This has been an incredible year for Isle of Wight County Schools. That's probably an understatement. It's been amazing, accomplished, exciting, awesome, and ground-breaking (literally). Several construction projects were completed this year as part of our commitment to redesigning our Career and Technology Education programs. In October, we officially opened the new JROTC Fieldhouse at Smithfield High School. This is the first space that was specifically designed to provide the award winning Packer Battalion with the room they need to conduct drill practice and other activities inside. In December, we held a ribbon cutting ceremony for our new classroom building and barn at the Land Lab. Students in the agriculture program now have the facilities to better care for animals, and to continue their learning about plant and animal management regardless of weather. In March, we formally opened the Career Building at Smithfield High School. This heavily renovated space is now home to Nursing, Welding, Engineering and a Mechatronics Lab, Manufacturing and the MakerSpace, and Culinary Arts, which includes the student-run, on-site restaurant Turner and 10.
Now, we are extending an invitation to the community to see the facilities and hear about the different programs from the students. We are holding two Community Open House events--one is
May 8 at the
Agricultural Land Lab, and the other is
May 15 at the
Career Building and JROTC Fieldhouse at Smithfield High. Both are from 5:00--6:30. We encourage you to stop by and check out the work of our students and see how they are gaining the skills and knowledge in demand by business and industry.
The teachers and students are looking forward to showing you their new spaces and sharing with you the amazing work they are able to accomplish. I hope you will be able to join us at the Open House events on
May 8 and
May 15. You will leave with an entirely different opinion of what school can be.
