March 17, 2023 Vol. 6, Issue 16
THIS ISSUE: IMPORTANT DATES • CALENDAR NEWS • SPRING BREAK FOOD DISTRIBUTION • SCHOOL BOARD CORNER • FEEDBACK • ACROSS HENRICO COUNTY • EXED EXPO • KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION • REMINDERS AND OPPORTUNITIES • HCPS-TV NOW IN HD
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Welcome to The Binder! Here's hoping your St. Patrick's Day is happy and your March Madness brackets are intact!
Look for new editions in your inbox approximately every two weeks, for news and reminders from Henrico County Public Schools.
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March: Youth Art Month and Music in Our Schools Month
March 23: School Board work session and monthly meeting
March 28: Student holiday/staff clerical day (special election)
March 31: Student half day/teacher clerical day
April 3-7: Spring Break (student and teacher holiday; offices closed to the public)
April 20: School Board work session and monthly meeting
April 21: Student and teacher holiday – Eid al-Fitr
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Calendar news: Special election, 2024-25 draft
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March 28 student holiday: To accommodate a special election for the open Virginia Senate seat in the 9th District, March 28 will be a student holiday and a staff clerical day.
Because members of the public need easy access to school facilities to visit polling places, schools are not able to screen visitors with the same thoroughness they would employ during a regular school day. Banked instructional time will be used to offset the closure so the time does not need to be made up.
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We know that this may be an inconvenience for some families. Please know that great thought was given before deciding to close schools. For every election, Dr. Cashwell and division leaders evaluate school layouts and the potential to relocate polling areas within our buildings to allow voters limited access without compromising school safety plans. For the specific schools needed for this election, relocating polling areas was not an option.
Give input on 2024-25 draft calendar through March 27: HCPS is seeking input from students, staff, parents and community members about the 2024-25 school year calendar. Check out this draft calendar and provide your feedback in this short survey by March 27.
Calendario para el año escolar 2024-25 (entregue su opinión antes del 27 de marzo): Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Henrico está solicitando la opinión de los estudiantes, personal, padres y miembros de la comunidad acerca del calendario para el año escolar 2024-25. Por favor revise este calendario borrador antes de completar la encuesta a continuación y entregue su opinión antes del 27 de marzo.
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Spring Break food distribution;
Distribución de alimentos Spring Break
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In partnership with the Henrico Community Food Bank, Henrico County Public Schools will continue to bring our families ongoing access to healthy and nutritious food during times of need. To help alleviate food insecurity over the Spring Break, shelf-stable food will be distributed Saturday, March 25, at the West End Manor Civic Association, 8600 Lakefront Dr., Richmond, VA, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for all HCPS students and families.
En asociación con el Banco de Alimentos de la Comunidad de Henrico, las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Henrico continuarán brindando a nuestras familias acceso continuo a alimentos saludables y nutritivos en tiempos de necesidad. Para ayudar a aliviar la inseguridad alimentaria durante las vacaciones de primavera, se distribuirán alimentos no perecederos el sábado 25 de marzo en la Asociación Cívica West End Manor, 8600 Lakefront Dr., Richmond, VA, de 11 a.m. a 1 p.m. para todos los estudiantes y familias de HCPS.
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School Board Corner: Celebrating the arts
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A message from the Henrico School Board: March is Music in Our Schools and Youth Art Month. As a school board, we are proud to support arts education for students in grades PreK-12. In addition to providing a pathway for students to explore their interests, participation in arts programs fosters positive behavioral and academic growth.
Multiple studies analyzed by the Arts Education Partnership show that students who study music demonstrate increased proficiency in math, reading, and higher-level thinking. Similarly, a 2006 study by the Guggenheim Museum shows a link between increased literacy skills and studying the arts.
In Henrico Schools, every student has the opportunity to experience art education through art and music classes, band, orchestra, choral and visual arts programs. The school division’s Center for the Arts at Henrico High School offers multiple strands of study, project-based learning and student showcases where students pursue their passions and share their talents with the larger community.
We are incredibly proud of our student artists whether they express themselves through music, dance, or the visual arts. Every March, we host the School Board Art Show to highlight the creative talents of our young people. Framed works of art are selected to hang in the New Bridge Learning Center Auditorium and the School Administration Offices for one year as a beautiful reflection of the creativity, craftsmanship, and hard work of our student artists.
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Annual survey helps HCPS make decisions
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The 2023 HCPS Survey is going on now through March 31! Tell us what you think about your experiences in Henrico County Public Schools. Your input (employees, families and students in grades 3-12) will help the school division improve and make important decisions about the future. Full details are at https://henricoschools.us/annual-schools-survey/. Again, the survey takes place through March 31... join us!
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See how motivation and appreciation became part of the culture at George Baker Elementary School.
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Students took on leadership roles during Henrico County's annual Student Government Day.
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Read Across America! Plate tectonics! "Tricky triangles"! And ... a plane in the Seven Pines parking lot??
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Back-to-back! The Varina Blue Devils celebrate their historic state-title win over E.C. Glass in boys' basketball.
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Our exceptional education expo rounds out the winter edition of HCPS' Bridge Builders Academy workshop series:
- HCPS ExEd Expo (date change): April 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Henrico High School. The school division's free annual exceptional education resource fair focuses on preparing students for life beyond HCPS, including awareness of college and helping students pursue HCPS’ “three E’s”: being enlisted, enrolled and/or employed.
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Kindergarten registration begins April 10
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Kindergarten is an exciting step for students and their families. Registration begins April 10! You'll be able to register your child online or schedule an in-person appointment at your school. Watch for a kickoff event at your elementary school this spring.
To register as a kindergartner for the 2023-24 school year, your child must be 5 years old by Sept. 30. Registration information is coming soon!
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Reminders and opportunities
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- Preschool registration is going on now for the 2023-24 school year!
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HCPS-TV is in HD! You can now watch weekend replays of HCPS School Board meetings in high definition on Verizon Channel 2138. (Videos from meetings are also available anytime at our YouTube channel.)
Board meetings are just the start. Verizon 2138 also has high-definition video of school activities, special events, sports highlights and more. Standard definition is available on Comcast Channel 99 or Xfinity 99.
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