As students, families, teachers and staff prepare for the start of a new school year, it’s important to understand how our entire community influences student outcomes, as well as our schools’ important role in the city.
Widening the lens, we see most recently that community partners worked for six months this year to help the Newport News School Board and Newport News Public Schools formulate a new long-range Strategic Plan.
All came with the best of intentions and a willingness to work together with the others around the table. Each put students first and helped us visualize a future where learning thrives and futures are brightened.
On a more individual level, our upcoming Standards of Learning test scores have been boosted by support from all levels of the citizenry. If you have read to students in a classroom, helped a youngster doing research in a local library or cheered on an academic competition, please know that you have had a hand in that effort.
There are many opportunities for residents to contribute to learning happening every day in their neighborhood schools. We are so grateful to all of those who give of their time and talents to our students in so many different ways.
There are official roles as well as less formal ways of pitching in. These include hands-on, in-person activities or donating to support ongoing programs.
Business partners offer discounts to our students and employees. Dedicated legislators and elected officials visit our schools and attend events year-round in support of public education.
Community leaders serve as mentors and guest speakers for numerous events and programs that NNPS Youth Development conducts each year to build students’ citizenship and leadership skills.
Business and industry leaders serve on the board of the Newport News Education Foundation and lead fundraising efforts to support student scholarships, teacher mini-grants and other educational supports. The foundation hosts its Salute to Success awards dinner each spring to honor top students in each of our high schools, as well as the NNPS and NNEF Golf Classic benefit tournament each year.
You may not know that our dedicated police officers routinely stop by our schools after their shifts to eat breakfast with our students. Individuals and groups organize school supplies drives and drop off much-needed clear backpacks and materials so that students can start their school year prepared.
The Christopher Newport University and Newport News Community Walks visit nearby schools to meet, mingle with and encourage neighboring students.
School division retirees give of their time, organizational skills and work experience to organize benefit events, substitute in classrooms and various roles when needed and continue to contribute.
CNU student-athletes welcome students on the first day of school, mentor in classrooms and serve as role models. Older NNPS students advise, coach and encourage younger students.
Alumni return to speak about how the school division shaped their career trajectories.
There are lots of opportunities and ways to be involved and support our future community leaders. Come join us.
