July 2025 | Overview

Principals and Directors, 

We look forward to seeing you next week at Summer Leadership. Please find attached and pasted below your Important Back to School Information with supporting documents attached. Note that your information requested in the Principal's Packet is time sensitive for payroll and training purposes. Please feel free to share any relevant information with members of your team as needed. Welcome to 2025-2026! 

  

BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION 

 

July 18, 2025 

 

Time Sensitive 2025-2026 Principal’s Packets: 

Please complete the shared spreadsheet and submit your information in the shared folders by Friday, August 1, 2025. We need the names of your assigned staff in order to process stipends for the year.  

 

Annual Assurances: 

Please be mindful that some topics must be covered before school starts. These topics are listed on the attached Annual Assurance form. Submit your signed copies to your Cluster Superintendent by uploading them to the shared principals' packet OneDrive folder no later than September 1, 2025. 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. Kim Fletcher will provide a resource before pre-planning to assist you with reviewing the assurances with your staff. 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 Lezettra Saunders or Sharon Lee-Thomas. Please review the attached Imagine Edgenuity Training Schedule for Middle and High School Principals.  Principals will receive a copy of the assurance form during the training. Upload your signed assurance form once you have completed your training. For questions, please contact Stacey Mabray. 

  

Early Release Memo 

The Academic Calendar Links to an external site. is posted on the website under Calendars. Early Release information regarding transportation, school nutrition, etc., is in the attached Early Release memo. 

  

Professional Learning Days 

District Professional Learning Days will be July 29th, October 10th, and February 13th. Employees should review the PL Catalog offerings for those dates and report to their assigned locations. Click [https://be%20the%20hero%20of%20your%20story%20july%2029%20rcss%20professional%20learning%20schedule.docx/]here for the July 29 PL Course offerings. When planning your school PL, please allow ample time for teachers to work in their rooms and collaborate. They will need time to collectively “unpack” the curriculum documents and resources for the year. 

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First Week of School 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: 

Expectations for Days 2-4: 

 

Progress Report and Report Card Timeline 

The suggested timeline for grade reporting is attached. If you have any questions regarding the reporting timeline, please contact Cornelia Ryan. 

  

Open House 

Open House is scheduled for July 31st from noon-6:00pm for Elementary Schools. Middle, K-8 and High Schools will hold open house on August 1st from noon-6:00pm. These dates should be posted on the school marquis and website. Please flex your staff work hours on these days (ex: work 10:00-6:00 or 10:30-6:30). 

 

School Support Menu  

The School Support Menu Links to an external site. offers a range of professional learning options for principals to select targeted support for teachers and leadership team members. Each offering is designed to align with your School Improvement Plan and enhance instructional practices that impact student achievement.  From instructional coaching to leadership development, each option is designed to drive measurable outcomes. If you have any questions or are ready to schedule a session, please reach out to your designated point of contact. Customization is available to meet the unique needs of your school community. 

 

Celebrations and Events 

The 2025-2026 list of commonly celebrated events is attached for your planning purposes. 

  

Canvas Preparation for BOY 

The Beginning of Term Canvas Best Practices Links to an external site. page provides links to guides and resources to make sure that Canvas courses are set up for success. During pre-planning, please allow time for teachers to set up their Canvas courses using the resources.  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, October 9, 2025 - plan now so that students will be ready to complete their work independently by October. 

  

Assessment Calendar and Handbook 

The 2025-2026 Testing Calendar is attached. If you have any questions, please contact Jason Medlin. The 2025-2026 RCSS Assessment Handbook Links to an external site. is available on the Teaching and Learning website. If you have any questions, please contact Kinesha Ponder. 

 

The updated PowerUp 1:1 Student Handbook Links to an external site. will be available on the RCBOE parent website for students and parents prior to the start of school. Schools should have a plan for communicating the PowerUp parent course to families. Teachers should use the first 10 days of school to teach the Digital Citizenship materials provided in Canvas. We recommend getting the device loan agreement signed during open house if possible. Both the Loan Agreement, the PowerUp 1:1 Student Handbook and other related documents are located on the PowerUp Process Resources Links to an external site. site. Each school is authorized to use a temporary staff member for 10 days during August to assist with device distribution; you may select the 10 days needed.  If you have any questions about the PowerUp 1:1 Handbook or the device distribution process, please reach out to Carolyn McCord, Owen Fletcher, or Velveeta Tanksley.  

School Photos 

When selecting your school photographer for the year, please make sure they are able to provide a student photo upload for Infinite Campus. School photos should be updated in Infinite Campus by mid-Fall. The local photographers are familiar with this requirement and usually provide the CD/file at no additional cost. 

  

Employee’s Children Zone Exception 

If your employee would like 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 Links to an external site. 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. 

  

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. 

 

Let’s continue to empower every learner, every day by fostering a culture of growth, curiosity, and achievement. As educators, you have the incredible opportunity to Be The Hero of Your Story—leading with purpose, passion, and impact. Have a great start to the school year! If there is anything we can do to support you, please don’t hesitate to reach out.