The Virginia Beach SPCA offers humane education programs to classrooms in Virginia Beach. These programs are built on the VBSPCA’s mission to eliminate animal suffering and increase human compassion while providing students with the opportunity to strengthen academic or character skills. The following programs will be offered for the 2024-2025 school year:
Please note: We provide programing to schools outside of Virginia Beach schools, subject to availability.
Compassion Classroom Compassion Classroom is a series of SOL-aligned, character education lessons in kindness, respect, and responsibility. The curriculum is designed for second and fourth grade classrooms, and the curriculum concludes with an animal visit. Compassion Classroom is offered free of charge to public schools and to private schools for a small fee. Compassion Classroom sessions occur late September through early June. School employees: Click here to fill out the Compassion Classroom request form.
Listening Ears
This award-winning program partners a volunteer and animal team with new or reluctant readers to build confidence and skills. Listening Ears is open to third grade classes and takes place during school or after school hours. Participating students meet with a VBSPCA volunteer and animal team for a 15-minute reading session once a week for six weeks. School employees: Click here to fill out the Listening Ears request form.
Shelter Pet Pals
Shelter Pet Pals is an engaging educational program designed for 1st through 5th grade classrooms, offering students the opportunity to build essential reading and writing skills while fostering key character values such as empathy, kindness, and respect. Participating classrooms will receive personalized letters from a VBSPCA shelter animal, introducing students to the basics of animal sheltering, pet care, and the importance of responsible pet ownership. Through these heartfelt letters, students will gain insight into the daily lives and needs of shelter pets, encouraging them to reflect on the importance of compassion toward animals. As part of the program, students will have the chance to write back to their shelter pet pal, allowing them to practice reading comprehension, creative writing, and expression.
2025-2026 Quarterly Sign-Ups
Join the Shelter Pet Pals program and receive three heartfelt letters each quarter!
Quarter 1: August 25 – October 31 | Sign-Up Deadline: September 22
Quarter 2: November 5 – January 23 | Sign-Up Deadline: November 19
Quarter 3: January 28 – April 2 | Sign-Up Deadline: February 25
Quarter 4: April 13 – June 12 | Sign-Up Deadline: May 4
Don’t miss the chance to connect your students with a shelter pet pal and build empathy, literacy, and kindness in the classroom!
For more information on any of the above programs, contact the humane education team at humaneeducation@vbspca.com or 757-427-0070 x 107. All school programs are presented by VBSPCA staff or trained, experienced VBSPCA volunteers.
School Programming
The Virginia Beach SPCA offers humane education programs to classrooms in Virginia Beach. These programs are built on the VBSPCA’s mission to eliminate animal suffering and increase human compassion while providing students with the opportunity to strengthen academic or character skills. The following programs will be offered for the 2024-2025 school year:
Please note: We provide programing to schools outside of Virginia Beach schools, subject to availability.
Compassion Classroom is a series of SOL-aligned, character education lessons in kindness, respect, and responsibility. The curriculum is designed for second and fourth grade classrooms, and the curriculum concludes with an animal visit. Compassion Classroom is offered free of charge to public schools and to private schools for a small fee. Compassion Classroom sessions occur late September through early June. School employees: Click here to fill out the Compassion Classroom request form.
This award-winning program partners a volunteer and animal team with new or reluctant readers to build confidence and skills. Listening Ears is open to third grade classes and takes place during school or after school hours. Participating students meet with a VBSPCA volunteer and animal team for a 15-minute reading session once a week for six weeks. School employees: Click here to fill out the Listening Ears request form.
Shelter Pet Pals is an engaging educational program designed for 1st through 5th grade classrooms, offering students the opportunity to build essential reading and writing skills while fostering key character values such as empathy, kindness, and respect. Participating classrooms will receive personalized letters from a VBSPCA shelter animal, introducing students to the basics of animal sheltering, pet care, and the importance of responsible pet ownership. Through these heartfelt letters, students will gain insight into the daily lives and needs of shelter pets, encouraging them to reflect on the importance of compassion toward animals. As part of the program, students will have the chance to write back to their shelter pet pal, allowing them to practice reading comprehension, creative writing, and expression.
2025-2026 Quarterly Sign-Ups
Join the Shelter Pet Pals program and receive three heartfelt letters each quarter!
Don’t miss the chance to connect your students with a shelter pet pal and build empathy, literacy, and kindness in the classroom!
For more information on any of the above programs, contact the humane education team at humaneeducation@vbspca.com or 757-427-0070 x 107. All school programs are presented by VBSPCA staff or trained, experienced VBSPCA volunteers.
