| VPOST is happy to share that the Hampton Roads Out-of-School Time Collaborative is now accepting new members to join! Led by Hampton City Public Schools, the initiative brings together a wide array of organizations for monthly meetings to connect and strengthen the OST network in the communities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Southampton, Surry, and York. Interested in joining Hampton Roads OST Collaborative? Contact Karen Johnson to learn more about getting involved. | | |
The Quality Boost offers a quick, practical tip or resource aligned to one of the Quality Standards for Virginia’s Out-of-School Time Programs. Think of it as a bite-sized way to offer aligned, high-quality practices.
This February, we're thinking of Valentine's Day and the power of positive Relationships.
The Standard Relationships says What It Might Look Like in practice: To put this into action, try: Checking in regularly on how people are feeling Share your thought processes, like explaining how you came to a decision on something Admit mistakes and lessons learned Use a calm, respectful tone Ask for feedback and respond without defensiveness Be explicit about expectations (clear is kind!) Avoid public shaming or sarcasm Address issues privately when appropriate Offer training on de-escalation, conflict resolution, and active listening Notice and praise when people communicate well
Want to dive deeper? Complete a relational culture survey. This resource is from the Search Institute and offers a self-assessment of core mindsets, skills, practices, and supporting structures that cultivate a relationship-rich culture.
If you want to know more about the Relationships or any of our other Quality Standards, you can learn more here. | | | Introducing VPOST's State Bill Tracker
The Virginia General Assembly is the Commonwealth’s legislative body and convenes annually to consider and act on proposed laws, budget priorities, and policy matters that impact communities across the state. During each session, legislators introduce bills, engage in committee review, and participate in debate and voting processes that shape Virginia’s legal and fiscal landscape. VPOST's live bill tracker provides real-time insight into legislation as it moves through the General Assembly, offering transparency into the status, progress, and outcomes of bills throughout the session. Check it out here! | | | VPOST loves afterschool, and we know that you do too! Join us on Friday, February 13, to share why you, your students, and your community love your afterschool program! How to participate: Send a message to Congress about why you love afterschool. It only takes two minutes! Print the templates available here, fill them out (and have students and parents do so). Snap a photo of the finished product and share on your favorite social media sites with the hashtag #IHeartAfterschool. You can also post one of the sample messages below! Want to spread the love? Personalized messages resonate with policymakers. Mail your completed #IHeartAfterschool templates directly to your member of Congress’s local district office. Find your member and their district mailing address.
| | | | | Mott Million Dollar Pitch Challenge
Join the Mott Million Dollar Challenge — a pitch competition for kids and teens. This is the place where your best ideas come to life. Kids and teens in grades K-12, from any U.S. state or the District of Columbia, can enter solo or with a team of up to three. Just jot down your idea, record a simple 30-90 second video about it, and submit by February 27th, 2026. Kids and teens will compete for real cash prizes throughout the competition, with a total prize pool of $1M. Learn more here. | | | National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) Power of We Creativity Contest
Our friends at the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) have announced The Power of We Creativity Contest in celebration of Civic Learning Week! Students in grades 6–12 are invited to creatively explore how working together for the common good strengthens communities and how civic learning, service, and engagement can drive positive change.
One winner will be selected in each of four creative categories, with each receiving a $1,000 prize. Submissions are due by March 1 at 11:59 PM CST. Learn more here. | | COVA STEM Ecosystem Grant Opportunity
Coastal VA STEM Hub, a regional STEM Learning Ecosystem for Pre-K to adult residents, is offering a funding opportunity for educators and non-profits in the Coastal VA/Hampton Roads and VA's Eastern Shore areas to support the development of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math activities and/or programming.
Interested educators and non-profits should complete and submit this application. Funding will be allocated based on the evaluation of need and the scope of work for each applicant. The overall objectives of each application should support: Champion STEM fluency and competency within the region, Support STEM career focused programming for Pre-K through adult education.
Applications are due by 5PM on March 15, 2026. | | | | Black History Month reminds us of the importance of elevating the stories and achievements of Black Americans year-round. We must be intentional with telling these stories. One of the great strengths of out-of-school time programs is the freedom to go beyond what is taught in the traditional classroom. We can shed light on untold stories and contextualize history to our current day. In this way, we can truly shape our future. The opportunity to elevate and celebrate Black voices and history is everywhere. Here are some resources we love: The Virginia Black History Trail Map pinpoints locations of African American history across our Commonwealth. Wherever you call home, Black history is in your backyard. Zinn Education Project's "This Day in History Series" features multiple entries on Black Virginians in history. Check out April 24, 1867: Richmond Streetcar Protest, May 25, 1865: Black Virginians Cast Freedom Ballots, and June 5, 1865: Norfolk’s Black Community Presents Address for Equal Rights Engaging in Antiracism Work: During Black History Month and Beyond: This on-demand webinar explores the importance of taking a more antiracist approach to celebrating Black achievement throughout the year. Taking a more antiracist approach means committing to confronting present-day inequities in schools and rejecting deficit approaches to educating Black students. Black joy can truly be expressed when students feel socially and emotionally safe and valued in school. 15 Classroom Resources on Black History and Life has several resources for connecting Black history to current events and features on-demand webinars, as well as selected Black History and literature resources.
| | | Mizzen Education: Black History Month
Mizzen Education is an app made just for out-of-school time programs. This completely free resource offers hundreds of lesson plans on a variety of topics. Filter by age group, duration, and more.
In celebration of Black History Month, check out: Elevating Black Voices Collections: A weekly, hands-on playlist that helps young learners explore how stories, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shape communities and American history. Through engaging texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities in literacy, STEM, the arts, and teamwork, students discover lesser-known Black Americans whose voices and ideas have made a lasting impact. 1619 Project: This module is designed to introduce students to The 1619 Project, an initiative of The New York Times Magazine that examines the legacy of slavery in contemporary U.S. systems and society, and celebrates Black Americans' contributions to democracy.
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