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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, April 21, 2023

Important Dates                   

  • April 24 - 6 pm - Montreal Immersion Trip Parent Meeting
  • April 24 - LAST DAY FOR YEARBOOK PICTURES AND SPIRIT WEAR! (see PTO section)
  • April 25 - 7 pm - Dresden School Board Mtg.
  • May 3 - Bike/Walk/Roll to School 
  • May 18-20 - RMS Spring Play
  • May 23 - 7 pm - RMS Choral Concert
  • May 25 - 7 pm - RMS Orchestra Concert
  • May 26 - 8th Grade formal (sponsored by HHS)
  • May 29 - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
  • June 2 - Spring Talent show
  • June 6 - 7 pm - RMS Band Concert
  • June 9 - HHS Graduation and Colors Day
  • June 15 - 8th grade celebration at Storrs Pond
  • June 15 - 7th grade field trip to Silver Lake
  • Last day for students is still June 16th

Thoughts from the front office

Dear RMS Family:  

Welcome back to RMS!  Hopefully the spring is now here to stay.  We always enjoy this time of year, the flowers are coming up, the trees are budding, the pollen is prevalent, and some of our students have seemingly grown several inches in the last week!  The energy brought to middle school by spring is palpable and unique.  Thoughts invariably turn to upcoming transitions and we work to simultaneously navigate those changes and mitigate the nerves that accompany the transitions.  

(signs of spring today)
 

bikes at RMS

The next few weeks will see the return of field trips to RMS.  Trips to New York City, Montreal, Windsor VT, Charlestown NH, and Barnard VT are all on the docket before June 16.  We are excited to return to a world where we can travel and see new things, and look forward to sharing these experiences with our students.  Please help your students as they get ready for field trips to remember that traveling (this spelling was suggested by google as “American” English, please forgive me Mr. Lincoln) with RMS will be different than traveling with your family.  We will ask for school behavior even outside of school - sometimes a difficult concept for middle school students to grasp.  We are aware that many have not experienced large group, school based events off campus, and we look forward to using these opportunities to reinforce the norms of our community of caring learners.

As part of the renewal of spring we continue to search for volunteers at RMS.  Currently we are seeking, in no particular order:

  • A person, or group of folks, who would be willing to assemble our new fussball table.  It weighs quite a bit, thus we decided not to mobilize our woodworking classes.  

  • We would like to paint some of our picnic tables with the RMS goose stencil.  

  • Austin can use some help in the cafe either restocking or running the register in the mornings.

If you have interest in any of these projects, please let us know.  We know life is quite busy this time of year and are so thankful to be in our community.  

The PTO is also searching for volunteers (this year) and those willing to serve (for next year).  Please see the information at the bottom of the focus for more information.   It is worth noting that every family is automatically enrolled in the PTO, free of charge.

Please note that, due to changes in policies, RMS will no longer update nor use Twitter as a platform for sharing snippets of life at school.  We know that no social media platform is perfect, but we have chosen to document our school journey at https://www.instagram.com/rmsgeese/.  Please feel free to join us.

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.   Be well, stay safe, and take care of each other.  

Tim Boyle
Principal
 
Anissa Morrison
Associate Principal

School News & Information

RMS Cafe

Negative balances As we move toward the end of the year, the SAU begins to closely monitor Mealtime negative balances, mindful that the fiscal year ends at the end of June.  Families will receive emails when students' negative balances exceed $1.00 beginning after break.  Our goal will be to eliminate negative balances by the start of June, making life easier for Austin and our financial folks.  (this also means Tim and Anissa have to settle up as well)

It is worthwhile to note that money in mealtime is transferable to next year, even if your student is going to Hanover High School.
If you have any questions regarding payment, please contact Janice Starkey in the main office.

Please consider volunteering in our cafe or applying for a part time position helping chef Austin.  Every little bit helps. 

If you have any questions, concerns, or dietary restrictions 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.
 

RMS - COMMUNITY NEWS

HHS Spring Musical
The Prom follows a group of narcissistic, egotistical Broadway actors attempting to earn themselves some much-needed good press by helping Emma, an Indiana high schooler who wants to bring her girlfriend to the prom but is denied when the PTA cancels the prom outright at the thought of a same-sex couple attending.

Hanover High School brings this musical to life in one of the first north-eastern regional premieres! Eighth grade students will get to enjoy a 30 minute showcase of the performance during lunch on Monday May 1st and the show goes up Thursday May 4th, Friday May 5th and Saturday May 6th at 7pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for faculty/students/staff.  Hope to see you there! Ludus - Dresden School District: Hanover High School Footlighters

Alice in Wonderland
City Center Ballet invites you and yours to the Lebanon Opera House to explore the extraordinary, imaginative world created by beloved author Lewis Carroll. In this whimsical full-length ballet suitable for all ages, follow Alice as she plunges down a rabbit hole into a mad dancing adventure filled to the brim with delightful characters, enchanting sets, zany costumes, and wacky puppetry. Evening and matinee performances May 5-7th. Show is 90 minutes including intermission. Tickets available.

Hartford Area Career and Technology Center Summer Camps
The HACTC is excited to offer our one-week Summer Tech Camp to middle school students again!  We hope to see some Richmond Middle School students here at the HACTC for camp this June.  Camp will be held June 26 - 30, 2023 in the mornings.  Some examples of past camp activities include: basic welding, changing a car tire, making homemade pasta and sauce, videography, photography, spa sciences, basic first aid/constructing a first aid kit, Cricut creations, Entrepreneur for a Day, Building a Toolbox, Community Service, and more.  View full information.


Norwich needs bus drivers! Want a flexible job that allows work with many students?  SAU70 is searching for bus drivers.  View more information. 

Hannaford Helps Schools
It's that time of year!  We're gearing up for this year's Hannaford Helps Schools program and are excited to share this new (for RMS) adventure with RMS parents. The 2023 program will run from March 12th until May 27th.  Please follow the link below for more information and download the new app.  You can also use this for online orders.  Once you download the app, either sign up or log in, look for schools in the 03755 zip code and select RMS. Hannaford Helps Schools app.  There will be cards with more information available at school next week.  Thank you for supporting RMS!

Would you like to take your swimming to the next level this summer in a fun, outdoor environment? Registration is now open for the Upper Valley Rapids summer swim team at Storrs Pond Recreation Area. 

Video Resources from All Together The Hartford Community Coalition, in collaboration with All Together, has created a video resource for parents around the issue of substance use.  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqXDs4lfGktax1oPHd8lMlRpMOsZOkSil

Please see other announcements on the community interest page of the website.  

Family Programs offered by Outright Vermont
Outright Vermont (https://www.outrightvt.org/) is an organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth and families around Vermont and neighboring areas. They offer a support group for families: Trans Parent Group - Online - First Monday of every month 6-8pm. Support group for parents and caregivers of trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive youth. Email info@outrightvt.org for more information and links.
 
RMS Health Office Updates

Prescription Medications Does your child need to take 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



PTO Bulletin Board

Today through Monday, April 24th is your LAST CHANCE this school year to order RMS Spirit Wear! Show your school pride with RMS t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, flannel pants, joggers, and more.  

Last call for yearbook photos! Due Monday, April 24th at midnight. Upload link: https://uploads.picabooyearbooks.com/9688383 
- Recent photos from this school year  - Group photos should include RMS students only (no friends from other schools) - Please send publication-quality photos, no blurry or low-resolution pics. - Note student name(s) when uploading
The RMS Yearbook Committee thanks you!

The PTO is moving to Google Meet for it's monthly meetings. If you have a link saved, please update it to meet.google.com/skg-ximp-oyr for future meetings. The final PTO meeting of this school year is on Tuesday, May 16th, at 6:30pm. We will vote on 2023-24 PTO leadership, draft transition plans, and continue our planning and budget discussions.  

There's one more Teacher Appreciation event scheduled for this school year. If you'd like to help out, please email Jennifer Rickards at jennifer.l.rickards@gmail.com.