Falcon Newsletter
September 2018
A Message from Mrs. Agee
Dearest CFK Families,
It has been an amazing school year so far! Thank you all for your patience as we have worked out the logistics of trying to implement a safer dismissal for students. We know that changes are not always easy, but we want to ensure we are taking every measure possible to keep your child safe.
This year we have implemented a new school wide set of expectations for students:
Be safe.
Be respectful.
Be responsible.
Be a problem solver.
These four expectations allow our students to have a common language and reference in various settings throughout the school. Whether at recess, in related arts, or the cafeteria, these guidelines are in place so that students know what is expected. We are so proud of all of our students as they work hard to practice these four expectations throughout the day!
I hope you’ve had a chance to meet our Lead Teacher, Mrs. Holley, If not, please stop in at some point to do so!
My schedule is below as I will continue to float between the two campuses. The administrative assistant at each school will be happy to get me a message if needed, and as always I am available by email.
Monday CFKN (all day)
Tuesday CFK (am) / CFKN (pm)
Wednesday CFKN (am) / CFK (pm) *District Meetings are often on Wednesday mornings
Thursday CFK (am) / CFKN (pm)
Friday CFK (all day)
2018-2019 Student/Parent Handbook
General Fee
As a reminder, all students attending Richland Two schools are required to pay a general fee (pg. 18 in RSD2 Handbook).The fee for elementary students is $15.00. If you are on free/reduced lunch, this fee is automatically adjusted for you. This fee has been added to each student’s Parent Portal account. Please make sure this fee is paid as soon as possible.
As always, you may also pay by cash or check and send payment through your homeroom teacher.
Aftercare Payments
Payment is due each Monday of the week. Tuition is always due prior to the child(ren’s) participation in the After-School Care Program for the coming week. PAYMENT MUST BE CURRENT IN ORDER FOR A CHILD TO REMAIN IN THE PROGRAM. If late payments become habit and the account is in arrears, your child may be removed from the after-school care program at the discretion of the Principal. If you would like to receive weekly email payment reminders, please visit https://goo.gl/forms/LRSqyP0Zv6pr0Wuf1 to enroll.
Pick up Authorization Form
The district has asked each school to create a Pick Up Authorization Form to keep on file. This form will need to be completed if someone other than a parent/guardian will be picking up your child from school, at any point during the school year.
Emergency contacts listed in Parent Portal are not authorized to pick up students from school without written consent or being added to the Pick Up Authorization Form. If you have not filled this form out, please make sure you submit to your child’s homeroom teacher or turn in to the front office. A form is can be found here or you may ask for one from the front office.
Call for Volunteers
Our staff is being recognized for staying safe in the work place during the 2017-2018 school year and will receive a catered lunch from the district. We are looking for volunteers to help cover the classrooms and office so the staff can enjoy lunch together.
To volunteer, please visit the SignUpGenius below
Parents Visiting Classrooms (Richland 2 Procedures)
If parents/guardians have scheduled a visit in advance, the following procedures apply:
- Parent signs in with Lobbyguard.
- Parent is issued a Parent Acknowledgement Form to sign if it is their first visit of the school year.
- Parent is issued a visitor sticker to wear throughout their time on campus.
- Parent is escorted to the classroom.
- When the visit is over, parent signs out with Lobbyguard.
If parents/guardians have NOT scheduled a visit in advance, the following procedures apply:
- Parent signs in with Lobbyguard.
- Parent is issued a Parent Acknowledgement Form to sign if it is their first visit of the school year.
- Parent is issued a visitor sticker to wear throughout their time on campus.
- Administrator/Counselor is notified of parent wishing to visit class.
- Administrator/Counselor escorts parent/guardian to the classroom and invites them to share any concerns with them following their visit.
- When the visit is over, parent signs out with Lobbyguard.
Counseling Cue (A Message from Mrs. Reupke)
Hello Parents,
Welcome back to another exciting year of growing and learning. I am so excited to be able to work with your students can cannot wait to be amazed by their creative abilities and kind and nurturing hearts. As the school year gets underway, I wanted to provide a few tips for helping students get back into the swing of school.
Establish regular bedtime routines
- Limiting screen time on electronic devices 30 – 60 minutes prior to bedtime is recommended to help students achieve better quality sleep.
- The National Sleep Foundation recommends 10-11 hours of sleep per night for children ages 5-10.
Help your child establish a homework schedule and good homework habit.
- Having a dedicated space for students to complete their homework is important. Choose a quiet area free from distractions such as televisions and other electronic devices.
- Make sure your student has access to necessary school supplies and materials needed to complete their assignments.
- Allow small breaks between assignments to help students reset and refocus.
Try to carve out some family fun time
- During the school year things can be busy and chaotic, try to find ways to spend quality time together, maybe playing a game or sport, reading a book, working on a craft project, or just enjoying a good movie.
- Relaxing and having some “down” time can help relieve stress and anxiety as well as foster positive relationships.
Welcome back again and I hope your year has gotten off to a fabulous start!
Lisa Reupke
School Counselor
Welcome to our New Literacy Coach!
Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! I am thrilled to be serving as the School-Based Literacy Coach at both campuses of Center For Knowledge. Always an avid reader and “a work in progress” writer, I have the unique privilege and responsibility to work on these literacy skills with the teachers here at CFK. Funding for the Literacy (a.k.a. Reading) Coach position is provided by South Carolina legislation, commonly known as the Read to Succeed Act. Some of my official duties include providing professional learning opportunities, engaging in data-analysis in order to positively impact student achievement, and acting as a resource for strategies to improve literacy instruction. As a long-time classroom veteran, I am truly passionate about the importance of positive literacy experiences for our children. Every teacher teaches reading and writing. This is true no matter the content of the lesson. Our students must interact with more and more complex texts to ensure success in our information driven and increasingly technical society. With all of this said, I am often asked by parents, “How can I improve my child’s reading?” My suggestion is to make sure your child is reading a broad array of texts. If they love books on insects, then challenge them with a more literary title like The Cricket in Times Square. If they love fiction, but are hesitant to try non-fiction, then try a biography. A biography on Harriet Tubman opened a whole new world of texts for me as a third grader. This can help as well if they are a reluctant reader. They just may not have found the genre that they love and will propel them into a love of reading, a love of that text. I bet you remember that book that was your first love, the one you remember with such fond memories. A broad range of texts will prepare them to apply reading strategies across content areas and disciplines and exposure to as many genres as possible will foster a lifelong love of reading that will benefit all of our children no matter their eventual path. Although my official role is primarily meant as a teacher support, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns. My email is lclarke@richland2.org. Here is to a fantastic year of reading, writing and learning!
Read to Succeed Act
Need to add a Sibling to Parent Portal?
To add a sibling to your Parent Portal account, please log into Parent Portal. Once signed in, scroll down the page until you see “Account Preferences” on the left.
Select the tab labeled “Students” and then select the blue “Add” button.
You will need your child’s student ID number for the access ID and their six digit date of birth for the access password.
Questions about Parent Portal should be directed to Heather Failla (hfailla@richland2.org)