RCPS Community Partner Cafe

Beyond the Book Fair: Summer Reading Tips for Every Age

Summer is a great time for students to relax and recharge, but it is also a meaningful opportunity to keep reading in ways that feel fun and manageable.   In this episode, host Katie LaPira is joined by three RCPS librarians: Margaret Alger from Riverbend Elementary School, Mary Sonifrank from J. Frank Hillyard Middle School, and Tim Mumbauer from Turner Ashby High School. The three RCPS librarians discuss how families can encourage summer reading for students in elementary, middle, and high school, and they share resources available to student  to keep their reading momentum going.    Additionally, Margaret, Mary, and Tim share tips for building a love of reading in young children, supporting middle school readers as they explore new formats and genres, and helping high school students continue reading for enjoyment even when life gets busy. They also discuss the value of audiobooks, graphic novels, manga, books in verse, and giving students choice in what they read.    Families will come away with simple, encouraging ideas for helping students stay connected to books all summer long.

Building a Culture of Service

What does it really mean to build a culture of service in our schools? How can these experiences be not just a one-time event, but something more integrated that students carry with them?    In this episode, Katie LaPira talks with Kim Davidson and Misty Newman from James Madison University’s Community Engagement and Volunteer Center about how service can move from a checklist to a mindset. They explore the idea of students as collaborators and contributors, the importance of listening to community partners, and how meaningful engagement can shape students’ academic paths, career interests, and sense of purpose.   Kim and Misty offer practical ways schools can begin to embed service into everyday learning, from early exposure in elementary school to leadership opportunities in high school. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or community partner, you’ll walk away with ideas for helping students see themselves as part of something bigger, and how small, intentional steps can lead to lasting impact.

Hands That Speak: Bringing ASL to Our Classrooms

What does it look like when students learn to communicate in more than one way?   In this episode, your host Katie LaPira talks with Lacey Spring Elementary principal Tammy May and JMU professor Melissa Nguyen about bringing American Sign Language (ASL) into elementary classrooms. They share how even young learners can begin building communication skills through movement, expression, and visual language. Melissa and Tammy also share about how ASL supports inclusion, confidence, and meaningful connections across the school community.   From supporting reading development to helping students connect across classrooms, and even across different abilities, this conversation highlights how ASL is opening new doors for RCPS students.    Families will also hear simple ways to practice at home and how this initiative could grow in the years ahead, making communication more accessible for everyone in our community.   Mentioned in the Episode: Nyle DiMarco’s TED Talk: Making Education Accessible to Deaf Children [https://youtu.be/U_Q7axl4oXY?si=jBW4SJDhihamcqa6]

Pre-K and Kindergarten at RCPS: What Families Need to Know

What should families know about RCPS pre-K? Who is eligible, and how can those early school experiences help set the stage for long-term success?   In this episode of the RCPS Community Partner Café, host Katie LaPira sits down with Michele Judd, RCPS Director of Federal Programs, and Blair Harper, principal at River Bend Elementary, to talk about the RCPS pre-K program. Michele and Blair explain who the program is designed to support, how families can apply, and what children experience in those first classroom days, from play-based learning and early literacy skills to building friendships and confidence.   Whether you’re exploring pre-K for the first time or preparing for kindergarten in the near future, this conversation offers helpful insight into how RCPS supports young learners and their families.    Learn more about eligibility, application timelines, and how these early years help children build the skills they need for a successful start in school. Check out these resources for more information:   https://www.rcps.net/page/prek-k [https://www.rcps.net/page/prek-k] https://www.rcps.net/o/rcps/page/preschool [https://www.rcps.net/o/rcps/page/preschool]

Reimagining High School: The JMU Lab School Partnership

What does it look like when a school division and a university come together to rethink how high school works? In this episode of the RCPS Community Partner Café, host Katie LaPira sits down with Dr. Donica Hadley, Executive Director of the JMU Lab School, to explore how this innovative partnership between Rockingham County Public Schools and James Madison University is creating new learning opportunities for students.   Dr. Hadley shares how the Lab School model emphasizes interdisciplinary, project-based learning, student voice, and real-world problem solving, while still meeting graduation requirements. Katie and Donica explore the way that the classes work at each grade level.   The conversation also highlights the role of community partners, and Dr. Hadley explains how families can learn more about whether the Lab School might be a good fit for their students. This episode offers a thoughtful look at how collaboration and innovation can help prepare students for life beyond high school.   The application for RCPS students who would like to participate in the Lab School simply involves students submitting their names and addresses, and the application window will be open from March 30 to April 30.