Shout-Outs!

• Shout-out to Ms. Kimberly Greenshields, the outstanding Swansboro Elementary School Community In Schools coordinator. Ms. Greenshields has been a huge supporter of the students, staff and families at Swansboro. Ms. Greenshields goes beyond the call of duty daily. This past week, she partnered with one of our community sponsors to help provide support for the Swansboro Girls in Pearls  induction ceremony, making this occasion extra special for the girls and their families. Thank you, Ms. Greenshields, for everything you do for the Swansboro community every day.
• I just wanted to send a shout-out and a massive thank you to Carla Dennis at River City Middle School. She always goes above and beyond to help out her colleagues and students! Thank you for being such a team player!
• A huge shout-out to everyone who provided support this week at our middle schools for the essay writing component of the Open High School application: school principals, counselors, front office staff, central office staff, and Open HS staff. Your efforts helped ensure that our RPS scholars who applied to Open HS were available to complete this important part of the application process.
• I want to give Mr. Olds a huge shout-out for Administration Week! Thanks for your hard work "changing the narrative" at Richmond High School for the Arts. You are appreciated! 
• Thank you, Coach D at RTC, for helping me pick up a large print job after the print center had closed for the day! 
• Shout-out to Coach Roye at Henderson Middle School for her dedication to the basketball team. She goes above and beyond for her boys to support them. They may not win every game, but she works so hard and shows up for the team – and they show up for each other too! Thanks so much to Coach Roye and all the other coaches, players, and parents of the Henderson Warriors!
• Shout-out to Sarah Schick, kindergarten teacher at Southampton Elementary School, for always checking in and finding ways to best support her students. I appreciate you, Ms. Schick!
• Shout-out to Rebecca Clay, speech-language pathologist at Cardinal Elementary School, for being so knowledgeable about all things bilingualism and language development! You are so appreciated, Rebecca!
• Mrs. Lofton-Pickens, the instructional compliance coordinator at the Richmond Virtual Academy, has been honored as a recipient of the 2024 disAbility Law Center Impact Award! Acknowledged for her unwavering advocacy and commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities, she has played a crucial role in positioning RVA as an "inclusion school" within Richmond Public Schools. A heartfelt salute to Mrs. Lofton-Pickens for her ongoing dedication to championing individuals with disabilities and encouraging all scholars to recognize their greatness! Her efforts are commendable, and her commitment to positive impact is inspiring. Mrs. Lofton-Pickens is recognized for being a beacon of encouragement and inclusivity. Hootie Hoot to Mrs. Lofton-Pickens!
• Shout-out to Mrs. Davis, Ms. Burke, Ms. Hanson, and Ms. Crenshaw for planning a great STEM night for our students and families! It was great to see students engaged in the fun activities you had planned. Thank you, Ms. Hanson, for introducing chess at Woodville! We are excited about students learning the game! Thank you to Ms. Hunt, Mrs. Frazier Jones, and the extended day teachers (Mr. Webster, Mr. Jones, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Armstrong, Ms. Sheffield, and Ms. Crenshaw) for working with our students after school every week. Thank you to the Parks & Rec team (Ms. Crosswhite, Ms. Brockington, and Ms. Williams) for your dedication to our students every day after school! Shout-out to Ms. Washington – thank you for being an amazing team lead! Shout-out to Ms. Pressely for always popping in to check on the kindergarten classroom during math to make sure we're doing okay. It does not go unnoticed and you are very appreciated. Shout-out to Vanessa Johnson for connecting us with the Masonic Lodge to purchase pizza for STEM night! Ms. Johnson is an asset to the Woodville team! Welcome to Woodville, CSA Mr. Collier! We appreciate your support of Woodville! Shout-out to Ms. Korb, CIS site coordinator, for maintaining great partnerships and ensuring we have the supplies we need! Thank you to AP Allen-Miller for supporting wherever she is needed! She is truly a team player and leads with love! 
• I would like to shout-out our literacy coaches, Ms. Johnson and Ms. Carter-Minter. I am a new teacher at MLK Middle School with zero experience. The coaches have made my first year amazing. They have passed on teaching materials and advice that has helped not only me but my students as well. They also have helped make extended day a joy for the students and the teachers. We truly love them here at MLK Jr. Middle School.
  
• Shout-out to all the Westover Hills Elementary School administration, staff, and teachers who participated in the Math and STEAM Night. The kids had a great time learning, creating, and exploring! Special thanks to the students from VCU who facilitated activities and shared their interests with our kids.
• Shout-out to Ms. Barker at Westover Hills Elementary School! I love the ways that you use technology to offer an expanded worldview to our students. Thank you for also sharing information with families so that we can learn alongside our students, and be a part of the conversation!
• Shout-out to Michelle Spence in the Procurement Department. Her knowledge of processes and procedures for that department is impressive. More than that, she was able to explain it and break it down so I could understand it. She was patient and allowed me to "ask all the questions." Pleasant, informative and very professional!  What a wonderful addition to that team!
• Special thanks to the fantastic office associates who actively engaged in this week's professional development. A shout-out also goes to the supportive school administrators who ensured coverage, allowing them to enjoy a half-day of training and community building. We deeply value the insightful conversations and feedback shared during the Dreams4RPS sessions! Your dedication to our students and their families is truly appreciated by the Enrollment, Placement, and Planning Department. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.
  
• I want to give a huge shout-out to Dr. Marlene Gooding, lead school psychologist, who just won the Supervisor of the Year award from the College of William & Mary – for supervising school psychology practicum students in RPS! Congratulations, Marlene! All of the RPS school psychologists are so very proud of you!

• Swansboro ES would like to send a huge shout-out to the supporters of the Swansboro Girls in Pearls induction ceremony from Tuesday evening. Shout-out to the sponsors for creating a space for our girls to shine: Mrs. Rosalind Cunningham, Mrs. Roxanne Wilkins, Ms. LaTriece Haskins, Mrs. Amber Bebbs, Mrs. Margaret Banks, and Ms. Shahar Smith. Special thanks to the supporters of the program: Mr. Theron Sampson, Dr. Kennete Lee-Anderson, Dr. Omega Wilson (guest speaker), Mrs. Chrissy Waddell, Mrs. Deborah Holliday, Mrs. Sarah Sheets, Mrs. Florence Winston-Roads, Mr. Charles Houston, Mr. Vincent Scott, Mrs. Gwendolywn Brown, Mrs. Judy Noble, Ms. Kimberly Greenshields (CIS), Reveille Methodist Church, parents, families and friends of the inductees, as well as our staff, and partners who attended the event and reception. From beginning to end, it was a truly remarkable occasion. Again, thank you for your teamwork and commitment to developing these precious gems – our Girls in Pearls. You made the event a very special and memorable moment that our girls will always cherish!
  

Reminders from Previous RPS Directs

• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
  

Important Links

• RPS Website
• Family Support Line: (804) 780-6195
• Enrollment Portal
• RPS Love Store
  
• RPS Opportunities Hub
• Breakfast & Lunch
  

• Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (Child/Adult Mental Health) – (804) 819-4100
• ChildSavers Immediate Response Helpline (Child Mental Health) – (804) 305-2420
• YWCA Greater Richmond (Domestic Violence) – (804) 612-6126
• Virginia Child Protective Services (Child Abuse) – (800) 552-7096
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – (800) 273-8255
• Financial Navigators (Resource Contacts for Various Needs) – (804) 646-6673
• Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center (24/7 hotline in Spanish) – (888) 969-1825

• Richmond & Henrico Health Districts (Immunizations & Physicals) – (804) 205-3501