Ms. Queiruga's Weekly Update

Happy Friday! This week we recognized School Violence Awareness Week, by focusing on being an upstander. Ms. Queiruga also conducted sessions about HIB during all PE/Health classes. The fall dances are scheduled for this afternoon. Students will need to leave the building at dismissal and return for their scheduled grade level dance.

As we look towards next week, we will recognize Red Ribbon Week, an annual event that focuses on raising awareness about the dangers of drug use and promoting healthy, drug-free lifestyles. The theme this year is "Life is a puzzle, solve it drug free!" Activities include our spirit week and signing pledges to be drug free. Please review the parent letter sent out earlier today. We will also have another spirit week, which is linked below. Please also review the communication sent this week about picture day, which is scheduled for 10/28.

Please click here for this week's Panther TV Episode: Episode 4

As always, please review the reminders and updates below:

Information about signing up for Parent Teacher Conferences will be sent out by 10/28.

Red Ribbon Week: Please click on the picture for information about next week's spirit week.

Fall Dances: Students are permitted to wear Halloween costumes to the dances this afternoon. For identification purposes, masks must be removed to enter the building. The dances are only for RPMS students. Students from other schools are not permitted.

Halloween: Students are permitted to wear Halloween costumes on 10/30. Costumes must be school appropriate and students must be able to navigate around the building to get to and participate in their scheduled classes. Please note, no masks, face painting, or props are permitted. Any student bringing masks or props to school will be required to keep them in the main office and pick them up at dismissal. Any student coming to school with face paint will be asked to wash it off.

Club Calendar: Please click on the link. Meeting dates are updated throughout the year. Clubs end at 3:40 on their scheduled days. For anyone joining a club or sport, there is a pay to play fee of $25. This will cover any clubs/sports for your child. The form is available in the main office.

Food Items: Please note that due to food allergies, any food items for celebrations must adhere to district guidelines and be approved in advance.

Student IDs: Please ensure students have their IDs everyday, which is needed for lunch. If a student does not have their ID, they must know their student ID number.

Attendance: Please carefully review the attendance procedures, as explained in the Student Handbook: Attendance Procedures If you have any questions about attendance, please email Ms. Paterno at mpaterno@rpsd.org. A gentle reminder that students must be in their homerooms by 8:06 to be marked present and not tardy. Anyone arriving to homeroom after 8:06 will be marked tardy.

Student Dress Code: Please carefully review the student dress code, as explained in the Student Handbook: Student Dress Code A few gentle reminders as we start the year: Crocs must be in sport mode (with the straps up). No slide style shoes are permitted. Midriffs should not be visible and spaghetti strap tops can be worn only with another shirt over them.

Attendance Matters: Students missing at least 10% of the total school days, even if with medical notes, are considered chronically absent. Please ensure that your child ends the year strong by attending school everyday!

Item Drop Offs & Visitors: As a reminder from our student handbook, no deliveries are permitted throughout the day. This includes dropping off items such as lunch, water, clothing, laptops, money, cell phones, or forgotten academic items such as books, homework, or projects. Visitors are required to have a scheduled appointment in advance. No entry will be allowed without prior appointment.

Drinks: As a reminder, students are only permitted to carry water with them throughout the day. Please ensure your child only brings water to drink during the school day.

Student IDs: Students are required to have their IDs at all times during the school day. This includes during lunch periods.

Bike Safety: Please remind students about bike safety as they ride bikes through parking lots and on streets. Our PE team will have a lesson bike safety in the coming weeks.

We welcome our new school nurse, Ms. Barber. Should you have any student health related questions, please contact Ms. Barber at kbarber@rpsd.org.

The PTA is looking for parents to join this year. Children of parents who attend meetings will receive a homework pass to use in school. Please consider joining in order to support our school community. The PTA sponsors many events throughout the year and also fundraises for end of year activities such as our schoolwide picnic. Please click on the picture to open up the PTA Flyer.

The next meeting is November 11th. Please click on the link to order spirit wear: Order Form The window closes on 10/11.

The next SEPAG Meeting is scheduled for November.

If you need assistance, please contact your child's guidance counselor.

Ms. Geremakis at mgeremakis@rpsd.org (last name A-L)

Ms. Nausedas at dnausedas@rpsd.org (last name M-Z)

October 23: Fall Dances

• 6th grade: 3:00-4:00 PM
• 7th grade: 4:15-5:15 PM
• 8th grade: 5:30-6:30 PM

October 26-30: Red Ribbon Week

October 28: Picture Day

October 30: Shortened Session for Students, 12:20 Dismissal- No Lunch Served

-F. Scott Fitzgerald