| Thursday, September 28, 2023
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| 2024-25 Calendar Survey – The most common feedback we've received in recent years about the calendar adoption process is...get it done earlier! We hear you. Our goal is to adopt the 2024-25 calendar by the second Board meeting in October (10-16). See the draft below, which is almost exactly the same as Henrico's, as we've also heard time and again how helpful it is to align with our neighbors.
To get your feedback, we've emailed a unique survey link to all parents/caregivers, staff, and secondary students. Please be sure to check both your inbox and spam folders for an email from K-12 Insight. All responses will remain anonymous and no personal information will be shared. The deadline to complete the survey is Wednesday, October 11, at 11:59 pm. Thank you!
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| Trauma Healing Response Fund – The RPS Education Foundation launched the Trauma Healing Response Fund this summer. Since its inception, the fund has supported hundreds of RPS families and staff as they've navigated various crises. For example, the fund has supported:
- Grief counseling for school communities impacted by neighborhood or household violence
- Direct financial assistance to families facing hardships due to fires and other crises
- Counseling services for RPS employees
Please consider donating to the fund to support the well-being of our students, families, and educators. Thank you in advance for your generosity and for being a champion for public education and community healing.
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| EveryDay Strong – The United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg is on a mission to nurture resilient kids and strong communities through their new youth mental health initiative, EveryDay Strong. This program provides training and resources for parents, caregivers, teachers, or anyone who serves as a caring adult for a child or teen. Make sure to check out their website!
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| Author Visit at Chimborazo – New York Times best-selling author Dhonielle Clayton stopped by Chimborazo ES this week to share copies of her new book, The Memory Thieves, which students have been reading in class. This fantasy adventure novel is the sequel to her earlier book, The Marvellers. Head to your local library to check out both of them!
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| Lunch & Learn – Join us at noon on Monday, October 2, for our next Hispanic Heritage Month virtual lunch & learn session: "Five Insights to Better Understand Our Culture: A Historical Perspective." Virginia Commonwealth University Associate Professor Dr. Antonio Espinoza will provide an overview of Latin American history and share more about his research on the intersection of politics, society, and education in modern Latin America. Register here!
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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!
- Thank you to Ms. B. Johnson at G.H. Reid who encourages other teachers with strategies for amazing reading instruction! The effects of her wonderful reading instruction are clearly seen in students! You rock!
- Thank you to Ms. Shauntele Waller-Day from the RPS Talent Office for helping me through some licensure endorsement procedures. She made the process so easy and effortless. She was prompt in answering all of my emails and was knowledgeable on the whole process. Thank you again, Ms. Waller-Day!
- Huge shout-out to Dr. Cyndi Robinson, Sandra Portee, Marcella Braxton, and the entire RVA team (Hoot Hoot!), Angelique Rhodes from Henry L. Marsh III, Candace Cruz from Head Start, Marlo Whitaker-Callahan from VPI, and Luke Hostetter from Enrollment for their incredible teamwork behind the scenes to enroll three young RPS scholars and siblings!
- A huge shout-out to J.B. Fisher Elementary School faculty and staff for recognizing Deaf Awareness Week this week. A huge heartfelt appreciation goes to everyone on this campus for investing their time in the lives of our Deaf and Hard of Hearing students on this campus. The support and love given to each Deaf and Hard of Hearing student is evident among everyone on this campus. Several faculty and staff members proudly wore Deaf Awareness t-shirts on Wednesday, September 27th. We are so thankful that J.B. Fisher is the home for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. #FisherSeesYou #Flamingopride #DeafAwareness
- Kudos to the amazing administration team at J.B. Fisher Elementary School – Principal Duane Samuels and Assistant Principal Amey Blount – recognizing Deaf Awareness Week this week on this campus. Their love for all of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing kids is evident not only this week but throughout the school year. The students know that they are loved and respected here at Fisher.
- A huge shout-out to Molly Boehm for creating a beautiful display of Deaf Awareness books and the huge stuffed "I Love You" figure in the glass display. Ms. Boehm also incorporated Deaf Awareness during Encore time. A huge shout-out to Lindsay Beekman for incorporating a story about a Deaf Musician in Scotland during Encore time. We are grateful for their willingness to do this during class time. Kudos to the faculty who also incorporated Deaf Awareness in their classrooms as well. Thanks for taking the time to recognize this event.
- This is a shout-out to the following staff: Kindergarten Teacher Phoebe Campbell, Special Education Teacher J. Brown, and Math Coach Chelsea Graham for doing an outstanding job serving our children and staff at Henry Marsh III Elementary School.
- Shout-out to everyone at Cardinal Elementary who helps out during car duty at dismissal! Your passion and dedication to safely getting students home doesn't go unnoticed!
- Shout-out to the amazing second grade team at Henry L. Marsh ES: Mrs. Marzouk, Ms. Herring, Ms. Williams, Ms. Lee, Ms. Walker and Ms. Robinson. Your dedication to adjusting as needed and showering our second grade students with love every day is truly commendable. Your open communication with parents adds a wonderful layer of support to our students' education. Keep up the fantastic work! #TeamSecondGradeRockingIt
- Mrs. Jones-Millner from Frances McClenney Elementary School, it was truly inspiring to see the dynamic learning environment you have created for your students, and I was particularly impressed by your approach to small-group instruction. During my visit, I couldn't help but notice the positive engagement and active participation of your students. Your ability to create an inclusive and collaborative atmosphere in the classroom is commendable. Your passion for teaching and dedication to your students' growth are evident, and it was a pleasure to witness your teaching style in action.
- Big thanks to Mrs. Perry of Albert Hill Middle School for organizing 6th grade field trips to Reedy Creek, giving young scientists a chance to study water quality up close. Her classroom brings science to life every day.
- I would like to give a shout-out to our instructional compliance coordinator, Mrs. Tiffany Stevens – a lady of multiple hats and forever filling the cups of her coworkers. We appreciate you greatly here at Dogwood MS, Mrs. Stevens. Thank you for the continued support and always doing tasks with a smile – you rock!
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| Road to Licensure – Join us on the RPS Road to Licensure Saturday, September 30, from 9 am - 1 pm at Huguenot HS. Learn about the requirements for teacher licensure, participate in onsite interviews, and speak with representatives from RPS and local universities. To sign-up for this wonderful opportunity, click on the flyer or scan the QR code below with your phone's camera.
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| ¡Virginia Fiesta! – Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this Saturday, September 30, with the Science Museum of Virginia and Radio Poder. ¡Virginia Fiesta! is a celebration of science and culture, highlighting the many amazing contributions of the Hispanic community in Virginia. The event will run from 9:30 am - 5 pm and will include a community fair, vendors, food trucks, cultural performances, live demos, and workshops!
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| RPS Advisory Councils – Applications are now open to join the 2023-24 RPS Multilingual Learner Success Advisory Council. The council provides space for those most connected to the multilingual learner community to support RPS students and families. Applications are currently available in (English) and (Spanish) with additional languages coming soon. This year, our advisory councils will play an important role in helping develop our new strategic plan, Dreams4RPS 2.0 (more details on that process soon). Please visit our website for additional information.
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| Nominate an RPS Principal! – Nominations for the R.E.B. Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership are now open! Don't miss this opportunity to recognize an amazing RPS principal who demonstrates every day what it means to lead with love. The winning leader will receive a $10,000 award and an additional $20,000 for their school. Submit your nominations by Thursday, November 2 at 5 pm.
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| Teach With Love at RPS – We hire all year long so if you know of a great teacher who might like to join the RPS team, please tell them to apply now. We're offering bonuses of up to $12,000!
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| Student Wellness and Mental Health Support – Please note the resources below and remember that we love you here and you are not alone.
- Students who need emergency mental health support should call the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority at (804) 819-4100 or the ChildSavers Immediate Response line at (804) 305-2420 (or send a text to 741741).
- Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center provides education, advocacy, and support to Spanish-speaking individuals affected by violence. The 24/7 hotline in Spanish is (888) 969-1825.
- The Trauma Healing Response Network is a coalition of grassroots, community-based organizations and mental health partners that provide support services to families and communities impacted by gun violence. The network can also facilitate the distribution of emergency relief funds to help those in crisis. For more information, email traumahealingresponsenetwork@gmail.com.
- RPS employees in need of emergency support should contact the Cigna 24/7 Crisis Line at (833) ME-CIGNA, or (833) 632-4462. Additional counseling and support services are also available through the Cigna Employee Assistance (EAP) program by calling (800) 544-6931.
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| RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
Health and Wellness Links
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