The Tiger Tea

Happy Sunday!

We are halfway through October! We hope to see you Wednesday, October 18th at our PTA Spirit Night at the Libbie and Grove Gelati Celesti and Thursday, October 19th at History Night! Dinner will be served! Picture Day is Friday, October 20! You can place your order on mylifetouch.com before Picture Day using the ID: EVTKMZC47. Fall sports teams will be photographed also. Sport photos can be ordered with the flyer all athletes will receive from their coaches.

We need your help! This week begins with the 38th day of school. Students with 4 days absent to date (excused or unexcused) are considered chronically absent. Our goal this year is 15% or no more than 75 students chronically absent. Currently we are at 102 students. Students with 4 days absent will no longer be considered chronically absent on October 25th! Let's commit to #9 days. We need all students to be present for the next 9 days as we will have a drop from 102 to 69 which is below our goal.

Please remind students to be kind, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. This can be especially challenging for middle schoolers who are sometimes impulsive but I do believe the first step to stopping bullying is to refrain from saying or doing mean things to others. Lastly, please remind students to use their words. It is never appropriate to make physical contact with another when upset or angry nor is it okay to hit other students playfully. Thank you for your partnership and reminding students to exhibit Tiger P.R.I.D.E. in all areas of the building (hallways, classrooms, restrooms, cafeteria).

Highlights from last week:

• The girls basketball team was undefeated last week. The team played Boushall twice and River city once. Let's go Lady Tigers!

• The soccer team played River City Middle School and were victorious 2-1.

• 8th graders went on the Mission Tomorrow Field Trip!
  

• Performance by Folk Festival performer Kala Ramnath, Hindustani violinist.

Every Tiger, Every Day!

Girls Basketball Games

There is a $2 entry fee for all home games! These funds directly support AHMS athletics.

Strong Men and Women Exhibit

From October 3 through November 11, we will be hosting the 2023 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History banner exhibit, courtesy of the Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy. The annual exhibit honors distinguished African Americans, past and present, who have made significant contributions to Virginia, our nation, or their professions.

This year’s honorees are a stock card driver, a nuclear engineer, a minister and civil rights leader, a CEO, a farmer and community activist, and an Air Force pilot.

The exhibit is being coordinated by Mr. Harter.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Bullying Prevention Month

October 16

8th Grade Field Trip: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Girls Basketball: Albert Hill vs. Dogwood @ Dogwood

Soccer: Albert Hill vs. Dogwood @ Albert Hill

October 17

8th Grade Field Trip: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Girls Basketball: Albert Hill vs. River City @ River City

October 18

PTA Spirit Night: Gelati Celesti- The Shops at Libbie and Grove

October 19

6:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. History Night

Soccer: Albert Hill vs. Franklin @ Hill

October 20

Pink Out Friday

Picture Day

History PBA Window Opens

Element Meetings: Flex Bell Schedule

October 25

End of 1st Quarter

Tentative Pumpkin Carving Contest

October 26

Talent Show

October 27

Pink Out Friday

October 30

Spirit Week Begins: Day 1 TBD

October 31

Spirit Week: Day 2 Costume Day! No masks or face paint.

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)

Girls Basketball

Coaches:

Head Coach: Mr. Brouder (gbrouder@rvaschools.net)

Assistant Coach: Ms. Gabbart (egabbert@rvaschools.net)

Fall Soccer (co-ed)

Fall Outdoor Track (co-ed)

Coach: Mr. McLane (jmclane@rvaschools.net)

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

• The Virginia War Memorial is providing a writing opportunity for grades 6-12. Click here for more information. Due date, October 15.

***NOTE: When registering, please make sure to: Register your kid for ONE workshop for EVERY time session (1 slot for the 9:25-10:10, 1 slot for the 10:20 to 11:05, and 1 slot for the 11:15 to 12:00 pm) Please register with your CHILD’s name (parents, leave your name as a comment)

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