| Tuesday, January 23, 2024
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Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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School Board Recognition – Enormous gratitude to the Miles Jones ES Jaguar Choir for gracing us with their beautiful voices at last night's Board meeting! Under the direction of Ms. Courtney Cunningham, the choir began in 2021 and consists of 3rd-5th grade Jaguars. Their rendition of "Light a Candle" last night was simply wonderful!
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FY25 Budget – Last night, I introduced a draft budget for next school year. We'll be discussing it in depth at our first budget work session tomorrow, January 24, at 6 pm. You can attend in person at River City MS or watch the livestream in English or in Spanish. Please note that there won't be a public comment period at the work session. See the flyer below for details about other work sessions and our budget public hearing.
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| Legislative Priorities – We're thick in the middle of this year's General Assembly session. Every day, lawmakers are debating new ideas and policies that will impact Richmond Public Schools' students, families, and staff. The Division has six legislative priorities this year, including school funding, new construction, and support for English learners. To learn more about our priorities and how you can advocate for public education, be sure to check out the Advocacy Hub on our website!
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| Law Review Article – Speaking of advocacy, RPS Director of Advocacy and Outreach Matthew Stanley recently authored an article for the University of Richmond Public Interest Law Review about the work of legislative commissions to address critical school needs (like the one he helped establish that netted RPS nearly $30 million :). Well done, Matthew!
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With great appreciation,
Jason
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| Shout-Outs – Please help us continue to inspire and uplift the RPS community by submitting shout-outs to shoutouts@rvaschools.net. Entries can be submitted in Spanish or English!
- I'm writing on behalf of my family with regard to Mr. Tyrone McBride, our child's first bus driver. After returning from Winter Break, our family and neighbors learned that Mr. McBride passed away on Christmas. Fall 2023 marked the first ever school bus ride for our first grader. Since the first day of school, our child felt more secure at Fox, in large part due to the consistency, confidence and security that her bus driver, Mr. McBride, provided for her – for all of our neighbors on the bus – every single morning, rain or shine. Mr. McBride was steadfast: the kind of person of my father’s generation that I look up to – and for – in Richmond. His memory lives on in everyone who knew him. We offer our sincere condolences to his family, his wife, his sister Ms. Brenda, and the whole RPS team – many of whom knew him and served in the community alongside him for over thirty years.
- I would like to give a huge shout-out to Mr. Gregory Redford, teacher at Boushall Middle School. He has truly stepped up to the plate and we appreciate him so much!
- Kristin Anderson at J.L Francis Elementary is truly an amazing teacher. She is very coachable and always willing to make adjustments on the fly. She goes above and beyond to make sure that her students are learning and take ownership of their learning.
- I wanted to send a shout-out to the secondary math instructional coaches for their phenomenal work in ensuring the success of the scholars at their respective schools. Larry Johnson (MLK), Ashleigh Russel (Albert Hill), Felecia Ricks (Boushall), Mary Tisdale (Henderson), Electa Barr (Dogwood), Dustin Robinson (MLK), Elaine Williams (RCMS) and Lakeisha Reid (Boushall). We appreciate all of their hard work and drive as they lead learning with lots of love.
- I want to shout-out Ms. Anna Kalkus at Redd Elementary for showing my grandson that even though he has autism, he is still normal.
- I would like to shout-out Carver front office staff, all of the RBHA staff, Ms. McCoy, the reading spealist, and the counselor. Shout-out to the entire custodial staff, Mr. Mae, Mr. Scott, and Ms. Mayfield. Dr. Johnny and Dr. Pitts, I appreciate you all working with my children.
- Shout-out to AP Kelley for coming in this year and doing her thing at "theNot!" Love how she interacts with the students and staff. She's a go-getter and always has her door open if needed. Keep doing your thing. Thank you so much, for being part of the Huguenot family!
- Shout-out to Mr. Dwayne Parker at Henry Marsh Elementary! Thank you so much for going above and beyond! We see you and we appreciate you!
- Shout-out to Ms. Jaspreet Singh and Mr. Siegel for contributing to our inclusive community by creating our communication board. This interactive inclusive communication tool helps everyone at River City learn to say things like hello in multiple methods of communication – AAC (augmentative & alternative communication), Braille, sign language, and Spanish!
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| Mental Health Support – I want to remind everyone – students, staff, and families – that your mental health continues to be a top priority. Please note the resources below and remember that we love you here and you are not alone.
- 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.
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| Let's Keep Dreaming! – Our strategic planning community meetings are ramping up across the city. To help frame the conversations, we've put together an Outcomes Report covering the last five years. Check out the report and find a meeting in your community to come dream with us!
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| Tutor Recruitment – Are you a retired teacher, college student/recent grad, or community member interested in supporting the academic success of our students? We're currently accepting applications for academic tutors to support our high-intensity tutoring program. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the RPS team, just visit our website to apply or scan the QR code below with your phone's camera. This work is going to take #AllofUs!
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| RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
Health and Wellness Links
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