RHAM Middle School Raptor Report

Dear Parent/Guardian:

We would like to invite you to attend our annual RHAM Middle School Open House on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 starting promptly at 6:00 PM. This evening is for Parents/Guardians ONLY. The purpose of the program is to provide you with the opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers and to become familiar with school culture, team events and individual course expectations.

The evening will begin at 6:00 PM with parents/guardians reporting to their child’s Advisory classroom to meet the Advisory teacher and pick up your child’s schedule for the evening. Please ask your child for the name of their advisory teacher and room location prior to arriving on the 23rd. (You may also look this up on Parent Portal). There will be staff available to help guide you around the school.

After Advisory, you will then follow your child’s schedule and meet with each of their first quarter teachers who will present an overview of their course. As an option, if your child has an intervention lab during period 8, feel free to visit one of the Unified Arts teacher’s classrooms (e.g., Art, PE, Health, Personal Wellness, World Language (7th grade) and CTE) to get an overview of their course that your child will have later in the year. Open House is not the forum for parent/guardian - teacher conferences. Should you wish to speak with one of your child’s teachers or team personally, then please contact the school counselor or team leader to set up a meeting during school hours.

PARKING: Please park in the lower Middle School Parking Lot. If there are no spaces available, please proceed to a parking space elsewhere on campus. Use the 2nd Right Turn at the top of RHAM Road for the (visitor/staff) parking lot entrance.

ENTRY: No matter where you park - Please ENTER at the Middle School Main Front Entrance.

The MS School Store will be open in the main lobby. Forms of payment can be cash or checks.

We hope that your visit with us on this special evening is a pleasant one and we look forward to seeing you. Please remember that this is an event for parents/guardians only! See you on the 23rd.

Respectfully,

Michael J. Seroussi, Ph.D., Principal

Carri-Ann Bell, Assistant Principal

At Regional School District 8, we work hard to keep our operations running smoothly so we can

provide the best possible experience for our students. To cover bank administrative costs, we

are informing all families of fees that will be applied to failed or dishonored payments.

Please take note of the following guidelines regarding returned payments:

 Returned Fee: A $25.00 bank fee will be applied to your account for any payment

returned by the bank.

 Applicable Reasons: This fee applies to returned checks, failed ACH drafts, and declined

credit card transactions.

 Meal Accounts will automatically be debited the amount of the returned payment plus

the returned bank fee.

 Student Activity Fees will be billed via official letters sent home by the building

principal.

 Repeated Payment Returns may result in ineligibility to continued use of that payment

method.

Thank you for your cooperation and timely support!

Dear RHAM Community;

Due to the ongoing problems with unaccompanied students in the Douglas Library after school hours, the Board of Trustees has made a change to our policies. Effective immediately, students must present a high school identification in order to enter the library without an adult over the age of 18.

Unaccompanied students who do not have their high school ID or who have a middle school ID will be required to leave the library property (including the parking lot).

Please notify parents of this change, so that they do not expect their middle school students to be able to stay in the library after school, and remind your high school students of the need to carry their ID with them.

Thank you,

J. Drusilla Carter, MLIS, MA

Director, Douglas Library of Hebron

860-228-9312 x316

www.douglaslibrary.org

Each morning the Main Office begins Advisory with overhead announcements. These include the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and any pertinent information regarding the school day, special activities, and after school sports or clubs. It is important that students listen to these announcements as this is the primary form of communication of certain events.

A digital copy of these announcements will also be emailed daily to the 7th and 8th grade students and staff as the Morning Bulletin. Advisory teachers will direct students to check the Morning Bulletin for information regarding after school activities, such as times, meeting rooms, etc,. Additionally, students staying after school for clubs and activities will need to sign up on the After School Google Sign Up Form included each day in the Morning Bulletin. Please remind your student that they can also access this information in their school email on their Chrome Books at home to help plan for the week and to share with parents/guardians.

This summer, 35 staff members from both schools — teachers, administrators, office staff, and support staff alike — voluntarily took part in a summer book club organized by RHAM school librarian Nicole Daigle. The book club was inspired by the 10 categories in the New York Times' 2026 Summer Reading Bucket List, and included challenges like "read a book published in the last year" and "read a book that's been adapted for the screen." There was also a bonus challenge to submit your reading list to the New York Times for a prize drawing.

Together, the group logged 181 completed reading challenges, averaging more than 5 books per participant. The most popular pick was "read a book outside your usual genre," and the most-read title was Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. A huge congratulations to Brendan Burgess, Kristen Lynch, and Christine Van Cott, who each finished all 11 challenges!

RHAM is proud to have such a strong community of readers. Mrs. Daigle is already looking ahead to our next challenge, and she would like to hear from students: what would you like to see as part of a school-wide or district-wide reading event? Stop in the school library to talk with Mrs. Daigle, or submit your ideas through the RHAM Library Suggestion Box, located on the school library home page.

September

• September 7- NO SCHOOL; Labor Day
• September 8- Math Lab Starts
• September 9- Writing Lab Starts
• September 11-13- Rosh Hashanah
• September 11- Early Dismissal; 11:45 AM
• September 18- 7th Grade “Get Acquainted” Dance; 2:30 - 4:00
• September 18- Interactive Theater
• September 21- Yom Kippur
• September 22- PM Study Starts (Invited students only)
• September 23- Middle School Open-House/Back-to-School Night; 6:00 - 8:30 PM
• September 28- Pie Fundraiser Begins

Jazz auditions will be held after school on September 9th.

Sign-up on the band bulletin Board and come prepared to show your abilities.

To all students interested in Composing Music

All are welcome to meet in the Keyboard Lab on Tuesdays after school until 3:00.

Come share ideas, try things out, get feedback on your ideas and learn to use notation and recording programs. We will begin on September 15th.

oin SOAR Youth Leadership Group!

The SOAR Youth Leadership Group is excited to kick off a new year and invites all RHAM Middle School and High School students to attend our first meeting of the school year on Thursday, September 22, 2026, from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in the RHAM High School Fishbowl. At our first meeting, we'll discuss ideas and plans for the year ahead, enjoy some snacks, and have fun playing hacky sack! SOAR is open to all students who are interested in making a positive impact in their school and community.

SOAR focuses on community service, youth leadership, amplifying youth voices, and helping to build a healthy, empowered community.

Whether you're a returning member or joining for the first time, we'd love to have you be part of the group.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact SOAR facilitators:

• Ashlee Parks at ashleep@ahmyouth.org

• Carol Rusch at carol.rusch@rhamschools.org

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind our students and families that help is always available. Middle school can be a time of significant emotional, social, and academic changes. As parents and caregivers, one of the most important things we can do is stay connected, listen without judgment, and take changes in our children’s behavior or mood seriously.

Know the Warning Signs

Warning signs can look different for every young person. Some signs that a child may be struggling include:

• Withdrawing from friends or family
• Significant changes in mood, sleep, or eating habits
• Losing interest in activities they once enjoyed
• Feeling hopeless, trapped, or like a burden to others
• Increased anger, anxiety, or agitation
• Giving away important belongings or saying goodbye
• Talking about death, dying, or wanting to hurt themselves

These signs do not necessarily mean that a young person is considering suicide, but new or increasing changes in behavior are a reason to check in and offer support.

Start the Conversation

You don't need to have all the answers. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is simply ask, “How are you really doing?” Listen, let your child know that their feelings matter, and remind them that they don't have to handle difficult feelings alone.

If your child shares something concerning, take them seriously and involve a trusted adult or mental health professional. If a child talks about suicide or hurting themselves, do not promise to keep it a secret. Please visit our School Counseling website to view resources available to you and your family.

As a counseling department, we want our students and families to know that they are not alone. If you have concerns about your child’s emotional well-being, please reach out to your child’s School Counselor or another trusted adult at school. We are always happy to help connect families with appropriate resources and support.

If there is an immediate safety concern or someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

NEW YEAR, NEW GERMS!

Healthy Habits for a Healthy School Year

Welcome back! A new school year means new friends, new learning, new routines…and, of course, new germs!

Let’s work together to keep our students healthy, happy, and ready to learn.

STOP GERMS WITH GOOD HANDWASHING

Remind your child to:

• Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Wash before eating and after using the restroom
• Wash after coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose
• Use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't available

Clean hands = fewer germs!

EAT WELL • DRINK UP

Help your child start the day with a nutritious breakfast and pack healthy foods for school.

Encourage plenty of:
Fruits & vegetables • Protein • Whole grains • Water

Please send your child with a reusable water bottle and remind them to drink water throughout the school day.

SLEEP & RECHARGE

A good night's sleep helps children stay focused, energized, and ready to learn.

Consistent bedtime + good sleep = a better school day!

COVER THAT COUGH!

Teach your child to:

• Cough or sneeze into their elbow or a tissue
• Throw used tissues in the trash
• Wash or sanitize hands afterward

And please keep your child home when they are sick and follow school guidelines for returning to school.

CONNECTICUT SCHOOL HEALTH RECORDS

Please make sure your child's health records and medication forms are up to date!

Please check that the school nurse has:

☐ A current physical/health assessment
☐ An up-to-date immunization record
☐ Any applicable healthcare documentation

Has your child had a recent physical or received new vaccines?
Please send updated documentation to the school nurse so we can keep your child's health record current.

HEALTHY STUDENTS = HEALTHY SCHOOLS!

Thank you for working with us to make this a happy, healthy, and germ-smart school year!

Questions about your child's school health record? Please contact us!

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.

MAKE YOUR YEARBOOK ONE-OF-A-KIND

Choose from over 65 custom icons featuring sports, hobbies, clubs, grad years and many more. Offer ends Friday, September 11.

Use promo code YBKICONS at checkout to save.

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.

• 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.

Listed below are the clubs that ran during the 2025-2026 school year.

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.