Open Announcements
May 23, 2021
Dear Open High Family,
We are excited to officially celebrate the Class of 2021 at the Diamond on Monday, June 21! While we may not be able to honor the unique traditions of a traditional Open High graduation, we will try to make this event a special one for our seniors and their families. We hope to clarify logistical details over the coming weeks. Thank you again for your patience and flexibility.
Congratulations to our 2021 Scholastic Standout, Greta Gotschalk! This award is presented to a student at each school who has demonstrated exemplary academic achievement and attendance, a positive attitude, and leadership skills. Greta, along with winners from each school, will be honored at a virtual ceremony in June.
ATTENTION ALL SENIORS: We are so proud of you so please share your accomplishments! If you have not already, complete this End of Year Form ASAP. It is essential that we collect this information from you. Please also share your Decision Day Announcements to all of RPS at outreach@rvaschools.net and copy Clary at cwashing@rvaschools.net.
We are hosting a ReOPENing Town Hall on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. for both new and returning families. This will be an opportunity to greet the staff and ask questions about our reopening plans. Please use the QR code below or use this link to join us on Zoom:
https://rvaschools-net.zoom.us/j/96666469803?pwd=L2dKMEY4UU5yQ2JZTzl2Y0ZOR3hPZz09
Meeting ID: 966 6646 9803; Passcode: 358055
A few of our wonderful tutors at VCU Honors College are making themselves available for the rest of the school year. They are now available on Wednesdays from 3:45-4:45 pm at the following link: https://vcu.zoom.us/j/99361696279. It is never too late to get help on your school work on test preparation!
Town Meeting will be held on Friday, May 28 immediately following Family. The Zoom link will be shared on the Open Google Classroom later in the week.
The AP Human Geography exam for Semester 1 students also takes place on Friday with check-in at 11:30 am. Students must go through Exam Setup 1-3 days prior to test.
Make-up SOL tests for all subjects will take place on Saturday, June 5 and June 12 at RCHS at 8:30 am. The SOL Intent Survey is open if you would still like to take or refuse testing. See details below and reach out if you have ANY questions about testing. Please also let Clary know if you wish to take a makeup if you haven't already.
We are closed Monday, May 31 for the Memorial Day holiday. And this day begins our Online Art Expo and Auction (see details below). Please also mark your calendars for our Virtual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 3 at 6 pm. This celebration is for all students and families! A link will be provided shortly.
A big THANK YOU to the parents and students who came out this weekend to help weed our garden beds. The difference is amazing! There will be another Open Volunteer Day to paint the second floor hallway on June 5. You can sign up here.
RPS will move the Juneteenth observance to Friday, June 18. This means that RPS will be closed on this day and the last day of school for teachers and students will be Thursday, June 17, which will follow a Wednesday schedule.
If you have any questions, never hesitate to contact me at cwashing@rvaschools.net or at 804.229.9961. As always, be well, stay safe, and keep celebrating Open minds!
Clary Carleton
Principal
NEW! Important AP Testing Updates
All AP Students must
- Install the digital testing app
- Practice sample questions in the app
- Complete exam setup 1-3 days before the test FOR EACH EXAM
- Check in 30 minutes before the exam
Watch this presentation if you need help downloading the App. Reach out to Micah (your AP Coordinator), your teacher, or Clary if you are having any difficulty.
AP SCHEDULE & GUIDELINES
- All students are expected to take AP exams.
- Students will take AP tests digitally at home with the exception of *AP Spanish Language.
- Students enrolled in the fall semester will take their AP exam in Administration 2. The exceptions are AP Calculus and AP Statistics.
- Students enrolled in the spring semester will take their AP exam in Administration 3.
- Portfolio submission (AP CSP and AP Studio Art) deadlines are May 20, 11:59 pm (with earlier student deadlines).
Administration 2
- AP Human Geography (SM1), May 28, 12 pm
Administration 3
- AP English Literature, June 1, 12 pm
- AP US Government (SM2), June 3, 12 pm
- AP English Language, June 7, 12 pm
- AP Computer Science, June 7, 4 pm
- AP Human Geography (SM2), June 8, 12 pm
- AP Calculus, June 9, 12:00 pm
- AP Statistics, June 10, 4 pm
- AP Biology, June 11, 12 pm
- AP Environmental Science, June 11, 4 pm
NEW! SOL Testing Updates
The RPS SOL Intent Survey is opened if you still wish to take an upcoming SOL or you have not yet shared your intentions. RPS will send you a confirmation by email prior to the test. Safety protocols will be followed according to CDC guidelines. Students who do not take in-person End of Courses SOL tests this spring will be marked as "absent" or "parental refusal." In order to receive verified credits, students will be required to test during a future test administration.
All tests begin at 8:30 a.m. at Richmond Community High School. Students will be provided breakfast, lunch, and transportation (if requested). Students should bring a charged RPS Chromebook with a power cord. If you still need to pick up a Chromebook, please contact Clary ASAP at cwashing@rvaschools.net. Here are the Saturday dates and tests being administered:
- June 5 Make-up Testing/Expedited Retakes/EOC 11 Writing Part 2
- June 12 Make-up Testing/Expedited Retakes
9th and 10th grade students currently enrolled in World History I and World History II take a local Performance Based Assessment (PBA), administered virtually during regularly scheduled class time. All 9th graders and some 10th graders need the verified credit for graduation. Students with a score below 2 on the PBA can choose to take the traditional SOL assessment in-person on June 5 or June 12 instead of the performance assessment to receive their verified credit. Students must complete this Google Form by May 28, 2021, to register for this testing option. Please discuss this option with your teacher to see if it applies.
As a reminder, federal and state education departments have not waived state testing as they did last year. Virginia high school students must pass approved tests to earn verified credits for graduation in certain subjects. More info on End of Course (EOC) SOL Testing is attached in the document below.
ReOPENing Fall 2021
Please read Superintendent Kamras' Family Letter and Checklist. RPS is also hosting Community Conversations to ensure families are prepared, informed, and excited to #ReopenWithLove2.0! For all the latest information from the district, subscribe to RPSDirect.
OPTIONS FOR 2021-2022
- Five-day/week in-person learning option OR
- Five-day/week virtual option through Virtual Virginia.
We hope all of our students will choose to come back in person. If you choose to attend Virtual Virginia for health reasons, you must complete the 2021-22 Virtual Enrollment Form (Formulario de intención de instrucción virtual) by June 1, 2021. Please read more about the virtual options here and reach out to Clary (cwashing@rvaschools.net) or Micah (mdavis7@rvaschools.net) with questions. Online classes with Virtual Virginia begin on August 24.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Read about Health and Safety protocols for next year. Open will also have a full time nurse and clinic for the very first time!
HELP MAKE OPEN BEAUTIFUL
Sign up for one of our Open Volunteer Days to help us beautify our learning environment!
Class of 2021: A Year to Remember
The 2021 Open Commencement Ceremony will take place on June 21 at 4:00 p.m. at the Diamond. Students will receive 4 tickets each. More details to come. Thank you for your patience!
Decision Day Announcements – Please share your Decision Day news with RPS at outreach@rvaschools.net and copy cwashing@rvaschools.net. We all want to celebrate your achievements!
LAST DAY of classes for seniors is Friday, June 11.
More information on scholarships and all things senior can be found at Micah's Counselor Connection Classroom or on the Class of 2021 Classroom. Don't hesitate to reach out to Micah (mdavis7@rvaschools.net) with any questions about planning your next steps, regardless of the direction!
NEW! Early College Academy (ECA)
Friday, June 11th:
JUNIOR END OF YEAR DROP OFF/PICK UP EVENT
Downtown Campus Parking Deck, by appointment 12-4pm. Each year, students come to return textbooks and sign senior year course request and FERPA forms. Students also pick up gifts from the college and raffle items won during coaching sessions.
Summer School
OHS Art Expo & Auction 2021
Please save the date for the annual (now virtual) Open High Art Expo 2021 May 31, 2021 - June 5, 2021 sponsored by our Parent Teacher Student Association. See a preview here. Each year Open High School depends on the Art Auction to help fund the art department. This year our goal is to raise $5,000 to purchase art supplies for next year's art classes. The Art Expo & Auction 2021 is seeking art, sponsors, and donations:
- Art: All Students! We would love to receive your donation of any piece of art you make - painting, ceramic, jewelry, macrame, etc. (It is not necessary to be in Brigette's art class now or ever :)
- Sponsors: Will your business or family sponsor the Art Expo or match donations?
- Auction Items: Share your talents and gifts - perhaps some families would like to put together a basket for auction - wine, food, garden supplies, services, etc. Creativity welcome!
Please contact Pam Embrey pjembrey@gmail.com or Brigette Newberry brigettenewberry@gmail.com if you have questions.
Open High School
Email: cwashing@rvaschools.net
Website: https://www.rvaschools.net/OHS
Location: 600 South Pine Street, Richmond, VA, USA
Phone: 8047804661
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialopenhighschoolpage/
Twitter: @openhighrva