Newport News Public Schools and City of Newport News celebrate Huntington Middle School: The Next Chapter
Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) and the City of Newport News hosted Huntington Middle School: The Next Chapter, on September 7 at the site of the future Huntington Middle School.
The outdoor event commemorated the proud history of Huntington High School and Huntington Middle School and celebrated the launch of the “next chapter,” which includes the construction of a 600-student middle school, anticipated to open during the second semester of the 2025–2026 school year. Plans for the site, known as the Southeast Community Resource Area, include a state-of-the-art public library, community center, sports features and a splash pad. Construction of the middle school is expected to begin in spring 2024.
The event recognized the strong partnership among the City of Newport News, Newport News Public Schools and the community and builds on the legacy of Huntington, which dates back to 1920.
Speakers included Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones, School Board Chair Lisa Surles-Law and School Board Vice Chair Dr. Terri Best. Joseph Small, a seventh-grade student at Huntington Middle School, sang a rendition of “What a Wonderful World.”
Local and state elected officials, Huntington alumni and staff and members of the community attended to commemorate the historic event.
Menchville JROTC cadets earn their wings
This past summer, two Air Force JROTC students, Cadet Myna Chassard, a senior at Menchville High School, and Cadet Evin Wells, a 2023 Menchville graduate, participated in the prestigious Flight Academy Program.
During the eight-week program, the cadets braved rigorous training, guided by ROTC mentors and FAA instructors, successfully obtaining their private pilot certification and experiencing their first solo flights. Beyond the technical skills and unwavering determination, the cadets gained valuable life lessons to shape their future endeavors.
Throughout their transformative journeys, both cadets embraced the challenges, reveled in the hard work and forged bonds with fellow cadets from across the country.
The Air Force JROTC Flight Academy was created to inspire and encourage high school youth to pursue aviation careers. The scholarship program is a collaborative effort between the aerospace industry and the Air Force.
School Board honors the NNPD
During its August 2023 meeting, the School Board presented the Newport News Police Department (NNPD) with a Resolution of Commendation and Appreciation.
The School Board recognized NNPD as a faithful partner dedicated to supporting students and staff. NNPD provides up to 13 police officers who serve as school resource officers in middle schools and high schools, fulfilling a vital role in promoting safe school communities by assisting school administrators and staff in maintaining safety and order.
The department’s sworn officers and civilian staff serve as lunch buddies, mentors and role models for students.
The resolution noted NNPD’s commitment to ensuring the wellbeing, safety and security of students and staff, the evaluation of school division safety and security measures and the department’s increased police presence and patrols in and around schools.
