The Riverwood Review
Edition 4
From Principal Kindra Smith 9-3-21
Dear Riverwood Families,
It's hard to believe that we have already been back in school for nearly one month. As we head into the Labor Day weekend, there are just a few things to share:
1. If you missed the 9-12 Parent Nights last week, the recordings are now on the homepage of the website. I encourage you to listen in as they contain a lot of grade-specific information for you and your student.
2. Remember to check the Riverwood calendar on the homepage for upcoming events such as the Club Fair happening next week on September 9 during all lunches outdoors on the track. The website and our social media channels remain the best place to get up to date school information.
3. On September 8th, 2021, Riverwood will be hosting a virtual Open House for the 2021-2022 school year. Parents will be able to access the traditional teacher presentations online beginning at 10am on September 8th via the Riverwood website.
4. Three Reminders for the long weekend:
- Get vaccinated
- Practice COVID mitigation strategies over the long weekend (especially in crowds) of wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and wash hands
- Do not send your child to school on Tuesday if sick.
I hope you enjoy the long holiday weekend with your family and friends. As always, stay safe!
Kindra Smith
Principal
Riverwood International
Charter School
Attention Students
NEW Late Start Days
What are Late Start Days?
The intention with these days is to allow teachers extra time to collaborate with their peers to plan quality teaching and learning.
When are Late Start Days? What time will school start?
Schools will start 1 hour later, so school will start at 9:20AM on 6 specific days.
9/20/21
10/25/21
11/15/21
1/24/22
2/28/22
3/21/22
What will students be doing?
Students do not have to report to school until 9:20AM. Busses will run on the regular bus schedule. If your student rides the bus, there will be specific areas of the building were students will be assigned during this hour.
NEW Teaching and Learning
Grading Updates
-Students that have not completed an assignment will receive a "0" in the grade book. Please make sure your student is keeping track of any missed assignments on Infinite Campus.
-Per the district, every student is allowed 5 remote learning days. To utilize these days, students must notify their teachers via email BEFORE the missed day and CC Jennifer Williams (williamsjh1@fultonschools.org).
Mark Your Calendars
NEW Spanish Speaking Parent Night
Spanish Speaking Parent Night: 9/8/21 at 6:30 on Zoom
Topic: Bi-lingual Parent Night
Time: Sep 8, 2021, 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81580692979?pwd=ZW9jOFlIRDFZSy9NZ2NOKzlaWTNlQT09
Meeting ID: 815 8069 2979
Passcode: KKf1AC
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,81580692979#,,,,*761178# US (New York)
+13017158592,,81580692979#,,,,*761178# US (Washington DC)
NEW 21-22 Open House
On September 8th, 2021, Riverwood will be hosting a virtual Open House for the 2021-2022 school year. Parents will be able to access the traditional teacher presentations online beginning at 10 am on September 8th via the Riverwood website.
NEW Homecoming
Homecoming Dance "Under the Stars"
October 16th, 8pm to 11pm in Hoskyn Stadium
Tickets $15 on sale during lunch in October
Riverwood Homecoming 2021 Timeline
October Homecoming Tshirts On Sale
October 6th Powder-Puff
October 7th Spirit Days Begin- more to come
October 15th Homecoming Parade! 6pm
October 15th Homecoming Court! Halftime @ Football Game
NEW Club Fair
Club Fair is September 9th
Join us for the Club Fair during all lunches on September 9 on the track!
Approval/Denial emails will be delivered to new club applications on September 3, 2021. Approved clubs should prepare to send 2-4 representatives to the Club Representative Meeting, September 9, 2021, at 3:00 PM via TEAMS. A link will be sent to all club sponsors and representatives.
Blue Crew All Sports Season Pass
AVAILABLE NOW
Only $75
To purchase your Blue Crew All Sport Season Pass, it is available at https://gofan.co/app/school/GA5268 or the GoFan app
Action: Fulton County School Code of Conduct
ACTION ITEM: https://tinyurl.com/34b5navt
Parents & Students please use the link above to access the "How to" document to acknowledge in Infinite Campus that you have received the Code of Conduct above. This must be done by
all students above 10 years of age and their parents, guardians, or other person having control or charge of the child.
Click the link to follow the directions to sign acknowledging receipt of the Code of Conduct and Student Handbook in Infinite Campus. https://tinyurl.com/34b5navt
Student Attendance
Just The Facts: Updated Attendance Policy
For students in Fulton County Schools to learn and achieve to their fullest potential, it is critical they attend school and are engaged in the learning process. Student absences, whether excused or unexcused, impact a child's ability to succeed in school.
FCS has implemented a new attendance notification process. Parents/guardians will be notified more often on absences, regardless of whether a student is excused or unexcused. Families will be notified of student absences via daily robocalls, emails, and texts. Students who accumulate multiple absences will receive letters to notify them of missed learning time, and staff will follow up with supportive strategies for families and students.
High School students' attendance is taken each period. Students must be present for 50% or more of the day to be marked present. High School messages begin going out around 4:30 p.m. on the day of the absence. Parents/guardians can monitor their child's attendance using Infinite Campus.
If a parent needs to excuse a student from attendance, notify the child's school as soon as possible. Notify your child's teacher(s) and CC Jennifer Williams at WilliamsJH1@fultonschools.org
The following must be included in a written note or email:
- Student Name
- Student FCS ID Number (lunch number)
- Parent/Guardian Name
- Parent/Guardian Email & Phone Number
- Reason for Excuse
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
Fulton County Schools COVID Safety Protocols
UPDATED 2021-2022 COVID-19 Guidance
Masks
COVID-19 cases continue to rise again in Georgia and Fulton County. Fulton County Schools officials are closely monitoring data and consulting with public health officials as we strive to begin the new school year in-person with face-to-face instruction.As indicated earlier this week, FCS will make decisions based on local data taken from the Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) Epidemiology Reports and has determined schools and facilities located in municipalities where the rate of infection exceeds 100 per 100,000 residents will require all students, personnel, and visitors to wear masks until such time as the level of spread drops.
The FCBOH August 19, 2021 report indicates the COVID incidence rates for each municipality. Fourteen of the 14 cities in Fulton County exceeded the level public health officials consider “High Community Spread.” Therefore, schools and facilities in these jurisdictions will require masks, including Riverwood. Riverwood is on the list for an indoor mask mandate to continue to be in place for all staff and students.
Additionally, all FCS staff and students are required to report in the portal a confirmed positive case of COVID-19, a pending COVID-19 test result (regardless of the reason for testing), and a direct contact with a person who is COVID-19 positive.
The parent portal can found on the Riverwood homepage www.riverwoodics.org
Following updated Georgia Department of Public Health (GaDPH) guidelines for quarantine procedures, FCS will NOW ALLOW all students, regardless of vaccination status, to continue reporting to school after direct contact if the individual:
(1) is/remains symptom free, and
(2) wears a mask while on school district property for 10 days after exposure.
All students who report a PENDING TEST result may continue reporting to school if the individual:
(1) is/remains symptom free, and
(2) wears a mask while on school district property until the test results are received and reported.
Public health officials strongly encourage individuals directly exposed to COVID-19 to get tested after 3-5 days of the exposure.
- All FCS students are required to report (1) a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 (2) a pending COVID-19 test result (regardless of the reason for testing) and (3) a direct contact with person who is COVID-19 positive.
- FCS students/ parents must use the Parent Reporting Portal (found on the Riverwood website) to make the above COVID-19 report. https://www.fultonschools.org/riverwoodhs
- Reporting students must wait for further guidance from the FCS Health Services Team, Talent Department, or public health officials after submitting a report; do not report to school.
- The FCS COVID-19 Response Team will case investigate all reports in consultation with public health officials. Students will be required to cooperate with response team/ public health department nurses and respond truthfully to all questions.
COVID-19 Quarantine
- All students who meet isolation/ quarantine criteria must adhere to the district's 10-day quarantine directive. Individuals exhibiting symptoms while at school will be directed to leave or isolate until they can be picked up.
- Students who have been fully vaccinated (14 days since the 2nd shot in a 2-dose or single dose of the J&J vaccine) and symptom-free do not have to quarantine. Proof of vaccination will be needed.
- Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months, fully recovered, and symptom-free do not have to quarantine. Proof of COVID-19 diagnosis will be needed.
School Meals are Free
All students will receive school meals at NO CHARGE for the 2021-2022 school year.
Click the button below to access the Breakfast and Lunch fliers
2021-2022 Health Services Information
Important parent information letter below that all parents need to read for the beginning of the school year from Health Services. Parents please make sure to update your current emergency contact information and follow the procedures regarding student illness/ injury, medication, immunizations, & emergency preparedness.
Click the button below to read the 21-22 School Year Health Services Information
11th grade immunization requirement
Per the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), effective July 1, 2021, children 16 years of age and older, who are entering the 11th grade (including new entrants), must have received one booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), unless their initial dose was administered on or after their 16th birthday.
Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness that affects the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis can cause shock, coma and death within hours of the first symptoms. Unfortunately, the concentration of the antibodies seen after the initial
MCV4 vaccine wanes with time. Therefore, a booster dose is needed to stimulate the antibody production and provide longer-lasting protection against meningococcal disease.
If your teen has not been vaccinated against meningococcal disease, we strongly recommend getting your 11th grader, aged 16 years or older, vaccinated before starting the 2021-2022 school year. Getting MCV4 (meningococcal conjugate vaccine) now will not only help protect your child against the ongoing threat of meningitis, it will also meet the new school entry requirement.
Ask your pediatrician or local health department about other shots your child may need including:
• the human papillomavirus (HPV) series
• the tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis shot (Tdap or Td booster)
• an annual flu vaccine; and
• catch-up immunizations, including chickenpox, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and hepatitis B.
If your child does not have health insurance or their health plan won’t cover these vaccines, call your local health department and ask about getting no cost or low cost vaccines. For more information, visit http://dph.georgia.gov/vaccines-children or call (800) 848-3868.
ACTION: Once you have a copy of the immunization please bring or send it to the school nurse, Ms. Shalanda Gardner.
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.
Shalanda Gardner 470.254.1914 gardners3@fultonschools.org
Click the buttons below for more information about the vaccine
Infinite Campus Access
Please check to make sure you have access to both your student and parent account in Infinite Campus. Gradebook, Student schedules, student course requests, transcripts, transportation information, and emergency contact lists are all available through the Infinite Campus system. We will be using Infinite Campus extensively and all students and parent must have access. Please scan the QR code which will take you to the district's sign up page. In order to sign up, you will need your student's name, date of birth, and their current grade.
Click the buttons below to access Infinite Campus support documents
Accessing Student Information
Parent Support Organizations
We are very fortunate at Riverwood to have some fantastic parent organizations that support our school. Below is some information about each one. If you can support one or more of these groups with your time, talent, or treasure, it is much appreciated:
Parent-Teacher-Student Association "PTSA" – The Riverwood Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is an inclusive organization of enthusiastic parents, teachers, and staff who support our school through volunteering, community-building, and fundraising. Join us and help support our students’ journey to a bright and enriched future by selecting the Join The PTSA button on http://riverwoodptsa.org.
Riverwood Athletic Association "RAA" – The Riverwood Athletic Association's (RAA) primary purpose is to raise money for all Riverwood Raider sports teams and athletic facilities. Riverwood is proud of its tradition of athletic excellence. More than 50% of the student body participates on one of the 21 athletic teams. This past year Riverwood moved up to AAAAAA and our athletes rose to the challenge! Membership is open to everyone and includes some great gifts such as free season tickets, an all-weather blanket, tumblers and more! We are a 501(c)3 corporation, all donations are tax deductible. Join the RAA today!https://www.ricsathleticassociation.com/join-the-raa/
The Riverwood Foundation – The Riverwood Foundation is focused on connecting community, engaging students, and enhancing the learning experience. We support academic enrichment (implementing and sustaining innovative programs such as the MakerSpace and the outdoor classroom and garden), professional learning (training programs to support teachers), global citizenship (programs designed to support cultural exposure and service), and AVID (inquiry-based, student-centered classroom structure). Visit https://riverwoodfoundation.org/ for more information or to donate online.
Band and Orchestra Booster Club "BOB" – The Band and Orchestra Booster (BOB) looks forward to the upcoming 2021-22 school year. Our plan is to continue to support our Band and Orchestra students and families by enriching an already strong music program. Join us by becoming a BOB member and/or making a donation to help expand our impact (https://gle/w5yZy2uuaNe5vp6BA) and visit our webpage (https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/19272) to learn more.
Performing Arts Booster Association "PABA" – Would you like to “play a part” in the Performing Arts at Riverwood? The Performing Arts Booster Association (PABA) is a group of parents, teachers, and friends working together to support the chorus and drama programs at Riverwood. Membership dues and other fundraisers finance the acquisition of music, scripts, sets, costumes, lights, sound, and other important items. Parents also donate their time to help with productions. Click https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/19785 to access our Riverwood Drama & Performing Arts Booster.
Previous editions of The Riverwood Review
8-17-21 https://www.smore.com/83wgc
8-6-21 https://www.smore.com/fy0xj7-23-21 https://www.smore.com/z9mq5
About us
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/riverwoodhs
Location: 5900 Raider Drive, Sandy Springs, GA, USA
Phone: 4702541980
Twitter: @RiverwoodICS