The Tiger Tea

Happy Sunday!

Lots to catch up on this week!

• The Albert Hill Tigers swept the RPS History Fair! Congratulations to Reeves Boschen, Josie Hooper, and Norah O'Brien for taking first place in each of their categories! Josie Hooper also won overall best middle school project! A huge thank you to Ms. Howard!
• Ms. Porter's students were able to go to the VMFA to see the giants exhibit thanks to s generous anonymous donor and a gift received through the RPS Fine Arts Department.
• Thank you to our amazing PTA and all families, staff, and community members who supported our winter fundraiser, the Snowfall Social! Congratulations to all the prize winners! A special thank you to the Snowfall social committee members for all of your hard work!
• Our cheerleaders rocked at the RPS district cheerleading competition. Congratulations to Zoe Williams for winning 3rd place solo.
• Thank you to our amazing PTA for replacing the microwaves in the cafeteria for students. Thank you also to the generous parent who also donated a brand new microwave!
• PTA Spirit night at Taco Bamba is Wednesday, March 11th. Hope to see you there! Thank you in advance for supporting our school!
• Come out to the Science Showcase this Thursday, March 12th from 5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. at the Dewey Gottwalk Center. We will have an invasive species table displaying AHMS student projects and handing out educational materials!
• 12, 8th graders will attend Rule of Law day this week!
• Let's pack the house and support the AHMS theater program Thursday, March 12th and Friday, March 13th for Peter and the Starcatcher! Additional details below!

Every Tiger, Every Day!

First day of programming is Monday, April 6, 2026, and registration closes Thursday, April 16, 2026. Programs at Albert Hill Middle School run from 3:15 PM to 6:30 PM Monday through Thursday. Nutrition and transportation home are provided. Once registered, students will select programs through The YMCA of Greater Richmond.

Learn more and register here.

The end of Marking Period 3 is March 19th. Students and families should communicate with classroom teachers regarding their specific missing/late work procedures. Please do not wait until the last minute to submit assignments.

Request to Remain: Per School Board policy, families who move into a different RPS school zone after February 1 may request that their student remain at their current school for the remainder of the school year. The designated request form must be submitted for all families who wish to remain at their current school from now through the end of the school year. This option applies only to families who move within RPS zones. Families who move out of the district (e.g., HCPS, CCPS, etc.) are not eligible to request to stay.

Please help us enforce a device free environment pursuant Executive Order 33. We have seen an uptick in students wearing Beats and other over the ear headphones during the school day. Beginning Monday, January 26th over the ear headphones will be confiscated if they are worn during the school day. All electronic devices should stored in a backpack, locker, or bag from bell to bell.

Last year, our school had a chronic absenteeism rate of 21%. Our goal is 15%.

How families can help:

• Send students to school each day.
• If your student has an appointment, we ask that you consider allowing them to come to school before the appointment or bringing them to school after the appointment so that they can be marked present.
• If your student has to miss a day for any reason, including suspensions and excused absences, allow them to make-up their absence by attending Flexible Instruction Time. For every two days of FIT after school, one absence is recovered.

The table below shows the maximum number of absences for each school day and date range. For example: Your student is considered chronically absent if they have 3 or more absences on October 3rd. They will no longer be considered chronically absent on October 9th if they have 3 days absent and don't accrue any more absences before October 24th.

Arrival time and Searches:

Doors open to students at 7:50 a.m. each morning. Walkers and car riders enter through Door 1 on Patterson Avenue (main entrance) and Bus riders enter through Door 5 on Park Avenue. As students enter the building, they will go through metal detectors, and their personal belongings will be searched. Parents are not permitted to walk students to class. Parents who enter the building will be subject to search and should report to the main office immediately.

March 9

Second Step Video: Community Circle

March 10

9:45 a.m. Tornado Drill

March 11

Student of the Month Lunch

Boys To Men Mentoring Group Meeting

Rule of Law Day

PTA Spirit Night: Taco Bamba

March 12

PTA Board Meeting

10:15 a.m. In-School Performance Peter and the Starcatcher

6:00 p.m. Peter and the Starcatcher

March 13

6:00 p.m. Peter and the Starcatcher

All City Guitar 10:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. (Hosted at Hill)

March 16

Interim Testing

Scholastic Book Fair

March 17

Interim Testing

Scholastic Book Fair

Mission Laser 6th Grade Trip

Second Step Video: Community Circle

PTA Teacher Appreciation Catered Lunch

March 18

Interim Testing

District Choral Assessment

Boys To Men Mentoring Group Meeting

Mission Laser 6th Grade Trip

March 19

Interim Testing

Scholastic Book Fair

End of Marking Period 3

5-6:30 p.m. Science and ELA Night

Mission Laser 6th Grade Trip

March 20

Eid al Fitr (RPS Closed)

March 23

Interim Testing

Spirit Week: Day 1

VAAP Window Opens

Second Step Video: Community Circle

March 24

Interim Testing

Spirit Week: Day 2

Tigers Serve

March 25

Spirit Week: Day 3

District Guitar Assessment

Boys To Men Mentoring Group Meeting

8th Grade Washington D.C. Field Trip

March 26

Interim Testing

Spirit Week: Day 4

Spanish Field Trip- Quiobo Parce

March 27

Interim Testing

Spirit Week: Day 5

Spring Tiger Rally

All City Theater

March 30- April 3

RPS Closed- Spring Break

Softball

Coach: Mr. Brouder (gbrouder@rvaschools.net)

Flag Football

Coach: Mr. Mac (jmclane@rvaschools.net)

Cheerleading

Head Coach: Ms. Charmaigne Lloyd (clloyd@rvaschools.net)

Assistant Coaches: Ms. Diamond Scott (dscott4@rvaschools.net) and Ms. Destiny Scott (dscott3@rvaschools.net)

Track

Coach: Mr. Jonathan Brooks (jbrooks8@rvaschools.net)

Running Team

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

All students must have a current VHSL physical form dated after May 1, 2025 and signed by a physician before they can try out or participate in any athletic activities. Transportation is provided for in-zone students.

Athletic Director: Mr. Jonathan Brooks (jbrooks8@rvaschools.net)

On behalf of the Maggie Walker International Language Fair Committee, we are thrilled to announce that the fair will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 9 AM to 12 pm at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School (1000 N Lombardy St.)! If you are unfamiliar with the Maggie Walker International Language Fair, here’s a brief overview:

• Every spring, middle school students from our regional school districts participate in language workshops designed and led by Maggie Walker students.

• Students will be assigned to three languages/cultures (out of the 10 offered at MLWGS) and will spend 40 minutes in each workshop immersed in the culture. The languages offered include:

• Spanish

• French

• Russian

• German

• American Sign Language

• Chinese

• Japanese

• Latin

• Italian

• Arabic

• We will do our best to honor preferences for workshops; however, due to the large number of participants, we cannot guarantee that all preferences will be granted. We do believe that no matter which workshop the students participate in, they will have fun and learn a lot about that language and culture.

• Each workshop will allow participating students an opportunity to engage in a series of fun student-led activities, learn about languages offered at Maggie Walker, and experience the life of a MLWGS student. We believe learning about global languages and cultures allows students to become more inclusive, inquisitive, and respectful citizens and learners who see the world with a broadened perspective.

• The fee is $5 per student (non-refundable), this includes lunch, which will be a variety of international foods, allowing participants to learn about global cultures while enjoying the multicultural cuisine. Students with allergies or special dietary needs may pack their own lunch. The fee deadline is January 11th, 2026.

We invite you to register via this link. If you run into issues or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to: mwlanguagefair@gmail.com

*Registration and fee payment will close on January 11th, 2026.

This is a fantastic opportunity for your middle school students to learn more about other languages and cultures.

Students are encouraged to use the Tigers T.A.L.K. QR code if they need mental health support or if they would like to report instances of bullying or unkind acts anonymously. The QR code is monitored by one of our school counselors.

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! Thank you for helping us maintain our chronic absenteeism rate last year of 21%! Our goal this year is 15%. WE CAN DO IT!

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

Albert Hill is a Title 1 School. Our fantastic Title 1 coaches, Ms. Collier (Reading) and Ms. Russell (Math) are always available to answer your literacy and mathematics questions. We thank them for sharing information regarding our Title 1 status at Back to School Night Thursday, September 4, 2025.

Title I, Part A provides financial assistance through state educational agencies to school divisions and public schools with high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic content and achievement standards.

School divisions target the Title I funds they receive to public schools with the highest percentages of children from low-income families. RPS Title I funded schools are school-wide programs that are designed to upgrade their entire educational programs for all students, particularly the lowest-achieving students.

Please view this schoolwide Title 1 Presentation to learn more! This information can also be found on our school website.

All students are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no charge each day of the school year. No further action is required of you. Your children will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application.

Food deliveries to students from meal delivery services are not permitted at any time during the school day or at after school activities due to safety and to minimize disruptions. Attempted deliveries will be confiscated and will remain in the main office until dismissal. Parents may bring food to students.

If you would like to stay abreast of all of the latest information. Please be sure to sign up to receive ParentSquare messages from our school. You should've already been receiving ParentSquare

messages if your student is enrolled. If you are not, you have likely opted out of receiving ParentSquare

messages and must change your preferences.

Please also check out the school's website, weekly Tiger Tea (access through school website, social media accounts, or "follow" to receive via email), and follow all school and PTA social media accounts.

-TigerEye ParentLink on Instagram
-Albert Hill Middle PTA private Facebook group
-Albert Hill PTA Facebook account