The Riverwood Review
Edition 2
From Principal Kindra Smith 8-6-21
Dear Riverwood Parents and Guardians,
Thank you for coming to Raider Rally yesterday! It was great to see all the Riverwood students and families as we begin another school year.
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 4, 2021 report indicates the COVID incidence rates for each municipality. Thirteen 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 effective Monday, August 9, including Riverwood. Riverwood is on the list for an indoor mask mandate to go into effect beginning on the first day of school, Monday, August 9.
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.
Thank you for your partnership during this pandemic. Our ability to continue moving forward depends on all of us wearing masks, staying home when sick, and following all the other mitigation strategies recommended to reduce the spread of the virus. We remain committed to providing a safe learning environment while providing our students the very best educational opportunities.
Back to School Message from Principal Smith 7-23-21
Riverwood Parents and Guardians,
Welcome back to Riverwood for the 2021-2022 school year! We are thrilled to have students back in person and ready to succeed. This year will be particularly exciting as it is Riverwood's 50th anniversary. We look forward to celebrating with you throughout the year.
This is the NEW communication format that we will be using to share all information for parents and guardians this year. This newsletter (The Riverwood Review) will be emailed approximately every two weeks. It will contain pertinent bi-weekly information for students and parents as compiled by our administrative staff.
From time to time throughout the school year, I will email a parent letter directly from my desk to inform you of time-sensitive information that requires immediate communication, but for now this newsletter will be the main source of communication.
Senior parents and students will also receive the bi-monthly newsletter (The Tassel) to inform them of upcoming due dates and current events.
Click on the button below to read the Welcome Back Letter
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 4, 2021 report indicates the COVID incidence rates for each municipality. Thirteen 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 effective Monday, August 9, including Riverwood. Riverwood is on the list for an indoor mask mandate to go into effect beginning on the first day of school, Monday, August 9.
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.
Attention Students
Start with Hello Campaign
It is just 3 simple steps...
1. See Someone Alone
2. Reach Out and Help
3. Start with Hello
NEW Raider Rally Remote
If you missed Raider Rally, take a minute and look through the information shared below.
Click the button below to access Raider Rally Remote document
NEW 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
NEW 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
NEW Riverwood Schedule Change Request Form SY22
This is the official Riverwood Schedule Change Request Form for SY 21-22.
By completing this form, you are indicating that these are the course changes that you would like for the 21-22 school year.
*Requests will be considered for the reasons listed below and as space allows. As a result, some requests for change will not be able to be honored.
1. Failed a class or have not taken a pre-requisite course for class
2. Incorrectly Scheduled: ie, You are scheduled for a course above or below your grade level (9th grader in 12th grade course, missing a core class required for graduation)
3. Medical concern (you may be required to submit documentation)
4. Previously earned credit in same course or made up the course in summer school
5. Missing a class/No class scheduled for a period in the day
*PLEASE, review your entire schedule and determine all changes that you are requesting to change prior to completing and submitting this form. You will be required to sign into your Microsoft Office account and will ONLY BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS FORM ONCE.
*Check your response prior to hitting the submit button and be sure to print, screenshot, and/or e-mail your responses to yourself. This will serve as your proof of submission.
*Due to schedule constraints, we are unable to consider teacher or period changes.
*Please note that all changes are final. Your request to change courses may result in changes to teachers and class periods. These changes will not be reversed.
*To access course information and descriptions, please review the course catalog by visiting Riverwood’s Scheduling Information SY22 page: https://www.fultonschools.org/domain/5338
This form will close: Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 4:00pm. After that date, no additional change requests will be allowed.
*Again, PLEASE, review your entire schedule and determine all changes that you will need to request a change for prior to completing this form. You will be premitted to complete this form once.
https://tinyurl.com/RICSScheduleChangeSY22
Click the button below to access a video for more instructions on how to complete the form.
NEW 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
NEW At home device maintenance
Prior to the first day of school, please complete the following tasks at home:
1. If you have a Windows laptop, restart the device and follow the on-screen prompts to install ALL necessary updates. Restart may be required more than once.
2. If you have an iPad, Chromebook, or Windows device, make sure your device is charged and ready to go the first day of school.
3. Bring your device and charger to school on the first day of school.
Note: If students do not complete the Windows updates at home, the updates will pop up the first time the device is powered on. This could interrupt valuable instructional time, so it is important to ask them to update the device before they come to school on day one.
Contact
Mrs. Sylvia Smith
New Approved Student Parking Permit
All available parking permits have been approved, and at this time, there will not be any additional applications approved. If you have been approved and have paid for a parking permit, you can pick up the permit in Mr. Doherty's Office (2231) during your lunch period. Please bring your driver license and proof of your payment in order to receive your parking permit.
Questions contact:
Tim Doherty dohertyt@fultonschools.org
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
About us
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/riverwoodhs
Location: 5900 Raider Drive, Sandy Springs, GA, USA
Phone: 4702541980
Twitter: @RiverwoodICS