BCS Insider
July 2024
Alicia Riggleman, principal of Musselman High School, has been named the 2027 West Virginia Principal of the Year, recognizing her leadership, commitment to students and dedication to creating opportunities for the MuHS community.
For Riggleman, the recognition is about more than an individual honor.
Riggleman’s journey in education began as an elementary teacher before she moved into school counseling. She eventually joined MuHS as a school counselor, where she discovered a calling to school leadership. With the encouragement of mentors, she took a leap of faith and pursued administration. In 2022, she was appointed interim principal.
Today, Riggleman describes being part of Musselman as much more than a job.
That sense of belonging is at the heart of the culture Riggleman has worked to build at MuHS. She wants students and staff to feel valued and connected while also challenging students to take pride in themselves, their school and their community.
That culture is evident in the way Musselman students show up for one another. Riggleman points to students supporting their Unified Special Olympics classmates as one of the moments that has made her especially proud. She also celebrates Musselman being recognized as a four-time Platinum Renaissance School.
For Riggleman, that sense of belonging is something she hopes students carry with them long after graduation.
The recognition also reflects the work of Musselman’s teachers and staff, whom Riggleman credits with going above and beyond for students every day.
Riggleman also credits the mentors who have helped shape her as an educator and leader, including Holly Kleppner, a prior MuHS principal and currently the Executive Director of Secondary Leadership & Athletics, who has mentored her for the past 19 years.
Those experiences have shaped Riggleman’s approach to leadership. She believes effective leaders must continue to listen, reflect and learn, while trusting the strengths of the people around them.
Riggleman said she hopes students leave MuHS knowing they were valued and that they will always have a connection to the school and its community.
“When our students leave Musselman, I hope they carry with them the confidence of knowing they mattered here, they belonged here, and they will always be part of the Apple Fam," said Riggleman.
Completing your student’s Annual Forms & Information Updates is essential for their safety, well-being, and uninterrupted access to learning. This quick online process allows you to review and update important information, including emergency contacts, medical and dietary needs, special education services, home language, parent permissions, photo opt-out, technology agreement, and student handbook acknowledgment.
Keeping this information current helps schools respond quickly in emergencies, communicate important updates, and provide the right support for your student. Please note that students must have a completed technology agreement on file to use school-issued devices.
Parents/caregivers of all Berkeley County Schools students are required to complete an Annual Forms & Information Update each school year. Please submit one update for each student, even if your information has not changed. To save time, use the "Fill Again" option at the end of the form to pre-fill information from your previous submission.
What's Included
✅ Student Information
✅ Home Language Survey
✅ Emergency Contacts
✅ Medical Information
✅ Special Dietary Needs
✅ Special Education Services
✅ Photo & Media Opt-out
✅ Parent Permissions
✅ Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement
✅ Student Handbook Acknowledgement
Submit your forms today, or contact your student’s school if you need assistance.
The Pre-Kindergarten Readiness and Engagement Program (PREP) is a family-centered initiative supported by Berkeley County Schools’ Pre-K teachers. PREP is designed to empower parents and caregivers of 3-year-old children by providing tools and strategies that support early development.
Over the course of six weeks, families will participate in interactive sessions focused on key developmental domains. Each session is led by experienced Pre-K educators who will model hands-on activities and share practical ways to encourage learning and engagement at home.
This program not only supports school readiness but also strengthens the connection between families and early childhood education. We look forward to partnering with you to help your child build a strong foundation for future success.
Helping Families Navigate the Digital World
Berkeley County Schools is pleased to host Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for a presentation designed to help parents and caregivers understand the online risks children and teens may face.
Join us for a FREE iGuardian Parent Presentation and learn more about:
- Apps, Games & Social Media
- Online Grooming & Red Flags
- Ways to Keep Kids Safer
- Talking With Your Child About Online Safety
- What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
When: Tuesday, October 6, 6:00–7:15 p.m.
Resource Fair: 5:00–6:00 p.m.
Where: Spring Mills High School Auditorium
499 Campus Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25404
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia recently released two new online safety flyers designed to help parents, caregivers, educators, and community leaders safeguard children in an increasingly digital world. They can be viewed by clicking the links below.
How to Create a Weekly Parent Report
Parents and guardians can receive a weekly Schoology email digest with information about their child’s current grades, assignments, attendance, overdue work, and recent Schoology activity. Follow these steps to turn on the weekly email report:
- Go to Schoology on the web.Open a web browser such as Chrome, Safari, or Edge and go to app.schoology.com. Use your parent account to log in. Do not use the Schoology app for these settings.
- Select your child. At the top of Schoology, click your name and select your child’s account.
- Open settings. Once you are viewing your child’s account, click your child’s name at the top and then select Settings.
- Click notifications. In the Settings menu, select the Notifications tab.
- Turn on email digest. Under Parent Email Digest, turn Email Summary to On.
- Choose weekly. Select Weekly for the frequency, then choose the day of the week on which you would like to receive the email.
- Save your changes. Click Save Changes.
- You’re all set! You will now receive a weekly email with your child’s current grades, attendance, overdue work, and recent Schoology activity.
Optional: Parents can also turn on Overdue Submissions Email if they would like to receive an alert when their child misses a due date.
Remember:
- You must use a web browser, not the Schoology app.
- Make sure you select your child’s account before going to Settings.
- You can turn on Overdue Submissions Email if you want an alert when your child misses a due date.
1. Be at School and On Time
A consistent bedtime and morning routine can help students start each day ready to learn. Talk with your student about the importance of attending school every day and arriving on time.
2. Come Prepared to Learn
Help your student develop a routine for preparing materials, completing assignments and getting ready for the next school day. A simple question like, “What do you need for school tomorrow?” can help.
3. Participate and Do Your Best
Ask your student what they learned each day and encourage them to ask questions and seek help when they need it.
4. Follow School Expectations
Talk about your school's expectations at home and help your student understand how their choices can affect themselves and those around them.
5. Respect Yourself and Others
Model respectful communication at home and talk with your student about how their words and actions can impact others.
6. Follow Device Expectations
Know your school's expectations for phones and other devices. Talk with your student about when devices should be used—and when they should be put away.
Together, We Help Students Thrive.
Starting last year, some Berkeley County Schools began using Intellispark to communicate with families as student absences begin to accumulate. All Berkeley County Schools are now actively using Intellispark. Emails have started in some schools and will begin soon in the remaining schools.
There are four different email communications parents may receive from Intellispark:
1. Three-Day Meaningful Contact
When a student accumulates three or more unexcused absences, parents will receive a Three-Day Meaningful Contact email. This email serves as a notification to make parents aware of the absences and provides a link to submit excuse notes for those absences.
2. Five-Day Meaningful Contact
When a student accumulates five or more unexcused absences, parents will receive a Five-Day Meaningful Contact email. Like the Three-Day Contact, this email provides information about the student's absences and includes a link to submit excuse notes. This contact also helps open communication between home and school to identify any barriers that may be affecting school attendance.
3. Ten-Day Meaningful Contact
When a student accumulates 10 or more unexcused absences, parents will receive a Ten-Day Meaningful Contact email. This communication continues the conversation between home and school. The school's attendance worker will share truancy information and offer support.
4. Chronic Absence Contact
A Chronic Absence Contact occurs when a student has been absent for at least 10% of the school year. Early in the school year, this can be just a few absences. For example, on Day 20 of school, two absences for any reason would cause a student to be identified as chronically absent at that point in time. As the school year continues and more school days are added to the calculation, students may fall off the chronically absent list as long as additional absences do not occur.
Why Does Chronic Absence Matter?
Chronic absence is an at-risk indicator for students. Students who miss 10% or more of the school year are at high risk of failing classes and falling behind, regardless of the reason for their absences.
This is why Berkeley County Schools communicates with families as absences begin to accumulate. These contacts are intended to keep families informed, encourage communication between home and school, and connect families with support when needed.
No Tricks, Just Treats and Test Drives!
Interested in becoming a school bus driver? Join the Berkeley County Schools Transportation team for a special recruitment event on October 31!
Test Drive a School Bus
Get behind the wheel and take a supervised test drive.
Meet Our Team
Learn more about the people, opportunities and experience of being part of the Berkeley County Schools Transportation family.
Competitive Pay & Benefits
Enjoy competitive pay, flexible schedules, state retirement and employee benefits.
Treats & Giveaways
Stop by for Halloween treats, giveaways and recruitment incentives.
Date: October 31
Time: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
Location: 88 Harlan Springs Road, Martinsburg, WV 25403
Bring a valid driver's license and no open-toe or open-heel shoes.
Questions? Call 304-267-3575.
We are working to improve how Berkeley County Schools communicates transportation changes to families.
Currently, when a bus schedule is affected by a change, such as a delay, substitute bus, or other transportation-related adjustment, our notification system is set up to send the message to all families associated with the schools served by that bus. While this allows us to communicate quickly, it can also result in families receiving notifications that do not affect their student. In some cases, these notifications may also be sent very early in the morning.
We recognize that families need timely transportation information, but we also want to make sure the information they receive is relevant to their student.
Our Transportation and Communications teams are working to transition to a more targeted notification process that will allow us to communicate bus-related changes directly to the families whose students ride that particular bus. This will help reduce unnecessary notifications while ensuring families receive important updates when their student's transportation is affected.
In the meantime, families are encouraged to continue monitoring the BCS Transportation Dashboard for the most up-to-date information about route changes and transportation schedules. The dashboard will remain an important resource for families as we work to improve our notification process.
We appreciate your patience as we work to make this process more efficient and useful for families. Our goal is to provide useful information, delivered to the families who need it, when they need it.
October is Bullying Prevention Month
Bullying is harmful, intimidating, or coercing someone perceived as vulnerable, including physical, relational, verbal, and cyberbullying. While schools address it, parents are key to prevention. Take action by notifying the school, documenting incidents, monitoring emotional health, and escalating concerns if bullying is severe, regular, or affects education.
This month's issue of ParentGuidance.org newsletter focuses on the types of bullying and what children and teens can do about bullying as well what families can do to support them.
