The Tiger Tea

Happy Sunday!

Two weeks left before winter break! Please encourage your student to come to school each day, exhibit Tiger P.R.I.D.E. and to solicit the support of a trusted adult if they experience any issues. Students can also report issues discretely using the Tigers T.A.L.K. QR code.

This week we continue VGA testing. Please encourage students to do their best and get a good night's rest. Please ensure students have their charged Chromebook at school each day.

Highlights from last week:

• Thank you to the parents and staff who attended the Dreams4RPS parent/caregiver meeting!
• Ms. S. Russell was received awards for Virginia Central Region Art teacher of the year and RPS Art teacher of the year!
• Kudos to Warren Huddle for being our 2023 AHMS Spelling Bee Winner!
• Students auditioned for the central regional orchestra on Saturday!
  
  

December PTA Spirit Night

Mark your calendars for December 12 at &pizza in Willow Lawn! &pizza is generously offering 30% back to Albert Hill when you use the AHPTA code in store or online. Thank you for your support!

NextUp RVA Winter Session

Registration is now open for the NextUp Winter Session. We are hoping to have at least 75 students participate in program. Check out the program offerings below! All programs are FREE!

December 12

4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. PTA Spirit Night @ &Pizza Willow Lawn

5:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. NextUp Showcase

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 Channel Your Flannel

December 19

Winter Spirit Week: Day 2 Holiday Switch

December 20

Winter Spirit Week: Day 3 Holiday Hat Day

December 21

Winter Spirit Week: Day 4 Tacky Sweater Day

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Winter Showcase

December 22

Winter Spirit Week: Day 5 Jingle Bell Rock- Rock your Grade Level Colors (see flyer below)

December 25- January 5

RPS Closed: Winter Break

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.

Show your Tiger Pride and Support the PTA by purchasing Albert Hill Merchandise!

Merchandise Link (Scroll down to access the Spiritwear order form.)

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

The Arts and Letters Committee of the Richmond Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is proud to announce its 34th Annual L. Rita Davis Oratorical Contest to be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 9:30 AM. This year, the contest will be held at John Marshall High School- 4225 Old Brook Road.

Parents and Students: If students wish to participate in the contest, you MUST complete the digital Registration and Use of Image Release Form (link below).

https://bit.ly/3QKcPh9

Registration forms must be submitted NO LATER than Tuesday, January 16th, 5:00 PM

Students will not be able to perform without a complete registration form.

8th Grade Students!

Submit a 1 minute video discussing a current environmental problem and your solution to that issue. Winners will receive $1,000!

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.

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 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!

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!

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.

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

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.

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 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