flexible, and pertinent educational sessions for nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations in the Tri-Cities and Southside areas, will offer the following sessions in upcoming weeks:
1) Program Planning 102: Designing Programs That Work (April 17)
2) QuickBooks and You (April 22)
3) Working with Consultants (April 26)

Read more >

In an effort to better prepare Petersburg’s eighth and ninth grade students for the workforce, the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, District 19 Community Services Board, as well as Hopewell and Prince George County have sponsored “The JOBS Program.” They believe that businesses teaching business to the youth will assist students on their path of success.

Read more >

In the inbox: “The school has been informed by the Diocese of Richmond that it has until April 21 to raise $1 million in order to stay open for the next several years.  Contributions are tax deductible and checks made to St. Joseph School (memo-Save Our School) will be held in a safe deposit box and only cashed if we meet the goal.  In the unlikely event that we don’t meet the goal, all checks will be returned.  Please help support educational choice in Petersburg and the children who thrive in this caring and dually accredited academic environment.”

Read more >

Adolph Reed, Jr., “the most brilliant voice on race in America today,” will be the chief presenter of the fourth and final public workshop on Petersburg and its relevance to Virginia and American history on March 29, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, at Union Station, 103 River St., Petersburg Sycamore Rouge. The public is welcome free of charge.

Read more >

The focus of this study circle for parents is to develop strategies to create a pro-academic, pro-mathematics culture for children. The study circle will be held at Vernon Johns Middle School Cafetorium, 3101 Homestead Drive, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Refreshments and lunch will be served.

From PPS — Attention all Petersburg High School rising juniors, parents and interested community residents: On Tuesday, March 11 at 6 p.m., in the cafeteria of Petersburg High School, a meeting has been scheduled to explain the Middle College High School program (MCHS) that has been recently approved in the district.

Read more >

Monday, March 3 is Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Celebration). At 1 pm, Stuart Elementary School in Petersburg will have an author presentation as part of its participation in this event. This is a sponsorship with Capital One (Stuart’s “reading buddies”), which has a partnership with Heart of America.

Read more >

Prior posts (here and here) note that “SES” will make free tutoring available to some of Petersburg’s Title I schools (i.e., schools that receive federal funds under Title I of No Child Left Behind). Today’s P-I notes that “Timely Tutoring” will offer additional tutoring assistance, to students of Petersburg High School (not a Title I school), Walnut Hill (a Title I school, but not eligible for SES because it is accredited), and JEB Stuart Middle School (in addition to SES, as JEB Stuart is at risk of being identified for improvement for a 5th year).

VSU has recently received two awards, one in the amount of $500,000 for a two-year program “aimed at increasing the number of minorities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” and the other in the amount of $4m “to support a Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions (RIMI) program at Virginia State University. The aims of the five-year NCMHD-RIMI program are to reduce health disparities by providing resources to institutions that prepare significant number of minority students and faculty in biomedical sciences.” Today’s RTD has more details.