August 2024 | Overview

 

Important Reminders

  • Principals' Remind Group-If you haven't done so, sign up for the Principals Remind Group by texting @rcsspr to 81010.
  • Promote GreatSchools.org within your school community as it provides high-quality, evidence-based information and resources that support parents, teachers, and communities in pursuing excellent and equitable education for all students. (See GreatSchools.org Handout).
  • First Week of Support-In an effort to better support our schools, central office staff will be on site to help during the first week of school. Please see the attached list of assignments.
Expectations for central office support on the first day of school:
    • Arrive at school at least thirty minutes before school starts and plan to stay until the last student has arrived home (usually one hour after dismissal).
    • Remain visible throughout the day and help where needed.
    • Maintain a high level of customer service for parents, students, and staff members.
Expectations for Days 2-4:
    • Stop by assigned school to check with the administration. Offer support and assist where needed.
  • RCSS Employee Handbook: The RCSS Employee Handbook can be found on the HR website once you have logged in. Please contact Dr. Melissa Shepard or Mr. Ken Johnson if you have any questions regarding the Employee Handbook.
  • Key Dates for Diagnostic Windows:  
    • BOY (Beginning of the Year): August 12th -30th 
    • MOY (Middle of the Year): December 9th-20th 
    • EOY (End of the Year): April 1-May 2 
  • Gifted Services: Elementary Gifted Services start August 12th. See email from Mr. Tudor and contact him with additional questions. All middle and high school gifted services should have started first week.
  • GADOE Office of School and District Improvement Bulletin August Edition: SDI Internal Bulletin August 12 2024-1.docx
  • Title I Year At-A-Glance 2024-2025: Year-at-a-Glance FY25 7 16 24.pdf
  • Brian Jordan Reading Challenge Kickoff Assembly Schedule - We are kicking off our second-year participation in the Brian Jordan Reading Challenge. School-based assemblies will be hosted at each Elementary School for students in 1st and 2nd grade.

To Do's

  • 8/5-8/6- Title I-Send home/email the Parent Right to Know letter on school letterhead (please sign before making copies) and upload all required documents to your website. Submit proof of dissemination and checklists to program specialist. Year-at-a-Glance FY25 7 16 24-1.pdf
  • 8/9- Richmond 101- Teachers should be wrapping up the Richmond 101 activities in Canvas.
  • 8/12-8/30- Diagnostic Window for iReady and NWEA MAP-
  • 8/16- Fire Drill- You must have one fire drill during the first two weeks of school and a second fire drill during this month. See email from Lt. Tilley and contact the School Safety and Security Department with additional questions.
  • 8/16- Instructional Resource Distribution- All textbooks and laptops distributed to students.
  • 8/19 - Begin communicating PowerUp Asynchronous Learning Day Expectations to staff, students, and parents. See rousources in Richmond Ready! Modules 5.2 and 6.11 or PowerUp Expectations in the Principals Playbook.
  • 8/22- Booster Club Leaders Training- Notify your booster club leaders about the required training Thursday, August 22nd. See email from Ms. LaMarr and contact the Department of Internal Auditing for additional information.
  • 8/23- Title I-Submit a schedule of Title I Parent Meetings/Trainings, PL Sessions & Building for Staff and Parent Capacity Sessions and submit location and hours of operation for the Parent Resource
    Center.
  • 8/28 - Attend August Administrators Meeting
  • 8/30- BOY Universal Screener (iReady and NWEA MAP) window closes on Aug. 30
  • 8/30-School Council Members- Submit School Council Members 2024-2025 by August 30, 2024 Link: School Council Members 2024-2025
  • 8/30-Power Up Day Preparations- Lessons prepared and communicated with students for first Power Up Day on September 3, 2024.
  • 8/30-Title I- Submit Building Parent Capacity 1 and submit Building Staff Capacity 1 with all faculty/staff
  • 8/30-Title I- Submit Intent and Purpose to program specialist. (Be sure to collaborate with your program specialist.)
  • 8/30-Title I-Submit 10% of acknowledgment sheets to program specialists.
  • 8/30:  Contributing Professionals:  Complete Professional Learning Goals by August 30, 2024. See Evaluation Timeline.
  • 9/1-GCN Annual Assurances: These topics are listed on the attached Annual Assurance form. Your signed copies should be submitted to your Cluster Superintendent no later than September 1, 2024.
  • 09/04: Instructional Framework- Lesson Structure PL Tour Schedule: Submit your AM or PM time selection, and room number for your school based 60-minute PL session. Lesson Structure PL Tour Sign Up for Preferred Time
  • 9/6: (HIGH SCHOOL ONLY) Please select your three touchpoints for NWEA MAP Support. 2024-2025 NWEA MAP Touchpoint Schedule
  • 9/12 - School Council Training from 5:00-8:00pm - Notify your council remembers of the training date and time, send training reminders, and attend the training with your council.

Resources

  • 24-25 Support Assignments: Click here to see who is assigned to support your school: 24-25 Support Assignments
  • Annotated Lesson Plans- Annotated Lesson Plan examples
  • Athletics: Listed below are the expectations for administrative coverage at sporting events.
    • Football:  Each high school is responsible for providing administrative coverage at all home and away football games. Home teams should have at least three or more administrators working the game while the visiting team should have at least one administrator present (middle school should have two administrators present from the home team and one from the visiting team).
    • Basketball:  The home and visiting team should have at least one administrator at each game.  Rival and region games should have two or more administrators from the home team and at least one from the visiting team (middle school will follow same guidance).
    • Softball, Girls Flag Football, Volleyball, Wrestling, Track and Field, Baseball, and Soccer:  Only the home or host team will be required to have an administrator present (middle should follow same guidance).
    • Cross Country, Golf, Tennis, and Swimming:  We encourage schools to have administrators drop in and support their athletes when possible.
  • August-September Instructional Lookfors: Are you looking for a way to monitor the August-September instructional Lookfors in your schools? Use this Microsoft Form (August-September Instructional Lookfors)  to complete school walkthroughs. Data collected will be shared with Senior Leadership and Principals each month. Tip: Once you open the form, save it as a Bookmark or Favorite on your phone or tablet so you can easily access it from the field. August-September Lookfors.pdf
  • Canvas Preparation for BOY: The Pre-Publishing Checklist provides links to guides and resources to make sure Canvas courses are set up for success. During pre-planning please allow time for teachers to set up their Canvas courses using the resources found on this page: Beginning of Term Canvas Best Practices.  By mid-August, the administrative team should review each Canvas course (called a desk audit) and provide teachers with feedback on RCSS Canvas Expectations (attached) and Canvas best practices. Working with your assigned Digital Learning Specialists, principals will select monthly PL topics. Every teacher must prepare asynchronous, digital lessons for our first Power Up Day, September 3, 2025 - plan now so that students will be ready to complete their work independently by September.
  • Cell Phones: See cell phone policy revisions made on July 31, 2024.  The revisions provide clarity to the definition of the Instructional Day as it relates to the time that cell phones are prohibited.  The revisions also add Middle Schools Principals discretion over any use during the lunch period. See the FAQ Sheet for additional guidance.
  • Central Office Directory: Please note that the Central Office Directory has been reorganized. It is now arranged alphabetically by department rather than by floor. CENTRAL OFFICE DIRECTORY - 2024-2025.pdf
  • Early Release Memo: The Academic Calendar is posted on the website under Calendars. Early Release information regarding transportation, school nutrition, etc., is in the Early Release Memo.
  • Employee's Children Zone Exception: If your employee would like for his or her out-of-zone child to attend your school, you should have the employee complete the linked Zone Exemption Form for Employee’s Children and keep a record on file at the school. The form can be found on the website under School Choice. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Hadden.
  • Georgia Match - High School administrators, counselors, or anyone who knows aa high school student, check out this Georiga Match Presentation from Georgia Student Finance Committee shared during Summer GAEL. Let's make sure our students take advantage of these opportunities.
  • Instructional Framework and Lesson Plan Resources  
  • Instructional  Resource Distribution:  Guidance for Instructional Resource Distribution was shared with Media Specialists at their PLC session on July 30th.  Please ensure that all textbooks are distributed by August 16, 2024.  
  • Leaders' List (August): Click here for important information from Student Support Service: Leaders' List August 2024.pdf
  • NWEA Map Resources:  
    Resources for Teachers: 
    2. MAP Growth Basics for Teachers: MAP Growth Basics for Teachers: Resources - NWEA 
    Resources for Leaders: 
  • PowerUp Guidance - See PowerUp Asynchronous Learning Day Expectations for Leaders.
  • School Improvement - Please see the GaDOE Office of School and District Improvement Bulletin from August 12, 2024.

Professional Learning

  • Annual Assurances: Please be mindful that some topics must be covered before school starts. These topics are listed on the attached Annual Assurance form. Your signed copies should be submitted to your Cluster Superintendent no later than September 1, 2024. Please attach a copy of the agenda indicating that topics were covered. Signed assurance forms and staff agendas will be housed in the Human Resources Department. For questions about the Assurances, please contact Kim Fletcher. Employees may begin the Global Compliance Network (GCN) Required Trainings now. Directions for completing the Required GCN courses are attached. For questions about GCN, please contact Glenda Collingsworth or Sharon Lee-Thomas     GCN Required Training for All Employees 2024-2025 .pdf Annual Assurances--24-25 SY.doc
  • GA Literacy Modules for PK-5: Your teachers have been actively engaged in the Georgia Literacy Modules this summer. New PK-5 teachers should start their modules. Included are the pacing guides and resources for you to support.    GA Literacy Academy Module Pacing Guide with Handouts.pdf     Georgia Literacy Module Pacing Guide-1.pdf
  • Uncommon Greatness Book Club: If you enjoyed the keynote speaker, Fred Turner and his focus on the foundational elements of Uncommon Greatness, we have an opportunity for you!  Dr. Roberts is leading a voluntary book club focusing each meeting on one of the 5 fundamentals from the book.  Each meeting will occur at the National Hills Learning Center starting at 5:00 PM on designated days. Each session will  last approximately one hour. All participants from summer leadership already have a copy of the book. If you have any questions, reach out to Dr. Andrea Roberts or Ms. Glenda Collingsworth.  Link to sign up:  Uncommon Greatness Book Club  (Dates:  9/23, 10/28, 12/9, 2/3, and 3/10)
  • Science of Reading & GA K-12 Standards PL Series- The Teaching & Learning Department is happy to announce our Science of Reading & GA K-12 ELA Standards PL Series. This monthly PL series will assist you in deepening your knowledge of the Georgia Literacy Academy Modules as well as the new ELA standards. The first session is August 26th at The National Hills Learning Center from 3-5 PM on The Georgia Literacy Academy's Module 1: Oral Language is the Foundation for Literacy. Science of Reading & GA K12 Standards PL Series Flyer.pdf  Target Audience: K-3 TIRs & 4-5 ELA TIRs, GA DOE Literacy Coaches, and Instructional Specialists (We recognize that attending these sessions in person may be challenging for some, therefore, we strongly encourage Teachers in Residence for Early Learning ELA and 4th-5th Grade ELA (TIRs) to join. TIRs can then support their colleagues by guiding them through the GA Literacy Academy online modules, ensuring that everyone benefits from this valuable professional development.)
  • School Council Training- The Accountability and Federal Programs Department will host School Council Training Thursday, September 12, 2024, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Richmond County Board of Education. If you have any questions, contact Dr. Lloydette Young.
  • Digital Learning August Professional Learning Menu (August 14 and 22)-   Next Session on August 22 @ National Hills Learning Center 4:00-6:00 PM PL Menu.pd
  •  New User Let’s Talk Training Dates (Ideal for new users)- Upcoming Training August 20 12:00 PM Registration Link 
  • GACE Tutoring Support- Any Non-traditional ("Waiver") Teachers or Paraprofessionals that need support preparing for their upcoming GACE Assessment, contact Ms. Lezettra Saunders, Director of Teacher Development
  • CSRA RESA Opportunity_Section 504 Overview and Hot Topics: August 29 1:00-2:30 PM Virtual Webinar SPED Director, School Psychologists, 504 Support Registration Link
  • CSRA RESA Opportunity_Behavior Interventions that Work: Keys to Having a Successful Classroom (Dr. Amie Dean) September 10 9:00 AM-3:30 PM (K-12 Teachers, Leadership
  • GADOE Opportunity_Professional Learning 
    • FY25 Special Education School Academy Administrator Academy Kickoff will be held August 14 from 9 – 11 a.m. Click here for registration information.
    • FY25 Academy of New Federal Programs Leaders Series will be held August 16 from 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Click here for series registration information.
    •  Georgia Literacy Academy: Creating a Bridge to Practice will be held August 19 from 3 – 4 p.m. Click here for registration information.
    •  Data-Driven Classroom: SLDS for Teachers will be held August 19 from 3 – 3:45 p.m. Click here for registration information