A Message from the Student, Teacher, Parent Committee (STPC) Hello from STPC! First, our wholehearted thanks to the RVMS teachers and staff who have continued to create such a unique and inspiring culture for our children at Rincon Valley Middle School. You are appreciated! Our school will receive newsletters monthly sharing the scoop for events, activities, photos, and any fun news. Our new RVMS website continues to become more and more complete as the school year progresses. Be sure to regularly visit the Parent/STPC tab, as it is updated with the latest news for you. There is also a link to contact me directly, should you have any 1 September - October 2017 Events • Sept. 15 (Fri.) - 3:15-5:15 p.m. Welcome Back Dance • Sept. 28 (Thurs.) - Picture Make-up day • Oct. 5 (Thurs.) - STPC meeting 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. • Oct. 13 (Fri.) - End of 1st Quarter • Oct. 20 (Fri.) - Sport-A-Rama Night * Sports schedules on page 3 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR RVMS FAMILIES SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 The Falcons Gazette Published by the Student, Teacher, Parent Committee (STPC) Rincon Valley Middle School 4650 Badger Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95409 rinconvalleymiddleschool.com, T:(707)528-5255 RVMS students reach out to Hurricane Harvey victims. More on Page 9!
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A Message from the Student, Teacher, Parent Committee (STPC) Hello from STPC!
First, our wholehearted thanks to the RVMS teachers and staff who have continued to create such a unique and inspiring culture for our children at Rincon Valley Middle School. You are appreciated!
Our school will receive newsletters monthly sharing the scoop for events, activities, photos, and any fun news. Our new RVMS website continues to become more and more complete as the school year progresses. Be sure to regularly visit the Parent/STPC tab, as it is updated with the latest news for you. There is also a link to contact me directly, should you have any
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September - October 2017
Events
• Sept. 15 (Fri.) - 3:15-5:15 p.m. Welcome Back Dance
Volunteering opportunities are endless. You will be regularly receiving RVMS emails from Katie Ruppe, our Volunteer Coordinator, sharing opportunities to participate with our students in current school events. Our principal, Mr. Navarro, will also be sending out bi-weekly emails with school updates. If you are not receiving these notices, please let me know. I will get your email address added to the list :)
A big shout out to our STPC newsletter/website editor, Miu Dieter. Thanks for taking the lead and volunteering your time to keep the entire school connected with communication!
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us, as STPC is always here and happy to be of help. Cheers to a fantastic 2017-18 year to come for our children!
Warmly,
STPC President Shaina Sovel, [email protected] 707-815-1548 RVMS STPC Webpage Link
Volunteers & Donations needed ASAP! We would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out at the beginning of the year, including at Orientation, First Day of school and P.E. clothes stenciling. Thanks to your help, we were able to get off to a great start to the new school year. Below are some upcoming volunteer opportunities at our school. Please see how you can help. Thank you for your continued support!
Volunteers & Donations for 9/15 Dance: The first school dance is tomorrow, and we still need some volunteers and donations! Sign up by clicking here. Thank you to all parents who have donated items. Your donation will be used to stock our snack bar and save us money from dance related expenses. Below are the areas we still need to fill: ๏ 1 more person for Dance Chaperone ๏ 3 more people for Jumpy House
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VISIT THE WEBSITE RVMS school website has all the information you need! - Attendance, calendar, homework, Principal's messages, staff directory and more!
PARENTS' PAGE!! Don't forget to also check out the Parents' page of the school website. You can find the latest info on volunteering, donations, and other important notices and news.
USE THE STUDENT PLANNER!
The Student Planner is a useful tool for your student AND parents to stay organized and informed! Here's a PDF file of the planner.
PARKING LOT COURTESY
Please be mindful of other drivers on Badger Rd. and Middle Rincon Rd. We are all in a hurry, but not at the expense of our children's safety.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR RVMS FAMILIES SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
๏ Cornhole Game Supervision ๏ Pickle Ball Supervision ๏ 7 more people to donate 12-pack case of Orange Soda in cans ๏ 11 more people to donate 12-pack case of Dr. Pepper in cans ๏ 6 more people to donate
12-pack case of Root Beer in cans
๏ 4 more people to donate 12-pack case of Sprite in cans
๏ 4 more people to donate Costco case of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (36 count)
๏ 4 more people to donate Costco case of Sour Skittles (24 count)
๏ 3 more people to donate Costco case of Kitkat (36 count)
๏ 3 more people to donate Costco case of Starbursts (36 count)
Volunteer 9/23, 9/24: RVMS Counselor Mrs. Wilkins has requested parent volunteers to help with lunch for the students being trained to become Safe School Ambassadors. Click here if you can help. ๏ Sept. 25 (Mon.) 11:15-12:30 - 2 more people to help with
lunch set-up. ๏ Sept. 26 (Tues.) 11:45-1:00 - 2 more people to help with lunch
set-up.
💃RVMS Dance!" RVMS Dances are held on campus, right after school. There are games, snacks, a Jumpy House, and of course lots of dancing! Don't forget to wear old socks! Below are some things to remember:
✦ You must have a full day's school attendance the day of the dance in order to participate.
✦ Tickets for the dances are sold during lunch breaks only. Sales begin
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RVMS Athletics Calendar
*Athletic information can be found by clicking here.
two weeks before the dance and stop two days before the event.
✦ Plan to purchase a ticket early to avoid the last minute rush and increased ticket price.
✦ No tickets are sold on the day of the dance because of security concerns.
✦ Your student I.D. card must be presented when purchasing a ticket and on the day of the dance.
✦ Dances start immediately following the school day. Early exits from the dance are permitted with prior arrangements. However, students may be dismissed from the dance and parents contacted if any school rules are violated. Please make appropriate arrangements for transportation home prior to the scheduled dance hours. Backpacks should be left in the hall lockers.
*All school rules apply at dances, including the dress code! - RVMS Student Planner
Staying Connected Are you getting emails from the school and the STPC? Email is the main method of communication between the school and the parent community. If you are NOT getting the Principal’s messages and other communications from the school, or emails from the STPC, please email Volunteer Coordinator Katie Ruppe at [email protected]. If you know any fellow RVMS parents who are having trouble receiving school communications, please let them know!
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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR RVMS FAMILIES SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
What to Know About Grades at RVMS - From the Student Planner
1st Quarter Quarter ends October 13, 2017 2nd Quarter Quarter ends December 22, 2017 3rd Quarter Quarter ends March 16, 2018 4th Quarter Quarter ends June 1, 2018
ORAL GRADES Oral grades are reported to students the fifth week of each quarter. If you receive a C- or lower, a progress report will be sent home.
REPORT CARDS Report cards are distributed approximately 2 weeks after the quarter ends.
CALCULATING YOUR GPA For the purpose of calculating Grade Point Averages, the grading system is as follows: A = 4 points B = 3 points C = 2 points. D=1 point F= 0 point
PARENTS! Please ask your student to tell you their grades during the week they are issued (See dates above). Please check the Illuminate Ed Parent Portal for quarter grades the week after each grading period. Do not wait for grades to be mailed home, as this may be too late to intervene if a student is struggling. All students receive grades during the weeks posted above from each of their teachers.
HONOR SOCIETY For the purpose of calculating Grade Point Averages for Honor Society Eligibility, the student needs a total of 12 points on their semester report card. The Honor Society Grading system is as follows: A= 3 points B= 1 point
Parent Portal (Formerly HAC) How to access your student's grades and information online Over the summer, the Santa Rosa City Schools district rolled over student data from eSchools PLUS and replaced the Home Access Center (HAC) with Illuminate Education's Home Connection Parent Portal. This new system houses all the day-to-day student data, such as attendance, grades, emergency/health records, master schedules, standardized and diagnostic test scores, and student behavior information. It is designed to allow our teachers and staff to gather, organize, and analyze data to ensure all our students’ needs are met, and to provide families with a more user-friendly, and smartphone-friendly tools to track student progress and communicate with teachers.
To login to the new student information system for the first time, you will need your access code. Check your email for your access code by searching your email account for: Parent Portal. If you didn’t receive an email for the access code, or if you are having trouble, contact our RVMS Registrar, Jessica Selinger at [email protected] or call 528-5038. If you do not have an email on file, you will receive activation information via U.S. mail.
‣ Once you have your unique access code, go to: https://srcs.illuminatehc.com/login
‣ For more information on setting up your account, click on the following links: SRCS Parent Portal (English) SRCS Parent Portal (Spanish)
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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR RVMS FAMILIES SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
HOMEWORK CLUB Does your student struggle with homework? We offer homework club every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:10-4:10 in the school library. Teachers are always available to assist your students with any homework they have!
Noontime Fun! RVMS students study hard but play hard too! Fun
activities are planned during lunchtime. Recently the kids played a life size version of hungry hungry hippos! - Photo by RVMS P.E. & Leadership Teacher Jay Meyer,
Be Ready for Next Fall! Open Enrollment Info Attention families of 8th graders & 6th graders! The 2018 Open Enrollment for students NOT living in the boundaries of Rincon Valley Middle School is from October 1st through November 17, 2017. Information on the Open Enrollment process is currently available at: www.srcs.k12.ca.us (scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the “enrollment” link.) ➡ Incoming 6th to 7th graders will need to apply online at
www.srcs.k12.ca.us between Oct. 1 and Nov. 17 for entrance into RVMS 7th grade.
➡ Current 7th graders enrolled at RVMS don’t need to do anything for 8th grade. (They will need to apply for high school during the fall of their 8th grade year.)
➡ Current 8th graders will need to apply online at www.srcs.k12.ca.us between Oct.1 and Nov. 17 for high school placement. Once placed in high school, they will not need to apply again.
➡ Open enrollment is by school. So enrollment is for elementary, middle and high schools. *Example: A family would need to apply 3 times for:
1. Elementary School (kindergarten- 6th grade) 2. Middle School (7th and 8th grades) 3. High School (9th – 12th grades)
➡ If applications are made during the Oct. 1 – Nov. 17 timeframe they are automatically accepted if there is space at the requested school.
➡ Applications made outside of the designated timeframe will not be accepted.
➡ If you have questions, or if you need more information call Student and Family Engagement Office (SAFE) at 528-5137.
★ Information Night Nov. 2, 6 p.m. @ RVMS main Gym. Please call 707-528-5255 for more information.
Attention 8th Grade Families! Is Your 8th Grader Interested in Shadowing @ Maria Carrillo High School? Maria Carrillo High School is offering shadowing opportunities for potential PUMAS. Shadowing appointments need to be made a week in advance between September 12, 2017 and November 17, 2017. Please contact MCHS Registrar Ann Janes at 528-5521 to make an appointment.
Join us!
We still have open positions on the STPC Board. Please consider diving in to help our school! A volunteer once said something that is relevant to us all in the RVMS community. The gist was: “This is a two year school, if you wait around to feel comfortable before diving in to help, you will never do it.” For many of us who are inclined to help, whether in social clubs, charities or elementary schools, we spend a year or two as general members or with limited involvement and only take on a meaningful role when we feel comfortable with the organization and its members. At RVMS we do not have that luxury. RVMS has a completely new board every two years, thus making it critical that parent-volunteers dive in right away to ensure knowledge transfer and continuity. This continuity is critical to the teachers and staff so they can continue to count on the many wonderful programs STPC provides or supports at RVMS, including Sport-A-Rama, Color Teams, Intramurals, Honor Society trips, Dances, and support for every academic department. Help us make sure that we leave RVMS teachers and staff well supported and in capable hands. It is truly a situation where many hands make light work. Open positions for next year include:
Co-Treasurer – Manages the STPC Funds with current Treasurer Renaissance Chair – Organizes lunch and activities for Renaissance students. Coordinates with staff and volunteers to put together events. Intramural Sports Coordinator – Works with RVMS staff to coordinate lunches and special events for Intramural Sports. Grocery Loyalty / Escrip Coordinator - Works with Escrip
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WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? Click here to see the cafeteria lunch menu for this month.
SPIRIT WEEK! "Spirit Week" is scheduled for Sept. 25-29. Look out for more info coming soon!
What is "Renaissance"? The Renaissance Program celebrates student academic achievement . Students who have earned a 3.0 to 4.0 GPA (grade point average) in a semester. Renaissance students enjoy lunchtime treats and activities.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR RVMS FAMILIES SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK!
Order now for $45. Early Bird Special ends 9/29/17! Click here for the flyer.
businesses, Amazon Smile, etc to receive donations, signs up new members and reports to the STPC.
If you can help, or know anyone who can, please contact STPC President Shaina Sovel at [email protected]
Every Dollar Counts! Our Family Giving Campaign benefits ALL students this year Through the generosity of the Family Giving Campaign donations, Rincon Valley Middle School has a chance to fulfill the teachers “Wish Lists” through the STPC board. To date, 109 families have pledged $26,240 towards our $50,000 goal. Together, we can make a difference for our kids, if we all give what we can. All monies raised will benefit all kids enrolled at Rincon Valley Middle School this year! Thank you to those of you who have already donated! 2017-2018 List of donors.
WHAT - Last school year, the STPC was able to fund through your donation:
• Three new sets of History Atlas for the History department • A chrome cart with new computers enabling the students'
access to new technology • New instrument cases, a Gong, Chimes and additional
supplies for Band Department • 5 IPAD minis for the Drama Department
Please consider donating today so that we can continue to offer educational programs at RVMS this school year.
HOW? - Donating is easy! ‣ Online: You can donate online by
clicking on the PayPal button on the right. ➡
‣ Check: Click here for the Family Giving Campaign donation form, make a check out to RVMS-STPC & write “FGC” in the notation space. Donations may be dropped off anytime in the school office, or mailed to: STPC c/o RVMS, 4650 Badger Rd., SR 95409
‣ Use Company Match!: If your company offers a matching
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https://paypal.me/rvmsfgc
Team Chloe Fundraiser Please help support Chloe Smith, an 8th grader at RVMS who is facing a long & arduous journey after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of childhood bone cancer Osteosarcoma. There will be a fundraiser event with food, drinks, music & dancing on Sept. 16 (Sat.), 5:30-9:30 p.m. If you'd like to purchase a ticket ($30 per ticket), please email [email protected] You can also donate at https:www.gofundme.com/goteamchloe
Cell Phone Usage @ School
The Board of Education allows limited use of cell phones on a middle school campus. They can only be used before and after school (unless authorized by a staff member for academic purpose). They may NOT be carried by a student during the day, even if the device is turned off. Cell phones must be turned off and kept in lockers. They cannot be used in Detention, Monday School or Homework Club. Violations may result in confiscation and/or further disciplinary actions. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen cell phones. Students bring cell phones to school at their own risk.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR RVMS FAMILIES SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
LETTERS TO HURRICANE HARVEY VICTIMS “By being helpful to others, do we help ourselves?" 7th grade science classes learning
about "stress" reaches out to Houston area kids.
In 7th grade Science, students have been learning about stress and its effects, and about ways to bounce back from difficult situations. After Hurricane Harvey, RVMS Science Teacher Linn Briner couldn't get off her heart the havoc the storm wreaked in the Houston area and wanted to reach out to the kids that have had their lives turned upside down by this disaster. "One of the ways that builds our resilience is by being helpful to others. One of my students asked whether by helping others we help ourselves?" says Mrs. Briner. So in her science classes, she had her students write notes to 7th grade students affected in the Houston area. She plans to send the RVMS students' letters to one of the public schools in the hardest hit area.
"It's win-win," Mrs. Briner explains about the letter-writing program. "I overheard a student say how good it felt to be writing these notes."
If you'd like to help out students and teachers in the Houston area, Mrs. Briner suggests this link: donorschoose.org/hurricane-harvey 100% of the money will go directly to classrooms." To contact Mrs. Briner, email [email protected]
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR RVMS FAMILIES SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
Your Voice Matters! The STPC serves as a bridge between the school and the parent community. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please contact us! You can email STPC President Shaina Sovel at [email protected] or Vice President Ananda Sweet at [email protected].
Our newsletter, the Falcons Gazette, is sent out monthly via email. It contains news, updates and highlights of all things RVMS! We hope the newsletter will help families stay connected and informed so we can continue to be involved in our kids' lives. Suggestions for topics you'd like to see in the newsletter? Contact Miu Dieter at [email protected].
September 2017 Falcons Gazette
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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR RVMS FAMILIES SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
Tips for Academic Success From the Counseling Office
Transitioning from elementary school to middle school can be a big shock for some students. Here are some helpful tips:
Staying organized is the greatest challenge for 12 and 13 year old students. You can help them by:
Making sure your student uses the school planner to record homework assignments every day Making sure their binders are organized! Have your students clean out and reorganize their lockers every Friday!
