July 25 Staff Communicator

July 25 2016

In This Issue

Text Opt-In Campaign July 28

Videos for Required Training

Back to School Dates

All Employee Meeting, Aug. 8

Transcripts for Graduate Level Courses

STRIPES 360 Reminder: Rate Update

Fall Kindergarten Screening

Tiger Pride Tuesdays

District & Community Events

Upcoming Dates

We hope this message finds you enjoying these last few weeks before school starts! It is certainly quiet around the district without many of you and our students, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon. As a reminder, the Staff Communicator will be distributed each Thursday that we are in session, and two summer issues are also distributed. Archived copies can be found on the "Communications Department" web page.

Text Opt-In Campaign July 28: MUST REPLY "Y" TO CONT. RECEIVING TEXTS!

The Republic School District's current mass notification vendor has been purchased by a new vendor. This new vendor, SchoolMessenger, requires that before a device can receive text messages from the school an opt-in confirmation must be sent from the device.

THIS THURSDAY, JULY 28 AT APPROXIMATELY NOON a text with the following text message will be sent to all numbers that have been provided to the district by employees and our families:

Republic R-3 School District text messages. Reply Y for aprx 3 msgs/mo. Txt HELP 4info. Msg&data rates may apply. See schoolmessenger.com/tm

TO CONTINUE RECEIVING TEXT MESSAGES FROM THE REPUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU MUST REPLY "Y" TO THE MESSAGE.

Keep in mind, the district uses text messages to inform you about important information like school cancellations, upcoming events, and emergency situations. To ensure you are as informed as possible, please REPLY "Y" TO THE TEXT MESSAGE MENTIONED ABOVE (BEING SENT JULY 28 AT NOON) TO CONTINUE RECEIVEING TEXT MESSAGES FROM THE REPUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

The text will come from 68453. Each device that you'd like to receive texts must individually opt-in.

If your confirmation was received you will get a text back stating " Y ou're registered 4 SchoolMessenger notifications." If you do not receive a response, please contact your wireless device provider to have SMS messaging/premium content enabled.

Keep in mind, ONLY NUMBERS CURRENTLY ON FILE WITH THE DISTRICT will receive this opt-in message. If you do not receive this message this means your number is currently not on file with us.

Contact the office of the building in which your child attends or that you work to get your contact information updated.

To opt-out, which is highly discouraged, either do not reply at all or reply back with an "N."

Videos for Required Training

Each year we are required by the state and federal government to train all employees on specific subject matters. This year we are excited to announce that the large majority of this information will come to you in the form of video.

Teachers, administrators, paras, aides, and secretaries will be receiving an email from the district TODAY (July 25) entitled Safe Schools Training. This email will have the links to all required training videos that you must watch before August 12th . Once you watch the videos, you will sign the annual training form during your building back to school meetings the week of August 8. You will receive a reminder email each week until you watch all of the videos. There are approximately 120 minutes of video.

Employees outside of the previously mentioned employee groups will be watching these videos during your back to school meetings which are noted in the below "Back to School Dates" section.

Back to School Dates

Items in blue denote employee specific meetings/events.

Paras & instructional aides, you will be contacted by your building principals with information regarding the meetings you will need to attend for back to school.

Wednesday, July 27

Transportation Dept. meeting, 8:00-4:00 at Transportation Facility

Tuesday, August 2

New Teacher Orientation, 7:45-4:00 begin in Board Training Room at Central Office

We welcome new hires to the district on Tuesday, August 2 with breakfast at 7:45 a.m. in the Board Training Room at Central Office. If you are a Building Buddy or Designated Site Support (DSS), be watching for an email from Dr. Yonke about the time those specific meetings will be held.

Wednesday, August 3

New Teacher Orientation, 7:45-4:00 begin in Board Training Room at Central Office

Nurses meeting, 8:30-1:00 at Republic High School

Maintenance Dept. meeting, 11:00-1:00 at Transportation Facility

Thursday, August 4

Student Information Day for grades 10-12 at RHS

Sophomores: 8:30-10:00 a.m.

Juniors: 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Seniors: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Friday, August 5

SROs meeting, 11:00-1:00, Mr. Perkin's Office

5:00 p.m. elementary class lists posted

Elementary teachers, please wait until after this date to communicate with your families!

Saturday, August 6

Tiger STRIPES meeting, 8:00-12:00 at McCulloch

Monday, August 8

All Employee Meeting at RHS (breakfast & expo 7:30-8:30, meeting at 8:30) and School Improvement Day (schedule provided per building)...Paras & Aides will spend this afternoon in their assigned building.

Secretaries meeting, 12:00-2:00, Curriculum Training Room at Central Office

5:30-6:30 EC MPP class Open House

5:30-7:00 p.m Price, Schofield and Sweeny Open House

6:30-8:00 p.m. 6th Grade Open House at RMS

Tuesday, August 9

School Improvement Day (schedule provided per building)

Food Service Dept. meeting, 11:00-3:00 in Board Training Room at Central Office

5:00-6:00 p.m. RHS Freshman Orientation

5:30-7:00 p.m. Lyon and McCulloch Open House

5:30-6:15 p.m. EC morning classes Open House

6:00-7:30 p.m. RHS Open House for ALL Grades

6:30-7:15 p.m. EC afternoon classes Open House

6:30-8:00 p.m. 7th and 8th Grade Open House at RMS

Wednesday, August 10

Teacher Work Day (schedule provided per building)

SPED Paras meeting, 8:00-11:30 a.m. CPI Refresher in Curriculum Training Room at Central Office

12:30-3:00 p.m. work with cooperating teacher

Extra Duty Training, 10:00-12:00, Republic High School

Thursday, August 11

First Day of School

A full 2016-17 school year calendar can be found HERE.

All Employee Meeting, Aug. 8

We will kick-off the 2016-17 school year with our traditional all employee meeting on Monday, August 8 at Republic High School. Join us for a complementary full breakfast from 7:30-8:30 a.m. During this time frame booths from local businesses and organizations will be set up for you to visit as well. They will be showcasing the great things our community has to offer, selling merchandise and giving away items.

The all employee meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the RHS auditorium. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

SI Flex Day Reminder

As a reminder, the last opportunities for SI Flex days will be this week and next Monday . Please refer to the Summer Professional Learning Calendar on Canvas. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Yonke (debra.yonke@republicschools.org).

Individuals who do not participate in a SI Flex Day learning opportunity will have one day of pay deducted from their September paycheck.

Food Service Update

Applications are now available for free and reduced lunch rates. We encourage everyone to consider completing the application, even if you do not plan to use the benefit. A new application must be completed each year. Click HERE for the form.

Below are the 2016-17 meal prices:

ELEMENTARY
Breakfast	$ 1.15	Reduced: Free
Lunch	$ 2.30	Reduced: $ .40

SECONDARY
Breakfast	$ 1.30	Reduced: Free
MS Lunch	$ 2.50	Reduced: $ .40
HS Lunch	$ 2.50	Reduced: $ .40

ADULTS/VISITORS
Breakfast	$ 1.85
Lunch	$ 3.35

Extra Milk or Juice: $.45

School Zone Flashers to be Installed Near RHS

In partnership with the City of Republic and MODOT we are excited to announce that three school zone flashers will be installed near the high school prior to the start of the 2016-2017 school year! When flashing, the school zone flashers will require drivers to reduce their speed to 45 mph. We feel the addition of these flashers will assist in keeping our young drivers, and the entire community, safe when travelling near RHS. Below is a map with the approximate locations of the school zone flashers.

Board of Education Meeting Recap

This month's Board of Education meeting took place on July 21. After the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the agenda adopted, the consent agenda ( see details on BoardDocs) was approved. An update from MSBA was viewed as well ( click HERE to watch).

Superintendent, Chance Wistrom, provided the monthly Superintendent's Report which focused on finance and the activities that had taken place thus far to plan and prepare for the upcoming school year.

Full administrative reports can be found on BoardDocs.

The Board of Education discussed the potential impact of the RYH4K "tobacco tax" and also several policies.

The only action item that took place was the approval of an update to board policy JG-R1, Discipline Scope and Sequence 2016. (details on BoardDocs)

The next regular meeting will take place on August 18 with open session beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Transcripts for Graduate Level Courses

All teachers taking graduate level courses, toward a next higher degree to move an educational step on the salary schedule, must have an official transcript into Sheryl Blankenship at Central by August 20 per board policy GCBA-R1.

Some universities have an option of online transcripts through the National Student Clearinghouse. These transcripts are considered official since they are downloaded through a secure link from their database. Scanned transcripts from the employee are not considered official. Contact sheryl.blankenship@republicschools.org with questions.

STRIPES 360 Reminder: Rate Update

As was announced in the Spring of 2015, changes must be made to STRIPES 360 pricing rates in order to meet the needs of our growing programs. We are dedicated to being able to offer a discounted rate to our employees, but we must make adjustments to reach a fiscally responsible ratio. Over the next three years the rate will increase for employees by $20 until we reach an approximate 50% ratio between employee and community rates. Please review the below chart for more details. Thank you in advance for your support of this effort. For questions or concerns, please contact Ashlee Liska at ashlee.liska@republicschools.org.

Community Rate = $217/month

Community Reduced Lunch Rate = $162.75/month

Community Free Lunch Rate = $145.25/month

2014-2015 Employee Rate = $20/month

2015-2016 Employee Rate = $40/month

2016-2017 Employee Rate = $60/month

2017-2018 Employee Rate = $80/month

2018-2019 Employee Rate = $100/month

To register, CLICK HERE.

Fall Kindergarten Screening, August 1

The Republic School District is scheduling kindergarten screening appointments on August 1 for those students who missed the Spring screening dates. Kindergarten screening will be held for those children who reside in the Republic School District that will be 5 on or before July 31st .

Screening appointment times are from 8:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. at Lyon Elementary on Monday, August 1st. You will call your building of attendance for an appointment.

To find out which building your child will be attending CLICK HERE and follow the instructions. If you have any questions, please contact the transportation department at 732-3680.

Sweeny Elementary 732-3670

Schofield Elementary 732-3610

McCulloch Elementary 732-3620

Lyon Elementary 732-3630

Price Elementary 732-3690

Please allow 60 minutes to complete the screening.

You will need to enroll your child at your building of attendance prior to the screening appointment. Please take the following items to enroll:

* Child's birth certificate and immunization record

* Current proof of residency (utility bill: water, gas, electric; rental contract/lease, or real estate contract)

* Parent picture identification

* List of your child's doctors with phone numbers

* Emergency contacts with phone numbers

Tiger Pride Tuesdays

As we did last summer, each Tuesday we will be posting pictures of our families showing off their orange and black Tiger gear on our district Facebook page .

Send us photos of your family in their Tiger gear to communications@republicschools.org or inbox our district Facebook page to be included. Send us pictures each week if you'd like!

We love seeing what our families are up to throughout the summer while showing their Tiger pride!

District & Community Events

Upcoming Dates

August 11: First Day of School

**See section above regarding other Back to School dates.

For additional dates, please view the website calendar HERE.

For questions or comments please contact josey.mcphail@republicschools.org or call extension 6008.

Sincerely,

Josey McPhail
Republic School District