| Monday, September 27, 2021
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| Food Update – I'm happy to share that all elementary schools and preschools will shift to hot lunches starting next Monday, October 4. All middle and high schools will do so later in the month. Please note that we will have vegetarian options in addition to the menu below.
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| Richmond Virtual Academy (RVA) Waitlist Update – Please note the following:
- By this Friday, October 1, we will notify all preschool-5th grade families of their status – whether offered a seat or not – via the email address they used to register their student/s on the waitlist.
- In the interest of fairness, we are using a randomized selection process to identify students for the limited number of available seats.
- As I shared last week, there are unfortunately no more virtual seats for middle and high school students.
- Any family who is already enrolled in virtual can switch to in-person at any time by completing the Switch Pathways Form (Formulario de Cambio de Decisión).
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| COVID-19 Employee Vaccination Mandate – RPS employees, please be reminded that you have until this Friday, October 1, to submit full proof of vaccination or obtain a religious/medical exemption. Though I pray it doesn't come to this, please understand that any employee who does not meet the requirements of the mandate will face progressive discipline, including loss of employment.
- Please visit vaccinate.virginia.gov if you need a copy of your vaccination record or need to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
- If you would like to apply for a medical or religious exemption, please contact the Talent Office at talentoffice@rvaschools.net. Anyone granted an exemption will need to provide proof of a negative COVID test on a weekly basis.
- If you need help uploading your vaccination card, please contact the Talent Office at talentoffice@rvaschools.net.
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| With great appreciation,
Jason
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- Shoutout to Marquis Davis for all his help when I called the parent support hotline. Marquis answered all of my questions and got me all the information I needed. Thanks, Marquis!
- Thank you for continuing the Lit Limo program. We have enjoyed being able to get books at all reading levels (I have a preschooler and a 4th grader). We also like passing on books to our friends in the community who can't always make it to the Lit Limo. A special thank you to Mrs. Judy for always welcoming us with a smile, giving great book suggestions, and sharing encouragement. She's a wonderful asset to RPS. I appreciate her working all summer and braving the heat, driving the bus.
- I just wanted to shout out the team at Miles Jones Elementary School for being so accommodating and helpful. Principal Shaw, Ms. Nugent, Ms. Bland, Ms. Cooper, and Ms. Parham have all been so incredibly helpful with our special-needs son this summer and at the beginning of this school year. They are all so competent, organized, and loving, and we are lucky to have them!
- I want to shout out Ms. Shepler at J.B. Fisher Elementary School! Ms. Shepler has been so helpful, organized, and responsive. Our daughter loves Ms. Shepler’s class!
- Thank you to the School Board for reviewing stats, needs, and more to keep our children safe. You are appreciated and know that our administrators also appreciated.
- The families at Miles Jones are wonderful. They are learning the procedures and reiterated those to our students. We appreciate your hard work as we transition to in-person this year. We love your continued support. MJ families, you are appreciated!
- I really want to give Mrs. Rahmah Johnson a shout out. She is my daughter's counselor. I always call just to make sure we are on the right track. I call to make sure that my daughter is enrolled in the right classes. Whenever I call Mrs. Johnson, she always picks up. She called me this morning and we fixed my daughter's schedule over the phone. I love that lady. I wish I could take her on my daughter’s journey to college. From 9th grade to present day, she has been awesome!!!!!!!!!
- Shout out to 8th graders Ashara Johnson and Domineek Kelly for receiving concert tickets to see rapper Lil' Dirk because of their perfect attendance during the first week of school. Go, MLK Titans!
- Thank you to the Safety and Security Department with the collaboration of the Richmond Police Department for their work educating families on the importance of a safe school environment. Their collaboration when students arrive and dismiss has proven effective, and their work was applauded by families today.
- I would like to shout out Mr. Moore and the incredible custodial staff of MLK!! They work tirelessly to keep our school clean and looking good. The hard work does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all that you do!!
- I want to extend a huge thank you to Ms. Baines for all that she does for our 6th grade team and Science Department! Ms. Baines is flexible, a great communicator, and leads with love in every situation! You are appreciated, Ms. Baines! Secondly, I want to spotlight Mr. McClay for his positive attitude and flexibility! Mr. McClay is like a Swiss Army knife – he does it all! Thanks for your willingness to cover classes! Next, I want to shine the light on Mr. Lovett! Although a first year teacher at MLK, Mr. Lovett is already making an impact on scholars daily! From his professional demeanor to engaging STEM integration, we can always count on Mr. Lovett! Thanks for all that you do for our scholars and school! You are appreciated, Mr. Lovett! Lastly, I want to recognize Ms. Burden for her positive spirit, leadership, and ability to build lifelong relationships with scholars. Not to mention, she is a team player who cares deeply for our scholars and colleagues! You are appreciated, Ms. Burden!
- I would like to give a very special shout-out to Mr. Zavon McCray, Mr. Larry Terry, Mr. Te'Andre Cooper, Ms. Shirley Harris, & Ms. Ivory Randolph for making MLK shine!
- Shout out to Andranise Flowers at Overby-Sheppard Elementary School for being the very best school counselor! Ms. Flowers makes herself available for students and teachers, and supports everyone with what appears to be ease! She makes it look easy, but we all know it isn't. Thank you, Ms. Flowers!!
- I want to send a shout-out to Dr. Probst at Blackwell Preschool. This has been an intense year already, and she is leading with compassion and grace. Student and staff safety has been her biggest priority, and she is doing such an amazing job of making us all feel safe and supported. We are grateful for all that she does!
- I would like to give a shout out to Ms. Lewis at Mary Munford. Her many duties, including serving as a crossing guard before school and teaching after school, are always done with a kind (masked) smile and a loving heart. She is truly a gift to our community!
- I would like to shout out Dr. MJ for the great work she is doing at Mary Scott. I see her every morning greeting the kids and escorting them in the building. I love to see an involved principal. And shout out goes to the staff as well. They make every pick up and drop off a great and easy experience.
- I just want to shout the Mr. Sampson, Mrs. Holliday and Mrs. Brown at Swansboro. All three have been very helpful with easing my nerves and answering all of my many questions. I thank them for all of the hard work they are during at Swansboro. And to the bus driver (I don’t know her name) of Bus FS500, she makes it a point to know each child by name and you can always tell behind her mask is a smile. They all have made my kindergartener welcome and I look forward each day to hearing about her day.
- Shout out to all the leadership and Keyla Pullen for always leading with love and humor and having our backs.
- I’d like to give a shout out to the math coaches who have been supporting Brown Middle School during these first few weeks of school. Mr. Wells and Mrs. Blackwell have provided phenomenal teaching and coaching support and are now returning to their home schools to continue their coaching work. Mr. Balducci, who is the assigned math coach for Brown, has hit the road running! Kudos to all of those coaches for exemplifying what leading and serving with love looks like.
- Thank you so much to the Exceptional Education Department at the central office level, especially Ms. Parks, Ms. Romero & Mr. Hataway for staffing Thomas Jefferson with an amazing transition mentor, Kaitlynn Rollins. She's already a huge asset to our team and our children and teachers are looking forward to building meaningful work experiences for our students with disabilities. The creative use of staff, to directly address the needs of the children (specifically in the area of transition), is so appreciated.
- Ms. Mallory at Cardinal Elementary has been an incredible team lead as we start our year, keeping us organized, hopeful, and sane!
- If you want to see collaboration look no further than the ESL, RTI, and leadership teams at Miles Jones Elementary. When challenges came up, they were knocked out. Thank you for stepping up!
- I'd like to thank Mrs. Maxwell, office manager at T.C. Boushall Middle School, for helping me call Spanish speaking parents today. She is such a valuable resource to our TCB Family and I couldn't imagine what I would do without her! Thank you, Mrs. Maxwell!
- I would like to shout out Dr. Angela Bagley-Dickens, our ECSE Specialist, who has been such a champion for our families and school community. I have no clue how many times she has come through and worked her magical superhero powers to assist our students and parents with transitioning into school. Whether it's a transportation need, consulting for an IEP, or simply providing a listening ear to pitch ideas, she has been and continues to be a beacon of light. In a thankless position at times, we just want her to know that we see her and we appreciate all she does for her Southampton family!
- I'd like to send a shout out to the staff at Westover Hills Elementary School. Each day since school started, they have worked to improve the drop-off and dismissal process. They've done a great job of communicating changes to the plan, installing new signage to direct families, and have been patient as we all adjust. I really appreciate their hard work this past week!
- I want to give a huge shout out to the administrative and custodial staff at Overby-Sheppard. They do an awesome job at creating a family atmosphere for both the families and staff. Mr. Robinson, head custodian, works so hard to make sure everyone gets what they need.
- Shout out to my dear friend, Crystal Clark, at Munford! She has worked tirelessly all summer long on her classroom and on submitting her Mission Possible grant, sponsored by the CIA. Her $25,000 grant prize is just one example of her commitment to her students, her passion for science education, and her personal drive to excel as an educator. So proud of you, Crystal!
- Shout-out to Ms. Henson, Ms. Cobb, and Dr. Jefferson at Thrive for their tireless work behind the scenes to get things up and running at a new program this year.
- I would like to shout-out Mrs. L. Carter, Woodville's school counselor & Mrs. T. Osborne, Woodville's school social worker. Thank you for taking on every task with a teamwork approach and making decisions that are in the best interest of the students and staff at Woodville! We appreciate you!
- I’d like to shout out the extraordinary LIEP team at Cardinal Elementary that has pulled together through daunting circumstances to execute the WIDA. This is an amazing team that is going above and beyond to make sure this process runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Renee Thompson, Rolly Quizo, Ritu Roy, Shannon Spicer, Lila Sandage, Candice Nunnally, and our new teachers, who have jumped in and got right to work: Velda Balmer, Sabina Valery, Kathy Assani and Karle Wells. Go, team!
- I’d like to shout out Ms. Parker at River City for getting to school as early as she does every day so I can get in and get things ready for my students so they can have a great day!
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| National Voter Registration Day – Tomorrow, September 28, is National Voter Registration Day. Please help spread the word to ensure everyone who's eligible is registered to vote! If you've recently moved, turned 18, or changed your name, you may need to update your registration. Learn more at nationalvoterregistrationday.org.
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| Financial Aid Info Session – On Wednesday, September 29, from 5:30 pm - 7 pm, RVA Future is hosting a Virtual Financial Aid and FAFSA Information Session for seniors and their parents/caregivers. RVA Future Center staff, GRASP advisors, and local financial aid officers will provide an overview of financial aid, how to complete the FAFSA, and more. Register here!
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| Bus Driver Incentives - We now have a $4,000 retention bonus for current bus drivers and a $4,000 signing bonus for new hires with a CDL. New hires without a CDL will receive $2,000. Check out the flyer below for more details and apply at www.rvaschools.net/talent.
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| Important Links – Last updated on September 8, 2021.
RPS Links
COVID-19 Links
Crisis Support Links
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