May 20, 2022
Good afternoon, NCPS!
We have had a VERY BUSY week full of celebrations! We are very much looking forward to the Commencement Ceremony tomorrow! Please join me in congratulating the Class of 2022!!!
Congratulations Mrs. Heather Cockrell,
Division Teacher of the Year
May 19, 2022 - Heathsville, VA - Northumberland County Public Schools (NCPS) is excited to make the following announcement. Mrs. Heather Cockrell, an Art Teacher at Northumberland Middle School (NMS), has been selected as the school division’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. She was initially selected as Teacher of the Year at Northumberland Middle by her colleagues. Mrs. Cockrell has made an immediate impact in many areas of the school, and her diligence and care for students, families, and staff is outstanding.
Mrs. Heather Cockrell was born and raised in Lancaster County. Before accepting the position as the NMS art teacher, Mrs. Cockrell taught second grade at Middlesex Elementary School. She also taught for four years at Unionville Elementary School in Orange, Virginia. Mrs. Cockrell attended Ferrum College where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Liberal Arts and a minor in Elementary Education.

Mrs.Cockrell and some of her 7th grade students.

School Board Chair Mrs. Betty Christopher congratulates Mrs. Heather Cockrell.
World Language Honor Society Induction
On Wednesday, May 18, French teacher Mrs. Jennifer Thomas and Spanish teacher Alejandro Eguiguren inducted 18 students into the World Language Honor Society. In order to be eligible for membership, students must have an overall 3.0 GPA and have maintained an A in every world language class taken.

Left to Right: Mrs. Jennifer Thomas, Sanaa Thomas, Chloe Brann, Bevan Ransone, Ava Wilson, Harmyni Ball, Addie Gordon, Caroline Neale, Alayna Holcomb, Charlie Hapgood, Kiara Thompson-Morris, Joseph Rockson, Samaria Owens, Demetrius Cox, Jon Wijnand, Tamia Newton, Trinidy Jackson, Mr. Alejandro Eguiguren.
Not Pictured: Jada Fauntleroy, Harry Booth
Senior Recognition Night
On Wednesday, May 18, the Class of 2022 participated in Senior Recognition Night. The Class of 2022 thanks the following program participants:
Historyland Community Workshop - Cheryl Budzinski & Kim Deberadinis
NAPS - Martha Tallent/Michael Ahart
Northumberland County Republican Committee (NCRC) - Marion Cockrell
Rice's Hotel/Hughlett's Tavern - Corinne Becker
Lancaster County Daughters of the Confederacy - Jo Ann Fickling
1971 NHS Alumni Association - Charles Holden
Northern Neck Kiwanis - Matt Brent & Philip Mumford
Chesapeake Bay Garden Club - Sharon Lemke
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Rappahannock Servetus Endowment Fund - Holly Swann
Wicomico Parish Church - Holly Swann
Virginia Legal Support Professionals - Holly Swann
GRASP- Holly Swann
MaCorp Inc - Dr. Linwood Blizzard
DAR Citizen of the Year - Dr. Cheryl Davis
Fary Memorial Scholarship - William L. Lewis
Navy Representative - Chief Brandon Nelson
Robbie Saville Memorial Scholarship - Michael Clarke
Omega Protein - Hannah Smith
Virginia, Maryland, & Delaware Association Electric Cooperative Educational Scholarship - Kyle Allwine
Marine Representative - Sgt Kody L. Stallard
Northern Neck Rotary Club - Gayle Saylor
The Military Officers of America Scholarship - Colonel William Johnson
Northumberland Lancaster Farm Bureau (Billy Dawson) - Wiatt Garland
Northumberland Young Farmers: The Jimmy Hinton Memorial Scholarship - Wiatt Garland
The Frederick Downing Memorial Scholarship - Wiatt Garland
Historical Award - Wiatt Garland
Northumberland Chamber of Commerce - Paul & Cheryl Kaufman
VANNAC Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - Shanita Curry
Rappahannock Community College - Cherie Carl
Community Impact Award - Scott & Elizabeth Steinruck
HOSA & EMT Recognition - Rachel Edwards
Senior Walk Took Place Thursday, May 19
The graduating Class of 2022, dressed in their graduation regalia, marched to Northumberland Elementary School. They were accompanied by the band and lead by the Northumberland Sheriff's Department.

Darrah Downing, Bailey Lewis, Channing Reynolds, Tre VanLandingham, Mackenzie VanLandingham and Carson Saunders.
NHS Prom Recap
Last Saturday, May 14, NHS hosted the Prom and the After Barn. Congratulations to NHS Prom Queen and King Dynesti Cottrell and Denzel Palmer. Thank you to the After Prom Committee for a beautiful After Prom party!!!

Queen Dynesti Cottrell and King Denzel Palmer

This is the beautifully decorated After Prom venue at the Northern Neck Farm Museum
Congratulations Northern Neck Technical Center & Governor’s STEM Academy for Agriculture & Maritime Studies Students on Program Completion
On Monday, May 16, the following Northumberland High School (NHS) students were recognized for Program Completion:
Auto Body: John Headley & Magdalena Verdugo
Automotive Technology: Jacob Neff & Rodrigo Zavala-Medina
Cosmetology: Mia Bundy & Kyara Carter
Engineering: Jayven Bea & Camden Sisk
Electricity: Dalton Fulford & Hunter Newsome
Maritime Trades: Carson Saunders & Austin Wallace
Nurse Aide: Aleigha Withers & Emma Dameron
Computer Technology: Jacob Thomas
Game Design: Alexander Dulaney
In the Student Organization Competitions and at the 2022 State SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Championship, the following NHS students placed:
Mobile Robotics Technology - Team B 3rd place: Jayven Bea & Team C 2nd place: Camden Sisk
Interactive Application and Video Game Development - Team A 1st place: Alex Dulaney
In addition, congratulations to Hunter Newsome, the recipient of the Connemara Scholarship, and congratulations to Alex Dulaney who was recognized as the Game Design Student of the Year!

Principal Dr. Travis Burns congratulates Alex Dulaney.
NHS Students Earn Computer Application Specialist Career Studies Certificate from Rappahannock Community College
Four NHS students were awarded the Computer Application Specialist Career Studies Certificate through RCC this week. Students earned this certificate by successfully completing three Dual Enrollment, IT-related courses at NHS.
This certificate recognizes skills acquired in the area of digital literacy and computer operations. These skills are designed to enable students to be successful in an automated working environment. The students who have achieved this certificate are: Henry Patterson III, Alexandra Steele, Christopher (CJ) Timberlake, and Micheal Jones.

Henry Patterson III, Alexandra Steele, & Christopher (CJ) Timberlake Absent: Michael Jones
School Board Signs Contract for New JROTC/STEM/Athletic Building with Connemara
At a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday, April 26, the School Board approved a design-build contract with Connemara Corporation for the new construction of a JROTC/STEM/Athletic building! After surveying the community for input regarding the use of Federal ESSER III funds, the School Board issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) #2022-002 for the Northumberland JROTC/STEM/Athletic Building.
In September of 2021, the Virginia Department of Education approved NCPS’s use of Federal ESSER III funds to pay for the new construction at no cost to the county/taxpayers. The School Board has approved the special appropriation request and is now awaiting final approval of the appropriation from the Board of Supervisors to begin. Below you will see the site plan. The new construction will be located next to the high school student parking lot and features bathrooms, two classrooms, a large gym area, and an area for an additional outdoor learning courtyard.

Upcoming Events at NES
Upcoming Events at NMS
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Jr Beta presents the NMS Formal Dance May 20, Grades 6-8.
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7th Grade Awards Assembly 2:00-2:45pm May 25 (Auditorium)
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6th Grade Award Assembly 2-3pm May 26 (Gymnasium)
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6th Grade Stan’s Skateland Field Trip May 26
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7th Grade Chesapeake Breeze Boat Trip May 26
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8th Grade Awards Assembly and Crossover Event
1:30 - 3:00pm May 26 (Auditorium)
Upcoming Events at NHS
Summer with NCPS
This year, NCPS will be offering eight weeks of summer learning opportunities. Additional information from your child’s principal is being shared with parents and guardians. Please see the updated calendar and schedule below.


Boys & Girls Club Summer Program
The Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck is now accepting applications for participation in the Summer Program taking place in Lancaster and Northumberland. The Summer Program is for ages 6 to 18 and will be held June 13 through August 5 on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Contact the Boys & Girls Club at 435-9696 or [email protected] for additional information or visit bgcnn.org.

Final 2022-2023 NCPS School Calendar
The School Board approved the NCPS 2022-2023 School Calendar during the board meeting Monday evening on March 14, 2022. Thank you for all of the staff and community participation in the surveys.

Help Us Spread the Word: Open House Fall 2022 Pre-K & Kindergarten Registration OPEN
Northumberland Elementary School will continue to offer registration to Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. Please help us share this information with parents and families in our community.

Upcoming Calendar Reminders
to Help You Plan
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Saturday, May 21 - Graduation
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Friday, May 27 - Last Day of School for Students (Early Release)

Upcoming School Board Meetings

On Monday, June 13, 2022, the Northumberland County School Board will meet for a regular meeting at 6:00 PM. The closed meeting will begin at 4:30 PM.
When? Monday, June 13, 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 Charge Your Devices
in the Event of Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather during the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year, Northumberland County Public Schools (NCPS) will use remote learning days to support the continuity of instruction for students. Remote learning days will be announced by television, phone call, email, and NCPS official social media. A remote learning day means:

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Teachers will have completed the necessary preparatory work for students to be fully equipped with asynchronous assignments and resources utilizing CANVAS;
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General education and special education teachers will host student office hours from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. 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 and School Principals via email from 9:00 am-12:00 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 remote 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.

Health & Pandemic Impact Update
Please be reminded of the school division’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard, which is located on our website www.nucps.net.

The purpose of the dashboard is to keep you informed with accurate and transparent information regarding the Covid-19 impact on our school community. The dashboard is updated daily with any Coronavirus data, including the number of any positive cases and the number of individuals in quarantine.
Our Covid-19 dashboard also contains helpful information for families from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) including
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Have a happy and safe weekend!
Sincerely,