Blue Devil eNews
Reading Community City School District | January 2021
Welcome to Second Semester
We are excited to start the second semester with our students returning to full-time learning. Thank you to the Board, our teaching staff, support personnel, counselors, and administration for their tremendous work over the past few weeks to make this possible. Our goal from the start has been to give our students the highest quality education possible, while also following state and local health guidance. New guidance released December 30th regarding in-classroom exposures to COVID-19 allowed us to change our strategy for the second semester while also accommodating those that would like to remain remote.
Returning to school after Winter Break on January 4, we immediately began planning to return to full-time learning at the semester break, and it has been a total team effort to make this possible in such a short amount of time. Approximately 75% of our students will be learning in-person and 25% will be remote beginning January 19. Whether our students are in person or remote, we are excited to return to a full-day instructional model and look forward to continuing to provide the academic, social, and emotional support our students deserve.
I am incredibly grateful for the hard work of everyone involved within our district as we have navigated this unique school year thus far. The dedication to students and adapting to new ways to teach and support the educational process has been remarkable through the numerous changes and challenges we have faced.
Thank you to our parents and students for remaining flexible and resilient during these unusual times. As we start back full-time next week, we ask for your continued support as we transition mid-year to this new model. There will be an expected learning curve for everyone, much like the start of the school year, before finalizing routines and adjusting to being at school all day. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
Welcome back Blue Devils!
Jason Enix
Superintendent
School Day Schedule
Below is the school day schedule for the second semester. Please note that doors open for students 10 minutes before the student day begins. Elementary students should not arrive on campus before 8:00 am, as the doors will not be open to them and there will be no before-school care available. Some student schedules are still being finalized and more information will be coming to those families directly.
Academic Enrichment/Focus
Extra time has been built into the schedules for our high school and middle school students for academic intervention. RHS students will see this called “Academic Enrichment,” at RMS it is called “Focus.” This will allow time for our in-person and remote students to work on projects and assignments or get academic support from teachers.
Traffic Flow
Traffic flow around the Reading campus is important for smooth arrival and dismissal. We encourage elementary parents to arrive on campus at 2:20 pm or later for dismissal so there will be adequate parking for them. The current traffic flow pattern is pictured below, and can be accessed here.
Important Information about “Close Contacts”
Contact tracing will continue as students return to full-time learning. Students may still be considered a “close contact” if a classmate tests positive for COVID-19, but they would not be required to quarantine, provided the potential exposure takes place in the classroom or on the bus, masks are being worn, and other protocols are being followed.
Anyone within 6 feet for 15 minutes is still considered a close contact. They will be notified and reported to the health department. Close contacts will not have to be quarantined, but should still monitor for any symptoms. State and county health officials have notified us that close contacts in the newly defined guidance does not prevent students from participating in athletics or extracurricular activities.
Quarantines may still be necessary due to close contact that takes place during lunch. Students will not be wearing masks while they eat, making lunch very different from the classroom. Students will be sitting no more than three to a table in assigned seats to maintain as much distancing as possible and to assist with contact tracing. There will be no eating in the classrooms because students must wear their masks correctly the entire time they are in the classroom to avoid the need to quarantine.
Second Semester Lunch Information
Meals will remain free for all students for the entire 20-21 school year. Breakfast will be a take-home program given to students as they exit the building to be consumed at home the next day before coming to school. We will send packs home on Monday and Thursday. Elementary teachers will take a breakfast count in the classroom and the meal pack will be sent to each classroom prior to dismissal.
During lunch in the cafeteria, we will not offer self-serve bars for students. Entrées will be served by cafeteria staff, with students picking up milk, fruits, and veggies along the serving line.
Families with students in Remote Learning for the second semester should fill out this meal form.
State of the District February 3
During the RCCSD Board Meeting on February 3, Superintendent Jason Enix will present his “State of the District.” This will provide information to the Board and the community about where the district is and where it is going. The final draft of the district’s Strategic Plan will also be presented. The meeting is Wednesday, February 3 at 5:30 pm. Meetings are streamed and archived here.
District Finances Community Forum
Superintendent Jason Enix and Treasurer Colette Lewis will host a Community Forum on January 26 to provide a district financial overview. The remote Zoom meeting will provide additional information about finances for Reading Community City Schools and allow parents and community members to get questions answered. Additional information about how you can participate will be coming in the days ahead.
Welcome Back to Winter Athletics
Winter sports are all up and running. Boys and girls basketball, cheerleading, dance, wrestling, and boys and girls bowling at the HS level, with the same teams (except for bowling) at RMS. Workouts for other sports have resumed in the weight room, as well as conditioning outside when weather allows. Pep Band has also restarted and will be at all home HS basketball games, both boys and girls.
OHSAA tournaments are on schedule to continue and tournament draws are coming up soon.
Schedules are always available here. We are live streaming a lot of our home contests, and you can get the latest information by following @ReadingAthletic on Twitter.
Preschool Lottery for 2021-2022 Year
The Reading School District will be conducting a lottery for preschool enrollment. The lottery for the 2021-2022 school year will open Monday, January 25th starting at 8:00 am and remain open through Sunday, January 31st. Notification of acceptance will begin on February 8th. Additional information can be found here.
Join the Reading Running Club
Students in grades 6-12 are invited to join the Reading Blue Devil Running Club. Everyone is welcome, with 3 groups - including walkers, joggers, and runners. The Running Club consists of fun activities to get you moving. Blue Devil Running Club will meet every Wednesday from 2:20-3:30 pm in the cafeteria, beginning January 20. All students will be required to wear masks before and after activities, bring their own water bottle, and social distancing still applies. Remote and in-person students are invited. Join the Google Classroom - 2ky4n47. Questions? Email: mpletz@readingschools.org
PTO Raising Money with Raising Cane’s
The Reading Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is hosting a fundraising night at Raising Cane’s on Monday, January 25 from 4-10 pm. Customers who want to help out the RES PTO simply need to visit the Springdale Raising Cane’s location, 705 Kemper Commons Circle. Mention the fundraiser in the drive-thru and Raising Cane’s will donate 15% of sales. Thanks for your support!
Reading Mock Trial Participants Remember their Roots
Three former Reading Mock Trial participants have remained a big part of the program. The Reading Mockers Alycia Bemmes (RHS class of ‘08), Ben Sandlin and Dan Humphrey (RHS class of ‘12) have been bringing their legal experience into the mock trial classroom. All three have been helping the RHS Mock Trial team prepare for the OCLR District Championship that takes place virtually on January 22. They have run rules of evidence seminars and presided over scrimmages via Google Meet. “We are lucky to have their expertise as we seek another run for a Mock Trial Championship,” said social studies teacher Andy Janig. In addition to her duties on the Reading School Board, Alycia is the director of the Clinton County Public Defenders Office. Ben works for Cincinnati Law firm Thompson Hine LLP and Dan clerks for the Florida Supreme Court.
VYO Baseball/Softball Signup
Important information about VYO Baseball and Softball can be found here.
RHS Guidance Corner:
Report Cards will be mailed Friday, January 22. Please go to Final Forms to make sure we have the correct address for your student. Anyone who has moved should also update their contact information in Final Forms.
Scheduling for the 2021-2022 school year will begin soon. Look for your student to bring home course selection sheets for your signature/approval.
Meetings for scheduling will be held soon. More information will be shared with you via Final Forms.
Students taking AP courses must pay their $40 deposit per exam by Wed, February 3. You may pay this fee online using EZ Pay. Please contact Mrs. Bell in Guidance to have this fee added to your fees online. Her email is cbell@readingschools.org
Interims will be sent home on Friday, February 19.
The Mandatory ACT for all Juniors will be Tuesday, February 23. This includes all Juniors at the Great Oaks campuses.
The Pre-ACT for all Sophomores will be Tuesday, February 23. Information will be shared soon.
Spring Conference day will be Thursday, February 25.
Yearbook Clearance Sale!
Previous yearbooks are for sale at a huge discount! If you are interested in purchasing a high school yearbook between 2000 & 2014 (not all years are available, but most are) they are just $5! Contact Laura Freese, Lfreese@readingschools.org, at the High School to purchase.
Reading Community City Schools
Email: kblair@readingschools.org
Website: www.readingschools.org
Location: 810 East Columbia Avenue, Reading, OH, USA
Phone: 513-842-5109
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReadingCommunityCitySchools
Twitter: @ReadingCSD