Playbook | March 2024

Principal's Playbook

March 2024

To Dos

  • 03/01:  Non-renewals due to Melissa Shepard
  • 03/01 - 03/31:  Review the Spring Break Shutdown Checklist Download Spring Break Shutdown Checklist
  • 03/01-03/08:  Spring Conferences with Parents:  Conference statistics are due no later than March 15: Conference Numbers - 2023-2024 Links to an external site..  
  • 03/02-03/07: Read Across America Week: Plan to celebrate reading and literacy milestones. Invite guests to read to your classes.
  • 03/12:  Special Olympics: Preschool and Elementary.  9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Westside
  • 03/12:  RCBOE Committee Meeting:  4:00 p.m.
  • 03/14:  Special Olympics:  Middle and High. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Westside
  • 03/19: RCBOE Board Meeting:  6:00 p.m.
  • 03/20: Leveraging For Excellence Assistant Principal's Meeting: 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. at National Hills (there are two sessions and AP's should choose 1 session to attend)
  • 03/27: Leveraging for Excellence Administrator's Meeting:  8:00 a.m. Central Office Board Auditorium
  • 03/28: Spring Progress Reports go home
  • 03/29:  All YouScience Links to an external site. and Bridge Bill law tasks should be completed. Information for Leaders. Links to an external site.
  • 03/29:  Submit Federal Programs End of Year Input Revision Meeting Documentation to your program specialist.
  • 04/03: Graduation Deliverables DUE to your Cluster Superintendent! List of students in the 2024 Cohort (1)who are set graduate in May,(2) those who are potential summer graduates, and (3)those who will need support beyond summer school

Important RemindersImportant Reminders

  • ACT/SAT Action Plan: Review your ACT/SAT action plan to make adjustments and plan for 2nd semester.
  • ARTS:
    • All County Art Show:  March 4-10
    • All County Beginner Orchestra Concert: March 7 at Tubman, 6:00 p.m.
    • All County Orchestra Concert:  March 14 at Tubman, 6:00 p.m.
    • All County Chorus Elementary: March 22 at Paine College, 6:30 p.m.
  • 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.
  • Community Conversations - Facilities Master Plan Links to an external site.:
    • March 4 at 6:00 p.m. - A.B. Merry
    • March 5 at 6:00 p.m. - Spirit Creek Middle
    • March 6 at 6:00 p.m. - Tutt Middle
    • March 7 at 6:00 p.m. - Richmond-Hill K-8
    • March 11 at 6:00 p.m. - Belair K-8
    • March 12 at 3:00 p.m. - Central Office Board Auditorium
  • COVID: Continue to follow the guidance COVID Forms, Letters, Training Materials Links to an external site.
  • Crisis Manual - Please review the crisis procedures Links to an external site. so you know what to do if a crisis occurs in your building.
  • DFCS/CSEC Reports:  After any reports are made to DFCS or for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), please fill out the internal forms Links to an external site. so that the Assistant Superintendent of Support Services and Director of Student Services are aware.  
  • 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.
  • Graduation Ceremonies:  All ceremonies will be held at the James Brown Arena Links to an external site.
  • HR: School Allocations to be shared at the Administrator's Meeting.  Please complete Non-Renewal packets by March 1, 2024.
  • Information Technology: 
  • Lesson Plans: Actively participate in planning sessions. Review plans looking for the items outlined in Richmond Ready 6.12.
  • Master Scheduling - Please review the Master Scheduling Calendar Links to an external site..  If you need assistance, reach out to the SIS Coach or Master Scheduling Lead for your grade level/school.  Elementary - Ame Holmes; Middle - Larina Thomas; High - Matt Johann; SIS Coaches - Patricia Beasley, Pam Jones; CPI Coordinator - Brent Winner
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Pre-K:  For the 2024-25 school year, it is recommended that all Pre-K students receive specials at a minimum of 2 times per week to allow for one segment of movement (PE, yoga, dance) and one segment for socialization and exposure (drama, music, art, etc.).  These opportunities allow the teachers to collaborate and provides students with kindergarten familiarity and readiness
  • School Climate:
    • Tribunal:  When completing a PIR, make sure not to use pronouns - use the person's first and last name.  Please remember to send the Tribunal Alert when you upload your package and make sure all phone numbers are correct.
    • If a case involves anything sexual, please make sure not to suspend the student(s) until you have completed the Title XI form and received the clearance from Dr. Gloster.
    • Please upload and share all video evidence with Tina McGhee when you upload the PIR · Please discard all old PIR forms and use the revised PIR form located on your school's tribunal page. · Please specify if the student is receiving SPED, 504 or RTI Tier 3 services. · Please remember to use the "Witness Form" located on your school's tribunal page - not the "Witness Form" from your SRO · Please remember to specify the desired length of time -concerning the school's recommendation · Please be reminded that submitting the “Waiver Disclosure” form does not that the place of a “Waiver”. The waiver request must be approved by Mr. Dunson before a waiver is issued.
    • Remember to upload your monthly problem-solving protocols to your School-Wide Behavior Plan folder.
  • 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: Review your School Improvement Plan with your Leadership Team.  How are you progressing?  Are you meeting your objectives and goals?  Do you need to revise the plan?  Are you making sure to document your Leadership Team meetings?  Continuous Improvement Planning - work with your PLC to plan for school improvements.  How can student engagement be maximized in February? How can discipline referrals be minimized?
  • School Nutrition:
    • Reminder that sack lunch requests Download sack lunch requests must be received three weeks prior to the event so that the nutrition manager is able to order the items needed for a reimbursable.  Spring is coming with lots of opportunities for field trips and the visits to the new Junior Achievement Center have begun.  We have seen an increase in requests with some teachers only providing us several days to plan.  Please be sure that all teachers are aware of this procedure.  The request form can be found on rcboe.org under Staff Resources > School Nutrition Forms.  
    • School Nutrition will be celebrating National School Breakfast Week the week of March 25-29.  Details will be sent to media specialists and managers to share out with students.
    • Nutrition Services will celebrate National School Lunch Hero Day on May 3, 2024.  Please join us in showing gratitude to the dedicated SNP Teams across the district.  We appreciate your support in recognizing these hardworking individuals.
    • Reminder that anyone planning any time of camps or classes for students over the summer months, who would like breakfast and lunch provided by SNP, needs to reach out to Sharon Stroman, Assistant Director of Nutrition Services during planning so that we can evaluate our ability to provide those meals. 
    • Please remember that all items purchased by the nutrition department are the property of the USDA and cannot be used without written permission from Cathy Johnson.  No one should have access or be accessing storage areas where those items are kept. 
    • Per the Department of Health, cafeteria kitchens are not able to store outside food items for staff members.  Items to be used for events will need to be stored in a communal refrigerator or freezer as found in the teachers’ lounges.
    • The health department is currently making its rounds for our second inspection of the year for all sites.  We have had several instances where the school loses points because the dumpster lids are not kept closed.  Please remind your custodians to keep them closed.  We are charged points regardless of whether the dumpster is used exclusively for the school or the kitchen. 
  • Special Education: FTE Count Day is Thursday, March 7.  Check the GO-IEP dashboard for any lapsed IEPs. Please ensure testing coordinators are monitoring throughout the testing window to ensure teachers are working to get students tested.
  • 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.
  • 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..
  • 03/01-03/31:  National Nutrition Month
  • 03/01-03/31: Women's History Month

Instructional Look-Fors In All Content Areas

Literacy

  • Click here for a one-pager that outlines the RCSS Literacy Instructional Expectations.Links to an external site.
  • Try a quick pre-read strategy called First Lines to help student comprehension. To learn more about First Lines click here. Links to an external site.
  • Review your media center plan. What adjustments need to be made during the 2nd semester to improve student access and circulation statistics? 
  • Additional resources to support literacy can be found on these pages: iReady or NWEA Map.  
  • Check our Beanstack page for videos and resources you can use with parents and teachers. Visit the Beanstack page to see at how many minutes our students read in the first semester!
  • Elementary Schools: Brian Jordan Reading Challenge . Check out pictures from his January visit now on the Beanstack page!
  • Middle and High Schools: Richmond Reads Challenge found in Beanstack

Grading and Assessments

Parent, Staff, and Community Communication

Data Integrity

Professional Learning

  • 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.
  • 504 Follow-Up Training for Building Coordinators (Choose 1):  March 7 from 1:00-3:00 at National Hills or March 11 from 9:00 - 11:00 at GLRS
  • CSRA RESA K-5 Paraprofessional Learning Series- CSRA RESA is excited to announce an upcoming session for K-5 paraprofessionals.  This face-to-face session will be engaging and interactive, and paras will leave with strategies that can be used in the classroom. Registration is open and there is no cost since we are a member district. The course is 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.  
  • Mindset Training: Verbal De-escalation (Elementary only):  Mindset Training dates. Links to an external site.  Please select 12 members including an Administrator. If you have any questions, contact Dr. Quenshauna Motley Smith.
  • March Mastery Learning Watch Parties-  Mastery Learning Labs is a cohort training model delivered in short sessions, 20-30 minutes in length, targeted towards teachers, and focused on one topic at a time. Each workshop will also provide at least five minutes for "try it out" and five minutes for a Q & A session.  View March Schedule Links to an external site. and share with your staff.
  • PBIS Open Lab - Implementing Schools ONLY:  March 12, 13, 19 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. National Hills Media Center.  For more information, contact Kourtney Bell.