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Contact School Board
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Code of Conduct for School Board Members
2007-17 Comprehensive Plan
Archived Meeting Agendas and Information
School Board By-Laws
School Board Organization
Meeting Dates
Meeting Minutes
Mr. Claude C. Parent
Mrs. Costella B. Williams
Mr. De'Andre A. Barnes
Mrs. Sarah Duncan Hinds
Mr. Ted J. Lamb
Rev. Cardell C. Patillo
Mrs. Tamara L. Shewmake
Ms. LaKeesha S. "Klu" Atkinson
Ms. Angelia N. Allen
School Board Special Committee Assignments & Organization
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Home
About PPS
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Mission Statement
Policy Manual
SECTION A
SECTION B
SECTION C
SECTION D
SECTION E
SECTION F
SECTION G
SECTION H
SECTION I
SECTION J
SECTION K
SECTION L
School Board
Goals
Student Representative for Portsmouth School Board
Meetings & Information
Contact School Board
BoardDocs Meeting Agendas & Information
Meeting Dates
Meeting Minutes
Code of Conduct for School Board Members
2007-17 Comprehensive Plan
Archived Meeting Agendas and Information
School Board By-Laws
School Board Organization
Meeting Dates
Meeting Minutes
Mr. Claude C. Parent
Mrs. Costella B. Williams
Mr. De'Andre A. Barnes
Mrs. Sarah Duncan Hinds
Mr. Ted J. Lamb
Rev. Cardell C. Patillo
Mrs. Tamara L. Shewmake
Ms. LaKeesha S. "Klu" Atkinson
Ms. Angelia N. Allen
School Board Special Committee Assignments & Organization
Superintendent
120 Day Entry Plan
School Board Budgets
Superintendent - Dr. Elie Bracy, III
Strategic Plan
Division Profile
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Safe Schools
Parents & Families
Attendance Zones & Bus Routes
Calendar
District Calendar
2018-19 Family Calendar
2018-2019 Instructional and Holiday Calendar
Parent Portal
Parent Portal Help
PreK & Kindergarten Registration
PTA
Scholarship Information
School Hours
ACCESS College Foundation
School Closing Procedures
Enrollment Requirements
Parent Notification System
Code of Conduct
Anti-Bullying Pledge
Special Education Parent Resource Center
Technology
Every Day Counts
Students
Course Syllabi
District Calendar
Dress Code
Library Media Services
Reading List
Scholarship Information
School Meal Menus
Technology
Student Portal
Student Handbook
Anti-Bullying Pledge
Departments
Departments A-F
Adult Education
Educational Opportunity Center
Art Education
Student Art Gallery
Athletics and Activities
Schedules
Sports & Activities
High School
Middle School
Sports Medicine
Handbooks
Athletics Advisory Council
Resources
VHSL Resources
Budget Department
FY 2018-19 Budget
FY 2017-18 Budget
Finance
Purchasing
Facilities/Maintenance
Food Services
School Board Budgets
Transportation
Career & Technical Ed.
Curriculum and Instruction
Annual Measurable Objectives
Course Syllabi
Online Course Offerings
September 30th Staff Development
DANCE
English
Elementary School
Read Across America
Middle School
1. Teacher Access for EssayScorer - Churchland Middle
2. Teacher Access for EssayScorer - Cradock Middle
3. Teacher Access for EssayScorer - Waters Middle
4. Student Access for EssayScorer - Churchland Middle
5. Student Access for EssayScorer - Cradock Middle
6. Student Access for EssayScorer - Waters Middle
High School
English/Reading Websites
Accelerated Reader
Caldecott Books
National Council of Teachers of English
NEA
Newberry Books
Portaportal
Read Across America
Read Write Think
Reading Rockets
Scholastic
VDOE English Homepage
Virginia State Reading Association (VRSA)
Facilities/Maintenance
About Us
Employee ID Badge
Important Documents
Finance Department
Financial Reports
Per Pupil Cost
Food Services
Foreign Language
Departments G-M
Gifted and Talented
Guidance and Counseling Services
Health & Physical Education
Health Services
Enterovirus D68 Information
Flu Poster
Wellness
Youth Health Risk Behavior Survey
2015 Flu Information Sheet
Human Resources
Library Media Services
The Lemonade War - Audio Chapters
Mathematics
Algebra Readiness
Contact Staff
Elementary
High
Math Formula Sheets
Mathematics Tutors
Mathematics Wiki
Middle
NCSM
NCTM
VCTM
Vocabulary Word Wall Cards
Music Education
Departments N-Z
PSET Video
PSET Live Stream
PSET TV GUIDE
About US
School Psychology
Meet Our Staff
Useful Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Procurement Office
Current Solicitations
Awarded Purchases
Code of Ethics
MWBE Program
Supplier Relations
Procurement Staff Directory
School Nutrition
Cafeteria Managers
Free and Reduced Meals
My School Bucks
Menus
Science
Curriculum
Office of Science Calendar
STARBASE Victory
Current Events
Social Studies Education
Portsmouth Public Schools Social Studies WIKI
SOL Links for Parents and Students
Virginia Department of Education Standards of Learning
Special Education
Contacts
Special Education Services
Reverse Inclusion Program
2018-2019 Parent Survey
Transition
SEAC - Special Education Advisory Committee
Portsmouth Autism Resource Team
Parent Resource Center
Professional Development Opportunities
Student Services
Homebound Education
Home School Education
Transportation
About Us
Attendance Zones & Bus Routes
Departmental Employee Handbook
Frequently Asked Questions
Important Documents
Regulations for School Bus Riders
Wellness for Parents & Students
Safe Routes to School SRTS
My Plate
Concussion Symptoms and Information
Fundraising Ideas
Youth Risk
Attendance
Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports
School Social Work
Enrollment Requirements
Student Handbook
Jobs
Staff
Benefits and Retirement
Employee Hotline
Resources
Check Email
Internal Resources
PowerTeacher Pro
PowerTeacher Resources
SearchSoft ATS
Tienet
AcceliTRACK
Raptor
Other Services
AESOP
AsureForce
MUNIS ESS
TalentEd Perform and Records
Safe Schools
Directory
School Board
Goals
Student Representative
Meetings & Information
Contact School Board
BoardDocs Meeting Agendas & Information
Meeting Dates
Meeting Minutes
Code of Conduct for School Board Members
2007-17 Comprehensive Plan
Archived Meeting Agendas and Information
School Board By-Laws
School Board Organization
Meeting Dates
Meeting Minutes
Mr. Claude C. Parent
Mrs. Costella B. Williams
Mr. De'Andre A. Barnes
Mrs. Sarah Duncan Hinds
Mr. Ted J. Lamb
Rev. Cardell C. Patillo
Mrs. Tamara L. Shewmake
Ms. LaKeesha S. "Klu" Atkinson
Ms. Angelia N. Allen
School Board Special Committee Assignments & Organization
Watch a Live or Archived Meeting
Contacts
Administrative Phone Directory
Addresses for Administrative Offices
Directory of Offices & Services
School Principal Directory
Community
Get Involved!
School and Building Rentals
Flyer Distribution (Peachjar)
Career Programs
History
Home
About PPS
School Quality Profile
Mission Statement
Policy Manual
School Board
Superintendent
School Board Budgets
Superintendent - Dr. Elie Bracy, III
Strategic Plan
Division Profile
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Safe Schools
Portsmouth Public Schools
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About PPS
»
History
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A Brief History of Public Education in Portsmouth
1848-1960
I – Historical Background
The present public school system of Portsmouth came into being as the result of an act of the General Assembly, 1869-1870. Prior to this time, however, a system of primary schools had been established in the City as a result of an act of the General Assembly in 1846. This act established a system of “free education for all classes”, but required the assent of two-thirds of the electorate of a county or city before it could be put into effect. In 1848, Portsmouth took advantage of this act by organizing a system of public education and electing a Board, which was given entire control of its affairs. The members of this first School Board were Captain Samuel Watts, William Cocke, Stephen Cowley, George Chambers, Henry Phillips, Joseph Porter and Robert Scott. Most of these men who comprised this board were prominent in the business, social and civic life of the City. The Reverend Dr. Thomas Hume, Pastor of Court Street Baptist Church was elected superintendent for both Norfolk County and Portsmouth Schools. These schools, like suffrage, were open to all whites under certain conditions. A small tuition was required of all who were able to pay, the poorer children being cared for by funds received from the sale of the Glebe lands.
There were two broad divisions in these schools corresponding somewhat to our present primary and grammar grade departments, with each further divided into male and female sections. The primary section was taught in the basement of the old Court Street Baptist Church on the same site upon which the present church stands. The second or grammar grade section was taught in the Masonic Temple, which occupied the site upon which the present Masonic Temple stands.
Superintendent Hume evidently was a progressive educator, as we have a record of his attending the National Teachers’ Meeting in Philadelphia in 1850 in an effort to glean new ideas and to become informed concerning the best practices of the time.
The schools of Norfolk County and Portsmouth were without doubt operated along the most progressive lines of the times, as William Maddox in his book “The Free School Idea in Virginia Before the Civil War”, tells us.
“The Free School Systems established in Norfolk, Elizabeth City, Princess Anne, Northampton, King George, Albemarle, Accomac, Washington, Ohio, Kanawha and Jefferson Counties and in the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Fredericksburg and Wheeling were typical of the best American education development of the times.”
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The mission of the Portsmouth Public School Division is to challenge the minds, challenge the bodies, and challenge the dreams of all students while focusing on excellence.