Playbook | January 2024

Principal's Playbook

January 2024


To Dos

  • 01/02: Day Employees Work: Please coordinate with your 12-month staff to ensure all winter shut down procedures Download winter shut down procedures have been completed before re-opening with your staff on 01/02.
  • 01/02-01/03: Second Semester Pre-Planning: Please make sure you have a pre-planning schedule for your staff. Teachers should be given ample time to work in their classrooms and plan collaboratively. There is no district-wide PL scheduled for either day. If you need PL support for your school-based initiatives, please contact the appropriate RCSS or RESA staff members for support as needed (they usually book fast).
  • 01/04: First Day of Second Semester: If schedules have changed, make sure students receive their new schedules today. Teachers should spend this week reviewing classroom procedures and routines, digital citizenship expectations, and instructional expectations. Teachers who will be teaching a new course, should submit their course syllabi for review prior to distributing to the students. 
  • 01/08-01/12: HR Roster Verifications Due: Please ensure the information is accurate before your bookkeeper submits to Shannon Cason.
  • 01/09: Report Cards: Ensure that grades are enter, posted, and verified in a timely manner so that report cards are ready to send home on Monday, January 9, 2024. All courses should have grades.
  • 01/10: Letters of Intent: Collect your Letters of Intent Download Letters of Intent for the 2024-2025 school year for all employees. 
  • 01/15: MLK Jr. Holiday: No School Today.
  • 01/19: 100th Day of School: Elementary schools should plan a celebration of the 100th Day of School. 
  • 01/20: Elks Hoop Shoot (Belair K-8)
  • 01/24: Winter Graduation: High School Principals and designated counselors should attend the winter graduation.
  • 01/26: Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl (Tubman Educational Center)
  • 01/31: Computer Insurance: Today is the last day for students to purchase the optional computer insurance Links to an external site.
  • 01/31: Black History Month Celebration: Communicate your school's plans for celebrating Black History Month.
  • 02/02: Wear Red Day: Plan an event to raise awareness for Women's Heart Health by participating in National Wear Red Day Links to an external site..

Important RemindersImportant Reminders

  • ACT/SAT Action Plan: Review your ACT/SAT action plan to make adjustments and plan for 2nd semester.
  • Attendance: Follow the RCSS Attendance Protocol Download RCSS Attendance Protocol and make sure parental excuses are turned in for any student absent during the week. Also, ensure the process is followed and send letters home to parents after two unexcused absences, and petitions are sent after five unexcused absences. Make sure you track attendance closely.  Monitor reports provided to P.O.C. (WPT, Parent Portal Processor, OLR, ScribTransfer, Attendance)
  • Be Visible: Make every effort to stay out of your office and in the halls. This is especially vital during class changes and during lunch times. Make rounds throughout the day to monitor instruction. Placing a desk or mobile office out in the hall will aid in trying to visible and keeping up with paperwork.
  • CCRPI training Download CCRPI training will be offered - this is "hands-on" so that you can dig into your school's data. 
  • Cognia:  
  • COVID: Continue to follow the guidance COVID Forms, Letters, Training Materials Links to an external site.
  • Elks Hoop Shoot: District competition January 20th at Belair K-8. Ensure that names of school-based winners have been submitted.
  • Events and Celebrations: Review and plan for your monthly Celebrations and Events 2023-2024.pdf Download Celebrations and Events 2023-2024.pdf
  • Formal Observations: Conduct pre-observation conferences, formal classroom observations, post-observation conferences, and conference summaries in alignment with evaluation instrument requirement (TKES). Develop a calendar to ensure observations are completed and are thoroughly done. Professional Development Plans should be completed on any deficiency noted and conferences should be held with staff members to inform them of the deficiencies immediately. Follow up with documentation periodically to check for improvement. Continue documenting if no improvement is shown.
  • GaDOE Resources: Check out these resources from GaDOE. Sign up to receive their monthly newsletter by creating your Community account.
  • Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl: January 19th at Tubman Educational Center. Make sure information for your school has been put in and approved in TripFinder
  • HR: Struggling teachers should be ona professional development plan (PDP) by January and documentation of progress should be ongoing.
  • Information Technology: The deadline to purchase the optional insurance has reopened. The new extension date is January 31st. Please communicate and post the flyer so that parents can see the information. Click Click NewFlyers Links to an external site. to download.
  • Lesson Plans: Actively participate in planning sessions. Review plans looking for the items outlined in Richmond Ready 6.12.
  • Master Scheduling - it is time to plan for next year (assess your current schedule, consider course offerings, student needs, etc.)
  • New Teacher Academy (NTA): Lead Mentor facilitates monthly New Teacher Academy for 1st year Non-traditional Teachers and their Mentors. Stop by and join in on this great learning opportunity for your 1st year Non-traditional Teachers.
  • Paraprofessional to Teacher Reimbursement Grant Deadline - January 15, 2024
  • PBIS Schools: Continue to reference the RCSS School Wide Behavior Expectation Guide  Links to an external site. to help you with your individual school wide behavior plans.
  • School Climate:
    • Review GA Health Survey results Links to an external site. and update plans to include action steps for any red flags from the survey feedback
    • Review discipline data with a focus on the number of suspensions including special education students (USHA) and number of majors and minors (Spotlight) and share with leadership team
  • School Council:  Plan your School Council meeting - update your School Council membership list.  If your School Council members need training, please have them take the School Council course online Links to an external site..
  • School Improvement: Meet with your Leadership Team at least twice a month and actively monitor your School Improvement Plan. Review best practices for Leadership Teams in your Leadership Teams and Data Canvas course.
  • School Nutrition:   
  • Sprigeo Tip Line:  Monitor reports and respond in the portal.  Send any names of anyone you want to have access to Dr. Gina Hudson.  Ensure students are aware of the Tip Line.
  • Spotlight: Please follow the Spotlight Download Spotlight timeline shared with you at the administrator's meeting.
  • Title IX: Make sure that posters with current Title IX Contact information are visible around the building.  Review Title IX Tidbits for Administrators Links to an external site..

Instructional Look-Fors In All Content Area


Literacy


Grading and Assessments

  • MOY Benchmark Window: January 4th-26th. Schools assign diagnostic based on school preference within the window.
  • Review CMA #2 Data in collaborative planning. Use teacher reports to discuss next steps. Information on reports and how to use them can be found on the Mastery Connect Resource Page.  
  • iReady and NWEA Map Touchpoints will begin again in February
  • Access the Content Mastery Assessment FolderLinks to an external site. to prepare for CMA #3
  • Visit the Mastery Connect Resource Page to find a brief video on how to understand the Teacher Created Assessment landing page. 
  • Review grade distributions for teachers and assignments in the gradebook to address any concerns after Progress Report #2 but prior to close of semester. Questions to consider: Are there enough assignments in each category? Is the teacher providing opportunities for students to relearn and reassess?
  • RCSS Assessment Calendar

Parent, Staff, and Community Communication


Data Integrity


Professional Learning

  • CCRPI Training Download CCRPI TrainingTake a deep dive into your school's actual data.  January 22 - High School from 9-11:00 a.m.; January 22 - Elementary School from 1-3:00 p.m.; January 23 - Middle School 10-12:00 p.m.
  • 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.
  • RCSS Literacy Expectations in Action Links to an external site.- Dynamic professional learning centered around read aloud, speaking/listening, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing instruction. The course is currently closed for registration, but participants on waitlist will be notified if openings occur. If you have any questions, contact Ms. Glenda Collingsworth, Director of Professional Learning.
  • RCSS Classified Leadership Academy- The RCSS Classified Leadership Academy mission us to support classified employees as they reach their full potential in order to build capacity and enhance leadership skills. The application window is open, and deadline is January 10, 2024. If you have any questions, contact Ms. Glenda Collingsworth, Director of Professional Learning. RCSS Classified Leadership Academy.pdf Download RCSS Classified Leadership Academy.pdf
  • CSRA RESA Regional Dyslexia Endorsement Scholarship-Registration is open! CSRA RESA is excited to announce the opening of an additional Regional Dyslexia Endorsement Scholarship opportunityThe CSRA RESA decided to offer this opportunity again to support teachers in this area of learning. Potential candidates will receive a scholarship to enroll in this program upon registration.  Registration is now open and closes on January 5, 2024, and Course 1 will begin on January 11, 2024.  Books are provided at no cost to recipients.  Please access the registration link Links to an external site. for additional information, a detailed course schedule, and eligibility requirements.  
  • CSRA RESA K-5 Paraprofessional Learning Series- CSRA RESA is excited to announce two upcoming sessions for K-5 paraprofessionals Both face-to-face sessions will be engaging and interactive, and paras will leave with strategies that can be used in the classroom. Participants are welcome to choose between the session they wish to attend, or they may attend them both!  Registration is open and there is no cost since we are a member district. The courses are Engaging Students During Reading Small Group Instruction Links to an external site. (January 17) and Diverse Learners: Strategies to Maximize Success Links to an external site. (March 5).
  • GADOE's Improving Outcome Series-Join the Improving Outcomes series as GaDOE staff focuses on a variety of topics and supports including effective PLCs, Tier 1 instruction, and sustainability of practices. School and district leaders will learn about key best practices as they work to improve outcomes for Georgia’s students.  Access Full Schedule Links to an external site. of  1-Hour Virtual Webinars.  Participants can access registration links for each webinar by clicking on the full schedule. The first webinar is on January 24, 2024 on Effective Leadership Team Retreat. 
  •  RCSS District Professional Learning Day- The next RCSS District Professional Learning Day is Friday, February 16 from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.  Detailed schedule will be emailed to all leaders on Friday, February 2 and released to all users on Monday, February 5. If you have any questions, contact Ms. Glenda Collingsworth, Director of Professional Learning.