Panther Tales
October 4, 2019
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Tales from the Principal...
Ridgeview Families:
Now a full two months into the school year, it’s time for the second edition of “Tales from the Principal,” a message on the first Friday of the month sharing brief, essential information. I hope this helps us build better and better partnerships between you, our family partners, and Ridgeview.
This past month we continued to find daily, memorable ways to show our students that #RelationshipsMatter. In September we focused on positive behaviors in our students that we wanted to see repeated – traits aligned to being an IB school such as responsibility, organization, attitude, and respect. Our students received PBIS points through an application on their iPads, and our teachers nominated students of the week and students of the month who were upstanding students. This past week I treated a group of 12 of our Panthers of the Month to lunch, and we sat down for half an hour and chatted about their Ridgeview experience and their favorite teachers. I heard that they each have many teachers who have shown them special attention, have offered them opportunities to improve their performance, and who – as one student said – are especially “engaged with us while we learn and who aren’t just giving us busy work” (that, by the way, from a sixth grader!). Please know that #RelationshipsMatter at Ridgeview, and this will remain a focus for us the entire year.
As the administrative team has visited classrooms in our normal walk-throughs of the building, we are incredibly proud to see positive things happening in classrooms: students are engaged in the classroom activities and are attentive and responsive to teachers, teachers have planned high-level activities (our focus across the school is on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading), and teachers are digging in to specific student needs while they personalize learning. Moreover, all of our students have completed diagnostic iReady assessments in ELA and mathematics, and our teachers are using that as an additional tool to target their instruction.
Many of our students participated in some of our service learning opportunities this past month. Our global service club, along with many parent volunteers, helped us collect three overflowing bins in September full of supplies to donate to the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts, and other students represented our IB cluster at the Sandy Springs Festival where donations to make a bracelet also supported Hurricane Dorian relief. That is global mindedness!
October promises to be a busy month, so please stay abreast in Panther Tales and the calendar on our website. We have a PTA-sponsored Donut Day coming up in carpool and the bus lane on October 8th, RFF/PD days on October 10th and 11th (no school!), the fantastic annual Hispanic Heritage dinner (free!) on October 16th, IOWA assessments for 8th graders the week of October 21st, my Town Hall update meeting on October 23rd at 9:30, and Hands on Ridgeview to spruce up our grounds on October 26th. And, as Halloween nears, please remember that no food, candy, or beverages are allowed to be distributed at Ridgeview without administrative approval in advance!
Speaking of October, please join me in wishing these staff members a Happy Birthday: Ms. Buck (29), Mr. Hopkins (17), Officer Owens (25), Ms. Shively (6), Ms. Toler (29), Ms. Wyatt (14), Ms. Yancey (28). And, join me in congratulating our October Faculty Member of the month Mr. Niger Harrold, paraprofessional, and Ms. Phillips, 6th grade ELA teacher – both recognized for going above and beyond to help students achieve.
We are having an incredible year thus far, and now is the most important time to establish home habits that support your students -- I can’t encourage you enough to set a routine at home of regularly sitting with your child while logged into their Google Classroom to review their academic performance and to assist them with developing action plans for improvement.
I look forward to seeing you around Ridgeview sometime soon, and as always, thanks for your support. Happy Fall!
Opie Blackwell, Principal
Donuts will be sold in the carpool and bus lane areas.
Upcoming October School Closures for Students
On October 10th, Ridgeview has an RFF day. An RFF day is a Professional Development day for Teachers and Staff approved through our Governance Council. For parents, this means that Ridgeview students will not have school on October 10th. This day is unique to the Riverwood Cluster. Other Fulton County Schools will still have school on this day. On October 11th, all Fulton County Schools including Ridgeview have a Teacher Work Day. For parents, this means that Ridgeview students will not have school on October 11th. On October 14th, all Fulton County Schools are closed for a holiday. For parents, this means that Ridgeview students will not have school on October 14th.
Heritage Family and Staff School Dinner October 16 at 5pm - Band Concert following at 7pm
We invite our Ridgeview Families and Teachers to celebrate with a dinner in our school cafeteria. This is a fantastic opportunity for sharing with our teachers, parents and students and building family engagement connections with our schools !
Enjoy a fabulous meal prepared by our parents!
Parents can earn volunteer hours by:
Providing a meal enough for 20 guests (5 volunteer hours)
Decorating, serving, or clean up (5 volunteer hours)
Thank you for your participation!!
For more information, please contact Sara Good at 470-254-8589 or GoodS@fultonschools.org
Click HERE To View Flyer Containing Volunteer Information (English & Spanish)
Hispanic Heritage Events - Week of October 15th
Wednesday, October 16 - Hispanic Heritage Family & Staff Dinner (see above)
Thursday, October 17- Soccer Jersey Day
Students can wear a soccer jersey and jeans, at no cost, to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Friday, October 18- Color War
Students and faculty wear grade-level color shirts [Do NOT have to be Ridgeview shirts] to represent the different areas of Spanish-speaking countries
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6th Grade: Green
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7th Grade: Blue
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8th Grade: Red
Friday, October 18 - Hispanic Heritage Assembly - 8:55-10:45am - Families welcome! RCMS Gym
Office Music – Calling Your Unwanted CDs
Did you know that at Ridgeview we play soft “office type” music during the day through the hallways and front office spaces? We think it helps to create an upbeat, positive environment – and our students and staff love it. We would love to add some school-appropriate CDs to our collection as our “old” system only plays CDs through the intercom machine. If you have a CD or two that you’d love to donate, please bring it by the front office. We’re specifically looking for school-appropriate jazz, classical, soft instrumentals, soft vocals and these types of music.
Food Policy Reminder As We Approach The Holidays
As we approach the upcoming holidays, candy, deserts, baked goods (store bought/homemade), or other edible items are not to be sold or distributed during school hours unless approved in advance by the administration. Students who do not adhere to this expectation are subject to disciplinary action for insubordination and all food items will be confiscated. Please discuss this expectation and possible consequences with your student(s).
This measure will help us maintain a safe environment for all students. You can help us protect your student(s) by requesting that they not eat anything given to them by another person, anything that they have not brought from your home or anything not in its original sealed package. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping all of our students safe at school!
Mr. Blackwell
Fulton County Schools Magnet Showcase - Saturday, October 26
Banneker HS | North Springs HS | Northview HS
Riverwood HS | Tri Cities HS | Westlake HS
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS MAGNET SHOWCASE
EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES
Join our faculty and staff at our Magnet Showcase on Oct. 26th where students, parents, and guardians can meet representatives from our Magnet Schools. Learn about the various programs, student life, and how to apply.
SATURDAY, OCT. 26 10AM-1PM
3101 Cobb Pkwy SE Suite 124
Atlanta, 30339
Click HERE For Flyer
Parent Family Engagement Plan (PFEP) FY20
RCMS Parents: The Parent Family Engagement Plan (PFEP) describes the different ways that Ridgeview will support family engagement and how parents can help plan and participate in activities and events to promote student learning at school and at home.
Please click the appropriate link to view the PFEP FY20 English | Spanish
School Family Compact Information
Our School Family Compact describes important school-parent-student partnerships and actions that we all take together to support the best outcomes for students. We ask each family to review the compact and to return the signature page only to your child’s homeroom teacher. Please help us reach our goal of 100% compact completion. If you have questions please contact Mrs. Good.
Click HERE to view an electronic version of the School Family Compact.
Click HERE to view an electronic version of the School Family Compact Signature page.
Ms. Good
Title I Parent Liaison
Riverwood Runs For A Reason - Saturday, Nov. 9 - 8 am
4th annual 5K raising money for international service trip and Habitat for Humanity for the Community Service Club at Riverwood.
Sign up: www.tinyurl.com/rr4ar
Please note: Prices will increase by $5 for everyone the day of the the race.
Registration begins at 7 am. Race begins at 8 am.
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. PTA members receive information on volunteer opportunities throughout the school year.
Follow the PTA on Facebook - @RidgeviewCMSPTA
View our new 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. By enhancing the school’s sports and music programs, the RCS Foundation gives students the needed balance between academics, creativity, and physical growth.
To join, please click HERE.
NEXT MEETING: October 9 - 7:45 AM
SGC (School Governance Council) Corner
October 8 at 7:30 a.m. in the RCMS Media Center
Coming Soon To The View!
NEXT WEEK
Oct 8 RCMS School Governance Council Meeting - 7:30am
Oct 8 Carpool Breakfast sponsored by the PTA - 7:30am
Oct 9 RCMS Foundation Meeting - 7:45 am
Oct 10 RFF Day (No School For Students) for RCMS and Riverwood Cluster
Oct 11 Teacher Workday (No School For Students)
COMING SOON
Oct 14 Columbus Day (FCS Schools Closed)
Oct 16 Hispanic Heritage Family & Staff Dinner - 5pm
Oct 16 Band Concert - 7pm
Oct 17 Soccer Jersey Day
Oct 17 Orchestra & Chorus Concert - 7pm
Oct 18 Color War (wear your grade level color - see above)
Oct 18 Hispanic Heritage Assembly - 2pm
Oct 21-25 ITBS Testing for 8th Grade Students
Oct 21-25 Bus Driver Appreciation Week (PTA)
Oct 24 Title I Parent Education Workshop - Digital Citizenship "Internet Safety" - 10am
Oct 26 Hands on Ridgeview
Oct 28 Make-up Picture Day
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