SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24100062DSENATE IRESOLUTION SENAOfferedNO. February 9, 2024 N Commending I.C.

63 E Commending I.C.

––––––––––N TR Patron––LucasAgreed Rto ––––––––––by Othe Senate, February 15, 2024 WHEREAS, I.C.

Norcom High School of Portsmouth City Public Schools, a distinguished academic O institution and one of the oldest historically Black high schools in the United States, celebraDedcelebrated its 145th annWHEREAS,anniversary thein origins2023; of I.C.

Norcomand HighL School date to 1878 when the construction of Chestnut Street Colored School, formerly the Chestnut Street Academy at Zion Baptist Church, established the E first school building for African Americans in the City of Portsmouth;

and C WHEREAS, from 1883 to 1916, the Chestnut Street Colored School was guided by principal IsraeEIsrael CharlesD Norcom, a pioneering educator whose visionary leadership left a profound and lasting impact on the Portsmouth community;

andeducator whose visionary leadership left a profound and Dlasting impact on WHEREAS, when the Chestnut Street Colored School moved to a new building in 1920, it was renamed I.C.

and WHEREAS,location afteron relocatingLondon Boulevard in 19371998, where it has shined as a beacon of academic and againathletic inexcellence 1953,ever I.C.since;

Norcomand HighS SchoolWHEREAS, settledsucceeding atprincipals itshave locationupheld onthe Londonvirtues Boulevard in 1998, where it has shined as a beacon of academic and athletictraditions excellenceestablished everby since;I.C.

andNorcom WHEREAS,6 succeedingthroughout principals have upheld the virtuesschool's andhistory, traditionsincluding establishedW.E. by I.C.

Norcom throughout the school's history, including W.E.

Randall,RandallE Laguna Foster, and Teesha Sanders;

andJohnson, Lynn Briley, Rosalynn Sanderlin, Shameka PollardRPollard, R WHEREAS, I.C.

over its long history, the schoolschWHEREAS, hasmembers produced scores of local leaders in the areasI.C. of politics, education, and athletics;

andNorcom WHEREAS,High membersSchool ofAlumni theAssociation I.C.sought, with greatletics;

Norcomand High School Alumni Association sought, with great purpose and zeal, to champion their alma mater and honor its history throughout the anniversary year;

andWHEREAS,and dedication of its leaders and educators, the accomplishmentsspirit and commitment of I.C.its students, and the extraordinary support of the entire Portsmouth community;

Norcom High School are the result of the hard work and dedication of its leaders and educators, the spirit and commitment of its students, and the extraordinary support of the entire Portsmouth community;

Norcom High School hereby be commended on the 34occRESOLVED occasionFURTHER, That the Clerk of itsthe 145thSenate anniversary;prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to I.C.

and,Norcom beHigh itSchool 35as RESOLVEDan FURTHER,expression That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of thisVirginia's resolutionhigh regard for 37the institution's contributions to the Commonwealth.pressionCommonwealth. of the Senate of Virginia's high regard for the 2