RHAM Middle School Raptor Report

Dear RHAM Middle School Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

Parent/teacher conferences are being held on Thursday, November 19th (4:00-7:00 pm).

RED, GOLD, PURPLE, GREEN TEAMS - You will meet with some of the team teachers either in person or virtually. School counselors are also available to meet with parents as part of the team or individually. These conferences will be approximately 10 minutes in length.

INQUIRY TEAM - Inquiry Team will have student-led conferences that are approximately 10 minutes in length and will allow your child to share their personal reflections on their schoolwork, achievements and any challenges they have experienced thus far. Unlike traditional conferences, students are responsible for guiding the conversation and answering questions about their academic progress and success. A team teacher and/or unified arts teacher will be present and available in the room to facilitate your conference.

* Students need to remember to bring their charged Chromebook to their student-led conferences *

Appointments for a conference time on November 19th will be scheduled by each team through Sign Up Genius.

The Conference Sign Up links, along with directions for booking a conference, will be sent through email by Team Leaders on November 9th at 7:00 AM. The signup link will remain open until November 19, 2026. (All team sign-up links will also be available on the RHAM Middle School website beginning November 9th)

Conferences will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. If your team or teacher’s conference schedule is full, please reach out to the team leader (listed below) who may be able to give you an email summary of your child’s progress. This letter and the links can also be accessed on our school website and in the Raptor Report.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Seroussi

RHAM MS Principal

Ms.Carri-Ann Bell

RHAM MS Assistant Principal

November

• November 9- Parent/Teacher Conference Sign Ups Begin; 7:00 AM
• November 9- Lyman Pie Pick Up; 2:00 - 5:00 PM
• November 10- Veterans Day Celebration
• November 11- NO SCHOOL; Veterans Day
• November 12- Spring Musical Auditions; HS Chorus Room: 2:15PM
• November 13- Spring Musical Auditions; HS Chorus Room; 2:15PM

• November 14- School Wide Fundraiser Starts; The Charleston Wrap Company

• November 16- School Wide Fundraiser Starts; Money Wars; Donated to Food Pantries

• November 17- Middle School Picture Retakes & 8th Grade Photo

• November 17- Field Trip; REACH; Wolfpack School Day Game

• November 18- Spring Musical Call Backs; HS Chorus Room; 2:15PM

• November 19- Parent Conferences; 4:00 - 7:00 PM
• November 20- Poinsettia Fundraiser Starts; Race Team
• November 20- School Wide Fundraiser Ends; Money Wars; Donated to Food Pantries
• November 25- 8th Grade Fundraiser Starts; Double Good
• November 25- Early Dismissal: 11:45 AM
• November 26-27- NO SCHOOL; School Recess

• November 30- School Wide Fundraiser Ends; The Charleston Wrap Company

• November 30- 8th Grade Fundraiser Ends; Double Good

December

All Month Spring Musical Rehearsals; Follow Schedule Given

• December 1- Poinsettia Fundraiser Ends
• December 5- CMEA Eastern Region Auditions; 8:00AM - 12:00PM
• December 7-11- Spirit Week
• December 9- Early Dismissal; 11:45 AM
• December 11- CCMC Pajama Day
• December 15- Ski/Snowboard Club Safety Meeting; 2:15 - 3:00 PM
• December 21- Caroling Through Community
• December 23- Early Dismissal; 11:45 AM
• December 24-31- NO SCHOOL; School Recess

Grade 7: This week School Counselors were in grade 7 classrooms teaching a lesson about harassment and students rights. Please check in with your child regarding this lesson as some sensitive topics like flirting vs harassment and sexting were discussed. All students were advised to speak with a parent or trusted adult if the lesson brought up any concerns or questions.

Grade 8: In October, 8th graders took the PSAT 8/9 during the school day and these scores should be released soon. You should receive an email from College Board regarding creating accounts to view your students' scores. We're asking you to help your student create their College Board account with you at home as soon as possible. In the near future, School Counselors will ask students to log into their College Board accounts and we will explain how they can interpret their Score Reports. Students can access their scores once they are released by going to https://studentscores. collegeboard.org/home and creating an account, but below are some very important suggestions you should review prior to helping your student create a College Board account:

• When creating the account students should use their SCHOOL EMAIL address.
• College Board requires the password to be between 9-30 characters including at least one lowercase, one uppercase, one number and one symbol. Please make sure your student knows their College Board password.
• If your student provided a mobile number during exam setup, they can easily view their scores on their phone with BigFuture School.
• If your student is under the age of 13, you must print and complete the College Board Account Creation Consent Form and email it directly to College Board for approval before creating an account.

For information on interpreting and understanding your students PSAT 8/9 Score Report you can check out the links below:

• PSAT 8/9: Understanding Scores for Students and Families
• Understanding Your Digital PSAT 8/9 Score Report Video

An informational meeting about the RHAM Middle School eSports Team will be held after school in the Middle School Lecture Hall from 2:15 to 3:15 on Thursday, November 12th. Please email Keith.Conroy@rhamschools.org and Shelley.Osowiecki@rhamschools.org with any questions

As the weather gets cooler and we move into the fall and winter seasons, we want to share a few important reminders to help keep our students healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

When to Stay Home

Please keep your child home if they have:

• A fever of 100.4°F or higher
• Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
• Symptoms that prevent them from comfortably participating in school

Students should be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, with symptoms improving, before returning to school.

Help Prevent the Spread of Illness

Remind your child to:

• Wash hands frequently.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid sharing food, drinks, and personal items.
• Get plenty of rest.

Physicals, Immunizations & Flu Vaccine

Connecticut requires current physicals and immunizations for school attendance and athletic participation. Please send updated records to the Health Office as needed.

Fall is also a great time to talk with your child's healthcare provider about the annual flu vaccine.

Medication Reminders

When appropriate, please give allergy and cough medications at home before school. The Health Office does not stock allergy medication, decongestants, or cough syrup.

PowerSchool Consent to Treat

Please check that your child's Consent to Treat is current in PowerSchool if you would like them to receive available over-the-counter medications at school, such as Tylenol, Motrin, TUMS, or cough drops.

Healthy Habits for Fall

A few simple habits can make a big difference:

• Stay hydrated: Bring a refillable water bottle each day.
• Eat breakfast: Breakfast is FREE for all students! A healthy breakfast supports focus and learning.
• Dress for the weather: Encourage layers to stay comfortable during cooler mornings and changing temperatures.
• Get enough sleep: Consistent sleep helps students stay healthy, focused, and ready for the school day.

Thank you for helping us to keep our school community healthy and safe throughout the fall season!

Courtney Roy, BSN, RN

Regional School District 8
25 RHAM Rd
Hebron, CT 06248

P: 860-228-9423 Ext 4009

F: 860-228-5316

courtney.roy@rhamschools.org

Report attendance for your child through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. You can login through the link: Powerschool Parent Portal and click on "Attendance Monitor". This will allow you to report your child’s attendance to the Attendance Secretary directly through PowerSchool and receive a confirmation upon submission. Should you have any difficulty in using the parent portal then please email msattendance@rhamschools.org.

• Late buses run Monday - Thursday (No Fridays or half days)

• Students must sign up on the After School Google Form DAILY. (Students must fill in what activity they are staying after school for, then check off pickup, walking home or taking the late bus. This is an After School Sign Up NOT just a late bus sign up.)

• You MUST fill in your home address if you are taking the Late Bus.

• Students are picked up at the Middle School around 4:00 pm.

• There is 1 bus per town.

• Bus routes are determined at the time of pickup, based upon how many students are on the bus and student locations. The length of time it takes to get home will vary. You might not be dropped off at your actual home, you could be dropped off up to 1 mile away.

• You will report to the library after your activity or event and wait there doing school work until the late bus arrives.

• You must be staying after school for an event or activity.

• You cannot leave the school grounds then come back to take the late bus.

We have two lunch waves at RHAM Middle School. The first wave starts at 10:35 am and the second wave starts at 11:20 am. We know that students often get hungry before and after lunch, so they may bring a snack to keep in their locker. We would like to remind everyone that because of allergies, no nut products are allowed in school. If you would like to look up the menu for either breakfast or lunch options, please click the linked image.

Breakfast - FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS

Dear Families,

We are happy to share that the LINQ Connect platform is now accepting deposits for student lunch accounts.

If you have not yet created an account, please see the attached directions to get started.

If you are still unable to access your account or add funds, please reach out to LINQ Support at (916) 467-4700, option 2 for assistance.

Region 8 Schools

LINQ Connect

Pay your school fees and add money to meal accounts from anywhere, any time.

launchlinqconnect.com

There are times when families find themselves in need of support to ensure that their children are able to get lunch at school. If you are in need of assistance, please see the Free/Reduced information under the parent tab and then click on food service.

Families who may qualify for free meals are encouraged to submit an application if that has not already been done. Applications can be completed by contacting Jen Choma at 860-228-9474 ext. 3401, or by clicking the linked image.

The link below provides a video with instructions on how to complete an application for free meals or free milk. https://vimeo.com/777367788

The link below provides information regarding information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/Nutrition/NSLP/Forms/FreeRed/AddendumC.pdf

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Bus routes can be found by going onto the middle school website and clicking on the bus route icon on the main page. Please note that on the first few days of school the bus company recommends that students are outside waiting for their bus a few minutes early. The bus drivers are getting used to their new routes and often tend to be a little early (or late).

Parents & families are able to monitor the progress of the bus that transports their child(ren) to and from school in real time using a computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Please note that the monitoring of bus progress is restricted to the families of students riding their assigned bus.

Please use this link for more detailed information and to register: Transportation Information

We wanted to share some key details about the MyRideK12 app and what can affect its updates.

• The app’s tracking is typically about 2 minutes behind real-time.
• For the best updates, your phone should have at least three bars of signal.
• The bus also needs a strong signal for its location to update properly.

Because of these factors, especially in rural areas, there may be times when the app’s updates are slower or less accurate.

We appreciate your understanding and are happy to answer any questions.

Bus Traffic

All buses will enter RHAM from Route 85 and RHAM Road. The buses will proceed along the bus lane between the schools and the middle school baseball and high school softball fields. All middle and high school students will be dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon at the high school drop off area and the buses will then leave RHAM through the main high school exit onto Wall Street. All students will enter through the High School main entrance. No parent vehicles will be permitted to enter the bus lane leading to the high school and staff parking area.

Morning Drop Off Directions

High school parents dropping their children off must enter the high school drop-off loop off of Wall Street and drop their children off at the drop-off area that is across from the weight room and Central office (See map). Parents must then exit back onto Wall Street. Parents dropping off students will not be allowed to enter any of the parking areas.

Middle school parents dropping their children off may enter from Wall Street through the high school entrance adjacent to the Wall Street practice fields or from RHAM road. Parents entering from Wall Street must proceed along the access road adjacent to the tennis courts and drop their children off in front of the middle school main entrance (See map for drop off/pickup areas). Parents must then take a left at the stop sign and exit onto Route 85 via RHAM Road.

Parents entering from RHAM Road must take a right into the student drop off loop, and then follow the signs that will lead you to the drop-off point in front of the middle school main entrance. Parents must then take a left at the stop sign and exit onto Route 85 via RHAM Road. Parents are not allowed to enter the main staff parking area.

Parents with both middle and high school students must make one drop-off and enter the high school drop-off loop off of Wall Street and drop their children off at the drop-off area that is across from the weight room and Central office (See map). Parents must then exit back onto Wall Street. Middle school students dropped off at the high school will walk through the high school and proceed to the middle school.

Afternoon Pick Up Directions

High school parents picking their children up must enter through the main high school entrance on Wall Street and pick their children up at the pick up/drop off area immediately in front of the weight room. Parents must then exit back onto Wall Street from the exit adjacent to the Wall Street practice fields. Parents picking up students will not be allowed to enter any of the parking areas.

Middle school parents picking their children up must enter from Wall Street through the high school entrance adjacent to the Wall Street practice fields or enter from RHAM road. Parents entering from Wall Street must proceed along the access road adjacent to the tennis courts and pick up their children in front of the middle school main entrance. Parents entering from RHAM Road must take a right into the Parent Drop-off loop and then follow the signs that will lead you to the Pick-up point in front of the middle school main entrance. Parents picking up at the end of the day may wait along the right side of the access road in front of RHAM Middle School. Please do not double park on the left side of the access road. Parents are not allowed to enter the main staff parking area. Parents must then take a left at the stop sign and exit onto Route 85 via RHAM Road.

Parents with both middle and high school students can either pick up both students using either the high school or middle school pick-up area or pick up first at the high school and then proceed down to the middle school pick-up area.

Student Directions

High school students parking in the upper or lower student parking lots must enter and exit through the Wall Street student entrance (see map) adjacent to the Wall Street fields.

Link to MS Maps

Link to HS Map

L& C Park consultants will oversee inspections to search for conditions that are favorable for pest development, to monitor the pest pressure of any detected pests, and once unacceptable threshold s for damage have occurred, take responsible and progressive action to reduce the problem. Any corrective action will utilize the least impactful technique to the environment and human health. The IPM plan will utilize all methods of pest control, which may include modifying cultural practices to best match the uses and environments of the landscape areas, monitoring for pest populations, mechanical and biological control, and the judicious use of pesticides. If needed, pesticides will only be applied in accordance to DEEP rules and regulations by a Certified Landscape company and The IPM Plan and will not be applied on a routine basis; however, they may be used as a tool to maintain pest populations at or below an acceptable level while maintaining plant health and vigor. Strong plants are naturally resistant to disease and pests and can tolerate and recover from damage. The IPM plan is proactive and preventative rather than reactive and curative. The preferred approach is rendering the grounds inhospitable to pests through plant health, cultural and plant management best practices, and natural controls. Pesticides that may be used will be based on a pre-determined hierarchy that will utilize least toxic products as first choice. Whenever practicable, biological controls such as predatory insects, beneficial nematodes or microbial pesticides will be used. Proper implementation of this program will reduce the volume, toxicity and frequency of application of pesticides and other chemicals, thereby reducing negative environmental impact and the risk of potential exposure of building occupants and visitors to the grounds who may be sensitive to their use. The IPM program will begin with regular sweeps to monitor pest pressure. Subsequent inspections will be performed, as needed depending upon pest pressure. Inspections involve a visual inspection of potential problem areas, with the assistance of monitoring devices where appropriate, and the implementation of control measures where pest populations exceed threshold levels. Pesticides are used as a last resort and only if other control strategies are ineffective, cause greater harm to plants and the environment, or are economically or logistically unsustainable. Emergency Applications may occur if a human health hazard is eminent and the IPM coordinator has deemed the application is warranted based on the IPM plan with the involvement of the IPM Supervisor. The IPM plan, based upon the record of sightings, investigations, and evaluation of control strategies is constantly improving and evolving. A copy of the plan is available for review. A copy of the school plan will be held at the Superintendent’s office and School main office. Copies of product labels for each pesticide and bait station used on school property are maintained by the contact person. Persons wishing to review this information should contact School office listed below to arrange an appointment. If you would like to be notified of pesticide applications that will occur at the school, please register an email account in the space provided and return this form to the office listed in the header above. All notifications will be by email.