The Tiger Tea

Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone had a restful, relaxing, and rejuvenating Spring Break! We are looking forward to welcoming all Tigers back tomorrow, April 11th.

Highlights for the week of 3/28- 4/1

• Spring Tiger Rally was a blast! Thank you to all of our parents and families who donated items to make the event a success!
• The flag football team defeat the Binford Lions in a close game of 56-52, Franklin Military Academy 34-14 and MLK 38-34.
• Congratulations to the Tennis Team! Lucca Fox won his match. Sabina Gunlicks and Charlotte Baker had 3 wins in doubles!
• Congratulations to Earth Tigers on having the most donations to the VCU Children's Hospital drive. Earth Tigers will receive 300 element points.
• The NJHS was able to make 27 bags for the VCU Children's Hospital. They were dropped off on Friday, April 1st. Thank you to everyone who donated!

I hope you will join us Tuesday, April 12th at Byrd Park for our Tigers Serve Litter pick up with Keep VA Cozy from 3:45-6pm! Please also join us Saturday, April 16th at the Charles S. Gilpin Community Garden for cleanup with Community 50/50 from 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.! You can sign up for one or both events below.

NextUp spring programming begins tomorrow, April 11th. It's not to late to register for this session!

April 11

Spring Programming Begins- NextUp

April 12

3:45 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. Tigers Serve: Albert Hill Garden Pick-Up with Keep Virginia Cozy

April 15

End of 3rd Marking Period

April 16

10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Tigers Serve: Albert Hill Charles S. Gilpin Community Garden cleanup with Community 50/50

April 18

RPS closed for Easter Monday

April 19

Schedule Change to Even Day. Bring even day class materials to school

April 21

5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. ELA and Science Night (in-person event)

April 24

PTA Spring Picnic and Flag Football Tournament

April 26

Report card and progress report distribution

There are still 2 more opportunities for you to serve! Please sign-up!

Byrd Park litter pick up with Keep Virginia Cozy || DATE: Tuesday, April 12, 2022; Time 3:45 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Charles S. Gilpin Community Garden cleanup with Community 50/50 || DATE: Saturday April 16, 2022 Time 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

Talented Tigers! Are you interested in Acting, Directing, State Management, or working as part of the backstage crew? If so, the One-Act Play Festival is the place for you! Sign-up using the One-Act Play Festival permission Form posted in your google classroom streams. The One-Act Play Festival auditions will take place on Tuesday, April 12th when we return from Spring Break. You must review the rehearsal schedule and commit to attending each rehearsal when completing the permission form. You will not be allowed to stay back for auditions if you have not completed the permission form. See Mrs. Vollmer for more information.

Pack your picnic baskets and join the Albert Hill family for this community event. Calling all tiger flag football players! The PTA is hosting a spring picnic on April 24th, 2022. During the day, we will be running a flag football tournament where students can represent their elements and compete in order to earn element points. Everyone is welcome, but must have their own transportation. Currently, the event will be held at the AHMS field. If your student would like to play, please encourage them to sign up on the interest form around the school. More information about specifics will come in the weeks to come and will be based on interest, so please have them sign up if you would like to join us! The link can be found here as well: https://forms.gle/csJWo4YSyct4tXnH8 We look forward to a fun packed day

See Something, Say Something

Please encourage students to scan the QR code below if they are seeking help for themselves or others because of bullying behavior, harassment, or other unsafe behavior. Students may also scan the QR code if they need help because they are feeling down, depressed, or anxious. QR codes are posted around the building for students.

SCIDDLE

SCIDDLE is the problem solving model to help us make better choices and decisions. Here at Albert H. Hill Middle School we want to encourage our students, staff, caregivers and our community to learn to stop and calm down before making any moves. We want SCIDDLE to assist our students with making better choices in the moment. When you or someone you know gets upset - remember to:

Stop - and think it through so you can respond instead of react

Calm down - take 4 deep breaths

Identify the problem - what’s upsetting me right now?

Decide on options - what should I do? These are my choices: resolve, avoid, ignore or diffuse?

Do it - choose one and do it

Look back - what went well with this today? Is there anything I can do differently?

Evaluate - did I make a good choice today?

DID YOU SCIDDLE TODAY? IT WORKS!

Albert Hill's NextUp Spring Session Begins April 11th. You can still register for this session!

Next Up Enrollment – Looking for great after-school enrichments for your middle schooler? Register now for NextUp's Spring Sessions! NextUp partners with 60 community-based enrichment providers in areas like science, technology, arts, sports, and leadership. Create an account on NextUp's parent portal to register for afterschool classes today!

Course selection for the 2022-2023 is underway. Students are encouraged to share their course selections with their parents, which they can get to by logging into their clever accounts and going to the Schoolinks application. The opportunity to take honors courses is available to all students. The following electives may be selected for you on a case by case basis: Math enrichment, Reading Skills, English as a Second Language and Gifted and Talented.

Course offerings and the middle school program of studies is listed below. Course offerings are not guaranteed. The ability of the school to offer courses is dependent upon the budget and staffing. Not all courses may be offered at Albert Hill for the 2022-2023 school year. Students may have the ability to take other options virtually, in addition to their full in-school schedule. All questions regarding course selection, offerings, and scheduling should be directed to Mr. G (dgustavs@rvaschools.net)

Course Selection FAQs

• Will Spanish 1 be offered for the 2022-2023 school year?

Yes.

• Can my child to take both band and a language in the 7th grade?

Band and Spanish are two yearlong electives. Due to the physical education requirement, students in 7th grade are not able to take two yearlong electives. Families who feel strongly about students taking both band and language in the 7th grade can speak with Mr. G about taking language through Virtual Virginia. The Virtual Virginia course would be a course independent of the student's Albert Hill schedule and taken completely outside of school time. Families who pursue this option would assume all responsibility for communicating with the assigned Virtual Virginia teacher (not an RPS employee) and must adhere to the Virtual Virginia policies for logging in and academic achievement. There would be no cost to the family. The opportunity is also dependent upon seats available in the class, early registration is advised. If this is of interest to you and your family, please speak with Mr. G so that he can discuss next steps.

• Is Dance an option?

Albert Hill does not currently offer Dance. If you are interested in seeing Dance at Albert Hill, please select Dance as one of your student's options on the course selection form. We will use family interest to advocate for Dance as an offering if there is enough interest. Dance can be used to satisfy the physical education requirement.

Schoollinks FAQ

• What is Schoolinks?

Schoolinks is a modern College and Career Readiness Platform that your district partnered with to help you for life after high school. The platform offers more than 80 experiences such as career interest inventory assessments, college and career search, internship matching, portfolio, and more.

• Logging in

You can launch Schoolinks from your Clever Portal. Or GO to: https//apps.schoolinks.com/ and use the login with Clever Option.

• Take swipeable surveys and quizzes!

Learn more about yourself. Help navigate the college and career planning process. Research careers, ask questions. Discover opportunities in your area and across the nation. Learn information about campus life, the student body, etc. Watch selfie videos from current students. Take Virtual Reality Tours. Map out your financial future on the life decisions you make.

• Go to personalized plan and select your courses for the 2022-2023 school year.

The School Counselor will meet with students individually, discuss options, and review choices.

Cadence Theatre Company- Summer Camp

Join Cadence for Disney's 101 Dalmations Kids and Roald Dahl's Matilda JR this July for a fun-filled day camp and live performance opportunity! Kids ages 4 -rising 8th grade will rehearse a musical at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School and perform at the Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse at Dominion Energy Center. Need-based scholarships and/or payment plans are available. For details, visit: https://cadencetheatre.org/jammin-in-july-registration

Oliver Hill Day

The Oliver Hill Day celebration will take place on Friday, April 29th at 3:00 pm at the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations courthouse. This year the committee is partnering with Richmond Public Schools for their annual art competition. Students are encouraged to complete a project on Oliver Hill. Those students who complete a project on Oliver Hill will be recognized and have an opportunity to win a cash prize at the Oliver Hill Day celebration. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place cash awards to the middle schoolers and high schoolers will be given. Cash prizes are as follows: First place will receive $100; second place will receive $50 and third place will receive $25. The students’ projects will be judged using the rubric created by Richmond Public Schools to judge History Fair submissions.

Please reach out to Steven Forbes (sforbes@moranreevesconn.com) with any questions.

Exceptional Education-Family Engagement Collaborative Conversations – The Office of Exceptional Education will be hosting a series of virtual Family Engagement Collaborative Conversation Sessions. Please share this information with your families and school community and encourage them to join us!
April 28, 2022 (Pathways to Graduation) 1:00-2:00 pm Google Meet
May 26, 2022 (Assistive Technology Considerations in Special Education) 1:00-2:00 Google Meet

• Neighborhood walk to inventory and map empty tree wells to identify opportunities for the Adopt A Tree program
• Alley cleanup: This would involve both picking up trash and also entering 311 requests for bulk trash pickup
• Neighborhood walk to document graffiti and tags on street signs, create 311 requests

If any of these ideas are of interest, please email tmayo@rvaschools.net so that you can receive further direction.

Spring sports are here! All students must have a VHSL physical on file prior to tryouts. If your student would like to participate and you need transportation or financial assistance getting a physical, please email Mrs. Ivy at tmayo@rvaschools.net. Please contact the coach listed for more information or the athletic coordinator, Mr. Dean Lee (dlee3@rvaschools.net)

*If students have a physical on file from participation in a Fall or Winter sport, they do not need to resubmit their form.

Spring- Coaches and Tryouts

Tennis (Coed) - All students are welcome to participate in tennis for the entire season whether or not they make the team. Please email Mr. Yavorsky with any questions.

Coach- Mr. Yavorsky (dyavorsk@rvaschools.net)

Flag Football (Coed)- Please email Mr. Kimbrell with any questions.

Coach- Mr. Kimbrell (kkimbrel@rvaschools.net)

Student spectators may attend home flag football games if they have transportation home, walk, or attend Humphrey Calder Community Center after school. We do not have the capacity to provide bus transportation to game spectators due to our other after school activities.

Outdoor Track- Please email Ms. West with any questions.

Coach- Ms. West (twest3@rvaschools.net)

Practice is every Tuesday and Thursday until 4:30/4:45pm.

Softball April 13, 2022

Coach- TBD

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.

Lost or Stolen Devices:

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).

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!

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

Under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, schools that receive Title I funds are expected to collaborate with families to develop and maintain a parent and family engagement policy that describes the school’s approach to involve families in students’ learning.

Albert Hill Parent and Family Engagement Policy

If you would like to provide feedback on the Parent and Family Engagement Policy, please email Mrs. Ivy (tmayo@rvaschools.net)