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Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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| National School Nurse Day – Tomorrow is National School Nurse Day! From medication management to providing first aid to sometimes just offering a space for students to decompress, our school nurses truly are heroes. Join us in celebrating them by sending your shout-outs to shoutouts@rvaschools.net. Thank you!
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| Mental Health Awareness Month – In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, join the National Alliance on Mental Illness in its campaign to let everyone know that you are "More Than Enough." To learn more about how to support your student's mental health, visit the Virginia Department of Education's Office of Student Services. And make sure to take care of yourself, too, by taking advantage of this calendar of self-care activities!
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| New Teacher Bright Spot – Tonight, we're highlighting Tiana Terry, first grade teacher at Carver ES. "Ms. Terry is a first grade teacher who provides her students with the opportunity to grow and explore in a nurturing environment. Her desire to build her teacher toolkit is evident in the questions she asks administrators and content leaders. She is an asset to the profession and George W. Carver Elementary School." ~ Principal Tiawana Giles
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| Community Listening Session – Join the Virginia Latino Advisory Board this Thursday, May 11, from 7-8 pm at the Sacred Heart Center, for a community listening session. This is an excellent opportunity to provide feedback to the Governor's representatives about issues impacting Virginia's Latino communities. Hope you can make it!
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| K-12 Learning Recovery Grants – To help students recover from learning loss due to the pandemic, the Virginia Department of Education is now accepting applications from parents and caregivers who wish to participate in the K-12 Learning Recovery Grants program. Qualifying education services Include:
- Tutoring in reading/writing, mathematics, science, history/social science, and foreign languages
- Purchasing assistive technologies specified in a child's IEP or 504 Plan
You'll have access to a list of pre-approved tutoring services and assistive technology providers, who will be paid directly by the Commonwealth!
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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. Check out the amazing video below to hear more from our teachers themselves about why you should join RPS!
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| With great appreciation,
Jason
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- Shout-out to Mrs. Evans at Southampton. She listens to my needs and acts on them. I can always count on her. She’s an amazing teacher and has lots of love for her students.
- Huge thank you goes to Dr. Evans for always making sure teachers at Henderson have what they need to be successful. Her help was pivotal to the success of the tapas bars last week. We love her!
- We want to thank Ms. Henderson, the amazing sub at PHSSA, for her love and dedication to all students. She worked in our son's kindergarten class last Friday and Monday of this week and the love and joy she brings is obvious and felt. She is pure sunshine and everyone in the school benefits from being around her. We are so blessed at PHSSA to have her as part of our school. We love you, Mrs. Henderson!!!
- Our family wants to shout-out the incredible Mrs. Michael at PHSSA! Amaze Day was amazing because of the amazing Mrs. Michael bringing it all together. As a parent volunteer that day, I maybe had more fun than the students! Mrs. Michael, we are a better school because of what you bring to us! Your excitement, energy, and positive spirit makes all the difference! Thank you for loving our kids like you do! For going outside the box to bring a world of activity to them that otherwise they might not ever know. You're changing lives every day. We love you, Mrs. Michael!
- Shout-out to Ms. M. Chavis and Ms. S. Smith for the awesome SOL event with our district specialist and semester 1 biology students at our JMHS, the joy and pride of Northside!
- Shout-out to our school counselor, Mrs. Stallings at Miles Jones Elementary! She did beautiful end-of-the-year projects with students and they were very proud to shown them off! Thanks for all you do for our students and school, Mrs. Stallings!
- I'd like to shout-out Dr. Jose Reveles Ramirez for agreeing to carry the 21st CCLC site coordinator torch at Huguenot High School. Thanks to his dedication and leadership, we're confident that this program will continue to prosper.
- Thank you to Surprize and the Greater Richmond SCAN team for offering a wellness day at Southampton Elementary School. They changed the atmosphere of the wellness space by offering hot tea, a relaxing massage chair, make your own custom body product, sand art, painting, and planting. It was a perfect way to begin SOL testing. I can't wait to have them back next year. Invite them to your school. Don't miss out!
- I would love to shout-out Ms. Bermejo at Westover Hills ES. She was my partner for the Special Olympics and found such joy with the kids, rolled with the punches, and made sure we didn't lose any kiddos. It was a great experience overall but she was the highlight for me. That being said, we couldn't have done it at Westover without Ms. White, Ms. Goode, and Ms. McKeithen. They always make sure our kids are getting to experience the best! Finally, a huge shout-out to the students at Huguenot High School. They timed out kids at the 100m, tossed the ball with them, and generally cheered them on. They modeled to our kids the high schoolers they should aspire to be.
- Huge shout-out to Ms. Eunique Bryant who will be graduating this weekend with her master's degree from Liberty University! I am so proud of the educator you have become and cannot wait to see what amazing things are in your future.
- Congratulations to Dr. Jazmin Pitts who will be graduating this weekend! It has been awesome to see you walk your educational journey right before my eyes. I am beyond proud of you and can’t wait to celebrate with you!
- Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of the educators I’m lucky enough to work next to every day at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary. Your hard work and dedication to our students and your profession does not go unnoticed. I am proud to call you my colleagues, and more importantly, my family. Enjoy your week!
- I would like to give a huge shout-out to Ms. Bryant at Lucille M. Brown Middle School. She is an amazing teacher and team leader. Thank you for organizing so many amazing activities for our 8th graders this year. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week – I appreciate you!
- I want to shout-out Mr. Ownby at Lucille M. Brown Middle School. Mr. Ownby and his students had an amazing theater production of "Frozen Jr." this year. He is very kind and cares about our students. He works really hard to create fun, creative, and engaging lessons for our students. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week – I appreciate you!
- I'd like to send a shout-out to Mr. Curtis, one of the amazing English teachers and 6th grade team lead at Lucille M. Brown Middle School. Thank you for all you do for our students and for being an amazing collaborator. Your dedication to our students does not go unnoticed! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week – I appreciate you!
- I'd like to send a shout-out to Ms. Redd at Lucille M. Brown Middle School. Thank you for always rooting for our students and inspiring them to know they are more than capable of achieving success. In the face of any challenge, you always show grace and resilience. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week – I appreciate you!
- Shout-out to Ms. Whitmire at Lucille M. Brown Middle School. Ms. Whitmire is courageous and always willing to do what it takes for her students. Your sacrifices don't go unnoticed. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week – I appreciate you!
- I would like to give a huge shout-out to Mr. Robinson at Lucille M. Brown Middle School. You have inspired a love of math in so many students this year. I know our students will carry the lessons you taught them for the rest of their lives. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week – I appreciate you!
- I want to shout-out the amazing Ms. Bland at Miles Jones for all of her hard work and mentorship especially when it comes to accommodations for students. She is amazing! Thank you for all you do in RPS.
- Shout-out to all the support staff at Miles Jones Elementary School. Thanks for all your help this year with my granddaughter's transition in kindergarten.
- Thanks to the principal, Mrs. Shaw, and assistant principals, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Graham, for all your tag team work. Thanks to the PE teacher, Ms. Dorsey – you are a great asset to Miles Jones Elementary School.
- Nurse Schell at Chimborazo Elementary is a consummate professional! Her attention to detail should be commended. It is also amazing to see the relationships she has built with students and families this year. The impact she has made on many lives is immeasurable. Last but not least, her follow-up is remarkable. Nurse Schell is the type of person that gets asked a question or assigned a task and you never need to think twice about it getting done at the highest level possible. She is amazing!!
- Many thanks to the awesome team at Linwood Holton Elementary! My daughter loved the opportunity and experience of being part of the recent Happy Holton Players’ production of "The Little Mermaid, Jr." The students did a great job performing. As a parent, I’m so grateful to Ms. Turnage for her dedication, hard work, and vision. She worked with children and parents for 5 months to make this production happen. I also want to shout-out Mrs. Harr, Mr. Patterson, Mrs. Edwards, Ms. Robinson, Ms. Joy, Ms. Tam, and Mr. Clark for their leadership and support, which made it such a successful production. So grateful for all you do to extend this additional opportunity to learn and grow to our children.
- Huge shout-out to Meghann Kennedy, Holton PTA President, for all her hard work tirelessly giving all she has for the kids and staff at the school!
- Huge shout-out to the teachers at Richmond Virtual Academy! It has been my honor to be part of this staff that has created a family within not only an amazing virtual world but also in the real world! Our students and families are proud to be Richmond Virtual Academy RPS families. They are the light of our future. To all the teachers, you are amazing! And to our leaders, you are our teachers and have guided us gently with compassion. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to everyone!! You rock! Hootie Hoot!!
- Teachers have classrooms, they have offices, they have virtual worlds and real worlds. This shout-out is for the teachers that have gone the extra 10 miles in preparing home based students, making their world a better place!! To Thomas Jefferson teachers, you have been a blessing! The home based staff appreciates all you do to go above and beyond!
- A super shout-out to Dr. Cynthia Robinson for being an amazing leader and principal! She has the hearts of all the children of RVA Owls in the center of her heart, and her love and passion for what she does is evident in her actions. She shows up every day, encouraging the Owls to soar to excellence!
- Shout-out to one of the best third grade teacher in Virginia, Mr. Justin Baber ("Mr. B"). His talent for teaching and getting his students involved with their learning never ceases to amaze me. His unique style creates an environment that causes each child to be confident in their own skin, rising to whatever challenges they encounter!
- I would like to send a major shout-out and thank you the HHS sophomore class student leaders and spirit leader: Mr. Dean McKnight (CIS), Mr. Craig Christmas (school counselor), and their students – Threvia Slayton, Tynashia Pinkston, Zamante Johston, Terriel Williams-Ford, and Deyona Clarke – for helping lead Spirit Week! The student captains planned "Luau and Stitch Day" where students enjoyed a tropical day at the island of Huguenot High School. They also sponsored Ice Cream Day.
- I would like to send a major shout-out and thank you to Mrs. Broas Juarez, school social worker, Ms. Wyche, assistant principal, and student captains, Nashon Steward, Mitchell Young, Zyana Fashow, Latrell, Assata Lucas, and Samira Lucas, for planning the Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game and Pie Your Principal event! They did a phenomenal job hosting and announcing this event! Thank you for leading!
- Thank you to Mr. Sanchezconcha (graduation coach), Ms. Whitney Wilson (senior social worker), Mr. Kevin Monroe (assistant principal), Ms. Street-Lewis (senior sponsor), Mr. Miles (band director), the HHS drumline, and the student captains (Antonio Jeffries, Tymell Womack Dockery, Adriana Keyes, Jaliyah Samuels, Renee Whitehead, Asia Dudley, Jasean Greene) for planning the Bikers vs. Surfers Day which included the Senior Parade and Powderpuff Football Game. Thank you for leading the way! Go, Class of 2023!
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| Early Commitment Bonuses – We're now offering bonuses of up to $12,000 for new hires who sign their commitment letters by Thursday, June 1. If you know of a great teacher who might like to join the RPS team, please tell them to apply now!
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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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| 2023-24 Preschool & Kindergarten Enrollment Events – Join us for our upcoming preschool and kindergarten enrollment events. We'll be on hand to help with enrollment and answer questions. 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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