| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
I'm heartbroken to share that we lost a 14-year-old MLK MS student due to gun violence over the weekend. And today, our colleagues in Henrico lost a 16-year-old student after he succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained last night. This young man was the son of a Chimborazo ES staff member and had friends at Armstrong HS. Please keep everyone who knew and loved these students in your thoughts and prayers this evening.
Below are several organizations dedicated to ending gun violence. I encourage you to explore their websites, donate, and join their advocacy efforts. We can either continue to wring our hands in frustration or act. Let's act – together.
Tonight's updates:
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2024 Yale National Fellows – Please join me in congratulating the following RPS teachers who were named Yale National Fellows as part of the Yale National Initiative! Each National Fellow will develop a curriculum unit to teach in the coming school year and to share with other RPS teachers.
Henderson MS
- Cheri Manning – "Energy: Past, Present, and Future"
Huguenot HS
- Amanda McMahon – "Landscape, Art, and Ecology"
- Ulises Reveles – "Evolutionary Medicine"
- Greysi Vasquez – "Landscape, Art, and Ecology"
Martin Luther King, Jr. MS
- Deirdre Brooks – "A History of Black People as Readers: A Genealogy of Critical Literacy"
Mary Munford ES
- Valerie Schwarz – "Energy: Past, Present, and Future"
River City MS
- Stephen Straus – "Poetry as Sound and Object"
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Assistant Principal Spotlight – As assistant principal at Franklin Military Academy, Dr. Jennifer Smith views each day as an opportunity to positively impact the lives of those she encounters. She starts the day with prayer and meditation and ends with gratitude for the chance to make a difference. Dr. Smith prioritizes fostering a positive school culture by ensuring that everyone feels heard, welcomed, important, and valued. What qualities make a great AP? As Dr. Smith shared: "Passion for the profession, a genuine love for people, and a desire to leave a positive impact on the world."
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Farm-to-Table Monthly Market – All RPS families are invited to join us tomorrow, from 2:30 - 4:30 pm at Barack Obama ES, for our next Farm-to-Table Monthly Market. Be sure to stop by and pick up free, fresh produce for you and your family to enjoy at home.
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Custodial & Trades Hiring Expo – RPS is hiring! If you or someone you know is interested in joining the RPS team, join us this Saturday, April 13, from 10 am - 1 pm at Martin Luther King, Jr. MS, for the Custodial & Trades Employment Expo. You'll have the opportunity to speak with the hiring team, learn more about our career opportunities, and participate in on-site interviews. To learn more about all of our open positions, just visit our website.
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Richmond is Going Abroad – Also happening on Saturday, from 10 am - 2 pm at Huguenot HS, is the Pathways to Life Abroad Global Education Summit! Don't miss this amazing opportunity to explore international studies. For more information, visit the Policy Pathways website.
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With great appreciation,
Jason
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Shout-Outs – Please help us continue to inspire and uplift the RPS community by submitting shout-outs to shoutouts@rvaschools.net. Entries can be submitted in Spanish or English!
- Happy Assistant Principals Week to Ms. Anderson at Southampton Elementary. Coming to a school in the middle of the year can be tough. From your first day you've taken the time to get to know students and staff by walking the hallways and visiting classes throughout the day. You are appreciated.
- Dr. Otey at Miles Jones is one of the best APs! She leads with grace, love, class and professionalism. You never feel intimidated by her or hesitant to ask for help/guidance. She is down to earth and genuinely cares about the staff and students at MJJ. Thank you, Dr. Otey! You rock!
- Happy Assistant Principals Week to the hardest working assistant principals in RPS. I would like to give a huge shout-out to Dr. Aldridge, Mrs. Jones, and Mrs. Roberts-Wick. They are the dynamic trio, and they are truly a blessing to Boushall Middle School. The dynamic trio serves and supports our Boushall family with a high level of excellence and dedication. Also, they never hesitate to nurture our students, parents, and teachers! Our school community is thriving because of the tireless work of the dynamic trio.
- I want to give a huge shout-out to Mrs. Graham, assistant principal at Miles Jones. Mrs. Graham is truly an amazing person that truly cares about the students at Miles Jones. I watch her every morning and evening as she watches the students entering in the morning and leaving in the evenings, making sure they are safe and always greeting them by their names. Mrs. Graham always has a smile on her face. I'm glad to know Mrs. Graham is my child's assistant principal.
- On behalf of my students in the intensive support class at Thomas H. Henderson Middle School to to our assistant principals: we love you and thank you for supporting us in our adaptive classroom.
Each day you smile at us, encourage us, and watch us grow through leaps and bounds. Your care and leadership is second to none – for that we honor each of you. Continue to watch us grow and develop as warriors today and leaders tomorrow! A thousand thanks to you Mrs. Pinkney, Mrs. Lawson, and Mr. Cobb. Love you! - A heartfelt shout-out to Mrs. Holmes and Mr. Smith, our assistant principals at Cardinal Elementary. They put their heart and soul into all that they do; both the students and the staff are always their priority and they do so much every day that it is amazing to see. They are always positive, available, and smiling. Thank you for all that you do for us all!
- I would like to shout-out Mr. Johnson, assistant principal at J.L. Francis! Mr. Johnson not only greets all students daily but also makes it a point to check in with the teachers. Thank you for all you do, Mr. Johnson!
- I would like to give a shout-out to Maj. Paschall, Cpt. Elie, Maj. Nunez, Cpt. Carter, Maj. Ashe and Cpt. Clarke for their extraordinary execution of the solar eclipse trip to Niagra Falls. Also, thank you to Col. Hudson for his unwavering support. I am thankful that my cadet was able to have this experience and make lasting memories with his school mates.
- Mary Scott Preschool would like to give a huge shout-out to our awesome Encore team: Coach Hunt (PE), Mr. B. (music), Ms. Addai-Mensah (library) and Ms. Baird (art). Coach Hunt starts our ENCORE week off by visiting us every Tuesday. He goes above and beyond to support our students and staff by often assisting with student dismissal, always keeping our students active, and helping us prepare for school events. Ms. Addai-Mensah often assists with student arrival, redirects students in a calm and effective way, and goes above and beyond to teach her students in creative and memorable ways. Mr. B broadens the students musical knowledge by giving them the opportunity to experience playing a variety of instruments in a fun and exciting environment. He does all this with an encouraging and inviting manner which brings the kids into the wonderful world of music. Ms. Baird guides our young artists through expressing their creativity. She reads a book at the beginning of each class, prearranges materials for her students, and last but not least, hand delivers their artwork to their teachers classroom to be sent home the same day.
- I would love to shout-out my daughter's Pre-K teacher, Ms. Ellis at Mary Scott. She has been an absolute pleasure to work with this school year. She and her co-teacher, Ms. Annie, go the extra mile with the children and it's amazing to witness. My daughter signed all the alphabets for us through sign language! We were so impressed, singing her praises and giving her high fives. Ms. Ellis is the "super teacher" going the extra mile. Mary Scott Preschool has so many gems teaching our children. They are on the front lines of education. I'm thankful my two girls are amongst the greatest!
- I want to send a huge shout-out to Ms. Gabrielle Coleman, administrative office associate extraordinaire for the Curriculum & Instruction department. Ms. Coleman goes above and beyond the call of duty daily supporting not only each member of the C&I team, but she also supports her colleagues throughout the division Academic office. Ms. Coleman is dedicated to RPS and works tirelessly to support students, teachers, and leaders. Ms. Coleman is the epitome of leading, serving and teaching with love! Thank you, Gabrielle! We truly appreciate all that you do!
- Shout-out to the cafeteria staff – Ms. Hill, Ms. Smith, and Mrs. King from Dogwood Middle School – for making the staff breakfast this morning.
- Shout-out to biology teachers Ms. Scott and Ms. Jones at Huguenot for being such an amazing collaborative team. Ms. Scott and Ms. Jones also stay after school several times a week to support students in remediation for their Biology SOL. Their classroom is welcoming and supporting such an amazing special education model for our students!
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| 2024-25 Preschool & Kindergarten Enrollment Events – Preschool and kindergarten enrollment is currently underway! We're thrilled to offer preschool for eligible 3 and 4-year olds, and kindergarten for all 5-year-olds. All Richmond families are encouraged to join us at one of our upcoming enrollment events to begin the process. Prior to your visit, be sure to visit our website for a list of required documents for preschool enrollment. For more information, please email enrollrps@rvaschools.net.
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| #TeachWithLove at RPS – We're thrilled to offer signing bonuses of up to $7,000 for new hires starting in the fall! If you or someone you know is interested in joining the RPS team, please take a moment to visit our website to browse open positions. For more information, please email talentoffice@rvaschools.net.
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| Lit Limo – Our newest Lit Limo is officially on the road! It has built-in bookshelves, power outlets for computers, A/C and heat, and a wheelchair lift so every RPS student can come onboard and browse for free books. Check out the schedule below, and don't forget to share your visit on Instagram by tagging us at @rps_lit_limo. Happy reading!
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Tutor Recruitment – Are you a retired teacher, college student/recent grad, or community member interested in supporting the academic success of our students? We're currently accepting applications for academic tutors to support our high-intensity tutoring program. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the RPS team, just visit our website to apply or scan the QR code below with your phone's camera. This work is going to take #AllofUs!
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| RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
Health and Wellness Links
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