The Tiger Tea
Hill Happenings 8/29- 9/2
Principal's Message
We are excited to welcome our scholars back today! It is going to be a great year!
Your scholar will bring home our back to school information packet today. Please be sure to fill out all forms. Most importantly the forms for dietary restrictions, allergies, updated contact information, and the technology agreement. Even if your scholar has been an RPS student, please complete all forms. Scholars will not be able to get a Chromebook unless they have completed the technology agreement. We will assign Chromebooks on a rolling basis as scholars turn in forms.
Dates to Remember
August 29th
First Day of School for Scholars
September 2
RPS Closed
September 5
RPS Closed- Labor Day
September 9
Flex Bell Schedule: 1st Element Meeting and 6th Grade Sorting Ceremony
September 15
Hispanic Heritage Month Begins
September 19
VGA Testing Begins: English and Math
September 22
6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Back to School Night
September 23
Flex Bell Schedule: Element Meeting
NEW CELL PHONE PROCEDURES FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
This school year we are excited to introduce a new cell phone procedure to increase scholar ownership and engagement in the classroom. We are asking scholars to voluntarily accept the #distractionfreechallenge and turn in cell phones to a secured cell phone bin. Scholars will be rewarded for their participation and will receive cell phones back at the end of each class. The RPS cell phone policy is referenced in the student and caregiver handbook and Student Code of Responsible Ethics. #offandaway #Tigersdistractionfree
Join our PTA
Please join our PTA. The cost is $7.00. We are aiming for 100% family participation. Our PTA supports monthly programming, helps to keep our school and grounds beautiful, supports families who experience hardships, supports our teachers through monthly displays of appreciation, sponsors students for school events, field trips, and materials, and ensures our teachers have everything they need in the classroom. Your membership and generous donations help to support all of these things and more!
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!
Elements of Tiger Pride
All of our scholars are in an element group during their time at Albert Hill. There are four elements of Tiger Pride!
Earth Tigers
Air Tigers
Water Tigers
Fire Tigers
The purpose of the elements are:
To build school community and inject a sense of friendly competitive spirit
Unite scholars across different peer groups
Unite scholars across grade levels
Have scholars interact with other faculty members besides their teachers
All 7th and 8th grade scholars will remain in their elements. 6th grade scholars will be sorted into elements during the first element meeting of the year. Parents represent the element of their children. Be sure to ask your child which element they are in. We will have opportunities for families to represent their elements this year!
School Attendance
Every Tiger, Every Day! Every Day Counts!
School attendance is vital to scholar 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
NextUp RVA
NextUp RVA, our after school program provider will begin programming October 3rd. Some of the after school programs offered last year include Cooking, Spin Academy (DJing), Hair Braiding, Chess, STEAMulate Laser Tag, Business of Art (Airbushing), Basketball, Empowered to Jump, and many more high quality program offerings. Block 1 of programming will be from 3:15 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. and Block 2 of programming will be from 5:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. Students will have the option to be dismissed at 5:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Transportation is provided for in-zone students.
HUMPHREY CALDER COMMUNITY CENTER- OUT OF SCHOOL TIME
The Out of School Time Program at Humphrey Calder Community Center is open each day Richmond Public Schools are operational for full days of school. The program begins immediately after school is dismissed and ends promptly at 6:00 p.m. Staff members from Humphrey Calder pick students up from Albert Hill and walk them to the Community Center located on Thompson Street. Children must be picked up each day by 6:00 p.m. Staff members are Parks and Recreation employees. Adult volunteers from various organizations in the community assist with the program.
Features of the Out of School Time Program:
- Offers youth the opportunity to engage in arts and crafts, music, dance, nature and the environment, games and sports
- Develops interest in cultural and athletic activities
- Offers a daily snack or meal provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Child and Adult Care Food Program
- Provides a high ratio of adult supervision and leadership to participants
- Educates youth in community involvement
For more information please call 804-648-1780 or register online.
RICHMOND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
We are excited to offer scholar support services for Therapeutic Day Treatment from Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) this upcoming school year. If you believe that your scholar would benefit from services, please contact
Who We Are:
- Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) is licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and is the statutorily established public entity responsible for providing mental health, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse and prevention services to the citizens of the City of Richmond.
- The RBHA TDT program serves youth in Richmond Public School identified as having significant behavioral and/or emotional problems that are impacting their success in the school environment
What We Do:
- Work alongside youth and their families to provide daily therapeutic supports throughout the school day to include monitoring, on-the-spot support, therapeutic interventions and activities, individual and group counseling, weekly family counseling and crisis intervention.
- Provide daily pro-social skills training, cognitive-behavioral interventions, problem-solving, coping strategies, anger-management support and de-escalation strategies.
- Assist youth and their families with linkage to additional mental health supports such as Family Case Management, Psychiatric Services, Outpatient Therapy and Intensive In-Home counseling supports.
- The goals of the TDT program are to reduce suspensions, improve school attendance and support children’s success in school, at home, and in the community.
- Provide staff development and training opportunities to Richmond Pubic School personnel in the areas of trauma informed care, classroom management, understanding mental health in youth, and de-escalation techniques.