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Friday Focus

Welcome to the Friday Focus. Our weekly newsletter will be posted here. It will include the Administrator's message, important updates, and fun things happening around our school.

RMS Friday Focus, January 31, 2020

Frances C. Richmond Middle School

Friday, January 31, 2020

 

Dear RMS Community: 

We ended January on a high note at RMS.  Joshua Stearns emerged victorious in the school finals of the GeoBee.  I was in awe of the geographic knowledge on display as 10 students vied to become GeoBee champion.  The level of support shown by the contestants’ classmates was just as impressive. Competition and caring can occupy the same space, if that space is at RMS.  Joshua will now compete at the state level with a chance to go to Nationals. Thank you to our social studies teachers for coordinating this effort.  

photo of Joshua, GEO Bee winner

 

Next week will be very busy - 8th grade curriculum night, auditions for the spring play, high school placement tests, an 8th grade formal, and our first ever Parent Social.  See below for specifics.  

One of the wonderful things about RMS is the number of students we see reading on a regular basis.  Students engage in spirited discussions about a wide range of books - stories told in authentic and unique voices.  Middle School literature has come a long way in the past few years, take a moment to ask your students about what they are reading on their own time.  It is a good way to find something to share, and the stories are really good.  

Happy Super Bowl Week!  Despite a spirited lobbying effort put forth by students and staff, we will have school on Monday and look forward to our two weeks before February break, ending with our annual 8th grade Renaissance Festival.  

 

Enjoy the weekend.
 

Warmly,

Tim Boyle
Principal
Anissa Morrison
Associate Principal

RMS News

Directories

Directories of school families are available in the front office.  We cannot share electronically, but please email Deb Movizzo if you would like us to print you a copy.  We can send it home with your student or hold for pick up.  Thank you. 
 

 

WISE Visit to 6th Grade Health

We had two days of programming focused on the harmful impact of gender stereotypes. WISE focuses on

gender stereotypes as a central strategy for preventing gender-based violence. 

Students spent time building a critical lens to analyze how the media informs our sense of self and others in stereotypical and limiting ways. Students were split into small groups and worked together to identify gender stereotypes in media images. Then, students worked collectively to create a poster with the goal of challenging commonly held gender stereotypes.  We agreed it would be fun to look at the upcoming Super Bowl ads in light of gender stereotypes. For more information see the WISE handouts here and here 

 

 

Hanover High School 8th grade Curriculum Night

Tuesday, February 4th from 5:30 to 7:00 in the HHS auditorium.  This is an opportunity to hear department coordinators at the high school discuss their programs for 9th graders. 

 

Math Placement Testing Information
 

Thursday, February 6th we will be administering the Math and Science placement exams.  The tests are given to ensure the individualized placement of each student at the start of their high school career.  We try to make the process as devoid of anxiety as possible, and I think it helps students to hear that the test is only one, small part of high school preparation.  A link to a letter explaining the math process can be found here.   The science letter of explanation is here

 

Auditions for Spring Theatre Performance

This year’s Spring Play will be Peter and the Starcatcher, an exciting prequel story to Peter Pan, and auditions are coming soon! All RMS students, regardless of experience, are invited to audition. Auditions will be held after school 3-5 on both Tuesday, February 4 and Thursday February 6. Details about the audition including an audition script, performance dates, and a rehearsal schedule are available at school from Amanda Emmerton (Director) or Emma Hadden (Assistant Director). Please contact Mrs. Emmerton or Ms. Hadden with any questions. 

 

Semi-Formal Dance at HHS

8th graders!! The Hanover High School Class of 2021 invites you to the annual 8th grade semi-formal dance on Friday, February 7th, from 7-9PM in the HHS Gym.

The cost is $10 and snacks will be provided. Members of the junior class committee will be actively working to entertain and engage all students and 8th grade students from area sending schools who plan to attend HHS are also invited. We will have plenty of adult chaperones on hand, as well. 

 

PARENT SOCIAL: Night of RMS Dance

New to Hanover or Norwich?  New to RMS? Been here a while and open to sharing your experiences at the school and your knowledge of the area?  Come and join us on March 13 between 7 and 9 (during the next RMS dance) to meet new people and reconnect with old friends while your child is dancing the night away at RMS.  It's a great opportunity to get to know your child's friend's parents, find some new people you have a common interest with or if nothing else, kill some time while you wait for the dance to wind down.  

We're working on finding the right space for this gathering and need your input. If you think you might attend, please send a quick note to: edollhopfbrown@gmail.com so we can get a sense of the number of people attending.  

 

Science Cafes 

We started this week with graduate student Rebecca Finger sharing discoveries about the impact of increasing temperatures on insects.  Feb 26th, our next Dartmouth scientist, Ciara Kernan, will Skype with us from Panama and share her research on communication systems in katydids and crickets.  For the cafe, we offer a muffin to each student. One 7th grade student, Isabel Harrison, and one parent, Tracey Hayes, are each making a dozen muffins for this Feb. student event.  We had such good attendance last time and are looking for volunteers to make two dozen more. Could that be you? If so, let us know! Thank you. Please contact Mike Lepene or Ginger Wallis.

 

Volunteer News 

The annual 8th grade Renaissance Festival is coming up on Thursday 2/13 and Friday 2/14. All 8th-grade students will be participating in a variety of hands-on activities run by RMS staff. Parent volunteers are integral to the success of this interdisciplinary event every year. There are opportunities to help with Archery, Dancing and Costumes, Cooking, and Amazing Race activities. Please sign-up if you are available to join us. Thank you!  

 

UPDATE - The 8th grade is in need of a volunteer or two for the Amazing Race activity (during the Renaissance Festival on Feb 13) who knows about India, Ayurveda, and healing power of spices and would be willing to work with a small group of 8th graders. If you or someone you know could help us, please contact Carla Balch at carlabalch@dresden.us soon. Thanks!


RMS Health Office Updates

Prescription Medications

Does your child need to take a prescription medication during school hours? Students must keep all prescription medications in the health office and have a signed medication form as well. The medication form and additional information can be found here: Health Office Website

 

 


Upcoming important dates

 

Tuesday, February 4th - Auditions for Spring Play at RMS - See Ms. Emmerton or Ms. Hadden for details.

Tuesday, February 4th - 6:30 pm - HHS Transition meeting with High School Counselors.

Thursday, February 6th - Auditions for Spring Play at RMS - See Ms. Emmerton or Ms. Hadden for details.

Thursday, February 6th - Math/Science placement tests.

Friday, February 7th - Operation Amputation for 7th Grade.

Friday, February 7th - 7:00 pm - 8th grade Semi-formal Dance - HHS Gym

Thursday and Friday, February 13-14 - Renaissance Fest

 

All School News and Events (RMS website has a calendar with events and dates/times)

 


Parent Resources 

Links to parent resources aimed specifically at Middle School aged students.  

 

How to talk to your student about gender

RMS is committed to building an inclusive school environment, and beginning discussions around identity for all students.  This article can help you join those discussions with your student. 
 

Teen Mental Health Resources

Stress of holidays and winter can affect all of us.  Teens are not immune to depression and anxiety. Signs of Suicide (SOS) is a suicide prevention curriculum that RMS uses in 7th grade guidance classes. 7th grade parents will receive more information about the lesson on depression awareness and intervention during Q3. In the meantime, SOS has put together a wonderful parent newsletter with helpful parenting tips and information that we would like to share here. Thanks! John LaCrosse and Liz Powers, School Counselors.