Panther Tales
April 17, 2020
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Tales From the Principal…
Penning this month’s update to the Ridgeview community feels like encapsulating a school year into just a few short weeks. Just over a month ago we last saw our students face-to-face, and what we wouldn’t give now to return to that routine! It’s true that our Ridgeview students take solace in routine and in familiarity. I have one hope as I update you this month, and it’s that you know my goal is to continue being there for your students and for you.
Staying connected with virtual meetings between students and teachers is one way. Though it challenged my staff immensely in already tough times to learn a new platform called Microsoft Teams Meetings, they started “going live” with students in week two so that we stayed connected. Each week now they’re offering live sessions, and you can find out specifics on their weekly lesson plans posted to our website. Or, just e-mail the teachers!
Communicating instruction and engaging in the online classroom is another way. For Ridgeview that means using Google Classroom to deliver, discuss, assess, and turn in all course content. Login daily at 9:30 a.m. We don’t want any student to miss instruction, assignments, and the continuity of engaging in learning.
Providing parents more tools and clearer insight into what our teachers are planning has been a recent effort. Did you know that this week, starting with April 13th, we are posting each teacher’s lesson plans and instructional activities on the “Remote Learning” page of our website? Within a week, we’ll also have an archive of every past lesson/activity plan there as well. If your son or daughter missed anything, we’re accepting their work without late penalty! We just want them engaged and in routine!
In the spirit of providing you need-to-know information, please take 5-6 minutes if you have not already to watch my video address (see below) on Fulton County Schools’ Remote Learning Guide and the 1.5-page summary sheet. Both were e-mailed out to you this morning, and both are on the Remote Learning website page. I’ve summarized important information from Fulton County Schools about the district’s expectations of student work, grades and grading, and promotion/retention.
As we head fully into Mid-April and May, we’re in the last five weeks of school, a traditionally busy time with state-mandated testing. Though much has changed, we can celebrate that instead of spending time testing, our students are spending time engaging and learning. We’ll certainly miss out on many favorite activities at year’s end, but the administrative and instructional leadership teams are finding every opportunity to engage with our students and to brainstorm ways that our students and community can come together, albeit differently (by the way, please join us for our second week of “Virtual Spirit Week” by following @RidgeviewPanthers on Instagram). Please continue to watch our communication about virtual meetings that will take the place of many in-person meetings and events – more to come.
Overall, while nothing can replace the experience of being in the halls of Ridgeview, we are doing our best – and continuing to improve – our Remote Learning practices so that we can continue to be here for you, for our students, and for each other. Please let our teachers, any one of my administrative team, or me know if we can do anything for your students and you.
Stay well, stay healthy, and Go Panthers!
Opie Blackwell, Principal
For device support: Students or Parent/Guardians should call the Remote Learning Hotline (470) 254-2300, option 8
This will put you in touch with an STS to review the issue. If it can’t be resolved, another device will be issued through an appointment in the coming weeks.
Services provided by the Hotline are:
- Troubleshooting a current device; if problem persists –
- Creating an appointment to swap a device or a power cable
- Creating an appointment to obtain a new device (grades 3 – 12, including newly enrolled students)
- Password reset or accessibility issues (same Hotline, option 9)
All other issues should be handled through our regular Service Desk 470-254-HELP
We look forward to seeing you on Instagram next week for Spirit Days!
Alright Panthers – We Miss You, so we want to see you!
RCMS is having virtual SPIRIT DAYS for staff and students starting on April 13th-18th and then again April 27th-May 1st!
Follow @RidgeviewPanthers on Instagram, and each day post your picture tagging @RidgeviewPanthers with the hashtag #RCMSPride. Check out the daily challenge. Daily Challenge
Daily Lessons Are Posted On our RCMS Website “Remote Learning Page”
To better assist RCMS parents and families in helping students track assignments and work completion we have begun posting teachers’ daily lesson plans on our website. We have moved every resource for TeleSchool and Remote Learning to a main tab on the homepage of the website (see picture below).
The lessons will be released on the day of the content:
- Monday ELA
- Tuesday Math
- Wednesday Connections, Reading, and World Language
- Thursday Science
- Friday Social Studies
We will continue to post plans each week in April and May in the same way.
By Monday, April 20th we will also have an archive of all daily lesson plans from the start of TeleSchool posted on the page.
Does Your Student Need Their New Connections Class Google Code?
Google Class Codes
Parent Instructions for Checking Students’ Google Classroom Work
One vital step parents can take nightly is to personally validate that students are submitting Remote Learning / TeleSchool assignments in Google Classroom, so we’d like to arm you with a step-by-step guide with pictures that shows you how to do this. As always, please reach out to your student’s teacher through e-mail if you have any questions or need any support as you help ensure students are successfully completing and submitting work.
Please provide FCS Feedback on Remote Learning/TeleSchool
We encourage families to provide feedback about Ridgeview’s processes for Remote Learning / TeleSchool through this survey, and if we are not currently meeting your student’s or family’s needs, please reach out to your child’s teacher and any member of the administrative team. We’re here to support you!
Ridgeview Reminders of Critical Components of TeleSchool
TeleSchool starts at 9:30 a.m. daily on Google Classroom!
- The daily structure is 2 hours and one content. We suggest afternoon work time as well (check out our suggested schedules below).
- Teachers are now connecting with students live. Please download the Microsoft Teams in the iPad app catalogue now.
- We are posting teachers’ lesson plans on the Remote Learning page of our website.
- Our Counseling team is making a weekly lesson to support students and is available on our website.
- Our weekly goal is that students complete 30-45 minutes each of iReady Math and Reading. Let's hit those goals!
We need to stay in touch, so if you need to change any of your contact information – e-mail or phone number – please reach out to Ms. Alicia Smith, data clerk, at smitha15@fultonschools.org.
We are just an e-mail away should you need any of our staff members, and I hope you and your families continue to be well.
Xfinity WiFi Hotspot Access Opens Nationwide in Response to Coronavirus
Xfinity WiFi hotspots in out-of-home locations will be available for free to anyone who needs them, including non-Xfinity Internet customers, to keep our communities connected with their friends and family.
Please use the links below for more information:
https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/open-xfinity-wifi-hotspots
http://wifi.xfinity.com/#find-a-hotspot http://wifi.xfinity.com/#find-a-hotspot
These links are also posted on the RCMS website home page.
Solidarity Sandy Springs - Neighbors Helping Neighbors - High Point Civic Association
Pop-Up Food Pantry Donations Needed – Non-Perishables
Under the Cork Tree
5600 Roswell Road, #2
The Prado Shopping Center
Drop off Donations Day 1 - Thursday, March 26, 2020
9am-12pm or By Appointment
Donations and Shopping Start Friday, March 27 11am-3pm
Call Jennifer at 404-271-1347
FCS Community Resources Page
In response to the needs of our families and community, Fulton Schools is providing a resource page as a “one-stop shop” to share partners and provider websites and contacts. Click this link to learn more. If you don’t see a resource and know of others we can share, please send us the name and contact information to community@fultonschools.org. We will continue adding additional resources to this site.
Fulton Schools - Food Stop Information
Click HERE for Fulton County School Student Meal Program During School Closures.
Electronic Report Card Distribution
Report cards for ES and MS will be published via the Campus Parent AND Campus Student portals on 3/17/2020. ALL students have access to the portal via ClassLink. While schools are closed, all future grade reporting will be via the Campus Parent and Student portals.
All parents who have created a portal account will be able to access and print their student’s report card. All students will be able to access and print their own report cards via Campus Student.
All parents who do NOT have a portal account should have received an email with a unique link and directions on how to create their account on Monday, 3/16/2020.
- Any parent who is unable to create their account should ask their student to log into Campus Student via ClassLink to access their report card.
- All support for parent portal account creation will be addressed by local schools after buildings have re-opened.
Ridgeview Charter Middle School
Email: woodruff@fultonschools.org
Website: www.ridgeviewcharterschool.org
Location: 5340 South Trimble Road, Sandy Springs, GA, USA
Phone: 4702547710
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RidgeviewCharterSchool
Twitter: @CLCRidgeview