Student readings, awards cap 30th annual Artistic Verses at Torggler
Students read from their poetry submissions, and place winners were recognized at the Artistic Verses Student Readings and Awards Ceremony in March at the Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center at Christopher Newport University (CNU).
This marked the 30th anniversary of Artistic Verses, a collaborative partnership between Newport News Public Schools and CNU.
This school year, up to 30 students from each high school had the opportunity to view an art exhibition and engage in a poetry-writing workshop with local poet Nathan Richardson. Students wrote original poems inspired by the artwork and submitted them for judging by the NNPS Secondary English Team.
Two career and technical educators chosen for leadership fellowship
Toinette Outland, NNPS career and technical education supervisor, and Dr. Carrington Faulk, marketing teacher and DECA advisor at Heritage High School, were chosen for the 2024 Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) National Leadership Fellowship Program.
Twenty-one fellows were selected for the 2024 cohort of the year-long program, which identifies and trains leaders. Participants complete the program with a strong desire and motivation to support an educated, prepared, adaptable and competitive workforce, according to ACTE.
Outland came to NNPS in 2010 as program administrator for the Heritage High School Engineering and Technology Magnet Program, which received state designation as a Governor’s STEM Academy in 2012, and was promoted to CTE instructional supervisor for grades 6-12 in 2016.
Faulk is a creative educational leader, researcher and content producer. He enjoys educating learners of all ages on how to master subjects in the realm of creativity, leadership, technology, branding and innovation.
Leaders, students connect at RISE! Male Empowerment Conference
Newport News Public Schools Youth Development Department hosted its fourth annual RISE! Male Empowerment Conference in February at Heritage High School.
Nearly 300 students in grades 6 –12 connected with nurturing adults throughout a day of empowerment sessions focused on topics such as positive self-image, accountability, leadership and the importance of mental health. Emerge, empower, excel were the three tenets of the conference.
“It’s always a good showing of individuals from various community organizations who come, including from churches and schools,” said Michael Nichols, youth development supervisor.
Congressman Bobby Scott presented remarks as the event kicked off and Grammy-nominated musician Saul Paul gave the opening charge. Community leaders served as presenters for interactive workshops that covered more than 15 different topics.
