Culture & Climate
At RPS, you belong here
The Culture and Climate department supports the holistic social-emotional health of all RPS students.
A students’ sense of belonging and well-being has a dramatic impact on their academic success. RPS’ Culture and Climate team works collaborative with students, families, and the community to identify and address non-academic barriers to learning, promote safe and loving learning environments, and ensure that students have the behavioral, mental health, and emotional supports that they need to thrive.
Our teams of student support specialists, behavioral specialists, social workers, guidance counselors, and XXX are trained in trauma responsiveness and crisis support. Through data-driven decision-making, the department ensures timely interventions that reduce exclusionary discipline, increase attendance, and enhance core competencies for social-emotional learning. Our intentional work builds capacity across the school division to proactively address student behavior, mental health, and overall student wellness.
The Culture & Climate Department is responsible for:
- Social -Emotional Learning and Mental Health Supports
- Crisis Response
- Bullying Prevention and Intervention
- Trauma Responsive and Restorative Practices
Virginia Required Parent Notification: Safe Storage of Firearms and Medications
Effective July 1, 2026, amendments to § 22.1-79.3 enacted through Senate Bill 109 and House Bill 201 require school boards to notify parents within 30 calendar days of the first day of each school year about the safe storage of prescription medications and firearms, firearm-related accidents, and current youth firearm fatality statistics. Such resources are available on the Virginia Department of Education’s Parent & Caregiver Resources for Self-Harm, Suicide, & Violence Prevention web page.