2012-2013 School Calendar

2012-2013 District Calendar

* Please note a correction to the District Calendar for May 2013.  The Annual School Budget Vote and the High School Academic Awards will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

2012-2013 Sports Schedule

APPR – Annual Professional Performance Review:  The New York State Board of Regents has amended Education Law 3012-c to fundamentally change the way teachers and principals are evaluated.  The purpose of the evaluation system is to ensure that there is an effective teacher in every classroom and an effective leader in every school.  Under the new law, New York will differentiate teacher and principal effectiveness using four rating categories – Highly Effective, Effective, Developing, and Ineffective.  Education Law 3012-c(2)(a) requires APPR to result in a single composite teacher or principal effectiveness score that incorporates multiple measures of effectiveness.  All schools across New York State were required to submit their APPR plan for teachers and principals to the State Education Department for approval.  The APPR plan for Rensselaer City School District can be viewed by clicking here:  District Approved APPR 2012.

Marty Weber of Mosaic Associates and Jeff Boudreau of Frasier, Weston & Sampson presented the Board of Education with an update on the EXCEL Project on October 10, 2012. A Preliminary Site Plan was distributed showing the new loop road for buses, traffic control gates, reconfigured parent drop-off area, faculty and visitor parking areas, tennis court parking, and new sidewalks at the bus loading zones. New canopies at the afternoon bus loading area will also be installed as well as new vestibule doors at the elementary cafeteria entrance.

The interior work consists of a security system at all exterior doors (swipe cards); a camera/recording security system; and a wireless control system that will allow for wireless internet carts that will allow any classroom to become a computer classroom. Miscellaneous items include a light lowering system in the auditorium, relocating the wiring closet in the elementary office, and the purchase of some furniture for computers in elementary classrooms.

Discussion on the proposed project will continue at upcoming Board of Education meetings.

This school year, teachers across New York State will be teaching the Common Core Standards. The new standards have been designed to ensure that students graduate from high school ready for college or a job. In English Language Arts, students will read more non-fiction texts and their writing will reflect arguments using evidence from the texts. In mathematics, students will focus on real world situations that require students to apply math skills.  We have provided a link for parents to gain additional information on the Common Core Standards. A Parent Guide to Common Core Learning Standards is a valuable information piece that may help address any questions you may have.

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