Old Donation School February 2019

THE RISING TIDE Finding Inspiration in Our Students and Our School Community

Administration

Kelly A. Hedrick, Ed.D., Principal

Janet Smallwood, Assistant Principal

Susanne Meyerholz, Assistant Principal

J. Denise Schmitter, School Counseling Department Chair

Matthew Voegel, Student Activities Coordinator

C. Eric Bone, School Improvement Specialist

4633 Honeygrove Road Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Phone: 757.648.3240

Student Hours: 8:35 a.m. - 3:39 p.m.

Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:10 p.m.

Performances at Old Donation School: No Photos

or Videos

There are students at ODS who may not be photographed orvideotaped for a variety of safetyreasons. Please ensure that everyone in your group refrainsfrom taking pictures orvideotaping. We appreciate yourhelp keeping all students safeand respecting the privacy rightsof every child.

Old Donation School Home of the Edward E. Brickell Academy for

Advanced Academics and Arts

Social Media: Support for Students With technology access comes responsibility for even the youngest of our students at Old Donation School. Students and parents are often surprised by the consequences, including discipline, for inappropriate use of technology by students. Despite our best efforts to routinely remind students of the rules, there are problems each year. The ODS approach is to educate and support every student on the rules, responsibilities, and consequences for misuse of technology inside and outside of school. We appreciate parents working with us to protect and advise students.

Please see the Be Social. Be Smart. Be Safe. campaign and related resources provided by Virginia Beach City Public Schools: http://www2.vbschools.com/BeSocial/

Thank you for partnering with everyone at ODS to educate, guide, and support students as they navigate digital citizenship. Don’t hesitate to report concerns, share information, and seek our assistance and encourage your child(ren) to do the same. See something, say something.

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Old Donation School February 2019

Your help is greatly appreciated: Morning Student Drop-off

Mission, Vision, andHonor Code: What do we value as a school?

Vision Statement: Every student is engaged in a creative, collaborative, and challenging environment characterized by support and mutual respect for individualdifferences.

Mission Statement: Old Donation School, home of Brickell Academy, will inspire a passion for learning in all students through innovative opportunities and authentic tasks throughout our unique school community.

Honor Code: I will have the courage to act with integrity, choosing to demonstrate honesty, responsibility, self-control, and respect in my words and actions.

What do I do if there is a problem with bus

transportation?

In the event a bus is late picking up your child in the morning, doesn’t arrive at all, or is late in the afternoon, please contact the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Office of Transportation Services.

• Main number: 757-263-1545

• Bus routes and schedules (5 a.m.-5 p.m.): 757-263-1545

• After hours (5 p.m.-7 p.m.) 757-263-2949

• vbcpsbusstop@vbschools.com

Note: At the conclusion of dismissal each day, the recording on the ODS machine is updated with the latest transportation information as we know it at the time of dismissal. Call 757-648-3240 and select option #4.

Parents, please be sure students are ready to exit the car upon arrival in the drop-off loop. Finishing homework or breakfast,

shutting down devices, gathering belongings, finishing transportation notes, etc. delays drop-off procedures. Delays

jeopardize timely arrival to class for students.

Parents, please pull all the way down following the car in front of you. Gaps between cars puts everyone behind you at risk for

late arrival because of 150-200 cars drop-offs each morning.

Parents, please be sure to come through the drop-off when bringing your child to school. Staff supervision is along the drop-off loop only making other areas (e.g., front loop, side

lots, sidewalk on Honeygrove road) unsafe for dropping students off.

Grant Funding Many teachers at ODS routinely write grant

proposals to fund specialized curriculum work for your students. Learning is enhanced

because they go above and beyond.

A Reminder about Dressing for School We ask for parent support each day to ensure that students at Old Donation School dress appropriately for school. We seek to model for students that appearance matters as it can create a positive or negative impression that reflects the student, their family, and our school.

One important aspect of any school code for dress is that students must be able to safely and fully participate in all school activities, including health and physical education.Spending a lot of money on clothing is not necessary, but cleanliness without discernible rips, tears, or holes and void of anything offensive or inappropriate in a school setting are expected. Since the focus of our work is the education of your child(ren), we ask that parents ensure their children are dressed appropriately for school.

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Old Donation School February 2019

Staying Informed Keep up to date on what is going on at OldDonation School with the Daily Update Email. This daily email includes themorning announcements and isdistributed to subscribers by noon each school day. You can sign up by going here .

Daily Updates on Twitter:• Dr. Hedrick @Principal4GT • Old Donation School

@OldDonationSchool • PTA @brickellpta

School Web site: http://www.brickellacademy.vbschools.com

School Messenger: Do we have yourcurrent contact information? AlertNow messages are used for a variety ofcommunications, including emergencysituations. Teacher Webpages: http://www.brickellacademy.vbschools.com/pages/aboutus/staff/

PTA Web: www.brickellacademypta.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrickellAcademyPTA

PTA Email: BrickellAcademyPTA@gmail.com

Thank you for Arriving on Time

Teachers and specialists at ODS sponsor a wide range of activities,

field trips, special events, and after hours programs. When you are

picking up your child, please arrive on time. This ensures that staff

members who are already extending their work schedules may leave after the event ends. Delays in student pick-up make securing staff

volunteers a challenge.

ODS Academic Challenge Team wins theVirginia Beach Middle School League

Academic Challenge Championship

A Great Opportunity: President’s Volunteer Service Awards

DEADLINE: APRIL 30, 2019

At Old Donation School, commitment to community and service to others are fundamental in our work with children, adolescents, and our school community at-large. In our school’s Plan for Continuous Improvement, student participation in service programs is one of our goal areas. The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program isa great way to thank and honor those who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, make a difference in their community and inspire others to engage in volunteer service. Student participation in PVSA here at Old Donation School is optional but highly encouraged.

Old Donation School has been approved as a Certifying Organization for the PVSA. Our goal is to have 100% of our participating students receive the award for this school year. Students will accumulate hours toward their award by participating in volunteer activities inside and outside of school and reporting hours to PVSA. Even if students do not accumulate enough volunteer hours to earn an award, we do ask that they submit the activities and hours so that we can accurately monitor our progress as a school in this goal area. Site: www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

Directions on how to register your child, log sheets, and additional information can be found on the school website under the Resources section. The Old Donation School PVSA point-of-contact is Mrs. Sunny Stevens.

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Old Donation School February 2019

ODS 8th Graders are Creating an EcoBus

Follow them on Twitter: @ODSEcobus

Old Donation School 2019 Teacher of the Year

Please join the faculty and staff of Old Donation School as we

celebrate our 2019 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Rachel Thompson.

Mrs. Thompson is a dynamic, creative, and hard-working

educator. Her work with our entire school community has transformed our health and

physical education program. She has led the school’s efforts in

integration of all subjects with health and wellness.

Resources for Parents in the ODS Library

Stressed Out!: Solutions to Help Your Child Manage and Overcome Stress by James W. Forgan, Ph.D., and Mary Anne Richey

Twice-Exceptional Gifted Children: Understanding, Teaching,and Counseling Gifted Students by Beverly A. Trail Ed.D.

School Success for Kids With High-Functioning Austism byStephen Silverman Ph.D., Lauren Kenworthy Ph.D., Rich Weinfeld

Raising Girls With ADHD: Secrets for Parenting Health, HappyDaughters by James W Forgan Ph.D., Mary Anne Richey

The Impulsive, Disorganized Child: Solutions for Parenting KidsWith Executive Functioning Difficulties by James W Forgan Ph.D., Mary Anne Richey

Smart Kids With Learning Difficulties (2nd ed.) by Rich Weinfeld, Linda Barnes-Robinson, Sue Jeweler, Betty RoffmanShevitz

There are additional titles available so stop by the ODS library.If there are topics of interest to you and your family, email Dr.Hedrick at kelly.Hedrick@vbschools.com to recommend a topicor resource for the parent resource library at ODS.

The Lost and Found at Old Donation School is

Overflowing

Each day, all items found throughout the building are taken to our lost and found locations. All electronics, including phones and Chromebooks, are taken the Main

Office. All other belongings are taken to the cafeteria. If your child is missing a coat, sweater, jacket,

lunchbox, water bottle, or non electronic school supply, please encourage him/her to check the Lost and Found during lunch.

Parents are welcome to stop by school to look through the items.

We have run out of room for items in the cafeteria. Those items not

claimed by the owners on or before February 8, 2019, will be

donated.

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Old Donation School February 2019

REMINDER School, Division, and State Standardized Spring Testing 2019 Next month students will begin taking their 2019 Standards of Learning and other Assessments. The assessments are just one component of our Plan for Continuous Improvement (PCI) as we documentthe growth of our students. We encourage students to get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthybreakfast before each assessment they will be taking. We also request that parents be aware of thesedates when scheduling appointments that would cause students to miss their testing time as wepromptly begin testing at 8:40 each morning.

Below you will find a schedule of all SOLs, World Language, and other district testing. One week prior to the start of SOL testing, we will send a letter to all parents with further details regardingthose assessments and expedited opportunities. Please contact Mr. Bone, School Improvement Specialist with all questions.

Test Date or TestingWindow Test Grades/Teams

Wednesday, March 13 National Latin Exam Latin I, II, III

Thursday, March 14 National French Exam French

March 18 – April 30 ES Writing Prompt Post-Assessment 2-5

Tuesday/Wednesday, March19-20 Writing SOL 8

April 2 and 3 Integrated Performance Task (IPT) Bay Lynx and Fox

(7)

April 3 Integrated Performance Task (IPT) Bears Team (7)

April 3 Integrated Performance Task (IPT) 4

Monday, April 8 National Spanish Exam Spanish II and III

Thursday, May 9 World Language Assessments(Writing/Grammar/Production)

French, Spanish,and Latin

Tuesday, May 14 Grade 5 Reading (Part One; CAT) SOL 5

Wednesday, May 15 Grade 5 Reading (Part Two; CAT) SOL 5

Thursday, May 16 Grade 4 Reading (Part One; CAT) SOL 4

Friday, May 17 Grade 4 Reading (Part Two; CAT) SOL 4

Monday, May 20 Grade 6 Reading (CAT) SOL

Grade 3 Reading (Part One; CAT) SOL

6 3

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Old Donation School February 2019

Tuesday, May 21 Grade 7 Reading (CAT) SOL

Grade 3 Reading (Part Two; CAT) SOL

7 3

Wednesday, May 22 Geometry SOLGrade 5 Math (Part One; CAT) SOL

8 5

Thursday, May 23 Algebra I SOLGrade 5 Math (Part Two; CAT) SOL

7 5

Friday, May 24 Grade 8 Reading (CAT) SOLExpedited and Make-Up SOLs 8

3, 4, and 5

Tuesday, May 28 Expedited and Make-Up SOLsGrade 4 Math (Part One; CAT) SOL

6, 7, and 84

Wednesday, May 29 Earth Science SOL Grade 4 Math (Part Two; CAT) SOL

8 4

Thursday, May 30 Grade 8 Mathematics (CAT) SOLGrade 3 Math (Part One; CAT ) SOL

6 3

Friday, May 31 Expedited and Make-Up SOLsGrade 3 Math (Part Two; CAT) SOL

6, 7, and 83

Monday, June 3 Grade 8 Science SOL Expedited and Make-Up SOLs

7 ES

Tuesday, June 4 Civics and Economics SOL Grade 5 Science SOL

8 5

Wednesday, June 5 Expedited and Make-Up SOLsGrade 5 Virginia Studies SOL

MS 5

Wednesday, June 5 World Language Assessment(Listening)

French and Spanish

Thursday, June 6-June 13 Expedited and Make-Up SOLs ALL

Friday, June 7 World Language Assessments(Reading)

Latin, French, andSpanish

Thank you for the honor and privilege of working with your child(ren). It is the joy of every teacher, specialist, administrator, and support staff member at ODS to make a positive

impact in the lives of our students and their families. Know that we have the needs of your child(ren) at the heart of every decision, action, and plan. In a field that is attracting and

keeping fewer and fewer talented people, ODS is blessed with dedicated, talented, and child-centered educators and support staff.

Your support and input make our work stronger.

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