The Tiger Tea
Hill Happenings 1/24- 1/28
Principal's Message
Highlights from the week
- Our amazing Spanish teachers Ms. Midyette and Mrs. Sherlip hosted International Night and we made Arepas! If you would still like to make Arepas, check out the YouTube Video Pre-recorded by Ms. Midyette and Ms. Sherlip with Step-by-Step Instructions: rmd.me/YBTgTHMs3Hd
- We had our schoolwide spelling bee. Winner announced below.
- Our boys basketball team brought home a win against Franklin Military Academy!
- Our December teacher of the month is Mrs. Chiles and our December Pass the Tiger recipient is Ms. Green!
- Snow!
Mr. Kamras and the school board have reaffirmed the division's mask mandate. RPS will maintain its 100% mask-wearing policy for all students, staff, and families. If your student is out due to Covid-19 they can be marked quarantined present if they complete work through google classroom. If your student is well enough to complete assignments, please encourage them to do so. Connect directly with your child's teachers if you have any questions about assignments.
School-wide Spelling Bee Winner
Dates to Remember
January 24
NextUp After School Programming Begins
January 28
Rescheduled PTA Soup Lunch for Teachers
2 hr. Early Dismissal/ End of 2nd Nine Weeks and 1st Semester
January 31
No school for students. Teacher Work Day
February 1
6th and 7th grade students attend 2nd Semester Electives where applicable
4:30 p.m. Open Enrollment Deadline
Black History Month Begins
School Board Member Appreciation Month Begins
Open Enrollment
Community Opportunities
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.
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.
Winter and Spring Sports
Winter
Cheerleading Competition February 26, 2022 (Subject to change)
Cheerleading- Coach: Keondra Ellison-Holliday (khollida@rvaschools.net) and Kiana Bradford (kbradfor@rvaschools.net)Boys Basketball- Coaches: Michele Drayton (mdrayton@rvaschools.net) and David Yavorsky (dyavorsk@rvaschools.net).
Spring- Coaches and Tryouts TBD
Softball April 14, 2022
Outdoor Track Meet April 27, 2022
Tennis (Coed) March 1, 2022
Flag Football (Coed) March 3, 2022
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.
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