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| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
I'm thrilled to recognize National School Bus Safety Week and School Bus Transportation Employees Appreciation Day (10/21) in honor of our amazing transportation team! We've seen these unsung heroes step up in so many ways to make sure our students have access to healthy meals throughout the pandemic. They continue to go above and beyond the call of duty (remember the story about Ms. Brown, who personally delivers food to an RPS grandmother?) and we are truly grateful for their dedication. That's why the Board approved a pay raise last spring to make our bus operators the highest compensated in the region!
Two quick reminders before signing off tonight: first, we have a School Board meeting at 6 pm, which you can watch on the RPS Facebook page; and second, don't forget that our new instructional schedules begin tomorrow!
With great appreciation,
Jason
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- Shout out to the entire 4th grade at G.H. Reid. Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Smith, Ms. Dogbe, Ms. Walker-Lee, Mr. Branch, and Ms. Matthews are, together, an excellent example of being partners in education, and meeting the needs of each and every student and family they serve.
- Many thanks to Amanda Feldmann for creating the high school ELA video. Your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated!
- Thank you to Sara Bailey-McRae and Melody Jacobs for allowing me to co-teach and record a lesson of one of their 10th grade English classes. I really enjoyed collaborating with your students in the reading of Julius Caesar.
- I really appreciate all of the hard work and the creative, engaging videos that our newly hired virtual Spanish teacher, Bernadette Cruse, has created in the last month. You are a language rockstar!
- A special shoutout for ELA Instructional Specialist Gueringe' Richardson. Your hard work and dedication to RPS's teachers and students does not go unnoticed. I appreciate your sound advice and partnership in all areas of secondary ELA!
- Many thanks to the following teachers for facilitating and leading PD on October 19: Bernadette Cruse, Lucinda Alfonso, Laura Gonzalez-Armstrong, Kristina Mitchell, Brittany Flippen, Anne Smedley, Blaine Boaz, Amanda Feldmann, Danielle Rodgers, Kaylin Bryce, Caroline Dewald, Wenda Thompson, Sara Bailey-McRae, and Andrew Maples.
- I would like to give a big shout out to my 9th grade Algebra 1 teacher from last year, Mrs. Patricia Kent at Huguenot High School. Although I am no longer a student in Mrs. Kent's class, she still reaches out to me to see how I am doing and check if I need assistance. She encourages me to work hard and always to do my best. Mrs. Kent, thank you for your love and support.
- I would like to give a huge shout out to my co-teachers at Blackwell Preschool, Mrs. Thompson and Ms. Odom-Winston, for their help delivering supplies to our students over the weekend to support their virtual learning! Thank you so much!
- I want to give a shout out to all the elementary principals, Dr. Leslie Wiggins, and central office staff for their words of encouragement and support. Thank you for being there during this time.
- This is a shout out to the amazing team at Barack Obama Elementary. The way they care for the students, parents, and each other is heartwarming. Durning this pandemic, they continue to build much-needed relationships for the students through supply drop-offs, technology support, and personal guidance.
- Thank you to Gerald Thomas, Tawana Gilyard, Raymond Allen, Monica Thomas-Moore, Laurie Duncan, and Jacqueline Drye of Barack Obama Elementary for always going above and beyond to keep Obama ES a place where the school community can turn for help and support.
- I would like to give a special shout to Ms. Gooden at George W. Carver. She is a marvelous teacher who is enthusiastic when it comes to teaching her students. But most of all, she’s very patient. I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher for my son because even though he wakes up and logs on with an attitude, he’s quick to say, “Ms. Gooden!!!!” Thank you, RPS school system, for choosing a teacher who cares about her students!
- I want to give a shout-out to all of our amazing parents!!! I especially want to thank all of the parents of our students with disabilities who are collaborating with special education teachers and related services (OT, PT, Speech, Adapted PE, Vision, Hearing). You have been so accommodating, engaged, and supportive during this very different learning environment we find ourselves in. Hopefully, parents, you feel our love back!
- Huge shout-out to Ms. Ruffner at River City Middle School for being so supportive of students with disabilities in her science class. She is a great communicator and always looking for ways to have a more inclusive learning environment. She's an amazing River City RedTail!
- Shout out to J.B. Fisher PTO and staff. They are really working to keep our students engaged. The virtual Fun Run was a hit for my 5th grader! Now I have to sign her up for Girls on the Run! Go, Fisher! Thanks for sparking the desire for physical activity. Her teachers, Ms. Wooldridge and Ms. Wilcox, are pretty awesome, too! They have been academically sound and are really great for her social and emotional well-being. They take the time to allow her to express herself and do a lot of motivating!
- I’d like to give a shout out to Mary Munford third grade teacher Elizabeth Dunn. She is not only an outstanding teacher, but also an amazing friend to all of her students. She takes time each day to check in on them and listen to their ups and downs. She has a beautiful virtual classroom, which demonstrates the effort she puts forward on all fronts. The daily agenda and weekly goals tracker helps keep everyone on the same page and moving forward. She is also always available to help or talk if someone needs additional assistance. Thank you, Ms. Dunn!
- I want to give a shout out to the RPS food team that stops on the corner of Gordon Avenue on the Southside area. They're so patient and sweet. They make my morning! Also, I want to give a shout out to my oldest son's teachers, Mrs. Michelle Redd and Mr. M. Sailes at Binford MS. They are both so sweet, patient, and willing to go the extra mile, which is truly appreciated. I want to give another shout out to my youngest son's teacher, Mr. S. Hesser at Blackwell Elementary School, for being really – I mean REALLY – patient. He's always willing to back it up and go slower, and I love that.
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| Free Masks – RPS families who live in Southwood, Mosby Court, and Lincoln Mews Apartments can pick up free masks and COVID-19 safety information on Wednesday, October 21, during meal distribution (7 am - 9 am). Look for the RPS staff stationed at tables by the rental office. We hope to see you there!
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| Donors Choose – Starting at 7 am on Thursday, October 22, donations to DonorsChoose projects that request books or basic instructional supplies will be doubled! So teachers, if there's something you'd like to request for your classroom, today might be a great time to set up a DonorsChoose project!
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| P-EBT Card Update – If you already have a P-EBT card, the latest round of funding will be automatically uploaded to it. If you're newly eligible, you'll receive a card in the mail by November 13. If you're missing funds or need a replacement card, please call (866) 281-2448, log into your account at https://www.connectebt.com, or download the ConnectEBT app. And if you have any questions, just visit the P-EBT website.
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| Updated Meal Distribution Flyers – We continue to modify our meal distribution routes and schedules based on your feedback. Please see the flyers below or visit our website for updates starting on Tuesday, October 20.
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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!
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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
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