The RMS Newsletter March 2016
Dear RMS Parents/Guardians,
March is coming in like a roaring lion and winter is still upon us. Spring will find us busy. Our students are preparing for various assessments that will assist with providing the best placements for next year, spring sports begin March 7th, and we will have our annual school wide Spring Musical March 10, 11, and 12.
This year’s Spring Musical is “Robin Hood”. The RMS musical has been an annual event for several years and is a highlight for our students. As you will observe, the show is filled with enthusiasm and excitement that exemplifies Middle School student energy throughout the production.
Many hours of planning and development have gone into this wonderful production. The cast and support staff have dedicated their time after school and weekends to bring this entertaining comedy to life. The cast and students have put a lot of time and effort into this production. I am appreciative of the leadership of the director, David Reif, the producer, Brian Dietzler, the Music Director, Heather Spindel, and the countless behind-‐the-‐scene folks who have helped to bring this to fruition. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge all of the parent volunteers who have helped during practices, built sets, created costumes, and supplied endless snacks. This truly is a collaboration and celebration of parents, students and staff. The show will be another blast!
Please find time in your busy schedules to join us at one of the three shows so you can witness for yourself the hard work that has gone into making this production a memorable experience for our students. Thank you for your awesome support of our RMS Fine Arts Program.
Thinking Spring,
Esther M. Purnell
IMPORTANT Future Planner Note: PSSAs are just around the corner: English/Language Arts assessments for 6th thru 8th grade will take place in on April 12th-‐15th. Math assessments for 6th thru 8th grade will take place on April 19th-‐21st. The PSSA Science testing for all 8th grade students will take place on April 27th and 28th . Make-‐Ups will start on open dates immediately following each assessment.
It is required that all students take all sections of the PSSAs. Please avoid making appointments during the school day throughout these testing periods. Students will be required to make up any missed sections of the PSSA.
No Child Left Behind legislation has placed a greater emphasis on standardized testing. One result is that PSSA scores will have a direct bearing on some middle and high school course placements. Please encourage your child to come to school rested and ready to perform to the best of their ability.
8th Grade Course Selection for Radnor High School:
Teachers are currently recommending 8th graders for their 9th grade classes. Teachers will recommend RHS courses based on your child’s test scores, ability, and current performance in RMS classes. Core course recommendations will be available on HAC using individual student passwords. Mr. Diehl will be meeting with all 8th graders in classroom groups and with individual students and/or parents to answer any additional questions or concerns. All course selection forms must be returned to the Guidance office.
From the Nurse…
Trivia Question:
Starting in the 2011-2012 school year, every child entering school (K-12) needs how many doses of Varicella (Chicken Pox) Vaccine?
Answer: Two doses of Chicken Pox Vaccine (Varicella) are required for every school aged child K-12 or proof of the disease date.
• Since new immunizations regulations went into effect last
year, some of you will be receiving letters about vaccine updates your child may be missing. It is possible that your child has had the shots but that we have not received the documentation. Please know that when we send out letters and make phone calls it is only because we do not have the required information about your child.
• For questions about Pennsylvania State immunization
mandates please refer to the RTSD website or contact the nurse’s office at 610.386.6300 (X7107).
Opportunity Knocks: RMS's Integrated Programs
The time has come to start thinking about next year and the exciting opportunities that await RMS students in our nationally recognized integrated programs. The options are: Crossroads (6th), Watershed (7th), Gateways and Soundings (8th). In April, students will learn about their integrated options for the following year. The schedule for these presentations will be posted on the RMS website, and parents will be encouraged to attend these sessions as well. In the meantime, we suggest you go to the Integrated Department website to learn more about what integrated learning is: RMS Integrated Department From there, you will also be able to access information on each of the individual programs.
Art Department News!!
Radnor School District Art Show
To celebrate Youth Art Month, the Art Department will host an exhibit of student work from March 3rd to March 31st in the lobby of Radnor High School. Featured will be the work of students in grades K-12.
The reception for artists, families and friends will be held March 17th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
As a family of one of our RMS artists we will welcome you to attend.
We are proud of the work done by our Radnor Middle School students and look forward to seeing you at the reception.
Mr. McLaughlin and Mrs. Barwick-Collins
From The Music Department…
Band Students Represent RMS in Annual Festivals Schuylkill Valley Area Band
Twenty 7th & 8th grade band students will proudly represent RMS in the 45th annual Schuylkill Valley Area Band Festival hosted this year at Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School. Students from seven area middle schools will combine to form a large concert band of full instrumentation over three days of rehearsals. An evening concert will be performed on Friday, March 4, 2016.
The festival provides the opportunity for participating students to learn and play challenging band repertoire as an extension of their respective band programs of their home schools. In addition to playing together with peers of similar interest and ability, the students also gain the experience of playing under the batons of each the participating school's directors. Radnor Middle School is a founding member of SVAB.
Radnor Middle School participants were:
8th Grade – Annabel Zhao and Grace Speranza, flute; Stephanie Huang and Anna Maria Iaramboykov, clarinet; Leo Luan and Amia Korman, alto saxophone; Tim Holtman, tenor saxophone; Ryan Oliver, Mehek Thapar and Courtney Gallagher, trumpet; Gnanesh Gutta, horn; Andrew Choi, Yuh Kurose and Lu Mackenzie, tuba; and Nicholas Speranza, percussion. 7th Grade – Gavin Yuan and Sumi Jung, clarinet; Max Curello, bass clarinet; Carter Young, horn, and Tova Tachau, trombone.
17th Annual PMEA Delco Intermediate Band Fest
Radnor Middle School was represented by eight 6th grade band students in the
17th Annual Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 12 Delco Intermediate Band Fest on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at the Strath Haven Middle School. The Band Fest is a one-‐day event comprised of over 100 advancing fifth and sixth grade band students from elementary and middle schools throughout Delaware County. The participating students joined together for a full day of rehearsal and an evening concert. The guest conductor for the festival was Dr. William Stowman, from Messiah College.
RMS sixth grade band participants were: Vera Castro and Norah Kaplan, oboe; Zachary Moffa, bassoon; Hyunjun Park, clarinet; Kyle Leighton and Joelle Suh, trumpet; Parker Drew, trombone; and Ethan Gutsche, percussion.
News From the Library
On March 2nd, Radnor Middle School, along with schools across the country, celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday. As part of the celebration,
many classes signed up to host guest readers from Radnor High School. Over 300 students came to the library for read-‐a-‐louds by Mrs. Purnell, Mrs. Horan, and other RMS teachers. Students also participated in a Dr. Seuss trivia contest in their Advisory classes. The Advisory from each grade who had the most questions correct earned a Seuss related prize. At 2:00pm staff and students across the district participated in Read Across Radnor. In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday many classes stopped what they were doing at 2pm and read for 5 to 10 minutes. New this year, students were able to have their photos taken at the Dr. Seuss Photo Booth with many Seuss themed props.
News From Magistra Brown… "During the second semester, Magistra Brown's 8th grade Latin class is participating in a "buddy program" with Mrs. Copolla's 5th grade class at WES. For February, we created Valentine's bags loaded with hand-‐made cards with Latin expressions, clementines, organic cookies, and Classical Fax about the life of Saint Valentine and the origins and customs of Valentine's Day." __________________________________________
Upcoming Spring Sports
During the spring, Radnor Middle School offers boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, girls’ lacrosse, boys' and girls' track, and boys’ tennis (all have separate teams for seventh and eighth grades except track). In order to tryout/participate in an interscholastic sport, a student must have a physical form signed and dated by a doctor. Practices/Tryouts for baseball and softball begin Monday, March 7th and all other sports begin Monday, March 14th, so please call your doctor early --- TRYOUTS WILL NOT BE EXTENDED FOR LATE ARRIVALS.
*** If your child played a fall or winter sport at the Middle School, the physical on file will cover the spring sport as well, but page 6 of the PIAA form must be completed by the parent. If you indicate an injury or illness on page 7, a new physical is required. If your child did not play a fall or winter sport, a physical form (available on the M.S. website) must be completed and returned to the coach before the first practice.
If you have any questions about Middle School athletics, email George Hahn, Athletic Director, at [email protected] . Directions to away games, game schedules, and physical forms are available online at http://www.rtsd.org/domain/339.