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

September 25, 2026

Oct 5, 2026 | Raptor Rundown

Good afternoon, CodeRVA Families-

We have LOTS of updates for you today.  No time for water cooler chitchat this week!

First, many thanks to all those families who joined us on Wednesday for Back to School Night!  If you were not able to make it into school, our teachers have recorded short videos about their classes that you can access using this link.  If you have any specific questions for your student’s teachers, please reach out to them directly.

Next, just a reminder our Fall Spiritwear store closes September 27!  Please note this is NOT a fundraiser and families are only paying the cost of the items purchased.  (We will have future Spiritwear fundraisers later in the year if you would prefer a different design than the one offered here.)   To save on shipping costs, we are happy to send your purchases home with your students.  Order by the deadline here: https://coderva.itemorder.com/ 

If your student is planning to attend Homecoming, tickets go on sale on Monday and are $5 each.  Below are key items that will help you plan for this event that is open to all grade levels.  Please remember all fees must be resolved and all forms submitted before students can buy a ticket.  (Seniors must have their required vaccines resolved with Nurse Crowder in the Clinic as well.)  If your family has extenuating circumstances that will prevent you from resolving your fees, submitting your form, or obtaining a vaccine, please contact us at info@coderva.org or 804-968-1820 so we can work through your individual circumstances.

  • If your student is bringing a non-CodeRVA student as a guest, please make sure this guest form is completed so they can purchase a ticket.  Paper copies will be available in the Main Office.  Tickets will be sold September 28 – October 5 before school and during lunches.  No tickets will be sold after October 5.  There will be no exceptions to this deadline.
  • If you are dropping your student off, please note you will have to enter from the BACK entrance of The Park.  If you are facing our entrance, you’ll want to drive around to the right of the building near the Tool Bank entrance.  We will have staff members to guide you.
  • There are stairs at this alternate entrance, so students are advised to be cautious and careful when climbing them (just one more argument in favor of choosing sensible, comfortable footwear for the evening; please note students cannot remove their shoes during the dance for any reason).
  • Once students enter the area where our Homecoming is being held, they may not go to any other areas.  There are restrooms within the assigned area, and there will be monitors stationed throughout the space to assist as needed.
  • Light snacks and water are being graciously provided by our awesome CodeRVA PTSA!
  • The Homecoming dance is from 7-9 PM.  Students may not enter before 7 PM and students should be picked up as soon as the dance ends.  Please do not believe them when they say the dance is still going on later.  I promise the music stops at 9 PM sharp, and our staff is already going to be up past their bedtimes, so please do not allow your students to linger after the dance.

Many thanks to our School Counselors Mr. Winn and Ms. Edwards as well as our Testing Coordinator Ms. Heath for developing our all new Raptor College Readiness Roadmap.pdf!  We hope this concise guide will help your family consider college as an option for your student.  It may be especially helpful if your student will be the first person in your family to attend college (like I was in mine).  If you have any questions about the document or next steps, please contact your School Counselor and stay tuned for a virtual session for parents in February about planning for life after CodeRVA!

Another way we help prepare students for a college option is by offering a free PSAT test to all 10th and 11th grade families.  Please see the note from Ms. Heath below:

  • Attention 10th and 11th grade students and families!  This is a reminder that on Tuesday, October 6th, CodeRVA will be administering a free PSAT/NMSQT test to all 10th and 11th grade students. To learn more about the benefits of your student taking the PSAT/NMSQT, check out this page of resources from CollegeBoard. Students can also sign into Bluebook to complete a practice test before test day if desired.  As a reminder, the PSAT/NMSQT will be administered digitally, so students should bring their laptops fully charged on test day. 9th and 12th grade students should not report to the building on October 6th due to testing space constraints, but they will be expected to work on assignments at home. Transportation will be provided for 10th and 11th grade students like a regular school day; however, you are welcome to pick up your student after the test is finished.

While visiting with the 11th grade students to get set-up for the PSAT test, Ms. Heath has been giving them advance notice about their Reading SOL test, which will take place on May 27th.  Please mark this date on your calendar, since this test is a graduation requirement.  Make-ups will take place the next day on May 28th.  For most 11th graders, this is the last SOL test they will have to take!  For more information about this test as well as study resources, please refer to this slide deck and reach out to Ms. Heath with any additional questions.  Please note this SOL test applies to ALL 11th grade students regardless of pathway!

Attention Families of 9th Grade Students!  Your student has recently completed the PASS (Proficiency Assessment of Social Sciences) Task 1. This is the first of three parts of the PASS,  which will contribute to students’ World Geography portfolios that will serve as their End of Course (EOC) World Geography SOL.  Upon their successful completion, they will result in a Verified Credit in Social Sciences, which is required for graduation. Your student’s Humanities teacher will share scores for this assessment after the scoring session in the spring. Our students worked hard to prepare for this assessment, and we are confident in their success!

Attention families of students currently taking a World Language with Virtual Virginia!  Please see these important updates below!

  • On Monday, October 19, Virtual Virginia will withdraw any student whose World Language grade is 40% or below.

  • The deadline to drop your student’s World Language course without penalty is Friday, November 13 at 3 PM. Please notify your student’s School Counselor no later than 3 PM on November 13 if you wish to drop the course. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your student’s School Counselor.

If you missed seeing our awesome CodeRVA PTSA at Back to School Night, check out this message from them below:

Closing out today’s update are 3 community opportunities you or your family may be interested in:

  • Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan will host her annual Community Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 31, from 5:30 – 8 p.m. at the Science Museum of VA.  Dress up, come out, and enjoy an evening of food, fun, and community! This event is free and open to the public.

  • Come on out October 18th for a workshop and poetry reading featuring local poets Fairouz Bsharat, Felix Salmoran, and Addie Tsai. The program is cohosted by the Laureates, Richmond Public Library, and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Engagement. Learn more and register at go.rva.gov/homage.

  • Now Accepting Applications for the National Assessment Governing Board – Due November 15.  The National Assessment Governing Board is officially welcoming applications for new members who will play a vital role in shaping the Nation’s Report Card, formally known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This is an exciting opportunity for professionals and community members to contribute to one of the most significant measures of student achievement in the United States.  The Governing Board oversees the development, administration, and reporting of NAEP assessments. They are currently seeking applicants for several key roles, including:

    • 12th Grade Teacher

    • Curriculum Specialist

    • Business Representative

    • General Public Representative

    • Testing and Measurement Expert

    • Local Superintendent

  • Individuals serving on the Board help guide policy, set priorities, and ensure the integrity of the Nation’s Report Card. Whether you are an educator, policymaker, business professional, or engaged community member, this is a chance to influence how our nation understands student learning and educational progress.  The application deadline is November 15 at 12:01 a.m. ET. Learn more about each role, begin your application, or nominate a candidate through About Us – Join the Board.

That is quite enough for today, Raptors!  I hope you have enjoyed the transition to cooler temperatures this week.  I’ve been waiting many months to say It’s Fall, Y’all!

#WeAreCodeRVA

***26-27 CodeRVA: Raptor Scholarship Sheet

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

Previous Raptor Rundown Reminders

Attention Class of 2027!  Remember the Fall Tasks Form is due Friday, October 30. This form is mandatory for all Seniors. Failure to complete it may result in loss of privileges for school-sponsored Senior activities.  If you need to take your formal pose portrait for the Yearbook, there will be an option to do it here at CodeRVA on October 22.  More information will be sent out closer to the date.

The FAFSA will officially open on October 1, 2026. The FAFSA has become even faster than last year, as the student’s FAFSA will be processed in “real-time”. The student will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary seconds after it has been submitted. Students/parents will also be able to make any corrections they may have made immediately after submission.

Mr. Neal has put together a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for families about our new grading system in place this year.  Students learned this information the first week of school and we are summarizing information for families here.

  • What was the previous grading system?

    • In previous years, the year-end grade for all CodeRVA classes (excluding Dual Enrollment courses) was calculated by using a running average of all grades earned by students throughout the year. Grades were broken down into either Formative Assignments (meant to give feedback on the learning process), or Summative Assignments (meant to evaluate learning after the material was taught). Marking Period grades were recorded on a student’s report card as a snapshot of academic performance at that point in the year.

  • What is the new grading system?

    • Now the academic year will be broken down into two different Semesters, with each Semester having 3 Marking Periods.  Students will still have a total of 6 Marking Periods as in previous years.

    • The year-end grade will now be calculated using the Semester grades and the Cumulative Assignment: 45% Semester 1 grade; 45% Semester 2 grade; and 10% Cumulative grade. Any students who are excused from the Cumulative assignment will have their year-end grade be an even split of the two Semester grades.

  • Are there still Formative and Summative Assignments?

    • Yes! We are keeping the grading categories of Formative and Summative assignments and those two categories will be used to calculate the Semester grade.

  • How do I know my student’s grade during the year?

    • Canvas still remains the primary way for students and families to monitor real-time academic performance. When you access the Canvas gradebook, you will now see two different grading term choices: Semester 1 and Semester 2. You will NOT be able to see individual Marking Periods on Canvas any longer. Checking the Semester grade is the best way to keep track of academic performance throughout the school year.

  • Will report cards still be sent out for each marking period?

    • Yes! We will still use the Marking Periods to serve as check points throughout the year for work completion and grade reporting. Teachers will stop accepting assignments at the end of each Marking Period and then take a snapshot of each Semester grade at that point. Those snapshot grades will be sent out in report cards.

  • Why is this change being made?

    • Better alignment to the grading systems used for Dual Enrollment courses and many higher education institutions that our students may attend after high school.

    • Students get a “fresh start” for grades at the start of Semester 2 so students can demonstrate their growth over the course of the year.

    • Student academic performance towards the end of the year has a higher impact on year-long grades, which encourages students to have engagement throughout the entire year.

  • Who can I contact with questions or to get more information?