Roanoke City Public Schools

Load the Bus is back! Join our area school divisions in collecting school supplies to help all our students start the year off on the right foot. Visit the Bonsack, Clearbrook, Salem, and Valley View Walmarts during Tax-Free Weekend on August 2-4 to donate school supplies. Friday, August 2: 3-7 p.m. Saturday, August 3: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, August 4: 12- 6 p.m. Drop off supplies with school staff who are working, or place items in the donation box at the store entrance. Can't attend in-person? Visit our online Walmart wishlist to donate: https://lnkd.in/eRm4WSS5 Is your business interested in providing additional support? Reach out to us if you are interested in hosting a school supply drive or helping to pack school supply bags for students. Thank you to WSLS 10 for sponsoring this year's event, to Walmart for hosting, and to ROANOKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Salem City Schools - Salem, Virginia, and Craig County Public Schools for their continued partnership! #WeAreOne

ICYMI: 50 of our rising 8th graders have been participating in Community Builders this summer, a pilot program designed to help students discover their career interests and learn how to better their community. The cohort will also continue to meet throughout the school year! This would not be possible without our many community, business, and higher education partners, and Del. Sam Rasoul, who championed this legislation and the General Assembly. "They stay safe by staying connected. And when they’re connected to those things that are productive, connected to those things that are constructive... then they are less likely to engage in problematic behaviors or even dangerous behaviors.” - Verletta White, Ed.D. https://lnkd.in/eeANHxus

We had an amazing time celebrating literacy with our students, families, and community partners at our Early Literacy Academy Kick-Off event! Families received resources about how to support their student's reading journey at home, and also had lots of fun with meeting book characters, participating in fun games and activities, eating dinner, and receiving free books and community resources. If you're interested in learning more, be sure to visit our Literacy Resources webpage: https://lnkd.in/eY-M6__U Many thanks to the many community partners who attended, including: Roanoke Sheriff's Office, Roanoke Police Department - VA, Roanoke Public Libraries, Roanoke City Council of PTAs/PTSAs, United Way of Roanoke Valley, United for ALICE, Office of Neighborhood Services - Roanoke VA, PLAY Roanoke, Carilion Clinic, and more. Thank you also to our Early Literacy and Community Engagement team for their hard work, and to all of our staff volunteers! Be sure to put September 12th on your calendar for our next event, and stay tuned for details!

We’re proud of the progress being made on the William B. Robertson Administration Building, which will provide our Central Office staff with a centralized location in downtown Roanoke to best support our students, staff, and families!

Region VI Superintendents held their annual Legislators Luncheon this past week to meet with local elected officials, look back at the 2024 General Assembly session, and look ahead to 2025 to advocate for our students, families, and staff. Thank you to our region's educational leaders and elected officials for partnering together to support public education! #WeAreOne

Celebrating Success!  Congratulations to the Roanoke City Public Schools for Start on Success (SOS) cohort 2023-2024! From day one, I’ve witnessed the incredible growth of this program and its positive impact on students. The end-of-year ceremony was a testament to their hard work and dedication. Special thanks to Carilion Clinic and Carter Machinery for providing valuable internships to these talented students. Thank you to the partners who helped make this program successful: Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and the Center on Transition Innovations at VCU. #RCPS #VDOE #EducationMatters #DARS #CTI

Congratulations to the Roanoke City School Board members who were sworn in to new terms during Thursday’s School Board Investiture Ceremony! Michael Cherry II will serve his second term, and Auraliz Quintana and Deidre Trigg will begin their first terms, effective July 1. Thank you for your service to the students, families, and staff of Roanoke City Public Schools! Thank you also to Judge Carson, a former School Board member himself, for presiding over the ceremony. #WeAreOne #RCPSProud

Interested in working in education as a teacher, administrator, or in a support position? Join us tomorrow, June 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. at our summer job fair! Drop by to meet with our Human Resources team and receive support tailored to your interests and qualifications. Visit www.rcps.info/apply to learn more about RCPS and view available positions. RCPS Job Fair Wednesday, June 26 | 4 to 6 p.m.. RCPS Booker T. Washington Central Administration Building 40 Douglass Ave. NW 

Don't forget to tune in this afternoon to edWeb.net's Really Great Reading webinar featuring our very own Rachel Floyd, Supervisor of Reading Improvement!

Please join us in congratulating the following individuals for being appointed during Tuesday night's School Board meeting! • Dr. Cyndi Williams, Chief Academics and Accountability Officer • Archie Freeman, Chief Instructional and Administrative Officer • Dr. Lori Wimbush, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and School Improvement • Dr. Nick Pontius, Executive Director of Special Education and Exceptional Learners • Dr. Jonathan Schulz, Executive Director of Division Accountability and Strategic Initiatives  • Dr. Wendy Durham, Executive Director of Literacy, Academics, and School Improvement • Claire Mitzel, Director of Communications & Public Relations These positions are the result of a reorganization that will ensure literacy is a top priority within Roanoke City Public Schools. As scheduled, during the 2024-2025 school year, RCPS will also conduct a review of the Strategic Plan and adjust as needed. The reorganization and the Strategic Plan review will ensure that RCPS is aligned with the Virginia Literacy Act and the Virginia Department of Education’s anticipated updates to accreditation and accountability standards. This is a true reorganization; the majority of the positions do not require additional funding and will enable RCPS to have an increased focus both on literacy and student accountability and discipline. This was a competitive process, totaling more than 170 applicants with 82 interviews. As Dr. White stated last night, this is a testament to the culture in Roanoke City Public Schools and our recognition as one of the region’s top employers. If you are interested in joining RCPS, we encourage you to apply: www.rcps.info/apply.