Rockingham County Public Schools - Virginia

Dear Rockingham County Public Schools Families and Staff, As you may be aware, Harrisonburg City Public Schools has closed both their high schools for the day based on a specific threat to those schools. As a result of these closings, we have had multiple calls regarding the status of schools in Rockingham County. The threat in question was specific to Harrisonburg City and did not involve any schools in RCPS. We have received no credible threats toward any of our schools and our schools are operating on their regular schedule. It is difficult to contain the rumor mill at this age group, however, I would ask for your support in reminding your students that our administrators and faculty are here to ensure they have a safe and positive learning environment. We would also like to ask for you to use this as an opportunity to remind your student that using threatening language or behavior of any kind, whether in person, via social media, text, or any other means, is a serious offense and carries heavy consequences. Threats are never a joke, they aren’t funny, and they won’t be treated lightly. The safety and well-being of our school community is our number one priority. I also want to take a moment to recognize the support of Rockingham County’s Sheriff’s Department, School Resource Officers, and parents for their role in keeping our students safe. Sincerely, Larry Shifflett, Ed.D. Division Superintendent

Congratulations to our teachers, Carrie Lillard and Miranda Lyle (and their 4th-grade students)! They are featured in a new episode of the MindShift podcast! The episode, titled "Humanizing History by Teaching with Primary Sources," highlights our 4th grade IDM on Barbara Johns and the 1951 Moton Student Strike. The podcast showcases how Carrie and Miranda have engaged their students in this powerful inquiry. https://tinyurl.com/mhkdb9js

This week, we celebrate the incredible power of the arts in our schools by recognizing Arts in Education Week! The arts ignite creativity, inspire critical thinking, and bring our communities together. 🎨🎻🎬 We would like to invite all community members to celebrate the creativity of our students during a community open house Fine Arts Expo on Tuesday, September 17 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. This annual exhibition is a showcase of the talents of our Rockingham students, as well as an opportunity for you to meet and greet our county art teachers who will be present throughout the night. We will have a digital scavenger hunt and light refreshments available for the artists, their families, and community members.

Are you curious about what is new in RCPS this school year? In episode 16 of RCPS Community Partner Cafe, host Katie LaPira answers community questions and shares important updates for the upcoming school year. From back-to-school nights to enrollment procedures, Katie provides all the essential information families need to get ready for the new academic year. Katie also highlights the vital role of community partnerships in supporting our schools, particularly the United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County's "Tools for School" event.  Listen in to learn about important back-to-school dates, how to access supply lists, and important enrollment details to make sure that you are ready for the 2024-2025 school year. Hear how you can stay connected with the new RCPS app, register for the Tools for Schools event, and make the most of the new school year's opportunities. Check out the links below for more about all of the important resources mentioned in this episode. https://rcpscommunitycafe.podbean.com/ Important RCPS Links:  Health forms and calendars: https://rockinghamcountypsva.sites.thrillshare.com/page/families-students  Sign up here for RCPS text notifications: https://www.rcps.net/o/rcps/page/notification-sign-up Enrollment page: https://rockinghamcountypsva.sites.thrillshare.com/o/rcps/page/student-enrollment RCPS Rooms App: https://rockinghamcountypsva.sites.thrillshare.com/o/rcps/page/rooms-support

The Virginia Department of Education is hosting a virtual Commonwealth Conversation this Monday, August 5, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. to give parents, educators, and community members throughout Virginia the opportunity to share their thoughts on the best ways to achieve cell phone-free education and address the increasing evidence of the impact cell phone and social media usage has on education and youth mental health. Parents, educators, and interested citizens throughout the Commonwealth are invited to attend and discuss their expectations for the upcoming policy changes that will take effect in January 2025. Virginians who would like to join the virtual conversation can register through the Virtual Zoom Commonwealth Conversation page. Learn more about Executive Order 33 and view the schedule of upcoming conversations being held throughout the Commonwealth on the Cell Phone-Free Education in Virginia webpage (www.doe.virginia.gov/cell-phone-free-education).

The Virginia Department of Education is hosting a Commonwealth Conversation on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Kate Collins Middle School in Waynesboro to give parents, educators, and community members the opportunity to share their thoughts on the best ways to achieve cell phone-free education in Virginia and address the increasing evidence of the impact cell phone and social media usage has on education and youth mental health.        Parents, educators, and interested citizens are invited to attend and discuss their expectations for the upcoming policy changes that will take effect in January 2025.    Share your thoughts or register for an upcoming Commonwealth Conversation here: https://ow.ly/SKnr50SJ93b

You are invited to attend the State of Education 2024 event next Friday, July 26, 2024. Employees are able to attend for free when registering with your RCPS email address. https://chamber.hrchamber.org/events/details/2024-state-of-education-14536

[Original size] Educating Today's Learner, Developing Tomorrow's Future by klapira

Character Counts in RCPS! 🌟 Congratulations to Miriam Stover and Jackson Williams for being selected as the 2024 Brittany Lam- Kelly Coggsdale Character Counts recipients from Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Miriam is a helpful, responsible, and motivated student and is a valuable asset to Pleasant Valley, embodying the Pillars of Character. Jackson is a pleasant, helpful, dependable, and caring student who greatly contributes to the success of "PLEASANT Valley" among his peers and adults. #CharacterCounts

Character Counts in RCPS! 🌟 Congratulations to Elanor Dalrymple and Alex Bennison for being selected as the 2024 Brittany Lam- Kelly Coggsdale Character Counts recipients from John Wayland Elementary School. Mrs. Hedgepeth, Ellie's 5th grade teacher, praised her compassionate nature and her ability to inspire kindness in the classroom and school. Alex is quick to help peers and teachers, pushing others to be their best. Alex is a hard worker, striving for personal and academic improvement, making the school a better place.#CharacterCounts

Character Counts in RCPS! 🌟 Congratulations to Sam Briggs and Audrey Garrison for being selected as the 2024 Brittany Lam- Kelly Coggsdale Character Counts recipients from Turner Ashby High School Activities. Sam is a talented athlete and academically accomplished individual who sets a strong example for his peers, earning an "A" in every class. Audrey is a stellar academic student and has held numerous leadership positions over the past four years. TA recognizes her dedication, selflessness, and community contribution. #CharacterCounts

Character Counts in RCPS! 🌟 Congratulations to Evelyn Ortiz-Lopez and Andrew Elgohar for being selected as the 2024 Brittany Lam- Kelly Coggsdale Character Counts recipients from Cub Run Elementary School. Evelyn exemplifies responsibility, kindness, and hard work. She fosters positive relationships, demonstrates leadership skills, and earns respect from both staff and students. Andrew is a respectful and caring student who excels both academically and socially. He is a role model for peers, demonstrating trustworthiness, responsibility, and genuine care for others.

🌟✨ It's Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎📚 Please see the video message from Dr. Shifflett showing his appreciation to our teachers. https://youtu.be/hZwcNgE5n1U

Character Counts in RCPS! 🌟 Congratulations to Lillian Myers and Joseph Owens for being selected as the 2024 Brittany Lam- Kelly Coggsdale Character Counts recipients from Montevideo Middle School. Lily is a kind, compassionate student who is admired for her integrity, honesty, and positive attitude. She balances academics and extracurricular activities, setting an excellent example for her peers. Joseph is a dedicated student with exceptional intelligence, friendliness, and empathy. He is a valuable member of Montevideo Middle School, inspiring others to excel academically and socially.

Does your family struggle with a child's chronic health needs? Kids of VaLR is a free and secure app for parents to share a child’s health information with responders in case of an emergency. The app is for all people in Rockingham County and is recognized and supported by Rockingham County Public Schools. Sign up today!

Are you curious about STEM and science activities in our schools? Today, host Katie LaPira chats with Tammy Stone, the Science, STEM, and Challenge Supervisor for Rockingham County Public Schools. Tammy shares exciting insights into the hands-on learning experiences of RCPS students. https://www.rcps.net/page/rcps-community-partner-cafe

Dear RCPS Staff, Families, & Community, The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that districts engage with stakeholders across the different Titles of federal funding (I, II, III, IV) in developing and implementing a local plan and while creating new grant applications. Please complete this survey to provide your feedback on the use of RCPS federal funds among the different areas. There is a description of each Title funded program within the survey. The survey is brief and will be open through Sunday, April 21, 2024. Here is a link to the 2024 Federal Programs Stakeholder Engagement Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesj5G3qKpg0UEeSnea9xli0zKhg-yV25OH93RCgGXhFRliAg/viewform *Need to see the survey in another language? You may translate Google Forms/Surveys into a variety of languages by following these steps: 1. Click on the link for the form. 2. Right click anywhere on the form and several options will appear. 3. Click on "Translate" or "Translate to". Another box will appear in the upper right corner. 4. If the language you want to translate to does not appear, click on the three vertical dots and select "choose another language". 5. Click on the drop-down menu, choose the desired language and click the "translate" button. 6. Proceed with completing the form. Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey!

Stay up to date with the latest student stories, events, and news updates. It's everything RCPS, in your pocket. If you haven't already, download the app! Download for Android https://bit.ly/3Tukstn Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3ndAXOs

Attention: Current 6th, 7th and 8th graders! Have you ever wanted to help your community but get stuck trying to figure out how? Come spend a week with us, during the Helping Hands Service Camp, June 10–15, 2024, from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at Wilbur Pence Middle School. This camp will be filled with fun and fulfilling service projects. We will help feed the hungry, make and deliver items to a local animal shelter, build and paint bookshelves for a local service group, and make blankets for people in need (just to name a few). We’ll even host a cleanup at the river, and of course, enjoy a splash or two ourselves! There are so many opportunities, we can’t list them all here, but we can guarantee it will be a great week if you join us! Sign up at https://forms.gle/zBU2j2DtDzqHiFuo9. Email jlmiller@rockingham.k12.va.us with questions

RCPS will dismiss students at 1:00 pm on Monday, April 8, 2024. As you may know, on that day, a total solar eclipse will be visible in North America. In our area, the eclipse will begin around 2:00 pm and end about 5:30 pm. The weather forecast calls for a sunny day, and we are concerned for the safety of our students, as the maximum solar eclipse will occur at 3:17 pm. On a regular school day, many students would be traveling home on our school buses at this time. We want to ensure they are fully supervised during the solar eclipse so they are not tempted to look at the sun, which can be harmful to the eyes.