Monthly News and Notes
August 2023
District Report
Mr. David Rombach, Superintendent
Return to School
- Parents can visit the school on Monday evening August 21 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- School begins on Wednesday, August 23 at 7:55 a.m.
Safety Update
- Officer Morris has officially begun and is completing orientation sessions this week. Check out his introduction letter in the 23-24 folder on the website.
- All of the on duty Seneca County Sheriff’s deputies and staff have been in the building throughout the past couple of weeks taking a tour of the facility.
Athletic Passes
- Anyone wanting athletic passes for the upcoming school year can contact Athletic Director Jamie Lininger.
- 11 game high school pass - $60.00
- 9 game junior high pass - $35.00
- All Sports Pass - $110.00
- Student/Senior Pass - $70.00 .
District Accomplishments from 22-23 include:
- Academics
- Elementary staff trained for the dyslexia requirements
- Speech - Intervention process implemented
- Elementary staff trained for the phonics program requirements
- Updated careers courses for grades 7-10
- Technology
- Promethean PD and implementation into additional classrooms
- Continued Chromebook rotation implementation
- Updated sound systems in the JH and HS
- Updated digital radios
- Financial
- In house professional development continues
- Dyslexia, Phonics, JH / HS Leadership Requirements
- Elimination of gifted services from the NCOESC
- OFCC grants of over $172,000.00
- Mental Health and Safety grants of over $14,500.00
- Tech grant for $20,000.00
- Federal and State Grants for Staffing and PD for $130,000.00
- Cafeteria Profits this year of over $25,000.00
- Safety and Security - Grant Funded
- Window Film
- Access Doors
- Safety Buttons in Classrooms
- Digital Radios
- PA Systems
- Clinical Counselor
- Additional Cameras
- Threat Assessment Software
- Handle with Care Professional Development
- Trauma Informed Care Professional Development
- Hired Student Resource Officer
- Maintenance
- Refinish HS gym floor
- Track Storage building
- Boiler Replacement
District Goals for 23-24 include:
- Continued growth in open enrollment and outreach to preschool families
- Increased branding and consistent communication to the community - Updating board on monthly topics
- Provide focus-based groups on set topics with key stakeholders - Coffee with Supt. @ local business - dates and times along with the location will be coming in September.
- Refinement of our Career Based Instruction and Social Emotional Programming along with participation in the Business Advisory Council’s Career Based Learning Path.
- Refinement of Literacy Based Instruction and Best Practices in Instruction
High School / Middle School
Mrs. Valerie Zeno, Principal
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Curriculum & Instruction
Our MS/HS teacher work days are Monday, August 21st and Tuesday, August 22nd. They will have a focus on collaboration, expectations, discipline procedures, classroom instruction and our new advisory and PBIS structures . We will start our meeting with the elementary teachers to emphasize teamwork.
Junior Leadership will be introduced to our middle school to replace the existing SEAL program. This will model the high school leadership program,but will be run by staff to introduce the concepts so that students can take what they learned in SAIL, and work to become leaders in the school. Time is now included during the 5th period where teachers will provide intervention and remediation to students needing additional instruction and all students will participate in leadership and life skill activities.
This year the math curriculum will be reviewed for an update and we are nearing the end of the life cycle of our science textbooks so different options will be considered.
Student Activities
Jacket Leadership has been very busy this summer planning new initiatives and working on re-introducing traditions. Tailgates for each sport, Movie Night and a new format for morning and afternoon announcements are some of the things they have planned this semester.
Back to school looks much different with a focus on relationships, team building and school culture. The atmosphere will be festive with the feel of a new year celebration. Staff will chalk the walks to welcome students, photo backdrops, giveaways and locker decorations for each student will help set the tone for the school year. Students in 6-12 will spend a day at Camp Glen completing leadership and team building activities and will participate in back to school rallies and will also complete leadership and team building activities in each of their class periods. Activities have been provided to teachers to assist with a smooth transition.
Family / Community Events
A new student/family open house was held Monday, August 14th with each family receiving a welcome packet, parent and student involvement opportunities and important school information.
Open House and schedule pick up will be Monday, August 21st and a meeting for 6th grade families has been added to the agenda to assist students with the transition to middle school.
Our band and athletic teams are hard at work preparing for the start to Fall sports and Jacket Leadership has some great plans to include families and the community at these events.
2023-24 School Year Goals
- Build relationships with the staff and listen and learn what makes New Riegel a great school district.
- Successfully implement PBIS in the middle school with the new junior leadership program.
- Utilize advisory roles and times in the high school to increase student and staff engagement.
- Begin developing career readiness opportunities for high school students to increase their preparedness for the world after high school.
Elementary School
Ms. Jamie Barrows, Principal
Curriculum & Instruction
2022/23 Celebrations
*K-3 Literacy: K-3 students are measured on or off track each fall based on the NWEA ELA. The goal is to reduce ‘at risk’ readers. Our staff and students were very successful in ELA and earned an A on the report card. However, due to having less than 5% off track in Kindergarten, New Riegel will not be rated on the report card in this area.
*New Riegel Elementary students in 3rd - 5th scored above the state average in all areas of the Ohio State Tests (OST) including ELA, Math, and Science.
*100% of 3rd graders met promotion and proficiency on the 3rd grade ELA OST.
*Positive Behavior Supports show success as Office Referrals have decreased during 22/23.
*Intervention supports are successful and shown by reduction in Special Education referrals.
*Gifted instruction continues to increase for qualified students.
2023/24 Elementary Goals:
*Continue positive behavior supports, intervention supports and gifted instruction.
*Increase Foundational Reading Skills instruction and intervention.
*Implement Phonics Curriculum with Fidelity K-3 (RGR)
*Continue to increase math rigor throughout the school year.
*Initiate SAIL initiatives:
*Initiate New SAIL Teacher Teams and Initiatives
*Increase community involvement
*Add more leadership opportunities for students
*Continue staff support /and collaboration in academics, leadership and culture.
Summer PD: *K-3 teachers and intervention teachers completed online dyslexia training as well as a 6 hour online course to learn about our new adopted word study curriculum, “Really Great Reading”. All teachers have the curriculum materials and are ready for implementation.
Student Activities
Summer Learning Rewards: Students will turn in any summer learning during open house and the 1st week of school. We will celebrate back to school with a glow dance party with additional rewards for students to recognize continued learning over the summer. Prizes will include goody bags and a swimming opportunity at the YMCA.
Family / Community Events
*Open House: Families will be welcomed back to school during Open House on Aug 21, 2023. Families will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the new classroom and teacher as well drop off supplies and turn in Summer Learning Packets. This year we are offering music, photo booth, Kona Ice, games, face painting and more on the Elementary playground.