8th Grade 2026- 2027 Weekly News

Hello 8th Grade "RAM"-ilies! This newsletter contains important information and updates about our school and your student's cores classes for Q2 Week 2: October 19th- 23rd

RHMS Families,

We are officially entering Week 2 of Quarter 2, and what a great feeling it is to have our scholars back in the halls of Rogers-Herr Middle School! We hope everyone had a wonderful first week back and is settling into the routines of learning, growing, and achieving greatness!

As we move forward, our focus is on building momentum, staying consistent, and making every instructional day count. Quarter 2 is an opportunity for our scholars to continue strengthening their skills, taking ownership of their learning, and pushing themselves to reach new heights. We encourage our families to continue partnering with us by having conversations about academic progress, celebrating successes, and encouraging scholars to give their very best each day.

Attendance and On-time Arrival Matter

Families, we want to remind everyone of the importance of having all scholars on campus no later than 8:15 a.m. so they are settled and ready to begin Discovery at 8:30 a.m. Discovery is an important part of our instructional day, providing scholars with targeted remediation to strengthen skills where additional support is needed or enrichment opportunities to extend their learning. When scholars arrive late, they miss valuable instructional time designed to support their academic growth and success. We appreciate your partnership in making on-time arrival a priority each day. Every minute matters, and we want every Ram to have every opportunity to be successful.

Durham Public Schools School Improvement Plan Stakeholder Feedback

During the week of October 19 - 30, please review our school's improvement plan at www.indistar.org, using the login information found at this site: https://www.dpsnc.net/page/school-improvement-plans/. Guest login information may also be found on your school's website.

After viewing the school improvement plan, please select your school and answer all questions on the survey using this Universal Form.

Thank you in advance for providing feedback on our School Improvement Plan.

RAMily PTA Corner

Get ready for some fun, Rams! Our PTA School Dance will take place on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 PM! We are looking for a few parent volunteers to help chaperone the dance floor and make this a fun and safe evening for our scholars.

Click here to sign up to volunteer!

Calling all creative Rams! The PTA Reflections Arts Competition is a wonderful opportunity for our scholars to showcase their creativity and artistic talents! Whether you enjoy drawing, writing, photography, or other forms of artistic expression, we encourage you to participate!

All entries are due Friday, October 23, 2026! Don't miss your chance to let your creativity shine!

Click here for competition details and submission information!

Athletic Update

Our RAM athletes have been working hard, and championship season is here! We are excited to cheer them on as they compete in the following events:

• Cross Country Championships: Congratulations to both boys and girls for playing 4th.

• Boys Soccer Semifinals: Monday, October 19 – Rogers-Herr vs. Githens Middle School (HOME).

• Volleyball Semifinals: Monday, October 19 – Rogers-Herr vs. Githens Middle School (AWAY).

Let's show our RAM pride and support our student-athletes as they compete for championship titles! Go Rams!

Mental Health & Crisis Support Resources

At Rogers-Herr, the well-being of our students and families is important to us. We want to make sure our families are aware of resources available when someone may need additional emotional support or help during a difficult moment. Please save and share the following information as needed.

To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741 and To reach the NC Peer Warmline, call 855‑733‑7762.

Para comunicarse a la Línea de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis, llame al 988 o envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra “HOME” al 741741 y Para comunicarse con la Línea de Apoyo “Entre Compañeros” de Carolina del Norte, llame al 855-733-7762.

Effective Communication

Open and consistent communication between home and school is essential to every child’s success. If you have an immediate concern or question, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher first, as they are the primary point of contact and best positioned to address classroom-related matters.

Should additional support be needed after speaking with the teacher, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s grade-level administrator. We are here to partner with you to ensure the best possible experience for your child.

• 6th Grade Admin Support: Jasmine Adams

Jasmine_Adams@dpsnc.net

• 7th Grade: Assistant Principal: AmberSomone Haigler AmberSomone_Haigler@dpsnc.net

• 8th Grade: Assistant Principal Duane Roberts Duane_Roberts@dpsnc.net

Problem solving early and often are among our top priorities. If you need help navigating this process, please do not hesitate to contact the main office at any time by dialing 919-560-3970.

Thank you for making Rogers-Herr an extraordinary place to learn, work, and grow! We are looking forward to seeing all of our Ram Scholars on Monday morning. As always, Rams ROCK!!!

Tawauna Stewart, Ed.D.

Principal

Welcome back, families! We have officially completed our first week of Quarter 2, and we are excited for all the learning, growth, and new opportunities ahead. We hope everyone enjoyed the break and returned ready for a fresh start! Quarter 1 report cards went home on Friday, so please take a moment to review your scholar’s progress and celebrate their accomplishments.

As we look ahead, one exciting upcoming event is the Showcase of Schools! Coordinated by the district, this event will allow students to explore the many high school options available and get a glimpse of what their future could look like. This is a wonderful opportunity for scholars to begin thinking about their interests, goals, and which school might be the best fit for them.

We will also begin collecting dues for our annual 8th Grade Field Trip to Carowinds! 🎢 This promises to be a fun-filled experience and a fantastic way to celebrate our scholars’ hard work and achievements throughout the year. More information about payments and deadlines will be shared as it becomes available.

We look forward to a successful second quarter filled with learning, growth, and memorable experiences. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to make this a fantastic year for our 8th graders!

Duane F. Roberts

8th Grade Administrator

Families, please be aware of the Chromebook policy for this school year. To help ensure devices are available for instruction each day and properly maintained, students are NOT permitted to take their school-issued Chromebooks home.

Chromebook Procedures

• Students will pick up their Chromebook each morning upon arriving at school.

• Chromebooks will remain with students for instructional use throughout the school day.

• At the end of each school day, students must return and check in their Chromebook in their homeroom teacher’s classroom.

• Chromebooks must remain at school at all times. Students may not take their device home for any reason.

• MATH 2 students are allowed to take their devices home Monday- Thursday only. On Fridays. they must return them to their homeroom teacher’s classroom.

⚠️ Device Care & Responsibility

Students are expected to handle their Chromebooks responsibly and follow all school expectations for proper device use and care. Students and their parents/guardians are fully responsible for any damage to the student’s assigned device.

We appreciate your support in reminding your student to use their Chromebook responsibly, protect it from damage, and return it to the designated location each afternoon. Working together will help ensure that every student has a functioning device available for learning each day.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

Get Connected to the RHMS Rams!

The RHMS faculty and staff are committed to keeping you informed and engaged. To help you stay connected, please become familiar with Infinite Campus & Canvas:

1. Infinite Campus Parent Portal- Durham Public Schools is still using Infinite Campus. This system works as your one-stop-shop for grades, attendance, and other important school information. Click the links below for more information and to log in. **Students and Parents should be checking Infinite Campus weekly.

DPS Info Video

Student & Parent Login

2. Become a Parent Observer on Canvas- We will continue to use Canvas this year. Make sure to set up an observer account:

1. Get a “Pairing Code” from your student. Find this under “account settings”.

2. Create and set up a Canvas account at https://dpsnc.instructure.com/login/canvas

3. Download and configure the iOS or Android mobile app (optional).

**Check weekly for important announcements, inbox messages, assignment feedback and grade updates.

Welcome to Q2!! A few PTA announcements:

1) School dance - Friday, 23OCT2026, 5:30 to 7:30pm, RHMS Cafeteria

We need volunteers and donations! Any help is appreciated!

Note: Students should bring permission forms and money TO THE DANCE. Forms do not need to be given to teachers. Payment methods are cash or Tap to Pay (with additional transaction fees).

2) Reflections Arts Competition - entries due by 23OCT2026

This is an all-inclusive, multi-tiered arts competition. Students can submit entries for one or multiple categories, which are: dance, film, music, literature, photography, and visual arts. Lots of info here.

3) The PTA Q1 Newsletter provides a short summary of Q1 PTA activities. Thanks for a great Q1!!

RAMS ROCK 💙

Mary Sanford

RHMS PTA President

If you have questions about your child's IEP or how it is being implemented, please contact their case manager or subject teacher. For questions about the EC department, please email me at robert_appleto201@dpsnc.net.

As we continue our Challenges & Beyond unit, students will explore how people face obstacles, respond to difficult circumstances, and find ways to move forward. This week, we will read an excerpt from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, examining how Douglass’s determination to learn to read and write shaped his understanding of slavery and strengthened his desire for freedom.

Before reading, students will participate in a brief background mini-lesson to build historical context, activate prior knowledge, and make connections to the text. Through vocabulary study, annotations, close reading, and written responses, students will analyze Douglass’s experiences and explore the importance of education, perseverance, and the pursuit of freedom. These activities will also strengthen students’ reading and evidence-based writing skills as they prepare for upcoming district assessments.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

Ms. Wilds: jessica_wilds@dpsnc.net

Mrs. Pritchard: angela_pritchard@dpsnc.net

Welcome back, Rams! I hope everyone had a safe and restful break!

Welcome back!

We had a great first week of quarter 2 in social studies. We were focused on Causes of the American Revolution- analyzing primary and secondary sources to help create a narrative of the events leading to the revolution. Next week students will examine the Declaration of Independence, write their own personal declarations, study the role of Black and Native Americans during the war and finally examine ways that North Carolina was involved in the American Revolution.

Ms. Rawls: evette_clarkrawls@dpsnc.net

Mr. Symes: jeffrey_symes@dpsnc.net

New Quarter, New Challenges, New Opportunities!

Good afternoon, Math 8 families!

🎉 Wow! One week of the second quarter is already behind us! How time flies! It feels like we just returned from intersession, and here we are, moving forward with another exciting chapter in our Math 8 journey! As the weeks go by, I hope our scholars are not only keeping up with the lessons but also growing in confidence, responsibility, and mathematical understanding.

📊 UNIT 3: FUNCTIONS — OFFICIALLY COMPLETE!

We have officially completed Unit 3: Functions! This week, our scholars took their Common District Assessment (CDA). The results showed that while progress has been made, there are still several concepts we need to revisit and strengthen.

But that is what learning is all about! Assessments are not just about grades—they help us discover what we know, what we have yet to understand, and how we can improve. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow!

🚀 NEXT STOP: UNIT 4 — LINEAR FUNCTIONS!

The good news is that Unit 4: Linear Functions is closely connected to Unit 3: Functions! This gives us a wonderful opportunity to revisit and reinforce concepts that our scholars may not have fully mastered while introducing new skills.

Next week, we will focus on one of the most important concepts in algebra—SLOPE! Our scholars will learn how to determine and interpret slope when information is presented in different ways:

• 📈 Graphs

• 📊 Tables

• 📍 Two Points

• 📝 Verbal Descriptions and Real-Life Situations

More importantly, students will learn that slope is not just a number—it tells us how one quantity changes in relation to another! Understanding this concept will help them make meaningful connections between mathematics and everyday life.

🎯 PARENTS, I NEED YOUR SUPER SUPPORT!

Here is why this unit is especially important: Linear Functions represents a significant portion—approximately 35%—of the Math 8 EOG content we are preparing for! That makes developing a strong understanding of this unit especially valuable.

If our scholars master Linear Functions, they will have taken a HUGE step toward success on the EOG!

But I cannot do this alone. I truly need your partnership and support! Please help by encouraging your scholar to:

• ✅ Stay focused and actively participate during instruction and class activities.

• ✅ Complete assignments on time and check Canvas and Infinite Campus regularly.

• ✅ Review guided notes and practice independently, especially when concepts become challenging.

• ✅ Ask questions and seek help instead of allowing confusion to build.

• ✅ Attend small-group learning during lunch or after school whenever additional support is needed.
  
  

🤝 A GENTLE BUT IMPORTANT REMINDER: CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR MATTERS!

Parents, I would also greatly appreciate your support in reminding our scholars about the importance of proper behavior during instructional time.

Every minute of instruction is valuable, especially as we tackle more challenging concepts. Unfortunately, unnecessary talking, interruptions, and off-task behavior can take away precious learning time—not only from the student involved but also from classmates who are trying their best to listen, understand, and learn.

Please remind your scholar to:

• ✅ Listen attentively when the teacher or a classmate is speaking.

• ✅ Avoid unnecessary conversations, disruptions, and interruptions during instruction.

• ✅ Follow classroom expectations and directions promptly and respectfully.

• ✅ Stay in their assigned seat, remain focused, and use class time productively.

• ✅ Respect everyone's right to learn by helping maintain a positive and productive classroom environment.

No scholar should become the reason another scholar misses an opportunity to learn. Every student deserves an environment where they can concentrate, ask questions, and succeed without unnecessary distractions.

Let us remind our scholars that being respectful, responsible, and considerate of others is just as important as earning good grades. These habits will serve them well beyond the mathematics classroom.

💙 A HEARTFELT THANK-YOU!

To our parents and guardians, thank you for your continued patience, encouragement, cooperation, and trust. I especially appreciate those who consistently communicate with me and make sure their scholars receive additional support when needed. Your involvement makes a tremendous difference!

🌟 LET'S MAKE THIS QUARTER COUNT!

We have completed our first week of Quarter 2, and there is still so much we can accomplish! Let us use every lesson, every practice activity, and every assessment as an opportunity to become better.

Our goal is not simply to pass the EOG—it is to build strong, confident, respectful, and independent mathematical thinkers who are ready for the challenges ahead!

Together, let's make Unit 4: Linear Functions one of our greatest successes yet!

Thank you for being my partners in this journey. I believe in our scholars, and with your support, I know they can achieve great things! 💪📚🌟

Have a wonderful and restful weekend!

Ms. Ramelb signing out!

Mrs. Ramelb: Wilhelmina_Ramelb@dpsnc.net

Mrs. Lee: davia_lee@dpsnc.net

Greetings 8th Grade Ram Families,

We’re back from our three-week intersession and jumped right into our new unit! This week, we connected arithmetic sequences to linear functions. Students explored how the common difference represents the rate of change (slope) and how the first term helps us identify the starting value. We used these patterns to write equations and see how sequences can be represented as functions.

Students also kicked off our Linear Function Project, where they will create a real-world scenario that can be modeled with a linear equation. They will identify the rate of change and initial value, then use their equation to explore what the relationship means in context. This project gives students an opportunity to connect the math we’re learning to real-life situations while building their problem-solving and communication skills.

Next week, we’ll continue developing our projects by identifying the domain and range, creating tables of values, and graphing our linear functions. We’ll also practice writing equations using point-slope form and slope-intercept form when given two points. Toward the end of the week, we’ll explore how to write equations of lines that are parallel or perpendicular to a given line.

We have a lot of exciting math ahead! I’m looking forward to seeing students continue to make connections, build confidence, and put their learning into action

Mrs. Lee: davia_lee@dpsnc.net

We had a great week back from intersession! Students jumped right back into similarity by reviewing what we learned the last week before break and doing well on a Skills Check. We explored relationships in dilations and learned how to dilate from a center of dilation other than the origin. Next week, Math 2 students will explore relationships when dilating segments whose center of dilation is on the segment, above the segment, and below the segment. After an exit ticket, they will begin writing proofs that two triangles are similar. We have a short week with all 8th graders attending the ACCELER8 Field Trip on Tuesday, so we’ll work hard to get it all done.

Ms. Cline-Rabah: amber_cline-rabah@dpsnc.net

Science 8: This week we will continue to learn about index fossils and the law of superposition. Students will get their science booklets for the quarter on Monday. Pages 7-15 and 5 vocabulary words should be completed by the end of the week. We will have a quiz over fossils on Friday.

Environmental Earth: This week we will continue to learn about plate tectonics and earthquakes. We will have a quiz Friday over the rock cycle, plate tectonics, and earthquakes. Their will be some short answer on the quiz so please make sure the notes are being reviewed.

Mr. Schack: andrew_schack@dpsnc.net

Herndon Amazon Wish List

Mrs. Herndon: meridith_botts@dpsnc.net