June 2, 2023

Patriot Community,

This will be the last message from me for the 2022-23 school year. As we finish the current school year, I would like to extend a thank you to those who have read these twice monthly messages for the entire school year. And for those of you who weren’t able to read each one, I hope you will have the opportunity to do so next year—you don’t know what you’re missing! Today’s message will provide some end-of-the-year details, information about our new specialty program, and a preview of the 2023-24 school year.

The end of the school year at the high school level always involves adjustment and change. First of all, seniors must have all debts paid, devices returned, and exams completed in order to participate in graduation on June 5, 2023, at Jiffy Lube Live. If there is damage to a device, it must be paid in full prior to graduation. Students should arrive at Jiffy Lube by 5:45 p.m. in cap and gown and appropriate clothing to participate in the event. Specific directions have been provided to seniors at graduation practice held May 31 at Patriot and June 1 at Jiffy Lube. Seating is first come first serve, there is handicapped parking and seating available, and the event will be livestreamed. We look forward to a dignified and honorable event for the class of 2023. Underclassmen exams begin on June 12 and the schedule is posted on the webpage.

Starting with the fall of 2023, Patriot is home to a new specialty program: TV Studio Production. This program will provide students with the opportunity to create, direct, and produce professional quality digital programming. They will learn the process of scriptwriting, preproduction, and story planning, as well as directing, filming, and editing digital products. Students in our Sports Marketing and Journalism classes will work closely with the TV program to promote and report on school events and activities throughout the year. We accepted 47 students into the program for the fall and have hired an instructor who created a TV program in another Virginia School division and we look forward to his contribution. Our TV studio was overhauled, new equipment purchased, and the editing room upgraded with the support of PWCS Office of Career and Technical Education. I would like to extend a thank you to Mr. Doug Wright, and Dr. Sarah Martin from that office for their assistance with the purchase of the new equipment for the program.

The fall of 2023 will see some adjustments and improvements to existing Patriot High School procedures and protocols in terms of classroom instruction, attendance, and assessments. Classroom instructional activities will focus on student engagement and participation, thus improving student comprehension. Student attendance is a necessity for comprehension, skill development, and mastery of content. Maintaining attendance procedures is a requirement for all Virginia school divisions. Next school year, guidelines and expectations will be put in place to strengthen our commitment to student attendance to include loss of parking privileges, and/or possible exclusion from extracurricular activities. Repeated chronic attendance patterns will result in conferences, requests for doctor’s notes, and/or conferences with the school attendance officer. School attendance is a necessity for student success. Remember, Canvas is a system to share information and keep students informed – it is not a substitute for high-quality instruction and assessment inside a Patriot classroom. More information and specifics will be shared as we get closer to the start of the new year.

As we close the current school year, I hope you are able to enjoy some time with your family over the summer. I truly believe this is the Best High School in the Nation and am proud to serve this community as its leader. We will see all of you in August for the start of the new school year.

Respectfully,
Michael E. Bishop, Ed.D.
Principal