The Tiger Tea

Happy Sunday!

We had an amazing first week back!

Help us keep our chronic absenteeism rate below 15%! Please be sure to send your student to school each day! If your student has a doctor's appointment, try to bring them in before or after so they don't accrue an absence.

Our focus this year is on FUN in the classroom, literacy, and building relationships. This first month of school

• Each day ask your student to say the names of 2 classmates and 2 of their classmate's likes, dislikes, or things they have in common.
• Each day ask your student what they read, wrote, or said in each class.
• Each day ask your student how they engaged with music, movement, or their 5 senses.

Every Tiger, Every Day!

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

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.

August 31

Cheer General Meeting

September 1

RPS Closed

September 4

RPS Closed- Labor Day

September 10-16

National Suicide Prevention Week

September 12

VGA Testing Reading 8

September 13

VGA Testing Reading 7

September 14

VGA Testing Reading 6

6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Back to School Night

September 15

Hispanic Heritage Month Begins

September 19

VGA Testing Math 8

September 20

VGA Testing Math 7

September 21

VGA Testing Math 6

September 23

Flex Bell Schedule: Element Meeting

September 25

RPS Closed- Yom Kippur

September 28

FCCLA State Fair Trip

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.

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.

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.

Programs & Events Chair - Moderate time commitment - This position will have a committee. -The Programs & Events Chair is responsible for determining and coordinating PTA support needed for monthly Hill Program Nights and planning 3-4 community events each year (Fall, Winter and Spring). Support may include, but is not limited to, dinner coordination, donation requests, A/V support, etc. This position would work with the Communications chair to recruit help or supply donations for each event as needed. Teacher-planned/PTA supported monthly events include Math Night, International Night, STEAM Night, Arts Showcases and more. Past community events planned and executed by the PTA have included Pumpkin Carving Night, Bingo Night, Movie Night, Flag Football, and Pack-a-Picnic. This position will have a committee.

Interior Beautification Chair - Small time commitment - The Interior Beautification Chair proposes, oversees and executes at least one Interior Beautification Project each year. The Chair must ensure that budget priorities are clearly presented to the board and that once approved are executed to completion.

Spirit Nights Chair - Small time commitment - The Spirit Night Chair is responsible for identification of appropriate Spirit night locations and events, negotiation of terms with vendors, working with the Communications chair to advertise the events, oversight of events, and ensuring that funds are collected from the vendor post-event. Typically, one spirit night is offered each month of the school year.

PTA Committees: If you don’t have enough time to commit to being on the PTA board but you still want to be involved, consider signing up for a committee to help out the kind folks who have volunteered to lead. Many hands make light work!

>>Teacher Appreciation Committee

>>Programs & Events Committee

>>Exterior Beautification Committee

>>Winter Party Committee

>>Yard Sale Committee

Fall Sports will begin in the next couple of weeks. All students must have a current VHSL physical form dated after June 1, 2023 and signed by a physician before they can try out for any athletic activities.

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)

Girls Basketball

Fall Soccer (co-ed)

Fall Outdoor Track (co-ed)

Please be on the look-out for announcements and information regarding coaches and tryouts.

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 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

NextUp RVA, our after school program provider will begin programming September 18th. Some of the after school programs offered last year include Cooking, Spin Academy (DJing), Hair Braiding, Chess, STEAMulate Laser Tag, Business of Art (Airbushing), Basketball, Empowered to Jump, and many more high quality program offerings. Block 1 of programming will be from 3:15 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. and Block 2 of programming will be from 5:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. Students will have the option to be dismissed at 5:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Transportation is provided for in-zone students.

We are excited to offer student support services for Therapeutic Day Treatment from Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) this upcoming school year. If you believe that your student would benefit from services, please contact

Who We Are:

• Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) is licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and is the statutorily established public entity responsible for providing mental health, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse and prevention services to the citizens of the City of Richmond.

• The RBHA TDT program serves youth in Richmond Public School identified as having significant behavioral and/or emotional problems that are impacting their success in the school environment

What We Do:

• Work alongside youth and their families to provide daily therapeutic supports throughout the school day to include monitoring, on-the-spot support, therapeutic interventions and activities, individual and group counseling, weekly family counseling and crisis intervention.

• Provide daily pro-social skills training, cognitive-behavioral interventions, problem-solving, coping strategies, anger-management support and de-escalation strategies.

• Assist youth and their families with linkage to additional mental health supports such as Family Case Management, Psychiatric Services, Outpatient Therapy and Intensive In-Home counseling supports.

• The goals of the TDT program are to reduce suspensions, improve school attendance and support children’s success in school, at home, and in the community.
• Provide staff development and training opportunities to Richmond Pubic School personnel in the areas of trauma informed care, classroom management, understanding mental health in youth, and de-escalation techniques.

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.

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!