| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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Budget Update – Please join me extending gratitude to the Mayor and City Council for collaborating on a budget that provides historic investments to RPS for both our operating and CIP budgets! I'll share more details at our next Board meeting on Monday; for now, thank you!
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Teacher Spotlight – Sebrina Davis has been an educator with RPS for 44 years! Her students at Oak Grove-Bellemeade love her calm demeanor, fairness, and hands-on approach to teaching math. Her colleagues appreciate her insight when a lesson falls flat, and the ideas and encouragement she offers to help it go more smoothly the next time. One of her colleagues shares the following: "I love Ms. Davis for being an unforgettable mentor and pillar of strength during my most challenging times. Ms. Davis has made a huge difference in all of our lives! Congratulations, Ms. Davis!"
We're excited to continue our teacher celebrations, so keep the shout-outs coming! Remember, we now have a dedicated email address for shout-outs: shoutouts@rvaschools.net. You can still send them to me, too, but they'll be posted more quickly if you send them to the new address. Thanks!
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RPS Night at the Diamond – Given the inclement weather, RPS Night at the Diamond has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 16. Join us at the ballpark, as we recognize and celebrate our 2023-24 scholar athletes. The ceremony, along with a special on-field announcement, will begin at 6 pm ahead of the Flying Squirrels v. Reading game.
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Special Education Advisory Committee – The RPS Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) will hold their final meeting of the 2023-24 school year tomorrow, May 15, from 6 - 7:30 pm in the multipurpose room at A.V. Norrell School (2120 Fendall Ave). All are welcome to attend, especially families of students with disabilities. Spanish and ASL interpreters will be available. Light refreshments will be served.
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2024 ALL Star MVP – Please join me in congratulating the Sports Backers 2024 ALL Star MVP of the Year, Anthony "Tony" Allen, Jr., a student at Richmond Community HS and standout athlete for Armstrong HS. In the Fall, Tony will attend Virginia Military Institute to study business and economics and play football. Thanks to all the coaches, teachers, mentors, and family members who have championed and supported Tony throughout his time at RPS. This is the second year in a row that an RPS athlete has achieved this recognition!
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Anniversary of Brown v. Board – Join us in commemorating the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education on May 17. We would be honored to feature your experiences from this pivotal moment in history in an upcoming special issue of RPS Direct. To share your story with us, please email outreach@rvaschools.net. Thank you!
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Middle School Summer Explorations – I'm thrilled to announce that all middle school students are invited to attend our Summer Explorations program! Middle school students will receive a personalized invitation link to enroll. Learn more about this exciting new opportunity and be on the lookout for your registration link.
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Summer Bridge Program – The deadline to register for our first-ever Summer Bridge program is Friday, May 17. Rising 9th grade students are encouraged to register for this unique opportunity to experience high school prior to beginning classes in the fall. The Summer Bridge program will run from July 15 - July 18 at Dogwood MS and River City MS.
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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 would like to shout-out my ambitious, intelligent, courageous, resilient 7th graders at MLK Jr Middle School. I have had the honor of teaching the sweetest souls this year. This is my first year teaching and they have made my teaching experience amazing. They worked so hard this year; the amount of growth they had on their 7th Grade Reading SOL was impressive. I want my students to know despite your circumstances, you deserve to be here. Continue to conquer and take up space. I will meet you all in 8th grade next year.
- I would like to shout-out the terrific teachers at Fairfield Court! We are a dedicated group of teachers that provide meaningful instruction to our students. Thank you for all that you do!! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to us!
- A big shout-out to Ms. Tiffany Lindfors and Ms. Melinda Brooks, the stellar site testing coordinators at Richmond Virtual Academy! Your dedication and hard work ensure smooth testing processes for all students. Your commitment to excellence shines through, and we're incredibly grateful for your invaluable contributions to our academic community. Keep up the fantastic work! Choo Choo and Hoot Hoot!
- Let's hear it for Mrs. Sandra Portee, the unstoppable force behind RPS' home instruction coordination! Single-handedly managing tasks meant for a whole team, she embodies diplomacy, fairness, kindness, and efficiency. Mrs. Portee, your direct and concise approach ensures every student gets the attention they deserve. We salute you for your remarkable dedication and excellence! Hoot Hoot!!!!
- Shout-out to RVA's dynamic fourth grade teachers, Mrs. Anita Davis and Ms. Emily Davidson! Your dedication to education is truly commendable. Your commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment is evident in your OWLmazing work. Your diplomatic approach to teaching ensures every scholar feels valued and supported. Keep shining bright as educators who inspire and empower! #TeacherAppreciation #RVAHeroes
- In the dynamic landscape of education, it's essential to acknowledge the exceptional individuals who contribute tirelessly to the growth and development of students. At RVA, the dedication and passion of Coach Woolridge, Ms. Marshe Copeland, Ms. Nicole Gray, Teacher Carreras, Mr. Baber, Mrs. McGann, Mrs. Janacone, and Dr. Otey shine brightly, fostering an environment where scholars thrive and excel. These remarkable educators embody the values of diplomacy, impartiality, conciseness, kindness, and directness in their interactions with students, ensuring a supportive and nurturing learning environment.
- Shout-out to Munford 2nd grade teacher Paula Katz. She held an amazing end-of-the-year showcase where students got on stage and read poems, performed readers theaters, and overall excelled on stage. The kids did a tremendous job. The dedication from Mrs. Katz and the confidence she has and instilled in her students created pure joy.
- I want to give a huge shout-out to the PHSSA parents, staff, Amaze Day committee, Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Santiago, administration, PTA, and the cafeteria staff!!! Without all of us working as a team, Amaze Day could not be what it is for the students! We have created quite a community at PHSSA. I am so proud and fortunate to be part of such a great community of people. Amaze Day and the Amaze Day Challenge Race require over 80 parent volunteers to run efficiently, and you all fill those spots valiantly. I say it all the time, I can't do it without all of you! Thank you so much!!! I want to give special recognition to the Spewak, Nordheim, and Sitterson families, who helped set up the day before Amaze Day. Your help was priceless and appreciated. Mrs. Santiago, Mrs. Phillips and Ms. Maxcy Hill (our PTA president), thank you for being my wing ladies and getting me through Amaze Day. You are appreciated and loved! Mrs. Tyree, you saved the day with your crafty genius!!! Mrs. Hudson, thank you for always supporting all my crazy adventures for the students and staff. And last but not least, the Amaze Day Committee, Ms. Luhmann, Ms. Flannagan, Ms. Drieling, Mrs. Tyree, Mrs. Williams-Boughner, Ms. Manuel, Mr. Thornton, thank you for being there every step of the way.
- I would like to thank our community & business partners at Fairfield Court Elementary for the appreciation and gratitude they have shown our teachers and staff this entire week on their extra special Teacher Appreciation Week. Child Savers, Faith Community Baptist Church, Anthem Health keepers Plus, Virginia Credit Union, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, RBHA, and Strawbridge provided our staff with breakfast and lunch every day. Principal Wright, AP Henderson (Sylvester's Delights), and the Funshine committee also provided us with lunch. We are grateful for the recognition of the hard work teachers do each and everyday.
- Shout-out to our amazing teachers on the K-2 team at Fairfield Court Elementary – Ms. D. Moyler, Ms. C. Castro, Ms. Hill, Mrs. M. Perez, Mrs. J. Morton, Ms. Bell, Ms. Small, Mr. Mielak, Ms. Veney, Mr. R. Powell, Ms. Hernandez, Ms. Smith and Mrs. Jackson – who went above and beyond and exceeded our PALS school-wide goals. Shout-out to the reading team: Coach Sneed, Ms. Goode, and Mrs. Mills, as well as our tutors!
- Thank you to Ms. Michael and the entire planning committee for this year's Amaze Day! From the literature and movement stations to the rock climbing wall in Forest Hill Park, our PHSSA families had an amazing time learning outdoors.
- I want to give a shout out to Mr. Manny Montoy a, 5th grade teacher at Cardinal Elementary School. He is skilled in technology and has used these skills to create some amazing slideshows, interactive activities, and rewards for both his students and our team. He genuinely cares for everyone in his classroom, wants to see them succeed in everything they do, and works with them closely to get them there. We are lucky to have you, Mr. Montoya. Thank you for all you've done this year!
- Sending an extra special shout-out to our 3rd-5th grade teachers of Fairfield Court Elementary: Ms. Johnson, Ms. Palacio, Ms. Ramsey, Mrs. T. Wright, Mrs. Buffo-Brown, Ms. Primus, Mr. Brown, Mr. Canady, Mrs. Mitchell, and our amazing PCG tutors: Mrs. Bradford, Ms. Butler, and Dr. Gaines! Our instructional leadership team is top notch (math team: Coach Grandison, Ms. Jernigan; reading team: Coach Sneed, Ms. Goode, Ms. Mills, Dean Morrison; ICC Ms. Hopkins; and AP Henderson) aligning the vision and instructional goals that Principal Wright has communicated. We learn, grow, and excel through nurturing, excelling, and shaping tomorrow!
- Thank you to Dr. Nicole Kelly for her organization and patience during this testing season! She is cool, calm, and collected! It is very much appreciated!
- Thank you to Dona Micheal, PE teacher at Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, for planning and conducting Amaze Day! It was absolutely amazing!
- I would like to give a shout-out to Nurse Molly from Open High School. She does an amazing job taking care of students. She's kind, caring, and funny. Thanks for everything!
- A huge shout-out to two school nurses, Nurse Clark and Nurse Davis, for the care they give our students every day at Huguenot High School. They are cool under pressure, supportive of our school culture, and care deeply for all of our students and families. Thank you for all you do.
- Another amazing PHSSA Amaze Day thanks to Ms. Michael! Our kids are so lucky to have a passionate and enthusiastic PE teacher who puts together this and so many other memorable activities. Thank you!
- Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to the amazing teachers at Fairfield Court Elementary School. Thank you for your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to shaping the minds of future generations. Thank you for being rock stars as we complete our 1st 200 day school year!
- I would like to give a huge Mary Scott Preschool shout-out to all of the RPS preschool encore teachers – Ms. Addai-Mensah (Library), Ms. Baird (Art), Coach Hunt (PE) and Mr. B. (Music) – for making our Family Field Day so fantastic! The kids, families, teachers, and staff had a great time! Thank you all so much for making this happen!
- I would like to shout-out Jennifer Ramsey, the Community of Caring lead teacher at Fairfield Court Elementary School. Ms. Ramsey was selected as the 2023-2024 Community of Caring Teacher of the Year. The COC activities in her school are intentional and keep students and staff members engaged in value awareness. Ms. Jennifer Ramsey is commended for her commitment and dedication to fostering a culture of character at Fairfield Court Elementary School.
- This is a note of appreciation for Mr. Henderson (J.B. Fisher, 5th grade) who stepped in as long term sub this year while Ms. Burton was out on maternity leave. Mr. Henderson didn't just keep things stable, but he encouraged the kids to do their best academically and personally, and he taught with creativity in the classroom. I'd also like to commend Ms. Burton and Fisher admin for ensuring that the transition was handled so well. Having Mr. Henderson in the classroom ahead of time was really helpful in making this such a success. Well done, all!
- I would like to give a shout-out to speech therapists Amy Nugent and Rachel Galloway, as they are RPS' only AT specialists! Did you know that they provide over 160 students with iPads to use as their communication devices?!?! Thank you, Amy and Rachel, for always answering phone calls and emails when your fellow SLPs need guidance in which AAC device is best for our students, how to troubleshoot when a device stops work, and how to help families and teachers to help their students communicate with total communication! The gains that I have seen in my students this year have been incredible and I thank you two for working tirelessly to train me, educate me, and empower me! One of my students always loves asking me to play Beyonce for them :) Love giving my students a voice!
- Sending special shout-outs to the art teachers at Cardinal: Ms. Cox and Ms. Hawkins. Their students produce beautiful and varied artwork throughout the year that is displayed all over the building to beautify our hallways.
- A resounding shout-out to Wendy Just, the epitome of dedication and positivity as the RPS elementary science specialist. Wendy's unwavering commitment to assisting teachers and nurturing students across the district is truly commendable. Her boundless enthusiasm and willingness to go the extra mile in supporting educators in the realm of science education make her an invaluable asset.
- A big shout-out to Gina Powell, the indispensable testing coordinator and librarian extraordinaire at Bellevue Elementary. Gina's exceptional organizational skills and unwavering commitment ensure that SOL testing runs seamlessly, alleviating stress for both students and staff alike. Her dedication to creating a supportive testing environment is truly commendable and greatly appreciated by all. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to the success of our Bellevue Dragons!
- Aprovecho este momento para agradecer a todos los maestros de Summerhill por la atención a todos los estudiantes en verdad son grandes desde los maestros que los reciben, los que les apoyan dentro y los que nos entregan a los niños, hacen un gran trabajo michas gracias. Y especialmente a la Maestra Williams, mi hijo la quiere mucho y eso me demuestra que ella le ha enseñado y tratado con amor todo el año y eso habla demaciado bien de ella, una gran mujer, una gran persona estoy segura que Dios le ha dado el don de trabajar con niños por que ese trabajo no es para cualquier persona. Por eso y más Muchas gracias maestra Williams.
- Shout-out to Ms. Newberg from the MLK elective team! Ms. Newberg is a wealth of knowledge and is always willing to share her expertise! Thank you, Ms. Newberg!
- Shout-out to the amazing admin, office staff, PTA, and local community partners for showing the teachers at Blackwell Elementary School that we matter during Teacher Appreciation Week!
- A very big shout-out to our wonderful PE teacher, Ms. Michael. Our third annual Amaze Day 2024 was spectacular! Her attention to detail is truly inspiring. Months of preparation, planning, and organizing delivered a fun-filled event for students and families. Ms. Michael is always on the go, bringing the very best to PHSSA. We are so grateful for her!
- Congratulations to MLK Preschool on their remarkable achievement! As the first RPS school designated as a Project Adam Heart Safe school, they've demonstrated an unwavering commitment to safety and well-being. Their dedication sets a powerful example for our entire community. Well done, Nurse Beaton and team!
- Shout-out to the MLK Preschool Project Adam Team, Nurse Beaton, Mrs. Leblanc, Mr. Norris, Mrs. Clement, & Ms. Attenberger! Project ADAM establishes an emergency plan to place into action in the event of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Our Project Adam team is led by our amazing Nurse Kathryn Beaton who has worked extremely hard to ensure that we are the FIRST Heart Safe School in RPS leading the way! Way to go, team!!! Thank you to everyone involved who has supported this project and made it a success.
- Shout-out to Ms. Newkirk, math specialist for middle school for coming to assist our students at MLK. She has been here every day, for over a week, and twice a month since returning from winter break. Ms. Newkirk assists our students with 6th grade math, assisting them in preparing for their SOL test. She is an amazing support to our coaches, teachers, and me, as the administrator. Ms. Newkirk is an asset to RPS and a true leader. We truly appreciate her at MLK!
- Just wanted to extend an enormous shout-out to Jessica Blumberg, our EdTech specialist at JL Francis. It's my first year back in the classroom, after a couple years out. She has been such a huge support! She persuaded me to use FLIP videos as a means to "highlight" student writing. My first graders loved it, and I have no doubt, this will be my "go to" next year when it comes to writing. She also has bonded with many of my students this year, and her presence in our room, has made a big difference. Thanks, Ms. Blumberg, sincerely, the kids and their teacher!
- A round of applause is due to Anne Harris, a beacon of compassion and leadership at Bellevue Elementary and beyond. As the Executive Director of the Richmond Community of Caring organization, Anne's dedication shines through in every facet of her work. Her stewardship of the recent awards ceremony for East End schools was nothing short of inspiring, showcasing the values of caring, respect, responsibility, trust, and family that lie at the heart of education. Let's also extend our gratitude to the Community of Caring board members and, most importantly, to the students whose exemplary behavior sets a shining example for us all.
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| Three Ways to Pre-K – We're thrilled to offer preschool for eligible 3 and 4-year olds living in Richmond, along with three convenient ways to apply. Don't delay – spaces fill up quickly, and we don't want your child to miss out on this valuable opportunity! To begin your child's preschool registration, just visit our website.
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| RPS Poster Campaign – Looking for a cool end-of-year gift for an RPS teacher or graduate? We've got you covered! We turned our school map t-shirts into 24" x 36" posters and they look amazing! Pick one up at the RPS Love Store today.
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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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| RPS Links
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