Panther Tales

Para traducir el boletín a otro idioma, haga clic en "Translate" arriba.

Panther Tales is our primary means of communicating school information and news. Panther Tales is sent to families via email and text each Thursday. We will alternate between a full-length Panther Tales and a "Mini" Newsletter. You can also access prior Panther Tales on our School Website.

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, a time to come together as a community to promote mental health, encourage help-seeking behaviors, and remind one another that support is always available.

At RCMS, we are committed to fostering a culture of care, connection, and belonging for every student, staff member, and family. During the week of September 6-11, our school will participate in activities that promote awareness, encourage meaningful conversations, and reinforce the importance of mental health and well-being.

Wear Teal or Purple on September 10

On September 10, we invite all students and staff to wear teal or purple in recognition of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. By wearing these colors, we stand together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and show support for those who may be experiencing challenges.

Together, we can help create a school community where everyone feels seen, valued, connected, and supported.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to prioritize the well-being of all students.

This month, students will participate in the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program, a school-based curriculum designed to increase awareness of mental health, teach students how to recognize warning signs of depression and suicide, and encourage them to seek help for themselves or a friend when needed.

The SOS program emphasizes that mental health is just as important as physical health and provides students with practical tools for responding to concerns. Students will learn the ACT message:

Acknowledge that a friend's feelings or situation may be serious.

Care by showing support and concern.

Tell a trusted adult to get help.

The lessons will be presented during the following dates:

• 6th Grade: September 9-11
• 7th Grade: September 14, 17, and 18
• 8th Grade: September 16-18

We encourage families to continue the conversation at home by talking with their children about mental health, healthy coping strategies, and the importance of reaching out to trusted adults when help is needed. Open communication between home and school plays a vital role in supporting the well-being of our students.

Start the school year strong by joining our Beanstack Back-to-School Reading Challenge! Students can earn a chance to win a prize by logging their reading minutes and completing activities to fill their Reading Bingo card.

The more you read and participate, the closer you'll get to completing your bingo and earning rewards. Don't wait, start tracking your progress today!

⏰ Challenge Ends: Sept. 30th, Happy reading and good luck! 📖🎉

Do you love reading and competition? The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is your chance to read great books, work as a team, and test your knowledge against other student readers!

Participants will read books from the Georgia Children's Book Award reading list, meet with fellow readers to discuss the books, and prepare for an exciting quiz-style competition. The Reading Bowl is a fun way to discover new favorite books, build teamwork skills, and celebrate a love of reading.

Whether you're an avid reader or looking to challenge yourself, we encourage you to join us!

📖 Read. 🧠 Compete. 🏆 Succeed.

See Ms. Reeves in the Media Center for more information and sign up today! 🎉

Make plans to cheer on our softball, volleyball and boys soccer teams during upcoming matches! Games kick off in September. Please check out the schedule HERE.

Students are welcome to stay after school to support their classmates. A cashless concession stand is available for home volleyball games that offers pizza, drinks and snacks. Go Panthers!

In honor of our first Fun Friday, Kona Ice will be available for purchase. Please send cash and check the flyer below for prices. Also, students may wear their favorite college gear on Friday. Please see below for more information.

Join us September 14 immediately following school to cheer on home outings for our soccer, softball and volleyball teams! Thanks to our partner Blue Moon Pizza for providing pizza for all our students staying for the games. Go Team!

Get ready for an exciting afternoon packed with games, rides, food, music and Panther spirit! Students can stay after school and enjoy the festivities from 4-6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 until Oct. 2 and $30 the day of the event. Find out more and get tickets HERE. Note: all Silver, Gold, and Platinum Level Foundation members receive one complimentary ticket.

Looking for gear to represent your student’s Fall Sports team? The Online Panther Store has T-shirts, hoodies, and more for Ridgeview students and families. The store offers a huge variety of styles, colors, and teams- there's something for every athlete or fan in the stands!

Wear your Ridgeview pride. Go Panthers!

Feel the Energy. Fuel the Future – Register Today for Sandy Springs Education Force’s Lightning 5K/10K on October 24, 2026. Proceeds support SSEF’s programs in all 10 public schools in Sandy Springs.

All participants get a race t-shirt, finishers receive custom-designed medals, and the top three adults and kids in multiple categories earn awards. Enjoy an easy packet pickup and a festive, family-friendly atmosphere at this Peachtree qualifier with a DJ, vendors, giveaways, face painting, free parking, photo opportunities and more! The largest school team wins the Spirit Cup trophy, and the largest school team with at least 40 members wins $350 for their PTO/PTA!!

Make it count—sign up today and run for brighter futures! Use coupon code FCSTEN to save $10: https://runsignup.com/ssef

Volunteers are needed to man a table in the cafeteria during lunch where students will come to sign peace pledges in honor of Interational Peace Day. Please sign up HERE.

Volunteers are needed to help put up signs, take money and put on wristbands for Dress Down Day. Sign up HERE.

PTA has several upcoming volunteer opportunities: visit the Volunteering Page on the PTA Website. An upcoming need is for Fun Friday on 9/4/26 - sign up Here

Information published in Panther Tales is limited to communications directly from RCMS, RCMS PTA, RCMS Foundation, Fulton County Schools or our feeder schools and can be submitted it to PanthertalesRCMS@gmail.com.

If you wish to share promotional material related to a local opportunity such as a camp, sports program or other business geared towards our students, you can learn how to distribute your materials through Peach Jar by clicking here.

Thank you to these partners in our community who have chosen to support RCMS!

We will feature our corporate partners in each issue of Panther Tales. If you have a business (or know of one) who is interested in supporting our Panthers, please visit our Corporate Partners page and learn how you can help our students AND have your business featured here!