Tomahawk Talk
Week of: Sept. 25th - Sept. 29th
*Urgent Reminder: We need an updated form for each child at TIS. Students will not be allowed to use BCS iPads, or attend field trips, without a form on file.
It's time to complete the Annual Emergency Information Update! This important information helps us reach you or the people responsible for your student(s) in case of emergency as well as information related to student health, nutrition, and wellness.
In an effort to protect important instructional time, maintain the health and safety of all students, and follow the Berkeley County Schools Nutrition Policy, food items for student birthdays are prohibited. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of all students, particularly those who have food allergies or medical conditions that could be triggered by certain ingredients. The names of students with birthdays will be read over the intercom during morning announcements.
Our teachers will coordinate a few parties throughout the school year. Teachers may ask for donations of food items, which must be store-bought and individually wrapped. Any items sent in for parties must be free of allergens to accommodate students with food allergies (teachers will make allergens known). If you object to your child participating in school celebrations, please contact your child's teacher.
We appreciate your support and understanding as we work to create a safe and inclusive environment for all our students.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your ongoing support and understanding as we continue to navigate the challenges brought about by the current staffing shortage. Berkeley County Schools is actively recruiting for critical-need positions, primarily for bus drivers and substitute drivers. The ongoing shortage has regrettably left the Office of Transportation without drivers on numerous occasions, leading to bus cancellations and disruptions in our transportation services.
As a reminder, transportation updates are posted to the BCS Transportation Dashboard: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/o/bcs/page/transportation-dashboard
In the event that a bus is canceled, we encourage parents/caregivers to transport student(s) to and from school. If you are unable to transport your student to school, please contact our main office at (304) 754-3171. Absences will be marked excused if due to a cancelled bus route.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming part of the Berkeley County Schools transportation team, please visit our website:https://berkeleycountyschools.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=4443.
Berkeley County Schools uses SecureVolunteer to process background checks for volunteers. SecureVolunteer is a completely web-based/paperless system. You will receive e-mails from client services email when you submit your information to SecureVolunteer and when your background check is complete. Thank you for volunteering for Berkeley County Schools.
The background processing fee for the Secure Volunteer Background check is $22.45.
Procedures for Volunteers & Chaperones
School district procedure requires that individuals serving as chaperones for all overnight field trips and some daytime activities must have Level 1 approval, which requires a criminal background screening. To apply for Level 1 approval, volunteers must first apply online via Berkeley County Schools’ volunteer registration system (Secure Volunteer).
Registrations are processed in 3-5 days, sometimes longer at the beginning of the school year and then must be submitted to the Berkeley County Board of Education for approval. Once approved, the volunteer’s name will appear on the Level 1 Approved Volunteer list at the school(s) for which they registered.
Dear Families:
We are excited to share that Berkeley County Schools will be using a Math & Reading program called i-Ready to assess student performance levels and to provide individualized instruction. The diagnostic assessment will be administered via iPad three times per year (fall, winter & spring) and the lessons will be used throughout the year to determine progress.
What is i-Ready?
i-Ready is an online program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.
The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions based on student responses. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning.
i-Ready Instruction provides students with lessons based on their individual strengths and areas for growth. These lessons are interactive and provide strategic supports to keep your child engaged as they learn.
Thank you for your continued support and for being a partner in your child’s learning! We look forward to sharing i-Ready information with you throughout the year. You can also learn more about i-Ready by visiting i-ReadyCentral.com/FamilyCenter.