November 18, 2022
Dear NCPS Family,
It is hard to believe Thanksgiving Break is next week! Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. On behalf of the School Board, Mrs. Betty Christopher, Mrs. Gayle Sterrett, Dr. Cheryl Davis, Mrs. Denise Mazyck, and Mrs. Dana O’Bier, we wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving Break!
Beta Pillar Induction Ceremony
Held at NES
On November 15, 2022, NES held the first Beta Pillar Induction Ceremony. This year is the first year for NES to offer National Beta. Seniors Miss Abby Jennings and Mr. James Baker led the ceremony. They introduced the four pillars of National Beta:
Achievement, Character, Leadership, and Service. NES Principal Mrs. Martha Williams extended “. . . A huge thank you to our School Board, Dr. Wargo, and our sponsors, Mrs. Nancy Jewel and Mrs. Michele Jennings.”
Abby Jennings and James Baker: Co-Presidents of NHS Senior BETA
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James Baker shaking hands with Molly Dameron.
Eighteen fifth graders were inducted into the BETA Club on Tuesday, November 15th.
When is Thanksgiving Break? Nov. 23-25
Thanksgiving Break will be celebrated November 23-25, 2022. Happy Thanksgiving to our students, families, teachers, and staff! We are so thankful for everything you do to make Northumberland County Schools such a special place. Please know all schools and offices will be closed November 23-25, 2022.
We Appreciate Our Substitute Teachers
November 18, 2022, is National Substitute Educator Appreciation Day. There are more than 30 Substitute Teachers in Northumberland County Public Schools. We are grateful for all they do in our schools every day! We are celebrating our substitute teachers today with a small gift as a token for our appreciation. Thank you!
New Calendar Announcement!
January 2 is now a student, teacher and staff holiday! All schools and offices will be closed.
Here is a Quick Peek of the Calendar!
NCPS School Board Attends Virginia School Board Association Annual Convention
The NCPS School Board attended the VSBA Annual Convention in Williamsburg, VA, November 18-20. While participating in the Convention, the School Board listened to a presentation from Jim Morris, “The Rookie.” After numerous arm problems as a minor league pitcher, Morris "retired" and became a high school coach and teacher in Texas. After making a bet with the baseball team he coached, his big league dreams were realized. Morris’ team won a district title so he had to go to a professional tryout. He auditioned for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999, and clocked pitches at 98 miles per hour on the radar gun. At 35 years old, he was back in the minor leagues and quickly moved up to the major league. Morris made 16 appearances the following season. He put out an autobiography, which was later made into a 2002 Disney film starring Dennis Quaid called The Rookie. The School Board engaged in many professional development sessions throughout the convention.
School Board Members Denise Mazyck, Betty Christopher, Cheryl Davis, Dana O’Bier, Gayle Sterrett, and Superintendent Holly Wargo.
Attention Sophomores and Juniors!
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative is now accepting applications for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s 2023 Youth Tour program. The Youth Tour will take place June 19-23 in Washington, D.C. Eligible entrants must be a high school sophomore or junior, be a Northern Neck Electric Cooperative member, and submit an online application. Applications are due by 5 PM on Friday, January 31, 2023.
Quarter 2 Interim Reports: November 30, 2022
Right after Thanksgiving Break, on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, please be on the lookout for your student’s Progress Reports. This information will help your student and you stay informed on how he/she is progressing. Please remember after school tutoring is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
School Board Approves Prom 2023 Venue
On Monday, November 14, the School Board approved the location of the Junior/Senior prom! For the first time ever, the prom will be held at Menokin Road Farm. Menokin Road Farm is located in Warsaw, VA, and boasts a rustic timber frame barn with 2400 sq. ft. of floor space. Thank you to Prom Sponsor Mrs. Latasha Lee for presenting this new option for our students to enjoy!
A view from inside the barn.
Fall Into Reading at Ye Olde Book Shoppe
Where is Ye Olde Book Shoppe? It is located at 7202 Northumberland Highway, in the heart of downtown Heathsville.
Northumberland Public Library Director Mrs. Jane Blue encourages parents, students, and families to visit the book shop for a special November sale! See below for more details.
NEW: OPTIONAL Weekly COVID-19 Testing for NCPS Students & Employees
The Virginia Department of Health is offering weekly COVID-19 testing in the schools for students and employees who register. This is entirely voluntary. Testing began on Thursday, November 3, 2022: 1:00 pm at NES and 1:30 pm at NMS/NHS. Testing will continue each Thursday that schools are open. Use the link below for additional information and documents for registration.
Join the NCPS Family!
Current employee opportunities at NCPS include a Secondary Agriculture Science Education Teacher, Substitute Teachers, and a Secondary Computer Literacy & Keyboarding Teacher. Check out how to apply below.
Apply Here!
Help Your Child Have Good Attendance
Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school. How can you help your child attend school regularly?
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Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day—make that the expectation.
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Help your child maintain routines such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
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Find out if your child feels safe at school and engaged by their classes. Make sure they are not missing class because of behavioral issues. If you sense a concern, please contact your child’s school.
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Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
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Be aware of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
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Encourage meaningful after-school activities including sports and clubs.
Virtual Learning Days
for the 2022-23 School Year
This year, we will continue to use Virtual Learning Days when weather conditions are marginal and impact road or sidewalk safety conditions but are not so severe as to cause substantial impacts. On such days, buildings will not open. However, employees will work virtually, students will work virtually (not live) on assignments related to curriculum previously taught, and teachers and staff will provide posted office hours for students to check in as needed. This enables teachers to grade assignments and provides additional planning time.
Please Charge Your Devices
In the event of inclement weather during the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year, Northumberland County Public Schools (NCPS) will use virtual learning days (not live) to support the continuity of instruction for students. Virtual learning days will be announced by television, phone call, email, and NCPS official social media. A virtual learning day means:
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Teachers will have completed the necessary preparatory work for students to be fully equipped with asynchronous (not live) assignments and resources utilizing CANVAS;
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General education and special education teachers will host student office hours from 9:00am-12:00pm. Students and/or parents will be able to connect with teachers via email;
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Student Support Services will be available by contacting School Counselors, School Psychologist, and School Principals/Assistant Principals via email from 9 am -12 pm;
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Virtual Virginia (grades 6-12) students will continue with a full day of virtual instruction;
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All after school and evening extra-curricular activities will be canceled;
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Any student who may be unable to access virtual instruction and/or assignments will be provided sufficient opportunity to complete instruction and/or assignments without penalty; and, attendance will be determined by assignment completion.
NCPS Mobile Text Alerts
NCPS is sending text messages, in addition to phone calls and email, to Parents and Guardians mobile phones with important updates regarding school closings, delays, safety alerts, and other notices as of November 1, 2022! All text messages will be sent from 67587.
For any parents and guardians that have not received a text message from NCPS, please contact the school to add your mobile phone number. In addition, parents and guardians can opt-out at any time by sending “Stop” to 67587.
Need SpiritWear?
What a perfect gift for our students, families, and Northumberland Fan Club!!! Visit the NCPS Spirit Wear site to check out fabulous SpiritWear!
Metal Detection Protocol at NES, NMS, & NHS
The safety and security of our students and staff is our number one priority. When entering each building, metal detection stations are in place. Here are some helpful things to review with your student:
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Consider leaving metal objects at home if possible;
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Line up as directed in the lobby area;
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While in line, NMS & NHS students will unzip all zippers on bags, take out pencil pouches, and lunch boxes from bookbags, and empty all pockets (for example: phones, keys, and other electronics). Please remember to take off lunch lanyards too. Bags will be screened by Safety Check Staff;
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Step forward as directed by a NCPS Safety Check staff;
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Walk through detector when directed to do so;
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If cleared, proceed to Grab & Go Breakfast station and then to class;
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If not cleared, student will be directed to the wand station;
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If contraband is found on a student, the items will be held, and an administrator will work with the student and family to address the contraband. Please be reminded these items can include, but are not limited to, e-cigarette, vape, juul pods or tobacco products of any kind, lighters, medication that has not been logged in with the school nurse (which includes any over the counter medication) pepper spray, etc.
Thank you, to our students, parents, families, and staff as we try to make each campus as safe as possible!
Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Create Healthy Routines and a Habit of Getting to School On Time Every Day
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Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
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Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
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If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make them feel comfortable and excited about learning.
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Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
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When possible, avoid medical appointments or extended trips when school is in session.
Safety Drill Notice
As you know, keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Working together, we create a safe, secure environment for students to learn and grow in our schools.
Need Tech Help?
Resources for parents and students using NCPS Technology are available online. Click Here for More Information.
Anonymous Alerts: Help Us Keep Our Schools Safe!
What is Anonymous Alerts? Our anonymous reporting system enables students, parents, community, and staff to anonymously report student bullying, behavioral, and/or campus safety concerns using a Web-based application, 24/7. The Anonymous Alerts reporting is simple and intuitive for any age to use. An individual can submit anonymous tips and conduct anonymous two-way communications with administrators, counselors and/or safety personnel. Click here to Review NCPS Anonymous Alerts. The link is located on the NCPS webpage as seen below.
Upcoming School Board Meeting
On Monday, December 12, 2022, the Northumberland County School Board will meet for a regular meeting at 4:30 (closed) and 6 PM (regular) for the purposes of student matters, personnel matters, and legal matters.
When? Monday, December 12, 2022 at 6 pm
How? In-Person & Electronic Format
Where? Meeting Location: 201 Academic Ln, Heathsville, VA 22473
Contact: [email protected] / [email protected]
Questions? Dial (804) 529-6134, extension 2004 / 2005
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84102503890?pwd=NGJWYk9hZVRWT0Z4WjZxV1YrTU9Mdz09
Meeting ID: 841 0250 3890; Passcode: NCPS
Dial by your location: 1 929 205 6099 US ; Meeting ID: 841 0250 3890; Passcode: 722451
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Have a happy and safe weekend!
Sincerely,
Holly Wargo, Division Superintendent
Northumberland County Public Schools
Cell: (804) 994-1349
[email protected]
