RCPS Community Partner Cafe

Safety First: The RCPS Approach to Weather-Related Decisions

What happens when weather events cause potential school disruptions? In today’s episode of RCPS Community Partner Cafe, Director of Transportation Chris Sours talks with host Katie LaPira to share what goes into making weather-related decisions for RCPS. Chris gives listeners a glimpse behind the scenes into what happens when weather events impact Rockingham County. 
 
Listen in to hear what makes RCPS unique and how decisions about delays and closures are made when weather impacts travel. As Chris shares, the safety of RCPS students and employees is the focus of every decision made. Learn about the process RCPS uses when determining whether a delay or closure is needed because of weather-related events. 

Taking Successful Next Steps: Insights from RCPS Seniors

How does RCPS help students prepare for their next steps after high school? In this special episode, student host Leo Johnson talks with two RCPS seniors about their plans after high school. Leo, Clayton, and James reflect on their time in RCPS, share what helped them along their current paths, and provide tips for students and parents looking to get more involved.
 
Leo talks with seniors James and Clayton about what each of them plans to do after high school, and they share how they reached those decisions about their career paths. The RCPS seniors also have fun envisioning changes that could enhance the student experience. Don’t miss this outstanding episode featuring three RCPS seniors, and listen in to hear the highlights of their experiences.  

Unlocking Student Potential: How Career Coaches Shape Future Success

What can career coaches do to help RCPS high school students? RCPS career coaches Jessica Baker and Liz Whiston-Dean join Katie LaPira and Donna Delisle to share about how career coaches at the RCPS high schools can support all students with their pathways after high school. 
 
As Liz and Jessica share, they can help students with activities such as identifying interests and career opportunities that align with those interests as well as making future plans, gathering materials for applications, and support with financial aid applications. Jessica and Liz share how parents and guardians can best support students on this journey, and their advice will help make the journey a smooth and empowering one for students. Listen in to hear their tips and how they can best support your student. 

Navigating the Middle & High School Years: Insights for Parents & Guardians

How can we better support our children in middle and high school? In this episode, middle school counselor Laura Ogden and high school counselor Sandy King join Katie and Donna to share about the unique challenges and opportunities that middle and high school students face and how parents and guardians can provide support.
 
Laura and Sandy share insights about these specific time periods for students, and they let us know how we as a community and as individual caretakers can better support the young people going through middle and high school transitions. 

Helping Kids Thrive: Back-to-School Transition Strategies

Are you wondering how to help your elementary school child with school transitions as we settle into a new school year? Listen in to hear RCPS elementary guidance counselor Lindsey Bateman share tips and tricks for parents and family members to use to help our younger children navigate the changes that come with the start of school. 
 
Lindsey shares simple actions caretakers can take to help our elementary school students with their emotions and with socialization. Just by assisting young children in identifying their emotions, openly sharing our own feelings, and reassuring children of all ages that it's perfectly normal to experience any emotion they're feeling, we can significantly aid them during times of change.
 
Lindsey reminds us that families are the first teachers, and we can make a positive difference for our children during transitions and throughout the school year. Listen in to hear practical tips! 

The Cognitive Edge: Nurturing Your Child’s Brain Potential

What can parents and caregivers do to help students enhance their cognitive abilities? Although learning about the brain can be complex, the steps parents and caregivers can take to help with cognitive development can be quite simple.
 
RCPS school psychologist Dr. Phil Wickline shares with host Donna DeLisle about cognitive functioning, developing background knowledge, inspiring creativity, and considering the impact of technology. Donna and Phil discuss what parents can do to help support optimal cognitive abilities and brain development for their children. Phil also shares about the role anxiety can play when it comes to learning and shares simple steps parents can take to help kids manage anxiety.

Meet the New Superintendent: The First 100 Days with Dr. Larry Shifflett

What will the first one hundred days look like with the new RCPS superintendent, Dr. Larry Shifflett? In episode 5 of RCPS Community Partner Café, your host Katie LaPira talks with Dr. Shifflett about his plans for the first one hundred days in his time as the new superintendent of Rockingham County Public Schools.
 
Dr. Shifflett shares about his plan, which focuses on excellence, integrity, and inclusion of all students. He also shares about the four goals he has for the '23-'24 school year and beyond and the ways that he plans to involve all RCPS partners in that planning. Listen in to hear Dr. Shifflett’s plans and goals for the RCPS community during this transition. 
 
More information about the plan can be found at https://www.rcps.net/en-US/superintendent-e41f0da9.

Beyond Band-Aids: How School Nurses Shape Student Wellness

Do you know the role of school nurses and the vital role they play within our school communities? 
In this timely episode, your hosts Katie LaPira and Donna Delisle talk with Ashley Houff and Myra Hensley about the way that school nurses have become an important part of school communities and how those roles have changed over time. 
 
Listen in to hear helpful tips for maintaining strong communication with school nurses and the larger medical community. Check out the practical advice about when to keep children home from school and when to send them back as well as how to handle yearly appointments and physicals for sports. 

Special Education Services and How to Get Involved

Do you know what services are available to your student with an IEP or a 504 plan? Do you know how to get support for a student who could qualify for special services but has not yet been assessed?
 
In this informative episode, special education experts Sarah Fawley and Melissa Bentley join your hosts Donna Delisle and Katie LaPira to share about special education support services.
 
Melissa shares a brief history of the laws that led to where we are today with IEPs and 504 plans for students, and Melissa talks about ways that students who qualify for services can be identified and assessed for services. Sarah shares about what special education services can look like for students in middle and high school as they plan for their future and what partnerships can support students on that journey.
 
Sarah and Melissa share about how community partners such as the Infant Toddler Connection, Massanutten Technical Center, the Community Services Board, DARS (Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services), and VAIL (the Valley Association for Independent Living) help students and families navigate individual challenges and needs.
 
Listen in to hear about ways that you can get support for the child in your life.

Celebrating and Reflecting on Public Education in the US with Beau Dickenson

What do you know about how public education came to the United States? In this episode, Donna Delisle talks with RCPS Social Studies Supervisor Beau Dickenson about the history of public education in the US and specifically in Virginia. With a grounding in major historical events, historian Beau Dickenson reflects on the beginning of American public education, how it has evolved, and how it looks today going into the future. 
 
As Beau shares in the episode, Rockingham County Public Schools were founded in 1876 as a result of changing legislation as Virginia rejoined the Union. Beau talks about the progression of public education, in the US and specifically in Virginia, beginning with the founding of the United States and moving through the Civil Rights era continuing into present day. 
 
Be sure to check out this fascinating episode where Donna and Beau reflect on the power of public education in Virginia.