Raider Nation Staff Newsletter
Week of September 2, 2019
First Day of School!
Dear Raider Nation,
Here we go!
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend. Thank you all for a great opening to the school year. There were some great meetings and discussions that lead me to believe this year is going to be a great one! Adrienne has been busy sending emails this weekend with “tidbits” regarding our opening day on Tuesday. Please take a look at the logistics taking place the first couple of days of school.
Just as last year, I, along with one administrator, will be visiting classrooms to speak with students. Of course, one of the topics will be the dress code. This year we will be visiting Social Studies classes. Additionally, we will continue the tradition of our Senior Kickoff. This will take place on Thursday, September 12 from 8am – 12:15pm. Senior teachers please plan accordingly. Social Studies teachers should have a visitation schedule. Please see Adrienne or Mabrooka if you are unsure when we will visit your classroom.
Our Back To School Night is this coming Thursday, September 5. It will begin at 6:30pm in the auditorium. Parents will be dismissed at 7pm to visit classrooms. Please be prepared to receive them starting at 6:45pm. We may end early. The schedule for the evening is attached below. Your attendance at Back To School Night is the first opportunity to establish a positive relationship with families. It affords you the chance to explain your goals for the class and for your students. You can share information about your teaching style and methodology, how you grade and the requirements for a passing grade. In short, build a relationship. For some parents, this may be the only time you’ll get to see them! If you are unable to attend, please let your assigned administrator know and have a course syllabus and welcome letter prepared to be left outside your room.
As mentioned in our first staff meeting, there is a system-wide expectation that sometime during the first week of school (9/3 – 9/6) teachers engage in a community building activity with their classes. Jenny Street modeled the I AM FROM activity that can be used with your THIRD period class. Your curriculum coordinators may have provided you with activities as well. Whichever activity you choose, it should be completed by Friday, September 6. Lastly, your classroom should reflect evidence of your community building – posted work, class generated expectations, etc. Your ITLs will be reporting on the various activities that took place in your classrooms.
Just a reminder that RaiderTime will begin on September 18. Our 9th graders will meet in the auditorium on both 9/18 and 9/25 to learn about RaiderTime procedures. Also, our ARL students will arrive late to 3rd period on Tuesday as we will review first day materials with them. Below you will find the revised Meetings Schedule. Dates that have been changed are shaded in GREEN.
Lastly, you may have noticed that the two items discussed in this newsletter (Back To School Night and Community Building Activity) revolve around our AHS Value of relationships. Establishing relationships was overwhelmingly present in staff, student, and parent feedback. Let’s start the year off in showing that we as an Atholton community stand by what we value – Relationships, Achievement, Integrity, and Diversity.
I hope you are able to get a good night’s sleep – see you tomorrow!
Robert
Important Information
THIS WEEK
Meetings
Mark Your Calendar
Thursday, Sept. 5 -- Back To School Night (6:45pm)
Thursday, Sept. 12 -- Senior Kickoff
Wednesday, Sept. 18 -- First RaiderTime
Monday, Sept. 30 -- School Closed -- Rosh Hashanah
Atholton High School
Email: rmotley@hcpss.org
Website: ahs.hcpss.org
Location: 6520 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: 4103137065