The Tiger Tea
Hill Happenings 2/14- 2/18
Principal's Message
Highlights for the week:
- The boys basketball team ended their season in the 2nd round of the Tournament! Kudos to all boys basketball players for a great season!
- Semester awards! Kudos to all of our students who earned Scholar Roll, Honor Roll, Principal's list (all A's for Marking Period 1, Marking Period 2, and Semester 1), Elective awards, and Paw Pride (Citizenship)!
- Ms. Perry's class enjoying the sunshine and learning about population ecology playing "Oh Deer" (pictures attached)!
- The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) sold Valentine's Candygrams at Lunch! Love and Kindness were in the Air!
The Visual Arts Center and the Richmond Public Library, Main Branch, will have an in-person art exhibit in March and students from Ms. Russell and Mr. Watson's art classes were selected to have work displayed! Congrats to the following young artists: Dylan Prezioso, Lizzy Pattison, Ava Crow, and Elaine Blankenship.
Our 8th graders who have upcoming interviews to Open High School participated in Mock Interviews.
- The great debate in 8th grade theater- Which do you think is greater? Personal or Professional ethics? Mrs. Vollmer's students committed to their roles and debated each other. Kudos 8th grade Theater Students!
- National Counseling Week. On behalf of Mr. G and our counseling intern Ms. Purcell, Thank you for all of the gifts, emails, and kind words.
NJHS Candygram Construction
NJHS Candygram Construction
"Oh Deer" Population Ecology Fun!
"Oh Deer" Population Ecology Fun!
NJHS Candygram Table
NHJS Candygram Table
Dates to Remember
February 14
Spirit Week
NJHS VCU Children's Hospital Drive Begins
WIDA Testing
February 17
6:00 p.m. Black History Night
February 18
Lifetouch Spring Photos (more information below)
February 21
President's Day- RPS Closed
February 22
School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
NJHS- VCU Children's Hospital Drive
Spring Picture Day!
Mark your calendars! Friday, February 18th is Lifetouch Spring Picture Day at Albert Hill. We want to make sure we have a photograph of every student and staff member for the yearbook -- additionally, if you want to purchase photos, please see the attached order form with School ID EVT2H6ZMB. You can order and pay online, or send in payment on Friday with your child in the form of check or money order made out to Lifetouch, or exact change cash. If your child has joined us since fall pictures were taken, we want to make sure to get their smiling face in the yearbook! rmd.me/uvwMG9LGFPY
Community Opportunities
Feb. 24, 2022 (Understanding Special Education) 1:00-2:00 pm Google Meet
March 31, 2022 (Post-Secondary Transition Planning: Life After High School) 1:00-2:00pm Google Meet
April 28, 2022 (Pathways to Graduation) 1:00-2:00 pm Google Meet
May 26, 2022 (Assistive Technology Considerations in Special Education) 1:00-2:00 Google Meet
The 5 Year RPS Gifted Plan: A Community Conversation – The RPS Programs for Gifted & Talented is hosting a series of Community Conversations. Come join us as we review the 5 Year - 2022-2027 Gifted Plan, gifted education programs, the referral and identification process, and the multi-level services and opportunities available to our scholars.
R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence Nominations – Through a nomination process approximately 15 outstanding teachers are selected to receive grants up to $15,000! Nominate an outstanding teacher today! Deadline is February 22 at 5:00 pm
Congressman McEachin Essay Contest – Congressman McEachin's Annual Black History Month Essay Contest is back for all students in grades 6-12 residing in Richmond! This year's topic is the late Representative John Lewis's important work on voting rights. See the flyer below for more details. Albert Hill was fortunate to have a winner in last year's contest. Please encourage students to apply.
Engineering Outreach Project for Students
Engineers Week (EWeek) is February 20-26 and VSPE is organizing an Outreach Project for students in grades 3-8. It is completely free to participate. VSPE will mail a packet to each student that signs up that includes instructions and materials for an at-home engineering activity. During EWeek, we will have a "Zoom with an Engineer" to discuss the engineering concepts from the project.
Please see the attached flyer for more information. The project is free to participate and the zoom call is entirely optional.
Spring Sports
Spring sports will be here before you know it! If your student is interested in playing a spring sport. Please be sure to 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.
Spring- Coaches and Tryouts TBD
Tennis (Coed) - Dates TBD
Flag Football (Coed) March 3, 2022
Softball April 13, 2022
Outdoor Track: TBD
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).
Please help us reinforce schoolwide expectations
- Be Kind- If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.
- Masks- Masks should be covering your mouth and nose. When eating in the cafeteria, students should remain silent while masks are off and may talk when finished and masks
- Following Directions: Follow directions the first time asked.
- Cell Phones- Off and away during the school day. Cell phones should not be visible to teachers and staff throughout the day.
- Hats and Hoods should be off during the school day.
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