12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 14 Number 2


Around Hampton Roads Ten Schools in Chesapeake


Designated '2019 Purple Star' The Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children are recognizing 123 schools as “Purple Star” schools. The Purple Star designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families.


To qualify for a Purple Star, schools must have a staff member designated as the point of contact for military students and families. The point of contact serves as the primary link between the military family and the school. Schools must also demonstrate their commitment to meeting the needs of military students by providing resources and programming on issues important to military families, such as academic planning and transitions between schools, districts, and states.


These schools join our fourteen schools who earned the designation last year. Purple Star schools retain the designation for three years before being required to reapply.


Schools earning the award receive a Virginia Purple Star commemorative coin to display and are listed as a Purple Star school on the VDOE Military Families webpage.


Virginia is home to several of the largest and most important military installations in the nation. Currently, there are more than 80,000 school- age, military-connected students attending schools in the commonwealth whose parents serve on active duty, in the reserves, or in the Virginia National Guard.


The Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children was created in 2009 to consider any and all matters related to the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The compact expresses the commitment of participating states to remove barriers to academic success for children of military families.


Congratulations to ten schools who earned the 2019 Purple Star School Designation: Crestwood Middle, Greatbridge Middle, Greenbrier Intermediate, Greenbrier Middle, Hickory Elementary, Hugo A. Owens Middle, Indian River Middle, Jolliff Middle, Oscar F. Smith Middle and Western Branch Middle School.


Stand Down to Help Homeless Veterans to be Held at Y.H.


November 2019


The training will be presented by Phyllis M. Henderson and Ché D. Henderson of Visions2000, Inc.


Phyllis Henderson received a BS from


Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS, and a MA from National Louis University in Evanston, IL. Her son, Ché Henderson received a BA from Radford University and a MS in Human Resource Development from George Washington University. Phyllis and Ché are registered corporate and leadership coaches with the World-Wide Association of Business Coaches and are both Myers Briggs-qualified.


Kiln Creek Golf Club & Resort is located at 1003 Brick Kiln Blvd., Newport News, VA, 23602. The event, which will be held in the NEST Ballroom, is being sponsored by Newport News Tourism, Newport News Hospitality Association, Greater Peninsula Workforce Board, and the Hampton Convention and Visitor Bureau.


The program is free but registration is required. Participants may register online by clicking here. Up to 20 people can register at one time. For registration questions, call Rita Bond at 757-826-3327.


Norfolk Seeks Startups to Help


Solve Challenges NORFOLK, VA – Help Norfolk solve city problems by applying entrepreneurial power – Norfolk seeks startups to help address civic challenges.


For the second year, Norfolk will participate in the Startup in Residence program. This nationwide effort of more than 30 government partners applies technology solutions from new businesses while minimizing risk. Businesses with successful pitches will work “in residence” with the City of Norfolk for 16 weeks to fully understand the problem and propose a solution that can lead to a contract.


Norfolk seeks partners to address three challenges:


Community Engagement: Norfolk seeks an easy-to-use, comprehensive, data-driven solution to improve and increase community engagement for our residents.


Virtual Front Porch: Norfolk wants to create an online, mobile “front porch” to share news and stay in touch for people affected by the St. Paul’s transformation project.


Emergency Shelter: Provide a digital platform to improve emergency shelter pre-registration and processing.


Norfolk invites all Hampton Roads startups to review these challenges at startupinresidence.org and apply. Last year Norfolk received 22 proposals on five challenges; only one was local.


Thomas Center A stand down for homeless and at-risk veterans will be held on Nov. 16 at the Y.H. Thomas Community Center, 1300 Thomas St. Services on-site will include medical screening, housing assistance, legal and employment services, haircuts, showers, hot lunches and more. Free transportation will be provided for veterans only at stand down pick up sites.


Sponsored by the Hampton Military Affairs Committee and the Veteran Affairs Medical Center, the Nov. 16 stand down is from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information contact Verneka Hudson at 757-722-9961, ext. 2137 or email Verneka.Hudson@va.gov.


A stand down is traditionally defined as ceasing all regular operations to focus on a defined need. the upcoming stand down is designed to provide needed supplies and services to homeless veterans. the stand down last year provided housing, meals and other services to more than 120 veterans.


Hospitality Industry Employees Offered FREE Customer Service


To accommodate shift workers, two sessions will be offered – the first from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and the second from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The training objectives of the program, “B.R.A.V.O. Empowerment™: Exceptional Customer” include:


· Evaluating what is working well and what needs attention.


· Introducing the B.R.A.V.O. Empowerment™ process, focused on quality customer service. ·


Outlining practices and standards of behavior to further enrich the customer experience.


Examining “What’s in this for everyone involved?”


“We want to encourage innovation to solve the challenges we face as a city, and we would love to find partners in our region to work with us,” said STiR program director Pete Buryk. “That means we need to encourage innovative new businesses.”


Startups may enter the challenge from October 16th through November 20th. Entries will be reviewed and partnerships announced by the end of the year. Residencies begin January 28, 2020.


Veterans Day Salute at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum


Training in November Newport News, VA – Free customer service training is being offered to hospitality industry employees on Nov. 6 at Kiln Creek Golf Club & Resort. The seminar is designed to provide training to hospitality workers who come in contact with visitors to the region’s attractions, hotels, restaurants, retail establishments, etc.


Come “sea” history at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum at 2 High St. in Portsmouth Monday, November 11, 2019—Veterans Day. Free admission on the holiday! The museum will present members of the Tidewater Maritime Living History Association (TMLHA), honoring veterans by presenting a living timeline of U.S. Navy history. TMLHA members will appear as historical sailors from the American Revolution, War of 1812, and American Civil War. Come chat with them about their respective time periods, artifacts they’ll display, and the historical experiences of those who served in the U.S. Navy.


Inside the museum gallery, view our temporary display case, which currently holds a special exhibit of items related to historical veterans’ groups. Learn more about the Grand Army of the Republic, United Confederate Veterans, United Spanish War Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, and Marine Corps League. Kids can make a clothespin soldier or sailor at our gallery craft table.


On Veterans Day, both the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum at 2 High St., and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum, one block away at London & Water Streets, will be open from 10am – 5pm. For this special holiday, the usual PNSM fee of $3 per person will be waived. Donations accepted.


The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum researches, preserves, and promotes the history of the City of Portsmouth, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and the armed forces in Hampton Roads. The museum accomplishes its mission by offering exhibitions, publications, lectures, and educational programs.


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