The Tiger Tea
Hill Happenings 5/2- 5/6
Principal's Message
- Administrative Professionals Day was Wednesday, April 27th. Thank you Mrs. Davidson, Mrs. Pope, and Mrs. Woodson for all that you do for our school.
- Thank you to the PTA for kicking off Teacher Appreciation week early on Friday with pizza for the teachers and staff!
- Kudos to the NJHS for their Tigers Support Ukraine campaign and donations to the Red Cross! The sunflowers look great in the front hallway.
Please take a moment to shout-out an amazing teacher using the attached google form. During the month of May we will be flooding our social media accounts with displays of gratitude for the amazing work our teachers do each day.
A sponsor has offered to support a new program at Hill. We want to hear from you! Please complete the google form below and give us your input on the type program your family would love to see at Hill. Surveys will close Friday, May 6.
Dates to Remember
May 2-6
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 2
7th Grade Hearing Screening
May 3
RPS Closed: Eid al-Fitr Holiday
May 4
2:00 p.m. Track Meet @ Thomas Jefferson High School
11:59 p.m. NJHS Student Application Due
May 5
First Softball Game
May 6
NJHS Teacher Recommendations Due
May 11
School Nurse Day!
May 14
Albert Hill PTA Yardsale and Spring Fine Arts Showcase
May 20
PTA Movie Night
Track Meet Details
Meet: Wednesday, May 4th
- The bus will pick up students at 12pm from Albert Hill.
- Students will eat lunch with 6th graders at the school before the track meet.
- The track meet is scheduled to begin between 2 and 2:30 p.m.
- Spectators are allowed (parents, teachers, etc.)
- Parents/Guardians will be allowed to take students home after the track meet but MUST sign-out students with Ms. West or Mr. Lee at the track meet before doing so.
- We strongly encourage students to stay for the entire track meet to cheer on their teammates. However, students will be allowed to leave after their events with a parent or guardian.
Toyota Family Teacher of the Year
Toyota Family Teacher of the Year – Do you know an educator who is building deep and meaningful relationships with families? From now until May 6, nominate an RPS educator who goes above and beyond to engage families in education to be the next Toyota Family Teacher of the Year! The first place winner will receive a $20,000 grant and the runner-up $5,000 toward their designated family literacy, family engagement, or family leadership programs. Review the award criteria and access the application here. Nominations must be submitted via the online form.
Immunizations Rising 7th Grade Families
Effective July 1, 2021, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), Meningococcal, and *HPV are required vaccines for 7th grade students. If your child has already received the required vaccinations please be sure that documentation of the vaccinations have been provided to the school. If your child has not yet received the *HPV, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), and Meningococcal, s/he/they must do so prior to entering 7th grade. Students without the required immunizations are not allowed to attend school in Virginia until enrollment requirements are met.
* HPV is a mandated vaccine through code of Virginia; however parents can opt-out of the HPV vaccine after they have received information to assist them with making an informed decision.
Call for Volunteers- PTA Albert Hill Yard Sale
PTA- Albert Hill Yard Sale
Albert Hill is reviving its annual Spring Yard Sale fundraiser and is asking for help from the school community and its neighbors to provide the items for sale. The yard sale will take place on May 14th on the Albert Hill campus, and all proceeds will directly benefit the Albert Hill PTA. For complete information, please visit www.alberthillyardsale.com
The Albert Hill PTA will gratefully accept donations every Wednesday through April from 5-6pm and occasional Saturdays (see website) from 10-11am at the front of Albert Hill Middle School (3400 Patterson Ave). Receipt of donations made will be provided to the donor for tax purposes. If you would like to arrange for a different drop off time or you would like to request that someone pick up your item(s), please contact Becky Sirpis at alberthillyardsale@gmail.com.
All items must be operational and in good condition and should fall under one of the following categories:
Home goods - furniture, dishes, decor, small appliances, electronics, etc.
Outdoor items - landscaping items, holiday decorations, outdoor furniture, etc.
Sporting goods - bikes, yard games, hiking/camping gear, etc.
Baby/Children’s items - strollers, high chairs, etc.
Toys/Puzzles/Games - all parts and pieces must be included; no stuffed animals, please
Accessories
Art
Jewelry
Luggage
Tools
Musical Instruments
We will not be accepting clothing for this yard sale. Other items that will not be accepted can be found on the “no thank you” list on the website. If you have an item you would like to donate but it does not fit into one of the categories above or you have any questions about this sale, please reach out to alberthillyardsale@gmail.com.
Anyone can donate items, so please spread the word! And mark your calendar to attend the yard sale on May 14th!
See Something, Say Something and SCIDDLE Problem Solving
See Something, Say Something
Please encourage students to scan the QR code below if they are seeking help for themselves or others because of bullying behavior, harassment, or other unsafe behavior. Students may also scan the QR code if they need help because they are feeling down, depressed, or anxious. QR codes are posted around the building for students.
SCIDDLE
SCIDDLE is the problem solving model to help us make better choices and decisions. Here at Albert H. Hill Middle School we want to encourage our students, staff, caregivers and our community to learn to stop and calm down before making any moves. We want SCIDDLE to assist our students with making better choices in the moment. When you or someone you know gets upset - remember to:
Stop - and think it through so you can respond instead of react
Calm down - take 4 deep breaths
Identify the problem - what’s upsetting me right now?
Decide on options - what should I do? These are my choices: resolve, avoid, ignore or diffuse?
Do it - choose one and do it
Look back - what went well with this today? Is there anything I can do differently?
Evaluate - did I make a good choice today?
DID YOU SCIDDLE TODAY? IT WORKS!
Community Opportunities
Cadence Theatre Company- Summer Camp
Join Cadence for Disney's 101 Dalmations Kids and Roald Dahl's Matilda JR this July for a fun-filled day camp and live performance opportunity! Kids ages 4 -rising 8th grade will rehearse a musical at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School and perform at the Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse at Dominion Energy Center. Need-based scholarships and/or payment plans are available. For details, visit: https://cadencetheatre.org/jammin-in-july-registration
Exceptional Education-Family Engagement Collaborative Conversations – The Office of Exceptional Education will be hosting a series of virtual Family Engagement Collaborative Conversation Sessions. Please share this information with your families and school community and encourage them to join us!
May 26, 2022 (Assistive Technology Considerations in Special Education) 1:00-2:00 Google Meet
Spring Sports
Spring sports are here! All students must have a VHSL physical on file prior to tryouts. If your student would like to participate and you need transportation or financial assistance getting a physical, please email Mrs. Ivy at tmayo@rvaschools.net. Please contact the coach listed for more information or the athletic coordinator, Mr. Dean Lee (dlee3@rvaschools.net)
*If students have a physical on file from participation in a Fall or Winter sport, they do not need to resubmit their form.
Spring- Coaches and Tryouts
Tennis (Coed) - All students are welcome to participate in tennis for the entire season whether or not they make the team. Please email Mr. Yavorsky with any questions.
Coach- Mr. Yavorsky (dyavorsk@rvaschools.net)
Outdoor Track- Please email Ms. West with any questions.
Coach- Ms. West (twest3@rvaschools.net)
Practice is every Tuesday and Thursday until 4:30/4:45pm.
Track Meet: RESCHEDULED May 4th @ Thomas Jefferson High School
Softball
Contacts: Mr. Kimbrell (kkimbrel@rvaschools.net) Ms. Collier (scollie2@rvaschools.net)
Practices is ....
Covid-19 At Home Screening
Each day, prior to leaving home, parents should ask students/students should ask themselves the following questions:
1. Have you experienced any of the following symptoms in the past 48 hours?
fever (100.4 degrees or higher) accompanied by chills
persistent cough
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing not contributed to underlying health issues
fatigue, muscle or body aches not contributed to underlying health issues
new loss of taste or smell
sore throat
congestion or runny nose
nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
2. Have you been in physical contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days?
3. Are you isolating because you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are waiting on COVID-19 test results?
If a student answers yes to any of the questions, they should stay home from work/school that day, monitor their symptoms, and contact a medical professional, as appropriate. Parents should notify the principal at tmayo@rvaschools.net and provide any supporting documentation available. Mrs. Ivy will then notify the nurse to begin contact tracing and staff members to provide student work via google classroom. Students may be marked present if they complete assignments through Google Classroom while Quarantined.
Students that present with COVID-like symptoms during the day will be evaluated by the school nurse and, in most cases, sent home and families will be advised to seek testing and or further medical evaluation. School nurses will use the When Should a Child Stay Home From School and/or Child Care?guide provided by the VDH for up-to-date guidance.
*All students received a thermometer in their PPE kits distributed on the first day of school.
Technology Needs
Please complete the lost or stolen chromebook form linked for reporting lost or stolen chromebooks or hotspots.
Internet:
If you do not have internet and are in need of a hotspot, please contact Mr. Jacobs (cjacobs@rvaschools.net).
Tiger P.R.I.D.E./The Hill Way
P: Prepared- I will be in school on time ready to learn.
R: Respectful- I will conduct myself in a way that honors myself, my school, and my community.
I: Integrity- I will do the right thing and make positive choices.
D: Determination- I will not give up in the face of adversity. I am resilient.
E: Exceeding Expectations with Excellence- I will do my personal best everyday.
Every Tiger, Every Day!
School Attendance
Every Tiger, Every Day! Every Day Counts!
School attendance is vital to student academic success at all levels.
The Virginia Department of Education defines “chronic absenteeism” as missing ten percent or more of the academic year for any reason (18 days). Truancy is the act of accruing one or more unexcused absences. Though the definition of absenteeism may differ from truancy, the National Center for School Engagement asserts that the outcomes of a student missing class remain constant regardless of how truancy or absenteeism is classified. Several studies suggest that chronic absences frequently lead to notable academic problems.
Parent/guardians are encouraged to call the school on the day of their child’s absence, but MUST send a written note requesting absences be considered excused upon returning to school. All written notes MUST be submitted to the school within five (5) days of the last absence.
Excused absences are typically those that have resulted from conditions beyond the control of the students or parents/guardians. The only excuses for absences that shall be deemed acceptable for consideration are:
Personal illness (if over three days, the school shall require a note from the doctor)
Personal court appearance (student)
Death in the family (mother, father, spouse, son, daughter, sister, brother, grandparent, aunt, uncle, nephew or niece)
Religious holidays regularly observed by the student
Extenuating circumstances as approved by the school administration
Albert Hill Parent and Family Engagement Policy
Under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, schools that receive Title I funds are expected to collaborate with families to develop and maintain a parent and family engagement policy that describes the school’s approach to involve families in students’ learning.
Albert Hill Parent and Family Engagement Policy