October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and below we share some information about how to spot signs of bullying and resources that can help. Everyone is encouraged to wear orange on Oct. 21 for Unity Day. 

More in this edition: We also celebrate our on-time graduation rate; feature photos from this week's Marching Band Showcase; and preview a story on an art installation at Godwin High School that commemorates 30 years of the school's exchange program with a German counterpart.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and our Student Support and Wellness team encourages everyone to wear orange on Wednesday, Oct. 21, for Unity Day to raise awareness.

An estimated one out of every five students is bullied in any given year. As a school community, we want to encourage everyone to stay informed about the signs of bullying, the impact it can have and what to do if you see it happening.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines bullying as behavior that is:

Acts of bullying may involve physical contact, words or gestures, or social exclusion. Bullying can happen in person or online.

Signs of bullying include:

If you or someone you know is being bullied, there are resources available to help:

Together, we can create a safe and supportive school community for all students!

Henrico County Public Schools continues to see a high on-time graduation rate, according to data released last week by the Virginia Department of Education. This year, 91.01% of the division’s students graduated on time, compared to 90.55% last year.

 

This year:

“Our strong on-time graduation rate is a testament to the work being done at every level, from elementary and middle schools that build the foundation for success, to the high school teams that support all students on their path to graduation,” said Superintendent Amy Cashwell. “Henrico Schools is committed to ensuring that students graduate high school life-ready, whether they are pursuing postsecondary education, employment or military enlistment.”

Achievement data for every school is available as part of the Virginia Department of Education’s School Quality Profile.

This year's Marching Band Showcase was a magnificent success! Congratulations to the students, as well as all of the band directors, school and division staff, and family volunteers whose hard work led to a wonderful event. Find a playlist featuring every performance from the evening on our YouTube page and check out a full album of photos here.

THANK YOU: It's National School Lunch Week! Thank you to our School Nutrition Services staff and everyone else at schools who provide our students healthy, energizing lunches every single day! Check out the video above to see our staff in action.

Mills E. Godwin High School commemorated 30 years of Henrico County’s participation in a German student exchange program this week, with a dedication ceremony unveiling a special outdoor sculpture honoring the county’s longtime exchange partnership with Homburg, Germany.

The 16-foot-tall sculpture, made of thin wooden slats, represents five sails of a ship that connects Godwin High School across the ocean with another sculpture at Christian von Mannlich Gymnasium, a public secondary school in Homburg, Germany, that represents the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. It was created with the help of world-renowned German sculptor Martin Steinert, Godwin’s Advanced Placement art and German-language students and 14 German exchange students who visited the school over the past two weeks.

High school students and their families are invited to Henrico Schools’ annual College and Career Night, set for 6-8 p.m. Oct. 20 at Varina High School, 7053 Messer Road.

Students can explore options for life after high school and prepare for their next steps. Representatives from more than 100 colleges, universities, post-high-school training programs, employers and the military will be in attendance. Information about financial aid, scholarships and other resources will also be available.

The free event is sponsored by HCPS School Counseling and Henrico Workforce & Career Development. Registration is encouraged at https://app.strivescan.com/registration. Translators will be present.

P. O. Box 23120 • 3820 Nine Mile Road, Henrico, VA 23223 • 804-652-3600 

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