Chimborazo Elementary Newsletter
July 2019
Principal's Message
Parents and Community Stakeholders,
I hope everyone is having an amazing summer! As we approach the upcoming school year, I wanted to update you on opportunities and information you may need as we make make preparations for our students' arrival.
First, you can still participate in the our second annual effort to beautify our schools before students return. If you are interested, and would like to volunteer to beautify our school building and grounds by painting walls, organizing libraries, picking up trash, weeding gardens, and more please click here to volunteer. Our beautification day is listed when you go on the RPS shines link and sign up for August 3rd. Thank you for your consideration. It would be great to see some of our students and families!
As our community helps us beautify our schools, our facilities team is working furiously with contractors all across the city to replace roofs, boilers, HVAC systems, and more. See below for the full list of projects currently underway or planned for this summer. Currently, a vast majority of our roof is being replaced as well as our boiler. It's the little things in life and fewer leaks makes for a happy principal! Our students deserve the best!
Additionally, I'm thrilled to announce that the Brothers United Mentoring Program will be expanding to Chimborazo this coming school year! This program, which pairs young men of color with adult mentors of color, is currently recruiting mentors for the 2019-20 school year. If you're interested in serving as a mentor, please apply here. Note that the application closes on Thursday, August 15. For any questions, please contact Tamika Massie, Engagement Specialist, at tmassie@rvaschools.net.
Lastly, we need your help spreading the word on the Parent (English & Spanish) and Teacher Advisory Councils. Also, if you have a parent you think would be a good fit for the advisory council, we are happy to support with the application. If this is the case, please email Shadae Harris directly.
Although it is summer break, many of our staff members are spending their time, not only relaxing, but beefing up their teaching skills and knowledge as well.
Our compliance coordinator, Ms. Saunders, attended the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati’s Master Teacher Seminar in Washington, DC. She applied and was accepted to spend the week at the Society’s Anderson House with the education staff and 9 other educator participants from around the country, ranging from an elementary teachers to college professors. She participated in multiple sessions with guest speakers about topics surrounding the Revolutionary War and its lasting impact, as well as “field trips” to historic sites throughout DC. She also had full access to their research library and special collections, which includes artifacts, books, original letters, maps, etc. all dating back to the Revolutionary War. Each teacher has daily research time to explore the special collections and scan or take pictures of the original items to use as primary sources in class. The lesson plans she develops throughout the week will be available for other teachers to use on the Museum website. She is also helping host the welcome receptions at Monticello by welcoming the teachers to both of their summer teacher institute sessions!
Ms. Crowe, who is joining our school as an additional reading specialist, attended an Orton Gillingham Refresher Conference provided by the Virginia Department of Education and TTAC department of VCU. On the first day they dove deep into the importance of phonemic awareness, examining David Kilpatrick’s research and text. She also attended an entire session dedicated to expanding her knowledge of a schwa! You'll have to ask her what that is:)! On the second day she worked alongside fellow educators to discuss phonics in grades 3-6, the importance of it, and how to enhance instruction. They worked in teams to develop multi-sensory phonics lesson plans to support literacy in the upper grades. She also learned invaluable information and is especially excited to incorporate phonemic awareness practices into instruction for all grade levels!
A number of teachers including Ms. Drake, Mrs. Moseley, Ms. Crowe, Ms. Wittig will explore a variety of methods of teaching-individual conferences, small group strategy lessons, and whole class instruction that they will use to put strategies in action to support our students at William and Mary in August. Mr. Fisher, Mrs. Moseley, Ms. Baltrip, Ms. Conyers Jones, and Ms. Cowling have also dedicated their summer to helping facilitate summer school which ends today.
A special thanks to members of our staff who participated on our discipline committee during two sessions this summer including Ms. Kilgore, Ms. Dietz, Mrs. Wozniak, Mr. Fisher, Ms. Saunders, Ms. Porter, Ms. Conyers Jones, Mrs. Messick, Mrs. Smith, Ms. Wilders, Dr. Flynn, and Ms. Turner. Thank you to everyone who makes Chimborazo a "world class school."
I know many of you are curious about class placements. These letters will be sent home in August. Also, you can receive this information at our open house on Thursday, August 29th. Open house for grades 1 through 5 will happen at 3 pm. Kindergarten orientation will take place at 4:15 pm that same day. As preparations for the upcoming school year are made, please take advantage of the uniform sales online and at department stores as we keep our focus on books and not looks. There were questions about Khaki shorts during the summer months, and this is acceptable. Uniform and dress code guidelines are below.
School uniforms
Boys- (Khaki or Navy Blue) pants and Navy Blue or White collared shirt
Girls-Dress (Navy Blue or Khaki)/ Skirt (Navy Blue or Khaki)
Collared Shirt (Navy Blue or White)/ Boys or girls may wear solid navy blue ties
School uniforms
Boys- (Khaki or Navy Blue) pants and Navy Blue or White collared shirt
Girls-Dress (Navy Blue or Khaki)/ Skirt (Navy Blue or Khaki)
Collared Shirt (Navy Blue or White)/ Boys or girls may wear solid navy blue ties
Students dress and appearance must be neat including shirts tucked in
All shoes must be properly laced or fastened.
No hats, hoodies, or headbands will be worn in the building.
Boys must wear belts to hold their pants up on their waists.
No student will be allowed to wear pants hanging below the waist.
Girls must wear shorts on the inside of skirts.
Girls must not wear clogs, slides, slippers, or flip flops.
Girls must not wear short shorts or halter top
Boys should have sleeves on shirts.
Thank all of you for your support and please do not hesitate to contact me directly at the school, 804-780-8392 if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
David T. Peck
Principal of the Mighty Chimborazo Jaguars
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Mark your calendar
Wednesday, August 21st Teachers return to school
Thursday. August 29th 3 pm Open House for grades 1 through 5
Thursday. August 29th 4:15 pm Kindergarten Orientation
Attendance matters
Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence.
Box Tops
Look for the 10¢ Box Tops coupon on hundreds of your favorite products -- Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Ziploc, Kleenex, Hefty, and many more.
Cut out the coupons and ask your child to give them to their teacher. The more coupons you send in, the more money our school receives!
For more information, see http://www.boxtops4education.com/home .