-
D
Kimberly Rouse, Principal
Spirit Creek Middle School
115 Dolphin Way
Hephzibah, GA 30815
706-592-3987
RouseKi@boe.richmond.k12.ga.us
-
Dear Dolphin Dynasty Parents and Community,
It is an honor to introduce myself as the new principal of Spirit Creek Middle School. I am truly honored to have been part of this extraordinary school community, which has already given me such a warm welcome! In just the few interactions I’ve had with staff, students, and families so far, it’s become abundantly clear that this school is a unique and special place.
All of us at Spirit Creek are eager and excited to begin what promises to be the best year ever. This year is going to be "GREAT" as we continue to provide academic experiences for our students that are rigorous, relevant, and builds relationships. As your principal, it is important to me that everyone who steps through our doors- staff, students, and parents-are excited to be here!Our new school hours are 9:20 a.m.- 4:05 p.m. Students may begin entering the building at 8:50 a.m. for breakfast and should be picked up promptly at 4:05 p.m. Students are not to be dropped off prior to 8:50 a.m. or picked up later than 4:05 p.m. as there is no adult supervision to monitor their safety.
We are asking all parents to help us ensure the regular, on-time attendance of their children at school. We monitor attendance closely because research has shown that regular attendance is vital for the success of children in school. Georgia law states that absences are excused only if the child is ill or there is an excuse which meets the requirements of Rule 10 [State 30] in the Student's Code of Conduct. Even excused absences that cause your child to miss significant amounts of school can cause your child to fall behind in class.
Rule 10 defines a truancy as a pupil who has missed 5 or more days without a valid excuse in one school year. Our goal is to have all children present in school every day and on time. Our district’s policy is that students must turn in a valid excuse upon their return to school. Please be aware that going “out of town” when school is in session with your child is an unexcused absence.
Technology is a part of our world, both at home and school. At Spirit Creek, we are fortunate to have a plethora of technology which allows us to address the educational needs of our students. Students at our school are welcome to bring their own laptop to school to assist their learning, but they are not required to do so. Our school provides Chromebooks through our Verizon Grant.
While we recognize that cell phones are a part of our everyday lives, they are not a necessary requirement to meet curricular outcomes. In fact, cell phones are often a distraction to our students’ ability to engage in their learning. In order to support student learning, the cell phone expectation at Spirit Creek is that all students will not have cell phones in our classrooms and will leave their phones in their bookbags when they are brought to school. If parents need to reach their child due to an emergency please call the office at (706) 592-3987.
I look forward to working with you in a meaningful partnership for your child. We at Spirit Creek will work very hard with you to ensure that your child receives the best education possible. We are depending on you, and we want to thank you for entrusting us with your child. We will do our best to ensure they have a fulfilling, happy, and safe year. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Kimberly Rouse