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 Monday Message September 1, 2025
Important Dates
- Tuesday, September 2nd After school study begins, please see below for details
- Wednesday, September 3rd 6th grade school pictures
- Thursday, September 4th 7th grade school pictures
- Thursday, September 4th 5-7 pm Open School
- Friday, September 5th Peak Day each grade level team will hike an area peak.
- Monday, September 8th, 8th grade school picture
- Friday, September 19th First Social 7-8:30 pm
Principal's Message
The return of Richmond's talented educators and energetic students has filled our school with incredible energy! During this first week, we've focused on establishing routines and setting clear expectations within our homeroom and classroom communities.
This week, we're expanding our relationship-building efforts with a new tradition: Peak Day. Inspired by the 7th-grade teams, Summit and Adventure, and their annual climb of Holt's Ledges, all three grade levels will be hiking a local mountain this year.
-
Our eighth-grade students will take on the challenge of climbing Cardigan Mountain in Canaan.
-
The seventh grade will return to their tradition of hiking Holt's Ledges.
-
The sixth-grade students will spend their Friday afternoon exploring the RMS neighborhood with a climb up Balch Hill.
Open School: Thursday evening, September 4th RMS hosts a casual back to school event allowing students to share RMS with family. Between 5-7pm teachers welcome students and their families for an informal meet and greet. The goal of this event is to make a connection not a formal overview of the course or individual student conference. Individual course descriptions can be found on Schoology or may be included in a teacher’s introductory email. Adding to the celebratory nature of Open School there will be an ice cream pop up hosted by Hanover’s Berkshire Hathaway Verani Realty Team and Coldstone Creamery. Thank you to former RMS parent Lori Shipulski and her teammates for organizing this event.
After school study begins this Tuesday, September 2nd. After school study is a free and flexible option for students to use library resources, complete homework, or connect with friends. After school study happens on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons between 3:00 and 5:00.
School News and Information
School Photos
School photos are scheduled to be taken on 9/3/25, 9/4/25 and 9/8/25 for 6th, 7th and 8th grade respectively. As photos will be taken outside, if we anticipate inclement weather, we will reschedule.
Please take a minute to fill out this form if you would like to see and/or purchase school photos this year. Our photographer will send an electronic album of proofs to you once they are processed. Filling out this form does not obligate you to any purchase.
Counselor’s Corner
RMS welcomes Kim Bragg to our school counseling team. Kim lives in the Lake Sunapee region and comes to us from Simonds Elementary School. Kim is the assigned counselor for students K-Z. Please do not hesitate to contact either school counselor with questions or concerns. School counselors often serve as liaisons between the teaching teams and families.
RMS Technology
Our New RUP and TOS
Welcome back RMS families! The year is in full swing and the RMS technology has been cleaned up, booted up, and prepped for another great year. I want to introduce and provide links to two important documents that describe the Responsible Use of SAU 70 network, devices, and systems. Your student(s) are learning about the new districtwide Responsible Use Policy (RUP) in homerooms this and next week. I encourage you to spend some time reading the new RUP along with your student to set them up for success this year. The second document is a Terms of Service description specific to communications systems.
Chromebook or other device damage
One of the principles of responsible device use is keeping hardware physically safe. We know that accidents do happen and we all work to minimize the likelihood of accidental damage, however if a student damages a device while mistreating it, we may need to reach out for reimbursement of the cost for repair or replacement. Thank you for your support at home in helping our students continue to be responsible users of technology.
Technology Help
If you or your student(s) has technology questions, please send an email to helpdesk@
PowerSchool and Schoology
This summer we began syncing user accounts from PowerSchool to Schoology. Be sure you are accessing your Schoology account with the same credentials as logging into the PowerSchool Parent Portal. This will automatically associate you with your student(s). If you don’t see your student accessible in your account, try your PowerSchool login or reach out to the help desk.
Tom Hermanson
Digital Learning Specialist
Athletics and Co-Curriculars
My name is Brandon Hannon, I am the new Director of Athletics and Co-curricular Programs at Richmond Middle School. I am excited for the opportunity to build our Athletics Programs and provide this opportunity to our students! I have been a Head Track & Field Coach for the past 10 years, coaching both Indoor and Outdoor Track at Windham High and before that Pelham High. In addition to coaching I taught high school Chemistry at both Windham and Pelham. Over the summers, I serve as the Activity Development Director at YMCA Camp Lawrence in Meredith. I earned my BS in Exercise and Sports Science from Fitchburg State University where I competed on the Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track teams (GO FALCONS!!).
Athletics and extra-curriculars are an incredibly important part of students' development. These activities allow students to learn in a more informal setting and make connections with peers in a way that can be difficult to do in a classroom setting. Students learn the skills of teamwork, resilience. On a team success and failure is not about the individual. Everyone must contribute and strive to be the best they can be in order to succeed as a team. Regardless of whether students participate on the field, court, or stage, the experiences and life skills they learn is incredible. I look forward to getting to know the students, families, and community here at RMS! (GO GEESE!!!)
Important Information
Sports at RMS will be starting up with Basketball during the winter season. We will be meeting throughout the fall in order to develop our athletics programs. I will send out more information as our programs develop.
Student opportunity: Any students interested in getting involved in building a community garden at RMS should reach out to Mr Butler. We are looking to have our first meeting in a couple of weeks.
Club Updates
Some clubs are already underway for the year! Robotics had their info meeting on Tuesday Night. They will be looking to defend their back to back State Titles this year! Their 1st practice is Monday, 9/8 from 3:00-5:30pm. Applications for Robotics are due by Tuesday, 9/2.
Any questions can be directed to Club Advisors: Tom Hermanson and Jess Holmes
All other clubs are still finalizing their start dates. Those will be sent out in the coming weeks!
Training Tip of the Week
Hydration!!! Everyone loves to drink water during a practice, but don’t forget to hydrate in the hours leading up to practice. The American Council on Exercise recommends drinking 17-20 ounces of water a few hours before practice and 8 ounces of water 20-30 minutes before practice.
Health Office Updates
RMS is fortunate to have a talented registered nurse to support our school community. Abby Pelletier manages daily medications, student illness and injury, immunization data, organizes flu clinics, conducts student health screenings, and so much more. Please contact Nurse Abby with any health related questions.
Calling all Volunteers!
Interested in helping with health screenings? Want to lend a hand with theatre productions? Not sure of your availability but are still interested in hearing about upcoming volunteer opportunities? Please take a minute to fill out our annual intake form - by doing so we are able to streamline our volunteer program and let you know of opportunities that speak to your strengths and interests.
RMS Cafe
Information about menus, mealtime, and application for RMS’ meal program are on the FRMS website. The RMS lunch program is run “in house” and does not follow a state or federal program. If your family may benefit from assistance for meals, please contact Robin Morley-Ploof in the office for more information. The program is confidential and runs the same way as the more traditional cafe meal funding program.
RMS works hard to accommodate the dietary needs of our community, so if you have any questions, concerns, please contact Austin Jacobs.
PTO Update
Open School “After Party” at Ramuntos
Following Thursday, September 4th Open School, head to Ramuntos for dinner to reconnect with our community, welcome new families, and support the PTO. If you mention Richmond Middle School, 25% of dine in and take out sales will be donated to the PTO.
For more information about the PTO, including how you can get involved and donate, visit the RMS PTO website.
Important Links
- District Transportation
- RMS Cafe
- Community Interest
- Board Meetings On Demand
- District Calendar
- Simbli: Our Board Governance Software Soliutuion