Parent Newsletter

Dear Families,

As we wrap up the first quarter, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your partnership and support. It’s been a fantastic start to the school year—our students have been engaged, curious, and full of energy, and we couldn’t do it without you!

As we move into the second quarter, please remember that regular attendance plays a big role in every child’s success. Each day of learning builds on the last, and being present helps students stay connected and confident.

With the Wisconsin temperatures dropping, we also want to remind everyone that we’ll continue to offer outdoor lunch recess opportunities for students who wish to go outside after eating. Please help your child come prepared with warm layers, hats, and gloves so they can enjoy the fresh air comfortably.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We appreciate your continued support in helping make our school a welcoming and thriving community for every student.

Warm regards,

Mike Cunningham

Leigh Ann Graf

Co-Principals

Nov 11 - Veteran's Day Breakfast & Assembly

Nov 20 - RMS Orchestra Concert - 6pm @ WHS

Nov 26 - 28 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

New to our building this year is an attendance email address for Parents and Guardians to use to report that your student will be absent. As always, you can still call and leave a message with attendance. It is important that you let us know in advance if your student will be absent. That way attendance can be marked accordingly and automated absent phone calls will not go out. Adding RMS as a contact in your phone also helps you to know who is calling, if your student needs something. Thank you!

Attendance Email: rmsattendance@mywusd.org

Attendance Phone Number: 920-262-1480 - EXT 5811

RMS Families and Community Members, We are excited to have started the year very positively at RMS. We especially thank our students, staff, and parents for the positive start. One of the areas of concern we have heard is with after school traffic. As you all know, Hall Street can get congested and this is causing delays in getting the RMS buses to the High School. Last year we implemented a new traffic plan, with buses exiting to E. Main St. via Rocky Road which helped alleviate those issues. This year hasn’t been as smooth as years past and looking for everyone to please bring patience and understanding after school to keep all students and drivers safe. We also have people that are driving a little too fast for a school parking lot. We would appreciate slowing down to keep our students as safe as possible. Our hope is that when Highway 16 reopens our traffic will begin to flow better as in years past. We want to remind our parents that our solution is to have the buses line up in the back teacher parking lot at dismissal (near the cemetery). We also politely ask parents to not drive into the back teacher parking lot. We need to safely load the buses in the back and ask parents to pick up in different locations. Currently due to road closure on Highway 16 the buses exit the parking lot and turn left onto Rocky Road (against normal traffic in the lane nearest the cemetery) and then exit right onto Main Street. Once 16 has re-opened buses when exiting the parking lot will turn left onto Rocky Road (against normal traffic and in the lane nearest to the cemetery), and then exit left normally onto Main Street. (See image below.) This will also free up space on Hall Street for parents that are exiting Rocky Road via Hall Street. As of right now, parents will still be able to pick up on Rocky Road. However, we ask that parents do not drive in the right lane on the opening corner of Rocky Road during after school pick up. Once you have passed the barricades and cones, you will be free to move to the right and pick up your child by the flagpole. We also ask that you do not stop in the left lane of Rocky Road in order to keep the road free for buses to safely exit the parking lot as they leave school grounds. We appreciate your patience while we try to improve the after school pick-up process. In order to alleviate some of this congestion, we encourage parents to plan their pick-up along Hall Street, in the pool parking lot or have your student walk to an agreed upon location along Boughton Street or another location that makes sense for your situation. We appreciate your partnership as we are looking to improve student safety. Yours in Education, Mike Cunningham Leigh Ann Graf

Students and Staff had an amazing day dressed up for Halloween!

Each grade had a different color to wear!

Please talk with your student about any items they may have lost or forgotten at school. Our Lost & Found is very full! If items are not picked up by November 3rd, we will donate them. Thank you so much for you cooperation in helping make your students responsible for their own items!

• The RMS school day will begin at 7:45AM and dismiss at 3:15 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays, school will begin at 7:45AM and dismiss at 2:10PM.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools and students. Together, we honor our tradition of excellence while embracing the innovation and transformation needed to prepare learners for the future. A community-wide survey will be mailed to all households by the end of October to gather your feedback regarding a possible WUSD operational referendum in April 2026. Please complete the survey by November 17, 2025—your voice matters!

Whether you are interested or not, we ask that you please fill out the form below either way.

https://sealasmile.wisconsin.gov/Consent/Program/SelectProgram

Please watch the video below for more information.

On Skyward Family Access, parents will find the 2025 Free and Reduced Price School Meal form. Forms can be turned in to any of the district schools. A new form must be completed each school year.

Under Wisconsin Statute 120.12 (22), students who qualify for free and reduced lunch will have the cost of their exam(s) waived. Families must complete the paperwork for free/reduced lunch each year. If you have not yet done so, that paperwork should be completed by October 1st to ensure that there is no gap in your student receiving free/reduced lunch benefits.

Riverside Middle School T-Shirts are available for $10. Please bring Cash or Check to the Main Office.

Google Chat will be shut off for 6th and 7th graders this year.

Thank you.

Riverside Middle School - 920-262-1480

Main Office - Ext 5801

Bookkeeper - Ext 5802

Attendance - Ext 5811

Student Services - Ext 5821

Fax - 920-262-1468

Riverside Middle School on Facebook at https://shorturl.at/HnSJA

Watertown Unified School District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WatertownUnifiedSD

Watertown Unified School District on Instagram at instagram.com/watertownusd