This week on YouTube

Watch videos about Joseph Keels Market Place Program, Westwood High School student artist Ija Charles, Retiree Appreciation and Retiree Luncheon.

This week on Flickr

Click the picture to visit our photostream and see pictures from: Bethel-Hanberry Elementary African American Read-In, A Day in the Life of Spring Valley High School's Kloo Hansen, Lake Carolina Elementary Upper family fun night, North Springs Elementary Black History Month activities, Ridge View High School's hearts day, Kelly Mill Middle February Character Awards and MORE!

School Board meeting canceled and two-hour delay for schools Wednesday

In response to a winter weather advisory that warns of the potential for dangerous travel conditions tonight and in the morning, the regularly scheduled school board meeting for Tuesday, February 24 has been canceled and Richland School District Two will operate on a two-hour delay for students and employees on Wednesday, February 25.

A two-hour delay means middle schools will start at 9:30 a.m., elementary schools will start at 10 a.m. and high schools will start at 10:30 a.m.

District officials will continue to monitor weather conditions with the assistance of Richland County Emergency Preparedness. The district will keep parents, students and staff informed by using the district’s Blackboard Connect system to call with emergency and other messages.

Parents can also get information about school cancellations and delays by checking this website, watching R2TV (the district’s cable access channel on Time Warner) and staying tuned to local media reports for updates.

A Day in the Life of Spring Valley High School's Kloo Hansen on February 25, 2015

Meet Kloo Hansen, a social studies teacher at Spring Valley High School since 2008. Ms. Hansen teaches World Geography, AP Psychology and AP Human Geography. She is an innovative teacher who likes to incorporate new technology and concepts into her classroom. Her style of teaching is ever-evolving, creative and engaging. She likes to present her students real world understandings of the subjects she teaches, bringing in relevant topics and activities for her classes. Students would describe Mrs. Hansen as "energetic," "respectful," and "passionate."

In addition to serving her students with the highest quality education, Ms. Hansen endeavors to support her professional colleagues. She has helped plan, organize, and implement professional learning opportunities for teachers at her school and in the district. Most recently, she has served as the lead teacher for the Blended Learning Project sponsored by the district, and facilitates teachers integrating technology in their classrooms. Like us and get a peek inside A Day In The Life of Kloo Hansen on Wednesday, February 25, 2015." #ADITL

Schools on a two-hour delay Tuesday, February 24, 2015

In response to a winter weather advisory that warns of the potential for dangerous travel conditions in the morning, Richland School District Two will operate on a two-hour delay for students and employees.

 

District officials will continue to monitor weather conditions with the assistance of Richland County Emergency Preparedness. The district will keep parents, students and staff informed by using the district’s Blackboard Connect system to call with emergency and other messages.

 

Parents can also get information about school cancellations and delays by checking this website, watching R2TV (the district’s cable access channel on Time Warner) and staying tuned to local media reports for updates.

School Board meeting Tuesday

The Richland Two School Board will convene for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 24 2015, at Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary School, located at 225 N. Brickyard Rd, 29223.

The Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. and immediately move into executive session. The public session begins at 7 p.m.

View the agenda.

For more information, please contact jburke@richland2.org or iabdussaboor@richland2.org.

This week on Flickr!

Tax preparation at the Rogers Center, winter sports senior night,  love is kindness, Miss Ridge View Pageant more! Click the image to visit our Flickr photostream.

This week on YouTube!

Richland Two Military Families, National Signing Day 2015, Richland Northeast High's Valentines for Vets, Albert Rudnitsky Visits schools, Muller Road Black History Celebration, Sandlapper Elementary School Clean Water Project, and Bridge Creek Elementary School Read In.

A Day in the Life of Dea Jones, SIDI Magnet Lead Teacher

Being Lead Teacher of a magnet program equals very busy days. Dea Jones, Lead Teacher of the STEM Institute of Design and Innovation (SIDI) magnet at Summit Parkway Middle School began Wednesday, February 11, helping students print projects in the media center before school. Soon, the bell was ringing and Ms. Jones was in place for morning duty in the hall. Finally, she headed to her office to answer emails before her first magnet interview.

Students who apply to middle school magnet programs during the Choice application period each January also go through an interview. SIDI interviewees are asked to bring an "artifact," answer six short questions and complete a writing exercise. SIDI is a magnet program focused on science, technology, engineering, and math education that provides students the opportunity to explore various science and math strands from an engineering and technology standpoint.

The first student interviewee proudly displayed her artifacts, a small star and scarf she had knitted. She said she brought them because they took time and skill to create.

By the time Ms. Jones arrived in her first class, co-taught with Mr. Hagerty, students were already working on their daily STEM. The STEM is a problem to reinforce the concepts they've recently learned. As the class finished its fluid-powered invention lab, the teachers set out materials for the next project, the building of a hydraulic arm. As students excitedly began adding supplies for the project to gallon plastic bags, Ms. Jones slipped out to attend a parent-teacher conference.

During the 45-minute break between sixth and seventh grade classes, Ms. Jones and Mr. Hagerty worked to fine-tune directions for the upcoming activity. Students were tasked with drafting designs for a Rube Goldberg Machine that will dump a bucket of ice on Summit Parkway Principal Andrew Barbone. The students arrived and quickly got to work watching videos of other Rube Goldberg machines, brainstorming ideas and sketching plans.

The school day came to a close, but Ms. Jones wasn't done yet. After wishing students a good afternoon from her post in the hallway outside her office, she headed to the conference room where twin sisters awaited their interviews for the SIDI magnet. It's all in a Day in the Life of a magnet lead teacher in Richland Two!

Below is Ms. Jones' day in photos. Visit our A Day in the Life album on Flickr to see more of  her busy day.

School Board Secretary Susan Brill's hope for our students

2nd Annual Richland Two Film Festival

Calling all future filmmakers! Click image to for guidelines, timeline more information.

February 10, 2015 School Board meeting highlights

Faculty Focus
Spring Valley High English Teacher Michelle Maxberry discussed how her English I students connected the artwork of Jacob Lawrence with "Copper Sun," a novel about a slave's journey to freedom written by Sharon Draper.

Maxberry’s students are participating in an arts initiative in partnership with Bravo Blythewood, a community arts group. This initiative blends art, literature, research and technology with prints from African American painter Jacob Lawrence’s “Great Migration” series. 

Voting Item: Eight Percent Funding
Chief Financial Officer Harry Miley presented, for second reading, an updated list of projects to be funded through Eight Percent Funds. As of June 30, 2014, the remaining debt margin available to the School District was $10,606,460. The board voted to table this item until a future board meeting.

2015–2016 Capital Improvements
2015–2016 IT Capital Expenditure Budget  

Voting Item: Bond Refunding Resolution
Chief Financial Officer Harry Miley presented for second reading a draft of the 2015 Bond Refunding Resolution that will authorize the district to pursue refunding eligible outstanding bond issues and also to issue an Eight Percent Capital Improvement Bond for 2015. The board voted to approve this resolution, which is expected to save the district $2 million.

2015 Bond Resolution

Report: Second Quarter Financial Statement
Chief Financial Officer Harry Miley presented as in formation to the board the Second Quarter Financial Statement.

Second Quarter Financial Statement

Update: Ridge View Facilities
Executive Director of Operations Jack Carter presented an update to the board on the status of ongoing facilities upgrades at Ridge View High School.

Ridge View Facilities Report

Update: R2i2
Assistant Superintendent Baron Davis presented a summary of new and ongoing projects for the Institute of Innovation. In addition to reviewing program concentrations and sample course highlights, he introduced the new R2i2 Director and Career Development Facilitator. Dr. Davis also discussed the new iOS Swift programming satellite course offered in partnership with Midlands Technical College and listed upcoming career exploration trips for students and staff.

R2i2 Update

Update: Leadership, Management & Supervision Training 
Assistant Superintendents Baron Davis and Keith Price presented information regarding new programs developed to cultivate leaders in our district. These two new programs evolved from one of the 2014–2015 district priorities—Leadership, Training and Supervision Development.

The Administrator Development Series targets new administrators, aspiring administrators and individuals interested in leadership-type positions. More than 100 employees expressed interest in the program. They meet monthly to learn about a variety of relevant topics.

The Assistant Principal Academy serves a group of assistant principals who aspire to become principals in the near future. Eleven individuals were selected from a pool of applicants to participate in the first class.
 
Planning for the next phase of Leadership, Training and Supervision Development has already begun. In the summer, individuals in their first two years of administration will participate in a series of workshops focused on essential responsibilities of district departments. The next application-based program is anticipated to begin in fall of 2015 and will focus on a group of individuals who aspire to begin their 

Leadership, Management and Supervision Training

Report: Accountability
The board received as information a report regarding the administration’s plans to address schools whose Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA) letter grade dropped from 2013 to 2014.

ESEA letter grades are reported using five performance levels (A, B, C, D, and F). One of the challenges for schools and communities aiming to make sense of ESEA ratings is the fact that ESEA letter grades are created by combining two constructs into one: growth and proficiency.

Teaching and Learning Department Accountability Report


A complete recording of each board meeting is aired on the district’s cable access channel 12 R2TV on Time Warner Cable and on demand anytime through the district’sYouTube channel.

No student deliveries on Valentines Day

Reminder: Richland Two schools and centers will not accept deliveries for students on Valentines Day. 

Early dismissal and student holiday this week

On Thursday, February 12, elementary and middle schools will operate on a half-day schedule. Elementary schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.; middle schools will dismiss at 10:45 a.m.

Friday, February 13, is a student holiday. 

Schools, centers and administrative offices will be closed on Monday, February 16 in observance of the Presidents Day holiday.

Why Dr. Cheryl Caution-Parker serves

School Board meeting Tuesday, February 10, 2015

The Richland Two School Board will convene for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, at Polo Road Elementary School, located at 1250 Polo Road, 29223. The Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. and immediately move into executive session. The public session begins at 7 p.m. See the agenda.

A Day in the Life of Coach Nussbaum

After a brief homeroom and advisory meeting , Jason Nussbuam, Westwood High School Head Athletic Trainer and Sports Medicine teacher, hurried to his classroom to prepare for the day. Most Wednesdays are late start days for high schools which means shorter classes. But "Coach Nuss" or "Nuss," as he affectionately called by his students, had a full day of activity and learning planned.

In Sports Medicine 1, he held up a stretched-out length of silly putty to demonstrate the elasticity of muscles and ligaments. Next, he blew up and popped a balloon to show how tissues respond to stress.

"A lot of our body tissues are elastic, but does that mean they can stand all the pressure we want to put on them?" he asked. "If we stretch them too far we get tears."

As he deftly walked the class through applying compression wraps to wrists, ankles and knees, he quizzed students. "What is the position of function for the ankle?" "Anybody know how to check for circulation in the fingers and toes?"

Before joining the Richland Two family three years ago, Coach Nuss spent several years as a civilian contractor at Fort Jackson where he took care of 1,300 new Basic Combat Training Soldiers every 10 weeks.

During the next period, Sports Medicine 2 students learned to properly adjust and get around on crutches. Each student then tackled walking up and down the stairs on crutches. "Uninjured leg first," he repeated as students took the challenge. Next, he taught the class about blood pressure. Coach Nuss circulated around the room, as students practiced checking each other's pressure.

For the final period of the day, Coach Nuss moved to the Athletic Training room. There, he and his students prepared to support wrestling practice that afternoon. That included folding towels, filling a tub with ice and reorganizing and restocking the medicine bag. Then it was time to practice wraps for the state HOSA competition next month in Charleston. Coach Nuss watched and critiqued as students practiced on each other.

"They would take off for this," he told a student pointing at wrinkles. "Do you know how you can fix it?"  

Finally, the school day wound to a close. Students headed to the wrestling practice. He and the nine students in the after school program support all the athletic teams, and he travels with the football team. Although, thanks to a partnership with Moore Center for Orthopedics, it was one of Coach Nuss's early days, not that he minds.

"Knowing that each day I have the opportunity to influence the leaders of our future makes the long days worthwhile!" he said.

Below is Coach Nuss's day in photos. Visit our A Day in the Life album on Flickr to see more of Coach's day.

School Board member Dr. Monica Elkins-Johnson's hope for our students