| Thursday, September 21, 2023
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| Library Card Sign-up – September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and our friends at Richmond Public Library want to remind everyone of the power of a library card. In addition to books, you get access to computers, Homework Help, meeting rooms, and even sewing machines and 3-D printers, along with programs so you can learn how to use them. Put simply, a library card is your free ticket to almost anything. Sign-up to get yours today!
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| Hispanic Heritage Month Book Spotlight – Dr. Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to travel to space when she served on a nine-day mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1993. She later became the first Latina – and second woman – to lead the Johnson Space Center. The Solar System with Ellen (El Sistema Solar con Ellen) by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein, takes our littlest readers on a trip around the solar system with Dr. Ochoa – introducing them to the sun, moon, and planets in both English and Spanish.
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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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| Lunch & Learn – Join us on Monday, September 25, at 12 pm for our next Hispanic Heritage Month virtual lunch & learn session: "Latino/Hispanic/Latinx/Latine: What’s in the Name?" RPS Language Justice Coordinator Luis Martínez Jiménez will provide an overview of the different terms used to identify Latin American individuals and will share more about the context of when these terms are used and by whom. Register here!
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| With great appreciation,
Jason
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- I would like to send a huge shout-out to SCAN for coming to Blackwell Elementary School today to give us some amazing wellness activities to do. We were able to make hand soaps that not only smelled good but will help to relax you, have some refreshing hot tea, paint affirmation canvases, and even sit in the massage chairs. You don’t know how much that helped to make the day better. Thank you again!
- Thank you to all of the teachers and staff at Lucille Brown Middle School for putting together a wonderful back to school night. We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication of everyone at LBMS to give our children a welcoming environment where they can thrive.
- I would like to shout-out Rochelle Wilkins from the Testing team. She is thoughtful, perceptive, gifted and gracious. Working with new STCs can't be easy but she explains things in a thorough manner and always checks for understanding (like the great teacher that she is)! I appreciate her taking the time to follow up with me to make sure everything is working as it should and know that we will have a successful testing administration under her tutelage!
- I would like to shout-out Kyra Reynolds, the amazing science department chair at Boushall Middle School. Ms. Reynolds is leading her team with enthusiasm, focus, and a sense of personal accountability. She is passionate about making sure our students have engaging, impactful learning experiences in their science classes – focusing on hands-on learning experiences and strategies that help each child achieve their best. I would like to shout-out Dr. Vaughn at Boushall Middle School for the work he is doing with his teachers and leadership team to build strong, impactful instructional leaders in his building!
- I want to shout-out my amazing World History 1 teacher, Mr. Kemper at Huguenot High School. He is a very insightful teacher, gives good advice, and is there for his students. I very much value him as a teacher and a person. He makes his environment fun and inclusive.
- I would like to shout-out our amazing assistant principal, Latoya Graham, for going above and beyond today at Miles Jones ES! She does it all, helping staff, parents, teachers, and the front office! Thank you, Mrs. Graham, for helping when classes needed coverage and leading with love!
- We would like to give a big shout-out to Instructional Specialist Tess Short. She has been nothing "short" of amazing in supporting Richmond High School for the Arts and our counseling department. She has worn several different hats at one time and continues to move our counseling department in a positive direction and she is truly appreciated. Thank you for your guidance and support.
- Massive shout-out to Dana Crawley, Maria Williams Rodriguez, and Sarah Payne at BOES! These dynamic third-grade teachers are supporting students' language comprehension this school year with differentiated tier-two vocabulary stations using Flocabulary's Word Up series!
- Shout-out to Ms. Johnson's third grade class at Fairfield Court Elementary for technology integration of math with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Her students had to explain their thinking to the class using the Concrete, Representational, and Abstract (CRA Model) through problem solving, pictorial representations and writing equations. We are excited to watch our students integrate literacy Read, Draw, and Write (R,D,W) through their voice. Hats off to our math team (Ms. Grandison & Mrs. Jernigan) for "lifting up" these high leverage strategies during collaborative planning to meet and exceed proficiency expectations! Eagle pride!
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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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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| Road to Licensure – Join on the RPS Road to Licensure Fair next 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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| 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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