Southampton 🐾Pawprint🐾

At Southampton Elementary, we believe every Tiger deserves to feel safe, respected, included, and valued! Throughout October, we are joining Richmond Public Schools in promoting the message: “The End of Bullying Starts With Me!”

Our focus is on helping students understand what bullying is, how to recognize it, and how to be an UPSTANDER instead of a BYSTANDER. We want our Tigers to know that their words and actions matter and that speaking up, showing kindness, and supporting others can make a difference.

Throughout the month, we are reinforcing these important lessons through:

• 🧡 Unity Day — Wednesday, October 21: Wear ORANGE to show your commitment to kindness, acceptance, and inclusion!

• 📚 Second Step Bullying Prevention Lessons: Our school counselor, Dr. Joseph, will help students recognize bullying, respond appropriately, and understand how to seek help.

• 🐯 Community Circles: Classroom conversations will reinforce empathy, belonging, inclusion, and our schoolwide ROAR expectations.

• ❤️ Daily Opportunities to Be an Upstander: Students will be encouraged to speak up, include others, report concerns to trusted adults, and make choices that help everyone feel welcome.

Families, we need your partnership! Talk with your child about the difference between bullying and other peer conflicts, the importance of treating others with respect, and what to do when they see someone being mistreated.

At Southampton, Respect, Ownership, Accountability, and Responsibility aren't just words—they are how we treat one another every day.

🐯🧡The end of bullying starts with ME, starts with YOU, and starts with US! 🐯🧡

#YouBelongHereRPS

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.

The safety of our Southampton Tigers is everyone's responsibility! Each morning, hundreds of students, families, staff members, and buses move through our parking lot and surrounding streets. Following traffic patterns, driving slowly, and watching carefully for students are essential to keeping everyone safe.

Remember, our children are watching us! How adults behave in traffic directly influences how children learn to follow rules, demonstrate patience, and respect others. When we model safe, responsible behavior, we reinforce the same ROAR expectations we teach our Tigers every day.

Please follow these important morning drop-off reminders:

• Before 7:30 AM: Line up in Lane 2 of the parking lot loop so teachers and staff can access the parking lot.

• Stay in Your Vehicle: Do not exit your vehicle during drop-off. A staff member will assist your child.

• Lane 1 Drop-Off: Students must remain in their vehicle until it is directly in front of the crosswalk before exiting.

• Bus Loop: The bus loop is reserved for buses until 8:00 AM. Please use the designated student drop-off area.

• Stay Alert: Drive slowly, avoid distractions, follow staff directions, and watch carefully for children and pedestrians.

A few extra minutes of patience can prevent an accident. Our procedures are designed to protect students, not simply move cars through the line.

Thank you for modeling Respect, Ownership, Accountability, and Responsibility every morning.

🐯 Let's keep every Tiger safe—every morning, every day! ❤️

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

• I gotta shout out Ms. Dorsey and Ms. Richardson for keeping students and families engaged in what’s happening in and out of the classroom! I love the communication and I see all the efforts you put in! Thank you!
• Shout out to all of the students, families, and staff who came to International Night on Thursday. It was a wonderful program.
• Shout out to all of the families who cooked and served dishes from their home countries.
• Shout out to our Hispanic Heritage Month Dancers (pictured below). You did a wonderful job performing at the Program on Thursday!!!

From Ms. Acuna: Thank you to all who have came to support the school and celebrate our diversity and being one! In celebration, we presented Southampton's first dance team for the 2026-2027 school year, Los Tigres!

It was an honor to have worked with an amazing group of dancers!

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.

• 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.

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.

10/19: Marco Reading Challenge Kick off

10/27: Fall Picture Day

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

10/30: Book Character Costume 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