The Tiger Tea

Happy Monday!

Today is the first day teachers return! Over the next week they will prepare for your student's arrival. We are so grateful that you and your family chose Albert Hill!

Schedules and other important information will be mailed today, August 22nd! If you have not been receiving Remind messages from the school, please contact the main office (804-780-6107) to ensure your contact information is current.

We are excited to welcome Mr. Adam Scott, assistant principal and Mrs. Kanika Bonaparte- Moore, school counselor. Mr. Scott and Mrs. Moore will serve both Binford and Albert Hill through a shared position. Please join me in welcoming them to the team!

I hope to see all of our 6th grade families at Open House, Friday, August 26th. If you are new to Albert Hill as a 7th or 8th grade family, please feel free to join us!

Mr. Scott possesses a strong belief that schools are to be safe, welcoming spaces where ALL scholars can reach their full potential. After graduating from Western Maryland College with a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science, Mr. Scott worked on progressive political campaigns across the country for seven years as a Field Director and Campaign Manager. Mr. Scott started his career in public education during the 2013-2014 school year as a special education teacher at Henderson Middle School in Richmond’s Northside. While at Henderson, Mr. Scott also served as a Richmond Teacher Residency Coach and trained and mentored new special education teachers entering the profession. Before joining the Albert Hill Middle School learning community, Mr. Scott was the Instructional Compliance Coordinator at Lucille Brown Middle School for three years. He earned his Master’s in Special Education and Post Master’s Certificate in Administration and Supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Mr. Scott was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and is a committed New England Patriots and Boston Celtics fan. He was a two-sport athlete in college (basketball and tennis) and now enjoys participating in triathlon and mountain biking races. When he is not swimming or biking, Mr. Scott is likely to be found tending his flower and vegetable garden or sampling Richmond area restaurants with his loving wife, Mary.

Mrs. Moore is a product of Richmond Public Schools and has been an educator in Richmond Public Schools for over 20 years. Mrs. Moore attended Bennett College in Greensboro, NC for undergrad and Virginia State University for graduate school. She was the school counselor at William Fox Elementary for 15 years. Mrs. Moore is a proud military officer’s wife and a mother of 3. In her spare time she enjoys shopping, watching reality TV, and spending time with her family as her kids play several sports.

August 29th

First Day of School for Students

September 2

RPS Closed

September 5

RPS Closed- Labor Day

September 9

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

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

September 23

Flex Bell Schedule: Element Meeting

This school year we are excited to introduce a new cell phone procedure to increase student ownership and engagement in the classroom. We are asking students to voluntarily accept the #distractionfreechallenge and turn in cell phones to a secured cell phone bin. Students 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

Individual teachers will share specific supplies needed for their classes the first day of school.

Students do not need to bring all supplies to school on the first day. It is recommended that students bring a spiral notebook, pencil, ink pen, colored pencils, markers, 2-pocket folder, and binder with loose leaf paper until they learn the specific materials required by each teacher.

6th Grade Supply List

7th Grade Supply List

8th Grade Supply List

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!

There are several available positions on our 2022-2023 PTA Board. Help us continue to provide students and staff with experiences and resources needed to have a fun and memorable middle school experience. If you are interested or would like more information please contact the PTA President, Becky Sirpis - alberthillpta@gmail.com

Volunteer Coordinator - OPEN

Community of Caring - OPEN

Tiger Rallies - OPEN

Book fair - OPEN

Government Relations (School Board/City Council) - OPEN

After School Sports - OPEN

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!

Congratulations to the Water Tigers for winning Element of the Year for the 2021-2022 school year. This year the point totals will restart and we will continue to embody Tiger PRIDE.

There are four elements:

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 students across different peer groups

• Unite students across grade levels

• Have students interact with other faculty members besides their teachers

All 7th and 8th grade students will remain in their elements. 6th grade students 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 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 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.

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.