In this issue
What's the New Registration Process?
Making a Difference
PTO
Notes and Reminders
Upcoming Events 
Summer Office Schedule--Monday through Thursday 7:30-5:30 (Closed on Fridays)

Kindergarten Enrollment--Please be sure to enroll your child now if they start kindergarten this fall.

Kindergarten Assessment Day--July 31 (See Below)

Extended Hours for Online Registration--
Tuesday, August 1 and Thursday, August 3 Office open until 7:00 PM

Challenger Enrollment Deadline for Starting 8/17--Thursday, July 20
(See Below)

Back to School Fair--Saturday, August 12 from 10:00-12:00 

First Day of School--Thursday, August 17

Half Day for Students (Due to the Eclipse)--Students will be dismissed at 11:00 on Monday, August 21
 

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The mission of Richmond Drive is to equip every student with the skills, character and experiences in order to positively impact the world.



 

 

 

 

 

 

RDES
E-Newsletter July 23 , 2017
So, What's This About a New Registration Process for All Parents?
OK, folks, here's the deal.  I am going to walk you through step by step what you will need to do to register your little person for school this fall.  1. Read the Letter--You will get a letter that comes in the mail this week.  It will give you all the details.  2. Login to the Website--Go to the District Online Registration Site (https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/register) that is also listed on the letter.  Put in the login and password (that is unique for each child) that is on the letter.  It may be possible to change your password to something easier for you to remember, but follow the directions once you have logged in.  If you have four kids, you will have four different logins.  3. Update Your Child's Information--There should be information populated in the program (if your child has already been in the district) and we simply need you to check it and edit it as needed.  Please check it to make sure it is accurate given that we will use it for all normal and emergency contacts.  If at any time during the year that your contact information changes, you can go to the website to update it.  4. Update Information for Any Additional Children--Remember to use those separate logins and passwords.  5. Bring a Current Proof of Residency to RDES--After you complete the online registration, bring a proof of your current residency to the school.  Electric bills, gas bills, mortgage agreements, and rental agreements count as proofs of residency.  For any and all unique situations where you don't have one of those, contact the main office at 981-1930.   Note that once you do that, you will receive your child's teacher assignment.  We will not send out teacher assignments in the mail this year.   If you do this before our Back to School Fair on Saturday, August 12 from 10:00-12:00, you will not have to wait in line to get this done before getting your child's teacher assignment.  You can simply walk on through and meet your child's teacher.  As always, if you have questions about this process, contact our office and we will help you in any way.   We will have computers available to any parents who need access every day, all day, at RDES.   School of Choice parents have to provide an updated proof of residency as well.  Thanks so much for reading through this.  Given that it is a new process, it will be a little more cumbersome this year but it will be so beneficial to help keep information accurate and updated in the years to come.  I thank you in advance for your patience and help with this.  I promise it will make a difference.

Patrick Maness, Principal    

Making a Difference

We had our District Volunteer Awards Luncheon on Thursday at Dutchman Creek Middle. Each school could select one person or organization to recognize.  (Our list of people to recognize could be over 100.  We are so appreciative of all our volunteers.)  Here's what I noticed that was such a blessing.  Lisa Cox (a former RDES parent and PTO president) and Linwood Grant (also a former parent) were respectively recognized for their volunteerism at Central Child Development Center and Sullivan Middle School.  Mr. Grant still helps at all our Book Fairs.  It was so neat to see that not only are these parents wiling to make a difference in their child's school but also in other schools in Rock Hill.  They continued making a difference in other schools even after their children left them.  So many of you do so much to make a difference in so many places.  You are our community leaders and we are so proud of all you do.   

 
Making a Difference--We want to hear how your kids make a difference this summer.  Please send to Mr. Maness pictures and stories how they have been doing this.  You can click on Mr. Maness' Email to do this. We appreciate all the big and small ways that you make a difference in our school and community.  

PTO News
 
PTO Financials --For an up to date report on PTO finances, click  HERE.

Want to Volunteer?
  If you would like to be notified of volunteer opportunities in our PTO, please send us your email address and we will notify you of opportunities to help out.  All you have to do is click on the  PTO Email List  and send us your contact info.  


Notes and Reminders

Kindergarten Assessment -- We hope that you are enjoying your summer and anticipating an exciting year in kindergarten at Richmond Drive. Every summer we screen each rising kindergarten student during the summer months. This screening is brief (about 15 minutes) and engaging and allows us to get to know your child. The next screening date is July 31st from 8:00-4:00. Please call the office at 803-981-1930 to set up your appointment.  We  look  forward to meeting your child.
Richmond Drive Kindergarten Teachers

Staggered Start for Kindergarten--All students in first through fifth grades will start on Thursday, August 17.  Half of our kindergarten students will start on Thursday, August 17 and will not come on Friday, August 18.  The other half of our kindergarten students will start on Friday, August 18 and will not come on Thursday, August 17.  All kindergarten students come on Monday, August 21.  This staggered start allows our little ones to learn about our school and get to know their teachers in a smaller environment and it enables them to transition more smoothly.  If you prefer for your child to start on one day or the other, just let the office know.  You will receive notification of which day your child will start when you receive your teacher assignment.    

Help for New Staff Member--Tatiana Franco-Hernandez moved from Spain to Rock Hill last week.  She and her husband will move into their new apartment here this week.  If you have items that you could give to help them establish their new home, please click on  Mrs. Franco-Hernandez so you can coordinate with her.  You can also contact our office at 981-1930.  

Challenger After-School Care Enrollment--For information about enrolling, click on  Challenger 17-18.  Enrollment forms are online and you can get them at the school office as well.  

New Online  Registration--At the end of the month, you will receive information about a new way to register and update your contact information in our student data management system....all from your own computer (or you can use one of ours.)  We are hoping that this will take the place of lots of forms that have to be filled out at the beginning of each year.   For more information, click on District Online Registration.  

Back to School Fair --Will be Saturday, August 12 from 10:00-12:00 in the morning. This is a chance to come and meet your child's teacher and ask any "beginning of the year" questions you might have.  We look forward to seeing you then and be sure to save the date on your calendar.  

Teacher Assignments--We will send our teacher assignments the first week of August.  If you have anything you'd like for us to know as we make those decisions, please click on Mr. Maness' Email or Mrs. Owens' Email and send us that information in writing.  Please do that before July 27.    

Mobile Computing Guide Parent Orientation--If you wish to understand and complete the steps you can ahead of time to secure a device for your third through twelfth grade student, click on  Mobile Computing Guide for more information.  

READ-O --Is an incentive program for RDES students to read throughout the summer.  Instructions were sent home earlier but you can click on  READ-O  to access the guide and make a copy as well.  Students who complete this will be able to check out an additional book in our library each week next year.  

Battle of the Books --Is a district quiz bowl competition for students in fourth and fifth grade next year who read selected books.  Click on  17-18 Battle of the Books  for more details about the selected books for next year's competition.  Summer time is a great time to read ahead and get ready.  

York County Library--Also has a great reading program this summer.  Click on  York County Library Summer Reading for more information about programs and incentives for all ages (including adults.) Remember that little ones always do what they see the big people doing.  Adults reading to, with, and in front of children always makes a difference.  
 
District App --The Rock Hill School District recently launched a new app for your cellphone. You can go in it and choose the schools you want to follow. All of our RDES Twitter and Facebook feeds go directly to it as well. It is a great resource for keeping current on school and district information.