Wednesday, July 30, was the first day of New Teacher Orientation and it was wonderful seeing all of the new additions to our Shenandoah County Public Schools family! From Dr. Sheppard's opening introduction to breakout groups focused on professionalism, support, and relationships, it was an exciting day as we welcomed a fantastic group of educators to our team.

Congratulations to Shenandoah County Public Schools Curriculum Specialist for Mathematics Maggie Gavello on being nominated for the Virginia Council of Mathematics Specialists (VACMS) Math Leader of the Year Award!

The VACMS Math Leader of the Year award honors outstanding mathematics leaders who exemplify excellence and advocacy in their field. The requirements to be nominated for the award include advocating for high-quality math instruction for students, providing mentorship or contributing to professional learning for fellow math specialists, and participating in curriculum projects at the local or state level to help implement mathematics initiatives.

The Curriculum Specialist for Mathematics for SCPS since 2021, Ms. Gavello was nominated by Harry Holloway, Mathematics Curriculum Specialist for Clark County Public Schools, for her work to support students and elevate mathematics teaching and learning.

The Virginia Council of Mathematics Specialists selection committee will begin reviewing applications submitted by all nominees in August before selecting their award recipient. Good luck Maggie!

As we get ready for the start of the 2025-26 school year, we want to remind all of our parents and guardians that they must login to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and click on "Forms" to update their student forms. This is required for everyone, even if nothing has changed. It is also your opportunity to update your address if you have moved, to update your student's immunization record, to update emergency contact information, or anything else that may have changed. The PowerSchool Parent Portal can be accessed through our school or division websites, or you can go to https://powerschool.shenandoah.k12.va.us/public/home.html. Please complete the student update forms as quickly as possible as this will assist us in setting up bus routes for the upcoming school year.

Our Food Service staff held their annual Back to School meeting on July 23 to go over policies and procedures as they get ready for the start of the 2025-26 school year. We are so lucky to have this dedicated group who works tirelessly every day to make sure our students are fed delicious and nutritious breakfast and lunch meals!

It is impossible to measure the impact Mr. Lynn had not just on his Triplett Tech family, but throughout Shenandoah County Public Schools and the community at large. He was a beacon of light and a fierce advocate for career and technical education. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones as they deal with this unexpected loss.

We are looking for School Bus Drivers for the upcoming 2025-26 school year! Our Transportation Department will be holding a Bus Driver Training course July 28-31 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Shenandoah County Board Room at 600 N Main Street in Woodstock.

Students from across Shenandoah County traveled to Orlando to attend the National Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Leadership Conference July 5-9, where they participated in a variety of workshops, networking opportunities, leadership trainings, RED talks, competitive events, and much more alongside thousands of student leaders from across the nation.

FCCLA chapters from Strasburg High School, Signal Knob Middle School, Central High School, Stonewall Jackson High School and North Fork Middle School participated in the conference, where students engaged in hands-on leadership activities, listened to an inspiring keynote speaker, explored the national expo and showcase, and participated in breakout sessions focused on leadership, growing their FCCLA chapters, and community involvement.

One of the highlights for the week was the opportunity for students to compete in Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events – competitive events that recognize proficiency and achievement in team and individual projects. Several SCPS students earned high ratings for their presentations

Make sure check out the attached calendar or click here to see all of the important dates, including Open House (Aug. 7), the First Day of School (Aug. 12) and all of our breaks, holidays and other things for the 2025-26 school year.