The Tiger Tea
Hill Happenings 11/28- 12/2
Principal's Message
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!
We are in the final few days of The Big Tiger Give, our fall fundraiser. If you haven't donated, we hope that you will! All donations are tax deductible and 100% of proceeds benefit the students and staff of Albert Hill! Enter your 10 emails and our amazing PTA does the rest! More information below.
Highlights from last week!
- Congratulations to our Tigerrific Soccer Team for a phenomenal season! Our players went into the championship undefeated for 3 years. Despite a 1-0 loss, our players showed resilience, determination, tenacity, and grace! Job well done Tigers!
- Kudos to our phenomenal parents and staff for your support of our soccer team!
- Ms. S. Russell's art class visited the VMFA!
- Our 7th Grade scholars traveled to Kabuto's to practice their computational skills learned in class for tax, tip, and discount!
- Ms. A. Russell was recognized at the school board meeting November 21st for winning the R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence!
School Board Recognition
Soccer
Soccer
The Big Tiger Give
This fall, the Albert Hill PTA is excited to announce a new fall fundraiser - The Big Tiger Give. This fundraiser works similarly to fundraisers Albert Hill has done in the past, but instead of using an outside company and giving up a significant portion of the funds raised, the PTA will handle this fundraiser on its own this year. This has three benefits:
- Email addresses will be kept securely with the PTA - and only used for this year’s fundraiser
- Contributions are tax-deductible
- The PTA and school keep 100% of all donations
The Big Tiger Give is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1. Submit email addresses - friends, family, neighbors, etc.
2. Collect donations - online or in person
3. Win prizes!
All students who participate in The Big Tiger Give by submitting at least 10 email addresses will receive a prize, even if they personally raise no money, but the more money raised, the more prizes or more valuable prizes they can win. See the attached prize list for prize information.
The PTA runs two major fundraisers each year: the fall fundraiser is a simple request for donations from family and friends, and the spring fundraiser is a community yard sale. So this fundraiser will be the Albert Hill PTA’s main financial ask of the year, and the funds raised will be split equally between the PTA and the school. As we head into this season of giving, please consider donating yourself and asking family and friends to support your student and school with a donation this year.
To get started, visit: https://bit.ly/btgemails to enter email addresses, and the PTA will take it from there. See the attached letter that will be sent to the provided email addresses - it will be personalized to come directly from your student; and feel free to email/print the letter to deliver yourself.
Donations can be made through the following link: https://bit.ly/BigTigerGive. We will also accept cash or checks (made out to Albert Hill PTA); there are envelopes in the office to be used to collect in-person donations.
**The Big Tiger Give will end on Wednesday, 11/30, so please be sure all in-person donations are turned in to the office by that date. Students will be notified of total prize points earned on 12/1.
Visit https://bit.ly/BTGHome for more information about The Big Tiger Give, and please reach out to alberthillfundraising@gmail.com with any questions.
Holiday Canned Food Drive
Thank you National Junior Honor Society for organizing this service opportunity!
Dates to Remember
November 28
Fall Picture Make-Ups and Sports Pictures
Class Spelling Bee- ELA classes
Boys Basketball Tryouts
November 29
Boys Basketball Tryouts
November 30
Last Day to Donate: The Big Tiger Give
December 1
Boys Basketball Tryouts
December 8
PTA Board Meeting
December 9
Element Meeting: Flex Bell Schedule
December 12
Winter Spirit Week Day 1: Merry Morning Monday- Holiday Pajamas
December 13
Winter Spirit Week Day 2: Toy Shop Tuesday- Dress as Santa, Reindeer, Elves, Tree, Presents, etc.
December 14
Winter Spirit Week Day 3: Winter Wonderland Wednesday- Dress in Blue or White
December 15
Winter Spirit Week Day 4: Twinkle Toes Thursday- Wear Your Holiday Socks and Lights
6:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. Winter Showcase
December 16
Winter Spirit Week Day 5: Festive Friday- Ugly Sweater/Festive Holiday Clothing
December 19- 23
Winter Break
[TIME SENSITIVE] 2023 National AI Scholarship for RPS Students!
2023 National AI Scholarship Application is now LIVE! We would love to have an Albert Hill Student represented! This is quite a time-sensitive opportunity as the deadline for the scholarship is 11/29/2022!
With instructors from Stanford, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon University, RPS students can jump into the world of AI, gain real hands-on experience, develop creative projects and boost their competitiveness on their college applications and on the job market!
Click here to access the application form! Here is a flyer for you to share with your students.
Specialty School Applications
The application window for families to submit open enrollment, specialty school, and governor’s school applications for the 2023-24 school year is now open via the Enroll RPS Portal. Students may apply for:
- Any specialty school for which they are eligible (specialty schools include Franklin Military Academy, Open High School, Richmond Community High School, Governor’s STEM Academy at Richmond Technical Center, and the IB Diploma Programme at Thomas Jefferson High School (for rising 11th-grade students))
- Out-of-zone schools via the open enrollment lottery (maximum of three school choices)
- Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (charter school) via a separate open enrollment lottery (if eligible)
- Appomattox Regional Governor’s School and/or Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School (the application for CodeRVA is managed separately by that school)
A few important notes:
- Families will have until 4:30 pm on December 1, 2022, to submit specialty and governor’s school applications, and until 4:30 pm on February 1, 2023, to submit open enrollment applications.
- We unfortunately cannot accept late applications for any reason. Please plan accordingly.
- As long as your application is submitted before the deadline, the timing of your submission will have no impact on the outcome.
- If you have additional questions, please email enrollrps@rvaschools.net.
Open House Dates
Interview Preparation
NextUp RVA
Newtowne Tutoring @ Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
Newtowne Tutoring run by students at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. Newtowne offers free tutoring to elementary, middle, and high school students for any subject. This program takes place once a week after school on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 pm until April. Tutoring is currently offered in-person at the Bluestone Lobby at Maggie Walker (1000 N Lombardy St). Students who participate can opt-in to wear masks according to personal comfort levels; tutors may or may not wear masks. Safety protocols such as sanitizing tables will be implemented.
Newtowne Tutoring is not directly affiliated with the Richmond Public Schools system. It is a program run by Maggie Walker. Newtowne Tutoring has been in operation for several years and is monitored by club sponsor, Ms. Hana Voight.
If you are interested, in signing up please fill out this Google Form below.
TIGERS T.A.L.K.: TAKING ACTION WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS
Scholars 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 and Winter Sports Updates
Our athletic director is Mr. Kyle Kimbrell. If you have any questions regarding middle school athletics, please email him kkimbrel@rvaschools.net
All scholars must have a VHSL Physical to tryout or participate in sports.
Fall Outdoor Track (co-ed)
Head Coach- Ms. West (twest@rvaschools.net)
Track Meet- November 16th
*Final tryouts for the track meet events are November 14.
Cheerleading
Head Coach: Ms. Lloyd (clloyd@rvaschools.net)
Assistant Coach: Ms. West (twest@rvaschools.net)
*If your scholar is interested in cheering for boys basketball. Tryouts will begin November 14. Information sessions will take place during each grade-level lunch on November 9.
Boys Basketball
Head Coach: Mr. Carlos Payne (carlospayne24@gmail.com)
Assistant Coach: TBD
*Tryouts are November 28-30 and December 1st.
TIGER P.R.I.D.E./ THE HILL WAY
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!
SCHOOLWIDE TITLE 1 PROGRAM
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.
School Attendance
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
CELL PHONE PROCEDURES FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
Scholars are asked to voluntarily accept the #distractionfreechallenge and turn in cell phones to a secured cell phone bin in each class. Scholars are rewarded for their participation and 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