Parent Connection Workshop!

Mark your calendar and plan to attend the fourth annual Parent Connection Saturday Conference! On January 28, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Landstown High School, Dr. Katharine Kersey will deliver a compelling keynote address followed by your choice of breakout sessions. Sessions will include a variety of choices for parents of gifted students along with workshops covering topics such as college planning, stress and the family, financial literacy, special education, and much more! Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit the Reading Bus and a variety of community resource tables.

Come join the fun! Registration is not required but more information can be requested by calling 263-1936.

Become a Techno-Savvy Parent

Are you overwhelmed by technology and all a “twitter” over social media? If so, the Parent Connection Technology Academy is for you! This ten-month series of evening classes is designed to provide parents with the tools and resources needed to assist children with their technology needs.

All sessions will be taught by Virginia Beach School’s Technology Experts – the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students from the Advanced Technology Center. Each class will offer hands-on sessions, an informational booklet and student teachers assisting participants. Sessions will be held at the Advanced Technology Center Theater located at 1800 College Crescent, in Virginia Beach, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and pre-registration is required. To register, contact the Office of Community Relations at 757.263.1936.

Parent Connection Technology Academy sessions include…

Word Processing—Thursday, August 18, 2011
Internet—Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Buying Computers & Accessories—Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Wireless Networking—Wednesday, November 12, 2011
PC Maintenance & Troubleshooting—Thursday, December 8, 2011
PowerPoint—Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Social Networking—February 15, 2012
Spreadsheets—Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Internet Security—Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Freeware & Tips and Tricks—Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Power of Belief

As you reflect on all for which you are grateful this Thanksgiving holiday, we invite you to consider a submission for the school division’s upcoming book, tentatively entitled The Power of Belief. It is a project modeled on the National Public Radio (NPR) series, This I Believe, and prospective authors may write about any subject – nature, sports, children, parents, music, books, pets – virtually anything that has impacted their lives.

We have already received submissions from a wide array of authors – first graders to twelfth graders, VBCPS staff and alumni, parents and community members. As you can see from the list below, beliefs are as wide-ranging and unique as the contributors who wrote them. These authors believe….

…in common courtesy.
…in the power of words.
…in perspective.
…in kismet.
…in turning corners.
…in respect.
…that you can never have too much sky.
…in just being myself.
…in frosting.
…in higher education.
…in handwritten notes.
…in self control and integrity.
…in art and creativity.
…that we all have a purpose.
…in people.
…in the transformative power of dance.
…that life always looks better through the eyes of a four-year-old.
We hope that you will join this group by contributing your own brief essay about the beliefs and values that fuel your daily life. There is no template, but essays should be written in the first person and should range in length from 250 to 400 words. For our very youngest authors in kindergarten and first and second grades, essays of 150 to 200 words would be more than acceptable. Essays should be submitted to the school division via email – believe@vbschools.com – by January 14, 2011. Note that the deadline has been extended from the original date of December 1 so that prospective authors can make use of the winter holiday period.

Submissions should include the author’s name, address and affiliation to VBCPS (student, parent, teacher, alumnae, etc.). Alumni should identify the Virginia Beach school from which they graduated as well as the year in which they graduated. All submissions will be reviewed for possible inclusion in The Power of Belief which is slated for publication in late spring 2011.

Thank you for considering sharing your thoughts through your own Power of Belief submission. Listed below are links to a few sample NPR essays for inspiration, and you may contact the Department of Media and Communications Development at 263-1075 with any questions.

Best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your families and friends.
Bonnie Fischer

Bonnie Fischer
Public Relations Coordinator
Department of Media and Communications Development
(757) 263-1949