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, October 15, 2021
Frances C. Richmond Middle School
Friday, October 15, 2021
Dear RMS Community:
What a welcome respite this week was from the colder weather we know is coming. The most recent 4 days were full of the energy and wonder we love as middle school folks, as students and staff alike begin our push toward the (US) Thanksgiving holiday. We have also reached one of the times of the year when the bullet pointed Friday Focus is making a comeback. We wanted to share the following important information quickly without a minimum of scrolling:
RMS Open House is here! - In an effort to make sure all caregivers would be able to access information available at the Open House, we have again gone virtual. Presentations (organized by grade level and teacher name) are available at the following link: RMS Open House. Please enjoy and reach out with any questions or comments.
Parent Check in Meetings - In the same spirit as Open House, we will hold “Parent Check-In” meetings via zoom next Thursday night (links to follow) The structure will be informal and informational. See schedule below.
10/21 6th Grade - 6 - 6:45 pm
10/21 7th Grade - 6:45 - 7:30 pm
10/21 8th Grade - 7:30 - 8:15 pm
There is a nationwide sub shortage, and RMS is not immune. Would you like a taste of the best job in the world? We would love to have you join us at RMS (or other schools if necessary) If you are interested in being a substitute teacher, please follow this link: https://sau70.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=19.
If you ordered spirit wear, it arrived at school and most was distributed today. We look forward to seeing folks wearing the RMS swag…
Another quick reminder that given the opportunity, the ability of students to lead the way in the midst of great difficulty is remarkable. Read the article
Thank you for a great start to the year, or all the support, and for trusting us with your students. Please enjoy the weekend, be well, stay safe, and take care of each other.
Warmly,
Tim Boyle
Principal
Anissa Morrison
Associate Principal
Important Dates:
October 18th - PTO Meeting
October 21st - Parent Check In Meetings (via zoom - links to follow)
October 25th - Start of Red Ribbon Week
October 27th - Student Flu Clinic
October 29th - End of Quarter 1
November 1st - Start of Quarter 2
November 11th - No School in observance of Veteran’s Day
RMS CAFE
October’s Menu Here. (Yummy stuff, including the return of Meat Free Thursdays)
If you have any questions, concerns, or dietary restrictions please contact Austin Jacobs
We are examining the possibility of “take away” dinner orders. The plan would be to provide pre packaged meals for pick up in the afternoon. We welcome any and all suggestions.
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.
RMS NEWS
RMS Art in the Community
Maynard House wishes to thank all 7th and 8th grade students whose artwork is currently on display in the house. Their wonderful pictures of sunflowers are bringing joy and brightening the spirits of our guests, staff and volunteers. Many thanks to art teacher Sara Ellis for inspiring her students, selecting pieces for display, and preparing the artwork.
Maynard House is located next to the Howe Library and for over 40 years has provided affordable, welcoming accommodations for local hospital patients, their families and caregivers. We are so grateful to the Richmond School for allowing us to partner with them.
The library is now open for after school study!
The RMS library is now open from 3:00-5:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students may stay for as long or as short as they wish but must be picked up by 5:00. They are expected to have work or activities to quietly do. Ms. Whalen is there on Tuesdays till 4:00 to provide math support. This space will also be used for tutoring with HHS students
After School Academic Activity (formerly known as Homework club)
The 6th Grade Academic Activity Club will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 14th and will meet Tuesdays 3-4 PM in Room 602 (Warkentien/Science). Mrs. Powers will be available to support students with completing their schoolwork. 6th Grade HW Club is free and it is not essential that students commit to coming each week or for staying for the whole hour. Students are welcome to bring their own snack and a light snack will be provided. Students are responsible for their own transportation home at 4 PM. Questions? Please contact Liz Powers.
Student Council Update
Student Council has a busy couple of weeks ahead. We are moving forward with several plans for Halloween, several of which will need parent assistance. Homerooms will be decorating doors and creating "Gourd/Melon" displays. We are hoping that students can bring in various "gourds" for their homeroom to use in their displays. We will also be sponsoring a Halloween baking contest. Lastly we are participating in the Norwitchy Forest Walk and may need some help with candy supplies.
Non Halloween topics, Our Community Service and Social Justice Committees are both getting up and running. Please let us know if you have ideas for activities and might want to help with anything. We are also working on getting a weekly school store running.
Feel free to reach out to any of us if you have ideas or want to assist in any way.
Meghan Panowicz, Jess Warkentien, John LaCrosse
Student Council Advisors
PTO News
RMS PTO Friday Focus for 10/15/21
We welcome you to our monthly PTO Meeting next Monday, October 18th at 6:30pm on Zoom. Learn what the PTO is all about, hear about upcoming activities, and find out how to get involved. Zoom info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6514826638 Meeting ID: 651 482 6638
Check out community events organized by the PTO at https://richmondmspto.membershiptoolkit.com/home
Parents and students (grades 6 to 8), please join us for a “Together We Read” book discussion next Tuesday, October 19th from 7:00pm to 7:45pm via Zoom. Engage in a casual parent and youth book discussion of Hey Kiddo, an award-winning graphic novel by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. RMS librarian, Chris Putnam-Pouliot, will moderate.
You can read the New York Times review of the book here. Common Sense Media gives it a five-star rating, noting: “Big-hearted memoir of rocky childhood with addicted mom.”
The RMS library has several copies of the book, so there will not be a group purchase through the local book stores this time around.
Zoom Info for "Together We Read":
https://dartmouth.zoom.us/j/91906023061?pwd=YXdORlN4TjdZSVdFWjdnTU1ITW5OUT09
Meeting ID: 919 0602 3061
Passcode: 483789
Please RSVP to Elizabeth Dollhopf-Brown if you plan to attend: edollhopfbrown@gmail.com
Please take a few moments to register for the RMS Digital Directory, if you haven’t already done so. The more families that sign up, the better the directory becomes. Please help build this important RMS community resource. It’s completely FREE to sign up and to access the Directory, just go to our new website at richmondmspto.membershiptoolkit.com
Looking for an easy way to support the PTO? Our PTO is now listed with AmazonSmile. If you sign up for AmazonSmile and choose the RMS PTO as your charity, the PTO gets a small percentage of each order total. There is no cost to you. Click here to learn more and to sign up: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/86-3448151
Have a great weekend!
-The RMS PTO
Volunteer News
Student Tutoring Program
*Is your child interested in tutoring fellow students at HHS or RMS?
*Would your child benefit from some peer tutoring?
This is a popular program and we are in need of students to sign up. Math is in high demand. I am still waiting for my contact at Dartmouth to provide a list of tutors.
Please be advised that all minors, and either their parents or legal guardians, are required to complete & sign a Parent Consent Form for in-person & on-line tutoring.
The RMS library is available to tutors and students on Mon, Tue, & Thu, from 3:00pm to 4:00pm and high schoolers can catch the school bus over to the middle school. There will be 1 supervising teacher in the library. Please note that they will NOT be 'teaching'.
Volunteer Sign Up
SAU 70 requires that anyone volunteering in the district completes the Volunteer Application Form. The following link will direct you to the form, and details the Volunteer Background Check Process.
We are hopeful that at some point during this school year, we will be able to allow volunteers back into our schools. Please be aware that there may be background checks needed, depending what level of volunteering you are able to offer. In the meantime, opportunities may arise that don't involve being in the schools or with the students.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you
Emma Cottage
SAU70 Volunteer Coordinator
RMS Health Office Updates
Annual Richmond Middle School Student Flu Clinic will be offered Wednesday, October 27th from 8:30-1:00 pm (or until finished)
The deadline to Register is Friday October 15th.
Please see information about the vaccine here.
The RMS health office in partnership with Upper Valley Region Health Network are excited to provide free flu vaccines for our students at the end of next month.
If you would like your student to receive the flu vaccine during school hours, please consider registering them. Registration form available here. Duplicate the form or print multiple copies for more than one student.
If you have any questions please contact Nurse Abby.
Staying Home When Sick
Please keep sick students home. They may return when fever free for 24 hours without acetaminophen or ibuprofen, symptom free and/or with a negative covid test.
The NH Division of Health Service continues to recommend a low-bar for excluding and testing people with new and unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 that might indicate infection – This includes mild cold symptoms, and even singular symptoms – Both for people who are/aren’t fully vaccinated.
Covid Symptoms:
*Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea
Covid Testing Sites:
NH- Alice Peck Day covid appointments Call to schedule (603) 442-5665
NH- Dartmouth Hitchcock Patients Call 603-650-1818
NH- Clear Choice MD 603-276-3261
Fairlee VT Fast Squad 5445 Lake Morey Rd. E
Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tues, Fri 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
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.
Staying Connected with Your Teen®:
Wednesdays - October 20 - November 17 from 6:30-8:30 pm via Zoom
This workshop is for parents of teens to increase communication skills, improve family management, and strengthen family bonds which can help result or prevent participation in high risk behaviors.
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.
Parenting Webinar
Join a virtual discussion on 10/27 with Lisa Damour PhD: author of Managing Big Emotions: Birth to Young Adult.
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”
