Department=20
Manager/Contact
|
| Public =
Relations |
|
Visit our Publications to read the School =
Zone, a=20
publication of RPS highlighting events and =
achievements of=20
schools and partnerships, the School Bell and RPS =
Photo=20
Journal.
Check out the Richmond Times Dispatch for a letter =
to the=20
Editor from Susan=20
Ellett, Mentor from St. Michael's Episcopal Church =
at Redd=20
Elementary School.
Bob=20
Argabright, volunteer at Oak=20
Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School was featured in =
the=20
March 2008 issue of Fifty=20
Plus. Thanks for the inspiration, Bob! Thanks also =
to Bob=20
efforts working with CIS to continue to secure =
resources for=20
the students of Oak Grove Elementary school.
CAPITAL ONE BRINGS ANOTHER =
READesign=20
TO RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
![](3D"http://richmond.k12.va.us/indexnew/sub/departments/OSC_partnership=)
The Media =
Center at Reid=20
Elementary School was transformed over the course of =
one week=20
with new carpet, blinds, 1000 new books, a new reading =
nook=20
with a handpainted mural and MORE!! Each students took =
home as=20
many as 8 new books for their home library.
Capital One=20
Associates read to the students while Capital One, the =
Heart=20
of America and RPS leaderships celebrated. Photo on =
the right=20
includes (from left) - Reginald Williams, Principal of =
Reid=20
Elementary School, Andrea Wright, Capital One, Dr. =
Ronald=20
Carey, RPS, Bill Halamandaris, Heart of America and =
Matt=20
Hines, Capital One.
There's nothing like a new book in a =
new=20
library!
Thanks CAPITAL=20
ONE!!!
HANDS ON GREATER =
RICHMOND=20
BROUGHT VOLUNTEERS TO SCHOOL FOR DAY OF =
SERVICE=20
The =
"RainGarden"=20
at Binford Middle School (L) was part of a community =
outreach=20
day while murals were painted at Maymont Elementary=20
School.
Westover=20
Hill Elementary School utilized volunteers to work in =
the=20
courtyard as a caboose painting was the work of the =
day at=20
John B. Cary Elementary School. Projects were also =
held at=20
SummerHill Elementary School where the courtyard was=20
landscaped and at Greene Elementary School where =
garden work,=20
whiteboard installation and interior painting was the =
call for=20
the day.
CAPITAL ONE BRINGS FOLKS =
FESTIVAL TO=20
SCHOOLS
14 RPS =
schools were=20
rockin' when the Richmond Folk Festival brought acts =
and arts=20
to the schools, courtesy of Capital One. Students were =
exposed=20
to many musicians and artists during this day-long =
experience.=20
GIRLS FOR A CHANGE COMES=20
TO
RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Girls=20
for a Change made presentations at 7 RPS middle =
and high=20
schools in October empowering girls to learn about =
their role=20
in social change. The girls will particpate in Girls =
For a=20
Change after school programming during Spring =
Semester.=20
THE MICAH INITIATIVE KICKS =
OFF=20
YEAR
The =
Micah=20
Initiative, members from 70 faith groups who serve as =
mentors,=20
classroom assistants and more in support of 24 RPS =
Elementary=20
Schools participanted at their Back to School event on =
September 11. The group was inspired by Dr. Yvonne =
Brandon,=20
Interim Superintendent (above with Betsy Carr, School =
Board=20
Member and Dr. Harold Fitrer, Executive Director, =
Communities=20
in Schools.
DONE IN A DAY PROJECTS HELP=20
SCHOOLS PREPARE FOR 2008-2009 SCHOOL=20
YEAR!
CAPITAL ONE PREPARES
HENDERSON =
MIDDLE=20
SCHOOL TO OPEN!
Capital One =
associates, with=20
support from Communities in =
Schools of=20
Richmond helped prepare Henderson=20
Middle School for opening day. Highlights were the =
installation of whiteboards and the=20
teachers were thrilled!!
CAPITAL ONE AND SOUTHSIDE CHURCH OF THE =
NAZARENE AT=20
G.H. REID ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Capital One =
Teams=20
supported efforts to prepare for school opening at G.H.=20
Reid Elementary School along with members of the =
Southside=20
Church of the Nazarene.
GENWORTH FINANCIAL SUPPORTS EFFORTS AT CHANDLER =
MIDDLE=20
SCHOOL
Clean-up =
inside and out=20
was the task for GENWORTH employees at=20
Chandler Middle School, part of a year long =
granted=20
project to support the school.
ALTRIA INTERNS PREPARE
GEORGE =
WYTHE=20
HIGH SCHOOL FOR FALL OPENING - JMU Alumni =
Support=20
Effort As Well
Inside and out,=20
George=20
Wythe High School received a makeover by summer =
interns=20
from Altria. Participating in landcaping and painting =
(yes,=20
that is the boys locker room), the interns spent an =
afternoon=20
perparing the school for opening day!
The Altria project was brought to =
Richmond=20
Public Schools by HandsOnGreater=20
Richmond and supported by Communities in =
Schools of=20
Richmond. Read more about the event at the=20
Richmond Times Dispatch/inrich.com.
School Board member Betsy Carr =
welcomes the=20
crowd of almost 200 to George Wythe High School while =
team=20
leader (and Senior Vice President, Advancement, The =
Community=20
Foundation) Bobby Thalhimer prepares for his =
afternoon of=20
mulching. Read Bobby's reflection on his blog=
.=20
James Madison Alumni supported =
landscaping=20
efforts at the school in another courtyard as a =
compliment of=20
the Altria grant.
THREE CHOPT CHURCH OF CHRIST =
SUPPORTS=20
BLACKWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FAMILY
Three Chopt =
Chruch of=20
Christ, a member of the Micah Initiative, supported a =
Blackwell=20
Elementary School family by providing a home =
makeover.=20
Wendy Seitz, (left) church project coordiator and =
chairperson=20
of the Community Advisory Group (CAG) of Communities =
in=20
Schools coordinated the project. More information can =
be found=20
at http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-article=
s-RTD-2008-07-12-0101.html=20
CAPITAL ONE - GUARDIAN ANGEL PROGRAM AT =
SUMMERHILL=20
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Capital One =
Associates=20
served as Guardian Angels through the corporation's=20
MENTORSHIPS program with students at Summer=20
Hill Elementary School. Acting as 'pen-pals' =
through the=20
year, the students met their 'Angels' at a reception =
at the=20
end of the school year. The program was enjoyed by=20
all!
CAPITAL ONE HOSTS =
FIELD DAYS=20
AT RPS
Known for their=20
great field days, Capital One Associates celebrated =
Spring=20
with students at Greene=20
Elementary School. This was the first of 4 events =
being=20
held in Richmond Public schools through this =
generosity of=20
spirit by Capital One Associates!
Markel Volunteers Spend Day =
at=20
RPS
Volunteers =
attending=20
Markel's spent a day at Chimborazo=20
and Fairfield=20
Court Elementary Schools playing SOL math games =
with=20
students and painting murals. The activity was =
organzied by HandsOnGreater=20
Richmond with support from Communities in Schools=20
(Fairfield Court).
Technology Support =
provided by=20
Markel
Thanks =
to Neely=20
Winston from the Markel Corporation for assistance in =
secure=20
improved technology. With Principal Jannie Laursen and =
Bob=20
Argabright. |
|
PARTNERSHIP APPRECIATION =
EVENT - APRIL=20
28, 2008
Neil=20
Kessler, Partner, Troutman Sanders and host for event =
with Dr.=20
Harold Fitrer.
Carolyn Brown, Partnership =
Coordinator,=20
Maymont, with Universal Leaf=20
supporters.
Bev and Al Lacy =
with Buford=20
Scott (center).
Becky Gay, Partnership Coordinator, =
Chimborazo, with volunteers.
VOLUNTEERS TREAT TEACHERS=20
FOR
TEACHER APPRECIATION =
WEEK
Teachers=20
throughout Richmond Public Schools were treated to =
wonderful=20
appreciation events from parents, students, schools =
and=20
volunteers to celebrate during TEACHER APPRECIATION =
week.=20
GH =
Reid=20
Elementary School staff are treated to a luncheon and =
raffle=20
by associates from Capital One.
Staff at Swansboro=20
Elementary School celebrated with the Richmond =
Jewish=20
Coalition for Literacy represented by volunteer/mentor =
Inge=20
Horowitz. Students helped celebrate at Maymont=20
Elementary School.
ACTIVITIES AT SWANSBORO HIGHLIGHT =
RELATIONSHIPS=20
WITH VOLUNTEERS
Jonathan Austin,=20
juggler, performs for students at Swansboro=20
Elementary School courtesy of the Richmond Jewish=20
Coalition for Literacy, Jewish =
Community=20
Federation of Richmond. Mentors Karin Fine and =
Lisa=20
Thalhimer and students share a meal together during =
Volunteer=20
Appreication Day.
GENEROUS PARTNERS SUPPORT RICHMOND PUBLIC =
SCHOOLS!=20
Students at =
J.E.B.=20
Stuart thrill with visit by EMS! Oakgrove=20
Elementary School students are recognized as Honor =
and=20
Scholar Roll students and treated to CiCi's Pizza. =
Partners=20
Vulcan sponsored the event coordinated by Communities =
in=20
Schools. With Principal Jeannie Laursen is Jay Gammon =
(Vulcan=20
Materials).
THE JUNIOR LEAGUE SHARE =
AUTHOR WITH=20
ELIZABETH REDD ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
Cookbook author,=20
El=
lie=20
Krieger, (left) host of the Food Network=E2=80=99s =
Healthy Appetite, meets with =
students to encourage them to taste the 'colors of the =
rainbow.' Many new fruits and vegetables were =
tasted.=20
Students received cookbooks with healthy recipes =
from=20
members of the Jr. League.
DOMINION RESOURCES - PROJECT =
PLANT=20
IT!
Dominion Power=20
supports Richmond Public School third grades with =
Project=20
Plant-it including Radio Disney game show. Culmination =
for=20
Arbor Day held at J.B. Cary Elementary School (above) =
and=20
Holton Elementary School.
OAKGROVE PARENTS SUPPORTED =
IN COMPUTER=20
SKILLS
Coordinated =
by=20
Communities in Schools and supported by employees of =
Bank of=20
America, parents at Oakgrove develop computer skills. =
At the=20
successful completion of the program parents were =
provided=20
computers for their families home use.
UVA ALUMNI SUPPORT MARTIN =
LUTHER KING=20
MIDDLE SCHOOL
UVA alumni =
refurbished an=20
interior courtyard at MLK as a continuing project to =
serve the=20
Church Hill neighborhood. Thanks to CIS for their =
support and=20
assistance in coordinating the day.
CHANDLER MIDDLE SCHOOL =
STUDENTS MEET=20
HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AT PROGRAM
Holocaust=20
survivor Alex=20
Lebenstein meets Chandler Student and Teacher, =
Chantea=20
Gudger following Living Voices - Through the Eyes of a =
Friend=20
program presented by the Jewish Community Federation =
of=20
Richmond.
READ ACROSS AMERICA at =
RICHMOND PUBLIC=20
SCHOOLS
Thanks to the hundreds of =
volunteers who=20
participated in Read Across America celebrations in =
honor of=20
the birthday of Dr. Seuss in early March.
The Cat in =
the Hat=20
visited many of our schools!!
Readers from =
SunTrust=20
Mortgage, and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce =
entertained students with Dr. Seuss =
stories.
Capital One =
Associates and=20
the Heart of America participated in activities in =
seven RPS=20
elementary schools delivering stories, books for the =
students=20
and teacher goodies!
Others=20
involved were from Wachovia Securies, Verizon, IMPACT =
and much=20
more! Thanks to all community members who made this =
such a=20
great day!!
Robert =
Woltz from=20
Verizon, along with other Verizon associates, read to =
students=20
at Maymont Elementary School and delivered books =
collected=20
through their "Season's Reading" =
program.
Richmond Business Council =
and RPS=20
sponsor
PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY - FEBRUARY 7, =
2008
Richmond Public =
Schools is proud=20
of our new partnership with The Richmond Business =
Council of=20
the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
With their support, =
the first=20
annual "Principal for a Day" event was held on =
February 7,=20
2008 in 22 schools throughout the district. The =
program=E2=80=99s=20
goals were simple and direct: to immerse business =
leaders in=20
the public school environment, to increase awareness =
of=20
educational issues, to provide a platform for lasting=20
partnerships between schools and businesses, and to =
enhance=20
awareness of workplace skills that are necessary for =
students=20
to succeed. Sponsors for the event include Hirschler =
Fleisher=20
and David Napier of Old City Bar/White House=20
=
Catering. &nbs=
p; =
; =20
For more information contact Amy Chapman at 783-9309 =
or at http://=
www.grcc.com/page/name/business_councils_richmond=20
or Miriam Davidow, http://richmond.k12.va.us/
'Principal' Richard =
Coughlin, Assoc.=20
Dean Business School, University of Richmond with =
Community=20
High School Student AND J.B. Cary Principals Brenda =
Phillips=20
with guest 'Principal' Richard Conti, Director, =
Science Museum=20
of Virginia
Guest 'Principals' =
Julie Ehlers,=20
University of Richmond and Chaiperson, Richmond =
Business=20
Council with Tom Klein, LandAmerica Financial, =
Co-Chair=20
'Principal for a Day" event
|
Holiday Activities
Capital One Associates =
hosted=20
students from Miles=20
Jones Elementary School at their West Creek =
location,=20
mentored them in philanthropy, entertained them with =
juggling=20
and lunch and presented each with new bicycle for =
their=20
academic achievements as well as living the values =
exemplified=20
in the "Say=20
it With Heart" =
curriculum.
Capital One=20
associate presented Reid=20
Elementary School with a piano among other items =
and were=20
thanked through a performace by the choir, by a =
serenade by=20
the choral teacher and by many cards and letters by =
the=20
students. The piano will be a wonderful addition to =
the schoo=20
for many years to come!
Performer Susan =
Greenbaum=20
entertained students at Redd and Swansboro =
Elementary=20
Schools with holiday and other songs.
RECENT EVENTS |
|
The American=20
Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar was the site for =
the=20
Fall Partnership Reception attended by over 150 =
partners,=20
volunteers and RPS employees
Thank you to Wa=
chovia=20
Bank for their dedication to the students of =
Richmond=20
Schools through their Reading=20
First Blitz and Scholastic Books. See more =
about the=20
program at Francis=20
Elementary School.
Many activities were held in =
Richmond Public=20
Schools for
Make a Difference Day, October 27, =
2007,=20
including:
*READesign=20
=E2=80=93 Westover Hills Elementary School =
sponsored by Capital=20
One and the Heart of America =E2=80=93 dedication =
of redesign of=20
school library
Collegiate Students shared an =
educational=20
experience with students at Oakgrove-Bellemeade =
supported by=20
Communities in Schools and Trinity Methodist =
Church.
*Read-a-thon and Party =E2=80=93=20
George Mason Elementary School =E2=80=93 sponsored =
by FIRST=20
Book, Local Advisory Board October 26 - The book=20
Mommy was donated by Scholastic Books to all=20
Kindergarten and First Graders.
Other events this fall:
|
|
Inside and Out UPTOWN - Main Idea =
Merchants=20
support Maymont,=20
Clark=20
Springs and Amelia=20
Street Elementary Schools
Summer=20
Hill/Ruffin Road Elementary School celebrates =
Thanksgiving=20
early with the help of DriveTime and other volunteers. =
See Photo=20
Journal . |
|
Communicate With Us
We =
would like to=20
thank Mr. Smith for our first submission. If you want =
to=20
share your experiences with us, email Miriam Davidow. |
WHITCOMB DREAMS, Brooks =
Smith
Submitted with permission=20
2/12/05)
=E2=80=9C There is a place =
where the=20
sidewalk ends=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D
And each time =
I cross the tracks and=20
ascend the hill, past boarded up apartments and junk =
yard=20
dogs, to the windswept plain known as Whitcomb Court, =
I think=20
about how remote the merry poetry of Shel Silverstein =
is from=20
this garbled concrete outpost. There are no crimson =
rays or=20
song birds or peppermint clouds here. Just rows of =
two-story=20
tenements -- seemingly abandoned in the cool light of =
day --=20
and a squat public building styled Whitcomb Court =
Elementary=20
School.
This is a place of nearly undeniable =
squalor. A=20
place that strains minute by desperate minute against =
the=20
hopelessness that seeps in through broken windows, =
cracked=20
walls and sole-less shoes. A place of Sisyphean =
struggle.=20
And yet, through it all, it is a place of =
children.=20
Hungry, but impelled by youthful energy. Their dreams =
and=20
worries like wet frescos, immovable in spite of the =
chaos, but=20
alive with emotion and contrast.
Every so often -- =
not=20
nearly as often as I would like -- I venture up the =
hill to=20
eat lunch in the school cafeteria with a little girl =
named=20
Derrica. She=E2=80=99s half-way through the fourth =
grade, quixotic,=20
outspoken, occasionally querulous, and always =
ebullient at the=20
sight of her lunch buddy. She=E2=80=99s surely as poor =
as the rest, as=20
exposed to the realities of the projects as her many =
siblings,=20
or her rasorial mom, or her absentee dad, or her =
impossibly=20
young grandmother. In the two years that we have dined =
together, she seems to have grown ten, a little person =
too=20
soon become big.
We do not often talk about =
important=20
things. Mostly, we critique the cafeteria food, play =
silly=20
games with fruit roll-ups, and compete to see who can =
drink=20
their chocolate milk the fastest. Sometimes, we go to =
the=20
library after lunch so that she can read to me. So =
ponderous,=20
but urgent with the need to sound out each word, to =
make some=20
sense of the story line, as if it were all foreign to =
her.=20
Lately, she=E2=80=99s delighted in hearing about my =
own little girl=E2=80=99s=20
belabored efforts to speak, to sound out simple words =
like=20
moon and mommy, as if these girls were confidants in a =
confused world of vowels and silent letters.
Last =
week, I=20
asked Derrica if she=E2=80=99d ever been on a trip, =
ever ventured to a=20
far-away place. She looked at me as if I had asked a=20
nonsensical question. And I realized that I had, so I =
quickly=20
re-phrased it.
=E2=80=9C Derrica, if you could =
take a trip=20
anywhere in the world, where would you go?=E2=80=9D =
She furrowed=20
her little brow and then said, more unequivocally than =
I could=20
have imagined, =E2=80=9CSouth America.=E2=80=9D =
=E2=80=9C But why there,=E2=80=9D I=20
thought and then asked aloud.
She looked sheepish =
for a=20
minute, and then explained. =E2=80=9CThere=E2=80=99s a =
little girl that comes=20
on tv sometimes, her name is Jenny, and she=E2=80=99s =
very, very poor.=20
She doesn=E2=80=99t have a family, or a home, or food. =
I asked my mom=20
if we could adopt her, so that she could come live =
with us. My=20
mom said that would be okay, but only if we could find =
a way=20
to go down to South America to get her. So =
that=E2=80=99s where I want=20
to go.=E2=80=9D
This little creature, herself =
devoid of the=20
comforts that we off-the-hill dwellers take for =
granted,=20
betwixt dirty and poor, and exposed to hopelessness at =
every=20
turn, still she clings to hope. And not for herself, =
not for=20
her own survival or satisfaction, but for a little =
creature=20
even less fortunate than she, remote but bonded by =
irreducible=20
reality.
I was stunned, nearly fell off my chair, =
nearly=20
burst into tears. I felt like the Grinch when he heard =
the=20
Who=E2=80=99s down in Who=E2=80=99ville singing their =
sweet song in spite of=20
their loss, felt like the weight of a hundred pound =
iron had=20
been lifted from my chest, felt like I could sit there =
forever=20
listening to this little creature beside me, her voice =
now=20
sweet with crimson rays and song birds and peppermint=20
clouds.
There is a place where the sidewalk ends, =
and it is=20
not too far from here. Few follow the path there, and =
even=20
fewer follow it out. It is a place of overwhelming =
need,=20
nearly unfixable, almost forgotten. But it also is a =
place of=20
children, and hope, and from time to time, impossible =
beauty.=20
Lunch is served promptly at 12:20, so don=E2=80=99t be =
late or you=20
might miss it.
=E2=80=9C Yes we=E2=80=99ll =
walk with a walk that is=20
measured and slow,
And we=E2=80=99ll go where the =
chalk-white=20
arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the =
children,=20
they know,
The place where the sidewalk=20
ends.=E2=80=9D
Mr. Smith currently =
volunteers at Woodville=20
Elementary School.
Archived =
pictures/videos |
| | |
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