| Before kicking this off tonight, I wanted to share that I've tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time. I'm vaccinated and boosted, but, as we've seen for some time now, the latest strains seem to break through. Fortunately, and almost certainly due to my vaccination, my symptoms are relatively mild – low fever, sore throat, fatigue. To all who have sent good wishes, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Unfortunately, this means I won't be able to attend the rest of our graduation ceremonies – one of the highlights of the year for me. Rest assured, our graduates are in excellent hands with their principals and a wonderful central office support team. To our graduates, I'm SO proud of you, love you very much, and want you to know that RPS will always be your home!
Tonight's Updates:
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| Graduations – Due to severe weather that was predicted for today, the Armstrong HS ceremony has been rescheduled to Thursday, June 16, at 9 am at The Diamond (3001 N Arthur Ashe Blvd).
You can watch the livestream of each ceremony on the RPS Youtube Channel using the links below.
Wednesday, June 15
Thursday, June 16 (rain date)
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| Camp Spokes – Check out Camp Spokes, a free weeklong bicycling camp for middle/high school girls and gender nonconforming youth. You'll learn new bike riding skills, study bike mechanics, explore new places, AND receive a bike of your own! See the flyers below for details. Sign up by this Thursday, June 16!
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| Volunteer Award Nominations – Do you know an incredible student who is making the world a better place, or a small business that's helping the community? Consider nominating them for the Virginia Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Service Awards. Categories include youth, small business, education, faith-based, and more. Nominate a community hero by June 17!
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| Dr. Stefanie Ramsey – This year is the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or education program that receives funding from the federal government. In honor of this important milestone, our very own Coordinator of Athletics, Dr. Stefanie Ramsey, was featured in a video segment on her dedication to equity. We're so proud of all Dr. Ramsey does to support the students and staff of RPS!
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| With great appreciation,
Jason
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- Miles Jones is honored to have a spectacular art teacher, Mrs. DeYoung! She is able to get the students to believe in their art and not fear it. Thank you for everything you have done for the students and thank you for our awesome field day shirts!!!!! You are amazing!
- I'd like to shout out the 7th grade scholars who were inducted into the T.C. Boushall Honor Society today: Amy Cruz-Tabora, Joel Gonzalez, Anna Harris, Taraji Humphries, Yinna Ortiz-Rivera, Guadalupe Pena-Torres, Anthony Raymundo-Alvarez, Gladys Rivas, Diana Romero-Fores, Ana Salazar-Hernandez and Keirin Soriano! They exemplify the five pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, citizenship and character! I'd also like to thank the current 8th grade members who helped with the ceremony today: Ziyon Bacote, Zamaya Booker, Jefferey Escobar-Cardon, Jade Garcia, JaNyla Malone, Miguelito Ramon-Gomez and Mohagany Rogers. I'd also like to thank 8th grade scholar K'niyah Robinson for taking pictures of the event – she is a rock star! And special and heartfelt thanks to Ms. Alease Johnson, our amazing school counselor, for making all the magic happen! Our school would not be the same without her love and commitment!!
- I'd like to send a shout out to Jhonnai Brunner, 8th grade scholar at T.C. Boushall Middle School. Today when the technology was not going my way, she was extremely helpful! Her kindness and leadership did not go unnoticed! I am grateful for her help today!
- I would like to shout out Ms. Bekima Brown at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School for her continuous support to the office team. The OGBES office team just wanted to say thank you!
- I would like to give a big shout out to Ms. Lee Resnick at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School. She wears many hats at OGBES but the biggest hat she wears is the support she provides for the office team. I truly appreciate her. She is the best.
- Shout out to Ms. Gill from Mary Munford, who always puts the needs of students first and actively advocates on their behalf.
- Thank you to Coach E for your wonderful planning and implementation of field day! The kids had so much fun despite the heat! It was such a great experience and I know it will be something the kids cherish and remember for a long time!
- I would like to give a huge shout-out to Westover Hills Elementary for the awesome carnival they hosted over the weekend. It was so much fun and so well organized – they did a great job of bringing the WH community together to celebrate this school year.
- Huge shout out to the Career Day Committee at Miles Jones! Career Day couldn’t have run smoothly without you! Thank you so much for your teamwork and willingness to help create an amazing morning for our students. You are appreciated!
- I would like to acknowledge Rochell Wilkins in the Assessment Department. She has been very supportive and patient throughout this testing administration. I have reached out to her early in the morning and late in the evening, and she has been available and patient as she assisted with my testing issues. I truly appreciate her.
- Thank you to Liane Bain, math interventionist at Munford and Fox. She is an expert at working with students who struggle in math or who lack confidence in math. They spend 30 minutes with her, and they come back with an extra pep in their step, newly equipped with knowledge and strategies and – most of all – confidence. I also appreciate how calm she is when interacting with classroom teachers and while juggling many interruptions to her schedule. Thanks for all that you do for our students!
- I would like to give a huge shout out to Phil Vollmer of Binford Middle School and the Binford Theater Company. This weekend they performed a hilarious play called "Everyone Gets Eaten by Sharks." This is the first play Binford MS has been able to perform in 3 years and was entirely run by students.
- I'd like to send praise to all of our school staff and community partners that helped bring CIS@Blackwell's Block Party/Resource Fair to fruition last night! Thank you to AP Smith, AP Anderson, and the one and only Ms. Lucas for thinking outside of the box and assisting with event logistics. Thank you to our phenomenal school staff that went above and beyond, including Mr. Atkinson, Ms. Fulford, Ms. Atkins, Ms. Jovanov, Ms. Forrest, Ms. Dunlap, Ms. Cotton, Ms. Chapman, and Ms. Shelton, for volunteering to set up and/or work the event. Thank you to our many community partners who showed out for JHBES including Big Brothers Big Sisters, HOME of VA, Blackwell Community Center (special shout outs to you, Coach Grigsby), Broomfield Memorial Church, Stemtree, Mending Fences, Blackwell Preschool, OCWB, Youth Ambassadors of VA, SCAN, Child Savers, All For One Supportive Services, RPS Southside Hub staff, Chantel Cox (working towards home ownership), MJ Jovanov (preventative health), and DJ Frank Rite (our volunteer DJ who had everyone dancing)! Kudos to Cameron Korb (CIS at Henry Marsh) for supporting this event and connecting with our Blackwell parents on behalf of CIS. Thank you to the Lit Limo for your attendance and encouraging our Bears to be life-long readers. Lastly, thank you to Children Inc. for sponsoring this event, assisting with food, and providing a bounce house! If I've missed anyone, please charge it to my mind, not my heart. We couldn't have pulled this event together without the support of each and every one of you!
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| Donate to the RPS Lit Limo! – 8News has partnered with RPS for its 2022 Founders Day of Caring to make the dream of a new Lit Limo a reality just in time for summer! Consider donating if you're able and please share this opportunity with your community. Huge thanks to 8News!
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| Summer Meals and Family Activities – In case you missed it yesterday, be sure to save the flyer below for details on the RPS summer meal program, additional free meal options, and a handful of free or low-cost activities to enjoy around Richmond!
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| RPS Summer Fest 2022 – We're thrilled to announce our second annual RPS Summer Fest on Saturday, July 23, at George Wythe HS! We hope you'll join us for free food, games, music, a visit from the Lit Limo, enrollment assistance, and much more. Be sure to mark your calendars – you won't want to miss this!
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| Important Links – Last updated on May 24, 2022.
RPS Links
COVID-19 Links
Crisis Support Links
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