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| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Happy Friday! As we head into the weekend, I want to share a quick update on the RPS Direct schedule. I've been telling everyone around me to take some time to rest and recharge in order to stay fresh for the challenges ahead. Our deeply empathetic School Board Leadership, Ms. Owen and Ms. Burke, told me to do the same :). So I'm going to pause on sending weekend RPS Direct messages for now, which should free up a couple of hours to spend with my family. Thank you for your understanding!
Today's Updates:
Computer and Hotspot Distribution for Elementary Students – Computer distribution will continue next Tuesday, May 19, for our final three elementary schools: Greene, J.L. Francis, and Miles Jones. Thereafter, we'll begin distribution for our preschool students. We'll also provide additional distribution days for any student who missed their original time slot. I'll share all of the details next week. Thanks for your patience!
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| Memorial Day and Food Distribution – Please note that all of our meal distribution sites (schools and bus stops) will be closed on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25). To make sure our students and families have enough food to last through the weekend, we'll be distributing four days of food on Friday, May 22. Please make plans to visit one of our meal distribution sites that day.
High School and Middle School Course Selection – Families of high school and middle school students should have recently received a communication about selecting courses for next year. Though I know there's still a great deal of uncertainty about the 2020-21 school year, please make sure to complete the course selection form. For more information, please review this letter, in English or Spanish. If you need any further assistance, please contact your school's counselor.
Secondary Transfer Fair – If you're a secondary teacher and you'd like to transfer schools for next year (regardless of whether you previously indicated a desire to transfer), you can do so by filling out the transfer fair registration form, which will be emailed to all RPS secondary teachers on Monday. I'll also include a link to it in Monday's RPS Direct. You'll need to complete the form by 5 pm on Friday, May 22. Virtual interviews will be scheduled from Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29.
"Mr. K's 30 Minutes of Math!" – To my loyal students, I'm so sorry the Zoom link expired today. We'll be back up and running on Monday at 2 pm. Here's the new link. See you then!
RPS Voice – This week's RPS Voice is Ms. Mary Gresham. Ms. Gresham is a veteran RPS teacher, currently with the Richmond Technical Center. She's also one of the more than 4,500 (!) volunteers who have helped with our meal distribution. Thank you so much for all that you do, Mary!
With great appreciation,
Jason
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Shout-outs! – Please keep sending them to me at jkamras@rvaschools.net! And keep emailing the teacher appreciation videos to outreach@rvaschools.net. Today’s featured shout-out comes from Dannay McKinney, 2020 Salutatorian at Huguenot High School!
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- I write this shout-out with tears in my eyes because of the joy I feel in my heart for the exceptional volunteers we have at George Wythe High School. These ladies and gentlemen are amazing; they come with smiles on their faces and tender hearts. The volunteers just jump in wherever and whenever needed with such willingness. Volunteers, we thank you all for making this time so pleasurable, as we join together and feed our community!!
- I’d like give a shout out to Dr. MJ and Ms. Williams of Maymont Preschool Center for hosting a drive-through teacher appreciation event. So creative. I feel the love!
- We have an amazing ITRT in our district and her name is Ashley Jackson! She has been doing a wonderful job providing knowledge and assistance to the computer distribution sites. Ashley took the initiative to use her personal time to connect with our team ahead of time to ensure that we had everything we needed and all of our questions were answered. She arrived early to ensure that we felt comfortable with the process and to train volunteers. Ashley was flexible and supportive throughout the entire day. Linwood Holton was blessed to have her presence and we thoroughly enjoyed working with her. A shoutout is just a small token of our gratitude to her for guiding us through the process. Ashley, you are AWESOME and you definitely ROCK!
- I would like to shout out the Assistant Principal at Greene Elementary, Mrs. Katrina Holmes, and the ICC there, Mrs. Amanda Dailey, for all of their hard work with the SPED department, especially during this closure. These are two wonderful women and I am so thankful I get to work with them. You two are the absolute best!
- I would like to shine the spotlight on my son's 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Sparzak at Broad Rock ES! She posts YouTube videos of her reading the chapter book "Holes" to the students. Great way to keep them engaged in reading! Mrs. Sparzak has always been helpful and attentive to my son and has always answered any questions that I had. Thank you for making my son's last year of elementary school a good one!
- Huge shout out to Ms. Carlotti at Munford for doing small groups through zoom!
- I want to give a heartfelt shout-out to Mrs. Lucina Littig at E.D. Redd Elementary School. She has been integral in ensuring that Redd remains an inclusive place, especially as our communication moves online and via Parentlink. She goes above and beyond to make sure our Spanish speaking families, and ALL families, receive the information they need during this challenging time! Thank you, Mrs. Littig!
- Congratulations to Kristen Johnson, CTE teacher at Albert H. Hill Middle School, and her group of 8th grade students, L. Avula, M. Cary, and F. Anderson (known as the Stock Market Slammers), for winning 2nd place in the VCU region Stock Market Challenge. We are very proud of your accomplishments!
- Great appreciation to CIS staff Amanda Ketterlinus and Sydney Capito for translating all of the messages and lesson directions for the kindergarten and 1st grade families on G.H. Reid's Facebook page. They are both amazing ladies who serve all families with love, dedication, and a pure heart. They go above and beyond their expected duties and are very encouraging.
- A special thank you to the counselor at G.H. Reid, Ms. Haynes, who has been tutoring a 4th grade English learner. The family is very appreciative of her dedication and the student looks forward to their sessions. Because of her, he and his family feel valued.
- I want to shoutout Mrs. Stainback, who is my son's preschool teacher at Southampton ES. She is so caring and consistent. Mrs. Stainback has made personal telephone calls to all of her students to check on them and their families. She keeps all the parents and the students engaged and informed on Class Dojo. Mrs. Stainback is just downright a loving and genuine educator, who truly is concerned about her students' learning.
- I would like to give a big shout out to our Administrative Deans: Dr. Chandler, Mrs. Gilmore, and Ms. Morris. They have made sure that every one of our young scholars has access to a laptop, and that every IEP has been updated. Truly an all-star team!!
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Important Links – I'll note in orange when there have been additions/updates so you you won't miss anything.
Local, State, and National Public Health Links
Local, State, and National Public Education Links
RPS COVID-19 Quick-Links
FAQs
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