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RPS Direct Update - August 6, 2020
Dear #RPSStrong Family, I'm thrilled to share the details of our student #ReopenWithLove Learning Kits! We're moving and heaven and earth to make sure they're ready prior to the start of the year, but please understand that a few things are out of our control (for example, COVID-related shipping delays). I'll continue to share updates as I have them. Thank you for your patience and understanding! I'm also excited to share that, starting this week, RPS staff and volunteers have been hitting the streets for a series of Community Walks to share #ReopenWithLove information with our families. You can find the full schedule here. As a reminder, for all the latest information about our reopening plans, just go to the main #ReopenWithLove section of our website. We're adding new details every day! With great appreciation,
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RPS Direct Update - August 5, 2020
Dear #RPSStrong Family, Please make sure to tune in for RPS Live! tonight at 7 pm on our Facebook page. I'll be discussing our #ReopenWithLove plan, and dedicating most of the episode to answering your questions. I hope you can join! To help spread the word about #ReopenWithLove, please share this link with anyone in the RPS Family who isn't receiving my daily RPS Direct emails. Thanks!
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RPS Direct Update - August 4, 2020
Dear #RPSStrong Family, I am beyond thrilled to share that Mr. Rodney Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, is taking on a new leadership role at RPS! As a Senior Advisor in the Talent Office, he'll be overseeing our efforts to recruit, support, and retain male teachers of color. He'll also be playing a key role in the implementation of our racial justice policy agenda and working to develop mentoring opportunities for new teachers. Click here to learn more. Please join me in thanking Mr. Robinson for taking on this incredibly important leadership role! Turning to school reopening, please note that we've launched a #ReopenWithLove section of our website, where you can find all the latest information about our virtual semester, including the full #ReopenWithLove plan. I'll be digging into all the details during RPS Live! tomorrow evening at 7 pm.
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RPS Direct Update - August 3, 2020
Dear #RPSStrong Family, Please join us for this evening's School Board meeting at 6 pm on our Facebook page. As a reminder, you don't need a Facebook account to watch. We'll be digging into our reopening plan, which you can view here. We're incredibly grateful to the hundreds of students, teachers, principals, division and support staff, parents, caregivers, and community members who helped craft this plan. We're especially appreciative for the feedback we've received during our weekly Reopening Committee Meetings, weekly Principal Meetings, monthly Teacher Advisory Council Meetings, and nearly daily small-group teacher and instructional specialist meetings. There's still lots more work to do, but let's pause to express our gratitude to everyone who has helped thus far!
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RPS Direct Update - July 30, 2020
Dear #RPSStrong Family, It's hard to believe, but today is the last day of our virtual summer school, RPS SummerCamp@Home. I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who made this innovative and exciting programming possible – from our incredible Academic Programs and Supports team to the wonderful partners we have at the YMCA and NextUp RVA. From all the feedback we've received, it sounds like RPS SummerCamp@Home hit the spot! But don't take my word for it. Listen to one of our parents, Meaghan West, who's this week's RPS Voice. Thank you for making the time to share you reflections, Ms. West! With great appreciation, Jason
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RPS Direct Update - July 29, 2020
Dear #RPSStrong Family, Don’t forget to tune in for RPS Live! tonight at 7:00 pm on our Facebook page (you don't need a Facebook account). I’ll be joined by Autumn Nabors, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Judy Deichman, Instructional Specialist for Library Media Services, as we chat about building RPS students' love for and proficiency at reading. Hope to "see" you soon! With great appreciation, Jason
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RPS Direct Update - July 28, 2020
Dear #RPSStrong Family, At Monday's School Board meeting, we'll be sharing additional details about how our virtual semester will work. We'll be discussing food, technology, academics, and much more. In advance of that meeting, though, I'd like to address one question I've received from a number of teachers: namely, whether you'll be able to teach from your classrooms. After considering feedback from dozens of RPS educators – including those on our Reopening Task Force – I've decided that we will not be allowing this. Please allow me to explain. First, opening our buildings for staff to use would undermine our commitment to doing everything humanly possible to safeguard the health and safety of our employees. It's quite possible that allowing in-classroom teaching would lead to several dozen adults being in a building at the same time. This would increase the risk of transmission precisely at a time when everyone is making extraordinary sacrifices to lower it. Second...
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RPS Direct Update - July 27, 2020
Dear #RPSStrong Family, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! As you can see, we have quite a few shout-outs today, which always puts a smile on my face. Let's keep them coming! Please take a minute this evening to submit a shout-out to someone in the RPS Family who's made a difference in your life. It will only take a minute, but it will have a huge impact! With great appreciation, Jason
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Rodney A. Robinson Named Senior Advisor for Richmond Public Schools
Rodney A. Robinson, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, has recently been named a Senior Advisor for Richmond Public Schools. Beginning August 4, Mr. Robinson will lead the division’s efforts to develop a male teachers of color initiative and establish partnerships with organizations that will help RPS with recruiting and supporting male teachers of color. Rodney will play a key role in the execution of the division’s anti-racism policy agenda and will work closely with the Talent Office to create mentorship opportunities for new teachers.
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Richmond Public Schools Distributes 1 Million Meals to Students and Families
Richmond Public Schools (RPS) has prepared and distributed over 1 million meals to families since closing in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “This milestone is absolutely remarkable and a true testament to how the RPS family has come together in this difficult time to support one another,” said RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras. “We are forever grateful to our nutrition workers, custodians, bus drivers, volunteers and so many others for being on the frontlines everyday and making sure our students had access to nutritious meals.“ The division averages 13,000 meals served per day at 56 school and mobile distribution sites throughout the City of Richmond. Personal protective equipment, cleaning materials, books, art kits, and family supplies, including diapers and hygiene kits, have also been available for families at the distribution sites.
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RPS Names New Principals for the 2020-2021 School Year
Richmond Public Schools is pleased to announce the hiring of new principals for the 2020-21 year. “In each one of these candidates we saw great leaders who we know will lead with love and inspire our students to greatness,” said RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras. Principals have been named for Open High School and for each of our 5 preschool centers; Blackwell Preschool Center, Mary Scott Preschool Center, Maymont Preschool Center, MLK, Jr. Preschool Center, and Summer Hill Preschool Center.
