Riverside Middle School Newsletter

This is our last newsletter for the school year. Please pay close attention to the dates and dismissal times for our last days of school. As you all know the last few days of school are full of celebrations and events that acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of our school community and sending our 8th grade students up the hill to begin their high school journey.

Please note that all students in grades 5, 6, and 7 will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10th as we will be having Union Street School come to RMS for Step-Up-Day. Our 8th graders will be heading to their new school to learn about what being a 9th grader is all about at Springfield High School.

The last day of school for 8th grade students is Friday, June 12.

Tuesday, June 16th will be an 11:30 a.m. dismissal for students and is our last day of school.

Thank you all for your partnership, support, and trust. Your collaborative efforts have made welcoming our first 5th grade class to RMS a huge success and have made this year one worth celebrating! We wish you all a restful, safe, and memorable summer.

Wednesday, June 10th - Step Up Day - Dismissal at 11:30 for 5th, 6th, 7th Graders

Thursday, June 11th - Yearbook Assembly and yearbooks given to students

Friday, June 12th - Last Day of School for 8th grade/8th Grade Commencement at 5:30 in RMS Gym

Tuesday, June 16th - Last Day of School for 5th, 6th, and 7th Grade - Dismissal at 11:30

On Wednesday, June 10th Springfield School District will have our annual Step Up Day. On this day RMS 8th grade students will head to the high school around 11:30 a.m. and spend the afternoon learning about Springfield High School and what to expect when the begin there as 9th graders in August. All 8th grade students will be dismissed from the high school on this day. If students are picked up, they will need to be picked up at the high school - not RMS.

Union Street 4th grade students will head to RMS for the afternoon to meet their T3 advisors and teachers, learn where their classrooms are, and start building a sense of belonging and community before they officially start in the fall.

To ensure that all of our teachers are available to meet our new 5th grade students, all current 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10th.

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Student Scholars of the Month are nominated based on the following criteria:

Ready

I seek opportunities to learn more

I seek advice and feedback to make my work better

Respectful

I help classmates understand concepts

I contribute to a learning environment where all can learn.

Responsible

I set goals and work toward them

I follow directions and consistently put forth my best effort.

Student Heroes of the Month are nominated based on the following criteria:

Ready

I can come to class prepared.

I can demonstrate a positive attitude.

Respectful

I can be considerate of other people.

I can be considerate of property.

Responsible

I can own my own behavior and decisions and accept the outcomes.

I positively contribute to the school community.

May's Student Scholars: Jordan Prosser (5th grade), Avory Lescord (6th grade), Ava Goldman (7th grade), Rily LaVoie (8th grade)

May's Student Heroes: Garrett King (5th grade), Ryan Wilson (6th grade), Elliot Davis (7th grade), Minx Stillings (8th grade)

RMS is shouting out Mr. V who has made a tremendous effort this year putting together our 2025-2026 yearbook and also ensuring that every student at RMS will receive them. Yearbooks will be handed out on Thursday, June 11th after our annual Yearbook Assembly. Students will have time to sign each other's books after our school-wide celebration assembly on Friday afternoon.

On Wednesday, June 3rd all RMS students participated in our annual Community Service Day. This year was especially meaningful as our service and shirts were dedicated to our beloved Mrs. Kimball who passed in the spring. Groups helped out at Elm Hill School, Union Street School, local humane societies, nursing homes, cleaned the Black River, local parks, trails, and roadways, worked at the Springfield Public Library, volunteered at the fire station, hosted a car wash and bake sale to benefit the Santa Claus Club and the Springfield Humane Society and other various projects throughout the town.

RMS 8th grade students Callie Snyder, Will Aviles, Adela Fuentes, Janey Whipple and Amerie Cobble set records for their Track and Field events this season. Callie placed 6th place in 200m and 400m, Will placed 1st place in the 110m hurdles, and 5th place high jump, and Adela, Callie, Janey and Amerie came in third for the 4x400 when they competed at Lebanon High School for Connecticut Valley League (CVL) Track and Field Competition.

Mrs. Farnsworth and Ms. Christy's hard work and planning was definitely highlighted by making the 8th grade Semi-Formal a huge success! This year's dance was incredible and the students' positive energy and kindness to one another really shined. Thank you to all the parent volunteers, staff chaperones, and students who pitched in to make this event happen.

A new Vermont law (16 V.S.A. § 583) has required all Vermont public schools to create policies for the upcoming school year that create mobile-device free learning environments. This means that students will not be permitted to use their mobile devices for the entirety of the school day unless there is a documented medical need. To read more about the Vermont law banning the use of cell phones please click here.

The Springfield School District has adopted a policy and series of procedures to ensure that we are in compliance with the new Vermont law. Highlights of the policy include:

1. Defining what constitutes as a mobile device

2. Providing all students with locked storage for their mobile devices

3. Ensuring that mobile devices are not used by students during the academic day (8:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.)

4. Outlining a procedure for when students and/or caregivers need to contact one another during the academic day.

5. Outlining consequences for students if the policy is violated.

For the complete policy that will go into effect on the first day of school for the 2026/2027 school year, please click here.

This fun, family-friendly event is open to all ages and will feature a wide range of health and wellness activities, including:

• • Free health screenings
  • Community resource tables
  • Wellness activities
  • Backpack and tote bag giveaway (while supplies last)
  • Kids’ activities and games
  • More to come!!

Whether you’re looking for health screenings, family activities, or just a fun way to spend an evening, there’s something for everyone. The Community Health Fair is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors.