Category Archives: schools

VCU Community Engagement Celebrated

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Today VCU’s Division of Community Engagement hosted a lecture this afternoon by Dr. Barbara Holland, an expert on organizational change in higher education, with a focus on the institutionalization of community engagement.
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Part of the impetus for the event was also celebrating VCU having received Carnegie Foundation’s designation as a “Community Engaged Campus”. Former First Lady of Virginia and education advocate Anne Holton attended and spoke also. IMG_4072
The only question that time allowed from the audience was in regard to adjunct professors’ pay and declining state support for education. IMG_4073
While it may be easy for Oregon Hill residents to question VCU’s local commitment given past difficulties and controversies (not that this event attempted to address specific neighborhood concerns), the declining financial investments on the part of corporations and government in research make it clear that VCU’s challenges for community engagement will be very real. Hopefully Dr. Holland’s lecture will spur more open discussion and action.

Separate from this keynote event, on an even more positive note, residents may want to mark on their calendars the upcoming opening of the RVA Toolbank (on March 19th), with support from VCU.

Richmond Had Rails: a kind of time travel

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From Richmond Had Rails FaceBook page:

VCU Libraries today announced the launch of an interactive version of a Richmond map atlas from 1889, allowing for a kind of time travel, because through the use of overlays, viewers may compare the cityscape of then with that of today (courtesy an integration with Google Maps). The application features photos and illustrations due to linkage with VCU Libraries’ extensive collections of antique images.
Of interest to those following the progress of “Richmond Had Rails” is that the Baist Atlas Map received publication just a year after the trolleys started rolling in Richmond. On Panel 16, which surveys Church Hill, you can see the site of the shops where Julian Sprague and his team originated the first ever city-wide electric powered streetcar. The technology utilized then is, with some improvements, still what powers transit throughout the world, when Richmond had rails.

Here’s the interactive Baist Atlas: http://labs.library.vcu.edu/baist-atlas/
And a link to a VCU news story: https://news.vcu.edu/article/Interactive_map_from_1889_reveals_Richmonds_rich_architectural

Operation Move Elkhardt

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From FaceBook announcement:

We’ve heard of the crumbling infrastructure in our city schools and the latest incident of this collapse was with Elkhardt Middle School having to suddenly close due to mold.
To show the children of our community that we care, I’d like you to join in helping Elkhardt administration and staff with their move to Clark Springs Elementary.
The last day of classes for the nearly 500 students at Elkhardt will be next Thursday, Feb. 12th. Students will report to Clark Springs Elementary on Wednesday, Feb. 18th. This gives us Friday, Feb. 13th, a teacher work day where they will be packing THE ENTIRE SCHOOL into boxes, Monday, Feb. 14th, a holiday – President’s Day – to prepare the school for Tuesday, Feb. 17th, where they will be unpacking THE ENTIRE SCHOOL and prepping classrooms for students to return.
Garet Prior reached out to Principal Eric Jones and he would be delighted to have help. Go to the link below to sign up and help out.
Thank you for your time and let’s show these students that we, Richmond, care.

http://www.123contactform.com/form-1291941/Elkhardt-Emergency-Move

VCU Alarm Siren Today At Noon/Hollywood Cannon Fire Saturday

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From VCU announcement:

Virginia Commonwealth University will conduct a full test of its emergency communication systems, including 10 sirens throughout the Monroe Park and MCV campuses, at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

The full test will include the sirens along with text messages, Alertus boxes, mass email, digital signs, social media and VCU website information – all part of a multichannel system for communicating emergency information to VCU students, faculty, staff, visitors and the community.

VCU remains committed to supporting a wide variety of emergency alert technologies to distribute emergency information in a timely and effective manner. These various technologies help inform the VCU community of the necessary and prudent protective actions in a comprehensive manner.

The following list contains more information about each of these alerting technologies:

Outdoor sirens: In a real emergency, the 10 sirens on the Monroe Park and MCV campuses will sound for four minutes to signal that an immediate, life-threatening emergency has occurred or may be imminent. The purpose of the siren is to alert people outside of campus buildings to immediately seek secure shelter and to receive additional information. No all-clear siren is utilized during tests, but one would sound in an actual emergency.

Text Messages: These messages are short, protective action statements that will contain a link to http://alert.vcu.edu/, where additional information is located. Parents and community members may sign up for VCU’s text message alert system at http://alert.vcu.edu/signup/ to receive information about campus emergencies and cancellations.

Alertus: These small yellow devices are strategically installed in classrooms, residence halls and other high traffic areas throughout campus. They are designed to provide an auditory and visual alert when a threat has occurred or is imminent. Much like text messages, a protective action statement will scroll on the screen during the threatening event.

Mass Email: All VCU email account holders will receive an email containing the safety recommendations related to the event.

Social Media: Alerting information will be posted to the @VCUNews Twitter account and the VCU Facebook page.

Digital Signage: Digital displays are located throughout campus with a particular focus in high traffic areas. These signs will display the emergency alert and reference information that is posted to Alertus boxes and text messaging.

After the semester test, monthly checks of the siren system are conducted at noon on the first Wednesday of each month consisting of a one-minute steady wail that also recharges the siren batteries.
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From Hollywood Cemetery:

I wanted to let you know that there will be a ceremony this Saturday, 2/7 at 10:00 am until about 11:30 am with cannon fire sometime close to the end. Thanks for letting the folks know there will be boom booms.

Take care and stay warm.

Mabel

5th District SCHOOL Meeting Tomorrow

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Sorry for the late notice, but a reminder that there is a 5th District meeting about schools tomorrow morning-

5th District School Board Member Mamie Taylor is hosting a meeting tomorrow, Saturday January 31st from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at 2nd Baptist Church, 1400 Idlewood Avenue. Mrs. Taylor plans to discuss the proposed Richmond Public Schools Budget, the proposed bell schedule and the Superintendent’s proposed Academic Enhancement Plan. Light Breakfast will be served.

VCU Arts Cinematheque Releases Spring 2015 Schedule

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Not in Oregon Hill, but nearby-

from RVA Magazine article:

VCU’s Grace Street Theater is a great venue to catch unique and touring movies, and VCU’s Cinematheque program has a wealth of great flicks coming in the next few months.

A brand new state-of-the-art 35mm projector with lenses to project in many different aspect ratios, HD digital projectors, a new screen, and Dolby Surround Digital Audio make the spot great for a good screening–not to mention all the screenings are free and open to the public!

Click here for link to program schedule.

Also, on Feb. 5, the films A River Runs Through It and Gringo Trails will be playing at the VCU Grace Street Theater as part of the RVA Environmental Film Festival.

“Why students don’t want to leave historic Richmond elementary school”

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WTVR delivered a nice present with a report on St. Andrew’s School:

Delivering a well-rounded education has been the mission of teachers and staff at Saint Andrew’s school for several generations. And the founder of the school has been changing students’ lives for 120 years and counting.
Each morning begins the same at St. Andrew’s School with a warm smile and or hug like clockwork.

At St. Andrews on South Cherry Street, students immerse themselves in an education that is so much more than just the three “Rs.”

Teachers and staff push students to achieve greatness.

“What we do is about their social and emotional well-being as well as their academics,” second-grade teacher Kathy Tappen said. “I wish Richmonders really knew about this treasure.”

VCU Continues To Disregard Its Own Master Plan, Counter To State Agreement

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While some local journalists have chosen to focus on VCU President’s performance review, they are missing some of the importance of VCU’s recent property grab on Cary Street.

VCU’s neighbors have relied upon VCU’s promise to abide by its Master Plan boundary when purchasing property. This promise is essential for removing speculation and inspiring a sense of trust between VCU and its neighbors. Unfortunately, VCU continues to breed community distrust with its actions. The history is not good: The Oregon Hill neighborhood at one point endorsed the VCU Master Plan 2020, which called for a small natatorium to be constructed at Cherry and Cary. In 2007, VCU abruptly changed its master plan, without community involvement, after a much larger recreational project was already submitted for state review. VCU still ignores “Issue 1” in regard to community relations.

In November 2014, VCU purchased the property at 9 W. Cary Street outside of its Master Plan boundary. In response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, VCU has confirmed that the VCU Master Plan boundary has not been changed to include the property at 9 W. Cary Street and that VCU did not inform its neighbors that it was purchasing property outside of its Master Plan boundary. VCU made no mention of the acquisition of the property was made at recent community advisory board meetings.

This appears to run counter to the Management Agreement between VCU and the Commonwealth of Virginia that states that capital projects must be “consistent with the University’s published Master Plan.” “Exhibit A … V. CAPITAL PROGRAM.
The President, acting through the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration or other
designee, shall adopt a system for developing one or more capital project programs that defines or define the capital needs of the University for a given period of time consistent with the University’s published Master Plan.” (Editor added emphasis for this post).

While the property in question (9 W. Cary Street) is not in Oregon Hill, and Oregon Hill neighbors are not against VCU’s Office of Continuing and Professional Studies receiving a new home, the fact that VCU continues to disregard its own Master Plan raises alarm bells for the surrounding community (and that includes more than Oregon Hill neighborhood).
Again, where is the accountability?