Survey, Sports Update, Town Hall
August 4, 2020
A Note from Mr. Wiseman
Dear RMS Community,
Last week you received an email from CSD Wilson Center with information about returning to school on August 17th (CLICK HERE). As we prepare to welcome our students to their virtual classrooms on August 17, we need information from each family regarding what your students and family need to make the virtual learning experience the best it can be. Please complete this form for each student in your household. The form will provide essential information about your technology and nutrition needs as well as key information regarding what supports may be needed for specific families. Please respond no later than Wednesday, August 5.
Sincerely,
Greg Wiseman
Principal, Renfroe Middle School
Renfroe Virtual Town Hall
To support parents and students in a successful start to the virtual setting, CSD will host several virtual town hall meetings via Zoom in a webinar format See entire schedule below. Here is the link to RMS’s Webinar.
Update: Renfroe Athletics, Activities, and Clubs
RMS and DHS athletics, athletics, activities, and clubs will be moving to the virtual environment. We will be working with coaches and activity sponsors to brainstorm ways to continue building teams and communities through online activities. We are well aware of the mental health benefits of such interactions, especially when they can be done in person, and do not make this decision lightly. Principals are working with their staff to brainstorm additional clubs and activities that we can offer virtually. We will provide details of such opportunities once they are set. At this time, all scheduled athletic events through September 25th are cancelled. Mr. Thomas, CSD Athletics and Activities Director, will communicate if or when these games or meets will be made up later in the season.
Rationale: Virus transmission continues to be an issue in DeKalb County and surrounding areas. Our attempts to safely engage in various in-person activities have gone well, in that we have not had any known virus transmissions, but we have recognized that it is quite challenging for individuals to implement safety protocols with fidelity. Human nature is clearly something that will continue to be a challenge, but with virus levels and transmission in the state they are in our area, continuing with in-person activities is not the responsible course of action.
It is unfortunate, but we are unable to consistently rely on data and recommendations we receive from government institutions charged with public health because those data and recommendations are being heavily influenced by politics rather than science. We will continue doing our best to distill the often conflicting information provided to us while we attempt to balance the risks of continuing virtually with the risks of meeting in person.
Timeline: The decision to close and/or go virtual with programs will be re-evaluated by September 18th with the possibility of a different decision being implemented after September 25th.
Mark your Calendar: RMS Meet and Greet Thursday, August 13th
The Renfroe teachers and staff are planning our virtual Meet and Greet for Thursday, August 13th. There will be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous presentations. More information to follow
Renfroe School Leadership Team (SLT)
The Renfroe Middle School Leadership Team (SLT) is an elected committee consisting of parents/guardians, RMS staff members, community members and other personnel. All CSD schools have an SLT, formed as part of our System Charter, renewed by the state in 2014. Some of the responsibilities of this team are:
School Improvement Plan (SIP): Develop, approve and monitor the continuous school improvement planning process
Determine the allocation of the school’s instructional and technology budget
Review student achievement data
Recommend and support school needs to the CSD Board of Education during the annual budget process
Help with the interview process of potential Renfroe School employees
Monthly evening meetings
RMS has two parent 2-year term and one teacher 2-year term expiring this year. If you are interested in serving RMS as an SLT member, please submit your name, a paragraph with a biographical statement and a paragraph stating why you want to be on the SLT, to Greg Wiseman at gwiseman@csdecatur.net. Deadline for submission is Friday, August 21st. We will eBlast candidate statements in our newsletter. SLT elections will occur virtually and will be communicated after August 21st.