Bryan Park Stream Restoration and Teacher Absenteeism
Cheers RVA!
Today we’ll see a mix of clouds and sun with a high of 88 and a low of 73, with a chance of an afternoon thunderstorm.
the juice:
Around 100 anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters gathered at City Hall on Monday afternoon, according to WRIC.
A detailed letter from a 21-year old man from Honduras who arrived in the United States at the age of 16 seeking asylum was read aloud at the rally.
The man was arrested on July 30 in Henrico and has since been deported back to Honduras.
According to ICE statistics cited by Fernanda Diaz-Castro, a coordinator with the Virginia Defenders for Freedom Justice and Equality, 868 people have been detained at Virginia’s two immigration detention facilities in Caroline County and Farmville, with 80% classified as having no criminal record.
the pulp:
Two drivers have been arrested in connection to a hit and run that occurred early Sunday morning on Hull Street Road in Chesterfield County, via WTVR. Both drivers were found to be intoxicated at the time and have been charged with driving under the influence and felony hit and run. In total four vehicles struck the pedestrian who was killed, with the two other drivers remaining at the scene and cooperating with law enforcement.
There will be a Bryan Park Dam Removal and Stream Restoration Design pop-up event today from 4:00 - 6:00 pm by the lower bridge at Bryan Park. RVA H2O posted, “Your ideas and input will help to shape Bryan Park and Upham Brook, and we want to make sure your voice is a part of the process.”
the dive:
Mike Barber from the Richmonder dives into teacher attendance numbers across Richmond Public Schools, noting teachers were absent an average of 17 days per year in RPS, as compared to 13 days per year in Henrico.
The number of days teachers were absent varied widely between schools, with some elementary schools averaging about 12 days of absence per year, while others average as many as 26 days of absence per year.
Barber writes:
The quality of a classroom teacher is one of the top predictors of learning success for elementary and high school students, education experts say, so having teacher absences can be an equally detrimental factor.
In theory, a high-quality substitute filling in for a less-qualified teacher could have a positive impact. But more frequently, days when teachers are out of their classrooms become less productive learning days.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
Bryan Park in August of 1969. The park is named after Joseph Bryan, the founder and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, who died in 1908 and whose family gave the land to the City in 1910.

Have a revitalizing day RVA!
Thanks for reading. If you enjoy this newsletter, tell a friend, or donate.