THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 12, 1994 TAG: 9408110143
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
LENGTH: Long : 263 lines
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SCHOOL HOURS: All high schools open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 2 p.m. All middle schools open at 8:05 a.m. and close at 2:35 p.m.
The opening and closing of elementary schools vary among locations.
Brighton, Churchland Academy, Churchland, Hodges Manor, Park View, Port Norfolk, Shea Terrace, John Tyler and Highland-Biltmore open at 8:40 a.m. and close at 3:10 p.m.
Churchland Primary, Douglass Park, James Hurst, Lakeview, Olive Branch, Simonsdale and Westhaven open at 9:15 a.m. and close at 3:45 p.m.
The Diagnostic, Adjustive and Correction (DAC) Center and the Elementary Education Center at Mount Hermon open at 8 a.m. and close at 2:15 p.m.
MEALS: All schools offer a lunch program. Lunch costs 65 cents for middle and high school students, and 55 cents for elementary students. Lunch tickets can be purchased on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis.
Breakfast is available at all schools, the Elementary Education Center at Mount Hermon and the DAC Center. Breakfast costs 25 cents.
MEDICATION POLICY: Medication is given in school by either the school nurse or a person designated by the principal in the nurse's absence. Parents or guardians of students requiring medication need to complete a permission form. The signature of a physician and a parent/guardian is required. Permission forms are submitted to the school nurse.
IMMUNIZATIONS: Students enrolling in a Virginia public school for the first time must prove immunization against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT); polio; and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) - in accordance with state regulations.
REGISTER NOW: New students should register during school office hours at the school they will attend. Students enrolling in a Virginia public school for the first time must provide the following information upon registration:
Birth certificate
Proof of immunization
Proof of physical examination within the past 12 months for kindergarten students and at any time for students in grades one through seven
Social Security number
Proof of residency
Students transferring from another school district must provide their most recent report card.
Children who reach their fourth birthday by Sept. 30 of the school year are eligible to participate in the pre-kindergarten program. Pre-kindergarten classes are offered in designated schools. In order to participate in the pre-kindergarten program, children must live in areas served by schools that offer pre-kindergarten classes.
Children who reach their fifth birthday by Sept. 30 of the school year are eligible to attend kindergarten. Kindergarten classes are offered at several elementary schools in the district. Kindergarten students are not required to meet zone residency requirements. In order to be enrolled in a kindergarten program, however, students must be residents of the city of Portsmouth.
The parents and guardians of children who reach their fifth birthday after Sept. 30 and before Dec. 31 of the school year can petition the school division for kindergarten enrollment. The school division will test the children to determine their readiness for the program.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS: If it becomes necessary to close schools because of inclement weather or for any other reason, announcements will be carried on local radio and television stations. Schools without air conditioning might close early in extreme heat. Please make child-care arrangements at the beginning of the school year, so that students know what to do and where to go if early dismissals become necessary.
REPORT CARDS: Report cards will be issued Nov. 17, Feb. 3, April 19 and June 16.
CALENDAR:
Sept. 7 - First day of school
Oct. 24 - Parent conference day
Nov. 11 - Veterans Day
Nov. 24 and 25 - Thanksgiving holiday break
Dec. 23 to Jan. 2 - Winter break
Jan. 16 - Lee/Jackson/King Day
Jan. 31 - Parent conferences/ school-level staff development
Feb. 20 - Presidents' Day
April 10 to 14 - Spring Break
May 29 - Memorial Day
June 14 - Last Day for students
EARLY SCHOOL CLOSINGS: Schools will close early Oct. 10, Nov. 14, Dec. 12, Jan. 30, Feb. 13, March 13, April 17, and May 8
VOLUNTEERS: The school district offers a variety of opportunities for parent and community involvement in education: parent-teacher associations, volunteer programs, advisory committees, Partners in Education, etc. The public is invited and encouraged to attend School Board meetings on the second and third Thursday of every month. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
STATISTICS: There are 17,921 students enrolled in the 26 Portsmouth Public Schools. The student-teacher ratio is 17:1. The per pupil expenditure is $5,208.
STUDENT CONDUCT: The Portsmouth School Board is committed to the safety and well-being of all students. Conduct procedures are strictly enforced throughout the school district to ensure safety, responsibility and respect among students, teachers and staff.
SCHOOL NURSING SERVICES: The school nurse responds to student illnesses, accidents and emergencies that arise during the school day. The nurse also examines each student on a rotating schedule. Routine examinations include eyes, throat, teeth, height, weight and blood pressure. Hearing evaluations are conducted for students in grades K, 3, 7 and 10. Defects noted during screenings are referred to parents or guardians by letter, phone call or a home visit.
ABSENCES: Parents are contacted by telephone each day a student is absent from school. Students must present a note from home when they return to school. Work missed for excused absences is expected to be made up as soon as possible.
TRANSPORTATION: School bus transportation is available for middle and high school students living more than 1.5 miles from their school and for elementary students living more than 1 mile from their school.
ATTENDANCE ZONES: Students are assigned to schools according to the addresses of their residence. To learn which school your child should attend, call 393-8751 and give your street address.
SCHOOL BOARD: Meetings are held the second and third Thursday of every month. Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. For more information, call Vivian Edwards, clerk of the board, at 393-8200. The School Board office is located at 801 Crawford St., 23704.
PHONE DIRECTORY
ADMINISTRATION
School Administration Building - 393-8751
Department of Business Affairs - 393-8435
Department of Operational Services - 393-8332
Department of Personnel - 393-8786
Department of Curriculum and Instruction - 393-8556
Department of Research and Communications - 393-8840
Department of Special Education and Services - 393-8658
Portsmouth School Board - 393-8200
Office of the Superintendent, Dr. Richard Dwain Trumble - 393-8742
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
James Thomas Benn III
Chairman
115 West Road, 23707
James E. Bridgeford
Vice-chairman
3840 Flagship Way, 23703
Rev. Charles H. Bowens II
408 Beechdale Road, 23701
Richard B. Crawford
1517 Matthews Terrace, 23704
Evelyn Hyman
1706 Parker Ave., 23704
Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr.,
5409 High Street West, 23703
Ray A. Smith Sr.
1314 Coltrane Drive, 23701
Leah D. Stith
3604 Cedar Lane, 23703
Louise G. Walden
514 Nansemond St., 23707
SCHOOLS
Addresses, telephone numbers and principals at each school
HIGH SCHOOLS
Churchland High School
4301 Cedar Lane, 23703
686-2500
Raymond Hale
I.C. Norcom High School
2900 Turnpike Road, 23707
393-8793
Dr. DeWayne F. Jeter
Woodrow Wilson High School
1401 Elmhurst Lane, 23701
465-2907
Lindell Wallace
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Churchland Middle School
4051 River Shore Road, 23703
686-2512, LaDaniel Gatling
Cradock Middle School
21 Alden Ave., 23702
393-8788
Patricia H. Fisher
Hunt-Mapp Middle School
3701 Willett Drive, 23707
393-8806
Michael C. Spencer
William E. Waters Middle School
600 Roosevelt Blvd., 23701
558-2813
Edgar Morgan
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Brighton
1101 Jefferson St., 23704
393-8870
Pomar Tootoo
Churchland Academy
4061 River Shore Road, 23703
686-2527
Margarette Bartlett
Churchland
5601 Michael Lane, 23703
686-2523
Dr. Sheila Hill
Churchland Primary
5700 Hedgerow Lane, 23703
686-2519
Ethel R. Porter
Douglass Park
34 Grand St., 23701
393-8646
Crawford Ellsworth
Highland-Biltmore
10 Independence St., 23701
393-8728
Charles H. Bowens
Hodges Manor
1201 Cherokee Road, 23701
465-2921
Dr. Betty Bartlett
James Hurst
18 Dahlgren Ave., 23702
558-2811
James Victory
Lakeview Elementary
1300 Horne Ave., 23701
465-2901
Isaac L. Askew
Olive Branch
415 Mimosa Road, 23701
465-2926
Bonnie V. Teig
Park View
1401 Crawford Parkway, 23704
393-8647
Gwendolyn Watkins
Port Norfolk
3101 Detroit St., 23707
393-8306, Barbara Jones-Smith
Shea Terrace
253 Constitution Ave., 23704
393-8723
Eunice Southall
Simonsdale
132 Byers Ave., 23701
465-2917
Nancy S. Dunn
John Tyler
3649 Hartford St., 23707
393-8879
William J. Wiseman
Westhaven
3701 Clifford St., 23707
393-8855
Dr. Helen Taylor
SPECIALTY SCHOOLS
DAC Center
401 West Road, 23707
393-8791
Sharon P. Warren
Elementary Education Center/
Mount Hermon
3000 North St., 23707
393-8825
Valerie Brown
Tidewater Regional Alternative Educational Program
2200 Piedmont Ave., 23704
393-5247
Daun S. Hester
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD PORTSMOUTH SCHOOLS by CNB