The Tiger Tea

We had a great first week of school! Our scholars exhibited Tiger P.R.I.D.E. by being prepared, respectful, having integrity, being determined, and exceeding expectations with excellence.

Please be sure to send your scholar with a water bottle. The RPS plumbing team will be coming around to turn ON the bubblers (by 10/15) – those will no longer be turned off due to COVID – so scholars will be able to use the bubbler and the water bottle filler.

We have distributed over 250 Chromebooks to scholars who have returned the Technology Agreement. Scholars will not be able to receive a Chromebook unless they have completed the technology agreement. We will assign Chromebooks on a rolling basis as scholars turn in forms. Please return the RPS student technology agreement in as soon as possible if you have not already done so.

Highlights of the week!

• Wave Church, one of our dedicated community partners, helped to welcome our scholars back with excitement and Tigeriffic Enthusiasm! Kudos to Ms. Polk and Ms. Wingfield of Communities in Schools for helping to make this vision a reality and providing the signs and pom-poms!
• Scholars engaged in activities to get to know their teachers and classmates and to learn routines and procedures.
• Grade level assemblies were a success! Scholar behavior was FANTABULOUS! Scholars won gift cards for reciting "The Hill Way" and candy prizes.
  
• Cell phones were nearly invisible! Thank you caregivers for your support and thank you scholars for exceeding expectations with excellence!
• Scholars enjoyed sitting in the cafeteria with friends!
• Scholars received agendas to stay organized and use as a building movement record.
• Novelis, the World leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, is donating a new scoreboard for the gymnasium! Kudos to one of our former parents Ms. Ida Harris!
• Patient First has partnered with Albert Hill to support assist with the needs of scholars with a $1000 donation!

September 5

RPS Closed- Labor Day

September 9

Flex Bell Schedule: 1st Element Meeting and 6th Grade Sorting Ceremony

September 13

AHMS Spirit Night at Mellow Mushroom (more information forthcoming)

September 15

Hispanic Heritage Month Begins

September 19

VGA Testing Begins: English and Math

September 22

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

*Transportation provided from the Friends Association to Albert Hill at 5:40 p.m. and back to the Friends Association from Albert Hill at 7:40 p.m.

September 23

Flex Bell Schedule: Element Meeting

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) recognizes the month of September as National Suicide Prevention Month: a moment in time in which we rally the public to create awareness of this leading cause of death, and inspire more and more people to learn how they can play a role in their communities in helping to save lives. Alternatively recognized as National Suicide Prevention Week (generally the week after Labor Day) and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10), AFSP takes advantage of the full month to offer understanding and guidance for the public through special events, personal stories and perspectives, shareable social graphics and other materials designed to help people know what they can do if they or someone they know is struggling, and how to have authentic, caring conversations about suicide and mental health.

Suicide prevention is important every day of the year. National Suicide Prevention Month gives us an opportunity to shine a special, encouraging light on this topic that affects us all, and send a clear, hopeful message that help is available, and suicide can be prevented.

-Excerpt taken from AFSP website. Please visit the website to learn more about suicide prevention resources.

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.

Fall Sports will begin in the next couple of weeks.

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:

Girls Basketball

Cheerleading

Fall Soccer (co-ed)

Fall Outdoor Track (co-ed)

Please be on the look-out for announcements and information regarding coaches and tryouts. All students must have a current VHSL physical to tryout for a team.

Walk up MS and HS immunizations will be offered by the Richmond City Health District in the next couple weeks on a first come, first served basis.

• September 8, 1-3pm
• September 14, 8:30-11am
• September 15, 1-3pm
• September 21, 8:30-11am

All scholars must have a parent/guardian present. Caregivers must bring vaccination records.

Please join our PTA. The cost is $7.00. We are aiming for 100% family participation. 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!

PTA Membership Electronic Form (scroll to bottom of page)

Please help us encourage all of our scholars to learn and recite the Hill Way! Give scholars a pop-quiz!

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!

All of our scholars are in an element group during their time at Albert Hill. There are four elements of Tiger Pride!

Earth Tigers

Air Tigers

Water Tigers

Fire Tigers

The purpose of the elements are:

• To build school community and inject a sense of friendly competitive spirit

• Unite scholars across different peer groups

• Unite scholars across grade levels

• Have scholars interact with other faculty members besides their teachers

All 7th and 8th grade scholars will remain in their elements. 6th grade scholars will be sorted into elements during the first element meeting of the year. Parents represent the element of their children. Be sure to ask your child which element they are in. We will have opportunities for families to represent their elements this year!

Every Tiger, Every Day! Every Day Counts!

School attendance is vital to scholar 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

This school year we are excited to introduce a new cell phone procedure to increase scholar ownership and engagement in the classroom. We are asking scholars to voluntarily accept the #distractionfreechallenge and turn in cell phones to a secured cell phone bin. Scholars will be rewarded for their participation and will receive cell phones back at the end of each class. The RPS cell phone policy is referenced in the student and caregiver handbook and Student Code of Responsible Ethics. #offandaway #Tigersdistractionfree

The Downtown YMCA is looking for teens in 6th-12th grade to join the leaders club. Leaders’ Club is a program where the YMCA recruits teens in the community to strengthen their leadership potential. The YMCA believes a Leader should be strong mentally, physically, and spiritually! The Leaders’ Club works toward this goal by focusing on leadership, character, fitness, and service. The program is driven and led by the teen LEADERS! Each meeting will have a focus based off the traits above.

Junior Leaders club - 6th-8th

Fall - Registration is OPEN! Join Girls on the Run! The program will be held at Mary Munford beginning the week of September 19th for 10 weeks for 90 minutes per session- Tuesdays/Thursdays, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Cost: $185 per participant, and we do offer a sliding scale/financial assistance to anyone who needs it. Attached is a copy of our site packet (a brief overview of our program), and Fall Registration flyer for you to share with your families.

We are looking forward to another amazing season of empowerment, movement, and confidence building. Sign up and join in on the fun!

NextUp RVA, our after school program provider will begin programming October 3rd. 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.

The Out of School Time Program at Humphrey Calder Community Center is open each day Richmond Public Schools are operational for full days of school. The program begins immediately after school is dismissed and ends promptly at 6:00 p.m. Staff members from Humphrey Calder pick students up from Albert Hill and walk them to the Community Center located on Thompson Street. Children must be picked up each day by 6:00 p.m. Staff members are Parks and Recreation employees. Adult volunteers from various organizations in the community assist with the program.

Features of the Out of School Time Program:

• Offers youth the opportunity to engage in arts and crafts, music, dance, nature and the environment, games and sports
  
• Develops interest in cultural and athletic activities
  
• Offers a daily snack or meal provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Child and Adult Care Food Program
  
• Provides a high ratio of adult supervision and leadership to participants
  
• Educates youth in community involvement

For more information please call 804-648-1780 or register online.