Panther Tales
December 20, 2019
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Have A Safe Winter Break! School begins again on Monday, January 6th!
Tales From the Principal…
In similar fashion to holiday newsletters, at the onset of each winter holiday I enjoy recounting some of the highlights and successes of the fall semester in my message to families.
I am most proud this fall of what I consider to be a success that is foundational – our #relationshipsmatter effort. Our music concerts this fall have been packed, phenomenal, and a vibrant showing of community. Our PTA has spearheaded some excellent community events to include the first annual “Fall Kick-off” where our sporting events for the evening were absolutely on fire with crowd excitement. Our staff has worked tirelessly to harness the power of knowing your children personally as mentors; having received two e-mails alone on the day I’m penning this message thanking me for what teachers have recently done is I hope a microcosm of what we help all Ridgeview students to experience each day. To that end, if a teacher or staff member has made a difference for your child this fall, I encourage you to take just a moment to drop that individual a personal e-mail or note of thanks.
Other highlights have included: A strong 4-star school climate and safety CCRPI rating; a positive evaluation and critique of our International Baccalaureate program; a second invitation to host an AVID showcase in February where we will model to educators from around the state our methods of teaching Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading strategies; a boys singles tennis champion as well as girls cross country champions and some excellent soccer competitions; and continued recognition for Ridgeview’s Lighthouse School to Watch designation for middle school excellence like at the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals.
This fall could not have offered as much for our students, staff, or community without the relentless and impactful support of three organizations – PTA, Foundation, and SGC. I cannot thank you enough for your support of them. PTA has given thousands in mini-grants and initiated positive community-building events. Foundation is supporting renowned arts, music, and athletic opportunities and is hard on the charge to find corporate sponsors to sustain programming. The SGC is leading us strategically and is laser-focused on monitoring our strategic goals as well as on our community champion/partnership effort to align to the monetary needs of the school.
To close this short month, join me in celebrating a few fine Ridgeview folks demonstrating IB learner characteristics: Mr. Tucker, 8th grade Spanish teacher and World Language Chair, is our Teacher of the Month recognized for being caring and principled. Mr. Greg Brown, custodian, is our professional of the month for being caring.
Turning toward January, join me in celebrating these folks who have December birthdays: Ms. Evans (7th), Ms. Ferrari (11th), Mr. Williams (15th), Ms. Doherty (18th), and Ms. Wenger (18th). As students start back in January, it’s the beginning of a new semester and new opportunities to focus on sustaining their focused work from the fall, to tweak some habits here or there to make slight improvements, or to settle into an entirely new routine for drastic improvements. Students always need our help and parental guidance to re-focus into the best routine possible, so don’t forget to start early in the new year by assistance your Panther with the best routines and habits possible.
As I reflect on the fall, I am thankful and privileged to work at the best middle school – a “Lighthouse School” – and am appreciative of you entrusting us to work with your incredible students! As always, if you need something, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers, to my administrative team, or to me. Happy Holidays to you and yours, and see you
on January 6th.
Opie Blackwell, Principal
Georgia Department of Education's (GaDOE) Annual School Climate Survey - January 6, 2020
Ridgeview participates in the Georgia Department of Education’s (GaDOE) annual school climate surveys which are open October through March annually. The results will go into our school's Climate Star Rating, which is part of our College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) score. All public schools in Georgia conduct a Student Health Survey, Parent Survey, and a School Personnel Survey as part of this process.
Ridgeview students will take this brief 15-minute survey on January 6th. Please encourage your student to take the questions seriously and answer truthfully as their responses do impact our CCRPI score. You may review student questions online HERE.
Parents can opt-out their child by completing the appropriate form and returning it via email to Dr. McCaffrey or to the front office by 8:50 on January 6, 2020.
Thank you for your support in this effort to gather valuable feedback! Please stay tuned for information this January about the parent survey.
Kathleen McCaffrey, Ed.D.
Model UN Conference - Creating the Next Generation of Global Leaders
Is your student interested in current events and world politics and in developing skills in public speaking, leadership, and research? Ridgeview is putting together a team of students to compete in a Middle School Model U.N conference which will be held at Riverwood on March 7th from 8:00 - 4:00.
Indicate interest in participating by emailing Melissa Richardson by January 3rd.
Students who are selected for MUN will be notified by January 8th by letter delivered to homeroom class. MUN participants will meet afterschool on Wednesdays beginning on January 15th.
CodeEasily – After School Coding Club
Bill Gates said that students need to learn to code just as they learn English and Math at school. CodeEasily, started by Fulton County Schools alumni, teaches coding to young learners in a fun and engaging manner. CodeEasily’s coding classes will be offered as an after school club at Ridgeview Middle school starting from 27th January 2020 until the end of the academic year. The classes will be offered every Monday from 4.15 pm to 5.15 pm on the school premises. These classes are FREE and will be limited to the FIRST 20 STUDENTS WHO SIGN UP.
To learn more about this program, please visit our website at www.code-easily.com. If you are ready to sign up, please visit https://www.code-easily.com/ridgeview-interest-form.
We will also be holding an information session at your school on January 13th at 5:15 in the Media Center.
Attention 8th Grade Families - Rising 9th Grade Information
Jan 10 Final Prospective Parent Tour at Riverwood is January 10th at 9:00 a.m.
Jan 15 Magnet Applications for Riverwood are due. More Information
Jan 16 AP/IB Night at Riverwood
Jan 23 8th Grade Trip To Riverwood
Jan 23 Rising 9th grade Parent Night at Riverwood - from 6:30-7:30pm in the auditorium
Carpool Process Change Effective January 6, 2020:
Please take note of an important change to our carpool procedures that take effect January 6th. We no longer will allow students to be picked up in carpool by having parents park cars in the parking lot and walk up the hill to greet students. We have concerns about student safety, parking lot flow, and our ability to monitor the carpool process using our current methods. Thank you for your understanding that this decision is made with student safety top of mind and for alerting your students that starting in January if they are carpooling they will be picked up in the normal carpool line.
A reminder for the carpool process that if your child is carpooling, please continue to remind him/her to be to the carpool lane within a matter of minutes of the 4:05 dismissal bell so that the line begins moving quickly after 4:05. To value carpoolers time, we will not allow parents to wait in the line for their student to get out to the waiting area. You will be asked to circle back to the end of the line.
Attention: Families of Ridgeview English Learners - Please join us for an English Learners Ridgeview Café
When: Thursday January 9, 2020 9:00 AM
Where: Ridgeview Charter Middle School Media Center
Purpose: Come learn about how to help your child succeed at Ridgeview and in our ESOL/EL program.
Coffee and pastries will be provided.
Please RSVP by scanning the QR Code à
Or by returning the bottom portion of this invitation to your child’s ESOL teacher.
Questions? Call Vicky Zambrano, Bilingual Community Liaison at 470-254-3284 or Sara Good Title I Liaison at 470-254-8589
Mark Your Calendar for Ridgeview Family Math Night - Thursday, Jan. 30 - 5:30pm
All Families are invited to Ridgeview's Family Math Night
Thursday, January 30,2020
5:30-6:30 PM
RCMS Media Center
RCMS Media Center Volunteers Needed!
Come help in the Media Center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There are 30 minute time slots available in the morning and afternoon. Check in with Mrs. Gunter upon arrival.
Click HERE for schedule information and to sign up.
Box Tops For Ridgeview!
Make sure you have the NEW Box Tops app on your phone! It's the all-new way to earn cash for our school—no clipping required.
Join the PTA today!
The PTA has many volunteer opportunities available.
Check out how you can help HERE.
Join the PTA today to support our purpose of connecting parents and teachers for the benefit of ALL our students. You can become a member, donate, and purchase spirit wear online at RCSstore.org.
Follow the PTA on Facebook - @RidgeviewCMSPTA . View our Facebook page HERE.
Learn About The RCMS Foundation & Join Today!
The Ridgeview Charter Middle School Foundation provides funding to support Ridgeview’s sports and music programs. These programs cannot exist without parent donations.
To join, please click HERE.
NEXT MEETING:
Jan 8 at 7:45 am in the RCMS Media Center
SGC (School Governance Council) Corner
The School Governance Council wishes each of you a happy holiday and looks forward to supporting Ridgeview’s strategic work this spring.
Next Meeting:
Jan 14 at 7:30 am in the RCMS Media Center
Coming Soon To The View!
COMING SOON
Dec 23 - Jan 3 Winter Break (Jan. 3 - Teacher Workday)
Jan 6 First Day of Second Semester
Jan 8 RCMS Foundation Meeting 7:45 am
Jan 9 English Learners Ridgeview Café - 9 am - RCMS Media Center
Jan 9 Title I Parent Education Workshop - 10 am - RCMS Media Center
Jan 13 CodeEasily - After School Coding Club - Information Session
Jan 14 RCMS School Governance Council Meeting - 7:30 am
Jan 15 IB Information Night - Elementary, Middle, High - at Riverwood - 5 pm
Jan 17 PBIS Fun Friday during lunches
Jan 20 MLK Holiday (Schools Closed)
Jan 22 Chorus Cluster Concert
Jan 23 8th Grade Trip To Riverwood
Jan 25 Saturday School
Jan 30 Title I Parent/Student Education Workshop - Family Math Night - 5:30 pm
Click HERE for full calendar.
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