Playbook | August 2023

August 2024.png

To Dos

  • Beginning of the Year Information

Please complete the Elementary Principal's PacketLinks to an external site. (also for K-8 Principals) by August 10, 2023. Review your list carefully before submitting as changes cannot be made using the link below. For changes (once submitted), please contact the Teaching and Learning Department.

Please complete the Middle School Principal's PacketLinks to an external site.by August 10, 2023. Review your list carefully before submitting as changes cannot be made using the link below. For changes (once submitted), please contact the Teaching and Learning Department.

Please complete the High School Principal's PacketLinks to an external site.by August 10, 2023. Review your list carefully before submitting as changes cannot be made using the link below. For changes (once submitted), please contact the Teaching and Learning Department.

  • 23-24 Code of Conduct Canvas Course

Please click here to access the Code of Conduct course for 23-24

  • First 10 Days of School Enrollment Count

Please follow the directions for reporting enrollment the first 10 days and completing the “No Show” process. 

  • Cohort Withdrawal Meetings and Application Completion (HIGH SCHOOLS)
  • Canvas Preparation for BOY

The Pre-Publishing Checklist 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 found on the page to the right.   By mid-August, the administrative team should review each Canvas course and provide teacher feedback on your school’s expectations and Canvas best practices.

Canvas Best Practices Beginning of Year

 

  • Planning for Success
    • Weekly Lesson Plans: Review lesson plans created weekly in Collaborative Planning sessions and provide timely and constructive feedback to teachers. Lesson planning tools, including information for creating annotated lesson plans with district provided resources, can be found in Richmond Ready. Utilize your calendar to schedule times to provide feedback on a consistent basis. 
    • Building Walk-Through: Perform weekly with assistant principal (if applicable) and head custodian. Be aware of needs but delegate to AP and Head Custodian. Focus on student achievement and instruction
    • 8/23: TKES/LKES TimeLine: Orientation, PSC Professional Learning Goals/Plans, Self-Assessment and
      Pre-Evaluation Conference (individually or in groups) should be completed by September 8th. See TKES Timeline Download TKES Timeline.
    • SIP Deliverables:  Continue to collect data for deliverables and submit regularly following the given schedule. (Student Attendance report, Staff Attendance Report, Student Discipline, RTI Schedule, Leadership Team Next Steps, Student Monitoring, School Budget, On-track for Promotion/Graduation)

 

  • Safety
    • Fire Drill- 2 fire drills in August.  1st first 10 days of school Links to an external site..  2nd - any other time during month of August.  
    • Emergency and Crisis Procedures: Review fire drill, tornado drill, lock-down, bomb threat, and shelter in place procedures with staff. Distribute emergency telephone chain procedures. Introduce members of the site safety committee. Submit final site safety manual to public safety based on the template provided by Lt. Tilley. Execute monthly fire drills and submit reports to state 
    • Schedule bus safety and evacuation drills for both semesters.  Assurances due September 20.

 

 

  • Federal Programs
    • Submit FY 24 Title I Part A Parent and Family Engagement Budget to program specialist.
    • Send home/email the following letter on school letterhead:
      • Parents Right to Know (please sign)
      •  Put LEA Parent and Family Engagement Policy, School Parent and Family Engagement Policy, School Compact, and School Improvement Plan on website.
      • Letter and other documentation listed above must be disseminated in multiple ways. (i.e. code of conduct, website, acknowledgement sheets, letters (make sure each homeroom teacher signs a memo accompanying letters)
      • Must have proof of how documentation was disseminated (pictures, screenshots, memos, etc.)
      • Must have all distribution checklists and policy/compact checklists
    • Submit to program specialist
      • Submit a schedule of Title I Parent Meetings/Trainings, PL Sessions & Building for Staff and Parent Capacity Sessions.
      • Submit PL proposals. Also submit location and hours of operation for the Parent Resource Center.
    •  Final Check for Parents Right to Know Letters on website. (parent tab)
    • Submit FY 23 School Improvement Budget and Justifications to program specialist
    • Submit schedules and certifications for federally paid employees to program specialist.
    • Conduct and Submit Building Parent Capacity 1 to program specialist
    • Conduct and Submit Building Staff Capacity 1 with all faculty/staff members to program specialist
      •  *Resources are available on the Title I website
    • Submit Signed Intent and Purpose to program specialist. (Consolidated Schools Only) Be sure to collaborate with your program specialist before submitting form.
    • Submit 10% of acknowledgment sheets to program specialists
    • (Page found in Code of Conduct booklets)
    • Begin Completing Parent and Family Interaction Report
    • Complete Coding FY 24 Title I (Student Services)
    • Complete 1st semester PL and submit to teaching and learning for approval.
    • Submit consultant agreements, tutor, extended learning proposals to program specialist.

Important RemindersImportant Reminders

  • Academic Calendar

The Academic CalendarLinks to an external site. is posted on the website under Calendars. 

  • Open House

Open House is scheduled for August 1st from noon-6:00pm for Elementary and K-8 schools. Middle and High Schools will hold open house on August 2nd from noon-6:00pm. These dates should be posted on the school marquis and website.  Make sure all staff are present and agenda is set. Have all materials ready for distribution. Make sure all clubs and organizations have been contacted and have table and chairs available for use.

  • RCSS Employee Handbook

The RCSS Employee Handbook can be found on the HR website once you have logged in. Please contact Dr. Melissa Shepard if you have any questions regarding the Employee Handbook.

  • Leadership Team
    • Make sure that you submit your Leadership Team membersLinks to an external site. to Accountability
    • Meet with your leadership team. Establish norms and protocols for meetings. Develop any other better seeking teams to address initiatives/problems/needs. Set agenda and date for next meeting.
    • Identify Committees: Examples: spelling bee, science fair, teacher in residence, safety, newsletter, hospitality, American Education Week, Black History Month, honors day, PBIS, Title I, etc.
  • Principal/Staff Pre-evaluation Conferences (TKES/LKES)

Start evaluation process with entire staff by having initial meetings. Discuss individual goals, professional growth plans, expectations, and carry over concerns.

  • School Council

Schedule all meeting dates and times. Publish those meetings on your school web page, school newsletter, and forward to executive director two weeks prior to meeting.

  • Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program

Coordinate with school nutrition manager to ensure paperwork and family notification are completed quickly and confidentially. Information to be presented at Open House/Orientation.

  • Special Education
    • Remind all SWD teachers to share important and relevant IEP information with all staff involved with a student.  Be certain “connections” teachers have access to this information.  Have SWD teachers submit a list of all IEP review dates for the year.  Put those on your calendar and give a copy to your special education liaison. *Who is identified, what are the accommodations and modifications
    • Program Specialist School AssignmentsLinks to an external site.
      • Tambernesha Wells will be supporting Glenn Hills Elementary until a candidate is hired. 
      • Danielle Burdyck will be supporting Glenn Hills Middle until a candidate is hired.
    • If you need to request a SPED Behavioral Coach and/or Instructional Specialist, please fill out this formLinks to an external site..
  • Clinic Information
    • Please provide parents Health Cards to complete during Open House. Nurses have received English and Spanish electronic versions that can be printed.
    • Remind the school nurse to organize information concerning students’ medications and information needed for an emergency.   Have the nurse prepare a master list of students with allergies, students with asthma, and students with other conditions of which staff members should be aware.
    • The Department of Public Health is providing hearing, dental and vision exams, as well as Immunizations and COVID-19 vaccines. Please share with parents the attached flyer at Open Houses and make available to them: Back to school clinic screening.pdfLinks to an external site.
  • Class Counts/Attendance

Closely monitor class sizes and maintain class sizes in accordance with state class size limits. Make sure REP, EIP, Inclusion, Resource, and Gifted classes stay in compliance.

  • School Climate

Actually teach Code of Conduct via Canvas Course

  • Accountability

Orient Faculty and Staff to SIP.  Communicate Focus and expectations.  Share School Improvement Plan with parents and Stakeholders

School Readiness Reports

Please update the information on the BOY Readiness Checklist. Cluster Superintendents will review the information each Monday afternoon through August 15, 2022.

 

Instructional Look-Fors In All Content Areas

  • RCSS Anchor Charts and teacher made anchor charts are posted in the classrooms.Links to an external site.
  • Program cards/schedules are posted outside of the classroom. These cards could include the school’s mission and vision statement.
  • Meet the Teacher Information Sheets are posted outside of each classroom.
  • All elements of the Welcoming Environment Checklist have been addressed.
  • Teachers are working on the Learner Profile with their students.
  • Students are using digital tools/technology to gather, evaluate and/or use information for learning. 
  • Ensure that instruction is in alignment with the RCSS Instructional Expectations and Non-Negotiables. These are referenced in the Monitoring Expectations Download Monitoring Expectationsguidance.
  • Teachers are making references to Canvas.
  • After the second week of school, student work/artifacts are evident in the classrooms and/or hallways.
  • All students are completing the iReady BOY diagnostic. (August 28th-September 15th)
  • Students are engaged in productive and purposeful work throughout the class period.
  • Principals coordinate with Lead Mentor with NTA Monthly Sessions for school-based Teacher Academy
  • Ensure that each student has a textbook assigned to them. No class sets. 

 

ELEMENTARY

MIDDLE

  • All new Health and Science instructional materials - Are the resources unboxed? Do they have their materials?
  • Students are collaborating in groups.

HIGH

  • Health and PE Materials - Are the resources unboxed? Do they have their materials?
  • After the second week of school, student work/artifacts are evident in the classrooms and/or hallways.
  • Components of the specialized programs are evident. (AVID, IB, ArtsNow, AP, Magnet)
  • Students are engaged in productive and purposeful work throughout the class period.
  • All students are completing the NWEA MAP BOY diagnostic. (August 28th-September 15th)
  • Verify Imagine Edgenuity enrollments from the previous school year(summer) have been completed or disabled. 
  • Student Imagine Edgenuity contracts have been signed and filed 
  • Move Imagine Edgenuity students who have not made satisfactory progress to F2F courses
  • Monitor and pull Imagine Edgenuity enrollments report 

Literacy

Grading and Assessments

  • All students are completing the i-Ready or NWEA Map (HIGH SCHOOLS) BOY diagnostic.
  • Ensure that ESOL teachers complete WIDA Screener required training prior to administering the WIDA Screener. 
  • Academic Progress Tests: Use universal screeners to identify students in need of intervention/enrichment. Analyze the data and separate into sub-groups in order to help teacher and monitor targeted instruction. The data well aid you in how sub-groups are performing. Have data retreats with grade levels/departments periodically and identify root causes and possible solutions to identified problems before state tests are administered. 

Parent, Staff, and Community Communication

  • Ensure that all new students receive and return a Home Language Survey in a language that the parents understand.
  • Send home letter to parents about purpose of Universal Screener (i-Ready or NWEA Map)
  • Federal Programs: Send home 20 Day Parent Notification if applicable 

  • Federal Programs: Submit Annual Meeting Documentation  by October 5,2023

    • Announcement/Flyer/Email/Invitation (Meeting must be advertised in at least two ways.)
    • Sign-In Sheets (Sheets identify role of attendees.)
    • Presentation Documents/PowerPoint/Pictures
    • Meeting Evaluation

    Federal Programs: Submit evidence that the School Parental Involvement Policy and School -Parent Compact have been distributed to parents. The compacts must have three signatures and be dated. Due October 20, 2023

  • Wellness for All: How full is your bucket? How about your staff? Try organizing and implementing a monthly wellness theme. Links to an external site.
  • Faculty Meetings Pro Tips: How impactful are your faculty meetings? Consider these tips for effective Faculty Meetings. Make Faculty Meeting More Productive: 8 Tips for Principals Links to an external site.. 

Data Integrity

  • Coding No-Shows in Infinite Campus
  • Monitor the following :
    • Withdrawal Report
    • Parent Portal Processor Report
    • OLR Report
  • Check the Data Dashboard
  • Check SWD suspensions
  • Data analysis and review: Continue analysis of data with entire staff and develop departmental continuous improvement plans, focused for nine weeks period and aligned with School Improvement Plan. Create data room and data wall.

image.pngProfessional Learning

  • Literacy Expectations Literacy 2023 Stipend BLANK FORM.xlsx Download Literacy 2023 Stipend BLANK FORM.xlsx(stipend list due August 4, 2023 to Cindy Hoops)
  • Richmond Ready NEW HIRES - Certificates uploaded into New Educators' Course introduced during New Educator Orientation (NEO) by August 30, 2023. All questions directed to Ms. Lezettra Saunders, Director of Teacher Development
  • GNC (Certified and Classified)
  • Title IX Training: On July 24, training was conducted for Title IX School Contacts to help them identify possible incidents of sexual harassment.  A recording of the training will be made available.  A follow-up training will be provided to share specific RCSS procedural updates.  Informal resolution training will be provided in September.
  • Hospital Homebound Contact Training - July 31st, August 1st, and August 2nd-- virtual trainings are from 10 am - 11 am each day. The HHB Contact only has to attend one of the trainings. Please be sure the HHB contact for your school attends one of these sessions. Links for the sessions: July 31 HHB TrainingLinks to an external site., August 1 HHB TrainingLinks to an external site., August 2 HHB TrainingLinks to an external site.
  • GAPSC Code of Ethics for Georgia Educator (Paraprofessionals)- Self-paced, asynchronous course offered through CSRA RESA. Access information with in the RCSS Canvas Catalog Self-Enrollment Link  
  • Panda Pros-Canvas and Mastery Connect Coaching for Teachers -Optional  40 minute Sessions are offered 7 days a week during the months of August –September 2023 and appointments can be booked using the Sign-up Link.
  • Free Local Trainings-Child Enrichment Presentation Options.pdf