Good afternoon RMS Families!
It’s that time of year already, if you can believe it. I’m excited to start this year and welcome everyone to RMS!
For this year’s back to school letter, I’ve drafted a short and sweet version for those who just need the dates and basics as well as a longer, more in-depth version for those who have new students or who would like as much information as possible. Feel free to read whichever draft best fits your needs:
Just the Basics:
Attached is our Welcome Back Letter including info on schedules posting, first day of school, and Back to School Night.
Bell Schedules- Our bell schedules are on our website (Note there is a different schedule for Wednesdays starting August 20
Student Handbook-Attached is the 25-26 student handbook which includes info about cell phones, dress code, academic expectations, school year calendar, and attendance. Please take time to read through this with your student. Teachers will also reference the handbook the first week during class.
Upcoming Dates-Please note the following dates:
August 12: Campus opens from 12-4pm. 1st period classes will be posted by the blue gates (west end).
August 13: 1st Day of School. Regular Day (not Wednesday Schedule).
August 26: Back to School Night (More information to come).
In-Depth Welcome:
Once again, I am so excited for the year to start to see everyone again and to meet all the new Bulldog kiddos and families coming for the first time. We have SO many new things happening on campus this year, and while it’s exciting seeing it all coming together, I know it can also be a bit overwhelming, especially if you are new to the whole Jr. High thing. So I thought I’d spend a bit of time answering some FAQ’s in my initial email. Please note, this will not be the last I send (ask a parent from last year). I’ll continue to send out frequent notifications throughout the year, especially at the beginning. But to keep the information manageable, for this one, I’ll just cover the basics of the first week or so. Note: This will be a long email, so I appreciate your endurance!
Am I registered/ready to start?
If you are getting this email, chances are, you’re good to go. The most important things to remember are to make sure we have copies of your IMMUNIZATION RECORDS (7th grade and new 8th graders only) in our system. If you have any questions or concerns about your status, you can call our office 661-588-6030 or email our secretary at hsergent@ruesd.net.
Important Upcoming Dates?
August 12: Campus Open from noon - 4pm: At noon on 8/12, we will post 1st period teachers for students at the blue gates on the West Side of campus. From noon - 4pm, we will open campus for a self-guided tour. Administration will be out and about periodically to answer questions. Please note, due to the nature of students having multiple teachers, this day is run differently than elementary. Our teachers may or may not be present in their classrooms during this time, but feel free to find your way around campus and locate that first classroom. The goal is to find out who their first period teacher is and then show up at that classroom first thing the following morning. 1st period teachers will then hand out the full schedule to students and help guide them to the following class. Additionally, our PTC will be present to answer any questions and have RMS apparel for sale for any students who want to get a head start on school spirit!
August 13: First day of school! Again, students will need to know who their first period teacher is (posted on blue gates by bus loop) and report there by 8:25 am. Campus opens no earlier than 8am. Students will receive their full class schedule in their 1st period class. After that, students will move from class to class based on their schedule. Our teachers and staff are very well aware that we will have students who need extra help and support getting from point A to point B throughout the day (and the week). So for parents who are sending their first student to us and are a bit stressed about all the unknowns, you’re not alone. We have a wonderful staff who will be out in full force that first week, looking for any students who are lost and may need some help. Additionally, to help ease the minds of any student, just guide them to speak to any adult on campus and ask where to go. For any unique concerns or circumstances, feel free to reach out to our office prior to the first day of school. Note: Students will be released at 3pm the first day of school (Wednesday). After that, starting 8/20, Wednesdays are early releases at 2pm.
August 26: Back to School Night - RMS will hold its Back to School Night on Monday, August 26th beginning at 5:30pm in the New Gym. (We will hold our open PTC meeting from 5:00 - 5:30 prior to the start of BTS night). More information to follow.
Pick Up and Drop Off?
We have two locations for pick ups and drop offs: 1. The Rosedale Hwy. loop (by the solar panels) and 2. The Independence Loop on Old Farm (just north of Independence). DO NOT park or drop off directly on Rosedale Hwy. or our Bus loop. It is extremely dangerous, and CHP has been known to ticket, especially at the beginning of school. We want to keep our kids safe, so please only use designated drop off locations. Also, please be kind and courteous to other drivers. It can get congested, and it will take some time at first for everyone (it will get better), so please set a good example for our children by exercising patience, kindness, and safety when driving. You may want to consider having your student use the bus to cut down on the traffic. You can find our bus schedule on our website. Please note that AM and PM routes may be different, so please check both.
Back to School Shopping: As you’re preparing for Back to School shopping, make sure to look over our Dress Code in the HANDBOOK. Please note, crocs are not allowed in addition to any footwear that can be worn as a sandal, flip flop, etc. Shorts will need to have a 3" inseam and all shirts, tops, must have a sleeve. Those are typically our biggest questions. We will have an assembly at the beginning of school to relay any specific questions about dress code to students.
That's all for now. Keep on the lookout for more information. I'm looking forward to meeting/seeing everyone very soon!