Parent Newsletter

Hello Panthers!

Happy Spring! 3rd quarter has ended and 4th quarter is here! We are excited to see our Panthers heading to First and Bowl for their 3rd Quarter Reward Trip and our Panthers have entered their eligibility period for our end of the year Mt Olympus trip. We hope to take our biggest group yet!

We wanted to take some time to share with you results from our engagement surveys we have asked you and your students to date.

Parent Engagement Survey:

Goal Two

By March 31, 2026, the middle school will administer a parent engagement survey three times—once during each of the first three quarters of the 2025–26 school year. This baseline data will be analyzed within two weeks of each administration and used to inform school-wide strategies to improve parent engagement.

1. How would you rate communications from school?

2. School communication is timely and transparent.

3. I have opportunities to provide feedback to the school/teachers.

4. My child feels safe at school.

5. The school has high expectations for my child

Student Engagement Survey:

Goal Two

By March 31, 2026, the middle school will administer a student engagement survey three times—once during each of the first three quarters of the 2025–26 school year. This baseline data will be analyzed within two weeks of each administration and used to inform school-wide strategies. We look to improve the overall score of these four questions by 3% when comparing the 1st administration and final administration of the survey (May 2026 by School Perceptions)

Student Engagement Questions

1. My teachers explain things in a way that I get.

2. I can relate to what I am learning at school.

3. I feel safe at school.

4. Students treat me with respect.

Hello Riverside Families,

First, I would like to thank Mrs. Oestreicher for stepping in as RMS Dean of Students while I was serving as the Supervising Dean at Webster Elementary. I truly appreciate her support and leadership during this time.

When we return from Spring Break, I will be back at RMS to help support our students through the final quarter of the 2025–2026 school year.

I look forward to seeing our RMS Panthers when we return to school on April 6th!

I hope you all have a relaxing spring break filled with plenty of family time and positive memories.

Sincerely,
Mr. Barnett

April 9 - Track Practice Starts

April 15 - 3rd Quarter Reward Trip to First & Bowl

April 17 - 8th Grade Choir Music Festival

April 21 - Fall Cabaret Concert 6pm

April 28 - Spring Band Concert 6pm

New to our building this year is an attendance email address for Parents and Guardians to use to report that your student will be absent. As always, you can still call and leave a message with attendance. It is important that you let us know in advance if your student will be absent. That way attendance can be marked accordingly and automated absent phone calls will not go out. Adding RMS as a contact in your phone also helps you to know who is calling, if your student needs something. Thank you!

Attendance Email: rmsattendance@mywusd.org

Attendance Phone Number: 920-262-1480 - EXT 5811

8th graders, the secret to success in high school is getting involved! You can jump start your involvement now by signing up for the Watertown-Heriginen exchange! Host a German for a week in October or travel to Germany in June, 2027, or do both! No knowledge of German is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to make friends. Come to the informational meeting at WHS on Sunday, April 12th from 6-7 pm in Room S274. Contact Frau Schneider at WHS with any questions.

Please talk with your student about any items they may have lost or forgotten at school. Our Lost & Found is very full!

• The RMS school day will begin at 7:45AM and dismiss at 3:15 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays, school will begin at 7:45AM and dismiss at 2:10PM.

On Skyward Family Access, parents will find the 2025 Free and Reduced Price School Meal form. Forms can be turned in to any of the district schools. A new form must be completed each school year.

Under Wisconsin Statute 120.12 (22), students who qualify for free and reduced lunch will have the cost of their exam(s) waived. Families must complete the paperwork for free/reduced lunch each year. If you have not yet done so, that paperwork should be completed by October 1st to ensure that there is no gap in your student receiving free/reduced lunch benefits.

Riverside Middle School T-Shirts are available for $10. Please bring Cash or Check to the Main Office.

Riverside Middle School - 920-262-1480

Main Office - Ext 5801

Bookkeeper - Ext 5802

Attendance - Ext 5811

Student Services - Ext 5821

Fax - 920-262-1468

Riverside Middle School on Facebook at https://shorturl.at/HnSJA

Watertown Unified School District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WatertownUnifiedSD

Watertown Unified School District on Instagram at instagram.com/watertownusd