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Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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| Pride Month – Today is the first day of LGBTQ+ Pride Month across the nation and here at RPS. Our motto – to Teach, Lead, and Serve with Love – is about ensuring every student feels welcomed, celebrated, and loved for exactly who they are. That's why we stand firm in our commitment to supporting our LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff. Beyond words of support, we've taken concrete actions over the past several years to create a more welcoming school system for LGBTQ+ students and staff. For example, we dispensed with gender-specific graduation gowns and gender-specifc dress codes, adopted some of the most progressive transgender policies in the nation, started using chosen names in our student information system, and partnered with Side by Side to support LGBTQ+ students. Of course, we have much more work to do. I assure you we will never waver in our resolve to become a fully inclusive school system for ALL students, staff, and families.
To show your support of the RPS LGBTQ+ community, check out our RPS Pride design on Bonfire. All proceeds will go to community partners who support our LGBTQ+ students!
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| Art 180's Cosmic Block Party - Art180 is hosting their Cosmic Block Party tomorrow, June 2, from 5 - 9 pm at 114 W. Marshall St. Come out to enjoy music and art, all while helping support one of our most dedicated and impactful partners!
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| RPS Summer Wellness and Family Literacy Day – Join us from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday, June 3, at MLK Middle School for the RPS Summer Wellness and Family Literacy Day. Students will be able to get vision screenings, required vaccines, and information on healthy eating and physical activity. We'll also have summer school registration on-site and a wide selection of books and resources for you to take home and enjoy throughout the summer. Breakfast and lunch will also be provided for free to all families who attend!
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| Architecture & Design Summer Camp – High school and middle school students interested in architecture won't want to miss the Architecture & Design Justice Summer Camp at Brightpoint Community College this July 19 - 21. Students will learn the fundamentals of architecture while connecting with professional architects and planners. Learn more via the QR code below!
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| With great appreciation,
Jason
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- The encore team at Fox Elementary is full of superstars! Thank you to Mr. Winslow (music) and Ms. Crowder (art) for organizing our upcoming K-5 talent show!
- Shout-out to Brian Eadeh, data specialist, who can see your vision through the computer and make it happen and so quickly! MJJ appreciates you!
- I'd like to shout-out the administration and counseling team at Henderson! Mr. London, Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. McCloud, Ms. Briscoe, and Mrs. Baylor hosted a great night for incoming students this week! They were welcoming, informative, and positive! My rising 6th grader is excited to be a Warrior!
- Ms. Walker at PHSSA is such an invaluable member of the educational team. She knows the needs of each of her students and works hard making connections and building educational relationship. We really can't thank her enough.
- Sending a huge shout-out to Raffinee Worsley, Peggy Keene, Quintett Bowers, Franchesca Battle, Ladonna Jarvis, Michele Cadwallader, Michele Smith, Michael Goins, and many parent volunteers at Bellevue Elementary School! Thank you for helping our 100 book challenge celebration be successful, exciting, and fun. Students really enjoyed themselves doing literacy and STEAM activities.
- Sending a gigantic shout-out with love to all the students at Bellevue Elementary School for participating in our 100 book challenge this school year. We had about 90% of our students read 100 books or more. Thank you, Bellevue teachers, for keeping students motivated and making this project a success.
- Shout-out to Emily Wheat at Bellevue Elementary for having the most students complete the 100 book challenge and making it a priority. Thank you for being an awesome ELA teacher and always willing to try one of my ideas. I look forward to working with you again next school year. One more week to go and then it is time to celebrate your first year in the books!
- Shout-out to Mr. Johnson, AP at J.L. Francis. He works extremely hard for the students and staff every single day!!!
- I wanted to send a huge shout-out to Linda Wood. It has been so wonderful having her as our acting principal the last few months! It has been so sweet to watch her interact with all of our kiddos, and even know all of their names! She has been such a force for good at Blackwell Preschool. She is so supportive of the staff here, and is so driven to find solutions to any issues that arise. We are so lucky to have this time with her. We all love you, and are grateful for the time that we got to know you on a more day-to-day basis! Thank you for everything!
- I wanted to send a shout-out and congratulations to Blackwell Preschool's new principal, Jennifer Smith! We are excited that you are becoming a part of the Blackwell family and we are all looking forward to working with you and getting to know you! Welcome!
- Congratulations to Ms. Bowers and her students at Huguenot High School on a job well done on sharing their career exploration experiences with staff and family members. Thank you, Dr. Massa, Amanda Dailey, and Tammy Sellers, for all your support on this project!
- I would like to shout-out the staff at MLK. They opened their arms and made me feel like family. This has been one of the best years in my 19 years of teaching and it is due to the continued support I received. Special shout-out to Mrs. Dabney for being the best principal ever, Ms. Couther for helping me grow as a leader, and Coach Johnson for all your support. To the staff and students, love you guys!
- Armstrong High School would like to shout-out Ms. Finney-Reynolds, Ms. Green, Mr. Thigpen, Mr. Richardson, Ms. Brice, and all the drivers in the Transportation Department for your assistance this year. We appreciate all of the field trips and athletic trips provided for our students.
- Shout-out to Mr. Dre Hornes and the custodial team at Armstrong High School for your hard work put into keeping The Strong clean. We appreciate you.
- Shout-out to Ms. Barbara Anderson and the cafeteria staff at Armstrong for providing timely, delicious meals for our students. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.
- Mrs. Tomorrow Lofton-Pickens, exceptional education teacher at the Richmond Virtual Academy, is a powerhouse. She has truly done the job of six people this school year with grace and she remains dedicated and passionate about her work even in the midst of challenges. Her advocacy for all learners and educators is an inspiration and is evident in everything she does for RVA and in her leadership role with the REA. She is truly a gem.
- Dr. Marianne Barnhardt is the best! Not only is she an outstanding home instruction educator with the Richmond Virtual Academy, but she has gone above and beyond her role by facilitating an amazing school partnership with the Camera Club of Richmond. We truly appreciate all that she has done and continues to do for our RVA Owls.
- I simply cannot say enough about Ms. Sandra Pillard, home instruction coordinator with the Richmond Virtual Academy! Her strategic thinking, dedication, creativity, and kindness is unmatched. She is an amazing school leader and we are so grateful for her outstanding work at RVA. Hoot Hoot!!
- Shout-out to Ms. Shelton at Henderson Middle School for being an awesome 6th grade team lead!
- Shout-out to Ms. Sawyer, Ms. Cooper, and Ms. Cosans for contributing to my class's STEAM day for 3rd grade at Bellevue Elementary. The students had a great time engaging in the many aspects of STEAM that we have to offer here!
- Congratulations to Chanda Hannah, LCSW! She is the most recent school social worker to obtain an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) credential. She joins the following school social workers who have obtained this licensure: Barbara Barden, Diane Brown, Annette Cook, Erin Callahan, Syreeta Chapman, Shyanna Hicks, Kimberly Peacock Harrison, Towanda Osborne, Katherine VanDerbeek, Ginell Walkes, Ashley White, and Lorien Wilder. An LCSW must successfully complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work post MSW degree, 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, and 600 hours of clinical practicum – along with passing a rigorous and comprehensive state board exam. This license allows one to work independently and to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. It's not required for school social workers but it highlights the high level of clinical mental health expertise within the School Social Work Department.
- Dear Ms. Strayhorn, I just wanted to thank you for all that you’ve done to help and encourage my student during his time at RCHS. You have helped in so many ways, both big and small, and we both truly appreciate you! From being willing to teach him how to tie a necktie, to helping him with family communications, you always did what was best for him...and countless other students! Thank you for being an unsung hero in the lives of so many students!
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| Decision Day Announcements – Class of 2023, please keep sharing your Decision Day news with us at outreach@rvaschools.net. Thank you!
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| 2023-24 Preschool & Kindergarten Enrollment Events – Join us for our upcoming preschool and kindergarten enrollment events. For more information, please email enrollrps@rvaschools.net. All children enrolled while at the event will be entered into a raffle to win a bike!
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Important Links – Last updated on April 14, 2023.
RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
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