The Tiger Tea
Hill Happenings 10/23- 10/27
Principal's Message
Happy Sunday!
Thank you to all of our families who attended our PTA Spirit Night at Gelati Celesti and History Night! Please join us this week for the Tigers Got Talent Show. Red Ribbon Week is October 23– Oct 31 of every year to celebrate living a drug free life. This October we are challenging our students to be bully and drug free – “Be Kind to Your Mind.” On Oct 26 we are asking everyone to go red and wear red for Red Ribbon Week.
Highlights from last week:
A huge thank you to the Museum District Board for gifting Albert Hill new umbrellas for the picnic tables.
Girls Basketball team had 1 win (Dogwood) and 1 loss (River City) last week! The girls continue to show tremendous fortitude! Go lady Tigers!
The soccer team won both games last week against Dogwood and Franklin!
MDA Support
Umbrellas gifted by the Museum District Association.
History Night
History Night
Announcements on the Hill
EveryDay Strong Parent Meeting- Save the Date: November 2 @ 6:00 p.m.
Join us at special evening for RPS parents, caregivers, and other caring adults to learn practical strategies to support your child’s mental health. This one-hour training is will help you foster the emotional safety, connection and confidence that your child needs to thrive. Using the EveryDay Strong framework, we can all support the emotional needs of youth and help build their resiliency.
Outdoor Track
Practice is every Tuesday and Thursday, and Mr. Mclane (Mr. Mac) is the coach (jmclane@rvaschools.net). The fall track meet will be November 15 (location and time to be determined). All students must have an updated physical on file dated after May 1 to participate.
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.
Dates to Remember
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Bullying Prevention Month
October 23
Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week
8th Grade Students Only Specialty School Visit (Franklin, Open, Community)
Girls Basketball: Albert Hill vs. Henderson @ Henderson
Soccer: Albert Hill vs. Henderson @ Henderson
October 25
End of 1st Quarter
October 26
8th Grade Students Only Specialty School Visit (Governor's Schools- MW, ARGS)
History Department Trip- Selected Students 6th and 7th Grades
5:00 p.m. Tigers Got Talent Show
October 27
Pink Out Friday
October 30
Spirit Week Begins: Day 1 Pajama Day!
October 31
Spirit Week: Day 2 Costume Day! No masks or face paint.
November 1
Spirit Week: Day 3 Twin Day!
November 2
Spirit Week: Day 4 Tacky Day! Dress in your tackiest outfit.
November 3
Spirit Week: Day 5 Tiger P.R.I.D.E! Wear Black and Orange!
November 7
No School: Parent/Caregiver- Teacher Conference Day
November 9
PTA Spirit Night- Chicken Fiesta
November 13
No School: Diwali
November 22-24
No School- Thanksgiving Break
PTA Roar
Join Our PTA
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.
Albert Hill Merch
Show your Tiger Pride and Support the PTA by purchasing Albert Hill Merchandise!
Merchandise Link (Scroll down to access the Spiritwear order form.)
Fall Sports
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)
Head Coach Mr. Kyle Kimbrell (kkimbrel@rvaschools.net)
Assistant Coach Ms. Perry (sperry@rvaschools.net)
Fall Outdoor Track (co-ed)
Coach: Mr. McLane (jmclane@rvaschools.net)
Community News
Maggie L. Walker International Language Fair
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.
Free Tutoring by MLWGS Students
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
Virginia Credit Union
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!
Tiger Lair
TIGERS T.A.L.K.: TAKING ACTION WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS
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.
TIGER P.R.I.D.E./ THE HILL WAY
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!
Cell Phone Procedures for the 2023-2024 School Year
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.
School Attendance
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
Schoolwide Title 1 Program
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.
Breakfast and Lunch
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.
School Communications
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