Student Success Hour

Student Success Hour is from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. daily. 

During this time, students will need to practice Habit 2: Begin with the

Dr. Cleckley preparing for Day 1 in Studio 618.

End in Mind. A successful school day begins with making a plan and preparing. During Student Success Hour, students should prepare themselves for school by doing the following:

• Getting dressed and eating a healthy breakfast.
• Preparing a workspace free from distractions (no toys, t.v., pets, etc.).
• Organizing supplies and learning support materials.
• Ensuring their Chromebook is charged.
• Taking a restroom break before logging on.
• Joining Google Classroom by 8:55 a.m. to view WING-TV, which we will broadcast live at 9:00 a.m. daily.

Tips:

• Use this Daily Schedule Template to help your child see when they will join their teacher for online learning. Print and post to the refrigerator for easy access.

It is important to note that teachers will be modeling the same Habit, as they plan and prepare for virtual learning each day from 8:00-9:00 a.m. 

Day 1 of virtual learning has been successful in spite of minor internet disruptions. Teachers were excited to see their students, and students was happy to see familiar faces. RTE looks forward to another year of successful teaching and learning!

School Hours

 

SCHOOL HOURS for Phase 1 of eLearning

Instructional Time:

Beginning August 31st, daily instruction begins at 9:0 0 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m.  WING-TV will air LIVE at 9:00 a.m. school wide to provide students and families with daily highlights and other important information. Class community meetings will take place immediately following WING-TV until 9:30 a.m. Individual classroom instructional schedules will be staggered from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. 

Teacher Office Hours: 

• Monday: during Related Arts blocks) 
• Tuesday-Friday: from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

As a reminder, parents may contact teachers via email to schedule conferences.

Front Office Hours:

• Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you need to visit the front office in person, please remember to take the necessary safety precautions:

1. Stay at home if you are not feeling well.
2. Face coverings are required.
3. Maintain 6 feet of space between yourself and others (2 people maximum in the main office).
4. Wash/ sanitize your hands upon often. 

Note: The instructional schedule and teacher office hours may be revised when we transition to Phase 2/ Phase 3.

RTE Control Tower Preparing for Takeoff!

 

The RTE Flight Crew has been working hard to get everything ready for a sensational takeoff into this new school year!

Chromebook & School Supplies Pick Up

RTE staff have been busy preparing student learning materials needed for our first day of school and beyond! All parents will need to pick up student Chromebooks and/ or school supplies on Wednesday, August 26th between 2 PM - 5 PM.

Location:

• Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade materials can be picked up at the front of the school (follow the signs).
• 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade materials can be picked up in the back of the school (bus loop).
• Note: Families with students in lower and upper grades will need to go through both lines to receive materials.

Chromebooks:

• All students in Kindergarten through 5th grade will be issued a Chromebook for eLearning.
• Returning RTE students will continue to use devices issued in March.
• Kindergarten, 1st grade, and students new to RTE will receive devices.
• All students will be issued a tech backpack for their Chromebooks.
• Tech backpacks include padded compartments for safe device storage and transport. Do not store devices in other book bags you may have.
• Students will keep and continue to use these backpacks throughout their elementary school progression.

School Supplies:

• Grade level teachers have prepared various resources students will need. These materials will be different in every grade. These may include: copied materials, binders, other organizational tools, "worktexts" (paperback textbooks). 
• Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students will all receive small white boards. These should also stay in the tech backpacks (or student workspace) for daily use during eLearning experiences.
• School supplies you bought on the school supply list should be stored at home, and used as directed by the teacher.

AVID Elementary teaches students the importance of organization for supporting student success. Teachers have intentionally planned for the use of all of these supplies, and will design their lessons around them. You can help by storing these materials in your child's tech backpack (or home workspace) for easy access during daily eLearning experiences. Teachers will guide students in use as needed.

We look forward to a successful start of the new school year on August 31st!

Student Handbook Snippets - Parent Teacher Conferences

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES 

Regular conferences between parents and teachers provide an opportunity to discuss details about your child's school experience, which cannot always be conveyed through report card grades. Regular contact between the home and school will help each child see that parents and teachers care about their progress and success. Conferences may be requested by either the teacher or the parent, in order to share knowledge about the child and gain a better understanding of his/her needs and interests. Conferences provide a perfect opportunity for adults to use Habit 5 – Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood (listen before you talk).  

Please note:

• All parent-teacher conferences must be scheduled in order to avoid conflicting with instructional time.
• Drop-in conferences or visits are not permitted, either before, during, or after school hours. 
• Parents wishing to request a conference should contact their child’s teacher via email or telephone. 
• Always allow up to 48 hours (or two school days) for a response from any correspondence. If you need further assistance, you may also call the school at 691-8676. 
• Due to District and social distancing protocols, conferences may be held virtually as needed. 

Student Handbook Snippets - AVID Elementary at RTE

AVID Elementary at RTE

AVID stands for Advancement via Individual Determination. At RTE, we teach our Kindergarten through 5th grade students that no matter where they are in their educational journey, they can make progress based on their personal best effort. This is what we call "growth mindset."  AVID Elementary is an evidence-based program that teaches students strategies, that (if used consistently) can help them to develop habits that will support their school success.

Key components of the AVID Elementary program implementation at RTE includes:

• Student Success Skills – encompassing communication skills (e.g. listening, speaking, writing), self-advocacy skills, and study skills.
• Organizational Skills – both mental and physical; students are given organizational tools, as well as time management, goal-setting, and note-taking strategies.
• WICOR Lessons and L-WICOR Lessons – emphasize instruction on writing to learn, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading to learn in all content areas.
• Partnerships – among students, classrooms, grade levels, schools, feeder patterns, families and communities.

During the 2020-21 school year, RTE will continue its focus on increasing WICOR strategies used during instruction and creating opportunities for students to collaborate using technology during remote learning experiences. To achieve this, teachers will engage in ongoing professional development focused on AVID and eLearning instructional practices.

Student Handbook Snippets - Parent Involvement and SIC

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL

The School Improvement Council (SIC) is the liaison between the school and community. Its purpose is to gather community input and assist in school improvement. 

The Round Top SIC consists of:  

1) Four parents of students in the school, elected by the parents of the students enrolled in the school; 2) Three teachers; 3) and Three representatives appointed by the principal. In addition, the previous SIC Chairperson, Principal, Assistant Principals, and PTO President become ex-officio members. The school, home and community must cooperate to provide an environment that supports the optimal physical, emotional, social and academic development of each student at Round Top Elementary. 

Elections for SIC openings are typically held in September. 

                                                                PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

The PTO seeks to promote the welfare of children in the home, school and community.  By building a relationship between the home and school, the Round Top Elementary PTO encourages parents/guardians and teachers to collaborate in educating every child.  Any parent or guardian with a child attending RTE, teachers, and staff are automatically members of PTO. We encourage all parents to take an active role in the PTO and welcome all volunteer efforts. If you are interested in volunteering or helping with a particular event/activity, please forward your name and number to the PTO. There is a SLED check form completed on each individual signing up as a volunteer.  Email rtepto@gmail.com or call 803-691-8676 ext. 3026. Please join our PTO and support our school efforts!

An Interview with Assistant Principal Clarissa Bennett on eLearning Academics and Schedules

This interview goes in depth on the scheduling process and some of what to expect from this version of eLearning. Assistant Principal Clarissa Bennett talks about how RTE is working to make this experience the best for everyone.

Scheduling and Academics Video Link

Registration & Parent Portal Accounts

Parent Portal Accounts

Parent Portal accounts are created when students enroll in any Richland 2 school, and these accounts remain active until they move or graduate. Parent Portal allows parents to complete annual registration, pay school/ lunch fees, access class schedules, and view grades as often as needed.

New parents will receive an email from our school registrar (Shirley Mastromichalis) with the Parent Portal account username and password by Friday, August 21st at 5 PM.

Returning parents should login to Parent Portal to complete required annual registration and view homeroom assignments by Wednesday, August 26th.

TIPS: You can set up email notifications to send you weekly progress reports via email AND you can download the Parent Portal app onto your Apple or Android smart phone!

Registration

Returning students are required to complete annual registration, located on your Parent Portal account. Once logged in, scroll down and click "Annual Registration Update and Verification" in the toolbar on the left side of the page. After completing the information update, you will be asked to click "Submit" two different times. You have successfully completed annual registration if you see "Submission Confirmation" when you login and click this link pictured to the right.

All students need to submit Proof of Residence after completing initial or annual registration. New students need to provide 3  Proofs of Residence; returning students need to provide 1 Proof of Residence.

Please bring/ send the following original documents to the front office:

• Cable bill
• Water/ Sewage Bill
• Electric Bill
• Settlement statement for a house closing (2 utility bills need to be provided within 30 days)

To ensure a smooth start to the new school year, please complete these tasks by Monday, August 24th.  Thank you!

Update w/ Principal Jeaneen Tucker

We covered a wide range of topics in an interview with Principal Jeaneen Tucker. You will find information on teacher assignments, district and school decision making, behind the scenes preparation, health/safety information, and contact information going forward. Tomorrow will be a video from Assistant Principal Clarissa Bennett that will go into more depth on the schedule and what the eLearning experience will look like. 

Click Here for RTE Youtube Channel Link

Student Handbook Snippets - The Leader in Me at RTE

THE LEADER IN ME – 7 HABITS

RTE’s faculty and staff are certified in Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and have participated in professional development to explore the philosophy and framework of the 7 Habits.  We believe that by demonstrating these habits in our personal and professional lives, students will observe, learn and emulate these skills themselves. Over time, this process will teach students specific leadership skills that will help them create their own future successes in school and life.  

The organization of the 7 Habits and overlying theme are:  

Student Handbook Snippets - Instructional Program

OVERVIEW OF RTE's INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM

RTE serves students in the Richland School District Two Child Development Program and school-age children in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. Homeroom communities consist of heterogeneous, self-contained classes in Kindergarten through 5th Grade. 

The instructional staff and administration at RTE implement evidence-based teaching practices, emphasizing brain-based learning and evidence based instructional strategies. 

Teachers design their yearly instruction around central themes that include language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health and safety, LIFESKILLS, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Kids (The Leader in Me), and AVID Elementary (Advancement via Individual Determination). 

Teachers will implement activities that reach all of the multiple-intelligences your child may possess: bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, spatial, intra-personal, inter-personal, linguistic, and naturalist. 

Students participate in weekly learning experiences in art, music, physical education, technology, dance, and multi-media. RTE creates an integrated approach in which curriculum connections become more meaningful for students. 

“Being there experiences” (field trips) are a part of the hands-on learning process that is vital to the whole child. All students will participate in these experiences within and beyond our school walls.  

Emphasis is placed on seeking and using information to solve relevant problems across all curriculum areas. Hands-on learning, discovery learning and creative problem solving are all vital to a quality education that prepares our students for the 21st century and for life-long learning.

Student success skills and collaboration are emphasized at every grade level, and will be an area of focus to enhance remote learning experiences.  

Video: Leap Day Reminders!

Leap Day Reminder Video Link

 

End of Summer Countdown - Stay Connected!

Summer has flown by - August is nearly halfway through! Thus begins the official 'countdown' to the end of summer...and our first day of school! Throughout the summer, the RTE Control Tower (our administrative team and front office staff) have worked diligently each day to prepare for the arrival of our teachers on August 24th, and our students on August 31st. 

Here are some resources you can access for all future school communication:

• Website for general information about our school
• School Calendar for important dates & events. You can click & copy events to your calendar!
• Flight Status Blog for announcements and updates. Subscribe to receive automatic emails.
• Twitter to see 'what's happening' around campus and in Richland 2
• Follow Mrs. Bennett & Mr. Schirmer on Twitter to learn more about your Assistant Principals.

Remember, the best way to prepare for a successful school year is to Be Proactive - bookmark and check these resources daily to view regular updates from RTE.

We can't wait to greet all of our Aviators on August 31st!

School Supply List

Download the 2020-21 School Supply List to get ready for the new school year! 

R2 Learning Model Selection

If you have not responded already to the Richland 2 learning model selection, please be sure to complete the online selection by August 7, 2020. Access the Richland 2 web site for more information about the Reopening Schools Plan and Learning Models. 

Updated Calendar for the 2020-2021 School Year

Be sure to view the updated 2020-2021 school year calendar.

Welcome RTE's new speech language pathologist Ashley Paton

Welcome new 3rd grade teachers Hannah Cummings and Alexis Knowlin

Welcome RTE's Reading Coach Jordan Goff

Welcome new 1st grade teacher Renee Atkinson