| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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Calendar Reminder – All RPS schools will be released two hours early tomorrow, March 22, for caregiver/teacher conferences. Additionally, all RPS schools and offices will be closed next Friday, March 29, for a Wellness Day. View the 2023-24 calendar to see all upcoming holidays.
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Kindergarten Enrollment & Health Fair – Families are encouraged to stop by Martin Luther King, Jr. MS tomorrow from 12:30 - 4 pm for the kindergarten and enrollment health fair. Students and families will have the opportunity to register for kindergarten, receive a physical, make appointments to receive immunizations, and more. Appointments for physicals are limited so scan the QR code below to reserve your child's spot today! For questions, please email enrollrps@rvaschools.net.
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Student Artwork – If you're heading out to the Manchester Fourth Friday celebration tomorrow, be sure to stop by Art Works from 6 - 8 pm to check out the amazing art on display from RPS students. Hope you can make it!
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Arts in Our Schools Spotlight – Albert Hill MS student Bella Brownlee was born a performer. From singing the national anthem at sporting events to representing RPS in the District 1 chorus competition, Bella finds absolute joy in music. "When I'm listening to music, I like to relate to the emotions of the singer and just put myself in a new world...you don't have to focus on anything else except yourself."
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Outdoor Leadership Institute – Blue Sky Fund is currently recruiting rising 9th-12th grade students to participate in their Outdoor Leadership Institute. During this five-day wilderness excursion, students will build their confidence, leadership abilities, and cultural awareness. Financial assistance is available. To apply, visit their website.
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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!
- Shout-out to our William Fox ES reading coach, Ms. Brandt. Ms. Brandt, you wear many hats and make it look easy. Thank you for all of your support this school year! Shout-out to Ms. Dunn, our 5th grade math teacher at William Fox. You always go above and beyond and make learning fun for our 5th graders!
- I want to send a big thank you to Bubba, Ricky, and Randolph for all of their quick and precise work to get our new basketball goal installed at LHJES. They worked quickly and made sure it was done very well. We appreciate your efforts here at LHJES! Thank you, gentlemen!
- I would like to shout-out Amanda Dailey with the intensive support mentor teaching team. Ms. Dailey works tirelessly to support her students and ensure they have access to all the best opportunities. She is a team player who brings her expertise to the table and is willing to support her colleagues whenever needed. Thanks for all you do!
- Shout-out to Ms. Fordis and the Dogwood Middle School choir. The Choir took all excellent scores, receiving the second-highest score the program has ever received. Great job, Ms. Fordis, leading the scholars through this successful experience.
- Shout-out to Ms. Johnson and Mrs. Mason, our reading and math coaches here at George W. Carver. You both have done an amazing job supporting staff and students during the mock SOLs. You ensured that every staff member was aware of the expectations during mock SOLs. We really appreciate you both here at Carver nation.
- Today, on World Behavior Analysis Day, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and recognize the outstanding work of our dedicated board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs): Dr. Kira Austin, Mr. Craig Marrer, and Ms. Amanda Stelley. Amanda, although new to our team, has already demonstrated her unwavering commitment to student growth since her very first day. Her exceptional abilities in building relationships, attentively listening to team needs, and displaying remarkable dedication to the field have not gone unnoticed. Craig has been an invaluable asset to our team for the past few years. He consistently excels in streamlining processes, conducting fidelity checks, and maintaining consistent interaction with his teams throughout the entire process. Dr. Kira Alston, who has been with RPS the longest, has not only earned the respect and admiration of our staff, but also recently received the prestigious VAPSBAN Practitioner Award. This well-deserved recognition is a testament to Dr. Austin's unwavering dedication to our students and her contributions to the advancement of behavior analysis through her exceptional practice, teaching, research, and service delivery. Congratulations, Dr. Austin, on this remarkable achievement! We wholeheartedly salute all three of our BCBAs for the exceptional work they do with and for the students of RPS. Your commitment and expertise make a profound impact on the lives of our students, and we are truly grateful for your contributions.
- Thank you to Mr. Anderson at LMBS. He is the epitome of a team player and supports the students and his co-workers. Thank you for being a safe place for so many students, especially our 6th graders! To Mr. Spence at LMBS, thank you for diving in head first since starting as our new art teacher! The ex hall looks great with all of your students' artwork and makes it really shine! Thank you for also helping with the ship for the theatre production!
- I would like to send a big shout-out to Ms. Dunn at William Fox Elementary for all that she has poured into her 5th graders this year! Her interim scores really highlight all of her hard work and dedication. I would like to send a big shout-out to Ms. Brandt at William Fox Elementary for all that she does. Thank you, Ms. Brandt, for helping us ensure that our children have such a strong foundation in all things reading!
- I would like to shout-out Indira Merritt and Melanie Brown to wish them a happy Behavior Specialists Day. Indira and Melanie work tirelessly to make sure that each of the students who come to Amelia Street School feel seen and known. They take the time to build trust with each student and create caring relationships that allow them to aid our students through times of need or celebrate with them in joy. During their SEL group, they give each student space to share their feelings and help them develop the tools they need to be successful in the school setting and beyond. Outside of their incredible work with students, Ms. Brown and Ms. Merritt help to boost staff morale and create a climate of caring. We are so lucky to have them as colleagues.
- I want to shout-out the school social worker at Redd Elementary, Mrs. Griffin! She always goes above and beyond for all students and staff and makes sure she executes her work with the utmost effort, dedication, and passion. She is so nice to me every time I have to come work at her location! Keep shining bright, Mrs. Griffin, we see you!
- I would like to give a shout-out to Mr. Layne and Ms. Pleasants at Armstrong High School! Their thoughtful care, attention to detail, and relationships with students and parents are setting up our students to be leaders of tomorrow. Mr. Layne and Ms. Pleasants, you are both appreciated and admired!
- Ms. Kimberly Greenshields is a wonderful asset to each and every student/family at Swansboro Elementary School. She is a great listening ear, resourceful person (who has coats for all/dress clothes for concerts/warm clothes for students who are new to the country); a superb counselor (whose weekly sessions are valued and treasured times for students); a monthly birthday celebration for students; a treasured community resource asset to all staff; and a valued presence at every Swansboro event. Can you tell we love Ms. Greenshields! Keep up the great work and know how lucky we are to have you here with us.
- I would like to give a shout-out to Dr. Kira Austin, BCBA. Dr. Austin has led the way in prioritizing and organizing behavior intervention plan compliance in our district. Her attention to detail helps to ensure that students are getting the support that they deserve, while also recognizing that our growing students' needs are ever-changing, and should continue to be reassessed and updated regularly. Thank you for your commitment, Dr. Austin!
- I would like to shout-out all of the CIS site coordinators in Richmond Public Schools. It is CIS Site Coordinator Appreciation Week and each site coordinator brings a unique set of skills and love to each and every school. The integral part they play in their schools does not go unnoticed!
- Humongous shout-out to Ms. Eunique Bryant from Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School. She is the intensive support special education teacher and she is helping her students achieve goals that some may think impossible. You are amazing!
- A huge shout-out to Ms. Ryan and her staff at J.L. Francis who literally rolled out the red carpet for the rising kindergarteners from Summer Hill Preschool! We appreciate all of your support. As always, Francis is a great place to learn!
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| 2024-25 Preschool & Kindergarten Enrollment – Preschool and kindergarten enrollment is now open! We're thrilled to offer preschool for eligible 3 and 4-year olds, and kindergarten for all 5-year-olds living in Richmond. Please note: if your student is currently enrolled at an RPS preschool, they will still need to register for kindergarten. For more information, please email enrollrps@rvaschools.net.
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| Lit Limo – Our newest Lit Limo is, well, LIT! It has built-in bookshelves, power outlets for computers, A/C and heat, and a wheelchair lift so every RPS student can come onboard and browse for free books. This is all part of our effort to not only develop expert readers, but also joyful ones. The new Lit Limo will hit the road Monday, April 8!
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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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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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