Upcoming Dates

• Monday, JAN 8 - Institute Day (Agenda)
• Tuesday, JAN 9 - Students Return
• Thursday, JAN 11 - RJHS Coffee Chat
• Friday, JAN 12 - Quarter 2 Report Cards Distributed
• Monday, JAN 15 - MLK Day (No School)
• Friday, JAN 19 - RJHS Quarter 2 Recognition
• Monday, JAN 22 - Faculty Meeting
• Tuesday, JAN 23 - 5 Essentials Survey Opens
• Friday, JAN 26 - SIP Day (1/2 Day)
• Monday, JAN 29 - Curriculum Meeting

Friendly reminders,

• Monday Meeting Dates 23 -24 School Year
• Teachers are required to input a minimum of 2 grades each week.
• Please submit your lesson plans by Monday at 8:00 am.
• Just a friendly reminder that maintaining a parent contact log is mandatory for all staff. Parent Contact Log
• Please ensure that you adhere to the staff dress code policy. Dress Code Policy
• All CCSD 168 staff are required to follow the attached procedures when requesting time off. Requesting Time Off

Principal for a Day

On Tuesday, January 16th, Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon will be visiting Rickover Junior High School to serve as 'Principal for a Day'. During her visit, Commissioner Gordon will tour various classrooms, interact with students and staff in the hallways, and make an announcement to introduce herself. She is scheduled to arrive at RJHS at noon and will be with us until 2:00 pm. Kindly prepare your students for this exciting visit.

Daily Attendance Sign-in

All staff members must sign in using the QR codes displayed around the school or the device located in the main office. It's important to note that the QR codes might be updated periodically throughout the school year, so please make sure to scan in daily. To maintain accuracy, signing in must be done within the building premises and not from off-campus locations.

Rickover Junior High School

Teachers, kindly encourage your students to enroll in the Rickover Junior High School Google Classroom.

https://classroom.google.com/c/NTAyOTY5MjMyMjE4?cjc=7u4keaf

Mandatory Intervention Block Schedule (8:16 - 8:43)

Monday- IXL (Mathnasium & Progress ELA/Math for targeted students)

Tuesday- SEL Lessons via Overcoming Obstacles or PBIS

Wednesday- IXL (Mathnasium & Progress ELA/Math for targeter students)

Thursday- SEL Lessons via Overcoming Obstacles or PBIS

Friday- Stop, Drop, and Read

Stop, Drop, and Read

Please make sure to devote Fridays to our 'Stop, Drop, and Read' initiative. Should any of your students prefer physical copies of books, kindly inform Mrs. Caldwell. It's crucial to exemplify the behaviors we want our students to adopt. On Fridays, everyone should be engaged in reading.

NWEA MAP Testing

The MAP testing window opens on January 16th. Mrs. Caldwell will distribute our testing schedule later this week.

Your full cooperation in administering the test is greatly appreciated.

D168 Those Who Excel Award Nominations

The time has come once again to nominate a staff member for the D168 Those Who Excel Award. Please submit your nominations by Thursday, January 11th, no later than 2:30 pm.

Nomination Link

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday! May your special day bring you joy, laughter, and wonderful memories.

Crystal Holton-1/6

Edward Avinger-1/17

William Bebout-1/24

Weekly Grade Level Meetings

Many of you are already familiar with the weekly team meetings led by Mrs. Campos. As she progresses in developing the MTSS program, she will continue to guide these sessions. In accordance with the union contract, we are permitted one meeting per week, and a representative from the RJHS administration will make every effort to be present at these meetings too.

5 Essential Survey

The 5Essentials Survey is a tool used to assess key aspects of school effectiveness. It collects input from students, teachers, and parents on five critical areas: Effective Leaders, Collaborative Teachers, Involved Families, Supportive Environment, and Ambitious Instruction. This survey helps identify strengths and areas for improvement in schools.

Please discuss the importance of the survey with your students.

7 Effective Ways to Reduce Classroom Tardies

Take a look at how you decrease tardies in your classroom using 7 research-based strategies.

Click Here

Classroom versus Office Managed Behaviors:

To understand the distinctions between classroom-managed and office-managed behaviors, as well as the process outlined in Rule 3, please click the link below to view the provided flow chart. This visual guide will help clarify procedures and ensure consistent discipline management.

Rule of 3 Flowchart

Discipline Data

I wanted to share with you the discipline data to date. As we move forward, let's continue to follow the "Rule of 3" and prioritize de-escalation techniques when addressing disciplinary matters.

This year, our overarching goal is to build positive relationships with our students and proactively teach the behaviors we want to see.

Discipline Incentive

We're introducing a discipline challenge for Quarter 3 at Rickover Junior High School. The grade level with the fewest discipline referrals by the end of the quarter will be rewarded with popcorn and a movie in the cafeteria. Please inform your students about this challenge and discuss how each individual's behavior affects the entire grade level.

Steps to Follow When a Student's Grade Drops Below a C:

1. Review Student Work and Assessments: Thoroughly review the student's recent assignments, quizzes, tests, and homework to identify specific areas where they may be struggling. Look for patterns in their mistakes or areas of weakness.
2. Schedule a Meeting: Reach out to the student to schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss their performance. During this meeting, provide clear and constructive feedback on their work and identify areas where improvement is needed.
3. Set Goals: Work with the student to set achievable goals for improvement. These goals should be specific, measurable, and time-bound. Ensure that the student understands what is expected to raise their grade.
4. Provide Additional Support: Offer additional support, such as extra tutoring, study guides, or online resources to help the student address their weaknesses. Encourage the student to seek help from you or other available resources.
5. Communicate with Parents/Guardians: Inform the student's parents or guardians about the drop in their grade and the steps being taken to support their improvement. Maintain open lines of communication to keep them informed of the student's progress.

Technical Support

If students are experiencing log-in issues, teachers log the student's name on the list provided:

Student Access Technical Support Link

Winter Clothing Drive:

We will be having a winter clothing drive for November and December. We’ll have a donation box for winter clothing items (hats, gloves, scarves, sweaters, socks, pants, sweatshirts, etc.) in Room 16!

Staff Interest Form:

In an effort to encourage the health and wellness of staff, create a more collaborative environment, and establish culture amongst the staff here at Rickover, the PPS team is asking for staff feedback. Please assist us in this effort by completing our survey via the link below:

https://forms.gle/Ye45YTwYNPGHjw9y5

Small Groups:

The counseling team will be meeting with students for small group counseling. The Small groups offered for this 4 to 6 week cycle consist of Anger Management, Grief, Self-Regulation, and Conflict Resolution. Counselors will facilitate groups on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, or as needed, during homeroom.

Upcoming Awareness/Campaign for January:

*National Thank You Month

 January 15 MLK Day of Service

*Presentation on Academic Awareness/Goal Setting*

Staff:

If you would like to donate to provide Hygiene Kits to RJHS students, check out this link. Donors Choose Project Link. *The project ends December 23rd. Thanks in advance for your support!*