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Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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| Community Walk – Yesterday, staff from the Engagement Office and Albert Hill MS visited the Gilpin and Carver neighborhoods with School Board Member Mariah White to share information about the importance of daily attendance, provide tips for taking SOLs, and highlight end-of-year activities. Students loved seeing their teachers outside of school and appreciated the goody bags they received. A huge thanks to all who participated in the community walk!
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| Children’s Book & Music Festival – The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia recently hosted more than 400 RPS students from Chimborazo ES, Fairfield Court ES, Henry L. Marsh, III ES, and Overby-Sheppard ES for the Children's Book & Music Festival, presented by Dominion Energy. Enormous gratitude to BHMVA Executive Director Shakia Gullette Warren and the museum team for hosting our students, and to photographer Ayasha Sledge of Divine By Design for the amazing photos!
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| Laura Bush Foundation Grant – Please join me in congratulating Barack Obama ES and Henry L. Marsh, III ES, recipients of a $5,000 grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries! The grant, awarded to only 300 schools across the country, will help the schools update their library collection.
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| New Teacher Bright Spot – Tonight, we're highlighting Kyle Mendez, music teacher at Franklin Military Academy. "I try to use the energy that I have to communicate with my students, each and every one, as people just like me (just younger and with less body aches), to share my own stories of struggle and success, to educate with a purpose and with passion, and to ultimately guide the younger generation toward a future and a goal that they can be proud of having accomplished. What is most important to me is that I am never just a teacher; I show my students that I can and always will be a student, too.” ~ Kyle Mendez
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| With great appreciation,
Jason
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- Thank you to everyone on the OGBES staff who participated in our Dog Man Day Celebration, making it a wild success! The amount of fun we saw going on around the school was such a great reminder of why these special days are so important – just the recharge we needed ahead of the testing window starting next week! Plus a huge shout-out to Ms. Colangelo, our library media specialist, for making this happen. Her efforts always bring such rich and wonderful literature experiences to our students. From author visits to days like today, we are so lucky to benefit from her passion for books and reading!
- A big shout-out to the amazing teachers at J.H. Blackwell Elementary. Thank you for your dedication to our scholars. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week.
- Sending a Warrior shout-out to the amazing, incomparable educators at Thomas H. Henderson Middle School. Thank you for showing up every day and giving your all. You go above and beyond to ensure that our Warrior students are the Pride of the Northside. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
- Happy Teacher Appreciation week to all of the Blackwell Preschool teachers and IAs who bring their passion and commitment to our students every single day! You all are the most collaborative team around, and you are appreciated every day!
- Sending a shout-out to Kristin Fountaine, 4th grade teacher at Henry L. Marsh III Elementary. I appreciate the opportunity to work with you and the times you've assisted me throughout this school year. You are truly a delight to work with and I am glad that you were part of the 4th grade team! Thank you for always being there for me, assisting me wholeheartedly, and just being genuine in all that you do! You are definitely the best!!
- Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to the amazing Homebound Heroes of RVA: Ms. Nina Hamilton, Mr. Rudy Hall, Dr. Marianne Barnhardt, Mrs. Sequoria Anderson, Mr. Adofo Ka-Re, Mrs. Diana Buyers, and Ms. Angela Williams! These teachers have been nothing but troopers despite the many (great) changes that have taken place in the program. Their resilience, dedication, love and advocacy for our amazing homebound and home-based population does not go unnoticed. Their creativity and flexibility is a testament of their stellar work ethic! Shout-out to the part time home-based instructors as well who have been lifeguards to our growing home-based population.
- Thank you to all of the fantastic after-school enrichment program leaders at Westover Hills Elementary School. Because of your efforts, we were able to pull off the first-ever after-school enrichment program at WHES. And it was a huge success! Thank you for leading Book Club, Lego Robotics, Cooking Club, Garden Club, Chess Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club, Knitting Club, Tennis Club, and Open Space. We are so appreciative of your time and efforts to provide these amazing opportunities for our students.
- A huge thank you to Ms. Matthews for taking the lead on the after-school enrichment programs at Westover Hills Elementary School. She has been a rockstar leader and an integral part of the success of the newly created program. From ensuring all clubs had the supplies they needed to running to the grocery store for last-minute Cooking Club ingredients to marketing the programs to students and families, Ms. Matthews did it all. We couldn't have done it without her!
- I would like to send a shout-out to Dr. Abrego, our principal at Cardinal Elementary School. Not only is he someone for whom our students are a priority, but he also makes sure that his faculty and staff feel valued and appreciated. I know that I speak for others when I say that I am fortunate to work for and with someone like Dr. Abrego. Thank you for all that you do. For everyone!
- I would like to take the time to shout-out Mr. Dwayne Parker and Trina Leecost for being an amazing assistant principal pair for Henry L. Marsh Elementary School. They have not missed a beat and have worked tirelessly to make sure the staff is supported and appreciated. They’re always showing a lot of love and support to the teachers, especially during Teacher Appreciation Week! I feel grateful as a first year teacher with RPS to have such consistent, supportive and caring administration.
- A special and big shout-out to Tanya Smith and Monica Murray at John Marshall High School for making Teacher Appreciation Week one for the books!! The Justice Airlines Crew did a fantastic job in exceeding expectations with excellence!! Flight 4225 was an amazing journey! We love you and there’s nothing you can do about it!!
- Special shout-out and heartfelt appreciation to Nurse Sam Evans at Southampton ES. He has been a wonderful addition to the Tiger Team and we appreciate everything he does for students and staff. Job well done and we are lucky to have you with us!
- Awesome kudos and celebration to Dr. DeLisa Joseph, school counselor at Southampton ES, who was appointed as the Region 1 Central Director for the Virginia School Counselor Association!! She is a phenomenal school counselor, confidante, and friend whose passion and exuberance shine brightly every day in the work she does. Amazing accomplishment, Dr. Joseph!
- Big shout-out to the athletic coaching staff at Lucille M. Brown Middle School. Under the leadership of Principal Dr. Stacy Gaines, we took home the district championship trophies in basketball, football and track for the 2022-23 school year. This same coaching staff has facilitated SOL tutoring and mentorship to our student-athletes on a daily basis. Our mighty coaching staff consists of math, science, physical education, English, and CTE teachers who teach beyond the classroom and onto the field. To Mr. Brown, Mr. Dickerson, Ms. Mckay, Mr. James, Ms. Whitmire, Ms. Menefee, Mr. Curtis, Ms. Watson, Mr. Bryant, Ms. Spruill, and Mr. Haskins, we salute you and appreciate all you do for our students. Go, Panthers!
- I would like to give a shout-out to the wonderful reading team and others from Oak Grove-Bellemeade, who helped to make Dog Man Day a success. The kids had all kinds of fun activities and they really enjoyed it.
- I would like shout-out the Redtail Math Team at River City Middle School. As we embark on this SOL season, they have been steadfast on the mission of putting our Redtail scholars first. Their enthusiasm and dedication has put the Redtails on an amazing path. These educators, 21 strong, have led the charge, and accepted the challenge to show their students that they believe in them and stand with them. Thank you for their leadership and let it resonate throughout the rest of this season as we finish Redtail Strong!
- Nurse D. Davis should receive a standing ovation. She joined our team only to fill in and became an official part of our team!! We all value her and are extremely grateful for all that she does to care for us and our students. We are very fortunate to have her. Her expertise and passion as a nurse resonate in every thing she does. Happy School Nurse Week! Henderson loves you!
- I would like to shout-out Mr. Jason Roberts at George W. Carver Elementary School! Mr. Roberts is truly one of the best teachers I have ever had the pleasure of working with! Not only is he hard working and dedicated, he is patient and genuinely loves our students! His diligence and sacrifice never go unnoticed and the Carver community is blessed to have him! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, Mr. Roberts! You deserve to be celebrated!
- Big shout-out to Laura Ramsey when I tell you she goes and beyond to assist with testing!!! I can't thank you enough.
- Super huge shout-out to the Grants Team: Jeff Bernas, Jody Kane, Shawnrell Blackwell, Sabrina Beamon, Naturial Syrkes, Adam Miller, Charleen Frederick-Stinson, and Joyce Robinson. Thank you for working tirelessly to submit a multitude of grants on behalf of RPS to secure funding to support our students and staff. Thank you for the hours of labor that you contributed to these endeavors beyond your contracted hours to meet tight deadlines. Your work ethic and genuine dedication and love for the children of this division have not gone unnoticed. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
- Author and illustrator Dav Pikey (creator of Captain Underpants) selected bbgb books in Carytown from all the bookstores in the country to give students a special surprise. The librarian at OGBES, Mrs. Colangelo, who has demonstrated passion for her community and commitment to supporting the minds of young readers, stood out to bbgb. So the students at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary were the recipients of Dav Pilkey's surprise: every student got to take home their own copy of the brand new Dogman book: Twenty-Thousand Fleas Under the Sea! #ogbespride #WeAreRPS
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- Thank you to all students, families and staff who joined us for our SOL Parent Night at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary on Wednesday. We enjoyed seeing everyone and sharing testing strategies and data with you to help prepare for the upcoming SOL Tests.
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| Decision Day Announcements – Class of 2023, please keep sharing your Decision Day news with us at outreach@rvaschools.net. Thank you!
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| Strawberry Street Festival at Clark Springs ES – Join William Fox ES on Saturday, May 13, from 12-4 pm for the 2023 Strawberry Street Festival! Come out to Clark Springs ES (1101 Dance St) for live entertainment, yummy treats, a bounce house, carnival games and more! Tickets may be purchased at the event or online until May 13 at 3:45 pm – just scan the QR code below with your phone's camera. Hope you can make it!
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| Teach With Love at RPS – If you or someone you know is interested in joining the RPS team, sign up to attend one of our Virtual Teacher Hiring Events on May 17-18. To register, just scan the QR code below with your phone's camera, and to apply for a position, just visit our website. Take advantage of up to $12,000 in early commitment bonuses if you sign your commitment letter by June 1.
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| 2023-24 Preschool & Kindergarten Enrollment Events – Join us for our upcoming preschool and kindergarten enrollment events. For more information, please email enrollrps@rvaschools.net. All children enrolled while at the event will be entered into a raffle to win a bike!
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| 2023 Summer Programs – We're beginning to hire for our summer programs. See the flyer below for details and apply today!
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Important Links – Last updated on April 14, 2023.
RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
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