Katie Ricard for Richmond School Board

I hope you’ll excuse a “proud mom” post. G moved on from Fox Elementary today and we are so proud of the young man he’s becoming. He started kindergarten virtually, transitioned multiple times due to the Fox fire, and then returned to Hanover Ave. Graduation week is always my favorite, but this year is extra special!

Dogwood’s last showcase did not disappoint! A rock band that well, rocked, incredible dancers, stunning artwork, and breathtaking singers made this year-end showcase not to be missed! Congrats to the wolf pack!!!

There are a lot of things that need to be improved for our teachers. When you’re in the thick of it, it’s hard to see past the paperwork, behavior issues, long hours, and low pay.

Today, fifteen years after I taught her, I got an email from a former student who has become a teacher herself and continued her professional education to support her students. She thanked me for the impact I had on her as a freshman.

And there it is. The incredible, life-changing impact that our teachers have every day on our students, the impact that we don’t necessarily see until many years later.

Thank you teachers ❤️🍎

Our elementary students got their opportunity to taste new meal options yesterday! In partnership with , our department solicited venders who prepared different breakfast, lunch, and dessert options. Favorites were the Cajun chicken pasta, funnel cake, and the chicken sandwich with pimento cheese. I also loved seeing the catfish bowl, where the vendor taught students about catfish and its invasiveness in the Chesapeake Bay (we’re helping the bay by eating them!)

Thanks to , , and the whole RPS Wellness Department for all their hard work on this event.

Fox Elementary’s Matilda was so incredible that I forgot to take pictures! Blown away by the talents of our students and grateful for the hard work of Fox’s music teacher, Mr. Winslow, in providing this opportunity. Thanks for their support as well!

Carver Elementary went NUTS for science this week! Tuesday was a science pep rally with a super fun demonstration of elephant toothpaste (iykyk). Today the robotics team competed in an elementary RPS robotics competition. Students screamed and danced for science, and persevered through difficulties with the robotic course. What a week!

Fruit and Veggie Week at RPS! I was lucky to serve bell peppers and blood oranges at Fox and rainbow carrots at Carver. It’s funny how when fruits and vegetables are different colors than we expect, we are more hesitant to try them. But a purple carrot tastes just like an orange carrot! And a blood orange like a regular orange!

The sciences and the arts! RPS hosted two incredible showcases this week and our students truly shined. I was blown away by their scientific acuity and their artistic talent. SPECIAL THANKS to all our teachers, who have inspired our students to learn, question, and create. ❤️🍎

A few days remain for advocacy! Click the link below to email our General Assembly delegates.

🍎Thank them for their support of RPS and public education. Both budgets propose salary increases for teachers and support staff. The Senate’s is higher at 3%.
🍎Ask them to pass a budget that supports the House’s $400 million flexible funding and the Senate’s $120 million new at-risk add on funding and the local option for the 1% school construction sales tax.

Link here: https://fastdemocracy.com/campaigns/ULBOdRPt6/Advocate-for-Public-Education-Funding-in-the-Conference-Budget/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAQetXxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAacA7duuLiT0uGltEqFznfBlY2J4lH27G8udROB2-ZZ7Rs9CG0HeROy5wUbbsQ_aem_BLsln5Fl240w7YZjzak-dw

The Dogwood Middle School theatre show this past weekend was perfection 🙌. We laughed at the witty lines, we were amazed by the acting, we loved seeing the joy on these talented actors’ faces.