| Tuesday, January 30, 2024
| |
| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
| |
| Design Open House – I'm thrilled to share that Amelia Street School has partnered with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay on an exciting new project to enhance the use of the open space directly behind the school. The goal of the project is to improve access for all students and encourage outdoor learning and exploration. To help kick off the planning process, join us for an interactive design open house tomorrow, January 31, from 3 - 6 pm at Amelia St.
| |
| Early College Academy – Families of current 10th graders are encouraged to attend a virtual information session for the Early College Academy tomorrow, January 31, at 6 pm. The Academy provides students with the opportunity to earn an associate's degree while completing the requirements for their high school diploma. Students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher are encouraged to apply. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, February 5, at 11:59 pm.
| |
| ART 180 – Stop by ART 180's Atlas gallery this Friday, February 2, from 5 - 8 pm, for the premiere of "Cross Contour." The exhibit will highlight multimedia artwork from youth artists in the middle school residency program at Boushall MS, as well as work by students from Thomas Jefferson HS and Richmond Community HS. Also, registration is now open for new sessions of Atlas art experiences. Sessions are free and open to all RPS high school students.
| |
| Give Kids a Smile Day – VCU Dental Care will offer free dental services to uninsured children up to age 14 on Friday, February 16, at the Children's Pavilion. To schedule an appointment, please email pedsdent@vcu.edu with your child's name, date of birth, phone number, and home address.
| |
|
With great appreciation,
Jason
| |
|
| 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 second grade instructional assistants! Ms. Walker and Ms. Robinson have been working tirelessly to support our second grade teachers and students to complete our mid-year testing! The second grade teachers at Henry L. Marsh Elementary School greatly appreciate your hard work and constant support. You ladies rock!
- I would like to shout-out Ms. C. Williams at Henry L. Marsh Elementary School for being a great part of our second great team. Ms. Williams provides impressive language arts lesson plans to share with our team. She is a jack of all trades. She has been supporting the school with IT requests regarding any computer issues. As a team lead, I can always count on Ms. Williams to support the team when I am not present. Keep up the good work!
- Mrs. Penn, assistant principal at Bellevue, is an amazing leader! She is always there to lend a helping hand and support our Bellevue Dragons. We thank her for leading with love and continuing to inspire everyone around her!
- I would like to shout-out all of the volunteers who interviewed our Eagle Ambassadors today at T.C. Boushall Middle School: Ms. Copeland, Mrs. Dockery, Ms. Leporati, Ms. Routier, Ms. Vaughan, and Mrs. Woodson. Giving these scholars the opportunity to be interviewed by a professional is such a great experience! We are grateful for your time and expertise!
| |
| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
| |
| Mental Health Support – I want to remind everyone – students, staff, and families – that your mental health continues to be a top priority. Please note the resources below and remember that we love you here and you are not alone.
- Students who need emergency mental health support should call the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority at (804) 819-4100 or the ChildSavers Immediate Response line at (804) 305-2420 (or send a text to 741741).
- RPS employees in need of emergency support should contact the Cigna 24/7 Crisis Line at (833) ME-CIGNA, or (833) 632-4462. Additional counseling and support services are also available through the Cigna Employee Assistance (EAP) program by calling (800) 544-6931.
- Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center provides education, advocacy, and support to Spanish-speaking individuals affected by violence. The 24/7 hotline in Spanish is (888) 969-1825.
- The Trauma Healing Response Network is a coalition of grassroots, community-based organizations and mental health partners that provide support services to families and communities impacted by gun violence. The network can also facilitate the distribution of emergency relief funds to help those in crisis. For more information, email traumahealingresponsenetwork@gmail.com.
| |
| 2024-25 School Applications – The deadline for families to submit open enrollment applications and applications to the Governor's STEM Academy for CTE at RTC for the 2024-25 school year is this Thursday, February 1, at 4:30 pm. Please note: we cannot accept late applications for ANY reason. 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.
| |
| Legislative Priorities – We have six legislative priorities this year, including school funding, new school construction, and support for English learners. To learn more about our priorities (available in English and Spanish) and how you can advocate for public education, be sure to check out the Advocacy Hub on our website!
| |
| Road to Licensure Fair – Join us on the RPS Road to Licensure on Saturday, February 10, from 9 am - 2 pm at River City MS. Learn about the requirements for teacher licensure, participate in onsite interviews, and speak with representatives from RPS and local universities. To sign-up for this wonderful opportunity, scan the QR code below with your phone's camera. Also, if you know of a great teacher who might like to join the RPS team, please tell them to apply now. We have positions available in several content areas. Help spread the word!
| |
| 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!
| |
| RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
Health and Wellness Links
| |
|
|
|
