| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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Logistical Note – During summer break, I'll be sending RPS Direct once a week on Mondays. So please keep sending shout-outs and other important information. Thank you!
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School Board Meeting – The School Board will hold an in-person meeting tonight at 6 pm in City Hall (17th Floor Board Room). You can watch the livestream of the meeting in English or Spanish. Hope to see you there!
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Pride Month – During the month of June, across the nation and here at RPS, we celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Our motto – to Teach, Lead, and Serve with Love – is about ensuring every student, staff member, and family members feels welcomed, celebrated, and loved for exactly who they are. That's why we stand firm in our commitment to supporting our LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff. Beyond words of support, we've taken concrete actions over the past several years to create a more welcoming school system for LGBTQ+ students and staff. For example, we dispensed with gender-specific graduation gowns and gender-specific dress codes and adopted some of the most progressive transgender policies in the nation. Of course, we have much more work to do. I assure you we will never waver in our resolve to become a fully inclusive school system for ALL students, staff, and families. In recognition of Pride Month, I am also including the proclamation that will be read during tonight's Board meeting.
To show your support of the RPS LGBTQ+ community, check out our RPS Pride design on Bonfire. All proceeds will go to community partners who support our LGBTQ+ students.
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DesignRVA – DesignRVA is a one-of-a-kind event that introduces youth to the design of our region and how they can be a part of the planning, creation, and change of the places where we all live, learn, work, and play. To learn more, join on Saturday, June 8, from 10 am - 2 pm at Seven Hills School (1311 Overbrook Rd). Students, families, and community members are welcome.
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Family Fun Day at VMFA – Celebrate African and African American art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts this Saturday, June 8, from 11 am - 3 pm. Explore the galleries, enjoy the performances, create art, and participate in collaborative projects!
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Multicultural Festival – Also happening on Saturday, June 8, in celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month and World Refugee Day, the City of Richmond Office of Immigrant and Refugee Engagement and ReEstablish Richmond will host this year's Multicultural Festival: Imagine 2024. Stop by Dogwood Dell, from 1 - 8 pm, to enjoy Richmond's largest festival that highlights cultures from around the world.
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Rainbow Readers – The Richmond Public Library welcomes all to attend their newly established Queer YA Book Club! Join the interest meeting at the Ginter Park branch (1200 Westbrook Ave) on Tuesday, June 11, from 4:30 - 5:30 pm. Refreshments will be provided.
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Welcome to Summer! – With our students now on summer break, we want to make sure everyone has the resources and support they need to have a safe, healthy, and fun break! Please see the flier below (and visit our website!) for details on the RPS summer meal program, sunshine harvests, physical and immunization clinics, and more!
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Summer Hours – All RPS schools and offices are now on our summer schedule: 7 am - 5 pm, Monday - Thursday; and closed on Fridays. We will return to our regular schedule on Monday, July 29. Please note that PHSSA will continue to operate on their normal schedule.
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Summer Meals – Our summer meals program begins next week. Meal sites will be open Monday through Thursday, June 10 - July 18, and will be closed on Fridays and July 4. Please note additional options below:
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| - City of Richmond Parks and Rec meal sites are open for breakfast from 9 - 10 am and lunch from 12 - 1 pm, Monday through Friday, June 10 until August 9. Just enter your zip code on the Summer Meals for Kids site finder to find a location near you.
- To further ensure everyone has full bellies to fuel their summer fun, Feed More will also begin their summer meals program on Monday, June 10. To find a location near you, view their schedule online, or contact the Hunger Hotline at (804) 521-2500 x-631 for emergency food assistance.
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Lit Limo Summer Schedule – The Lit Limo has a new summer schedule that will run from June 10 - July 25. Find a stop near you to grab some great books for summer reading!
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Summer Sunshine Harvests – I'm thrilled to share that our partnership with LuLu's Local Food continues! This summer, we're proud to bring RPS families free fresh local produce and proteins (select sites) to five RPS locations across the city. Join us for our first market style distribution event on Thursday, June 13, from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at Broad Rock ES. All RPS families are welcome so be sure to spread the word!
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Physical & Immunization Clinics – To start school on time, students must have all required immunizations. RPS Health Services, in partnership with VCU School of Nursing and Richmond Henrico Health District, will be offering free physical and immunization clinics to RPS families. The first clinic will be held Thursday, June 13, from 1 - 4 pm at Huguenot HS. To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code below with your phone's camera. Please don't delay!
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Youth Program & Event Locator – Our friends at NextUp have developed two new resources to assist families in search of citywide programming for youth and family-friendly events. Just scan the QR code below for direct access the youth program locator and community events calendar.
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With great appreciation,
Jason
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- Huge shout-out to Judy Deichman, John Beazley, Monica Fecht, RPS Graduation Volunteer team, RPS Care & Safety staff, RMC Event Staff, and RPD for creating a safe, welcoming environment for all those who participated in graduations over the past three days! Your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed! Congrats to the 2024 graduates and families!
- Shout-out to Dr. Bell for his guidance and support for RVA this year! Thank you for your assistance during this week's graduation ceremony. You are appreciated! Hoot Hoot!
- Many, many thanks to the administration and teachers at J.B. Fisher Elementary for the incredibly well-done 5th grade graduation ceremony. Principal Samuels went one by one and shared something about every single student by name (and this was done all without notes or reminders of names) – a favorite memory, specific words of encouragement or hopes about their future, he had a blessing for them all. Even kids who joined the school just a few months ago, kids who have challenges greater than our public school system can adequately address, he spoke to every single kid. Thank you, Principal Samuels, for truly caring about every student in our school as if they were your own.
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| #TeachWithLove at RPS – We're thrilled to offer signing bonuses of up to $7,000 for new hires starting in the fall! If you or someone you know is interested in joining the RPS team, please take a moment to visit our website to browse open positions. For more information, please email talentoffice@rvaschools.net.
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| RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
Health and Wellness Links
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