Blair Middle School

Dear Families,

Welcome back to a brand-new school year! We hope your summer was filled with rest, relaxation, and memorable moments with loved ones. As we open our doors and welcome our students back into the classrooms, our entire staff is energized and ready for an incredible year of learning, growth, and community.

This year, our guiding focus is "One Crew, One Course, Every Student, Every Day."

Here is what that commitment means for our school community:

• One Crew: We are in this together. Students, families, teachers, and staff form a unified team dedicated to supporting one another and cultivating an inclusive, encouraging environment.

• One Course: We share a common direction; empowering every learner to reach their highest potential, stay safe, and build the skills needed for a bright future.

• Every Student: Every child in our building matters deeply. We are committed to meeting each learner where they are, celebrating their unique strengths, and providing the support they need to thrive.

• Every Day: Success is built on consistency. Every school day brings fresh opportunities for discovery, connection, and progress.

Together as one team, we look forward to making this year our best one yet. Thank you for your partnership, support, and dedication to our school family. Welcome back aboard!

Your child will need to receive a Tdap vaccine and Meningococcal vaccine before entering the 7th grade. Failure to receive them before the 2026-27 school year will result in your child will not be able to attend school. If your child received a Tdap vaccine prior to entering 6th grade, they would not need another dose for 7th grade.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to make you aware of the Back-to-School Vaccination Clinics offered by the Norfolk Department of Public Health. These clinics are designed to ensure that all students are up-to-date with their vaccinations before returning to school.

For more information, schedules, and locations, please visit www.NorfolkPublicHealth.com.

Assistant Principal Miller and Mrs. Still-Lead School Counselor have worked tirelessly to ensure every student is strategically placed in the appropriate classes. Placements are based on individual academic performance as well as updated cut scores from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Because of these revised state benchmarks, some students who took advanced or honors classes last year may notice changes in their schedules for the upcoming school year.

Rest assured our educators are fully equipped to meet every student right where they are. Whether your child requires targeted academic remediation or advanced enrichment, our lessons will remain rigorous, engaging, and supportive in every classroom, every day.

To give our students the best possible start each morning, we are introducing a new Block 0 Homeroom period at the beginning of the day. This dedicated time allows students to:

• Participate in positive behavior (PBIS) and social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons.

• Connect with specialists and support staff for morning check-ins before academic classes begin.

• Provide more time to eat breakfast in the morning.

Block 0 connects to each student's Block 1 class. On even days, students will still report to their homeroom and transition to Block 2. Letters were sent home last week with the student's homeroom information.

ParentVUE is a secure web-based information management system that provides parents/guardians the ability to view their child’s assignments, grades, attendance and contact information. ParentVUE is free to all Norfolk Public Schools families and is available from any computer with internet access. In addition, ParentVUE offers app access for Android and iPhone devices. Students can access the same information via their StudentVUE account.

A ParentVUE account will provide real-time, view-only access to their student’s attendance information, class schedule, grades, missing assignments, and important district information.

We will begin processing requests the week of September 8th. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee class changes, however, we will do our best to accommodate requests when possible.

To keep our voyage steady, students should be on board by 8:15 AM and ready to set sail for the day. Dismissal begins at 2:45 PM. Our doors open at 8:00 AM. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE BUIDING BEFORE THEN. Please ensure your student is dressed appropriately for the weather. All students must pass through the weapons detector upon entry. Breakfast-bound students will enter by the cafeteria; all others head straight to homeroom to begin the day’s journey.

Arrival & Dismissal Ports:
Arrival and dismissal brings heavy traffic seas, so please be patient. Families are encouraged to set clear pickup points away from busy Manteo Ave, and we kindly ask: do not drive on Spotswood during arrival or dismissal to keep our crew safe.

• Walkers & Car Riders will disembark down the art/health hallway to Manteo

Transportation information will be available through Norfolk Public Schools prior to school opening.

Please remember:

• Verify your student's bus assignment before the first day of school.

• Versatrans My Stop allows parents to track their students' bus location and arrival times as well as receive notifications on delays or other pertinent information. It is an application that can be downloaded on the Apple or Android Store on your smartphone.https://www.npsk12.com/Page/17630

  Find Your Bus Stop: https://www.npsk12.com/domain/922

• Arrive at bus stops at least 10 minutes early.
• Ensure emergency contacts are current.
• Update phone numbers and addresses with the school office if changes occur.

Communication is one of our highest priorities. To keep communication smooth and sailing in the right direction, a weekly newsletter will be sent via email every Sunday evening. Please ensure your contact information is up to date.

If you need to send attendance notes, share important documents, or ask questions, email inbox as your direct line to the crew.

📧 BlairMSQuestions@nps.k12.va.us

You can also stay informed through:

• Blair PTA
• Blair Middle School Website
• Norfolk Public Schools Website
• School Facebook Page
• School Instagram

Are you interested in becoming a Blair Clipper student-athlete?

Participation in athletics teaches leadership, teamwork, discipline, and perseverance.

Students interested in participating should:

• Submit required VHSL athletic physical forms.
• Listen for tryout announcements.
• Maintain strong attendance and academic progress.
• Demonstrate positive behavior and sportsmanship.

https://www.npsk12.com/departments/stNorfolk Public Schools is working with Virtual Peace of Mind to give students free online mental health support. This program connects students with licensed counselors through safe and private video sessions. These sessions can help with feelings, stress, friendships, and other problems that may affect learning.

Joining the program is your choice. A parent or guardian must give permission first. Families can learn how to sign up by reading the information below and filling out a short form. After the form is sent, Virtual Peace of Mind will contact the parent or guardian to set up services and explain the next steps.

This program helps more students get the support they need while keeping their information private. All counseling is done by Virtual Peace of Mind and follows strict privacy laws. Norfolk Public Schools does not take part in the sessions and cannot see any personal or medical information.

Families decide if they want to use this service. No student will receive help without parent or guardian permission.

Norfolk Public Schools cares about the whole child. This program shows their commitment to helping students stay healthy and succeed in school.

Blair Middle School would love to have you volunteer! Click on the link below to apply. Effective June 1, 2026, the Raptor volunteer approval process requires a background check fee of $8 or $18, depending on the volunteer activities you select.