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, May 14, 2021
Frances C. Richmond Middle School
Friday, May 14, 2021
Dear RMS Community:
The end of the year is fast approaching! While I know that at least one Friday Focus in the future will attempt to sum up what a year it has been, we are not there yet. This week the Focus will be dedicated to quick updates about the end of the year.
- Mask Protocol - RMS will continue to observe our existing mask protocols for students and adults for the rest of the year. We know that CDC recently changed some recommendations, but in order to protect everyone and reduce anxiety, RMS will continue to follow the procedures that have kept us safe since September.
- Covid Vaccine Update - from Nurse Abby
Now that VT and NH have opened up vaccination to 12 years and older, we saw many students leaving Thursday and Friday to receive their first dose of the vaccine. Thank you so much! Sometime in June before school ends I will send out a survey in which you may indicate both dates your student was vaccinated. I will send it out again before school starts to capture those who get vaccinated during the summer.
This information goes only to me, and I enter it into your students vaccination records. Student vaccination data gives me an idea of percent vaccinated, looking for the majority of students who are eligible so we may obtain community immunity. Thanks again for helping to keep our community healthy and hopefully back to some sort of normalcy.
-Abigale Pelletier RN
- Last Day for students- June 14th. We recently confirmed that the last day for students will be June 14th (barring any more emergency closures).
- 8th Grade Celebration - After thoughtful discussion with a number of our 8th grade students, we have decided to hold our 8th grade celebration on Friday, June 11th, during the school day. Scheduling of HS events has made after school gatherings difficult for many families. The celebration will be live-streamed for parents and caregivers, though we will not be able to admit any non school personnel into the building. We will gather in the gym, in our cohorts - distanced and masked - to celebrate this year like no other. Our gathering in this way has been approved by the COVID task force (it is a ceremony similar to class day at HHS)
As a school we felt it very important to take some time to collectively celebrate and thank this particular class of 8th graders - what they have done in the past year and a half is nothing short of amazing! The students felt strongly that having a time to celebrate together, even if distanced, cohorted, and masked, was the most important part of the end of the year. We will share more details as they become available. This will be the last day for 8th graders.
- Parent Survey - If you have not yet completed the parent survey, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts. The survey is anonymous and we will share the raw data with the community at a later date (comments will be kept confidential). We would love to have an over 50% response rate, and we currently stand at slightly below that.
Link to survey below.
- Student Survey - Students will receive their own version of the school survey through schoology next week. It will also be anonymous and will ask about school climate, curriculum, and what about school this year we should keep (if anything).
- Library Fundraising - Due to the generosity of the Byrne Foundation and over 30 families, we are very close to being able to fully fund all of the planned renovations to our library. Please see the plans for the library and instructions on how to give here.
Thank you again for all of your support this year. Enjoy the warmer weather, and please be safe, stay well, and take care of each other.
Warmly,
Tim Boyle
Principal
Anissa Morrison
Associate Principal
Important Dates
May 22 - Student Council Car Wash in support of OutrightVT.
May 27-28 - You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown streaming show. (tickets now available)
May 28 - Clone Day at School
May 31 - Memorial Day - No school.
June 1-4 - Celebration of Pride Week at RMS
June 11 - 8th grade celebration - Last day for 8th graders.
June 14 - Last Day of School for 6th and 7th grade.
RMS News
Tickets are now available for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"
See details below
https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/51542
The link above will take you to our event page where you can get tickets, see the show playbill, and get more information. Once you have gotten your ticket, you will receive an email with a private link just for you and instructions on how to access the show on the performance night you have chosen. Tickets are by donation and all donations support the RMS Theatre Department. We can't wait for you to see the show!
*Please note that the link you receive for viewing will only work for one device so anyone viewing in a different location or on a different device will need to get a ticket for their own private link.
If you would like to add a pre-performance message for the cast/crew, you can submit a "Virtual Shout Out" - no charge for RMS staff!
(Click here for "Virtual Shout Out" form)
Yearbook NEWS!
The RMS Yearbook is available now! Go to: https://store.shopyearbook.com/rms-yearbook-20-21.
Users can create an account and purchase using a credit card. Estimated shipping is about $7. Or you can download a digital version for free.
Thank you - We want to thank two people for this wonderful commemoration of the year like no other. The first is Kate Bates, who completed all the work for the book. The second is the person to whom the yearbook is dedicated this year:
Many years at RMS the decision on the yearbook dedication is a difficult one. In a building full of amazing staff it can be hard to choose one. This year was the exception. In the year like no other, one staff member worked tirelessly to keep us safe, to reassure us that school was possible, and to soothe our anxiety throughout the year. This year there would have been no RMS without this person.
Thank you Nurse Abby for all you have done to make this year possible.
Parents who want prints of their student's portraits should contact Teal Parker
https://www.tealparkerphotography.com/. Secure online ordering is available. Contact link is at the bottom of her homepage.
Sign-up to "Adopt-A-Senior" Class of 2021!
Looking to celebrate the Hanover High School Class of 2021? We hope you’ll consider taking part in a community effort to rally around the mighty and resilient class of 2021!
We are seeking community members to each “adopt” one member of the HHS Class of 2021 and to provide them with creative surprises the week of June 4th -11th. The goal is to support and celebrate each senior in a more personal and individual way.
WHAT’S ENVISIONED?
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During the week leading up to graduation (June 4-11th), Adopters will surprise and celebrate their assigned HHS senior! (Don't worry we will provide you some information about your senior when you are matched to help you personalize your celebration of them.)
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With what? Items may be homemade or store bought! Either or both are welcome. A few ideas:
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Send or drop off a letter or card
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Bake something yummy
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Flowers from your garden
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Make a yard sign
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Decorate their mailbox
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A gift card (please consider supporting our local stores if you do choose to buy anything)
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Be creative!! Anything to let your assigned senior know we’re all rooting for them!
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How much am I expected to spend? There is minimal financial expectation. We request that no more than $20-$25 be spent, and spending less is totally fine too!
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How often? It’s up to you...some choose to celebrate daily, others space it out or some do it only once. Do what works for you & your schedule.
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You can choose to remain anonymous or reveal your identity to your student, the choice is yours!
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The spirit of this project is simply to make an effort for your senior so they feel celebrated during graduation week.
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Lastly, please follow CDC and local Covid-19 guidelines when making/dropping off gifts.
WHAT NEXT:
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Sign up here by MONDAY, MAY 17th, to participate. Slots will fill up quickly.
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We will randomly match you with a senior.
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Once you have been matched, we will contact you sometime between Friday, May 21st - Tuesday, May 25th with an email including “your” senior, their contact information and some information about their interests.
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Please plan deliveries during the week of June 4th -11th. (and for planning purposes, this year’s prom will be Thursday June 10th followed by graduation on Friday June 11th both in the evening).
Please contact us with any questions at: HHS2021adoptasenior@gmail.com
Thank you!
~ Friends of the Class of 2021 (a group of parents of seniors working in partnership with Hanover High School)
Link to sign-up: https://forms.gle/63KNEaW85owMgP8H9
Materials Still Needed
We are still looking for lumber - especially any quantities of exterior grade wood. We intend to expand our outdoor spaces and would love any quantities of teak, cedar, or black locust wood to start our plans. Thank you in advance for this and any other donations of lumber.
RMS CAFE
Please remind students that due to COVID restrictions they are not allowed to serve themselves food in the Cafe. Lately student touching of food has increased our spoilage (we cannot serve food if it has been touched by a student). The cafe is amazing, but runs on a small margin, and waste is a real problem. Going forward, students who touch food in line will be required to buy that food item...Please, let’s do our part to help Chef Austin and the awesome crew.
Price List - May Menu is here.
If you have any questions, please contact Austin Jacobs
RMS does offer a lunch program for families who may need assistance or special needs. Please contact Robin Morley-Ploof in the office for more information.
PTO News
The last PTO meeting for 2020-21 school year is Monday 17th, 6:30pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6514826638?pwd=dVBGZjlmakl5d2tQNVNaWWdJTHJmUT09
Meeting ID: 651 482 6638
Password: 05055
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
Parent Resources
Links to parent resources aimed specifically at Middle School aged students.
Struggling with Anxiety and mental health in the Pandemic?
Check out this resource from the director of Screenagers. https://www.screenagersmovie.com/blog
How to build resilience during the pandemic
Mt. Ascutney Prevention Digest
Full Newsletter - Topics include:
LGBTQ Perspectives: New documentary series that helps us understand gender, pronouns, and how to be more supportive of LGBTQ+ people, and more.
Military Family Support: VT is deploying 1,000 service members in 2021, learn how we can support the families locally.
DATA: See 2018/2019 National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH) data and how VT citizens age 12+ compare to the Nation and to the rest of the Northeast.
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.
Important Links
- District Transportation
- RMS Cafe
- Community Interest
- Dresden Board Meetings On Demand
- District Calendar
- BOARDDOCS: Remember to select “Dresden School Board” in upper right hand corner after you click “Public Access”
