August 12, 2022 Parent You & Two
Back to School
Bus Information
We’re excited for the start of the 2022-2023 school year and another year of safely transporting your students to and from school! Click here to read School Bus News - B2S Edition.
ParentSquare Is Coming
This is the last newsletter you'll receive from the district via Blackboard! Teachers switched to the new platform this week. Take a few minutes and watch this video about ParentSquare. An invitation email or text to join ParentSquare will be sent this weekend.
School Supply Lists
Click here to view the elementary and the middle school supply lists.
Annual Registration
Time is running out to complete Annual Registration. Click the link to start the process https://parents.richland2.org/
Student Fees
Last school year, Richland Two eliminated many of the various course fees for middle and high school students and shifted to a standard general fee. Below are the details about the fees at each level (elementary, middle and high) and programs for this upcoming school year:
Grades K–5: $15.00 general fee. Magnet program fees for all grades will remain at $25.
Grades 6–8: $25.00 general fee — There will not be fees assessed for elective, co-curricular classes at the middle school level with the exception of band, orchestra and chorus. Magnet program fees for all grades will remain at $25.
Grades 9–12: $35.00 general fee — The only individual course fees that will be assessed are for culinary arts, health science, cosmetology and barbering. Magnet program fees for all grades will remain at $25.
The collection of school fees helps offset the various disposable supplies used by our students to enhance their learning experiences. These above fees will be reduced or waived for students who qualify for Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, or are homeless, transient, or in foster care as well as qualify for free or reduced meals. Visit www.richland2.org/MVP to apply to the MVP program. Any family experiencing hardship can request a reduction in these fees to the school’s principal.
All students will be assessed a non-refundable $20 technology insurance fee to cover the cost of device repairs. The technology fee plan provides 100 percent repair cost coverage for the first instance of accidental damage to the student’s school-assigned computing device. The plan also covers the cost of device replacement in the event of theft, provided a police report is filed. The cost of repeat instances of device damage will be assessed according to the full cost of repair. The deadline to pay the technology insurance fee is September 30th of each school year. The technology insurance fee cannot be paid after September 30. The coverage period for technology insurance begins as soon as the premium is paid in full, which must be done no later than the September 30 deadline, and runs through September 30 of the following year. The full details of the technology fee plan are published in the technology insurance fee documentation available from your school.
School Safety Update
The safety of district students, employees and visitors is our No. 1 priority. Since the passage of the 2018 bond referendum, the district has invested millions of dollars on facility improvements such as secure entryways, glass, cameras, door locks and card access systems. We have also increased SRO and security staff.
The district's chief operations officer presented an updated Safety/Security Plan to the Board of Trustees at their August Board Retreat. The plan is based on current research on school safety and results from the safety survey. Click here to review the presentation from the Board Retreat.
As school starts back, the plan calls for:
- Continuing the pop-up metal detector screenings at all middle and high schools
- Adding door alarms to exit doors
- Implementation of a crisis alert system
- Complete the conversion of door locks to be consistent across the district
We will provide regular safety updates throughout the school year.
Policy Updates
Following are the summaries of recent updates to policies.
Student Dress - At the August 9, 2022 School Board meeting the board voted to update policy JICA | Student Dress/Articles/Displays. The policy of the district that students and their parents/guardians hold the primary responsibility in determining the student’s personal attire, hairstyle, jewelry and personal items (collectively referred to as attire). Schools are responsible for ensuring that student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student, does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating environment for any student and preparing students for college and/or careers.
The administrative rule for JICA, JICA(R) | Student Dress/Articles/Displays outlines the types of attire allowed at school, enforcement of the policy and information about school uniforms.
JLCD(R) | Assisting Students With Medicines has also been updated for the 2022-2023 school year.
Tdap Reminder
Parents of rising seventh graders, did you know your child is required to have a Tdap shot prior to entering seventh grade? Yes, it’s true. This shot will help protect them from Whooping Cough.
Call your physician today to schedule an appointment. If you do not have a regular physician, you can call DHEC at 1-855-472-3432 to schedule an appointment. Did we mention this shot is required for next year? If your child has already received the Tdap shot, take a copy of their updated shot record to the school nurse.
Your child will be unable to attend school in August 2022 without proof of having received the Tdap shot.
