Raymond Central Public School
September 2019
From the Desk of Dr. Joel:
Happy September RC Nation-
Welcome back for another fantastic school year at Raymond Central Public Schools! This year we will continue our focus on providing a positive learning experience and support for all students to be successful. Our student success, whether publicly recognized or personally celebrated, is a true testament of all the great opportunities available for Raymond Central students. As opportunities continue to expand in meeting the diverse needs of students and preparing them for life after high school, I am confident Raymond Central will provide an excellent experience for all of our students to achieve and develop. What we say and do each day matters and everyone has their own important story to tell. Our theme for the 2019-2020 school year is Your Journey Matters!
What do we want Raymond Central to look like in the year 2025? We have been asking that question to parents, students, staff and community members since last spring as the Board of Education developed a five-year strategic plan for the district. The overall theme of the strategic plan is to strive to go above and beyond what we think is possible, to give our students the best opportunities to succeed in school and in their journey through life after graduation. The 2019-2020 strategic plan can be found on our updated district website under the district tab.
I am excited to share our progress in many areas that we will build upon as we live out the district mission statement, RC is committed to providing a positive, challenging learning environment which prepares each individual student to be a responsible citizen in an ever-changing society. We have completed our student device one-to-one technology plan with individual Chromebooks for students grades 3-12 and Ipad devices for students K-2. Students in grades 9-12, with parent permission, can now take their device with them to and from school.
We have added a PK-6 social-emotional curriculum, Move This World. Move This World’s social-emotional learning program has been developed to encourage, enhance and build safe and supportive learning environments. The Move This World curriculum is delivered through evidence-based, developmentally appropriate videos used to open and close instructional time. Through the video exercises, students develop social skills and strengthen emotional intelligence. To learn more about this curriculum, visit the website - MoveThisWorld.com. We have also added a mental health therapist one day per week at the Jr/Sr High School to work alongside our staff with individual and small groups of students.
The RC Foundation has been working diligently to create an ELO (Extended Learning Program) for students in grades K-5. This is a need for the district as many of our families have expressed interest in a before and after school program. The Foundation is currently looking to build a partnership with Civic Nebraska who will ensure the program is a true extending learning opportunity for students through an established curriculum, STEM activities, wellness activities, and certified staff. Overall, these outcomes and opportunities for students are a direct result of the strategic planning process used by the district and the conversations during the Vision 2025 community roundtable discussions.
As we continue into the school year, I want to remind everyone how important transparency is in keeping everyone safe and informed. If you have questions or issues, I encourage you to reach out to the person or people directly related to the situation.
I want to express a huge thank you to all of our amazing students, staff, families and community members who continue to support Raymond Central in our journey to become a better district. As Superintendent, I am dedicated to working cooperatively with you to build and sustain an education system in which ALL students have the opportunity to learn, be successful, and have fun.
Go Mustangs!
Dr. Joel, Superintendent
An Incan Adventure
To nominate your child to our program, please contact Kristine White by email. krwhite@rcentral.org
To become a mentor and make a difference in the life of a young person in our community, go to https://teammates.org/ to fill out an online application.