| Wednesday, January 18, 2023
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Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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| Teacher Raises – As I shared at last night's Board Meeting, I'm proposing a 6% raise for our teachers next year per our collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Richmond Education Association (REA). That would bring the compounded increase in teacher pay since I joined RPS to 30% – or a jump in average teacher salary from $52,000 to nearly $68,000! Per our CBA with the REA, teachers will receive another 3% in FY25 and FY26 (plus their 1.17% step increase each year). By 2026, then, the compounded raise since 2018 will reach 41%! These increases are about much more than money – they're about respect for the life-changing work our teachers do.
I would like to express my profound gratitude to the School Board for supporting these increases and to Mayor Stoney and the Richmond City Council for allocating roughly two thirds of the funding for them (with one third from the Commonwealth). Finally, thank YOU, the taxpayers of Richmond, for supporting our teachers!
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| January Student Representative – I'd like to send a huge thank you to our January student representative to the School Board, Natoryae' Carter of Armstrong HS, for sharing her thoughtful reflections with us during last night's Board meeting. Natoryae' is an roll student, member of the Armstrong Center for Excellence, and part of my High School Student Advisory Council. She's active in her community, serving as a caregiver and companion for seniors. In her spare time, Natoryae' enjoys singing, dancing, and stepping. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a four-year degree, majoring in nursing or musical theater. Thanks again, Natoryae'!
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| 2023-24 Calendar and Bell Schedule Survey – The deadline to complete the 2023-24 calendar and bell schedule survey is this Friday, January 20! If you're a parent/caregiver, staff member, or secondary student, please be sure to check your email for a unique survey link from K-12 Insight. If you did not receive a link, please email outreach@rvaschools.net and we'll send you a new one. Your input will be used to draft a calendar for Board consideration at our first meeting in February. All responses will remain anonymous and no personal information will be shared.
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| 2022 Outstanding Crossing Guard Nominations – Richmond City Safe Routes to School is currently accepting nominations for Richmond’s 2022 Most Outstanding Crossing Guard! To honor your favorite crossing guard, please complete the nomination form by noon on Friday, January 20.
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| Peaceful Sit-in at Mary Scott – In honor of MLK, Jr. Day, the students at Mary Scott Preschool received an early lesson in advocacy by participating in a peaceful sit-in. A few of their "demands" included an outside sandbox, hot chocolate chip cookies, modeling clay, and more bubbles!
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| Teacher Open House – All teachers are invited to attend a Teacher Open House at the Science Museum of Virginia on Saturday, January 21, from 9:30 am - 1 pm. Learn about all of the amazing programming offered at the museum, grab some free books, and of course, explore the museum! Registration is required and you can bring up to three guests for free. Please be prepared to show your teacher ID.
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| With great appreciation,
Jason
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- Shout-out to Clarence Cartwright, ICC at Ginter Park ES, for his quick thinking and immediate response to student needs. I am grateful for his hard work and ability to connect with students and families. His passion, flexibility, and grace show me how deeply invested he is in nurturing the growth of all GPES scholars!!!
- Our SIL, Dr. Kelly, has been a great addition to the PHSSA community. For two years, she has been working with students and families to make sure they have what they need. This year, she has made the testing process an easier one with new ideas to help streamline the process for the entire building. Thank you, Dr. Kelly!
- The Continental Societies, Inc. Richmond, VA Chapter would like to give a huge shout-out to the Richmond Public Schools students who participated in our second annual Dr. King's Legacy Virtual Showcase. The students did an outstanding job sharing Dr. King's "Daring to Dream" poems. Please congratulate these students: Justin Lapington, trumpet solo (Mary Munford), the Mary Munford Elementary School Ensemble, Khamari Mason (Barack Obama), Khamoni Mason (John Marshall High School), and the following students from George Wythe High School: Debbie Gomez-Rivera, Jamesha Hicks, Catherine Cobbs, Jaliyah Daniels Smith, Shyla Scott and Christopher Smith.
- Shout-out to Huguenot High School, River City Middle School, and Armstrong High School for being our top Nearpod schools from August to December! Special shout-out to David Bingen, Deborah Hardy, and Nicholas Matullo for being the top three teachers for Nearpod usage in the district during the same time frame! Our top three teachers for Flocabulary usage were Sharon May, Keith Lorenz, and Rebecca Wachowski! The top three schools were GH Reid Elementary, Albert Hill Middle School, and Bellevue Elementary School! Way to make learning more engaging for your students!
- I would like to shout-out Mrs. Snow at River City Middle School for everything that she does. She is a continuous source of inspiration and strength for myself and others on our team, and a paragon of classroom management, teaching from the heart, and all around joie de vivre. She is always an advocate for her students and her colleagues. Her classroom is an oasis of peace and solace, especially in an often chaotic and confusing world for our newcomers. We love you, Mrs. Snow!
- I would love to give a shout-out to the kindergarten team at Chimborazo Elementary! Ms. Porter and Ms. Jones are quite the dynamic duo! They have poured time and love into my little one to get her up to speed on her letters and sounds. She comes home so excited about what she's learned and loves her teachers dearly. They are remarkable teachers and we are so thankful for them!
- I would like to shout-out Cheryl Thompson and Elena Brownback for all of their dedication as instructional coaches in preschool. They work so well with teachers to improve instruction while providing priceless training and support.
- Shout-out to Mr. Branch at G.H. Reid Elementary School. He is always willing to serve when and where needed. He is a great educator and the students love him!
- A huge shout-out to our amazing crew chief and crossing guard, Mr. Anderson, at PHSSA! He makes sure our children are safe everyday.
- Congrats to all of the teachers in RPS who are finding ways to meet the instructional needs of students through grants. They have taken the time to research and make things happen!
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| 2023 Thank a Teacher Art Contest – The Virginia Lottery is calling on K-12 public school students to submit custom artwork for the sixth annual Thank a Teacher Art Contest. One winner will be selected from each level: elementary, middle, and high. The three winners will have their artwork featured on the lottery's 2023 thank you notecards and receive cash prizes! For eligibility requirements, design criteria, and submission guidelines, please view the contest entry guide. All submissions are due by Tuesday, January 31. For questions, please contact Jacqueline Severance at jseverance@valottery.com or 804-692-7418.
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| Open Enrollment Applications – The application window to apply for out-of-zone schools via the Open Enrollment lottery is open through February 1 via the Enroll RPS Portal. This is your opportunity to apply for up to three schools outside of your "zoned school," including Richmond Virtual Academy. (Reminder: This is different from specialty school applications for schools like FMA or Community.)
A few important notes:
- Families will have until 4:30 pm on February 1, 2023, to submit open enrollment applications.
- We unfortunately cannot accept late applications for any reason. Please plan accordingly.
- As long as your application is submitted before the deadline, the timing of your submission will have no impact on the outcome.
- If you have additional questions, please email us at enrollrps@rvaschools.net.
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| Teacher Job Fair – Interested in joining the RPS team, or know someone who is? Join us on Saturday, February 11, from 9 am - 1 pm, at Martin Luther King, Jr. MS for an in-person teacher hiring event. Visit our website to apply today!
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| R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence – Don't miss the opportunity to nominate your teacher for the R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence! Award winners receive grants up to $15,000 to support any professional learning adventure they wish to pursue – anywhere in the world! Nominations are due by Tuesday, February 21.
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| Important Links – Last updated on November 14, 2022.
RPS Links
COVID-19 Links
Crisis Support Links
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