Academic Services Report March 11, 2014
Beginning with the first board meeting each month, Academics will provide the Board of Trustees an update on
Academic initiatives for the previous month. Because we are submitting in March, we will share highlights from January
and February 2014. Please note that not every aspect of Academics will be highlighted each month. The purpose is to
give board members monthly information about our work, focus, goals, etc. in Academics. We are open to suggestions
for format and the type of information that would be helpful to each of you. This monthly update will not take the place
of future Academic reports requested by the board.
Academics Area
Professional
Learning
Description
Implementation Team Updates – Nancy Gregory
School Level Implementation Teams met. Elementary met February 25 and Middle and High met
February 26, 2014. Focus included providing (formative assessment) feedback to students based
on their learning; Understanding and implementing the Math Practice Standards; Asking higher
order, text based questions; Supporting claims with evidence; The following is a summary of our
January and February sessions with school level and district level implementation teams:
District CC Implementation Team:
 Review of implementation timeline; Artifacts/data; Review of focus areas for February
 Planning & design in grade level teams for February 25 & 26
Principal Coaching:
 Principals worked on Problems of Practice from a Common Core perspective sharing best
practices & resources
District CC Leadership Team:
 Putting systems in place- formative assessment for team leaders & content specialists
 Fine tuning School/System Snapshot Tool
 Preparing for February school implementation team meetings
Elementary/Middle/High School CC School Implementation Teams:
 Implementation progress reflection with configuration maps
 Formative assessment-instructional feedback for the learner
 Higher level, text-based questions
 Update on state assessments
District CC Implementation Team:
 Team Leaders & District CC Implementation Team
 Fine-tuned criteria for School/System Snapshot Tool
 Confirmed areas of focus for April school team meetings & Boot Camp
 Collaborative work began for April & Boot Camp
Textbook Adoption Nancy Gregory
 The State Department's Instructional Materials Office recently conducted regional
meetings as part of the 2014 Instructional Materials Caravan.
 The purpose of the meetings was to provide information on the proposed Purchasing
Power Option to district and school textbook coordinators. The proposed Purchasing
Power Option will ensure more flexibility for schools in ordering materials as well as a
broader selection of format choices for the materials.
 Textbooks being reviewed for adoption for 2014-15 include the following:
~ELA , Grades 6-8 and 9-12
~US History and Constitution, Grades 9-12 & AP
Team Leaders – Elementary, Middle and High continue to focus on the implementation of the CCSS as well as content
area needs and assessments. They are model teaching and coaching and continue to collaborate with the principals at
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each level. Listed below are just a few of their focus areas for the last two months.
Elementary
Team Leader, Dave Foster
 Elementary Team continues to conduct snapshot visits (3-5 minutes) – during January
and February at the following schools: Bethel Hanberry, Bookman Road, Catawba Trail,
Forest Lake and Round Top. These snapshots are not designed for individual teacher
evaluation or observation, but rather to look for patterns and share those with
principals. Names and room numbers are not recorded.
 Team members debriefed with principals following each visit.
 Elementary- Completed the district wide writing assessment that mimics the Smarter
Balanced performance task writing assessment. The results are being tabulated and will
then be shared with individual schools. Feedback sessions are planned with the writing
coaches and Assistant Principals.
 Following a needs assessment of materials used to teach reading in K-2 classrooms, the
Elementary Team is reviewing additional resources that are research-based and focus on
the foundational skills needed for successful readers: phonemic awareness, fluency,
vocabulary, and comprehension.
Middle School
Team Leader, Marsha Moseley
 Middle School Team conducted seven snapshot visits (3-5 minutes) (Dent, ELW, SPMS,
AB, BWA, MRM, and LMS).
 Conducted focused (longer observations) 5-15 minutes in length focusing either on a
subject and/or grade level. These too are shared with principals.
 Met with transition committees – 5-6 and 8-9 to determine adjustments/ programs, etc.
that may need to be made for 2014-15.
High School
Team Leader, Emily Manigault
 The High School Curriculum Team is conducting school data team visits, Common Core
State Standards Snapshot Visits and Spring Professional Learning focused on the
Common Core Standards.
 Additionally, each High School Specialist is conducting targeted Professional Learning at
each school based on the specific needs of individual schools and teachers.
 The Team is looking at diversity issues and developing strategies to increase access to
Honors and Advanced Placement courses for minority and socio-economically
disadvantaged students.
 Summer Professional learning planning is focused on the Common Core State Standards
and curriculum alignment.
 Reading course designed for middle and high school teachers will be offered later this
month and taught by Georgia Kopenhaver, our high school ELA Specialist.
 Virtual courses continue to be offered and taken by many of our students. Emily
Manigault is reviewing the virtual program to determine changes that need to be made
for 2014-2015.
Early Childhood
Dave Foster
Early Childhood- 4K Registration for both the Clemson Road and Spears Creek centers is
open. Deadline for registration at Clemson Road is April 11th.
Magnet Programs
Dawne Whitley
We had 3268 Magnet applications submitted in the following areas:
(Elementary - 1286), (Middle School – 1418) (High School – 564)
 Elementary Magnets will lottery this week
 Selective programs at the MS and HS level are gathering student data, interviewing and
administering writing samples.
 MS and HS Lead Teachers will meet to complete selection later in March.
 Parents will log in to view and accept/decline application results March 24-28.
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ESOL
RTI
Talented and Gifted
Fine Arts
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Matthew Hodges, CPA for Burkett, Burkett & Burkett, is currently auditing our selection process
and has been meeting with Dawne Whitley and Lead Teachers for the Magnet Programs. He will
be present at the Lead Teacher selection meetings to observe the lottery and selective program
procedures.
Dawne Whitley
 ESOL/Title III programs with the ELDA (English Language Development Assessment)
testing window runs from February 24-March 24. 100% of Richland Two students
identified as Limited English Proficient will participate in ELDA testing – approximately
1300 students. Portions of ELDA must be individually administered.
 ESOL teachers are also preparing for staff development related to South Carolina’s move
to become a WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) state with ACCESS
testing replacing ELDA. We also have teachers involved in Common Core Training for
ESOL.
(Response to Intervention) Marsha Moseley
 Continue crafting the Richland School District Two RTI plan
 Expanded the number of schools working with our RTI Specialists
 RTI Specialists conducted AIMS web, Envision, Fundations, and Burst training (Progress
Monitoring software and programs) sessions for teachers and teaching assistants.
 They continue to work with numerous students in small groups and individually.
Maria Kratsios
ALERT teachers completed STAR testing training the beginning of February. They are currently
administering the test (19 February – 6 March) to approximately 1000 students providing them
with the opportunity to qualify for gifted services.
Primary ALERT
 Primary students are currently studying the environment. They have taken on the role of
environmental detectives as they actively investigate the mysterious fish kill in the Gray
Area. They are examining the Gray Area water for its chemical properties (e.g. chlorine
concentration, pH level, turbidity) and also utilizing bio indicators. This field research is
followed by rigorous mathematical analysis of the data as they are taught concepts of
mean, median, and mode of a data set, develop line plots and bar graphs and conduct
data analysis.
Elementary ALERT
 Elementary students are deeply involved in their architecture unit. They have enjoyed
visits from Columbia architects who are members of the American Institute of Architects
(AIA). A former ALERT Student currently studying architecture at Clemson visited two
schools. This visit was videoed and shared. Our collaboration with Columbia AIA will be
followed up in April with kids in Architecture Day on a Saturday at the Columbia Art
Museum. The Architecture unit involves Geometry focusing on 2D representation of 3D
shapes.
Maria Kratsios
General
 All middle school band, orchestra and chorus directors have coordinated visits to
elementary schools to showcase ensemble offerings at the middle school level for rising
6th grade students.
 Elementary and middle school fine arts teachers submitted 785 nominations for 2014 TriDistrict Summer Arts Program.
Band
State Marching Band Results:
Blythewood – Superior rating and 2nd place in 4A finals
Ridgeview - Superior rating and 5th place in 4A finals
World Languages
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Spring Valley – Excellent rating and 12th place in 5A finals
Westwood - Excellent rating and 19th place in 3A finals
Richland Northeast - Excellent rating 4A Preliminaries
 Spring Valley Symphonic Band Performed at the SCMEA (South Carolina Music Educators
Association) In Service in early February. This is quite a prestigious honor.
 The high school and middle school band students auditioned for All State and All Region
Honor Bands. The audition results have 20 Richland Two students participating in the All
State Band Clinic and 106 participating in the All Region Band Clinic.
Orchestra
 21 Richland School District Two orchestra students were selected for All State. All 5 high
schools were represented and 2 middle schools, ELW and Dent.
 Nationally recognized composer Brian Balmages has written and dedicated a new
composition to the Kelly Mill Middle School orchestra. “Perpetual Fiddle Motion”, will be
published this summer and available in the FJH (Frank J. Hackinson) catalogue next fall!
Dance
 Palmetto Center for the Arts presented Collage! an Interdisciplinary Production on
January 23.
 PCA and Westwood Soaring High Dance Company competed at Headliners on February
22.
 Dent Middle School Dance students performed at the Black History Luncheon at Fort
Jackson on February 21.
 FAME Dance and Conder Dance students sponsored two Zumba Nights in February. Both
events were open to the public.
Drama
 Blythewood High School and Richland Northeast High School participated in the South
Carolina Theatre Association’s High School Music Festival. Students form both schools
won All- Star- Cast Awards, and Northeast’s PCA (Palmetto Center for the Arts) students
won 2nd place overall and will represent South Carolina at the Southeastern Theatre
Conference (SETC) in Mobile, AL in March with their production of Agnes of God.
Choral
 Middle School and High School choral showcase was scheduled for 11 February, but
cancelled due to inclement weather. This is a showcase event of all middle and high
school choral programs. All choirs worked on selected repertoire in preparation for the
event. Students rehearsed in master-class type settings with the district choral directors
and culminated with a mass choir ensemble of the district’s middle and high school
singers.
Visual Arts
 American Heart Association Art Contest. One Round Top student’s work selected for the
Gala Event/Display.
 Three pieces of student work from Dent were selected for the National Competition
Magnet Schools of America Poster Contest.
 All Richland Two high schools submitted art work for the Southeast Region Scholastic Art
Contest. There were over 60 pieces selected from Richland Two. Eight of the Gold Key
winners are from Richland Northeast and will proceed to the National Adjudication.
 Student artwork is currently on display at Columbia Place Mall and Sandhills. The
exhibition will be on display for the next two weeks.
Maria Kratsios
 Middle school and high school department heads are collaborating seamless,
transparent, well-articulated world language curriculum to ensure alignment with the
National Standards for learning languages and with the Common Core State Standards.

AVID
Career and
Technology
Discussions took place with Dr. Maria Mebrey Director of Language for Doctoral
Candidates at USC on how to prepare our students to excel at the college level.
 The “Columbia 2 Colombia” Sister Schools Exchange Program continues for a third year.
Bill McCormick’s partnership program with the Lyce’e Montdory in Thiers, France with the
assistance of the French Consulate in Atlanta has begun to yield benefits for our French language
program.
 Video conferences have taken place- these include presentations on African American
Literature, Diversity of America and South Carolina BBQ.
 We are currently assisting them with their technology platform for teaching and we are
collaborating and planning units of language study.
Mary Paige Boyce
 Richland Two AVID hosted a workshop on refining our use of Cornell Notes and invited
any interested AVID program in SC to join us. The workshop was led by AVID Center staff
and two teachers from Anderson Five joined our AVID staff from Blythewood Middle,
Longleaf Middle and Westwood High School.
 A group of teachers from Ridge View and Westwood attended an AVID content area
training in Knoxville, Tennessee last week as part of a GEAR UP initiative.
 AVID students at Summit Parkway earned 2000.00 as part of their Pennies for Patients
campaign to support the SC Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Service is a big part of
creating an attitude of community in our AVID students.
 AVID Longleaf students assisted the Special Olympics Competition which was held at
Longleaf
They visited the Boeing plant in Charleston and met with admissions counselors from the
Citadel to increase their awareness of what it takes to be accepted into college.
 Our Coaching Visit from AVID Elementary was a wonderful experience for Richland
Two. In our six beginning sites, we were able to visit classrooms and talk to both
teachers and administrators about their experience with implementation. All of the
elementary schools involved are requesting to add AVID to another grade level, and we
also have two elementary schools who are seeking to add AVID at their schools.
 Currently we have AVID Elementary at Blythewood Middle 6th grade, CFA, Killian, Lonnie
B. Nelson, Rice Creek, and Round Top. Conder and Pontiac are requesting AVID at their
sites.
Mary Paige Boyce
Blythewood High School:
 The BHS “Metal Heads Robotics Team” competed in the Palmetto Regional Competition
in Myrtle Beach.
 BHS DECA and FBLA students have recently competed in their regional and state level
competitions with many award winning results - with all students finishing in the top ten
at DECA and 9 students placing either first or second place in categories to include
computer problem solving, computer gaming and simulations, and other communication
events.
 The FFA students are preparing their Greenhouse for their annual community plant sale.
 Culinary students are working to prepare and freeze food for the annual Columbia event
- the Greek Festival.
 Mr. Fausnight in Building and Construction is working through the Greater Columbia
Homebuilders Association to get his program Green Building Certified.
Richland Northeast High School:
 Richland Northeast High’s longtime school nurse, Jackie Kennebrew, decided to make a
career change and became the school’s Health Science teacher this semester. This was
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GEAR UP
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an excellent opportunity for the school to get an experienced nurse who brings a wealth
of experience to our efforts to graduate students with their CNA.
 SAFE Federal Credit Union opened a beautiful new branch office within the campus of
RNE. This is a wonderful cooperative effort between the Business department and the
Credit Union to teach real world employment and financial skills. The Credit Union hires
RNE students to work directly under the tutelage of a SAFE employee.
 RNE Culinary students were selected by the State Department to serve lunch for a
Statewide training for Business teachers.
 Cosmetology students participated in a regional hair show and were encouraged to be as
creative as possible with hair design.
Ridge View:
 Ridge View proudly opened their Master Hair Care and Barbering Program in
January. Our teacher is excited and has been preparing and becoming an active member
of the Ridge View staff. His flagship students are very excited to help launch this new
program.
 The DECA program participated in their state conference this past weekend. They placed
first in the H&R Block Dollars and Sense category and in the Virtual Business Challenge in
Retail category. Many other RV students won awards and top ten finishes. These
students are also working on establishing and opening a school store.
 Seven students from Ridge View’s Health Science program became fully certified and
licensed Certified Nursing Assistants. Of the four students chosen by Palmetto Health
last fall to participate in an organized internship, three were offered full time
employment.
Spring Valley:
 The Automotive Technology class has strengthened their partnership and activities with
the Capital City Corvette Club. This club has been an excellent source of volunteers and
equipment for the Automotive Program.
 New Engineering teacher, Dr. Mike Rodgers, has already won the Innovative Teacher
Award from the Spring Valley faculty.
 10 students were winners at the FBLA regional competition at held at Westwood High.
Westwood:
 In just the second year of the Westwood High School FBLA the chapter embraced this
year's SC FBLA "RISE UP" theme by first increasing membership by nearly 350% and
tripling conference participation. The chapter had a great showing at the SC FBLA District
II Leadership Conference in February. Not only did Westwood host the regional
competition, they also earned many awards to include a first place in Client Service.
 The DECA club school based enterprise, the Westwood Swoop and Scoop school store,
has received Gold Certified Status from DECA National. This is a big honor and the
Westwood team will be recognized at a National Ceremony in May.
 Westwood High School is making significant progress toward having an ITM (Interactive
Teller Machine) on campus in cooperation with GROW Financial Credit Union. They will
be adding Finance and Banking classes to their curriculum to enhance this learning
opportunity. We have the chance to graduate students who have completed level one of
GROW’s banker training.
 Westwood’s Robotics team made its first appearance at the Palmetto Regional
Competition in Myrtle Beach.
Mary Paige Boyce
Our major initiatives for the months of January and February have involved:
~FAFSA completion workshops for students and parents
~Scholarship essay assistance workshops for students
Special Services
~Advising students and parents as they make final college decisions
~Credit recovery for students to ensure high school graduation
~AVID Professional Development for teachers
~Academic tutoring to ensure preparedness for college rigor
 Our GEAR UP school coordinators along with administrators from Blythewood, Richland
Northeast, Ridge View, and Westwood Highs attended the NCCEP Capacity Building
Workshop in February. This workshop will assist in sustaining the GEAR UP philosophy
and activities once the grant is completed.
 Although the majority of GEAR UP students have completed their college applications,
school coordinators continue to offer college trips for undecided students. Over the last
two months, students have visited University of South Carolina Upstate, Claflin
University, Francis Marion University, Spartanburg Methodist College, South Carolina
State University, University of South Carolina Aiken, and Limestone College.
 We have also been fortunate to partner with College of Charleston and Francis Marion
Universities to offer on-site Decision Days for undecided students. During these events,
an admissions counselor from the university interviews students, reviews their
application, and make an immediate acceptance decision.
Additionally, GEAR UP continues to offer students enrichment experiences that will prepare
them for college. These have included:
SCASCD Student Conference
Powerful Women Summit
Engineering Week at University of South Carolina
USC Service Learning Conference
Southern Interscholastic Press Association Convention
Finally, staff attended United States Naval Academy Center of Influence in hopes of better
providing students and parents with information on our country’s service academies.
Katinia Davis
Total Number of Special Education Students = 3231
By Disability
Total Number by Disability
Autism
421
Deaf and Blind
1
Developmentally Delayed
158
Hard of Hearing
48
Emotionally Disabled
130
Mild Intellectually Disabled
146
Moderate Intellectually Disabled
61
Severe Intellectually Disabled
24
Multiple Disabilities
6
Orthopedic Impaired
18
Other Health Impaired
397
Learning Disabled
1195
Speech
609
Traumatic Brain Injury
5
Visually Impaired
12
TOTALS
3231
Work Skills to Life Dinner
 On January 23, the Special Education Transition Specialists at Westwood High School,
Anne Ediger, and Blythewood High School, Sarah Park, coordinated a wonderful dining
experience with their students showcasing a wide variety of work skills. Students were
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Learning Support
Services
excited to serve parents, community members and district administrators including Dr.
Hamm. In addition to funding future Transition Activities, proceeds from the event were
donated to the backpack program at each school.
Welcome to Mr. Tarrence “Tarry” McGovern, Special Education Coordinator
 Tarry is joining us from the Office of Exceptional Children at the State Department of
Education. He brings a wealth of knowledge having served as a special education
teacher, consultant, assistant principal and team leader.
New IEP Software – Enrich
 Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, all districts will transition to the new Enrich
IEP developed by the Excent Corporation. Richland Two is serving as a host district for
training and will participate in the first round of training, March 10 -11. During the
coming months, we will transition all of our current IEPs to the new system and train
over 200 teachers, psychologist and therapist on the new system.
Shirley Vickery
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LSS developed a Leadership team consisting of Counselor Representatives, Lead Social
Worker, Lead Nurse, Coordinator of Intervention Services, and one Psychologist
Coordinator. The committee:
~advised Human Resources on development of school level behavior supports.
~asked school LSS teams to meet during January 2015 to enhance collaboration at the
school level and thus increase services to students.
Transition Task Force approved Registration and Withdrawal Checklists to assist in
obtaining and sharing accurate information about students moving in and out, either
inside or outside of RSD2. Checklist pilots began at six R2 schools.
Transition Task Force is beginning the second goal, to insure positive customer service to
students and families enrolling in R2. Focus is to increase immediate trust between staff
and new families and to lay the groundwork for future relationships.
In January, School Counselors completed a Needs Assessment to identify needed areas
of training. Counselor leaders are examining the professional practice model in RSD2
and hope to implement a comprehensive model across the district.
Intervention Services sponsored the Future Visions Conference for Latino families on
February 1. The event was attended by 83 Latino middle and high school students and
76 parents; 61 students and 29 adults volunteered their time. The SC Commission for
Minority Affairs co-sponsored the event with RSD2 Intervention Services. 17 Exhibitors
hosted informational tables and participants heard from 10 speakers and students.
School Nurses completed the mid-year DHEC report as part of the School Health and
Fitness grant and are working with DHEC to schedule spring clinics to offer Tdap shots to
sixth graders.
School Psychologists focused staff trainings on developing effective Behavior
Intervention Plans for students, on implementing best practice recommendations for
identification of students with Learning Disabilities, and on improving Comprehensive
Individual Evaluations for students suspected of having Autism.
School Social Workers are celebrating March as School Social Worker Appreciation
Month and have an all-day professional development scheduled later this month. One
scheduled session is on domestic and relational violence.
Project CARE Advisory Council is developing a community coalition to reduce substance
abuse and other high risk behaviors among youth.