Southampton 🐾Pawprint🐾

At Southampton, learning doesn't stop when the internet does! While RPS continues to experience internet connectivity issues, our teachers are getting creative, adjusting lessons, and keeping our Tigers engaged in meaningful instruction without technology!

We are also currently unable to make copies at school, which creates an additional challenge for our teachers. A HUGE SHOUT OUT to the Richmond Public Library for opening its doors to RPS teachers this weekend so they can make copies and prepare instructional materials for their students! We are incredibly grateful for this community partnership and for our teachers who continue to go above and beyond!

📅 Big Week Ahead!

• 📸 Tuesday, October 27: Fall Picture Day — Come ready to smile!

• 📚 Wednesday, October 28: No School for Students — Staff Professional Development Day

• ✂️ Friday, October 30: Perfect Attendance Prize Day — Principal Petrey's hair is on the line!

• 📖 Friday, October 30: Book Character Day

Please remember:

1. 📖 Bring the Book! Students wearing costumes must bring a book featuring their character.
2. 🚫 No masks covering faces.
3. 👟 Regular school shoes must be worn.
4. 🚫 No weapons or weapon-like accessories.
5. 🎭 No scary makeup or frightening costumes.
6. ❤️ Costumes must be school-appropriate and allow students to participate in regular classroom activities.

• 🎃 Friday, October 30: PTA Trunk or Treat/Fall Festival, 5:00–7:00 PM

❤️ We Need Our Tigers HERE!❤️

Even without technology, every minute of instruction matters! Our teachers are working hard to ensure learning continues, and we need our students here to benefit from it. Please make attendance a priority on every scheduled school day! Arrive on time, stay all day, and help us finish October strong!

🐯 SHOW UP. STAY ALL DAY. ROAR!🐯

What you’ll find here:
Highlights of how our students and staff show respect for themselves, others, and our school community. This section may include celebrations of positive behavior, reminders about kindness and inclusion, and ways families can support respectful habits at home.

Parents can submit shoutouts for their teachers or students using the shoutout form. Let's Hear you ROAR!!!

• A HUGE shout out to all of our Safety Patrols for their hard work and consistency. You make it safer every day!!!

This year, the Southampton PTA would like to hold several of its hybrid PTA Board Meetings in the communities where our families live. We hope this makes it easier for more families to connect, participate, and have a voice in the work of our PTA.

We are looking for family or community hosts who can help us coordinate meeting space at the following apartment communities:

• December 8 | 5:30 PM — Hioaks
• February 9 | 5:30 PM — Ashley Park
• April 13 | 5:30 PM — Beaufont

If you live in one of these communities and would be willing to help sponsor/coordinate a space for a PTA meeting, we would love to hear from you! Please email the Southampton PTA at sespta3333@gmail.com.

❤️ Our goal is simple: bring the PTA closer to our families and make it easier for everyone to be part of the Southampton community. 🐯

This may include academic expectations, reading and homework reminders, goal-setting tips, and ways we can encourage responsibility, independence, and active learning.

What you’ll find here:
Important updates and reminders that help keep our school running smoothly. This section may include attendance expectations, upcoming assessments, deadlines, school policies, and responsibilities that support student success.

Keeping our Tigers safe is everyone's responsibility! Please follow traffic procedures, drive slowly, and remain alert during morning arrival. Remember, our children are watching us! The patience, respect, and responsibility we model in traffic reinforce the ROAR expectations we teach every day.

• Before 7:30 AM: If you are dropping off students, please line up in Lane 2 of the parking lot loop so teachers can still access the lot.
• Stay in your vehicle: Please do not leave your car for any reason. A staff member will assist your child out of the car.
• Lane 1 Drop-Off: Students in Lane 1 must wait until their vehicle is directly in front of the crosswalk before exiting.
• BUS LOOP: The bus loop is reserved for buses until 8:00 AM. All families dropping off students before 8:00 AM must use the designated car drop-off loop.
• Stay Alert: Drive slowly, avoid distractions, and follow staff directions.

What you’ll find here:
Community updates, school events, and resources that support our students and families. This may include upcoming dates, family engagement opportunities, community resources, and ways we work together to care for our students beyond the classroom.

10/27: Fall Picture Day

10/28: End of First Quarter/Staff PD Day (No School for Students)

10/30: Book Character Costume Day and Attendance Incentive Day

11/2: Wellness Day (RPS Closed)

11/3: Election Day (RPS Closed)

Adult meals are $6.50, and advance reservations must be made online using the QR code on the flyer October 5–29, 2026.

Please note: Payments will not be accepted at the door on the day of the luncheon. All reservations must be completed in advance.

Ms. Callahan, our School Social Worker can help connect you to many resources. Contact her on ParentSquare or via text at (804)658-7102.

Our Southampton Elementary PTA is gearing up for a great year of building community, supporting our students and staff, and creating fun opportunities for our families! Whether you can volunteer at one event, serve on a committee, attend a meeting, or simply become a member, there is a place for you in our PTA.

📅 Upcoming PTA Dates & Events

• 🎃 October 30 | 5:00–7:00 PM — Trunk or Treat/Fall Festival
• November 10 | 5:30 PM — PTA Board Meeting
• November 14 | 2:00 PM — U of R Football Fundraiser (pending)
• December 8 | 5:30 PM — PTA Board Meeting
• January 12 | 5:30 PM — PTA Board Meeting
• February 9 | 5:30 PM — PTA Board Meeting
• March 9 | 5:30 PM — General Meeting
• April 13 | 5:30 PM — PTA Board Meeting
• 🗳️ May 11 | 5:30 PM — General Meeting & PTA Elections
• June 8 | 5:30 PM — Board Transition Meeting

Most meetings will have a hybrid option, with additional location information shared as dates get closer. Membership information is also coming soon!

❤️🐯 We would love to see more Southampton families get involved—many hands, many voices, one Tiger community!

Southampton Soccer is a welcoming recreational league where elementary students can learn soccer, build confidence, make friends, and have fun—no experience needed!

📍 Who can play?

Students from any school are welcome. We have 6U, 8U, and 10U divisions. Players must be at least 5 years old by July 31, 2026.

🏟️ Practice information

Practices have already started! Join us Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00–6:00 PM at the soccer field behind Southampton Elementary School.

📅 Game information

• 8U and 10U games begin Saturday, September 12

• 6U games begin Friday, September 18

• The season ends November 7

💵 Registration and cost

Registration closes September 9. The cost is $40 per player, including a team jersey.

🌐 Register at southamptonsportsleague.com

🙋 Volunteers needed!

We need volunteer coaches, assistant coaches, team parents, snack helpers, and fieldhouse helpers. This is a family- and community-led league, and your help makes the season possible.

Teamwork • Learning • Respect • Inclusion • Fun

🙏 Special thanks to Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, Southampton Elementary School, and the Southampton Elementary School PTA for supporting Southampton Soccer.

🚗 Car Pick-Up

• Remain in your vehicle and enter the car line along Custis Road.
• Students are called in the order vehicles are in line.
• Have your student pick-up number displayed and ready.
• No number yet? Have a valid photo ID and your child’s full name and teacher’s name ready. You’ll receive a number once verified.
• Please do not park, walk up, or ask staff to call your student ahead of the car line.

🚌 Bus Riders

• An adult age 18+ must be at the bus stop for all K–2 students.
• If an approved adult is not present, the student will be returned to school and will need to be picked up.

🚪 Early Dismissal

• The office closes for early dismissal at 2:15 PM.
• All early dismissals are recorded daily in the attendance system and count toward a student's perfect attendance.
• After 2:15, students will need to follow their regular dismissal procedure.

Thank you for your patience! 🐯 Our dismissal process is getting faster and smoother each day, and we appreciate everyone following these procedures so we can keep dismissal safe, organized, and efficient for all students.

Email: rgill@rvaschools.net
Website: shes.rvaschools.net
Location: 3333 Cheverly Road, Richmond, VA 23225
Phone in English: (804)320-2434

Phone With Interpreter: (804)944-8550