|
|
| Thursday (PM), March 4, 2021
| |
|
| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
What a beautiful day! Lots to cover this evening, so let's dive in.
Calendar Conversations – We're holding four town halls next week to share information about the proposed calendar for next year, gather feedback, and answer any questions you may have. Please see below for dates and times. To register, click here.
| |
| Open Enrollment and Specialty School Results – Families who completed an application for the open enrollment lottery, specialty schools, regional governor’s schools, and the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts Charter will receive an email when results are available tomorrow. The email will include lots of important information so please keep an eye out for it. If you have any questions, please emails us at enrollrps@rvaschools.net.
RPS Live! Recap – Great appreciation to Dr. Tiawana Giles, Mr. Riddick Parker, Ms. Tiffany Patton, and Mr. Lamont Trotter for a powerful discussion on RPS Live! last night about how we can continue to support and uplift our Black students. Make sure to check it out if you missed it!
| |
| National Reading Month Activities – The Richmond Public Library has a podcast for middle schoolers all about books – BeTWEEN the Lines. In this month's episode, one of our students, Nataley from Boushall Middle School, will be featured. Learn more and find out where to listen here.
Also, please send me pictures of your students reading so I can feature them in my RPS Direct this month. Below we have Rikye Mckeever, 5th grader at Ginter Park Elementary School, and Keisy Moreno Rodriguez, 1st grader at Elizabeth D. Redd Elementary School!
With great appreciation,
Jason
| |
- I want to give a shout out to an amazing math specialist at River City Middle School, Elaine Williams. She always pitches in to help everyone and is always willing to listen. Our school is very lucky to have her!!! She is very knowledgeable about all the virtual programs and does an excellent job at collaborating. I could go on and on about how valuable she is to our teachers and students.
- This past Tuesday, Read Across America Day, l had the great privilege to read to Ms. Eaton's kindergarten class. I was filled with great joy and sadness. I am a former Bellevue Dragon parent and l couldn't image having to experience pandemic education. I want to celebrate the Bellevue students, parents, and staff for their commitment to education. Virtual learning is a barrier for education and l pray all students and teachers can return to their in person classrooms soon.
- Thank you to Mr. Lombardi, Ms. Richardson, and Ms Baine at Mary Munford. My son is relatively new to the school and due to their work this year, and Ms. Schwarz and Ms. Cheek last year, he is growing tremendously in math. My husband and I would like to thank each of these teachers for their diligence throughout the close of school last year until now. We see you and all of your hard work and we are thankful for you.
- I would like to give a very big thank you to Ms. Monique D. Harris, counselor at Huguenot High School! Always very professional and going the extra mile for her students and parents especially during this time of virtual learning, offering words of encouragement and lending a listening ear to the parents. It has not been an easy year but I just want to thank the teachers who try to make it as seamless as possible. God bless you.
- This special shout-out is for Mrs. Hooker, the SPACE teacher at Holton. Thank you for thinking about the students outside of classroom time. The thoughtfulness you exhibit is truly amazing.
- I would like to shout out Nsombi Morrison and her leadership during Tuesday’s Read Across America program at Fairfield Court Elementary School by providing our student leaders with high quality authors from different genres and careers on Zoom links. The feedback received was outstanding and each class was able to hear from authentic professionals who were appreciative for the opportunity. Eagle pride!
- I'd like to give a shout out to Ms. Shim, Ms. Harris, and Ms. Verdin, 5th grade teachers at Westover Hills Elementary School, for organizing a 5th grade conversation with a conservationist who has worked in a rainforest. My child has been talking about it all day. The dialogue paired wonderfully with the 5th grade book The Most Beautiful Book in the World by Kathryn Lasky.
- I want to shout out Ms. Cook of Marsh Elementary for being an actual hands-on principal who also pops in and out of classrooms when she's not teaching a class. Bigggg shout out to the awesomest teacher ever, Ms. Tamia Morris, also of Marsh. Thank you for going above and beyond for your students...We really appreciate you, Ms. Morris. Thank you also to Ms. Crump and Ms. Brown. You guys rock as well!
- Thank you, Principal Inett Dabney of MLK Middle School, for the constant support you give us. I want to especially thank you for the recent lesson plan training sessions you have led. You not only encourage us to do our best, but you also roll up your sleeves and model how to do it! How blessed we are to have such a servant leader!
- I would like to recognize Ryan Bennett, the ICC at John B. Cary Elementary. Mr Bennett has been an instrumental part of my growth as a special education teacher. I can always reach out to him with queries when I am nervous about upcoming IEP meetings, or anything exceptional education related, and he is always ready and willing to help out. Thank you for your continued guidance, Mr. Bennett. You rock!
| |
| Tutoring – Just a quick reminder that we're offering FREE virtual tutoring in reading and math for students in grades K-8. Click here for additional information.
| |
|
Facilitated Learning Centers – As a reminder, there are still seats available at the "facilitated learning centers" serving RPS students. See below for details.
- Peter Paul Development Center is running a facilitated learning center at MLK MS for 2nd-8th grade RPS students. The full-day option goes from 9 am until 6 pm, and is completely free for low-income families. To learn more, click here.
- The YMCA is is running facilitated learning centers at Miles Jones ES, Holton ES, and Huguenot HS for K-8th grade RPS students. The full-day option goes from 7:30 am until 6 pm, and is completely free for low-income families. To learn more, click here.
- There are also many other facilitated learning centers not housed in RPS schools across the city. To learn more, click here.
| |
|
RPS Love Store – Show your RPS Love and help us raise money for RPS families in need and local racial justice non-profits by ordering something today from the RPS Love Store!
| |
| Crisis Support – Please reach out if you need help.
| |
Important Links – I'll note in orange when there have been additions/updates so you you won't miss anything.
#ReopenWithLove Links
Local, State, and National Public Health Links
Local, State, and National Public Education Links
| |
|
|
|
|
