|
Wednesday (PM), February 24, 2021
| |
|
| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Another day of sunshine!
RPS Live! Recap – If you need an extra dose of light and warmth, please make sure to watch the recording of tonight's RPS Live!, which featured five of our amazing first year teachers (listed below). Imagine for a second what it would be like to start your education career completely virtually. These five educators – and dozens of others in RPS – have done exactly that, and excelled. Their passion, dedication, expertise, and love was evident in every word they shared. On behalf of RPS, I want to express my profound gratitude to them!
- John Eiker, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
- Aszaleigh Jenkins-Rogers, Woodville Elementary School
- Julie Taylor, Thomas Jefferson High School/Richmond Technical Center
- Brandon Richardson, Henry L. Marsh Elementary School
- Hananiah Smith, Blackwell Elementary School
| |
| Discusión Presupuestaria Para Familias Hispanohablantes – Este jueves, 25 de febrero, a las 6 pm, discutiremos el presupuesto de RPS en español para nuestros hispanohablantes. ¡Regístrese aquí! (This Thursday, February 25, at 6 pm, we'll be discussing the RPS budget in Spanish for our Spanish speakers. Please register here!)
Vaccine Reminder – As I shared yesterday, if you received your first dose at the February 20 vaccination event at the Arthur Ashe Center, you will be scheduled to receive your second dose on March 13 (for the same time as your first dose). If you have not yet had your first dose and are not currently signed up for a vaccination appointment, please fill out this form. We will contact you as soon as soon as we have information about the next vaccination event.
With great appreciation,
Jason
| |
- I would like to shout out the following Armstrong coaches for their efforts with the RPS On The Rise program: Jonathan Metcalf (Online Curriculum); Darryl Watts (Post Secondary Planning); Jeremy Pruitt (Daily Motivation and Goal Setting); Virgil Hockaday (Girls For A Change Enrollment) and Steve Armstrong (Student Support). Go, Wildcats!
- I would like to shout out Inelisa Fenderson of Armstrong for conducting the Black History Month daily trivia contest for staff and students.
- I would like to shout out the Armstrong Center for Excellence (ACE) team for their hard work with their enrichment program and for providing an overview for our student-athletes.
- I want to give a huge shout-out to Mrs. Katherine Baron, a fourth grade teacher at William Fox. Mrs. Baron kicks every morning off with a cheerful, "Good morning, Fourth Graders!" She actively seeks creative ways to encourage class participation and keep student engagement fresh and new. Her love for teaching and pulling the best out of her students shines everyday. I'm blown away by how lucky her students are to have her and it's such a joy for me to "attend" her class everyday!
- Ms. Vaughan at Holton is a new teacher who has made such a difference. She made the children's transition from their beloved teacher (who retired in December) absolutely seamless! She works with the students and behind the scenes with such grace and talent. She shows abundant care and insight in engaging all of her students. She has elevated the second grade team at Holton with her passion for teaching, and with her skills working in the virtual world. Well done, Ms. Vaughan! Holton is so lucky to have you on board!
- A huge thank you to Ms. Mills, parent liaison at Bellevue, for getting one of my students on the right track again. He was at the center and he had an amazing day! Full of participation, respect, kindness and he was trying his very best all day! Way to go, attendance team!
- I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you and shout out to RPS, Sandra Lee and the Talent Office for their commitment to ensure that our RPS family is vaccinated and prepared to return to the classroom in the safest way possible. Ms. Lee has been amazing with her prompt reply to emails and her willingness to work behind the scenes to help secure and confirm vaccination appointments. Thank you so much!
| |
|
- A fully in-person opening, along with a virtual pathway for families who prefer that option
- 7 weeks of extra instruction to support our 5,000 highest-need students: 3 weeks in July/August right before school (“Jump Start”), 2 weeks in November (“Fall Boost”), and 2 weeks in March (“Spring Boost”)
- More than $10,000 in additional compensation for teachers who choose to work the additional weeks (those weeks would be time off for teachers who choose not to work them)
- A 5-week summer for students participating in the extra days of instruction, and an 8-week summer for all other students
- 4 full-day and 2 half-day Teacher Work Days
- Days off for Easter Monday, Eid al-Fitr, Diwali, and Yom Kippur
- "The average English SOL scores of Black students at 74 percent of year-round schools improved faster than average scores at traditional calendar schools, and the average math SOL scores of Black students at 65 percent of year-round schools improved faster than their traditional calendar peers."
The JLARC study also found positive impacts for teachers. It noted:
- "[T]eachers with year-round school experience believed that the calendar generally has a positive influence on student achievement, and benefits teachers both personally and professionally."
Finally, the study found positive impacts for families. It noted:
- "[P]arents of children that have attended year-round schools believed that the calendar positively affected their children academically. They also reported few negative impacts on their families related to scheduling vacations, participation in extracurricular activities, and securing childcare."
To be sure, this calendar is not a panacea. It's just one of many tools we have to support our schools post-COVID. But, as the research above indicates, it's a powerful tool that can provide a rare win-win-win for our students, families, and staff.
| |
| Would next school year be in-person? Yes. Our goal is to open fully in-person next school year, while also offering a virtual pathway for families who would prefer that option.
What facility upgrades would be complete for next school year? Our goal is to outfit all RPS schools with bipolar ionization air filtration systems, complete other critical HVAC work, and finish the Bathroom Blitz – all prior to reopening.
What health and safety protocols would be in place? At a minimum, we would require temperature scanning and symptom assessment upon arrival, mask wearing at all times, multiple opportunities for hand washing throughout the day, a full-time nurse, and ample PPE. Our hope is that, by the fall, 6-foot social distancing would no longer be required. Of course, we would continue to monitor information from the CDC, and issue detailed guidance to students, families, and staff prior to the start of any in-person instruction.
Would teachers and support staff need to be vaccinated? Our recommendation would be that all teachers and support staff are fully vaccinated (both doses) before returning to in-person instruction. We are cautiously optimistic that all RPS employees will have access to the vaccine over the next 2-3 months.
What are Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost (dates in blue on the proposed calendar)? These would be extra instructional weeks for about 5,000 students who need the most support. Jump Start would be a 3-week session right before school starts; Fall Boost would be a 2-week session in November; and Spring Boost would be a 2-week session at the beginning of March. The teacher-to-student ratio would be kept very low (no more than 1-to-8) and the main instructional focus would be increasing reading proficiency (though other subjects would be addressed at the MS and HS levels). In addition, enrichment activities with local non-profits and cultural institutions would be integrated into the daily schedule.
Is there any research supporting the idea of something like Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost? Yes. There’s a great deal of research indicating that these types of intervention sessions – combined with less time out of school during the summer – can lead to increases in student learning. For example, a 2019 analysis of all the major studies on this topic found that these types of schedules typically produce gains in both reading and math, especially when the time out of school each summer is reduced. And a report by the Virginia General Assembly's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) indicated that calendars like the one proposed have had a particularly positive effect for Black students in Virginia.
| |
| Did we also consider a longer day as an alternative to this schedule? Yes. But we received a great deal of feedback that both students and teachers would be drained by a substantially longer day.
Why only 5,000 students for Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost? We would, of course, love to have even more students in these sessions. But we are limited by funds, and more importantly, by the need to keep the teacher-to-student ratio low. That is critical for the success of the program.
Would Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost be required for the 5,000 prioritized students? No. We would prioritize students by their scores on reading assessments, and strongly encourage them to participate. But the decision would ultimately rest with each family. Of note, we would have a variety of incentives for students who attend these sessions.
What would students who are not in Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost do during these times? Students who do not participate in these sessions would be off. Jump Start would occur in late July and early August before the official first day of school. To support families with childcare during Fall Boost and Spring Boost, we would work with local non-profits to provide low-cost (and potentially, no-cost) camp options.
How long would the summer 2021 break be for students participating in Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost? Students participating in these sessions would have a 5-week summer break. How long would the summer 2021 break be for other students? All other students would have an 8-week summer break.
Why only 5,000 students for Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost? We would, of course, love to have even more students in these sessions. But we are limited by funds, and more importantly, by the need to keep the teacher-to-student ratio low. That is critical for the success of the program.
Would Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost be required for the 5,000 prioritized students? No. We would prioritize students by their scores on reading assessments, and strongly encourage them to participate. But the decision would ultimately rest with each family. Of note, we would have a variety of incentives for students who attend these sessions.
What would students who are not in Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost do during these times? Students who do not participate in these sessions would be off. Jump Start would occur in late July and early August before the official first day of school. To support families with childcare during Fall Boost and Spring Boost, we would work with local non-profits to provide low-cost (and potentially, no-cost) camp options.
How long would the summer 2021 break be for students participating in Jump Start, Fall Boost, and Spring Boost? Students participating in these sessions would have a 5-week summer break.
How long would the summer 2021 break be for other students? All other students would have an 8-week summer break.
Why would RPS be closed for Easter Monday, Eid al-Fitr, Diwali, and Yom Kippur? To make RPS an even more inclusive school system, we feel it would appropriate to give off these religious holidays for our increasingly diverse students and staff.
| |
|
Facilitated Learning Centers – As a reminder, there are still seats available at the "facilitated learning centers" serving RPS students. See below for details.
- Peter Paul Development Center is running a facilitated learning center at MLK MS for 2nd-8th grade RPS students. The full-day option goes from 9 am until 6 pm, and is completely free for low-income families. To learn more, click here.
- The YMCA is is running facilitated learning centers at Miles Jones ES, Holton ES, and Huguenot HS for K-8th grade RPS students. The full-day option goes from 7:30 am until 6 pm, and is completely free for low-income families. To learn more, click here.
- There are also many other facilitated learning centers not housed in RPS schools across the city. To learn more, click here.
| |
|
RPS Love Store – Show your RPS Love and help us raise money for RPS families in need and local racial justice non-profits by ordering something today from the RPS Love Store!
| |
| Crisis Support – Please reach out if you need help.
| |
Important Links – I'll note in orange when there have been additions/updates so you you won't miss anything.
#ReopenWithLove Links
Local, State, and National Public Health Links
Local, State, and National Public Education Links
| |
|
|
|
|