Kempsville Middle School, Virginia Beach, VA

Kempsville Middle School's Philosophy

We believe the major goal of our school is to educate pre-adolescents and early adolescents who are experiencing physical and psychological changes. To achieve this goal, the school encourages each student to achieve his/her potential, develop a positive self-image, learn to function responsibly in a democratic society, and prepare to live in a rapidly changing world. The school recognizes and understands that each student is a unique individual.

Home, school, and community play a vital part in each student's life. Communication and cooperation must be established and maintained to help create a positive environment and to ensure the best education.

Our total school program is flexible and provides for the academic, social, aesthetic, and physical growth of students with a wide range of ability and interests. We encourage self-discovery, independent learning, problem solving, and decision making by offering a variety of courses and activities to all students.

Students are encouraged to examine different viewpoints, survey occupational choices, explore goals for the future, understand and appreciate individuals different from themselves, and respect the contributions of others.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to educate students to reach their potential through the acquisition of academic, life, health and fitness, and social skills in a safe learning environment.

Shared Commitments

We believe:

All students can learn by teachers differentiating instruction in the classroom.
All students need to be encouraged and motivated to reach their potential.
Education prepares students to become successful individuals.
Communication between parents, students and teachers is important for success,
Students must be instructed in a safe and nurturing environment, which fosters learning, productivity, and citizenship skills.
Education prepares students to meet academic and social challenges of the future.
An effective middle school challenges students to do their best academically.
Learning is a life-long process.
Education encompasses a broad knowledge base, self-discipline, and life and social skills.
Education enables students to gain an awareness of and appreciation for self, others, the arts, and the environment.
Health and physical education are key components to the growth, development, and lifetime well-being of all students
We believe students will follow school rules as outlined in the Student/Parent Handbook.

Demographic Overview

The Kempsville Middle School student body is somewhat transient due to the many military installations in and around the city of Virginia Beach. Our communities are made up of a diverse mixture of age, race, and economic backgrounds. Kempsville Middle School receives rising sixth-grade students from Woodstock, Providence, Fairfield, and Kempsville elementary schools. Most rising ninth-grade students will attend Kempsville High School, except for a small number who will attend Tallwood or Salem high schools.

The school enjoys a strong, positive reputation with a stable faculty and offers a variety of school activities for students, both at school and in the community. Students have opportunities to participate in the Student Ambassador program, the SCA, and a variety of special interest clubs, such as Crime Solvers, drama, dance, foreign language and many others. Our school offers a wide range of interscholastic athletic and academic programs. Kempsville Middle promotes student achievement for all students by providing before and after school tutoring sessions, Core Area Remediation and Enrichment (CARE) and mentors. The Debate and Academic Challenge Teams give students extracurricular opportunities to showcase their abilities. We offer our students rigorous, college preparatory instruction through the AVID Program, advanced course offerings, and the gifted cluster classes. We recognize scholastic achievement through induction into the National Junior Honor Society and a strong student recognition program. Our eighth grade class continues its International Pen - Pal Partnership with Priory College in Bangor, Northern Ireland.

Our parent and community partners support our school, students, and staff by giving of their time and resources to improve student achievement and make the school a great place for teaching and learning. We are especially proud of our students and staff for their commitment of time and effort in the classroom. As a result, Kempsville Middle School achieved Full Accreditation on the Standards of Learning tests and AYP in Spring 2007.

School Improvement Plan 2007

PCI - Form 4-1 (October 2007)