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, June 3, 2022
Important Dates
June 10 - The Return of Colors Day
June 15 - 8th grade celebration and trip to Storrs Pond
June 15 - 7th grade to Silver Lake
June 16 - Last Day for Students
August 31 - First Day of 2022-2023 for students
Thoughts from the Front Office
Dear Parents/Caregivers:
As we move toward the end of the year, we get visitors! The Upper Valley Robotics club visited on Friday at lunch, sharing robots they design, build, and control as a part of regional and national competitions. Our students had fun watching science in action.
We welcomed incoming students from the Ray and Marion Cross schools this week, showing again how are almost ready to transition to summer and on to the next grade.
As a part of our transitions we will also hold a celebration for our 8th grade students on Wednesday, June 15th. Scheduled as an in school event which allows the class and teachers to collectively celebrate their journey together (we will live steam should anyone else like to watch), it is consciously low key - casual dress, students, only, no awards or certificates. Brought on last year due to circumstances, we found that to have students collectively celebrate each other (students are recognized only as homeroom groups and there are no times where individuals are highlighted) was an authentically middle school moment. Introducing more people into the celebration increases anxiety among a larger number of students than many realize. In addition, health and infections continue to be a concern (our attendance numbers back that up).
While we understand the feeling of missing out that can accompany this, we feel the current structure is the best way to honor all students together and equally while hopefully lessening anxiety that can come with a grade transition (often this anxiety from students during graduation is one of the underreported parts of these transitions). As one of our teachers stated, "it is a time for them to celebrate with their people." The class will then go to Storrs Pond, as a class, thanks to the PTO, where their celebration of what they have accomplished will continue.
We are into single digits left in the school year and the energy is palpable. Please enjoy it, and the weekend. Be well, stay safe, and take care of each other.
Tim Boyle
Principal
Anissa Morrison
Associate Principal
School News & InformationRMS Cafe View the monthly menu. Please pay off any negative Mealtime balances before the end of the school year. The cafe will take steps to remind students that they have negative balances or positive balances too low to pay the current purchase. If you have any questions, please contact Janice Starkey in the main office.
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. |
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Library News
This summer the RMS library will be open for students on Tuesdays from 9:00 to 12:00. Kids will be able to check books out, read, play chess, do jigsaw puzzles, and use the Makerspace. Makerspace activities will include duct tape, 3D pens, slime making, friendship bracelets and more. All students attending RMS this year or next year are welcome. If younger siblings want to attend, they must be accompanied by an adult. Please note that we will not be open August 30th, which is a teacher inservice day.
Also, starting June 13th, students will be able to check out up to 10 books over the summer. Books can be kept for the entire summer and returned when school starts again, or they can be exchanged during the summer at open library hours. Students going into 9th grade may borrow books and return them to the High School. In order to borrow books, students must have returned all books borrowed during the current school year. They must also be planning to return to the Dresden School District next year. Summer books must be returned before new books can be checked out in the fall. We charge a $10 fee for lost books.
If you have any questions, please email the librarian, Chris Putnam-Pouliot: chrisputnampouliot@
Kids and Co is Back!
Hi RMS Community, I am excited to announce that our Kids & Company (Kids & Co) class will be returning in fall 2022 at Richmond Middle School. This quarter (Sept 9th - Oct 28th), the class time will be 8:15 am - 10:30 am on Fridays. We are currently seeking children to join our class! Eligible children should be potty trained and between the ages of 2-5. If you are interested, or know someone that may be interested, please e-mail Katie Urquhart at katherineurquhart@
Materials Needed for Colors Day
Elizabeth Darlington is looking for donations for a Colors Day Activity. If you have any scrapbooking materials such as: different types of scissors, glue sticks, stickers, fun paper, glitter glue, washi tape, double sided scotch tape, interesting markers, drawing paper, colored pencils, quotes stickers and any magazines that you would like to donate, all would be most welcome. Thank you!
We've had to scale back on our Recycled Runway activity a bit this year, so instead of crafting an outfit, students will be creating a hat (or crown, tiara, fascinator, head-dress, etc) in their team color to be judged by unbiased staff members. If you have any clean boxboard, or craft supplies hanging about your home, please allow us to put them to good use. Pipe cleaners, feathers, ribbon, tissue paper, artificial flowers, or anything that might look fab on a hat would be greatly appreciated. I'll leave a crate on the bench in the office to deposit donations. Thank you (Colors Day colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Maroon, White, Black and Pink!)
Student Council Events
Colors Day is Coming Be prepared for your kids to ask you to find crazy items in purple, pink, red, maroon, orange yellow, black, white, green or blue as they are beginning to prepare for Colors Day, back again after a two year absence.
Colors Day is an enhanced "field day" of sorts scheduled for Friday June 10th. Kids will be choosing from nearly 25 different activities in addition to the 10 team activities. Teams are led by 8th grade "captains".
There are a few things that we need from parents:
1) Colors Day Car Wash-Saturday June 4th 10:00-12:00. Part of the team captains job is to help raise the money needed to buy supplies for Colors Day. The Car Wash should do it. Perfect time to clean off the pollen and dead bugs on your car. We will vacuum as well! Car Wash will be in front of RMS.
2) Parent Volunteers I am looking for someone who loves to play Poker (one of our activities). Poker Chips and cool green dealer hats will be provided. Contact Mr LaCrosse if you might be interested. We may also be looking for a couple of Wii video game sets to borrow as that is another one of our activities.
The outcome of last week’s community meeting about the 2019 survey from the state of VT are available below. Mitigating Risks Through Community Building
Parent Resources
Links to parent resources aimed specifically at Middle School aged students.
View information from Parent Roundtable on Device and Internet Usage Link.
SUMMER CAMPS: Please see our community resources page for more information on many camps and opportunities. https://www.frms.org/
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.
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.
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
PTO Bulletin Board
Your last minute donations to 8th grade end-of-year activities are still greatly appreciated! The PTO recently had to apply for a grant to cover last-minute expenses related to these events, so we thank you for your continued support.
Donations to support PTO initiatives can be made via PayPal at https://paypal.me/FRMSPTO?
Please take a moment to visit and "like" the PTO on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
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”
