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

August 8, 2024

Aug 13, 2024 | Raptor Rundown

Good afternoon, CodeRVA Families-

This week’s Raptor Rundown is awash with information, much like the East Coast with all this rain!

Please note that on Monday our teachers will return, and our entire staff will be involved in an onboarding session until noon.  We will not be answering phone calls or emails during that time so all our staff can focus on coming back together to kick off the school year.  Thank you in advance for your patience.

Also on Monday, August 12, all families will receive their students’ 2024-25 class schedules.  You can use these schedules to pay for fees online if you would like using this link.  (Please note any service fees associated with the online fee payment system do not come to CodeRVA; those go directly to the company.)  If your family is undergoing temporary or persistent economic hardship, you can apply for a fee waiver using this form.  Please bring a completed copy on August 13 to Device and Fee Day (or send it in sooner to info@coderva.org) and we can process it while you are on site.  We will also have blank printed copies available.

We would also love for your family to complete our annual Student Information Form as soon as you can.  All CodeRVA families are required to update their information with us each year.  You do not have to worry about us sending home any paper packets to fill out; all we ask is that you do this one form.  Thank you!

Here is some WONDERFUL news about a key piece of paper no one at CodeRVA has to fill out anymore…lunch forms!  We were informed by Henrico County Public Schools School Nutrition Services this week that we have been classified as a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school, which means all our students receive free breakfast and lunch daily now without having to fill out any paperwork.  This is a designation we have been advocating about for years, and I could not be more pleased.  We strongly encourage our students to take advantage of this new opportunity and enjoy free breakfast and free lunch!

If your student is planning to drive to school, please note families will need to complete this form.  (We will also have paper copies available in the main office if needed.)  No students may drive to school without a completed form, and there is no parking fee associated with this form.  Even if a student has a completed form on file from last year, we must have a new form completed for this school year.  As a reminder, CodeRVA students should park their vehicles in the parking lot at CodeRVA only. Students should not park at FeedMore or at any other restricted locations as they may be towed and CodeRVA will not be held responsible for any vehicles that are towed from the areas surrounding our school.

If your student is not yet driving but they want to learn how to, please see the information below.

  • CodeRVA is partnering again with Virginia Driver Education and Traffic Safety (VADETS) to provide a driver education course to our students. The DMV website has all steps for obtaining a Driver’s License here. The VADETS program satisfies the classroom component of the DMV’s Step 1: “Successfully complete a state-approved driver education program.” Upon successful completion of the VADETS driver education program, families will receive a signed completion card in the mail. This card can be given to the behind the wheel instructor. Behind the wheel is offered through many home school divisions and private companies.  Unfortunately CodeRVA does not offer a behind the wheel option for students.  Please note we are often asked about the two topics below, and we have tried to provide responses.  These slides will be shared with students at CodeRVA, and it may be helpful for families to preview them in advance.

    • Obtaining a learner’s permit is separate from completing a driver education program like VADETS.  Learner’s permits can be obtained at the DMV when students turn 15 and 6 months, and CodeRVA does not have to be a part of the process.

    • The test to obtain a permit or driver’s license is not the same as the final exam students take with VADETS

  • If you are interested in signing up for VADETS Driver’s Ed with CodeRVA, please read the following information carefully.

    • Families will be responsible for a $120 payment to CodeRVA’s Online School Payment (OSP) before students are enrolled in the course. Families should only pay CodeRVA in order to register with the CodeRVA cohort. Payments can be made on OSP from August 13 to October 11. CodeRVA will reimburse families of 10th graders upon successful completion of the course by the date below.  Students in other grade levels are welcome to register for VADETS as well, but families will not be reimbursed the $120 fee.

    • Once families have paid CodeRVA, students will receive an email invite to register for the course on VADETS Canvas. The email will prompt students to answer required questions for the course and create a password to enroll in the class. Ms. Cooper will send a verification when you have successfully entered the course.

    • The CodeRVA cohort of the VADETS course will run from November 4, 2024 – March 12, 2025. There will be no extensions past March 12 for completion of this course.

    • Students must spend a minimum of 30 hours on the course prior to taking a final exam that will be proctored at school. The VADETS course includes the state law-required 90 minute Parent/Teen video and contract, online coursework, and additional assignments such as a scavenger hunt for road signs and creating a video of setting mirrors. Since this course is not administered by CodeRVA, the course will not appear in PowerSchool, on transcripts, or on CodeRVA’s Canvas.

    • Please direct questions to Emily Cooper at emily.cooper@coderva.org.

Next, two of our teachers, Mr. Jernigan and Ms. Vandy, are hoping to present at the national SXSW EDU conference in Austin, Texas in March 2025.  They need your help now though!  Please consider voting for their presentation by clicking the up arrow next to their session title on this site: https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/147351. Simply create a SXSW account to vote; click on the up arrow found on the upper right part of the screen; and know that you can only vote once.  Feel free to leave a positive comment on their proposal as well. Voting is only open August 6-18.  Thank you for supporting our teachers, and please feel free to encourage your family and friends to vote as well!

For our new ninth grade students in the Class of 2028, here are two small notes about Ninth Grade Academy for next week.  First, please note it is often chilly at CodeRVA.  Consider dressing in layers so you do not get cold.  Also, for any family needing to drop off medication at CodeRVA, we are happy to receive it on August 15 between 8 AM and 3:30 PM.

All families are welcome to drop off medication prior to school beginning.  Please feel free to stop in on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday next week from 8 AM-3:30 PM or Tuesday 11:30 AM-7 PM.  We resume normal school hours on Monday, August 19.

That is it for this week, Raptors!  (Although please do check out the Previous Raptor Rundown Reminders section below each week in case you missed something.)  I hope everyone stays dry this weekend, and I hope you enjoy your last week of summer before school begins!

#WeAreCodeRVA

Previous Raptor Rundown Reminders

As a reminder, you can access our 2024-25 school calendar here on our website at any time.

If you would like to pick up your student’s mobile device at CodeRVA prior to the start of school, you can do so on August 13 from 11:30 AM-7 PM.  We will also be able to accept your cash, check or online fee payments at this time.  If your student did not turn in their device or any other CodeRVA technology last year or during the summer, families will need to resolve those charges by either turning in the items or paying the fees before receiving a device for 2024-25.  Any students with outstanding technology fees will receive a non-preferred device to use when school starts until their past fees are resolved.

Ninth Grade Academy (9GA) is on Thursday, August 15.  The Ninth Grade Academy provides students an opportunity to interact with their incoming classmates and to have a positive first experience at CodeRVA. Students will be able to learn the layout of the building, experience a five rotation day, and meet CodeRVA staff.

The bell schedule for 9GA is below.  The only real difference in this schedule and the regular school year is that during the regular school year we have four lunches and on this date we only have one so all our new Raptors can mix and mingle.

  • 8:00 AM:Students can enter the building

  • 8:50-9:52 AM: Rotation 1

  • 9:56-10:56 AM: Rotation 2

  • 11:02 AM-12:44 PM: Rotation 3 [11:40 AM-12:10 PM Lunch]

  • 12:48-1:50 PM: Rotation 4

  • 1:56-2:56 PM: Rotation 5

When students arrive at 9GA, we will provide an optional “grab and go” breakfast of Pop-Tarts and juice.  During lunch we will serve pizza (with a vegetarian option), pre-packaged chips, cookies and water.  If your student has a food allergy and you are not packing them a lunch, please email emily.cooper@coderva.org as soon as possible so we can work with your family on alternate lunch plans.  We are also currently working with divisions for specifics on bus transportation for the event, and if all goes as planned, you will get an update by August 10.  If you are driving your student to school, please remember they can arrive no earlier than 8 AM.  We do not have adequate student supervision before that time.  Additional questions about 9GA that are not answered here?  Please contact our coordinator for the event: emily.cooper@coderva.org

Please see this note from Ms. Welsh and Nurse Crowder to all CodeRVA Families:

  • CodeRVA is pleased to resume our Weekend Backpack Program in collaboration with Feed More! Each bag will contain 6 shelf-stable, quick to prepare meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners. If your family is interested in participating in the program, please contact Ms. Welsh by Monday, September 2nd or by completing the interest form.

Did you know CodeRVA has an amazing PTSA?  Please see the note below, and please also note the PTSA is seeking a Treasurer for the 2024-25 school year.  No experience needed, and if you are interested, please let Mrs. Lett know by emailing codervaptsa@gmail.com New 9th grade family members are welcome to apply!

  • My name is Crystal Lett, and I will be serving as your PTSA president this year. The PTSA Board and I are excited to support our teachers and students throughout this school year.  We are already planning our Fall Festival and have set the date for our annual Raptor Run: March 15, 2025. The only way we can be successful is with your purchase of a yearly PTSA membership (no volunteering required). Join here:

  • https://coderva.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

Here is another community announcement we encourage all our families to read:

  • GRASP (Great Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc.), in partnership with Capital One and the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), is hosting a series of free FAFSA workshops to assist students in completing their financial aid applications. These workshops will be held at the Capital One Cafes in Richmond:

  • Short Pump Capital One Cafe (Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W Broad St): Sat., Aug. 31st, 11am – 2pm

  • Carytown Capital One Cafe (2933 W Cary St): Sat., Aug. 31st, 10am – 1pm

  • GRASP (Great Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc.) is a non-profit, college and career access organization, headquartered in Richmond.  GRASP’s goal is to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity for continuing education after high school, regardless of financial or social circumstances.

  • The FAFSA® form allows students to request federal grants, work-study funds, and loans, all in one application and is the basis for determining a student’s financial aid package.

  • More information about GRASP is available at the website, www.grasp4va.org.