Strelitz International Academy is known for giving students a great foundation for life. SIA students graduate with the ability to apply to a range of excellent middle school and high school programs in the area, both public and private.
Recently, a number of SIA graduates have applied and been accepted to one of the newest high school programs in Tidewater—the Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School.
Launched in 2016, the Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School is an innovative program for students looking for not only an academic challenge, but also to hone in their leadership skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
The overall goal of the Entrepreneurship and Business Academy is to provide students the business skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in any career related fields of study in post-secondary education and in the workforce. Specific academy objectives include successfully completing a sequential program of study that focuses on specific skills, knowledge, and technology in the fields of entrepreneurship, business information technology, and corporate finance.
Students in the EBA program have opportunities to earn an Associate’s degree at Tidewater Community College, as well as post-secondary credit. EBA students participate in job shadowing, mentoring, and internship programs that extend, enrich, and refine student learning and create linkages with the academic and business communities. EBA students also complete a long-term project through an internship-mentorship experience. The program culminates with a presentation in the students’ senior year featuring an in-depth study of an issue of related concern to their related industry. The students present ideas and solutions as viable options to address the issue to a panel of business and community leaders.
Evan Nied, SIA graduate and senior at Kempsville High School was accepted to the EBA program three years ago, “The EBA has business opportunities and resources that no other school in Virginia Beach offers. I’ve had many public speaking opportunities as the Master of Ceremonies of the school’s Shark Tank esq Pitch Night.”
Ophek Newman started SIA in second grade. His family is from Israel. Currently in 11th grade in the EBA, Ophek says she loves the school, “It offers a lot of programs that are not taught in other schools. Students can learn subjects like entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, finance, economics, computer programming, and technology. Students get exposed to all of them and have the ability to choose areas to focus on. The skills taught in the entrepreneurship and business academy are applicable in life regardless of students’ career choice.”
SIA Class of 2018 graduates Ophir Neuman, Ilan Rivera, and Nate Simon, went on to different middle schools in Virginia Beach and were all accepted to the EBA program this past spring. Due to the proximity to the Sandler Family Campus, all three have maintained their close connection to the Jewish community. Ophir and her brother, Ophek, volunteer regularly at SIA. Nate and Ilan volunteer at the Simon Family JCC and Jewish Family Service and both are regulars at the JCC Gym. Although these three freshmen have only been in the EBA program for a few months, they’re enjoying the program and all that it has to offer.
“I love the EBA academy because it has three different strands, which all focus on business skills and have many learning opportunities. Even if you don’t know what you want to do in the future, all the skills you learn in the EBA can be applied past high school,” says Ophir.
“We love hearing about the wonderful accomplishments of all of our graduates, and we are proud of the excellent foundation that we provide our students to explore and develop their skills and interests in order to prepare them for middle school and high school,” says Heather Moore, SIA Head of School.
So what do the Strelitz International Academy and the Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School have in common? As an IB World School, SIA has a strong focus on community, responsibility, and social action —all concepts that tie well into a program designed to prepare students for leadership, innovation, and opportunities in the future.
For more information on the Strelitz International Academy, contact Carin Simon, admissions director, at 757-424-4327 or csimon@strelitzacademy.org.
For more information on the Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School, contact Megan Timlin, Academy Coordinator, at 757-648-5450 or meghan.timlin@vbschools.com.
The IB program approach empowers students to develop critical thinking skills and innovative ideas so we anticipate more SIA students.
–Carin Simon