The Tiger Tea

Happy Sunday!

We hope that all students will participate in our Spring Spirit Week! You don't want to miss out on our events this week.

Bingo is this Tuesday, and the deadline for FREE Bingo reservations is Monday at Noon. After that date and time, there will be a $5 charge for the pizza/bingo package. Reservations are preferred. Alternatively (and less optimally), you may purchase a package at the door for $5 (or $3 for just a bingo card)-- while supplies last. (Please note that bingo boards and pizza are not free at the door if not reserved ahead of time.)

The AHMS Theater production of Matilda is sold out! If you purchased a ticket, remember to bring money for concessions. All proceeds will benefit the theater department.

Highlights from last week!

• STEAM Night in the Garden! Thank you to all students, staff, and families who attended. A special thank you to the Science teachers, art teachers, Ed tech integrator, and PTA!

• This week was CIS Appreciation Week! We are so grateful for Ms. Polk our CIS site coordinator!

• The Albert Hill Chorus earned an Excellent (2) rating at St. Christopher's and a perfect site reading score!

• 7th graders participated in a Challenge Discovery team building event!

• Tigers Serve! Thank you to our students who helped to clean the school grounds!

Sports Updates

See sports section for information about the upcoming spring track season!

ONLINE- Scholastic Book Fair

The scholastic book fair continues ONLINE through March 31st and 25% of your purchase will go directly to Albert Hill! See more information on the flyer below!

CIS Parent Survey

The purpose of this survey is to evaluate the programs and resources at your child’s school. The data compiled will be used in the ongoing process of program improvement. If there is any additional information not captured in this survey, please share it with your CIS Site Coordinator.

23-24 Albert Hill Middle School Mold Report

Albert Hill Middle School received a building mold test. The report, with those test results, is attached. A quick reference to key points of the report:

Based on our observations and sampling data, ECS does not see any reason why the school should not be continued to be used based on our experience with similar school buildings across the Richmond area and our findings for this study. In general, our air sample results did not indicate any significantly elevated spore trap air samples in the classrooms above outdoor comparison samples.

March 25- 29

Spring Spirit Week- Activities TBD

March 26

Author Visit: Steve Watkins (selected classes)

PTA Bingo Night

March 28

Spring Musical: Matilda Jr. 6:00 p.m.

March 29

Wellness Day RPS Closed: No School

April 8-12

Assistant Principal's Week (Recognition)

National School Library Week

April 9

Musical Cast Party @ 4th Period

April 10

RPS Closed- Eid al-Fitr

April 11

7th Grade Maymont Field Trip

7:00 p.m. PTA Board Meeting

April 12

Spring Tiger Rally

April 15

Spring Panorama Survey Window Opens

April 17

Flex Bell Schedule- Element Meetings

April 18

ELA Night 6-8

April 19

NJHS Spring Fling/ St. Patrick's Day Dance

April 20

AHMS Spirit Night- Richmond Kickers/ Chorus Perform National Anthem

April 22

Earth Day

Chromebook Collection Begins

iReady EOY Window Opens

April 23

National School Bus Drivers Day

Attendance Incentive

April 24

Administrative Professionals Day

April 26

VAAP Testing Window Closes

Spring Panorama Survey Window Closes

April 27

8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. AHMS Yardsale

April 30

EOC Geometry/Algebra 1 SOL

Our biggest spring fundraiser, the Albert Hill Yard Sale will be April 27, 8am-1pm.

The PTA is accepting donations of items for the sale at the days and times listed below.

Wednesdays from 5-6PM on 2/28, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10 and 4/17

Saturdays from 11AM -12PM on 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/13 and 4/20

Sundays from 1-2PM on 3/10, 3/24, 4/7 and 4/21

Check out alberthillyardsale.com for all the details!

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.

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

Softball

Flag Football

Coach: Mr. McLane jmclane@rvaschools.net

Kids on the Move

Do you want to run the Monument 10K for FREE! Join Kids on the Move! The club will meet Tuesdays beginning February 13th. Students should come dressed to run! See flyer in the sports section for more details! Runners must have a completed and updated VHSL physical in order to participate.

Coach: Mr. Kimbrell kkimbrel@rvaschools.net

Tennis

Coaches: Mr. Yavorsky dyavorsk@rvaschools.net and Ms. Gabbert egabbert@rvaschools.net

Track

Albert Hill Spring Track begins Wednesday, March 27th. Practices will be Mondays and Wednesdays. Participants must have a completed and updated VHSL physical.

Girls in Gear, a nonprofit, volunteer-led program that teaches confidence-building through bike riding for girls 5+ is hosting an eight- week program across Richmond. They have a no-questions-asked scholarship policy (which includes bikes and helmets) so that anyone who desires to participate can ride with them.

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 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