The Tiger Tea
Hill Happenings 11/27- 12/1
Principal's Message
Happy Sunday!
We can't wait to welcome our students back on tomorrow! Please ensure your student brings their charged Chromebook to school daily.
The Big Tiger Give- We are coming down to the last couple days of the Big Tiger Give fundraiser. It will come to an end on Wed, Nov 29th. We are a little over a quarter of the way to our goal. Your generosity goes a long way to support our school's efforts!
I hope families are enjoying our schoolwide read, El Deafo. Keep reading and aim to finish Chapter 10! Task 2 is due by December 1. Any student who turns in the task will get candy, Tiger Bucks, and entrance into a raffle. More readers will be posted in the coming weeks!
Highlights from last week:
- We made it to Thanksgiving Break!
Announcements on the Hill
Big Tiger Give- PTA/School Fundraiser
1) Submit email addresses of friends and family on our website here!
2) Collect donations: this will be done primarily through the emails that the PTA will send out on your behalf to the email addresses you provided.
For best results, follow up to see if your contacts got the emailed information and online donation link and are willing to support your school. You can also share the link yourself with anyone who may want to donate.
If you know a donor who prefers to give cash or a check, we have collection envelopes in the office that students can take for this purpose. (These are particularly great to take to Thanksgiving gatherings!)
3) Win prizes! Every student who submits at least 10 email addresses will get a goody bag, even if their contacts do not donate! But if they do donate, they get even bigger prizes! They will earn one point for every dollar donated, and those points can be redeemed for prizes. See the prize list below!
The Big Tiger Give runs now through November 29, so submit those email addresses today!
Co-ed Volleyball
We're excited to announce that Coed Volleyball will start Tuesday 12/5. Whether you have played volleyball before or are interested in learning how to play, we encourage you to join the inaugural volleyball team. There will be no tryouts and students must have an updated VHSL physical in order to participate. We will have practices on Tuesday and the players will go to RVC on Thursdays for a skills clinic and to play practice matches.
Dates to Remember
November 27
Picture Re-Takes
Dreams4RPS Community Meeting @ The Calhoun Center
December 4
School-wide Spelling Bee
December 5
VGA Reading 8
December 6
VGA Reading 7
December 7
VGA Reading 6
6:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. Dreams 4 RPS Parent Meeting @ Albert Hill
December 13
5:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. Middle School Night
VGA 7/8 Math
December 14
VGA Math 6
December 15
Flex Bell Schedule: Element Meeting
December 18
Winter Spirit Week: Day 1 TBD
December 19
Winter Spirit Week: Day 2 TBD
December 20
Winter Spirit Week: Day 3 TBD
December 21
Winter Spirit Week: Day 4 TBD
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Winter Showcase
December 22
Winter Spirit Week: Day 5 TBD
December 25- January 5
RPS Closed: Winter Break
PTA Roar
Join Our PTA
Please join our PTA. The cost is $7.00 per person. We are striving for 100% family participation. You can also encourage friends, neighbors, and extended family to join.
Our PTA supports monthly programming, helps to keep our school and grounds beautiful, supports families who experience hardships, supports our teachers through monthly displays of appreciation, sponsors students for school events, field trips, and materials, and ensures our teachers have everything they need in the classroom. Your membership and generous donations help to support all of these things and more!
There are several available positions on our 2023-2024 PTA Board. Help us continue to provide students and staff with experiences and resources needed to have a fun and memorable middle school experience. To find out more information or to volunteer for any of the roles above, please email alberthillpta@gmail.com with the name of the position you are interested in as the subject.
Albert Hill Merch
Show your Tiger Pride and Support the PTA by purchasing Albert Hill Merchandise!
Merchandise Link (Scroll down to access the Spiritwear order form.)
Fall Sports
All students must have a current VHSL physical form dated after May 1, 2023 and signed by a physician before they can try out or participate in any athletic activities. Transportation is provided for in-zone students.
Our athletic director is Mr. Kyle Kimbrell. If you have any questions regarding middle school athletics, please email him kkimbrel@rvaschools.net
This Fall we will offer the following sports:
Cheerleading
Coaches: Tiana West (twest3@rvaschools.net); Charmaigne Lloyd (clloyd@rvaschools.net)
Boys Basketball
Coach: Mr. McLane (jmclane@rvaschools.net)
Co-ed Volleyball
Coach: TBD
Community News
Maggie L. Walker International Language Fair
On behalf of the Maggie Walker International Language Fair Committee, we are thrilled to announce that the fair will be held on Saturday, February 24th, 2024, from 9 am to 12 pm at Maggie L. Walker! If you are unfamiliar with the Maggie Walker International Language Fair. Please contact the Maggie Walker International Fair Committee if you have any further questions.
Free Tutoring by MLWGS Students
Newtowne Tutoring is a service club provided by Maggie Walker students dedicated to instilling a love of learning in the children of Richmond. We tutor students of all ages and ability levels. Newtowne meets every Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30pm at 1000 N. Lombardy St. This year, we will begin November 1. Please enter through the Bluestone Lobby (the back entrance). If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at newtownetutoringmlwgs@gmail.com
Virginia Credit Union
Virginia Credit Union is offering an opportunity for all Richmond Public School students to jumpstart their savings in 2023-2024. This new initiative, called RPS Saves, is designed to provide families with quality financial literacy programming to prepare all individuals for a brighter financial future. Parents can sign their student(s) up for a Virginia Credit Union Custodial Saving Account using this link. VACU will then cover the $5 membership and deposit $20 in the account to get their savings started!
Tiger Lair
TIGERS T.A.L.K.: TAKING ACTION WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS
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.
TIGER P.R.I.D.E./ THE HILL WAY
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!
Cell Phone Procedures for the 2023-2024 School Year
Core Belief: In order to facilitate an uninterrupted, distraction-free learning environment, all cell phones and electronic devices should be off and away unless teachers expressly permit their use for instruction.
All classrooms will have signage indicating “Red, Yellow, or Green Zone”
All classrooms will have a cell phone locker for students who are using cell phones during unauthorized times.
School Attendance
Every Tiger, Every Day! Every Day Counts! Thank you for helping us reduce our chronic absenteeism rate last year from 25% to 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
Schoolwide Title 1 Program
Albert Hill is a Title 1 School. Our fantastic Title 1 coaches, Ms. Collier (Reading) and Ms. Newkirk (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 14, 2023.
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.
Breakfast and Lunch
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.
School Communications
If you would like to stay abreast of all of the latest information. Please be sure to sign up to receive Remind messages from our school. You should've already been receiving Remind messages if your student is enrolled. If you are not, you have likely opted out of receiving Remind 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 set preferences 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
