| Wednesday, February 28, 2024
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| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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Generation Dream Showcase – Tomorrow, from 6 - 8 pm at Martin Luther King, Jr. MS, join Drums No Guns and the Richmond Peace Education Center for the "Generation Dream 15" showcase. The program will feature student performers honoring heroes of the long fight for social justice. Many of the pieces are original, inspired by the personal experiences of the performers.
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BHM Spotlight – Armstrong HS senior Ajenavi "AJ" Byrd is creating Black history both on and off the field. He was key in helping lead his team to the region championship game – a first in the program's history, and he has earned varsity letters in football, basketball, and track. He also earned All-Region honors in Track; All-Region, All-Metro and All-State honors in Football; and is the only player in Class 3A to be named to the All-State Offense, Defense, Special Teams-Kick Return, and Special Teams-Punt Return teams! In addition to his athletic achievements, AJ maintains a 3.0 GPA and gives back to his community, serving as a Big Brother with the Armstrong HS-Fairfield Court ES Big Brother Little Brother mentoring program.
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Farm-to-Table Monthly Market – Our next Farm-to-Table Monthly Market will be held this Friday, March 1, from 2:30 - 4:30 pm at Overby-Sheppard ES. All RPS families are encouraged to stop by and pick up a free basket of fresh produce to enjoy at home. Help spread the word, RPS!
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| RPS Shines – This May, we're hosting our 3rd Annual RPS Shines, a special evening to honor our life-changing teachers, principals, and support staff. You can help us celebrate these amazing individuals in two ways: 1) by nominating RPS educators and staff for our division wide awards – Lucille Brown Impact Award, Rodney A. Robinson Equity Award, and the 2024 Principal of the Year Award; and 2) by supporting RPS Shines with a donation to the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation. The window to submit nominations closes on Friday, March 1, at 11:59 pm.
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Atlas Residency – ART 180 is accepting applications from current 9th-11th graders to participate in the 2024 Summer Residency. Ten students will be selected for the summer-long art experience, during which they'll work alongside peers from across the city with two immensely talented teaching artists. Participants will receive a $1,350 stipend, art supplies, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand their portfolio. Don't delay – the deadline to apply is March 15!
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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!
- A huge shout-out goes to Candace Veney-Chaplin, manager for college and career pathways, and John Van Zandt, specialist for secondary pathways, for coordinating and facilitating an absolutely amazing Future Center retreat today! It was great to have so many key players in the postsecondary world in the same space to discuss best practices, troubleshoot, and strategize together. We are excited about the positive outcomes for students that will come out of the collaboration of our counselors, Future Centers, GRASP advisors, and community partner agencies. A special thanks goes to Navasha Bullock, who coordinated a delicious breakfast and lunch, and Dr. Harold Fitrer and Dearsley Vernon at RVA Kids First Collaboration, who provided the meeting space.
- I wish to thank the fantastic group of teachers and staff at Frances McClenney Elementary School for their professional support and dedication given to me as their acting principal. We all work together as a team to ensure a positive learning environment for all students. They are supporting the legacy of Mrs. McClenney excellently. I am proud to be their leader. Students are learning and teachers are teaching. Hooray, Gators!
- I want to give a very special shout-out and huge thank you to Ms. Marleeta Thompson here at G.W. Carver. When I arrived at Carver, Ms. Thompson was the first to greet me and accept me with open arms. Ms. Thompson has shown me many things and has always had my back. I will cherish every moment. I hope you enjoy your future with lots of time to enjoy your hobbies, friends, and family. Cheers to your retirement and all the incredible years of work you put into getting there. The office won't be the same without you! Wishing you happiness beyond retirement. Thank you for being a mentor, friend, and one of the hardest workers I know!
- Sending out a huge shout-out to Mrs. Stephannie Crutchfield, the assistant principal at William Fox Elementary School! She constantly exhibits and displays the epitome of a superwoman! She's already a woman of elegance and never misses a beat. In the absence of our principal for the past couple of weeks, Mrs. Crutchfield held things down! Simply put, she is "no nonsense" with a smile! She shares love and wisdom equitably with our staff and students. RPS needs more "Stephannie Crutchfields" in every building, at every level. She has truly made a difference within our Fox family and community!
- Hats off to the Unified Youth Leadership Club - Team Friendship at Mary Munford Elementary for orchestrating yet another engaging monthly Unified Club activity. The students showcased remarkable teamwork, effortlessly brainstorming and embracing club norms, which they promptly put into action during lively games of cornhole. Kudos to the Unified Youth Leadership Team and teacher advisors for their outstanding efforts! As one parent wrote: "It was such a delight to see their collaboration and encouragement of one another!"
- It’s Principal Muzik’s 75th birthday today, and Mary Munford ES had the opportunity to celebrate him in a big way! The kiddos wrote wonderfully fun sentiments that Dr. Miller shared during an all-school singing of “Happy Birthday!” We love Mr. Muzik and appreciate all he does for our Mary Munford community!
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| Calendar Update – Fortunately, we've had a relatively mild winter, which means we haven't used most of our snow days. Given this, we've decided to make Friday, March 29 (Good Friday), a Wellness Day for our students and staff. All schools and offices will be closed. Also, as a reminder, Tuesday, March 5, will be a Teacher Work Day (no school for students) due to the primary election.
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| Advocate for RHSA – On Wednesday, March 6, RPS will be requesting a waiver from the city Zoning Board to install light poles on the athletic grounds of the new Richmond High School for the Arts. If you can, please come out to support the RHSA community. For more information, visit our website or scan the QR code below with your phone's camera. Thanks in advance for your support!
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| RPS Links
Crisis Support Links
Health and Wellness Links
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