A Publication of Richmond City Public Schools

A publication of the Richmond Public Schools’ Office of Public Information

Volume 1 - No. 3 June 2007

Britt receives Distinguished Educational Leadership Award

Four RPS Seniors Receive Gates Scholarships

BeverlyBritt,principalatRichmond’sJohnMarshallHighSchool,isoneoffourareaprincipalstoreceivethisyear’sR.E.B.AwardforDistinguishedEducationalLeadership.

Theawards,sponsoredbytheR.E.B.Foundationinpartnershipwiththe Community Foundation, recognize one principal from Chesterfield, Hanover,HenricoandRichmondCitypublicschools.

Recipientsareawarded$15,000grants,halfofwhichisanunrestrictedcashgrant.Theotherhalfmustbeusedforschool-basedinitiatives.

BrittwasnamedprincipalatJohnMarshallin2001.Sincethen,theschoolhasbecomefullyaccredited,hasachievedAdequateYearlyProgressandhasimproveditsdailyattendancerate.

Brittwillusepartofher$15,000granttodevelopamalementoringprogramthatwillpairninth-graderswithadultsfromlocalfraternities,businessesandcivicgroups.Mentorswillstaywiththeirstudentsforfouryears.

Four Richmond Public Schools seniors have been selected as 2007 Gates Millennium Scholars. Theawardincludesrenewablecollegescholarshipsforbothundergraduateandgraduatestudies. Richmondstudentsselectedare: XavierDavis,HuguenotHighSchool;DarrylStephens,Armstrong High School; Barbaratta Whitaker,Armstrong High School;andYangYangZheng,RichmondCommunityHighSchool. TheGatesMillenniumScholarsprogramwasstarted in1999witha$1billiongrantfromtheBillandMelindaGatesFoundation.Thisyear,1,000studentswereselectedasGatesScholarsfrommorethan11,000applicants. Davis, who has a 4.04 grade point average at Huguenot, will attend LincolnUniversityinthefallandmajorinbiology.Hehopestobecomeanemergencyroomphysician.Stephensalsowantstoentermedicine.Hehascompileda4.04GPAatArmstrong.StephenswillattendtheCollegeofWilliamandMarythisfall.Whitaker,whohasa4.4GPA,isthisyear’sseniorclassvaledictorianatArmstrong.SheplanstoattendSpelmanCollegeorHowardUniversityinthefallandeventuallywantstobecomeapediatrician. Zheng isRichmondCommunity’s2007valedictorian. Duringhis fouryearsatCommunity, he has posted a 4.68 GPA and has maintained perfect attendance.ZhengwillattendtheUniversityofVirginiainthefallandmajorinengineering.

RPS 2007 VALEDICTORIANS

John MarshallValedictorian:AshleyJallahSalutatorian:YassahBallayan

ArmstrongValedictorian:BarbarattaWhitakerSalutatorian:TenesciaBaker

HuguenotValedictorian:BeverlyWalkerSalutatorian:KeevonieWilliams

George WytheValedictorian:ShantiPehlamSalutatorian: Almeisha Whitfield

Thomas JeffersonValedictorian:AprylPechtSalutatorian:ToriaEdmonds-Howell

Richmond CommunityValedictorian:YangYangZhengSalutatorian:MalcolmBressendorf

Franklin MilitaryValedictorian:JessicaFrazierSalutatorian:CrisziaEdmonds

2007 Gates Scholars include clockwise from top:Darryl Stephens, Xavier Davis, Barbaratta Whitaker and Yang Yang Zheng.

RPS Wins at TSA Conference

Richmond’s 2007 Teacher of the Year

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT

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LatifahNeblett-Burrell,a13-year-oldhonorstudentwhoattendsBinfordMiddleSchool,hasbeen

selectedastheyouthtorepresentRichmondRedevelopmentandHousingAuthorityataninternationalscubadivingsummit.TheYouthSportsandFineArtsAcademyoftheRichmondRedevelopmentandHousingAuthority(RRHA)announcedinMarchthattheBlackDolphinDiveClubofRichmond(BDD)hasagreedtopartnerwiththeagencytosendyoungscubadivingparticipantstotheYouthSummithostedbytheTennesseeAssociationofBlackScubaDiversinCuracao.TheBlackDolphinDiveClubofRichmond’ssponsorship package includes financial support; exposuretothevarietyofeducational,recreational,in-roadstoemploymentopportunitiesscubadivingoffers;andlong-termmentoring.Thenationalandlocalclubssharethephilosophywhichplacesspecialemphasisonempoweringandbuildingthequalityoflifeoftheyouthinhopesthatthoseyouthwillgivebacktotheircommunitythroughpositiveleadership.

S t e p h e n i a M u t e r s p a u g h RPS Takes the PlungeBinford Middle School student to attend scuba diving summit in Caribbean

Thisyear’sMiddleSchoolMindGamesparticipantswerechallengedtoaddressthefollowingscenario:The people of Queezletown have been isolated by bad weather--

facing snow and ice, floods, tornadoes and disease. Now they are running out of food, and no vehicles can reach the town. What do you do?Well,youbuildacatapultandtossfoodintothevillage.Soundssimple,right?FortheRichmondCitymiddle-schoolerswhotookpartinthedistrict’sannualMiddleSchoolMindGames,itwas.

JosephTinesandhisAlbertHillteammatesweresuccessfulwiththeircatapultlaunching.SowereKelseyWilliamsandtheothermembersoftheMartinLutherKingsquad.Butthemostsuc-cessfullaunchwascompletedbySaraSurfaceandherBrownMiddleSchoolteammates,whoalsowentontocapturethisyear’soveralltitle.Thisyearmarkedthe26thyearofMindGames.Fout,thedistrict’sspecialistforgiftededucation,hasbeenthereforeverycompetition.Hestillenjoystheevent.“ThefavoritepartofMindGamesformeiswatchingthekidshavesomuchfunandinteractwithoneanother,”saidFout.“Theycomefromalloverthecitytocompete,andit’strulywonderfulknowingthatwehavestudentsofthiscaliberandability.”

StudentsfromThompsonMiddleSchoolandtheRichmondTechnicalCentercapturedseveralawards,includingthreestatetitles,atthe2007

TechnologyStudentAssociation(TSA)StateConferenceheldinHampton. Carlisa Crutchfield, a student at the Richmond Technical Center (RTC), won first place in the prepared presentationcategory.Thompsonstudentswontwoteamcompetitionsastheschool’scyberspacedesignandtechnologytransferteamsbothearnedstatetitles.Cyberspacedesignteammembersinclude:JenniferDickson,MicoleRichardson,JalisaHall,NicoleSmithandSamanthaTyler.Technologytransferteammembersare:Dre’MonMiller,RichardChristian,CheniseClay,DylanaCheek,ShauneiceHarrisandLaurenWhite.Thompsonstudentsalsocapturedninethird-placeawards.Winnersinclude:Tyler,technicalwritingandvideochallenge;Miller,environmentalchallenge;Dickson,environmentalchallenge;Clay,graphicdesign;Hall,videochallenge;Christian,videochallenge;White,medicaltechnology;andCheek,medicaltechnology. TaylorSteward,astudentatRTC,alsowonindividual

honors,placingsecondindragsterdesign. The Thompson TSA Chapter placed fifth in the overall competition.KathleenStansbury,technologyteacheratThompson,wasrecognizedasthestate’soutstandingTSAadviserwiththeMarshallO.TettertonAward.StatewinnersarenoweligibletocompeteattheTSANationalConferencescheduledforJune25–28inNashville,Tenn.

Who’s Playing Mind Games?City middle schoolers are put to the test

While awaiting their audience with the Queen during her majesty’s visit to the Capital City, some Thomas Jefferson High School students had an opportunity to rub elbows with Rich-mond Royalty --legendary civil rights attorney, Oliver Hill.

For more information about Richmond Public Schools, tune to Comcast Cable Ch. 99 or visit our website at www.richmond.k12.va.us.

RPS SUPERINTENDENT’S FYI

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As this school year comes to its close, it seems most appropriate to highlight some

of the year’s outstanding students, teachers and programs. First, congratulations to our 2007

senior class valedictorians, a group of young people as impressive as any you will ever meet. They are: Barbaratta Whitaker, Armstrong; Jessica Frazier, Franklin Military; Beverly Walker, Huguenot; Apryl Pecht, Thomas Jefferson; Ashley Jallah, John Marshall; Shanti Pehlam, George Wythe; and Yang Yang Zheng, Richmond Community. Ms. Whitaker and Mr. Zheng are also part of another stellar group of seniors, the 2007 Class of Gates Millennium Scholars. The two are joined by Huguenot High School’s Xavier Davis and Armstrong’s Darryl Stephens as recipients of scholarships funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The awards fund both undergraduate and graduate studies. Our teachers and administrators continue to set the bar for educational and professional excellence. In the last issue of School Zone, we profiled six Richmond City teachers who received R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence. In this issue, we feature John Marshall High School principal Beverly Britt, a 2007 recipient of the R.E.B. Award for Educational Leadership. Ms. Britt is one of four area principals to be honored this year. Of course, I am most proud of our students and partners. At this year’s Mind Games, a competition of intellect, wit and problem solving coordinated by our SPACE program, teams from J. B. Fisher, Linwood Holton and Lucille Brown won titles. At each event, these gifted and talented students are challenged by long-term construction problems that combine creativity, logic and teamwork. Other terrific exhibits of our students’ talents were the RPS Science and Technology Extravaganza held at the Science Museum of Virginia, the Carytown Art Walk that featured art work from our elementary, middle and high school students, and Kaleidoscope 2007, a night of music and song held at the Landmark Theater that showcased the school district’s All-City bands, orchestras and choirs. Finally, this year will be remembered as the year that “I Have A Dream” became a reality for students at Broad Rock Elementary School. Thanks to the generosity of Ken and Gail Henshaw, 42 Broad Rock second-graders now know that it’s possible for them to attend college. At a recent celebration to formally kick off the program, the Broad Rock “Dreamers” performed an original song written especially for them by Faithway Doves, a gospel group from Elizabeth City State University. The song’s chorus truly defines the spirit of “I Have A Dream.” Dreams in my eyes Dreams beyond the skies Dreams ocean wide Dreams, Dreams still come alive Watching the Broad Rock students’ sheer joy in singing “their” song, and knowing that they have been afforded the opportunity to accomplish their dreams, reminded me of the goodness in people and the reasons I relish the opportunity to work in public education and serve as superintendent of Richmond Public Schools.

RPS Superintendent Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman

Doyouenjoycontestsofintellect,witandproblemsolving?Ifso,Rich-mondPublicSchools’annualMindGames,heldattheArthurAsheCen-ter,areforyou.Theeventiscoordi-natedbySPACE,theschooldistrict’sprogramforgiftedandtalentedstudents,andfeaturescompetitionsatboththeelementaryandmiddleschoollevels.EachMindGamescompetitiontestsparticipantsintheareasofgeneralknowledge,logicandproductivethinking.Studentsalsoengageinalong-termconstruc-tionproblem,whichisalwaystheshowcaseevent.Atthisyear’sElementarySchoolMindGames,thelong-termproblemsfeaturedaJamestown400thAnniversarytheme.Second-andthird-gradersconstructedsailboatstocarryCap-tainRodwellFountaineacrossthetreacherousKingJamesBaytoJamestown.Usingstraws,aluminumfoil,Popsiclesticks,fundough,tapeandpipecleaners,studentssetaboutbuildingasea,make that pool-worthy vessel that would stay afloat and land as quicklyaspossibleatitsdestination.

Anumberofteamshadsuccessfullaunchings,includingthosefromOverby-Sheppard,Woodville,ClarkSpringsandFisher.Infact,Fisherteammembersenjoyedagreatoverallcompetitionastheycapturedthisyear’s2nd/3rdGradeMindGamestitle.

The4th/5thgradeeventcontinuedtheJamestownthemeasstu-dentswerechallengedtobuildareplicaofFortJamestownsturdyenough to withstand a flood. In the end, the team from Holton was leftstandingwiththetitle.

EdwardMiller,afourth-graderatChimborazoElementarySchool, wants to find a cure for sickle cell anemia. And that’sthemessageheconveyedinhisaward-winning

entryinthe2007“StampOutSickleCell”postercampaignsponsoredbySt.JudeChildren’sResearchHospital,theJamesRiverVirginiaChapterofJackandJillofAmerica,andtheNationalLearning&LeadershipInstitute.

Forhavingthisyear’stopposter,EdwardwillvisitSt.Jude’sinMemphisandhavehisposterprintedonaT-shirtfordistributionintheRichmondarea.Whilehe’sinMemphis,EdwardwillvisittheCivilRightsMuseum,Gracelandandotherwell-knownsites.

The Fine Art of Healing

PLAYING MIND GAMES, TOO:FISHER, HOLTON CAPTURE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TITLES

A dapper Edward Miller proudly accepts a certificate for his award-winning “Stamp Out Sickle Cell” poster design.

School Zone

Asweendtheschoolyear,Iwouldliketothanktheentire

RPSfamily,friendsandcommunitypartnersforanothergreatterm.Withoutyoursupport,our2006/07accomplishmentsandmorewouldnothavebeenpossible.

Duringthesummermonths,theRichmondCitySchool

Boardwillcontinuetoworkdiligentlytocreateandimplementstandardsandpoliciesdesignedtohelppropelthisdistrictforward.

Recently,CityCouncilpassedanordinanceappropriatingapproximately$159.9millionfromitsgeneralfundfortheSchoolBoard’s2007/2008budget.Thisappropriationreflects no increase from the current school year. However, intheweeksahead,theBoardwillbeworkingwithschooladministrationandthepublicto“getthebestbangforthebuck,”especiallyinregardtostudentachievement.

RPS School Board Chairman George P. Braxton, II

RPS PARTNERSHIP PROFILES

Page 4 School Zone

YOUR SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN

Simplyput,itisourcommitmenttotaxpayersandstakeholdersthatRichmondCitySchoolswillachieveinstructional excellence while maintaining fiscal accountability.

This spring, the School Board voted to close five school buildings after the public commented on five proposals. TheclosingofNorrell,NorrellAnnex,ThirteenAcres,REALandPatrickHenryrepresentsapproximately$900,000insavings.WewillbeworkingwithRPSadministrationtomakesurestudentandstafftransitionsareassmoothaspossible.

We’vealsostartedinitialdiscussionswiththeCityAuditoronthesecondpartofamulti-phaseauditandserviceconsolidationreviewtorealizeadditionalsavings.

Aswemoveforward,pleaseknowwearecommittedtostudentachievementandcontinuingourtrajectoryofsuccess.Inthenextfewmonths,youwillseeevenmoreevidencethatwearenotaschooldistricttiedtonumbers,buttoindividualprogressandlearningbeyondlimits.

Thankyou.

WACHOVIA promotes reading

Everyoneneedsagoodpairofshoes,butyoungpeopleespeciallyenjoyputtingonanew

setof“kicks.”So,whenSaxonShoesdonatednearly300pairsofshoesthisyeartostudentsatthreeRichmondCityelementaryschools,the“wowandsmile”levelswentthroughtheroofatNorrell,GinterParkandMilesJoneselementaryschools

InNorrell’scase,thedonationsignaledSaxon’ssupportforthestudents,familiesandstaffwhohadbeenaffectedbyTropicalStormErnesto.FloodingfromthestormhadcausedtheBatteryParkareaschooltoberelocatedacrosstheJamesRivertotheformerPatrickHenryElementarySchoolbuildingonSemmesAvenue.And,accordingtoSaxonShoesstoreowner,GaryWeiner,thefamily-runbusinessknewitwantedtohelp.“SaxonShoeshasalwaysmadeacommitmenttothecommunity,fromthetimemyfolksstartedthisbusinessin1953,”saidWeiner.“Whenthestormhit,wewantedtomakeanefforttohelpthekidsdisplacedatNorrell.It’sourwayofdoingsomethingforthecommunity,whichissomethingwewilldoagainandagain.”Weinerkepthisword–andSaxon’scommitment–bydonatingshoestostudentsatGinterParkandMilesJonesthisspring.

Saxon Shoes fit for RPS J.L.FrancisElementary

Schoolstudentsgot“blitzed”earlierthisyear,

onethatentailedawhirlwindofvolunteers,booksandguestreaders.WachoviaBankemployeescomprisedthecorpsofvolunteersandguestreaders,withScholasticBooks

Inc.providingthereadingmaterials.

Wachovia’sReadingFirstcelebrationprovidedeachclassroomwithasetof30children’sbooksthatcoveredavarietyoftopicstosparkstudents’imaginationsandnurturetheirloveofthewrittenword.

BrendaBurton,anonlinepersonalservicerepresentativewithWachovia,organizedtheReadingFirstBlitzatFrancis.“Thebiggestthingwewanttoaccomplishistopromoteeducationandliteracywithinourcommunity,”Burtonsaid.“It’simportantforWachoviavolunteerstobeinvolved.We’reverymuchaboutthefutureofourchildren.”

WachoviaalsoheldasimilarprogramatJohnB.CaryElementarySchool.