Weekly Update
Thursday, September 2022
From the Principal's Desk
Happy Friday Eve,
Give yourselves a round of applause for making it successfully through the first few days of school. Overall, it has been a smooth start. The priority these first few days is to establish routines, procedures and expectations. We had a few bumps with the new entry and dismissal process, but it has greatly improved over the past few days.
As we head into the holiday weekend, I hope you make time between cookouts to rest and relax.
Dr. Dunn
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
September 5 - Schools Closed - Labor Day
September 7 - Staff Meeting @ 2:15
September 7 - Goal Setting Conferences Begin
September 13 - PBIS Pep Rally
September 13 - Back to School Night - Virtual
Morning Arrival and Tardy Students
Due to both schools arriving at the same time, there is a huge backup at entry. Many students are arriving late at no fault of their own. For example, one of our buses was stuck in the line for 30 minutes. For now, we will wait until 8:15 before we mark students late. Additionally, please allow students who arrive late to still have breakfast.
Daily Attendance
The attendance policy states that a family is contacted after 3 days of absence. If you have any students who have been absent 3 days, please contact the family. The truancy checklist should be utilized. At ten days, students who still have not shown, and we have not been able to contact the family, will be withdrawn. Again, accurate records are crucial.
Classroom Environment
- All bulletin boards covered and labeled (by Orientation/Sneak a Peek)
- Hallway bulletin board covered with welcome (by Orientation/Sneak a Peek)
- Based on your content area certain items should be present or identified. See the non-negotiables list for those items.
Dismissal Procedure
Please make sure your walkers are not coming to the cafeteria. Walkers are dismissed to the front of the school, when called.
Bus riders - Only dismiss students whose bus has been called. Remind students if they are outside before their bus is called, consequences will be applied. We are asking students whose class they are coming from so that we can let teachers know which students are in violation.
First Five Days - Classroom Culture
Mathematics
The first week of school is focused on setting up the classroom culture for the year and developing routines that support the development of the Standards for Mathematical Practice. Teachers will get to know their students as the students get to know themselves as math learners.
Reading - Building a Reading Community -
During the first five days of school and the first two cycles in the quarter, necessary rituals and routines for classrooms to become literacy communities are introduced. In a literacy community, students spend the majority of time reading, discussing texts, and writing in Response to Texts.
Please follow the lessons as written in the Cycle planner, in order to thoughtfully and purposefully teach the MCCR Standards, as they may differ from the sequence in the HMH Teacher’s Guide. Refer to the calendar in CIM overview for pacing guidelines.
Mr. Barksdale, Mrs. Jefferson, Ms. Daniels, Ms. Thomas, Ms. Woodall, Ms. Wade, Ms. Wilkins, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Hibbert for your support during the first annul Nalley Day. If I missed anyone, please let me know.
Ms. McCoy, Ms. Wood and Mrs. Rivers for jumping in to help with dismissal in the cafeteria on Monday.
To all the staff for your flexibility this week. With teachers out we had many staff members covering classes, I thank you.
Mrs. Kessler for taking Mrs. Green's class for the week. Thank you for making sure our young scholars had a positive first week of school.
Ms. Lassiter and Ms. Smith for holding it down in the main office and across the building.
Previous Updates
Cora L. Rice ES
Email: mickelli.dunn@pgcps.org
Website: pgcps.org/coralrice
Location: 950 Nalley Road, Hyattsville, MD, USA
Phone: (301)636-6340
Twitter: @CoraLriceES2