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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 2025-2026 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 engaging, SOL-aligned character education lessons focused on kindness, respect, and responsibility. The program is currently offered to 2nd and 4th grade classrooms and is in the process of expanding to serve all elementary grade levels. Each lesson encourages students to practice empathy and make compassionate choices – both in and out of the classroom – and concludes with a special visit from one of our VBSPCA animal ambassadors. Compassion Classroom is offered free of charge to public schools, and available to private schools for a small fee. Sessions are available October through April.
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. When a letter is mailed, each class will receive one copy and teachers are welcome to make copies for all participating students.
2025–2026 Shelter Pet Pals Schedule
This year, Shelter Pet Pals will be offered twice per school year – once in the fall and once in the spring.
Fall Session: October 1 – December 15 | Sign-Up Deadline: September 20
Spring Session:January 30 – May 15 | Sign-Up Deadline: January 15
For more information on any of the above programs, contact the humane education team at humaneeducation@vbspca.spinmodern.co 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 2025-2026 school year:
Please note: We provide programing to schools outside of Virginia Beach schools, subject to availability.
Compassion Classroom is a series of engaging, SOL-aligned character education lessons focused on kindness, respect, and responsibility. The program is currently offered to 2nd and 4th grade classrooms and is in the process of expanding to serve all elementary grade levels. Each lesson encourages students to practice empathy and make compassionate choices – both in and out of the classroom – and concludes with a special visit from one of our VBSPCA animal ambassadors. Compassion Classroom is offered free of charge to public schools, and available to private schools for a small fee. Sessions are available October through April.
Educators: Interested in bringing this program to your students?
Click here to complete 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. When a letter is mailed, each class will receive one copy and teachers are welcome to make copies for all participating students.
2025–2026 Shelter Pet Pals Schedule
This year, Shelter Pet Pals will be offered twice per school year – once in the fall and once in the spring.
Fall Session: October 1 – December 15 | Sign-Up Deadline: September 20
Spring Session: January 30 – May 15 | Sign-Up Deadline: January 15
How to Participate:
Teachers can sign up for one or both sessions using this link: https://forms.gle/
For more information on any of the above programs, contact the humane education team at humaneeducation@vbspca.spinmodern.co or 757-427-0070 x 107. All school programs are presented by VBSPCA staff or trained, experienced VBSPCA volunteers.
