RMS Weekly Review 1-6

RMS Weekly Review

Volume 1 Issue 6
December 9, 2011



YEA!!!! We made it through the Title Audit without any scars. We feel our visit was quite educational.  As I was talking to my School Improvement Team (SIT), trying to lower their level of stress, I wanted them to treat this process like an evaluation.  They,  the MDE team, will look at what we are doing, tell us what we are doing well, tell us what we need to improve on, what we need to fix, and how long we have to fix them.  That did seem to help.

Overall, we have four areas that we need to “fix”:

• Our C.N.A. (Comprehensive Needs Assessment) in our School Improvement Plan
• Reform Strategies - More detail on our initiatives to improve
• Parental Involvement - We have a plan in place already, we just need to document more of what we are doing.
• Program Evaluation - I just received a “tool” from the MDE last week while I was in Lansing.  We need to modify it to work at RMS and we should be good.

On Monday, our SIT will be working with Cyndi and a consultant from WRESA to start developing a plan to “fix” our discrepancies .  My team is eager to get started.  They take great PRIDE in being on the SIT and want RMS to have an exceptional product.

This week I forced myself out of my office and into the classrooms to do some observations.  Some, which were scheduled observations, others were merely pop-ins.  It was always a refreshing feeling when you can walk into a classroom and watch the learning taking place.  We do have some exceptional teachers here at Riverside.  From the fifth grade “Trade Fair”, to Smart Board interactive lessons in pre-algebra, to body mapping in band while sight reading, we are doing great things here with our students.  I am looking forward to spending more time in the classrooms in the upcoming weeks before the break.

Things to come:
Dec 12 - Internet Safety presentation - students during the day, community 6-7p.m.

Wednesday, Dec 14 - Band Concert: Due to a problem with Riverside’s stage lights, we have to make some adjustments. Our concert will be held in the CRESTWOOD HS auditorium. The 5th, 6th, and 7th graders will perform at 6:30,  and the 8th graders and HS band will perform beginning at 7:45. There will be an intermission between the two concerts.

Dec 20th - Dinner with Santa 6-7:30 @ RMS - Fund raiser for 8th grade trip - Details soon to follow.