RRMS Royal Update Knight Newsletter

We want to hear from you, Pasco families!

Our Annual Family Feedback Survey is now open, and your voice helps shape a positive, supportive experience for every student. Please take 10–15 minutes to share your thoughts—we’ll share a summary of results and next steps so you can see how your feedback drives district planning.

https://tejoin.com/participate/517532408

Survey closes January 27

Thank you for partnering with us!

#PascoListens

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We’re pleased to announce the launch of a new absence reporting system for our school district. Starting now, all student absences should be reported through the myStudent Parent Portal.

To submit an absence:

1. Log in to your myStudent Parent Portal.
2. Navigate to the Forms section.
3. Complete and submit the Absence Reporting Form for approval.

For step-by-step instructions and helpful resources, please visit:
👉 www.pasco.k12.fl.us/attendance/absence

We appreciate your continued support in helping us maintain accurate attendance records. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.

F 1/23 Course Selection Kick Off Video – 1st period

1/23-1/29 Course Selection Presentations through Science Classes

T 1/27 Next Year, Next Steps – Rising 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night

F 2/6 Course Cards due to Science Teachers

F 8/7 Secondary Open House/Meet the Teacher 8AM-12PM

1/23 HS Counselors visit ELA classes and distribute HS Course Cards

2/3 HS Rush Day through History classes

2/3 9th Grade Parent Night - Theater 6PM-7:30PM

2/10 HS Academy Tours (sign up only) 2nd Period

2/12 HS Course Cards due to ELA Teachers

2/17 Rising 9th Grade Course Selection and 4-year plan through Xello in ELA classes

2/3-2/5 5th Grade meetings at Feeder Elementary Schools for

information session and course card distribution

W 2/11 RRMS Inside the Castle – Exploring Your Future 6th Grade

Curriculum Night 6:00PM-7:30PM

- Parent/Guardian meeting in theater about course

registrations and offerings, and Middle School transition

tips

- Visit classrooms, explore elective opportunities and

programs of study including Gifted Inclusion, ESE

Programs, Acceleration Options, Engineering, and FAME

Academy

- Meet our Royal Family: Administration, Teachers, Student

Services, and Support Staff

TH 2/11 Course Cards due to 5th grade teacher/school counselor

F 4/24 Field Trip to the RRMS Castle – Campus Tour & Prep Rally

(students only)

TH 7/30 Storm the Castle – New Student Orientation 8AM-12PM

Read 750 Minutes • Log Your Progress • Win a Bookish Gift Basket!

Our Quarter 3 Beanstack Reading Challenge is officially underway, and we’re inviting all students to dive into great books, track their reading, and work toward an exciting prize!

🎯 Your Goal:
Read 750 minutes this quarter and log your reading in Beanstack.

🎁 Why Participate?
Every student who completes the reading goal will be entered into a drawing for a gorgeous, book‑lover’s gift basket—generously donated by Gilded Page, one of our community’s favorite independent bookstores!

📦 What’s in the Gift Basket?
A curated collection of all things bookish—perfect for readers of all ages. Expect cozy, creative, and literary goodies that celebrate the joy of reading!

📅 Challenge Window:
Quarter 3 (Now through the end of the quarter)

📲 How to Log Minutes:
Simply open your Beanstack app or visit the Beanstack website, record your daily reading, and watch your minutes add up.

Let’s make this quarter the one where we read more, explore more, and win something truly delightful. Happy reading, and good luck!

If you would like to request a parent teacher conference, please go to the RRMS website, and click the Parent Tab>Parent Teacher Conference Requests to complete the request form. All Parent Teacher Conferences will be held virtually through TEAMS after school at 1:40PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A Student Services team member will be in contact with arrangements.

Chrissy Brando, Athletic Director cbrando@pasco.k12.fl.us

Joseph Corley, Assistant Athletic Director jcorley@pasco.k12.fl.us

All middle school students may participate in the middle school athletic program. Students must have a valid physical form and submit it through the Athletic Clearance website before tryouts. Please visit the RRMS website under Athletics for all required paperwork. Upon making the team, the following athletic participation fees apply and must be paid within 3 days of making the team:

· Athletic Participation Fee: $60 1st sport, $40 2nd sport; Family cap per school $150, Individual cap $100

All athletic tickets must be purchased on GoFan.co. We will not sell tickets at the gates. All middle school sports tickets will be $5.

For each game, if you have purchased a season pass on GoFan.co, you will be guaranteed admission to all HOME athletic events. This All-Access Pass entitles the holder to claim a single ticket for each River Ridge home game for the 2025-26 season. **This pass is not valid for FHSAA State Series events. Season passes are $60.

Free Admission passes (PCSB Employees, FHSAA passes) – We will hold back a limited number of tickets up until game time. Under-school-age children will still be let in free with parents (up to capacity).

It’s that time of year again to enjoy the beautiful and delicious strawberries from Wish Farms in Plant City. The annual RRMS PTSA Strawberry Fundraiser is open and taking orders through January 31st at this link: https://wishfarms.myshopify.com/products/river-ridge-middle-school-fundraiser-strawberries. The flats of strawberries will be delivered to the school in early February. $8 dollars from every flat goes back to River Ridge classroom initiatives. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Hloska at riverridgemsptsa@gmail.com.

Tickets available on GoFan.co at https://gofan.co/event/5656982?schoolId=FL78402.

Yearbooks will be on sale during the school’s Storm the Castle/Open House through December 31st and will be available online or by contacting Ms. Baumaister at cbaumais@pasco.k12.fl.us for $30. From January – April 30, the price will increase to $35. When the books arrive in May, the price will increase to $40. We will also have a yearbook signing celebration exclusively for those students who purchased a yearbook in May. Yearbooks may be purchased online through Walsworth: www.yearbookforever.com. 8th Grade yearbook ads payment will be through GoFan.co for $40.

Celebrate your child’s birthday with a Birthday Song at lunch from the Administrative Team, balloons, confetti, and an ice cream treat. Complete the form in the front office and provide Mrs. Cace with $5. All proceeds go to student and staff recognition.

Login to your Parent Portal and Complete the Forms Required for the New Year: https://pasco.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/index.php?skipSSO

Pay Student Fees: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/

Purchase Spirit Wear: GoFan.co

School Public Calendar: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/0120328c89614936bba960f250bd1e60@pasco.k12.fl.us/ab1314af30da413fb329249b680fa84b16538542546199125556/calendar.html

All students and families should be provided with the Student Code of Conduct that can be found on the Pasco County Schools' website at https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/ssps/page/conduct/.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve made some improvements to the River Ridge car loop to help make arrival and dismissal smoother and safer for everyone.

To ensure all families are familiar with the updated procedures, we’re sharing an instructional video as a helpful reminder of appropriate drop-off and pick-up routines each day. Thank you for following the guidelines to keep our Royal Knights safe!

Please click on the video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKmq_yprFGw

Show Your Royal Spirit with your River Ridge SWAG... new items have been added for purchase on GoFan.co at our River Ridge Spirit Store. Items can be picked up at the front office… don't miss out sizes are limited and new designs are amazing! Go Knights! #WeAreRoyal #RoyalSpiritFridays

Mrs. Angie Murphy, Principal amurphy@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7208

Mrs. Emily Bourdon, Assistant Principal (6th Grade) ebourdon@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7234

Ms. Daniell Grubbs, Assistant Principal (7th Grade) dgrubbs@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7256

Ms. Kristen Martanovic, Assistant Principal (8th Grade) kmartano@pasco.k21.fl.us. 774-7238

Corporal Josh Peters, SRO jopeters@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7223

Mrs. Denise Doerrfeld, School Counselor (8th Grade) ddoerrfe@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7253

Ms. Meredith Alston, School Counselor (7th Grade) malston@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7260

Ms. Kaitlyn Mallery, School Counselor/Academic Advisor (6th Grade) kmallery@pasco.k12.fl.us

Mrs. April Addington, SSAP aaddingt@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7069

Mrs. Maria Costlow, School Social Worker mcostlow@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7259

Mrs. Kylie Owens, SBP Social Worker kowens@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7320

Mrs. Toi Taylor, School Nurse thooksta@pasco.k12.fl.us

Ms. Joanie Noe, Clinic Asst. jnoe@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7213

Mrs. Flo Cione, Bookkeeper fcione@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7216

Ms. Chrissy Brando, Athletic Director cbrando@asco.k12.fl.us 774-7187

Mr. Joseph Corley, Assistant Athletic Director jcorley@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7326