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

December 5, 2025

Dec 9, 2025 | Raptor Rundown

Good afternoon, CodeRVA Families-

It’s been a busy week with our return to school after the Thanksgiving Break, and now we’re looking at 10 more school days before we flip the page to 2026.  As a reminder to our students, our expectations for student behavior do not lower whether it’s the first day of school, the last day of school, or any day before an extended break.  Please help us remind our Raptors that their daily focus at CodeRVA should be on academics.  Thank you!

First up this week, check out what our School Counseling Department has planned for this upcoming Flex Day:

  • Our School Counselors will be conducting CodeRVA Pathway presentations with our 9th graders.

Also from our School Counselors, please see the note below if your student is in Grade 9!  You also received this information directly via email on December 4:

  • On Tuesday, December 2, we held our 9th Grade Pathway and Diploma Selection Meeting. During this event, School Counselors discussed your student’s options for pathway and diploma selections. These decisions will impact the courses they take throughout their remaining time in high school, so we want families and students to have all of the information they need to make the most informed decision. On Wednesday, December 10, all 9th grade students will attend this same presentation at CodeRVA during their Flex Day morning session.

  • As shared in our meeting on December 2, we need all grade 9 families to please fill out the Academic Pathway and Diploma Selection Form no later than Friday, December 19.

  • If you were not able to attend the meeting, the Zoom link to the recording is here:  (Passcode: bz2#RxaY) and you can access the slides here.  If you have any additional questions, please contact your School Counselor.  Their names and emails are in the last slide of the presentation.

Next, check out these events shared by our partners at the University of Richmond in case your family would like to attend:

  • On Sunday, Dec. 7, the Office of the Chaplaincy and the Department of Music will hold the 52nd Annual Candlelight Festival of Lessons and Carols – Calendar – University of Richmond. Two services will be offered – one at 5 p.m. and one at 8 p.m. The University’s Schola Cantorum will present new and familiar Christmas carols and anthems in the tradition of “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” that was held at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, on Christmas Eve 1918. The services conclude with the lighting of candles by the congregation and the singing of “Silent Night”. This concert is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, and seating will be on a first come, first served basis until we reach capacity. Doors will open one hour before service.

  • On Friday, Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m., join the Library of Virginia for a screening of the documentary film “Rock Castle Home” followed by a discussion with director and executive producer Charles D. Thompson Jr. This event is one of a series of programs highlighting stories of displacement in Virginia communities as part of the Library’s programming related to the exhibition “House to Highway: Reclaiming a Community History”, on view through Feb. 28, 2026. This is a free event, but registration is required: Documentary Film Screening | Rock Castle Home – LibCal – Library of Virginia

  • On Sunday, Dec. 14, 12-4 p.m., join The Valentine for some holiday cheer on their picturesque block of East Clay Street! As part of our Winter Wander 2025, take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, enjoy a performance and partake in refreshments and family crafts. This event is free and open to the public: Winter Wander 2025 – The Valentine Museum

  • On Thursday, Jan. 8, 6-7:30 p.m., join The Valentine for their next installment of this season’s Controversy/History series with “Common Goods: The Forecast for Public Arts and Media.” This series examines the “Common Good(s),” highlighting the key shared resources that support a thriving city – and what investment is needed to support them for the future. This series is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but encouraged: Controversy/History | The Forecast for Public Arts and Media – The Valentine Museum

Here is a message for the Class of 2026 that the Virginia Department of Education asked us to pass along to all our imminent graduates:

  • The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) recently shared the exciting news, announcing a first-of-its-kind collaboration to power InternshipsVA that connects postsecondary students in Virginia with paid, high‑quality internships at Virginia companies.  With Handshake’s scale, data, and activity across more than 70% of Virginia’s leading colleges and universities, this collaboration will make it easier for students to find opportunities and for employers to build strong talent pipelines. VDOE and VEDP are proud of this step forward for talent development and retention in the Commonwealth, which creates more opportunities to work with partners across the state to open more doors for students.  For more details, check out the VEDP and Handshake press release that went out as well as this feature story in Inside Higher Ed.

Last but not least today, here is a message for any of our students (or families) interested in entrepreneurship.  This event is open to both students and adults, and you should mark your calendars now!

  • Save the Dates – February 20 – 22, 2026: Startup Weekend – Richmond Changemakers!

  • From the launch in 2024, to the enhancements in 2025, 234 people have attended this event including 34 international and regional partners. Organizations such as Techstars, NASA, Brex, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, and Google have supported the event.  Executives building entrepreneurial mindset, founders from along the east coast, students, and economic development officials will gather again to experience Startup Life over the course of a weekend. This will happen again at the Robins School of Business, and we’d like to invite you to join us.

That is for today, Raptors!  I hope you have a fun, safe weekend, and we’ll see you back on Monday!

#WeAreCodeRVA

***25-26 CodeRVA: Raptor Scholarship Sheet

Need a transcript?  Create a self-service Parchment account here: Ordering a Transcript from Parchment

Previous Raptor Rundown Reminders

Attention all families of 11th grade Dual Enrollment (DE) students. The drop/withdraw deadlines for J. Sargeant Reynolds J-Term (Winter) courses are listed below:

  • To drop a DE course with a “W” (withdrawal) on your transcript: Friday, December 19, 2025

  • Parents/guardians must contact the School Counselor by 3:00 PM on the dates listed, giving permission to withdraw from the course.

We will continue to utilize parent contacts (most likely an email, but it could be a phone call) for Violations 1 and 2 for students who are accessing their cell phones during the instructional day, and Violation 3 will still be a day of In School Detention, but effective immediately, students who continue to engage in accessing their cellphones during the instructional day will have the following consequences:

  • Violation 4: Student will turn in their cell phone no later than 8:50 AM daily to the Main Office for 4 days.

  • Violation 5: Student will turn in their cell phone no later than 8:50 AM daily to the Main Office for 5 days.

  • Violation 6: Student will turn in their cell phone no later than 8:50 AM daily to the Main Office for 6 days.

Here is an update from our awesome CodeRVA PTSA!