| Friday, September 29, 2023
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Happy Friday! Tonight's updates:
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| Road to Licensure Fair – Join us on the Road to Licensure tomorrow, 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. Sign-up here or scan the QR code below with your phone's camera.
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| ¡Virginia Fiesta! – Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month tomorrow, 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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| VMFA Open Studio – Keep celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts during Open Studio! on Sunday, October 1, from 12 – 3 pm. Create clay pots inspired by pre-Columbian ceramics and explore contemporary examples from South and Central America. All ages are welcome. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
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| Worry Doll Workshop – One more Hispanic Heritage Month event! From 4:30 - 5:30 pm on Monday, October 2, the Richmond Public Library Broad Rock Branch (4820 Old Warwick Rd) will hold a "worry doll" workshop (taller de muñecas quitapenas). Per a Mayan legend, Guatemalan children tell their worries to the dolls, placing them under their pillow when they go to bed at night. By morning, the dolls have gifted them with the wisdom and knowledge to eliminate their worries!
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| Custodian Appreciation Week – October 2 - 6 is National Custodian Appreciation Week. Please help us celebrate and recognize our custodians and facilities staff by sending them a shout-out to shoutouts@rvaschools.net!
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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!
- I would like to shout-out LT. J. Ortiz. She has been so supportive. She consistently checks on her staff and me to make sure we have what we need. She also lets me know in advance if one of our CSAs will be placed at another school because of a shortage, which gives me an opportunity to make other arrangements to make sure the building is safe and secure.
- Congrats to the Kickin' Kindergarteners at Patrick Henry for their ABC celebration day! They showcased their creativity during the Friday Morning Meeting and we are so proud of all of your hard work!
- Thank you to the RPS Academic and Support Services Team for all of your help with obtaining important information on the curriculum at every school.
- A huge shout-out goes to our new principal director, Ms. Jones, for her dedication to making sure principals have what they need to succeed! You check up on us and make sure we have the tools to improve our schools!
- Shout-out to Brian Eadeh, data and assessment specialist, for his constant hard work and assistance with all things "trackers!" He is so knowledgeable about data and how to keep track of it. He is very helpful and responds quickly when I email him and ask a question. I really appreciate his prompt responses and always being able to solve my problems. Thanks, Brian!
- Kudos to Mrs. Birdsong-Chavis and the entire CTE Department at John Marshall! Today's CTE Entrepreneur Fair was phenomenal! It was a packed house with over 20 vendors and lots of engaged students! Everything was informative and organized!
- A million thank yous to Mr. Jason Bruffey and the Technology Department for all they do! They would not quit until they found a solution to our issue at John Marshall and we appreciate it! Hold tight everyone, help is on the way!!!
- I would like to recognize Scott Hicks, electrician from the Facilities Department. He went above and beyond his normal duties to fix our problem. He does his job with expertise and has a great attitude. Scott, you are the best!!!
- Shout-out to Ms. Lawson at Westover Hills Elementary for being our go-to problem solver! Ms. Lawson had an immediate solution to our situation today. She always offers help with a smile and a caring spirit. Thank you, Ms. Lawson, for being so wonderful!
- Shout-out to Ms. McKeithan at Westover Hills Elementary School. Your kindness and care made my afternoon better!
- Shout-out to Blue Sky for inspiring great outdoor play! I love hearing the excitement in my student’s voice as they describe their experience on a Blue Sky day. Thanks for bringing your program and fantastic leaders to the students of Westover Hills Elementary!
- While all of the teachers at Frances McClenney are gems, I want to particularly shout-out Ms. Turner for bringing out "extra" excitement for learning from her fourth graders, while keeping the positivity strong!
- Shout-out to the new admin team at Huguenot High School – Ms. Wyche, Mr. Monroe, Ms. Kelley, and Mr. Sanchezconcha – for their excellent leadership, and passion for supporting our teachers and students during all the peaks and valleys of the new school year! They are building new systems and procedures with our extraordinary counseling team in working towards accreditation and moving from good to great! Go, Falcons!
- A huge shout-out to everyone at Frances McClenney Elementary who helps out during parent pick-up at dismissal! Your unwavering dedication to safely getting students home doesn't go unnoticed!
- I would like to shout-out Mrs. Imani Hill for being an amazing leader and office manager while we were short staffed at Summer Hill. Thanks for keeping us safe and organized while you still managed your classroom! Your ability to switch hats is so admirable. We appreciate you!
- Ms. Braxton goes out of her way to accommodate our staff on a daily basis, regardless of being ill sometimes. She is there answering our calls/emails and solving/troubleshooting for staff and families of RVA. She always answers the phone with a hardy, "Good Morning!" She is dedicated to making RVA a greater place to work and learn. Her professionalism shines brightly in all she does with our RVA family. Great job!!!
- This shout-out is for our phenomenal assistant principal at Dogwood, Mr. Scott! He is present, caring, positive, and consistent. Mr. Scott approaches every obstacle with a growth mindset and shows his passion for learning on a daily basis. If he doesn’t know the answer, he will find out quickly and follow up. He provides outstanding communication and support to the staff. Mr. Scott gives 110% all day, every day. Thank you, Mr. Scott!
- Shout-out to Ms. Joseph at Dogwood Middle School for always being so engaging and interactive with her students and for making science fun!
- I would like to shout-out Charita Harris at John Marshall High School! She definitely leads with love and sets the standard of excellence! Just want her to know she is loved and appreciated!!! We love you and there's nothing you can do about it!
- Chimborazo wants to thank Celebrate RVA for creating birthday bags full of everything someone would need to have an epic birthday event! They have created individualized bags to help Chimborazo say “Happy Birthday!” to every student who celebrates that special day in September and October! Thank you to Love of Learning for donating over 30 Build-A-Bear Teddy Bears to add to the birthday surprise! Can’t beat the smiles!!
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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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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| 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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| 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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| 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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| 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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