July/Aug/Sept Newsletter
by Yvette Carpenter
January 16, 2008
NEWSLETTER
RIVERTONCOMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT#14
JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2007
www.rivertonschools.org
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Tom Mulligan, Superintendent
We are very excited about the start of the 2007-2008 school year. As always, our school district is involved in a continuous process to make improvements to all aspects of our educational programs. The last two years have seen a tremendous change in our educational facilities. We are now completely up and running with each building addition and all students are being educated in an excellent environment. I must take a quick moment to again thank all of those people who contributed to our construction project over the past couple of years, specifically Bill Geiger (our Director of Building & Grounds) and Mel Allison (a former school board member who acted as our project manager). Because of their leadership, we have ended up with beautiful, well-functioning additions in all three buildings.
We also continue to make improvements to our educational programs. We will be implementing a brand new reading/vocabulary program (based on the most current research on Literacy instruction) in grades K-6. All K-6 classrooms have also been upgraded with new technology, including LCD projectors and screens, to support the new programs. Our elementary school also received a substantial grant (thanks to Mrs. Binegar) to support our fine arts program in that building. The middle school has seen the greatest growth in achievement over the past several years, and we plan to continue the course in that building. We have also completely upgraded the main computer lab with new hardware and software for the upcoming year at the middle school. The high school will see the most changes. Many of those changes come in the form of increased course requirements and new course offerings. We have also added an additional full-time math instructor, English instructor and music instructor to support our program changes in that building.
There have also been some administrative changes in the district. Bill Geiger (the former Transportation Director), is now the Director of Building and Grounds. Chris Koerwitz has been hired to be the Transportation Director and the middle school Assistant Principal. This is a new position that was created to fill a need in the transportation department and to provide administrative support for the middle school. Chris has been teaching through Sangamon Area Special Education District (SASED) in Rochester for the last several years. We are excited to have him on board. Ms. Hannah’s (our curriculum director) office has been moved to the high school, where she will concentrate a lot of her time. The board has also hired Kelly Fraase as the Assistant Principal at our elementary school. Mrs. Fraase has taught in our middle and elementary schools for the past several years.
Another substantial change in the district will be the new website. It was clear in the parent survey that we conducted late last year that parents would like to see more current, updated information on a consistent basis. Our new website will provide that service. We have contracted a company called SOCS, who is working with our staff to develop a new and significantly improved website. I think that all parents and community members who access our website will be very pleased with the improvements. We are also implementing a new database for our student management system. This will impact the parents. as Edline will no longer be used. The new on-line grading program will be accessed through Skyward (our new student information system). Parents will be able to access Skyward through our new website. More information will be coming in the future from the buildings.
The school district is also working towards implementing the Baldridge Criteria for Performance Excellence. I wrote quite a bit about this last year, and I plan to provide those parents and community members who are interested with more information through our new website once it is up and running. The Baldridge Criteria are a set of criteria that provides a researched-based framework of criteria for effective schools. The goal for a school district is to have an approach or a process in place for each of the criteria. Once the approach in place, it must be well deployed (consistently used) throughout the district, evaluated and improved annually and aligned to other criteria.
One area in the criteria is school improvement (the way in which a school district determines directions, develops goals, and implements improvement strategies). To be effective, a school district must have a consistently used (well deployed) approach/process for school improvement that is used in all three buildings. That process must be evaluated (using data) and improved each year. The process should also be aligned to other criteria (such as our employee evaluation process, our professional development approach, etc.). Please note that in the example, I bolded the key words in how we are to implement the Baldridge Criteria.
I hope everyone has a tremendous educational experience in our school district during the 2007-2008 school year. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 217. 629.6009, or at tmulligan@rivertonschools.org.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE RESIDENCY ISSUE ADDRESSED
New students registering for the 2007-2008 school year will be required to provide proof of residence. An example of this would be driver’s license, utility bill, rent receipt, etc. A new law provides for criminal penalties for attempts at fraudulent enrollment or knowingly presenting false residence information. |
NEWS FROM THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Rick Wagahoff, Athletic Director
All students wishing to participate in fall sports must have the following on file in order to participate or practice: 1) completed athletic card (includes physical date, parental consent, athletic fees, and proof of insurance); 2) athletic physical (current to last through sports season); 3) school insurance (if student does not have family insurance).
Appointments for sports physicals must be arranged individually, completed, and filed in the athletic director’s office before a student can practice or participate in any way. The sports physical is NOT adequate for the physical required for entry into 9th grade.
Students wishing to participate in athletics must also have no outstanding fees from last year and must have all registration fees paid by the first day of classes. All fall athletic fees must be paid by August 6, 2007, in order to continue participation. If you need to make payment arrangements, contact the head coach.
Sports Booster News: The Sports Booster Kick Off will be held on Saturday, August 18, at the Riverton Athletic Club, beginning at 5:00pm. Make plans to attend and support Boosters this year!
Fall sports pictures and senior athletic pictures will be taken on Thursday, August 16.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE INSUFFICIENT FUND CHECKS
Effective August 1, 1996, the Riverton CUSD #14 Board of Education put into effect Board Policy 4.45, which deals with insufficient fund checks. That policy reads as follows:
The Superintendent or a designee is responsible for collecting the maximum fee ($25.00) authorized by State law for checks written to the District which are not honored upon presentation to the respective bank or other depository institution for any reason. The Superintendent is authorized to contact the District attorney whenever necessary to collect the check amount, fee, collection costs and expenses, and interest.” “Insufficient Fund Checks: This policy will be strictly adhered to again during the 2007-2008 school year. Be aware that once an insufficient fund check has been returned from the bank, efforts will begin immediately to collect first the $25.00 NSF fee, and secondly, the total amount for which the check was written. Both amounts must be paid in cash. Additionally, after one family/household has written two insufficient fund checks, all future transactions (i.e. lunch money, fund raising efforts, book orders, etc.) will be made in cash only.
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Transportation Information
Chris Koerwitz, Director
Early Dismissal Times: School will be dismissed early on Wednesday, July 25 as follows: middle school – 9:25am; elementary school – 10:00am; high school – 10:00am.
Regular Dismissal Times: School will be dismissed regularly at the following times: middle school – 2:35pm; elementary school – 3:00pm; high school – 3:02pm.
Who is an eligible school bus rider in the Riverton School District? In order for any student to ride on a daily basis, they must fall under one of the following guidelines: 1) live 1.5 miles or more from school; 2) distance of less than 1.5 miles when conditions are such that walking constitutes a serious hazard to the safety of the pupil due to vehicular traffic.
Parents, please have your child at the bus stop 10 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2007.
Kindergarten Transportation: Kindergarten students will ride their regular schedule to and from school.
Regular Routes: Hopefully our schedule will run close to that scheduled, but many times it varies during the first week of school. Please be patient.
Special Ed Routes: Students attending special education classes in Springfield will depart from the high school on a daily basis at approximately 8:20am. Some will ride the regular high school bus to the high school; others close to Rt. 36 will be picked up at home by the bus on its way to Springfield.
Vocational Routes: Students attending CACC will depart from the high school daily at approximately 11:55am. These students will return at approximately 3:15pm, and will ride the after-school buses home.
LearningAcademy Routes: Students attending the Learning Academy at CACC will leave the high school daily at approximately 8:15am and will return at approximately 3:15pm on the vocational bus. These students will ride the after-school buses home.
Early Childhood: Morning classes will be held from 8:20am until 10:50am; afternoon classes will be held from 11:40am until 2:15pm. Transportation will be scheduled on an individual basis.
Daily Bus Routes: Bus stops during the 2007-2008 school year will be marked once again with solid black circles on yellow. Most stops will cater to the younger students; especially Kindergarten students. Most children will be required to walk a few blocks to a designated pick-up point.
Bus Discipline Rules to Follows:
• Follow directions the first time they are given.
• Keep all parts of your body, and all objects, inside the bus.
• Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
• Stay in your seat with your feet on the floor while the bus is in motion.
• No cursing, swearing, or loud talking.
• No pushing, shoving, or fighting.
• Sit in your assigned seat.
• Do not eat or drink on the bus.
• Do not litter, write on, or damage the bus in any way.
• Be on time.
• Do not bring animals on the bus (unless you have permission from the driver).
• No harmful objects (drugs, tobacco, alcohol, weapons) on the bus.
Consequences for not following the rules:
1st time student breaks rule: Bus referral; parent contacted.
2nd time student breaks rule: Bus referral; assigned seat; and/or detention.
3rd time student breaks rule: Bus referral; bus suspension.
Severe clause: Student removed from bus; no warning given.
From the Nurse’s Desk
Heather Wade, RN
Registration and School Physicals: The following is a summary of state regulations regarding health documentation needed for specific grades. Keep in mind that all documents are required by the state of Illinois and must be presented prior to September 9 2007, due to our extended school year. Students will be excluded on this date without the proper documentation of health information. (The described documentation can be given to the nurse at registration if you have it.)
Pre-K: All students entering school for the first time must submit a copy of the official birth certificate. The hospital birth certificate is not an official document and cannot be accepted by the school. An official birth certificate is issued by the state or county in which the child was born. The original birth certificate will be returned to the parent, and the school will retain a copy. All pre-k students must have a physical within one year prior to the start of school, and must show evidence of current immunizations as required by the State of Illinois Department of Public Health.
Kindergarten:All students entering Kindergarten must have a current physical within one year prior to the start of school. All immunizations must be current according to the Illinois Department of Public Health Regulations. A copy of a certified birth certificate must be on file at the school. (See above for birth certificate requirements.) Kindergarten students must have a dental exam according to state law passed in 2005. Dental and physical forms are available in the office at the elementary school.
2nd Grade: All 2nd grade students are now required to have a dental exam. Forms are available in the school office.
5th Grade: All students must have a physical within one year prior to their entrance into the 5th grade. This physical must have current immunization information as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health. All students entering the district for the first time must provide a copy of the certified birth certificate as well.
6th Grade:All students in the 6th grade are now required to have a dental exam. Forms are available in the school office.
9th Grade: All students must have a physical within one year prior to their entrance into the 9th grade. This physical must have current immunization information as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health. All students entering the district for the first time must provide a copy of the certified birth certificate as well.
Sports physicals: Sports physicals are required for all students participating in school sports activities and are good for one calendar year from the time they are done. These dates are kept on file in the Athletic Director’s secretary’s office at the high school. Sports physicals can be turned in at any school. The official copy of the physical will be kept in the student’s health file. A school physical is acceptable for sports, but a sports physical is not acceptable as a school physical (there are different requirements for each).
Medication Administration Policy:In order to be in compliance with guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education, a written order from a physician must accompany every medication before it can be given at school. This includes all over-the-counter, as well as prescription medications. A form is included with this newsletter and can be picked up from any school office.
Physicians should be familiar with these medication policies as they have been in place throughout the state since 1996. This is not intended to inconvenience any parent or deny any student necessary medication. With increasing enrollment it is necessary to limit medications given at school to ensure the safe delivery of those medications that are necessary.
We will only give medications accompanied by a written form from the ordering physician. This includes as-needed medications and over-the-counter medications.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Stacey Binegar, Principal
Getting geared up for the new school year? Once again, we are excited to start a new year at RES! I hope that the summer brought you plenty of rest and relaxation, along with a little family fun. This year, we continue to review our data, set goals and priorities and strive for continuous improvement.
As we approach the 2007-2008 school year, we encourage you to be an integral part of your child’s education by talking with them and reading to them every day! Join us in this partnership and wonderful journey of learning. We wish you much success this year!
New Secretary at RES: As the 2006-2007 year came to a close, we were sad to say goodbye to Mrs. Pugh, one of our office secretaries. We wish her the best of luck in retirement! We are excited to welcome our new secretary, Jo Ireland, to the elementary school office! It’s a tough role to fill, but we know she’ll do a great job. We’re so glad to have her! Good Luck Mrs. Ireland!
Jump Start (by Mrs. Scranton, Intersession Coordinator) :
If your child was referred by his or her classroom teacher, please be sure to help your child “leap” into the new year! Buses are available! If you plan to drive your student, please drop him/her off at the office doors no earlier than 7:50am. The doors will be locked until this time. All students need to go to the cafeteria where they will be given a snack the first day for an academy week kick-off. Each day at 8:00am, we will dismiss the students from the cafeteria with their academy week teacher. Classes will begin at 8:00am and will dismiss promptly at 10:40am. In order for your child to succeed, he or she needs to attend all four days, Monday through Thursday, July 16-19. This academy week class is just one of the many things we offer at Riverton in order to do what is best for our students! Thank you for helping your child leap into the new year!
2007-2008 Elementary School Registration: If you have NOT mailed in your child’s registration, you must attend registration on Wednesday, July 11, at the high school from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. Parents, please make every effort to come to registration on this date to review and update student information cards. This is a very important part of registration. It is imperative that we have CURRENT work and home phone numbers in case of an emergency. The book fee of $50 is to be paid at the time of registration.
Meet your Teacher "Back-to-School Barbeque": This year, we will be hosting our 6th annual "Meet Your Teacher Back-to-School Barbecue" on Tuesday, July 24, from 5:30-7:00pm at the elementary school. We will be having a barbecue and allowing all students and families the opportunity to meet your teachers and become acquainted. Food and drinks will be available with all proceeds going to PEP! Look for forthcoming information in the Riverton Register. Hope to see you there!
Elementary Elements: This year, we will continue the disbursement of our weekly newsletter. The Elementary Elements will be sent home with your child every Wednesday. Be sure to read the newsletter each week. It contains important information about current events and information regarding our students.
School Breakfast and Lunches: RivertonElementary School provides school breakfast and lunch. If you would like your child to eat any of his/her meals at school, it is necessary that they have a school meal account. The cost of breakfast is $.90, lunch is $1.20, and milk is $.30. Money for school breakfast or lunches should be put in your child’s account at the time of registration. An adequate amount of money should be paid to provide meals for a minimum of one week. There is no charging in the cafeteria. This policy is closely followed and enforced. If you are interested and feel that you may be eligible for free or reduced meals, the necessary forms will be available at registration or in the school office.
School Dates and Times: On Wednesday, July 25, school will begin for students promptly at 8:15am and dismiss at 10:00am. We expect to see all of our students here and in class by 8:15am to kick off our new school year! We can’t wait to see you! Our regular school day will be held from 8:15am until 3:00pm. This schedule will begin on Thursday, July 26.
Posting of Class Lists: Class lists for 2007-2008 will be posted for the public, following registration. Look for the lists by Friday, July 20. This will allow students and families to see their class and assigned teacher for the upcoming year.
YMCA Childcare: The YMCA will be providing before and after-school child care in our building. The before-school care begins at 7:00am and lasts until the start of the school day. The after-school care is offered from 3:00 – 6:00pm. There is a fee for having your child attend the child care program. If you are interested in before or after-school care or child care over the intersessions, please contact Kim at 494-6793.
PEP=Parent Educator Partnership: At RES, we realize the impact that teachers and parents have on each of our student's lives. PEP has allowed us to strengthen our educational partnerships and build a positive educational experience for our students. We invite you to become a part of this great organization. We welcome any parent in the Riverton School District, elementary through high school. PEP meets once a month at 6:30pm in the elementary school library. Snacks, door prizes, and daycare are provided at every meeting. At the conclusion of every PEP meeting there is a prize given to the classroom with the most PEP parents attending! Some events/items that our PEP organization is working on this year are student directories, classroom party organization, community Halloween dance, chili supper/bingo/magician night, community carnival, staff appreciation week, school volunteers, box top collection, Campbell’s soup label collection, and ink jet cartridge recycling. The dates of our other PEP meetings for the 2007-2008 school year are Thursday, August 23; Wednesday,September 26; Thursday, October 25; Wednesday, November 28; Thursday, January 31; Wednesday, February 27; Thursday, March 27; Wednesday, April 23; and Thursday, May 22. Please join us at our next meeting and help make our school an even better place to learn! If you have any questions, call Terri Grieve at 629-6001.
Student Assistance Program: The Riverton Elementary SAP Team helps identify and intervene with students who are experiencing difficulty being successful in school. Social, emotional, and other concerns often preoccupy students, making it difficult for them to learn. Our SAP encourages a climate of concern, confidentiality, and help for students within the school environment. Students are connected to existing services for academic, social or emotional needs so he/she can overcome problems being successful in school. Currently, the services available include various academic interventions, social skills support groups, anger management/self-control support groups, self-esteem support groups, divorce support groups (parent referral only), grief support groups (parent referral only), and high school/adult mentoring program. If you would like to refer your child for any of our SAP services, or should you have any questions or concerns, please call Terri Grieve, Student Assistance Coordinator, at 629-6001. The Student Assistance Program can help students overcome barriers to success!
Free GED Program: Once again, Riverton School District, in partnership with Lawrence Adult Education Center, is offering a free GED (General Educational Development) program. Classes are held in the Riverton Elementary School library. The dates for our classes will be announced at the beginning of next school year. Anyone over the age of 17 may attend. We have open enrollment, which means that participants may come to any scheduled class to enroll. If you would like to have a second chance at earning a high school diploma, open the door to new opportunities, get a better job, and earn more money, please contact Terri Grieve at 629-6001.
Kindergarten
Welcome:
Welcome to
Kindergarten!
Parents, we know the beginning of the school year is an exciting
and scary time for your child. Please remember that if your
child has anxiety the first few days of school, he/she will adjust
quickly. Please notify us if your child is having difficulty
adjusting to kindergarten.
Remember to purchase the specific brand on the supply list. We know from years of experience that these work the best. We ask that you do not label your child's school supplies, as we share them with one another. In addition, please do not send any toys with your child. This will help us greatly!
We look forward to working with you to create a positive experience for your kindergartener.
1st Grade Welcome: Welcome to 1st grade! We hope you are as excited as we are about the new school year! We are looking forward to many new adventures together. Be sure your child has all the necessary materials to start off on the right foot. Communication is important to us. Please take the time to go through your child’s book bag nightly. It will be full of useful information. We look forward to seeing you on “Meet Your Teacher Night”!
2nd Grade Welcome: Welcome to 2nd grade! We are very excited to kick off the 2007-2008 school year! This is an exciting year in your child’s education because you will see your child move toward independence as the year progresses. This year, your child will learn about fossils and dinosaurs; light and color; germs; living things; and solids, liquids, and gases in science. Social studies will revolve around communities. Students will recognize different types of communities; understand how communities change; and how to be a good citizen. We will also explore the features of our world. In math, students will progress from single digit addition and subtraction to multiple digit addition and subtraction. Students will be responsible for completing and returning math home links every day. We will continue small group guided reading and whole class shared reading activities. We encourage all students to continue reading and practice basic addition and subtraction math facts nightly. We look forward to seeing you on “Meet Your Teacher Night” at the Back-to- School BBQ!
3rd Grade Welcome: Welcome to 3rd Grade! We hope you all enjoyed your summer. To help your child prepare to enter 3rd grade, work on addition and subtraction facts. Also, begin getting into the habit of reading 15 minutes every night. We have a busy year ahead of us in which we will learn to write essays, multiply and divide, write in cursive, and write responses in reading and math. We will be excited to show what we have learned in March on the ISAT (Illinois Standardized Achievement Test). Please be sure to send all of the supplies on the 3rd grade list on the first day of school. We look forward to seeing you on “Meet Your Teacher Night” at the Back-to- School BBQ!
4th Grade Welcome: Welcome to 4th grade! We are expecting to have a fantastic year. We have many field trips planned that tie in with various areas of our curriculum. We will introduce students to our new reading series while continuing to improve reading strategies. Students’ writing skills will improve through the continuation of our Step Up to Writing curriculum. Be sure to practice your multiplication tables to better prepare for math. We will also learn many things about Illinois, our home state, and the different regions of our country. We will kick off our year in science by classifying living and non-living things. We are excited to meet our new students and hope to see you at our Back-to-School BBQ!
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Fred Lamkey, Principal
Welcome Back: We are almost ready for the school year! Teachers and students have taken time this summer for a little rest and relaxation to prepare for the new year.
Cell Phones: Parents should note the change in the handbook regarding cell phones at the middle school. Cell phones will now be allowed to be brought to school under the following circumstances.
1. No camera phones will be allowed.
2. Cell phones are to remain off at all times during school hours (7:30am–3:30pm).
3. Cell phones must be left in a student’s locker. If a student does not have a locker, the cell phone must remain in a book bag. Student may not carry phones on their person.
Any student who is in possession of or caught using a cell phone will have the cell phone confiscated. All confiscated phones will be released to parents and parents only.
New Assistant Principal at RMS:The middle school has added an Assistant Principal/Transportation Director to the administrative team for next school year. No, Mr. Geiger has not left us – his new job assignment is the Director of Buildings & Grounds. Our new Assistant Principal is Mr. Chris Koerwitz, a Wisconsin native. He comes to RMS after teaching at Rochester Jr. High. His responsibilities will be a combination of middle school discipline/supervision and district transportation. Mr. Koerwitz is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Eastern Illinois University. Please take the opportunity to introduce yourself to him.
Jump Start: We are again offering Jump Start for our students. The classes will run from 8:00-10:30am, Monday through Thursday, July 16-19. Buses are available. However, if you choose to drive your child, please drop him/her off at the front doors no earlier than 7:55am. There is no supervision at this time. Students who were referred to “Jump Start” are expected to attend all four days. Anyone else who is interested in attending “Jump Start”, can e-mail mcampbell@rivertonschools.org or call the middle school and leave a message for the guidance counselor.
Attendance Policy: I would like to ask all parents and students to pay special attention to the attendance policy in this years’ student handbook. It is our belief that the better a student’s attendance is, the better their opportunity to learn. In supporting that belief, we have made the following changes in the attendance policy.
Reporting Absences:
1. By Phone: Parents/guardians must call the school before 9:00am to report their child’s absence. (You may report absences on the school’s answering machine before 7:30am and after 3:30pm.) Parents/guardians need to report absences each day and include the following information: students’ name and grade; parents’ name; reason for absence.
If no parental notification is received, office personnel will call parents/guardians, resulting in a possible unexcused absence.
2. By Note: Parents may report an absence by sending a note to school on the next school day the child attends if you do not have access to a phone. Notes must be received in the office on the day the student returns. Notes must include the following information: students’ name and grade; parents’ name; reason for absence; date of absence.
3. By Doctor’s Note: If students are absent due to medical or dental appointments, they should return to school with a written excuse that includes the date and time of appointment and the time the student left the office. If the note excuses an absence due to illness or injury, it must include the reason for the absence and the specific dates the student is excused from school.
4. Students who are absent 10 consecutive unexcused days will be dropped from enrollment.
Appointments:Parents/guardians are encouraged to make appointments after school hours or during breaks from school. However, it may be necessary to make an appointment during the school day. Students will be excused only for the time necessary for the appointment. Students with mid-morning, late morning, or afternoon appointments should be in attendance until time to leave school for the appointment and return as soon as possible.
Excused Absences: In order for an absence to be excused, parents/guardians must make either written or verbal contact with the school office using the procedure listed above in “Reporting Absences”. Ten days of excused absences are allowed during the school year. Doctor-excused absences will not be deducted from the excused absences allowed. Unexcused absences will be deducted from the student’s ten excused absences allowed. The following are examples of excused absences:
1. Verified medical or dental appointments (written verification includes time of appointment, time of departure from medical or dental office, and doctor’s or dentist’s signature); student is excused only for the time of the appointment
2. Funeral
3. Student illness reported by parent; may not exceed 10 days per year
4. Doctor-excused illness with a list of specific days in which student is to be excused
5. Court appearance
6. School-sponsored field trips
7. Absences due to extenuating circumstances approved by building principal
Unexcused Absences: Any absence that does not follow the definition of an excused absence will be considered unexcused. Unexcused absences are also any absences over the allowed ten excused absences. Parents/guardians must notify the school of their child’s absence before the end of the day that the child returns to school. Students with unexcused absences will be allowed to complete work, but they may receive only 69% credit for work completed. Students may also be assigned Saturday suspensions for unexcused absences. The following are examples of unexcused absences:
1. Skipping school
2. Over-sleeping
3. Car trouble
4. Suspension from school
5. Parental tardiness
6. Any other reason that was not pre-excused by
an administrator
7. Any absence which exceeds the 10 allowable
days and is not excused by a doctor’s note
Truancy:Truancy is defined as an absence without valid cause for any school day or portion thereof. Habitual or chronic truancy is defined as unexcused absences that equal or exceed 10% of the prior 180 consecutive school days. Students who are truant may be referred to the Sangamon County Truancy Officer or the Truant Alternative Program. Letters will be sent to the student’s home and to the Sangamon County Regional Office of Education for students who reach five days of unexcused absences, 10 days, and 18 days.
Lunch:Money for lunches should be sent on Mondays (or the first day of the school week). An adequate amount of money should be paid to provide lunches for a minimum of one week. No charging in the cafeteria will be permitted. Please be consistent with your payment procedures.
Middle School Hours: School hours are from 7:55am to 2:35pm. Students may enter the building at 7:30am each school day. Students should not arrive at school before 7:30am unless they have received prior permission from a staff member. Students are to vacate the building by 3:05pm unless they are accompanied by a staff member.
We are focusing on chronic tardiness again this year. Please make every effort to get your student to school on time.
Extended School Day: An extended school day is provided for those students who need additional time to complete assignments, to do homework, to make up work, or for teacher assistance. Teachers may require that students stay after school for correctives, re-teaching, re-testing, or to complete assignments. After-school study hall should not be perceived as punishment, but as an opportunity for those students who need an extended school day. After-school detention for discipline reasons is separate from after-school study hall. Bus transportation is provided at 3:20pm.
School Photographs: School photographs will be taken on August 8. Make sure all students dress neatly and bring their smile.
Baseball and Softball: Baseball and softball practices will begin on July 23 and 30, respectively. Physical examinations are valid for one calendar year. Students who do not have a valid physical will not be eligible to play. An announcement will be placed in the Riverton Register regarding tryouts for these teams. Academic eligibility will be based on the grades earned during the final quarter of the previous school year. After school begins, academic eligibility will be determined by grades earned on a weekly basis for the present school year. The fee for participation in baseball and softball is $25 per student, per sport.
First Day of School: The first day of student attendance will be Wednesday, July 25. Students will be dismissed at 9:25am.
Traffic Patterns: The following pattern should be adhered to when arriving/leaving the middle school. Please observe the following:
1) The 20-mph speed limit posted on Lincoln Street
2) The 5-mph speed limit posted on school grounds
3) The one-way pattern entering in the west drive and exiting in the east drive
4) Buses have the right-of-way; the area in front of the school is for bus use only
5) Please do not stop on Lincoln Street to let students disembark from automobiles
Magazine Sale:The 8th grade magazine sale will kick off on August 19. It is very important that all 8th grade students participate in this sale, as it pays for graduation expenses, as well as the end-of-the-year reward trip.
Attendance: RMS is going to continue to focus on student attendance throughout the upcoming school year. It is critical that the entire family place a strong emphasis on the importance of attending school on a regular basis.
Dress Code: Students and parents are asked to review the policy for personal appearance. Pay special attention to the restrictions on clothing. Please be sure that your student is dressed appropriately for school.
“Meet Your Teacher Night”: RMS will hold two separate “Meet Your Teacher Nights” during the second week of school. All 5th and 6th grade parents will have an opportunity to meet their child’s teachers on Thursday, July 26, from 6:00-7:30pm. Parents of 7th and 8th grade students will meet teachers on Monday, July 30, from 6:00-7:30pm. During this evening, parents will have an opportunity to navigate their child’s schedule through the hallways and meet the teachers from each one of their student’s classrooms. The tardy bell rings sharply at 6:00pm, so don’t be late!
HIGH SCHOOL
Bill Lamkey, Principal
Registration: If you have not already done so, you may still register your child by mail. Registration information was mailed home at the end of the school year. District registration will be held on Wednesday, July 11, from 2:00–7:00pm at the high school. High School fees for full time students will remain the same as last year ($85). CACC students will pay $47.50 for RHS registration and $50.00 for CACC registration – for a total of $97.50.
New Student Registration: New students to the district may register for classes on Monday, July 23. To make an appointment with a counselor, call 629-6003, Ext. 204 or Ext. 207. All new students to the district must have a physical examination record on file with the school. Parents new to the district will need to submit proof of residence. We are asking for proof of residence to deter non-residents from enrolling their children in the high school.
Summer Construction: Most of the construction work is complete within the building. This summer will see some work in the south parking lot and some renovations in the old gym. After more than a year of construction, we should be ready to go this fall.
Freshman Preview Night: Freshman Preview Night will be held on Tuesday, July 24, beginning at 6:30 pm. Freshmen parents and students are encouraged to attend to become familiar with their new surroundings, as well as meeting their teachers for the upcoming year.
New Attendance Policy: Riverton High School has adopted a new attendance policy for the upcoming school year. Students will now have ten (10) permitted days of absences for the year (this includes vacations and parent- excused illnesses). Any absence over ten days which is not “doctor excused” will result in an unexcused absence.
All students with unexcused absences will have the opportunity to make up their work for partial credit.
Physicals:All incoming freshmen are required to have current, up-to-date physicals on file in the high school office. Athletes are also required to have yearly physicals before they are allowed to participate in any of the sports we offer at RHS. Don’t wait until the last minute!
Personnel: We have several new teachers coming on board this fall. Former RHS student and University of Illinois grad, Eric Eaton, will replace Jon Hampton in the science department. Luke Johnston will step in as our fifth language arts faculty member. Bora Jin, another University of Illinois graduate, will become our new Spanish teacher. Next year will also see a full time choral director added at the high school. We have hired Jill Stephenitch, a Millikin University music major, for that position.
Josten’s: Josten’s will be in our building on August 16 and 17 to take sophomore class ring orders. Seniors will be ordering graduation cap and gowns the week of August 13.
Athletic Fees: Last year, the Board of Education adopted a new athletic fee policy which should greatly benefit families in the district. Athletic fees now have a $100 maximum cap per family. This means once a family has paid $100 in athletic fees during the school year, they will have no further athletic fee responsibilities for the remainder of the school year.
Underclassmen Pictures: Underclassmen pictures will be taken Tuesday, August 14. Fall sports pictures and senior athletic pictures will be taken Thursday, August 16.
Fall Athletics: Football practice will begin on Wednesday, August 8. Boys’ soccer, golf and volleyball practices will begin on Monday, August 13. Check the Riverton Register as school approaches for more information.
The Sports Boosters will host their annual “Kick Off” on Saturday, August 18, beginning at 5:00pm at the RAC Club. A football scrimmage will follow.
Test Dates: The following is a list of tests available to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors:
|
TEST NAME |
TEST DATE |
COST |
STUDENTS INVOLVED |
|
Consumer Ed Proficiency Test |
Tues, Sept 25 |
N/A |
Sophomores Juniors Seniors |
|
PLAN |
Thur, Nov 15 |
N/A |
All Sophomores |
|
PSAT |
Wed, Oct 17 |
$13 |
College-Bound Juniors
|
|
ACT |
Sat, Sept 15 Sat, Oct 27* Sat, Dec 8 Sat, Feb 9* Sat, Apr 12 Sat, June 14 |
$30
Plus Writing $44.50 |
College-Bound Juniors Seniors |
* The ACT is given at Riverton High School on these dates.
Guidance Office: Classes are split within the Guidance Office. Mrs. Penk works with Juniors and Seniors; Mrs. Sturdy works with Freshmen and Sophomores. Should you have concerns or questions, please contact our office at 629-6003. You can reach Nancy Penk at Ext. 207, npenk@rivertonschools.org or Tamara Sturdy at Ext. 204, tsturday@rivertonschools.org.
New Graduation Requirements: There have been new graduation requirements approved and effective immediately for all classes except the 2008 graduating seniors. Please make a note of those requirements listed below:
Courses and Credits Needed for Graduation
Language Arts................................................3 credits, 4 credits
(2009 graduates)
Speech..............................................................1/2 credit
Science..............................................................2 credits
Mathematics...................................................2 credits, 3 credits
(2009 graduates)
Applied Mathematics....................................1/4 credit
U.S.History....................................................1 credit
Government.....................................................1/2 credit
World History................................................1/2 credit
Social Science Elective................................1/2 credit
Consumer Ed or Economics..........................1/2 credit
Health...............................................................1/2 credit
Foreign Language, Art, Band, Chorus,
or Humanities....................................1 credit
Technology........................................................1/2 credit
Junior Seminar................................................1/2 credit
Additionally, each student must take and pass P.E. each semester while attending RHS unless the student has a medical excuse from a doctor or receives a state waiver. Medical excuses for P.E. must be submitted each year to the counselor. Also, each student must pass a test on the Federal and Illinois constitution and flag code.