RHMS Monthly Parent Bulletin

Hello, Bengals!

Hello, Bengals, and welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! I love starting the year with enthusiasm and excitement, and Bengal Day on Thursday is just the way to experience such a start. A warm welcome to our new families, who are now officially in our system, and to our families who have been with us as well. It’s time to dust off the backpack…let’s get this year started!

This bulletin is a loooong one. They won’t all be like this, but please do take the time to read through it all, as it contains important information for your child to have a successful year at RHMS.

In your first day packet, you’ll see lots of information for you to complete. Having your info in Alma is essential for us. Please be sure to update your information in the system directly (through Alma Start–directions were emailed). If there are no emergency contacts listed, it’s because you never added them last year. ;-) Please be sure to do so directly in Alma.

Chromebooks will be distributed on Bengal Day. Students are expected to carry it with them to and from school. We are very conscientious about the weight of the backpack because of the chromebook, so please look through supplies and what your child is bringing back and forth and let teachers know if it seems to be too much. Also, I think it’s important to note that the restrictions/filters we have in place on our chromebooks are only active when the device is connected to the school wifi. If they are using the device on your home wifi or any other wifi, there are no blocks in place unless you’ve done so through your home internet provider. If you have concerns about how best to put restrictions on your home wifi, contact your internet provider. The school wifi does have restrictions on websites, searches, etc. while students are on campus. This information is detailed in the paperwork that comes home to you, but not everyone reads all those papers carefully, so I’m trying to call special attention to it here.

The other important date is our Back to School Night, which is when you have the opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and learn about the curriculum they’ll be studying in each class. The night is meant to be for parents to learn about their child’s curriculum, so please plan accordingly for childcare. Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 20, 5:30-7:15 for 7th and 8th graders and Thursday, August 27, 5:30-7:15 for 6th graders. Parents of 7th and 8th graders will be following their child’s schedule starting at 5:30 with 1st period. If you arrive late, you’ll miss the opportunity to meet that teacher and learn about the subject that period, so try your best to plan for crazy parking to get here on time. The sixth grade team may run this a little differently, but they’ll send out information directly to you as it gets closer.

Speaking of crazy parking, please pay close attention to the traffic flow map included in both the first day packet and this bulletin. The first few weeks are especially challenging, as so many choose to drive students initially. If you’re having grandparents or others take or pick up, please be sure to share this with them too. Additionally, we have designated handicapped parking areas on our campus; one on the pickleball end of campus in front of the E building, and the other in front of the office/library. PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THOSE HANDICAPPED SPACES WHILE WAITING TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD! We have some of our more vulnerable students who need those spaces, and having them blocked makes it especially frustrating for all. Thank you in advance for your patience in our parking lot. This is for the safety of our students, so please keep that in mind while driving in and near our schools!

I’m always so thankful I get to work in a school, where every August is a new beginning, an opportunity to correct what may not have been stellar the previous year, and to continue to give kids the best experience that we can. Those of you who know me, know that I was an English teacher in a previous life and I tend to bring my love of literature into this role. While reading Theo of Golden this summer, I was struck by a passage that reminds me so much of the work we get to do in education.

“For anything to be good, truly good, there must be love in it…there must be love for the gift itself, for the subject being depicted or the story being told, and love for the audience. Whether the art is sculpture, farming, teaching, lawmaking, medicine, music, or raising a child, if love is not in it–at the very heart of it–it might be skillful, marketable, or popular, but I doubt it is truly good. Nothing is what it’s supposed to be if love is not at the core” (Levy 129).

I’m proud to work in a school where love is at the core of what we do–teaching is a vocation, a calling, not a job, and it’s one we’re thankful to get to do here at RHMS. We thank you in advance for sharing your children with us; they are truly the most rewarding part of our jobs and we can’t wait to see their bright smiling faces on the first day of school (my favorite day of the year!), Wednesday, August 12.

Enjoy your last weekend before the fun begins!

Happy School Year!

Debbie

If you are receiving this Bulletin and your student will no longer be attending Rolling Hills Middle School, please email our registrar Danielle Vander Veen at dvanderveen@buckeyeusd.org as soon as possible.

Thank you

School Hours

http://rhms.buckeyeusd.org/ Please save this link.

Alma

Bell Schedules

Bulletins (Student / Parent)

Calendar (School year)

Calendar (Student Events)

CJSF Info and Forms

Dress Code (p18)

GATE Info

Handbook

Homework Access

Menus Breakfast/Lunch

Online Payments

Sports Info and Schedules

Suggested Supply List

Transportation Info

2026/2027 CALENDAR is available on our school website and is included in this bulletin.

FACEBOOK: This is a fun way for us to share photos from day to day activities and other events. RHMS Facebook

We will be hosting a Welcome Bengal Day on Thursday, August 6th, between the hours of 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. This will allow students to pick up their schedules (by bringing in their blue chromebook form that was mailed home), pick up chromebooks, purchase PE clothes, sweats, yearbooks, binder reminders and get all the other info they need for the 1st day of school. You may come anytime between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. If you are unable to attend, you can come to the office to pick up your child’s schedule and purchase Life Fitness uniforms after Bengal Day but prior to the first day of school. Your child’s schedule will also be available on the first day of school in the front office.

Prior to the new school year starting, there are often school supplies on sale and parents are interested in what they might provide for their child’s upcoming return to school. Some items will need to be restocked throughout the year. The following supply lists have been developed for parents who wish to know what supplies might benefit their child at their grade level. These lists are made available for the convenience of our families.

Please note: California law states that school districts must furnish the necessary supplies needed for classroom use. The items on this supply list are recommended/optional supplies. Providing these items is voluntary. If, for any reason, parents choose not to send supplies, the necessary items will be provided for all students.

The first day of the 2026/2027 school year is Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

School starts promptly at 7:50 am every day.

Dismissal is 1:10 pm since it is an early release Wednesday (2:04 pm every other day).

This night is intended for parents only, so please plan childcare accordingly. You will receive a schedule to follow on Bengal Day, and a copy will also be available on Back-to-School Night outside the front office. More details to come, but for now, mark your calendars:

7th and 8th Grade - Thursday, August 20th 5:30-7:15pm

6th Grade - Thursday, August 27th 5:30-7:15pm

Middle School Dress Code Policy

“The Governing Board expects that students will present themselves in an orderly manner which
will not disrupt the educational program at school. Their appearance should be neat, clean, and
acceptable to the general society and in keeping with the activity at school. The Governing
Board considers this to be a judgment area of the site administrator or the school (BP 5132).”
The dress code also applies to activities after school (e.g., dances, sports) and off campus (e.g.,
field trips, away sports).

The school administration recognizes that fashion trends may keep it from being easy for
students to find appropriate clothing; however, it is important to maintain a proper learning
environment. Parents/Guardians and students are requested to take the proper steps to ensure
their school wardrobe meets the standards of the dress code.

Students are expected to “dress for school, not the pool.” We want to make schools a safe
place for all kids. We believe that all students should be able to dress comfortably for school
without fear of unnecessary discipline or body shaming. Students should not feel “picked on”
because their bodies developed differently. To that end, our dress code policy is as follows.

Dress Code Policy
The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and their
parents/guardians. The school district and individual schools are responsible for seeing that
student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student, and that student attire
does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student.

1. Certain body parts must be covered for all students
a. Clothing must be worn in a way that private parts and torso are covered with
opaque (not see through) material.

2. Students must wear
a. Shirt–must be in alignment with above (1.a)
b. Bottom–pants, shorts, sweatpants, skirts, dresses, leggings must be in alignment
with above (1.a)
c. Shoes–activity specific requirements are permitted for Life Fitness

3. Students cannot wear
a. Violent language or images, or symbols/abbreviations of such
b. Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or illegal items/activities), or
symbols/abbreviations of such
c. Hate speech, profanity, pornography
i. Images, symbols, abbreviations, or language representing any of the
above
d. Clothing that makes visible private parts and torso
e. Visible undergarments
f. Bathing suits
g. Helmets, hats, or headgear that obscures the face, except as a religious
observance or health requirements (like a mask)

The appropriateness of clothing in question per this dress code will be left to the discretion of
the administration and/or designee.

Consequences for being out of dress code are as follows:
Students out of the dress code may be asked to change into different clothes (school issued or
extra clothes on hand) and will receive disciplinary consequences as defined below. These
articles of “Dress Code” clothing are to be returned to the school office at the end of the day and
the student’s clothing will be returned to them at that time.

1st Violation: Warning, change of clothes
2nd Violation: Change of clothes, Home contact, loss of 3 merits
3rd Violation: Change of clothes, Detention, loss of 5 merits

Safety of our students, staff, and parents is a top priority. Please look over the flow of traffic in the parking lot. Please follow these guidelines and listen to all staff on campus. We want all Bengals safe.

For safety, we will be chaining off the main parking lot area between the hours of 8:00 am and 9:00 am. Below is an image to show where the chains will be blocking off the parking lot, and the flow of traffic. The orange stars represent the chains.

**Please note the Orange Stars are chains closing the parking lot.

**Please note the Blue Stars are 15 minute parking spots.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the assistant principal, Sean Gallagher, via email at sgallagher@buckeyeusd.org

Welcome Bengal Parents! My name is Laura Leszinske, your RH Library Associate. I’m looking forward to seeing you and your students on Bengal Day, and throughout the 2026-2027 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact me if there’s anything I can do to help support your students.

Library Hours: The RH Library opens to students every morning at 7:15 am. Beginning Monday, August 24, students will be able to visit the library after finishing their lunch, by obtaining a pass from the yard duty. Students may also come to the library during the school day, as their teachers permit. After school, students may remain in the library until 3 pm daily, except Wednesdays. On Wednesdays, our early release day, the library closes to students at 2:15 pm.

Library Expectations: The RH Library is a space where our students are invited to read, study, work on a puzzle, craft, and play games quietly. Students may check out up to 3 books at a time, for a 3 week period, and may renew their books if needed. Library books are a shared resource and should be treated carefully and returned in good condition. Students are responsible for lost or damaged books.

Library Programs: The library sponsors our Battle of the Books (BoB) teams. BoB teams practice from September through March, and then compete against other local schools in a county-wide event for book lovers. The library also runs a student volunteer group, the Library Assistants, who help keep the library organized and participate in the library decision-making process. More information about these library programs will be available in mid-September.

Library Information: In addition to housing the school book collection, the RH Library checks out school chromebooks and facilitates their repair. When students receive their school chromebooks on Bengal Day, they should check them over carefully for any operational defects. Defective chromebooks may be brought to the library through August 21 for a trade-in. After August 21, our computer tech will evaluate and repair problem chromebooks; students will need to use classroom loaners until their chromebooks are fixed and returned.

Although student textbooks are available online, some families find they need print copies for home use. Print textbooks are only available for Social Studies and Spanish; all other textbooks are online only. Social Studies and Spanish textbooks may be checked out in the library after school begins on August 12.

Questions?: If you have questions about the library, please contact me at lleszinske@buckeyeusd.org or visit the library website. Students who have trouble finding time to visit the library in person are encouraged to request a book via the Book Request Form. Please follow the library on Instagram @rhmsreads.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL: By District Policy, no child is allowed to take ANY medications at school without a form signed by the doctor and parent. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. These forms are available in the school office or on our school website for your convenience. (We also accept medications, dosage, and instructions on your doctor’s signed prescription form.) PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY MEDICATION WITH YOUR CHILD IN HIS/HER LUNCH. This policy is to protect all students, and your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Please bring the medication to the office in its original container.

CJSF (California Junior Scholarship Federation/Honor Society) - 7th and 8th Graders Only

What is CJSF:

Founded in 1967, the California Junior Scholarship Federation and Honor Society is the oldest junior high school scholastic institution in the state of California. CJSF is part of CSF, the oldest scholarship institution in California, founded in 1921.

CJSF/HS emphasizes high standards of scholarship, community service, and citizenship for California junior high school students.

Only students in 7th and 8th grade are eligible to be members of CJSF. 6th graders will have an opportunity to learn about CJSF and how to join second trimester.

CJSF General Information and Qualification:

7th and 8th grade students must apply for CJSF each trimester, based on the previous trimester’s grades. This means that students can’t apply for the 1st trimester until the start of the 2nd trimester, or the 2nd trimester until the start of the 3rd trimester. Membership is not automatic and must be resubmitted every trimester. Service hours are not required to become a member of CJSF or to receive the Gold Seal on the 8th grade promotion certificate. Service hours are required to participate in CJSF field trips and recognition events.

Please review the following two documents regarding CJSF.

General Information Slides

CJSF Rules For Service Hours

Upcoming Events/Dates:

Informational Meeting

Mrs. Miller will host an informational meeting for 7th and 8th graders after school on Monday, August 24th from 2:05-2:30pm in Mrs. Miller’s room (library 1) to receive information about CJSF and the requirements for applying and becoming a member. Please note, this is optional. If your child is already familiar with CJSF requirements and the application, he/she does not need to attend.

Campus Cleanup

The following campus cleanup dates will be offered for the first trimester. Campus clean up lasts from 1:15--1:45. Students will meet in library 1 to get the items that they need for campus clean up. Students receive 30 minutes of service each time they attend.

Wednesday, September 9th

Wednesday, September 23rd

Wednesday, October 14th

Wednesday, October 28th

3rd Trimester (25/26 Application)

CJSF application for the 3rd trimester of last school year (2025/2026) will open on Friday, August 21st and close on Wednesday, September 2nd. Application will be posted in our CJSF Google Classroom.

Communication/Google Classroom:

Information about service opportunities, events, and deadlines will be shared monthly in the bulletin. Students who are interested in CJSF or plan to be CJSF members must be part of our CJSF Google Classroom. The code to join the CJSF Google Classroom is msgobrb. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to check their email and our Google Classroom for CJSF updates and to communicate with the advisors directly if they have any questions.

Advisor:

If your child has any questions or concerns, please have him or her reach out to Britni Miller (bmiller@buckeyeusd.org).

Welcome back! We will have a brief meeting for all existing GATE members early in September. More information will come out soon. If your student is interested in taking the test to qualify for GATE, please look at the September bulletin to sign up, as the test is given in October.

Hey RHMS families!

Have you heard of the Friends of Rolling Hills (FORH) Dine Out program?

We will be kicking off the new school year with a dine out event on Wednesday, August 19th from 4-8 at Chipotle in Town Center. Stop by, visit with friends, and see some teachers.

Your support helps fund essential resources like Chromebooks, school supplies, and special programs for our students. So, mark your calendars and bring your family to Dine Out for a good cause! We can’t wait to see you there!

Please reach out with any questions –forhmiddleschool@gmail.com

Please see the August Outreach calendar attached detailing upcoming volunteer opportunities with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference

The student store will be open daily after school starting August 24. The student store only accepts cash. Students, if you are interested in volunteering at the student store, please email Mrs. Rose or Mrs. Salcedo using your buckeyeusd.org email.

LATE ARRIVALS TO SCHOOL: Students arriving to school after 7:50 am, for any reason, need to sign in at the office and obtain a pass to class.

CHECKING YOUR STUDENT OUT EARLY: Student safety is our number one concern and, as a result, students may only be checked out early by an adult whose name is listed on the student’s emergency card. An identification card must be shown since we will not know every adult listed in Alma as a contact or an emergency contact. Though we know this is an inconvenience at times, we want to ensure your child’s safety and thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please allow enough time to follow this procedure as it will not be waived because people are in a hurry.

To expedite this process, please send your child with a note stating the time he/she is to be released from class; your child must give it to a secretary before school starts. The secretary will send a call slip to the class your child is in at the time you plan to check them out so they can be released from class. If this procedure is not followed, please allow an additional 15 minutes to check your child out of class.

ABSENCES: If your child is absent, please call the school at 916-933-9290, extension 4 or by using the on-line absence form, first thing in the morning. If you do not contact us, we will require a note from home to explain the absence. If your child comes in tardy or leaves early due to illness or a doctor’s appointment, we will need a note from the doctor, or it will be considered an unexcused tardy. The School Attendance Review Board (SARB) states a student is considered truant from school when absent without a valid excuse more than three days or tardy in excess of 30 minutes on each of more than three days in one school year. You will receive an automated phone call when your child is absent and no call has been made to the school. Please make every effort to have your child attend for at least some portion of the day if you must schedule an appointment during school hours.

Please know that students are considered to be chronic absentees if they are absent more than 10% of the school year to date, whether absences are excused or unexcused.

HOW TO GET HOMEWORK WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT: To get homework when your child is absent for multiple days, please go to our school website under staff. Each teacher has a link for their website with the homework on this page. Please email teachers directly for handout requests. Please allow 24 hours for teachers to put your child’s work together. If you email before 7:30 am, teachers may be able to have work available after 2:30 pm on that same day.

INDEPENDENT STUDY CONTRACTS: The state of California requires that Independent Study Contracts may only be set up for students who will be out of school for three (3) or more CONSECUTIVE days not to exceed 15 days per year. Please note you must give the school a minimum notice of five (5) school days to take out a contract! We thank you for planning ahead. Please be aware that contracts cannot be taken out due to illness, and interdistrict students do not qualify for contracts.

FORGOTTEN ITEMS (INCLUDING PE CLOTHES, HOMEWORK AND LUNCHES): In an effort to ensure that classroom instruction is not interrupted, we do NOT deliver forgotten items to students. We do, however, offer a one-time delivery pass to each student each year. The pass will reiterate our no delivery policy and remind students to come to the office to check for items. Items are placed in bins in the front office for students to come and get in between classes. Thank you for your understanding and for reminding your child to check in the office if he/she ever forgets something at home.

MESSAGES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY: Please communicate to your child BEFORE school any necessary information regarding his/her day or pick up information. If it’s a true emergency, we will interrupt class to deliver information.

CELL PHONE AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Students may carry cell phones and other electronic devices. Students may USE them only before and after school. Cell phones and other electronic devices must be out of sight (including headphones or ear buds) and turned off as soon as the first bell of the day rings and must remain off and out of sight until the last bell rings (this includes lunch time). The school will not be responsible for any lost, damaged, stolen or confiscated electronic devices. If a student is not following this policy, he/she will receive disciplinary consequences and loss of merits, and the electronic device will be confiscated and returned only to a parent. Please do not contact your child via cell phone during the school day. Please refer to our Away for the Day policy for more information.

Chromebook Usage: Here is the link to remind you of the Proper care and maintenance of your Chromebook.

GRADING AND REPORT CARDS: The primary purpose of grades and report cards is to clearly communicate a student’s areas of strength and areas needing improvement each trimester based on the district’s grade level standards. The goal is for students to meet each grade level standard by the end of the school year. Teachers use a variety of assessments to determine whether a student is meeting standards.

• Progress Report Cards will be available to view in Alma during the 7th week of each trimester and serve as an indicator for how your student is progressing.

• Report Cards will be available to view in Alma at the end of each trimester.

The availability to view progress reports and report cards ensures parents have a sense of their child’s performance approximately every 6 to 7 weeks. Parents are encouraged to check grades regularly via Alma and contact their child’s teachers if they have any questions.

Rolling Hills Middle School

Asst. Principal: Sean Gallagher

Dana Lee (contracts, ext 3003),

Danielle VanderVeen (attendance, ext 3002)

Website: RHMS Website
Location: 7141 Silva Valley Pkwy, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Phone: 916-933-9290
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063610507614