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Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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| Open HS Class of 2023 – Please join me in congratulating the Open HS Class of 2023! We had a beautiful, joyful, and peaceful commencement ceremony today at Richmond Community. Thank you to everyone at Open and Community, along with our graduation logistics team, for making the pivot in location so quickly. Many thanks as well to our CSAs and RPD for making everyone feel so safe.
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| Remaining High School Graduations – Our Class of 2023 graduations will resume on Monday, June 12. Updated times, dates, locations and livestream links are below. In addition, please note the following additional security measures:
- No bags of any kind will be permitted inside the school (no exceptions).
- No flowers, balloons, or amplified devices of any kind will be permitted inside the school.
- Everyone will be subject to searches.
Monday, June 12
Tuesday, June 13
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| Valedictorians & Salutatorians – I'm thrilled to highlight the valedictorians and salutatorians who will be graduating on Monday. Congratulations to these truly phenomenal students!
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Jason Parrilla, ValedictorianFranklin Military Academy
Old Dominion University
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Leanna Morris, SalutatorianFranklin Military Academy
University of Richmond
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Lamika Harris, ValedictorianArmstrong HS
Old Dominion University
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Tyler Steele, SalutatorianArmstrong HS
Old Dominion University
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Michael Keener, ValedictorianThomas Jefferson HS
University of Virginia
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Finn Jones, SalutatorianThomas Jefferson HS
Virginia Commonwealth University
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| To close things out tonight, I've recorded a short message in English and Spanish. Though we still have several graduations next week, I want to wish everyone a joyful, restful, and, most of all, peaceful summer break.
With great appreciation,
Jason
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- Enormous gratitude to students from Lucille Brown MS who spent Wednesday calling elected officials to advocate for gun reform. To some, it may not be much, but this small action was helpful for my daughter and her friends.
- A huge shout-out to Principal Hicks! She has done a wonderful job and endured so much during her first year here at Mary Scott Preschool! Thanks for everything you have done for the staff! All of your hard work does not go unnoticed. We love and appreciate you so much!
- I'd like to shout-out every teacher, IA, tutor, staff member, volunteer, parent and family member of the John B. Cary Elementary community. This community is full of light! I am thankful for all of them; they truly are the heroes without capes. So much love to every single person. You all help mold every Cary scholar into wonderful human beings. Have a great summer....can't wait to see you back next year!
- I'd like to give a shout-out of gratitude to the dedicated therapists on the other end of the CIGNA hotlines. They are there waiting to help. The hour that I spent on the phone with Gerald was a productive and healing experience for me. I am ready to face another day. Yes, I may choose to call them again today and that is okay, that is why we have them in place. If you need a listening ear, don't wait. There is no shame in asking for help. May you have peace. Shalom. Paz. Peace.
- I’d like to shout-out Dr. Hampton, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Mosby, and the after school care team at Maymont Preschool. Also, the Department of Transportation, specifically the kind bus driver and assistant on Bus #240. My kid’s bus arrived mostly on time every day, making it simple for me to get to work. My daughter was welcomed with a happy bus driver and assistant every morning. What a great way to start our days. My daughter completed her first year of pre-k and was happy to go to school and stay in after school care every day (except for one). The Maymont family went above and beyond this year in countless ways. She was safe, loved, and learned a ton. The whole experience was overall a wonderful one. Even in the wake of this senseless event, Maymont communicated when appropriate, after getting direction from your office. In short- this year was a major success for one of the youngest in RPS. I am incredibly thankful. Lastly, I'd like to thank Mrs. Hobson at Maymont for supporting my daughter with her speech therapy and making the complicated IEP process not so painful.
- I'm so thankful for the skills, dedication, and support of our wonderful teachers, including our son's kindergarten teacher, Ms. Holmes at PHSSA. He started the school year barely knowing his letters, and it seems almost magical that he can now read with confidence – along with telling us all about sharks and kangaroos, science experiments, park hikes, classroom norms (bubbles and duck tails!), and quizzing us on the day's math lesson. Ms. Holmes has been a wonderful influence. Thanks for making the first year at RPS so successful.
- I’d like to shout-out Ms. Tisone from Southampton Elementary. My son couldn’t have asked for a better teacher this year! Her kindness and positivity is truly inspiring.
- Shout-out to my wonderful seniors on the Huguenot High School Quiz Bowl Team: Janella Jean, Chayce Currens, Jasmine Johnson, Alana Anderson, Antonio Anderson, Adalberto Gomez, Marcos Jordan, Kamara Ross, Dayanara Saba, Destiny Young, and Shamir Ziegler. Throughout this year, these students have proudly represented the city as the lone representatives of Richmond Public Schools at various quiz bowl tournaments in the DMV area. Each of these students contributed to a successful inaugural season, capped off by a 3rd place finish (3W-1L) at VHSL Regionals where we defeated both the first and second place teams from last year. To my Huguenot BOB team, we are proud of all of you and feel privileged to have witnessed your growth both in your academic knowledge and emotional maturity. Hope y'all had fun this year!
- I would just like to share a video with a positive message created by our music teacher, Mr. James Johnson and our fifth graders. The video was created to share with parents during our moving on ceremony scheduled for today. There's a line in the song that simply states, "Nothing can hold us down!" We have to believe this as we try to heal from the recent tragedy.
- I would like to send huge thanks to Ms. Zappalla, Mrs. Robinson, Ms. Roseberry, Mr. Samuels, Ms. Blount, and all the other staff at JB Fisher for an amazing kindergarten moving on ceremony. It was absolutely perfect in every way. And the love and caring between the teachers and their students was so apparent. It was a truly sweet and special day and we are so happy to be part of this Fisher Family.
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Important Links – Last updated on June 8, 2023.
RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
Trauma and Mental Health Resource Links
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