SHS Weekly Update

Good News, Packer Families!

We are excited to share that Isle of Wight County Public Schools is rolling out Remind district-wide! If you're not already familiar with Remind, it's a classroom communication tool that makes it easy to stay involved with your child's learning.

Remind is free to use, and you'll be able to get and send messages on any device—even a simple text message from your phone!

As part of this rollout, official accounts will be created for all the educators, parents, and students at Smithfield High School. On Sept. 15th, you'll receive an email or text message from Remind. All you need to do is follow the steps in the message to finish setting up your account. Here is a video demo to see how Remind works.

Also, we've already set the preferred language for you and your child so you can receive messages in your home language. As long as the teacher is receiving replies, you can also send messages back in your preferred language, and they’ll automatically be translated into the teacher’s preferred language. Learn more about how to send a translated message here.

We encourage you to check out this parent guide to get tips on how to use Remind. We're excited to use Remind to make connecting with your family more engaging!

En español

Congratulations to Seth Thomas who qualified as a Semifinalist in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program! As one of more than 16,000 high school seniors who are Semifinalists, he has an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships to be offered next spring.

The Nurse Aide classes want to recognize September as Pediatric Cancer Awareness month. The classes are collecting items, such as crayons, markers, coloring books etc., for students who are in the hospital or receiving chemotherapy. If anyone is interested in donating an item please see a Nurse Aide student or Mrs. Carter. We will be collecting through the month of September. On 9/22/2023 we would like to ask that everyone wear yellow/gold in honor of those children who are fighting cancer.

Click the link below for more information about purchasing a yearbook ad recognizing a member of the Class of 2024.

Class of 2024: Don't miss out on taking your senior portrait!

Lifetouch will be at Smithfield High School on 9/28/23 to take your tux and drape portraits for the yearbook. This is the last senior portrait session scheduled for SHS. Students who don't take their portrait at school will have to arrange their own session with Lifetouch. Appointment slots will open up later this month. See Mrs. Garrow in the library for more information.

All senior portraits must be submitted to Mrs. Garrow by Monday, November 1, to be included in the yearbook. If you took your portrait with LIfetouch, it will automatically be sent to Mrs. Garrow. Be sure to go online (https://prestigeportraits.com/) and select your preferred pose for the yearbook. The background must be blue. If you take your portrait with an outside photographer, be sure the background is blue and that it is either a drape or tux formal portrait. Have the photographer send the portrait to hgarrow@iwcs.k12.va.us.

There will be a boys Soccer interest meeting in Cafeteria on Thursday September 21st from 3-4 pm. Anyone planning to participate in soccer, please come to the meeting.

The softball program will be having Captain Bob’s Seafood Fish Dinners for sale for $12 per plate on Saturday, October 28th from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Dinners include fried catfish filets, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and hush puppies. The sale will take place in the student parking lot at SHS. See Coach Riddick or any softball player to purchase tickets.

Academic Team practices will begin on Monday, September 18th immediately after school in Room 40. For more information, please contact Mrs.Morales-Peters or Ms.Lanzalotto.

LEOs will meet on Wednesdays immediately after school in the commons. For more information, please contact Ms.Lanzalotto.

Juniors! Don’t forget to vote for your Junior Class Officers! The link will be emailed to you and voting will be open Tuesday (9/19) to Thursday (9/21).

The Drama Club is holding auditions on 9/18 from 3-4pm for our VHSL competition team. No audition materials required.

The Robotics Team will have the second “interest meeting” Monday 9/18 (3:00-4:00) in the Engineering Lab. If you are interested in joining, please attend this after school meeting!

Interact Club will be holding their second “interest meeting” on Tuesday of next week 9/19 in room 8 during Packer block. If you are interested in giving back to your community or some volunteer hours, come on by and check it out!

The Smithfield High School Chess Club meets every Monday after school from 3 pm to 4 pm in the library. Students must have a ride home.

Contact Mr. Pape for more information: apape@iwcs.k12.va.us

Attention esports candidates,

An interest meeting was held on 9/12/2023. Tryouts will be held on 9/19/2023 @ 3:30 pm in room 49 of Smithfield High School.

The following games will be offered pending participation

• League of Legends

• Rocket League

• Super Smash Brothers Ultimate

• Splatoon 3

• Mario Cart 8 Deluxe

• Hearthstone

• Madden NFL

• NBA 2K

Class Of 2026 Apparel Online Store is now open!

OUR SHOP DETAILS:

- Shop Now: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/2026SHS

- Store Open From: September 11 - September 20, 2023

Link to purchase the accidental coverage insurance online: https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/WH308-5 (service fee applies) -- EXPIRES AT 3 P.M. 9/20

Link to pay a tech fee online: https://osp.osmsinc.com/IsleofWightVA/BVModules/ProductTemplates/Bvc2013/Product.aspx?productid=WH308-VAR1 (service fee applies)

Senior Class Dues:

https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/WH308-3

Junior Class Dues:

https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/WH308-9

Sophomore Class Dues:

https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/WH308-10

Freshman Class Dues:

https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/WH308-11

A revamped, immersive opportunity awaits high school students who want to take part in Community Electric Cooperative’s Youth Programs in 2024. For the new program, which features three events, there is a single application process that continues through Dec. 31. The three events are:

• Day in the Life of a Lineman (Feb. 27) gives participants the unique opportunity to get an up-close-and-personal introduction to the life of a lineworker. It combines classroom presentations and demonstrations with “in the field” interactions to help them understand the demands and benefits of a career as a lineworker. While this is a selected event for the Youth Program, it is also open to the general public.

• Virginia Institute on Cooperative Education (March 22-24) is a leadership conference convened annually by the Virginia Cooperative Council. It is held to educate high school juniors and seniors about cooperatives and the co-op form of business. The VICE conference is held at Graves Mountain Lodge in western Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This event also comes with a $2,000 scholarship opportunity.

• Youth Tour (June 17-21) is organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, headquartered near Washington, D.C. It is a busy week of sights and stops, including a visit to the U.S. Capitol. The purpose is to provide students an understanding of American history and their role as a citizen by meeting their representatives and senators in Congress. Within the Youth Tour, there are various other leadership and scholarship opportunities.

By participating in all three events and crafting two social media posts per event, students will qualify for a $1,000 academic scholarship. They also will be able to contribute to the community through a $500 donation that the cooperative makes on behalf of each student to a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization of the student’s choosing in CEC’s service area. After the application period closes, Community Electric will select three students to participate in the three-event program based on the quality of their applications.

Visit https://www.comelec.coop/community/youth-programs/ for more information on the Cooperative’s 2024 Youth Programs.

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium provides FREE NASA-related programs for Virginia's high school students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. The programs have an interactive online STEM learning experience and are highlighted by a seven-day residential summer academy at NASA.

10th GRADE
Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) focuses on the current missions flown or managed by NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. http://vsgc.odu.edu/spacecoast/ - This online course application is OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 16.

11th AND 12th GRADE
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) focuses on NASA’s human spaceflight missions and the Journey to the Moon and on to Mars. Students can earn up to five free dual enrollment college credits. http://vsgc.odu.edu/VASTS/, applications are OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 24.

Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) focuses on the challenges the next generation of scientists and engineers to become part of the solution to the societal issues faced by the impacts of climate change. Engaging students in real-world investigations of the Earth and its systems using the latest research and data from NASA. Students can earn up to five free transferable dual enrollment college credits http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS applications are OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 24.

Patricia Cuffee, Principal

Website: https://shs.iwcs.k12.va.us/
Location: 14171 Turner Drive, Smithfield, VA, USA
Phone: 757-357-3108
Twitter: @OfficialSHSPack