2601 Durham Street, Richmond, VA 23220 804 968 1820 info@coderva.org

August 29, 2024

Sep 2, 2024 | Raptor Rundown

Good afternoon, CodeRVA Families-

We’ve got two great weeks of school in the books, and now it’s time for a long weekend.  There are plenty of items in today’s edition to help you fill those long days!

First, we look forward to welcoming families at our annual Back to School Night on September 17; 6-7:30 PM.  This year we will take an Open House style approach that allows families to walk the building in any order they choose.  Below are some key details for the evening.

  • Doors will open promptly at 5:55 PM for families.

  • Please plan to bring a copy of your student’s schedule.  

  • Our administrative team (Dr. Goranson, Mrs. Harmon, and our VCU School Leader Resident Ms. Bradford) will be in the 100s to answer any questions families have.

  • Members of our Student Services Department (Mr. Winn, Dr. Zenon, and Ms. Culbertson) will be in Room 116 to answer any J. Sargeant Reynolds Dual Enrollment or School Counseling related questions families have.

  • For families of students enrolled in Brightpoint Dual Enrollment classes who have Mr. Ellis or Mrs. Samuels, those teachers will be here on site.

  • We do not anticipate any JSRCC staff other than Mrs. Wenberg attending our event, but they will record videos for families to view at their convenience.

  • For families with Special Education (IEP/504) related questions, visit the 400s where Mrs. Daniel, Ms. S. Dowe, Mr. Hilterbrant, and Ms. Mitchell will be located.

  • Also in the 400s will be our Work-Based Learning Coordinators Ms. L. Dowe and Mrs. Neal if you have any Internship-related questions.

After Back to School Night concludes, we will send out in the September 20 Raptor Rundown a link to all the videos recorded by our staff, including our asynchronous HPE9, HPE/10 and EPF teachers.  These videos will enable families unable to attend to still see all their teachers and hear more about their classes.  Questions?  Please contact us at info@coderva.org or at 804-968-1820.

Many of you have been waiting anxiously for this next link.  Our fall Spirit Wear store is open!  Please note that in order to keep costs low, this is not a fundraiser.  Families are paying the lowest amount possible for the products, and all items will be delivered here to school and distributed to students.  If you prefer to pick up your items instead of sending them home with your student, please let us know.  Shop by September 15, please!

Next, thank you to our awesome PTSA and a generous parent donor for treating all our staff on Monday in honor of National Popsicle Day!  Thank you!  Here is another note from our PTSA, and we hope you will support them!

  • Join the PTSA in supporting our Senior Fundraiser to help make this year memorable! Your purchase will directly contribute to the Senior Class Fund, covering fun items like T-shirts, breakfast, and possibly even a class gift. Show your pride for the Class of ’25 with our custom yard signs and celebrate your student’s achievements!  Purchase here: https://coderva.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

  • The PTSA is seeking donations for our Raffle/Silent Auction at the Fall Festival on October 19th. Do you have anything YOU are willing to donate for the raffle?  A gas card? Starbucks gift card? Target/Walmart/etc. gift cards? Get creative; let us know!  Please reach out to us at codervaptsa@gmail.com. Your support will help make this event a success!

Here is a date you won’t want to miss…School Picture Day!

  • Save the date! Strawbridge will be at CodeRVA to take school portraits on Thursday, September 19. All underclass students (grades 9 – 11) will take pictures during Rotation 1, Rotation 2, or Raptor Rotation. These pictures are for use in our yearbook, and students will also receive a student ID with their school picture. Senior portrait makeups will also occur on Thursday, September 19. Complete information on Senior pictures can be found here. More information on how to order pictures will be shared in upcoming weeks.

Where do all those stunning portraits go?  In our Yearbook!  Please see below to find out how to order yours!

  • Order your 2025 Yearbook now online at yearbookordercenter.com (school code: 17686). Yearbooks are $30.

  • All orders will need to be picked up from CodeRVA in May.

  • Seniors only! While ordering your yearbook online at yearbookordercenter.com (school code: 17686), families and friends can design a Senior Pride Ad. Personalize your ad with your favorite photos and an encouraging message to your graduate.

  • Questions? Please contact scott.ludlow@coderva.org or kelly.culbertson@coderva.org

Here is a message for Families of Students Enrolled in JSRCC Dual Enrollment Classes:

  • This week, your students were provided an overview of expectations as a Dual Enrollment student at CodeRVA. That presentation for 11th grade can be found here and 12th grade can be found here. One key piece of information we wanted to share with you are our drop and withdraw dates. If your student would like to drop a Dual Enrollment course and allow the school to receive a refund for the course, they have until September 6 to let their counselor know. 

  • Until October 11, students may withdraw from a Dual Enrollment course and receive a Withdraw/Drop on their transcript.  This grade is not computed into their CodeRVA or JSRCC GPA.  It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with their JSRCC instructor(s) for a clear understanding of their grade.  If the student is in jeopardy of earning a final grade below a C (PM), it is recommended that families discuss withdrawing from the course before the withdrawal deadline to avoid a D (MM) or F (BE) on their transcript.

  • If a student decides to withdraw from a Dual Enrollment course after October 11, the penalty will be a “Withdraw/Fail”on their transcript, which impacts both a student’s CodeRVA and JSRCC GPA, and in addition could impact their post-secondary options.

Last but not least this week, here is an opportunity our students have been hearing about, but we also want families to be aware this is a once in a year opportunity not to be missed!

  • Since 2013, The U.S. House of Representatives has sponsored a Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students. This year, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan in the 4th District is looking for a record number of apps for the challenge. In order to participate, students must be in middle or high school; students can register as individuals or as a team with up to four members. Since our students attend school in the 4th Congressional District, all CodeRVA students are eligible for the App Challenge. Apps can be written in any programming language (such as C, C++, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, “block code”, etc.) and any platform (such as PC, web tablet, robot, mobile, etc.). There are no limits on application theme or topic.

  • Challenge winners are invited to attend a #HouseOfCode event in Washington, D.C., where their app will be on display and will remain on display at the U.S. Capitol Building for at least a year. At CodeRVA, we had a group of students in 2023 who were winners of the challenge. We encourage students to form a team to design an app for this year’s challenge. If students form a team, please let Emily Cooper, emily.cooper@coderva.org, know by September 12, 2024. CodeRVA staff would like to help students register and find time to work together on their project. For more information about the Congressional App Challenge, check their website here.

That is it for today!  I hope everyone has a restful, safe holiday weekend, and we look forward to seeing our Raptors next Tuesday.  Please return well-rested and ready to learn!

#WeAreCodeRVA

 ***24-25 CodeRVA: Raptor Scholarship Sheet

Previous Raptor Rundown Reminders

All students taking a Humanities class at CodeRVA will complete a NWEA MAP Growth test to measure student growth in reading and English language proficiency. Testing will occur during their Humanities class. Students enrolled in Dual Enrollment Humanities courses will not complete a NWEA MAP Growth test. Testing will occur on 9/3 and 9/4 with make-ups scheduled for 9/5.

Our School Board approved our CodeRVA Student Code of Conduct 2024-25 FINAL BOARD APPROVED.pdf at their August meeting.  We are sharing the entire document here, and it is available all year long on our website here.  We also want to highlight a major change to our technology practices in 2024-25.  One additional note for students, grade 9 students with Chromebooks should not put any items such as stickers or other designs on their Chromebook cases as they are only using these devices for one year.  Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 are permitted to decorate their cases as they have these devices for the remainder of their time at CodeRVA.

  • Effective the 2024-25 school year, CodeRVA is approaching student mobile devices in a way that more aligns with how most school divisions issue 1:1 computers and supports our small school in most effectively using our limited financial resources.  These changes will affect all families.

  • Students entering CodeRVA in ninth grade will continue to receive Chromebooks.  These Chromebooks will now have cases on them, and students are responsible for keeping their devices in good working order.  We will not have a same day swap option available for students whose devices are damaged.  If a Chromebook is damaged, the student will be issued a non-preferred older device to use while their machine is being repaired.  If the damage is deemed as intentional, the fee schedule below will be implemented.  At the end of the school year all Chromebooks will be collected from students.  When students return the following school year as 10th graders, they will be issued laptops that they will keep for three years.

  • Current 10th graders and 11th graders will receive a laptop with a case when they return for the 2024-25 school year.  This is the device they will keep for the remainder of their time at CodeRVA.  Like with Chromebooks, students are responsible for keeping their devices in good working order.  We will not have a same day swap option available for students whose devices are damaged.  If a laptop is damaged, the student will be issued a non-preferred older device (most likely a Chromebook) to use while their machine is being repaired.  If the damage is deemed as intentional, the fee schedule below will be implemented.  At the end of the school year students will be able to keep their laptops over the summer.

  • Current 12th graders have had cases applied to their devices already, and they will use this device until Graduation.

  • Again, the rationale behind these significant changes is the closing of the current company CodeRVA uses (and has used since 2017) for device maintenance.  As we went through the contract negotiation process with approved vendors, this new plan was the most fiscally responsible method to choose and helped to align us best with our school division partners’ practices.  We ask for families’ partnership in ensuring the safety of all our mobile devices, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have.

  • Lastly, the information below has changed slightly since it was first communicated in May.  Please read through the information carefully.

Technology Fee Schedule Effective 2024-25

  • Annual Technology Fee = $35

  • Students may be assessed a fee of $35 for lost, stolen, or damaged mobile device chargers.

  • Students may be assessed a fee of $35 for lost or stolen mobile device cases.

  • Students may be assessed up to a $150 fee for the repair or replacement of intentionally or accidentally damaged mobile devices.

  • Students may be assessed up to a $750 fee for lost or stolen mobile devices.

  • Students may be assessed a fee of $100 for the repair or replacement of mobile hotspot

  • devices.