Playbook | November 2023

Principal's Playbook

November 2023

To Dos

  • 11/03: Elementary and Middle: Ensure that the date of the spelling bee has been emailed to Rhonda Mathis. Spelling bee should be completed prior to end of semester.
  • 11/09: Veteran's Day Celebration: Coordinate a celebration or recognition activity to honor our nation's veterans ahead of our system holiday on November 10th. Click here Links to an external site. for celebration ideas.
  • 11/13-11/17: Celebrate American Education Week: Click here Links to an external site. for celebration ideas.
  • 11/17:  The first formative observation for every teacher should be complete.
  • 11/17: Thanksgiving Shutdown Procedures: Complete all shut down procedures Download shut down procedures before leaving for the break. Signed copies should be sent to cluster leaders following the break.
  • 11/20-11/24: Thanksgiving Break: Enjoy time with family and friends.
  • 11/29: Leveraging for Excellence Assistant Principal's Meeting: We look forward to seeing all APs.
  • 11/30-12/8: Conduct School Based Science and Engineering Fair: Click HERE Links to an external site. to access additional information.
  • 11/30: Upload documentation for the school's 2nd  Building Parent Capacity and Building Staff Capacity. Contact your Federal Programs Specialist if you need assistance.
  • 12/01: Cluster Leader Assignment Due: Please share your exam schedule with your cluster leader by December 1. Once approved communicate dates and times with your school community. 
  • 12/06: Leveraging for Excellence Principal's Meeting: We look forward to seeing all Principals and Directors at Helms College.
  • 12/13: Submit Winning Science and Engineering Fair Project(s) to the Dr. Chaundra Creekmur
  • 12/18: Cluster Leader Assignment Due: Submit your Second Semester Pre-Planning Schedules for January 2-3 to your cluster leaders by Monday, December 18th. Approved schedules should be shared with school staff members before leading for the Winter/Christmas Break. 
  • 12/19: Early Release Schedule: Follow the Early Release Schedule Download Early Release Schedule. Teachers should complete all grading prior to leaving for the holidays. Complete all shut down procedures before leaving for the holidays.

Important RemindersImportant Reminders

  • 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.
  • Cognia:  Please sign into the Cognia Evidence Course and read over the narratives.  Send any feedback to Kim Stripling or anyone in the Accountability Department.  
  • COVID: Continue to follow the guidance COVID Forms, Letters, Training Materials Links to an external site.
  • Events and Celebrations: Review and plan for your monthly Celebrations and Events 2023-2024.pdf Download Celebrations and Events 2023-2024.pdf. Plan a celebration for the academic achievements to date.  Show appreciation (before the Thanksgiving break) for all of the hard work accomplished.  Remember to honor educators during AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK (November 13-17).
  • 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. The first formative observation for every teacher should be complete by November 17th.
  • GaDOE Resources: Check out these resources from GaDOE. Sign up to receive their monthly newsletter by creating your Community account.
  • K-8 Appendix C Progress Monitoring: Ensure that teachers are hosting parent conferences/contacts for students who are not meeting promotion requirements based upon their progress after the 1st 6 weeks of instruction.  MTSS Facilitators are responsible for the progress monitoring tool and documentation.
  • 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.
  • 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: See the notes below:
    • Our new SNP Coordinator, Tiffany Wooden, starts October 25th.  I’ve attached a copy of our updated list of SNP Administrator Assignments Download SNP Administrator Assignments. 
    • The SNP department will host it’s annual Thanksgiving Meal in all schools on November 15th. 
    • We will host our Backpacking into the Holiday promotion in December.  Dates and information will be sent out to administrators and managers in early December.   
    • When requesting menu changes for situations such as testing days, please be sure to share the information out with your parents/guardians.  Some of our students only eat certain meals and are disappointed when the menu they are expecting is not available and some of our diabetic students need the information ahead of time to adjust their insulin for the day. 
  • 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.
  • Thanksgiving Shutdown:  23 Thanksgiving shutdown.docx Download 23 Thanksgiving shutdown.docx
  • 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

  • iReady and MAP touchpoint #2 in schools.  Visit the iReady and NWEA Map pages for topic reminders and visit schedules.
  • Access the Content Mastery Assessment FolderLinks to an external site. to review CMA #1 and for CMA #2 Blueprints and Assessments
  • 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?
  •  PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT (selected 9th gr, 10 & 11th graders): October 16th-October 23rd
  • YouScience - 7th and 10th grades - November 13 - December 1 (updated dates)
  • RCSS Assessment CalendarLinks to an external site.

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.
  • RCSS Professional Learning Series- Registration is open! We are excited to kick off our FY24 RCSS Professional Learning Series. Our PL Series is comprised of four courses - Universal Design for Learning, Personalized Learning, Growth Mindset, and Culturally Responsive Classrooms. These courses provide opportunities for your faculty to remain up to date on evidence-based, instructional practices that will support student learning and engagement. RCSS Professional Learning Series.pdf   Download RCSS Professional Learning Series.pdf  
  • Canvas Certified Educator (CCE) Opportunity- Are you ready to deepen your Canvas knowledge and join other elite educators who have become Certified Canvas Educators?  The Certified Canvas Educators credentialing is a 36-week commitment encompassing six, 6-week online courses. These courses are designed to provide hands-on experience teaching with Canvas while also strengthening pedagogical best practices.  Interest meeting Monday, November 6, 2023 5:00-6:00 PM @ National Hills Learning Center. Please share flyer with your staff!  Review program overview in the following flyer: Canvas CCE January 24 Cohort Flyer.pdf  Download Canvas CCE January 24 Cohort Flyer.pdf