Recognitions
September is Attendance Awareness Month
Article: 2024-35-345
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Non-teaching staff, School Counselors, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, School Nurses
Contact:AlexandraJavna, School Social Work Specialist, [email protected]
September is Attendance Awareness Month, a nationwide recognition of the connection between regular school attendance and academic achievement. This month highlights the importance of mobilizing schools, families, and community partners to promote regular attendance by developing tiered strategies and personalized interventions to reduce chronic absence.
Research shows that missing as few as two days every month, or ten percent of the school year, can have a significant impact on students. Students who miss between two and four days in September are more likely to be chronically absent throughout the school year. This suggests that schools should monitor attendance from the beginning of the school year and intervene swiftly to get students back on track. School and division leaders can promote Attendance Awareness during September by sharing the importance of attendance with families and by celebrating students who are demonstrating good and improved attendance. Please see the resources below for more information regarding improving attendance and creating an attendance awareness campaign.
Patriot Day: Commemorating 9/11
Article: 2024-33-320
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals
Contact: Freedom Flag Foundation at [email protected]
September 11, 2024, marks the 23rd anniversary of the most significant terrorist attack ever to occur on American soil. We recognize this date every year as Patriot Dayto remember the lives lost at the World Trade Center, on Flight 93, and at the Pentagon (located in Arlington County, Virginia, making 9/11 a direct part of Virginia history). Patriot Day also honors the first responders, service members, and civil servants who were integral in rescue and recovery efforts - many of whom made the supreme sacrifice as a result.
Schools are encouraged to designate time nextweek for reflection and remembrance. Many Virginia schools commemorate Patriot Day by flying the Freedom Flag, which is recognized as the Commonwealth's official 9/11 flag of remembrance. Governor Glenn Youngkin will be displaying the Freedom Flag for the 7th consecutive year at the Executive Mansion, and major state institutions such as the Virginia War Memorial, Virginia Museum of History & Culture, and the Virginia State Police are anticipated to display the Freedom Flag in commemorative events on 9/11. The Freedom Flag Foundationencourages schools to conduct flag raising ceremonies that include the recitation of the 10 symbolic elements of the Freedom Flag. There are also 9/11 teaching resources available from the United States Department of Educationand the Library of Congress.
If you'd like to share a photo of your school flying its Freedom Flag, please send an email to [email protected].
For additional information about the Freedom Flag, please contact the Freedom Flag Foundation at [email protected].
Applications are now being accepted for the Virginia RISE Award - Due October 7
Article: 2024-35-356
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Child Care Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff
Contact: Christine Harris, Executive Director, Educator Partnerships, [email protected]
VDOE, as part of its #ElevateEducatorsVAcampaign, and in partnership with the Virginia Secretary of Education, is proud to announce that nominations are open for the 2025 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award. The RISE Award is intended to honor and promote classified school employees who provide exemplary service to students. A classified school employeeis defined as an employee of a state or any political subdivision of a state, or an employee of a nonprofit entity, who works in any grade from prekindergarten through high school in any of the following occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades. Additional information about the RISE Award is available on the VDOE Educator Recognition website.
Each school division may submit one candidate to be considered for this recognition.Submit your nominees using the VDOE Qualtrics online application for the Virginia RISE Awards by October 7, 2024, at 5 p.m. Virginia will select and celebrate two RISE Award recipients announced mid-winter. These two candidates will then be considered at the national level for the U.S. Department of Education RISE Award.
2025U.S.Presidential Scholars ArtsProgramApplication Process
Article: 2024-35-355
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Counselors
Contact: Amanda Nevetral, Director,Office of Advanced Learning, [email protected]
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Programwas established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and, since that time, has honored almost 8,000 outstanding high school seniors. The program has evolved from initial recognition of exceptional SAT or ACT scores, and beginning in 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.
To apply for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Artsprogram, students must first apply to the National Arts Competition hosted by YoungArts. YoungArts accepts applications in the following disciplines: classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing. If accepted as a winner in one of these categories, students may be invited to apply to the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts program. For applications and additional information, visit YoungArts.
All applications to the National Arts Competition by YoungArts must be received no later than October 17, 2024.
2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Nomination Process for High School Seniors in Career and Technical Education
Article: 2024-35-354
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Counselors
Contact: Amanda Nevetral, Director,Office of Advanced Learning, [email protected]
VDOE's Office of Advanced Learning, in collaboration with the Office of Career and Technical Education, is accepting nominations of Virginia candidates for the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars for Career and Technical Education for recognition "on the basis of outstanding scholarship and demonstrated ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields." The Criteria for Candidate Identification and Nominationprovides detailed information on the categories that will be used by the Commission on Presidential Scholars selection committee. Use these criteria to select appropriate supporting nomination documents for submission.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Programwas established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and, since that time, has honored almost 8,000 outstanding high school seniors. The program has evolved from initial recognition of exceptional SAT or ACT scores and beginning in 2016, outstanding students who demonstrate excellence in Career and Technical Education were included for recognition.
School divisions are invited to nominate an outstanding senior CTE student for the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars CTE Program.The 2025 CTE U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Nomination Formand strong, relevant supporting documents must be submitted in one folder for each nominee through the VDOE's secure Single Sign-on Web Systems(SSWS) drop box to the attention of Amanda Nevetral. All nominations must be received no later than October 21, 2024.For questions related to this program, contact [email protected].
2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars General Program Nomination Process for High School Seniors
Article: 2024-35-352
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Counselors
Contact: Amanda Nevetral, Director,Office of Advanced Learning, [email protected]
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Programwas established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. The Presidential Scholars Program reviewers will consider the following categories when evaluating the nominees at the Semifinalist and Scholar levels:
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Involvement and Service in school and community
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Leadership and Character
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Writing samples
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Academic achievements
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Discretionary points for extraordinary achievement, heavy workload, family responsibilities, or obstacles overcome.
Principals will submit the VDOE Student Nomination Formto the division superintendent or designee for submission to a designated Regional Superintendent. Each Superintendent's Region may select one female and one male student candidate(Region 4 may submit two female and two male student candidates due to the large student population).Regional nominations must be submitted through the Virginia Department of Education's secure Single Sign-on Web Systems(SSWS) drop box to the attention of Amanda Nevetral.
All nominations must be received no later than November 15, 2024.
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