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NEWSLines: JANUARY 2010

In this issue:

• Café Helps Students Focus on Future
• Putting Her Best Foot Forward
• NNPS Schools Earn VIP Awards
• Job Title Changes
• NNPS Student Winners at 2010 All-City Science Fair
• News & Notes
• Mark your calendar
  
  

Café Helps Students Focus on Future

Facility at mall offers free help.

It’s hard for some shoppers to know what to make of the Youth Career Café at Patrick Henry Mall. The logo and elbow-high tables suggest a coffeehouse. A bank of computers against the back wall, casual seating, and college banners are more reminiscent of a library or student union. Most adults in the mall corridor between Macy’s and Old Navy don’t give the place a second look. But, an increasing number of Newport News Public Schools students are finding their way there.

The Café is the result of a partnership between NNPS and the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development, and – in concert with the Career Pathways program – its purpose is to get students ages 14-21 thinking about and preparing for college, career, and citizenship earlier and more systematically. For many students, that means taking a field trip to the mall to visit the Café.

When Warwick High School’s Future Business Leaders of America visited in December, the students used the computers to begin and file a career plan. Nakeisha Talley, NNPS Youth Career Café specialist, put the students at ease by asking about their plans. "Do you want to go to school close to home? What branch of the military? What about you, dear? You don’t know yet? Okay." She told the group that colleges offer different programs, and their career interests should steer their college search.

Not one of the 11 students in the group had been to the Café before. Talley told them it’s a place where they can get help with a résumé and learn about job opportunities. "Volunteering and job shadowing are really good résumé builders," she said, adding the experiences also can help students learn whether they want to pursue a career in a particular field. They talked about the value of internships. The group took on a workplace integrity exercise. Could you fire a friend, Talley asked? Would you date your boss? That question elicited a lot of laughs, but a serious discussion ensued. The students decided they weren’t comfortable mixing personal and professional lives.

Talley reminded the students that cash-register receipts and computer records can both help them and hurt them in workplace disputes. "Your boss drops $20 on the floor. Would you keep the money?" Talley asked. Then, she upped the ante: "What if it were a test, and you kept the money?"

"You’re gone!" replied Alex Hojnicki. The Warwick junior wore a tie, pin-striped vest, and dress shoes. He completed the look with a fedora he’d found on sale at American Eagle Outfitters. Almost all of the students were dressed to impress, as they would be for a job interview. It’s one of the issues Talley and her counterparts from PCFWD discuss regularly with young job seekers.

When the group considered the necessity of working with individuals they might not like, 11th-grader Robynne Reese observed practically, "When you’re an adult, you’re supposed to work with everyone." Later, Hojnicki said filing a career plan "was a good exercise for me because I was able to evaluate my résumé and see the areas that needed improvement." He said he liked the ethical exercise, too. "These situations are more than likely going to be problems that I will have to deal with," he noted.

According to Sharnya Smith, PCFWD program coordinator for the Youth Career Café – including a second location at NetCenter supported by Hampton schools – Café staffers and volunteers will help students fill out job or college applications, hone job-interview skills, zero in on long-term interests – even provide help with schoolwork. Computer use is restricted to school- or work-related projects. The Patrick Henry location is open weekdays from 10 a.m. -7 p.m. and Saturdays from noon-4:30 p.m. There is no charge for services.

Smith said recent economic uncertainties have resulted in more parents and students visiting the Youth Career Café. She said the students who visit report that jobs typically held by young people are being filled by adults increasingly.

Smith and Talley say these are most popular reasons for visiting the café:

• Job search.
• Completing online applications.
• Mock job interviews.
• Creating a résumé.
• Help with career planning.
• Career assessments.
• Completing college and scholarship applications.
• Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form for college.
• Finding an internship or a volunteer opportunity related to career interests.
• Tutoring.

The Youth Career Café experts offer these tips for students applying for a job:

• Dress professionally when you pick up a job application.
• Be prepared to complete a job application on the spot.
• Answer all questions on a job application.
• Make sure your contact information is accurate.
• Be polite and enthusiastic.
• Introduce yourself with a firm handshake and maintain eye contact.
• Always call to follow-up on your application, even if you completed it online.
• Remove all ringtones from your phone.
• Create a professional e-mail address.
• Remember that anything you post on Facebook, MySpace, etc. may be seen by a potential employer. Use the Internet responsibly.

Marguerite Hargreaves
    

Putting Her Best Foot Forward

Woodside teacher wins national honor.

You’d never know Mary Ann Laverty is 2009 K-12 National Dance Educator of the Year from her demeanor. Many of her students at Woodside High School’s arts & communications magnet program haven’t heard about the honor, either. Laverty isn’t talking – except through her choreography.

But she’ll be speaking in March, when she’s recognized at the national convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Laverty will teach a class, "Haiku as Poetic Dance," then. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for Woodside’s director of dance.

All she wants to do is, well, … dance. It’s all she’s ever wanted to do. "My life is dance. It’s something that keeps me alive, my life source," Laverty explains. She also wants to inspire others to dance. "That’s my gift," she says. "I’m just trying to do my little part."

The ideals come in a low-key package. Most of her students are taller than "Dr. Lav," who favors black clothing. She’s soft-spoken and collegial at a late-afternoon dress rehearsal for Woodside’s production of the ballet "Sleeping Beauty." She checks out walkie-talkies used to communicate with the crew and matter-of-factly notes, "Guys, you need to be getting dressed. Act One, you need to be backstage."

Some students pull on their costumes unselfconsciously in the school auditorium. One student’s costume isn’t finished. She goes backstage in tights, shorts, and a T-shirt. Another dancer can’t be found. "Guys, are you not concerned about getting out of here tonight?" Laverty asks from the stage. "Places for Act One. We’re starting."

As the rehearsal progresses, Laverty is everywhere. She slides a cradle onto the stage and adjusts it a moment later. From behind a curtain, stage left, she signals to students on the opposite side of the stage to make their entrance. A minute later, she’s stage right, clapping out a rhythm from the wings to help the dancers keep up with the music. Laverty’s hand steadies a prop staircase on wheels as it exits the stage.

At a World Dance class a week later, Laverty is similarly hands-on. Or, feet-on. There are 16 girls in the class. "Take off your socks. The floor’s slippery. Earrings off, too," she tells the students. She leads the warm-ups. Some of the girls sing along to "I’m Every Woman," by Whitney Houston. "We’re going to do a long leg stretch now," Laverty says, and a couple of students groan. "Oh, please don’t play this song," one student pleads as the teacher cues "Purple Rain," by Prince.

Laverty, wearing a Paul Taylor Dance Company T-shirt, does all the exercises with the students, whom she rivals for flexibility. As they go through the warm-up, she reminds them which muscles they’re using. The group is rehearsing a dance they’ll perform with the chorus at a winter concert. Laverty explains that the song, "Riu, Riu, Chiu," has a difficult rhythm. She tells the students they’re dancing flamenco, "an improvisational step." Later, she advises, "Put a little bit of hip into it."

Laverty watches the students in the mirror as she dances. They all finish the dance together, heels of the matching shoes they’ve pulled out of a bin hitting the wooden floor in a single, dynamic crack. "That was good," Laverty observes. "Let’s start over."

Laverty has taught for 25 years. She came to Woodside in 1999 to revamp the dance program. Woodside Principal Susan Tilley notes, "She has built a successful program from the ground up, and it continues to grow and improve each year."

Previously, Laverty taught at New York University, Hampton University, and Christopher Newport University. Her teaching style is low-key, but Laverty says it’s mostly a result of being around the same students for years. "We’re facilitators," she explains. "Once you attain a certain level, you have a lot of freedom. I’m from California, too, and we tend to be more laid-back."

A focus on the arts at Woodside also makes for a different atmosphere, Laverty says. "The one thing I love about Woodside is that it’s OK to be in the arts." That doesn’t ensure that teen-age boys flock to dance classes, though. Laverty explains, "With the right material, to make them feel masculine, it works. There’s some bargaining involved."

Laverty says the most gratifying aspect of her job is "When the kids do pull through and surprise me. They show you that you have made an impact, that they have listened to you. Many students go on to dance professionally and come back, so you do see some fruits."

John Boyles, program administrator of Woodside’s Center for the Arts and Communication, notes, "She regularly takes our students to perform outside of school, as well as takes them on field trips to take class elsewhere, and see a variety of performances. Where else can dance students get this kind of education?"

Boyles also likes the diversity of the music Laverty uses with dancers: "She chooses some excellent music, so that our students experience both traditional ballet music, and pretty cutting-edge pop and contemporary music. When one group danced recently at a holiday performance, they did a modern dance to Beyonce’s version of "Carol of the Bells", so it was appropriate and ‘hip.’ " Laverty’s own tastes run the gamut, from Jay-Z to Imogen Heap to Led Zeppelin. (She says she owns every Zeppelin album.)

Tilley notes, "Dr. Laverty is so deserving of this recognition. She represents the passionate, dedicated, and talented teachers we have at Woodside and across the school division. She is an asset to our school community, and I look forward to her continued success in the future."

Dance will be part of that future. Laverty would like to teach the world to dance. "It’s the one time you can forget about the outside world and focus on yourself," Laverty says. "Dance is healing. It’s been the vehicle that transported me in difficult times during my life. It involves a range of human emotions. It’s your mind, body, and soul. It can change lives. It really can change lives."

Marguerite Hargreaves
 

NNPS Schools Earn VIP Awards

Hilton gets highest honor.

Congratulations to Hilton Elementary School for earning the 2010 Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence. Hilton is just one of 153 public schools from across Virginia selected to receive the award, the highest honor under the Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) incentive program.

In addition, Deer Park and General Stanford elementary schools earned the 2010 Virginia Board of Education Excellence Award. Carver, Greenwood, Kiln Creek, McIntosh, Nelson and Saunders elementary schools earned the 2010 Board of Education Competence to Excellence Award.
 
   

Job Title Changes

NNPS staffers honored.

They used to be called guidance counselors. Now, to better reflect their role, they’re known as professional school counselors. According to Vanessa Whitaker, NNPS supervisor of school counseling, "Over the course of the past three years, we have worked to reform our professional role in public education.  The role of the guidance counselor historically has been very limited and confined to scheduling students into classes and not advancing the academic, career, and social or personal development of all students." The new job title acknowledges the expanded role.

Woodside High School’s Linda Vulcan was named state debate coach of the year at the Virginia Association of Speech, Debate, and Drama Coaches’ fall conference. Vulcan is a lead English teacher at Woodside and says she has been involved in forensics since she started teaching. She has coached Student Congress and Public Forum Debate for about 10 years and recommends the workshops of the VASDDC for other coaches.

Deer Park School Nurse Monica White recently passed the National Asthma Educator Certification Exam and can place the AE-C designation after her name. Daria Weber, NNPS Health Services supervisor, says, "I hope to use her more to help the Health Services staff and other schools come up with ways to help our students with asthma. Asthma continues to be the leading chronic condition that causes children to miss school and parents work."  White says she pursued certification after participating in an Asthma-Allergy Nurse Expert Program with NNPS staffers Cheryl Norment and Jennifer Rashid. White adds, "I am hoping this will help me to continue to be educated and current in the area of asthma. We have an extremely high rate of asthma in our region and see more and more kids each year who suffer. The hope is that more staff can be educated as to the signs and symptoms so students are safer when at school." According to the National Asthma Educator Certification Board, the AE-C designation is given to "an expert in teaching, educating, and counseling individuals with asthma and their families in the knowledge and skills necessary to minimize the impact of asthma on their quality of life."

Four more Newport News Public Schools teachers have completed the process of earning National Board Certification in their respective specialties. They are:

• Jessica Costa, Dozier Middle School, Early Adolescence/Young Adulthood English as a Second Language.
• Gurkamal Gill, Menchville High, Exceptional Needs Specialist.
• Janet Kennedy, South Morrison Elementary, Early and Middle Childhood/Physical Education.
• Christine Tharp, Woodside High, Adolescence and Young Adulthood/English Language Arts.

The National Board Certification process can take up to three years. It requires more than 300 hours spent putting together a "career portfolio" of teaching materials, student work, and multimedia examples. A reflective written component looks at teaching goals, methods, and results. The candidates also have to undergo an assessment.
There is a fee for the process of certification, though grant money is available. Teachers who complete the process receive supplemental pay. Teachers need three years of experience and a valid Virginia license before applying. (The program does not replace the state licensing program.)

NNPS Student Winners at 2010 All-City Science Fair

Congratulations to NNPS students who competed in the 2010 All-City Science, Engineering, & Technology Fair.  View winners list.  
  
    

NEWS & NOTES

Even though it’s their rookie season, the Lego League team at B.C. Charles Elementary School won the regional championship in November in Norfolk and competed in state competition at JMU. The Charles Mighty Mustangs didn’t place at the Virginia competition, but they learned a lot.  One of the teachers said they "were in Harrisonburg, in about 5 inches of snow, from Friday evening until about 5 p.m. on Sunday. Their days were packed with competition, instructional workshops, some went to a JMU basketball game, more competition, and a little time sledding in the snow!  They remained positive, worked well as a team and showed gracious professionalism throughout!"  Another coach said, "Imagine 100 teams (roughly 800 kids) plus all the adults who came there with them … trying to navigate through the JMU campus in a blizzard!"

Charles students and staffers recently held a bake sale to raise money to buy international calling cards for injured American soldiers recovering at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. Bake sale items, donated by staff and parents, were made available for purchase during lunch. During two days, the effort netted $195. Charles students also have been writing letters and sending cards and artwork to the wounded soldiers. – Wenda Bransford

Dozier Middle School held its annual Summer Reading Celebration in October, with record-setting participation. Around 750 students and 50 faculty members enjoyed the PTA-sponsored event.  Students who completed their summer reading requirements celebrated with ice cream sundaes, a DJ, sporting events, and inflatable slides. Fortunately, it was a warm fall afternoon as some teachers braved the dunking booth, which quickly became one of the most popular activities of the afternoon.  "Celebrating the literacy achievements of our students is so important. It is exciting to see so many students who made reading a priority during the summer. We’re already planning for next year’s celebration," said Dozier Principal Angela Seiders. – Christina Gonzalez

In late November, Palmer Elementary School fifth-graders participated in an Ellis Island simulation. Before the activity, the students researched Ellis Island and immigrants and wrote essays about what happened to them when they arrived in the US. The year is 1892, and immigrant families got off the boat at Ellis Island. They were welcomed with cookies and juice and proceeded to the inspection stations.  They had to pass each inspection before going on to take the citizenship exam. They had to get through baggage inspection, where their suitcases were inspected for identification, food from their native countries, and items to remind them of home. They also had to pass an interrogation station where they were questioned about their family, jobs, education, and intentions in the U.S. The health inspectors looked for things such as head lice, coughs, and pink eye. If any station was not passed, an X was placed on the shoulder and the immigrant had to go to the rejection station where they had to write a few sentences about how it felt to be rejected. Once all stations were completed, a passport was issued and "immigrants" were free to study and take the citizenship test.  The students got a good feel for how hard it was for immigrants coming to America. – Lisa Coon

Woodside High School hosted its first Authors Conference in November. Local authors included Anthony Vann, Sydney Minter, Susan Corbett, Jennifer Busskohl, Gary Herring, and Marliss Melton. Along with illustrator Tara Prudhomme and Samantha Bass, community relations manager for Barnes and Noble, they presented small-group sessions. Authors shared real-life learning with students by explaining the necessity of excellent correspondence skills, the importance of an editor, the seriousness of deadlines, and the necessary people skills involved in working with an author as an illustrator. Students were able to ask questions concerning their own upcoming novels. –  Bonnie Sousa

Point Option hosted an event on Veterans Day to honor the men and woman who have served and those who currently serve our country in the military. Teacher Laura Fleming, her U.S. History students, along with the teachers, staff, and administrators worked long and hard to organize this event and make it a success. The students decorated the school in red, white, and blue and made banners sporting a "Real Heroes in the Classroom" theme. Participating veterans were given a tour of the school. After a welcome, an honor guard presented the colors and an acoustic version of the national anthem was played on the guitar by a student. Among veterans in attendance was a World War II veteran who witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor. A few veterans had served in Korea and Vietnam. The veterans and active-duty personnel answered students’ questions. A luncheon followed. – Katherine Lenz

Woodside’s Key Club has done it once again! Students, faculty and staff donated 59 turkeys to the annual Fort Eustis Turkey Drop. Turkeys were delivered to the 7th Sustainment Brigade. Club sponsors Peggy Sommermeyer and Susan Ragan-Pimblett lead an enthusiastic group of students in charitable activities supporting the local community. –  Bonnie Sousa

PAWS for Reading has been implemented this year at Greenwood Elementary School as a way to motivate children to read. Under the program, trained dogs come to school and let second-graders read to them. Donna Roggmann, media assistant, is the site-based coordinator. (View video.) –  Karen Lynch

On a recent Friday at Achievable Dream Middle and High School, students in Cheryl Smith-Robinson’s sixth-grade science classes added a technology tool to their growing collection. ePALS SchoolM@il,  introduced by TCIS Paul Lawrence, was quickly embraced as a learning activity by Smith-Robinson. The teacher and technology instructor set up a classroom workshop. Lawrence had established e-mail accounts for all the school’s students and printed out each child’s username and password. During the lesson, Lawrence explained the concept of ePALS, a school network e-mail system that is safe and closely monitored. Then he walked the students through the login procedure on laptop computers. Both he and Smith-Robinson had several e-mails waiting for the students. One of his was a list of school e-mail addresses. Hers was an assignment. Students were to view a video clip attached to the e-mail, answer the question she had posted, and e-mail her the answer. Students seemed very engaged in the e-mailing activity. – Sydney Minter

In November, Lee Hall Elementary School families enjoyed a night of "SOL Reading Jeopardy." Questions and answers were based on the Five Pillars of Reading: Phonics, Phonemic Awareness, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension. In addition to the interactive game, families were given a package of parenting tips, a Scholastic book for all students in attendance, and a complimentary subscription to "Family Fun" magazine for the winning families of each round of Jeopardy. Family Game Night was coordinated by Denise Favors, the parent involvement specialist, and included support by Patty O’Brien-Dorner, reading interventionist; Carol Wall, reading specialist; Michelle Reisel, ESL teacher; Jodi Moore, classroom teacher; Beth Lee, school librarian; and Principal Amanda Corbin-Staton. – Denise Favors

Palmer Elementary School students are "wild" about school!  The school’s community learning partner, Buffalo Wild Wings, sponsored a first nine weeks perfect attendance class celebration with Jamie Ball’s third-grade class. Classes with the most perfect attendance days from Nov. 5-Nov. 24 were treated to Wings and Things and congratulated by the staff of Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. All of the students in Jamie Ball’s class were at school nine of the 11 days! Students proudly wore their crowns at dismissal. – Lisa Coon

Deer Park Elementary School has been recognized in a recently published eco-fiction children’s book, "Avatars of Gaia: Escape from Hazard Hollow." Deer Park, home to NNPS’ environment science magnet, is one of four schools from across the country recognized for "going green." The book also honors First Lady Michelle Obama, the Philadelphia Eagles and other people and organizations. For more information, please visit www.avatarsofgaia.org. – Mark Kirk

Teacher Jennifer Mulrine and students at McIntosh Elementary School are taking health, fitness, and academics to a new level. Mulrine says a group of students meets every afternoon to walk around the school building while practicing multiplication for math. The goals are improved fitness and learning. Mulrine hopes to sponsor a similar group – We Are Literate Kids – to walk while listening to audio books. The physical education teacher is seeking a grant to cover the cost of equipment. – Duke Conrad

Woodside High School’s dance students performed the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" to packed houses in November and December. Dance students entertained visiting NNPS elementary and Huntington Middle School students. Woodside is home to the NNPS arts & communications magnet program. – Bonnie Sousa
  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Family Fun Calendar
Check out these free or inexpensive family activities.

"Family Time" is a monthly show that airs on Newport News Public Schools-TV, Channel 47 (available on Cox Channel 47, Verizon FiOS Channel 17, and online at www.nnpstv.com). The program lets families know what students are learning, and it complements the schools’ curriculum in math, science, reading, and social studies. It’s available on demand at the NNPS-TV Web site.

Newport News attractions are offering free Ambassador Passes to city employees and residents. Pass holders will receive free admission to select city attractions during the month of January. Each week, the pass is valid at two sites. The remaining schedule:

• Jan. 16-22, Endview Plantation, the Peninsula Fine Arts Center
• Jan. 23-29, Virginia Living Museum, James A. Field House

The passes are available at the Newport News Visitor Center, 13560 Jefferson Ave., (Newport News Park entrance) or the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism office at City Center at Oyster Point, 700 Town Center Drive, Suite 320, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Ambassador Pass program is underwritten by the attractions and is designed to encourage residents to appreciate destinations in their own backyard. Persons requesting passes need to show proof of residency or employment. Each pass is good for admission for two adults and two children. The program is in its 11th year. For information, call 886-7777.

Winter story time for children runs through Feb. 27 at the Grissom Library. Register online or by calling the library. Ages and times are:

• Babygarten, birth to 2½ years (with parent or caregiver), Mondays, 10 a.m.
• Tiny Tot Storytime, 2½-3½ (with parent or caregiver), Wednesdays, 11 a.m.
• Preschool Storytime, 3½-5 (children only), Tuesdays, 11 a.m.

Brittingham-Midtown Community Center will hold Family Flashback Fun Day from 3:00-7:30 p.m. Jan. 23. Free events include a movie, games and activities, dance and costume contests, treats, and more. Free classes will be awarded as prizes. Space is limited; children under age 13 must be accompanied by a parent. 570 McLawhorne Drive. 591-4853.

Bluebird Gap Farm will offer a free pony pedicure demonstration Jan. 30 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at its livestock barn. The 60-acre farm is home to more than 250 domestic and wild animals. There are a shelter, picnic tables, barn, Master Gardeners’ Display Garden, nature trail, and a playground. The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 60 Pine Chapel Road, Hampton. 825-4750.

The Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center will offer a free performance of "Barefoot Puppets: Little Bread Hen," inspired by the classic "The Little Red Hen" at 11 a.m. Jan. 30 in the Ella Fitzgerald Theater. The performance is free, but reservations are required. 2410 Wickham Ave. 247-8969.

Newport News Public Libraries are hosting a number of black-history events during February. Youth ages 12-17 can enter a Black History Trivia Contest at the Main Street Library starting Feb. 1. Entries are due at the end of the month, with a prize awarded to the teen who answers the most questions correctly. 110 Main Street. 591-4858.

Children ages 6-18 can participate in an African-American History Jeopardy Trivia Contest from 4-5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Pearl Bailey Library. Trivia questions will be available Feb. 1. Registration is required and begins Feb. 1, online at www.nngov.com/library/custom/onlinereg or by calling Pearl Bailey Library, 247-8677. A prize will be awarded to the winning team. 2510 Wickham Ave.

The Mariners’ Museum will sponsor artist workshops for students in grades 2-8 on Feb. 6 at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center. Local artist Elaine Viel and Christopher Newport University art professor Christi Harris will facilitate the workshops, which celebrate the "Message in a Bottle" exhibit at the museum. Participants are asked to bring 10-20 found or discarded objects, such as bottle caps, which will be incorporated into a wall hanging. The workshop for grades 2-5 will take place from 9 a.m. until noon. The workshop for grades 6-8 will be from 1-4 p.m. The event is funded in part by a grant from the Newport News Arts Commission and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. The workshops are free, but registration is required. 2410 Wickham Ave. 247-8950.

The Living Black History Museum, presented by members of Living Waters Way of the Cross Church of Christ Temple, will be held at Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center from noon-4 p.m. Feb. 6. Visitors will experience memorable scenes from black history while touring the museum. Tours will be offered every 45 minutes. Free. Donations are encouraged. 2803 Oak Ave. 247-2360.

The Virginia War Museum will kick off a month of activities focusing on African-American themes from noon-3 p.m. Feb. 6 during "A Salute to the Tuskegee Airmen." Members of the group will talk about artifacts on display at noon. A showing of the movie "The Tuskegee Airmen" will begin at 1 p.m. and be followed by guest speakers at 3 p.m. Other movies in the series: Feb. 13, "Men of Bronze;" Feb. 20, "Glory;" Feb. 27, "Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II." Movies begin at 1 p.m. and are free with regular admission of $6 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and active-duty military, $4 for children ages 7-18. Admission is free for children 6 and younger.
 
Free parenting classes will be available through the Nurturing Program, a nationally recognized parent education program, from 10 a.m.-noon on Monday mornings from Feb. 8-March 29 at St. George’s Episcopal Church. The program is for parents/caregivers of children age 5 and younger. Topics include: Ages and Stages of Child Development; Setting Boundaries and Creating Family Rules; Increasing Self-Esteem for Children and Parents; Behavior Management Techniques; Developing Nurturing Routines; How to handle Stress and Anger; Problem Solving, and Decision Making. Free childcare will be offered during the classes. To register, call 886-6511. The classes are sponsored by Fort Eustis Community Services Program and Mary Immaculate Family Focus. St. George’s is at 15446 Warwick Blvd.

Seniors can take in a free movie on the second Tuesday of the month through April at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center’s "Oldies But Goodies Movie Series." Movies begin at 1 p.m. $5. Free popcorn. 2410 Wickham Ave. 247-8950.
The lineup:

• Feb. 9 – "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner"
• March 9 – "Carmen Jones"
• April 13 – "Casablanca."

Riverview Gymnastics Center will sponsor a Kids’ Night In, with dinner, a movie, and other activities for children age 4 and older while parents enjoy an evening out from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 12. The featured movie is "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." The fee is $5, and registration is online. 125 City Farm Road. Call 886-2729 for information.

Doris Miller Community Center will sponsor a Mardi Gras Teen Party for ages 6-12 from 3:30-6 p.m. Feb. 19. The celebration will include a parade of costumes, arts and crafts, music, dancing, and more. 2814 Wickham Ave. 247-8603.
 
Virginia Opera will present "Highlights from the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess" at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center. The performances are free, but reservations are required. 2410 Wickham Ave. 247-8969.

The Peninsula SPCA Exotic Sanctuary and Petting Zoo is open weekdays from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 3:30 p.m. Admission is $2 for teens and adults, $1 for children ages 3-12. 523 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. 595-1399.

Members of the Virginia Peninsula Astronomy/Stargazers (VPAS) will be on-site to share their knowledge of the evening skies. Drop by just after sunset for a glimpse of the night sky (weather permitting). Second and fourth Friday of the month. Free. 105 City Farm Road. 886-7912.

School and Other Dates

January 2010

• 23   SAT & subject tests
• 28   Marking Period 2 Ends
• 29   Teacher workday (students do not report)
  

February 2010

• Black History Month
• National Children’s Dental Health Month
• 1   Staff development (students do not report)
• 2   Groundhog Day
• 4   Registration deadline for Mar. 13 SAT
• 8-12  National School Counseling Week
• 9   Marking Period 2 Reports Issued
• 13   Security Officer Appreciation Day
• 15   Presidents’ Day (schools closed; offices open)
• 16   School Board meeting, 7 p.m.
• 16   Public hearing on school budget 7:30 p.m.
• 17   Ash Wednesday

Download the school calendar for 2009-2010.

Download the 2009-2010 graduation ceremony and rehearsal schedule.

Feedback?

NNPS NEWSLines is published by Newport News Public School Office of Community Relations, 12465 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23606. Director, Public Information and Community Relations: Michelle Price. NEWSLines Editor: Marguerite Hargreaves.