RMHS Student & Family Newsletter
October 11, 2026
Good Afternoon RMHS Community,
This was a challenging week for Reading. One that causes reflection and consideration of what is important to us as individuals and the greater community. The Town and School Leadership of Reading will hold a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, October 14, at 6:00 PM in Memorial Park in honor of Andria Hanafin and her family. The hope is that the vigil will provide an opportunity for our community to come together in remembrance and support. All are welcome.
Students in need of support as a result of this tragedy are encouraged to contact their school counselor. Parents, please do not hesitate to reach out to counselors as well if you or your child need help from the school.
Sincerely,
Principal Callanan
This week there is no school for students on Monday and Tuesday. When students return on Wednesday, homecoming and spirit week(s) will begin. The homecoming dance is held in the fieldhouse and is the only dance that is open to all four grade levels. As a result of the large number of students that attend from RMHS, outside guests are not allowed at homecoming.
Students must complete a dance contract prior in order to attend the homecoming dance. If you are in grades 10-12 and completed a dance contract in prior years you do not have to submit a new one. Dance contracts can be located in the main office.
Parent Financial Aid Night is this evening (Wed. - 10/14) and the start time is pushed back to 7 pm to support families being able to attend both the vigil and the presentation.
Homecoming and Spirit Week Events:
Oct. 15 - Home Football game vs. Lexington is moved to Thurs. at 6 pm due to a lack of officials. Great 55-7 win over Winchester this weekend by Rockets football!
Oct. 18 (Sunday - 6 pm) - Sunday Night Lights - Juniors square off against seniors in the annual flag football game at the RMHS Stadium. Kick-off is at 6 pm.
Oct. 16 (Friday) - Unity Day (see schedule below) Students check email to sign up for Unity Day Sessions. Students that do not sign up for sessions, will be scheduled for those that have open slots. There are also several fieldtrips taking place on Unity Day. Students should have received fieldtrip permission forms on Friday to take home for signature. If you did not please see Ms. Buckley on Wednesday. If you did, please remember to turn in your signed form to the main office on Wednesday. For those new to RMHS, Unity Day is a day when students get to try something new or engage in an activity they are passionate about. It has become a tradition at RMHS that students and staff look forward to and that continues to expand each school year with new and exciting opportunities. It also allows students to build community with others they may not know and meet staff running activities they may not have as teachers.
Homecoming Theme Days:
- Oct. 19 (Monday) - Pajama Day
- Oct. 20 (Tuesday) - Country Club v. Country
- Oct. 21 (Wednesday) - Meme Day
- Oct. 22 (Thursday) - 2016 Day
- Oct. 23 (Friday) - Class Day (Seniors wear senior t-shirts, each grade will be assigned a different RMHS color for the pep rally) - TBD
Oct. 24 (Saturday - 7-9 pm) - Homecoming Dance - RMHS Fieldhouse - semi-formal, no high heeled shoes.
From the Senior Class Advisors:
We are hosting the RMHS Homecoming Dance on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 7-9pm in the RMHS Fieldhouse and we're expecting 250+ students. Therefore, we're looking for snack/drink donations for the event & we'd appreciate any help that parents/guardians, or community members, can provide. A Sign-Up Genius for supplies for homecoming is linked below. Any amount of donations is welcome. There is also a link below to purchase Dance Tickets through GoFan.
We're hoping to gather the donations before the dance on Saturday between 5:30 & 6:00pm so that we have time to put them out on tables. If you need to drop them off before Saturday, please let us know!
If you have any specific questions, email Patrick Mahoney directly at patrick.mahoney@reading.k12.ma.us or Brian Skeffington at brian.skeffington@reading.k12.ma.us
PSAT Day - I also want to remind everyone that Oct. 21 is a delayed opening for students not taking the PSAT. RMHS administers the PSAT during the school day to ensure that it is accessible to as many students in grades 10 and 11 as possible. Students taking the PSAT in grades 10 and 11 should arrive at school at the regular time on Oct. 21. Buses will run on the regular schedule on this date as well. If a student must take the bus to school and is not taking the PSAT they will be allowed to remain on RMHS Main St. or library and complete work quietly until classes commence. The PSAT schedules can be found using the following LINK and is also below.
Oct. 21 is a busy day for RMHS. The National Honor Society induction also takes place for seniors that qualified for this honor. The ceremony begins at 7 pm in the RMHS PAC and is open to all students and families. NHS inductees should continue to check emails for communication from NHS advisors about the time you need to be at school on the evening of the ceremony.
Student Shares Unscripted Thoughts on ICP
Check out this inspiring video created by Will Gallegos (Class of 2027, Digital Media Pathway)! Will put together an unprompted and unscripted reflection video capturing real student voices and their personal growth within our Innovation Career Pathways (ICP) program.
Hearing our young adults speak so authentically about their career exploration and skill development highlights the power of hands-on, career-connected learning at RMHS. A huge thank you to our ICP educators and community partners for guiding and supporting our students!
DECA Membership Skyrockets!
This year Reading Memorial High School’s business club, DECA, has hit record breaking numbers. The chapter began in 2023 with only 17 members and now has reached 246 students! We are so proud of the RMHS student body for their interest in business and their hard work and dedication growing the club.
We are in need of local business sponsorships as well as business and community partners looking to get involved. If you are interested in judging the local competition you can reach out to our advisor at anna.rosenfeld@reading.k12.ma.us or jennifer.cambra@reading.k12.ma.us or sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050E49A9A722A4FB6-66150999-mad4judge
RMHS Boys Soccer Team
The boys varsity team and myself (Coach Dan McGrath) volunteered at My Brothers Table in Lynn.
We helped out the kitchen staff by cutting up and packaging all the deserts, worked the line and put together all the lunches (fish, mashed potatoes, green beans and bread) and served over 100 members of the community. The boys were incredible all day! It was a great experience!
Calling All Student Creators!
The district is launching a new Instagram page to highlight what's happening across our schools — games, clubs, projects, and the people behind them. A small student team is being put together to help run it: photography, design, writing, content. If that sounds like something you'd be good at, fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mf1uGgrdXqzqhiFWYM1EwSVqVcpxkjXxF1OLUGonGsI/edit?usp=drivesdk
Reporting Absences and Attendance Policy
Once the school year begins, please report absences using the instructions on the main page of the RMHS school website LINKED HERE. **There is a new online attendance form. Please do not use a book-marked version. Please also review the RMHS Attendance Policy in the Student Handbook LINKED HERE.
Updated handbook coming soon after School Committee approval: no changes to attendance policy planned.
Seasonal & Holiday Décor Swap
Seasonal & Holiday Décor Swap — Reading Public Library
📅 Saturday, October 10 | 12:00–3:00 PM
📍 Community Room A & B
Families can “shop” for FREE, pre-loved seasonal and holiday decorations while supporting sustainability and giving items a second life.
No donation is required to participate.
Please note: No donations will be accepted on the day of the swap. Families are encouraged to bring a reusable bag and take home some treasures!
🗣️ Beginner English Class for Adults — Still Going!
📅 Tuesday evenings | 6:30–8:00 PM
The Library’s free Beginner English Class continues this fall! Adult learners can build confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing English.
Drop-ins are welcome.
⚠️ There is no class October 13 or October 27.
If you are looking for an opportunity to practice and improve your English, I encourage you to join us! This is a welcoming space to learn, practice, and build your confidence. Drop-ins are welcome
Donate Diapers to Area Families in Need
SNAP & WIC benefits do not cover diapers and have faced deep cuts in recent years. As a result, many families must make difficult decisions between food, rent, or clean bottoms. But you can help babies in the Metro-Boston area stay happy, clean, and dry by donating to the annual Metro-Boston Diaper Drive.
The Drive will run from October 4 - 17. Please visit mbdiapers.org to donate or click directly on the links to the Amazon and Target registries. The Metro-Boston Diaper Drive donates all diapers to the Somerville WIC office, which, as of July, serves 19 towns: Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Burlington, Cambridge, Everett, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Medford, North Reading, Reading, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Watertown, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn. Read more about why diaper drives like the Metro-Boston Diaper Drive are so important HERE.
High School Kindness Opportunities
Connor’s Kindness Project (CKP), a nonprofit founded by a local high school student with a mission to spread kindness and support children facing challenging circumstances.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Students can earn community service hours by helping us assemble Kindness Kits and participating in other volunteer activities that directly benefit children facing illness, trauma, and other difficult circumstances.
- Start a High School Kindness Club: Our no-cost, student-led program empowers students to promote kindness within their school and community. CKP provides mentorship, resources, and ongoing guidance to help students establish and successfully lead their own club.
Both opportunities offer students meaningful ways to make a difference while building leadership skills and strengthening their college and scholarship résumés.
The Link
The Town of Reading is currently offering The Link, a free, door-to-door local shuttle service. Families can use it for shopping, appointments, the library, community events, parks, errands, and other local needs.
The service currently covers Reading and Wakefield town-wide, as well as Lahey Clinic in Burlington and Winchester Hospital.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–7:00 PM, and Saturday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Families can request a ride by calling 781-782-2521 or through the Ride Circuit app.
Important information for High School Students: Riders must be 16 years or older to create a Ride Circuit account and request a ride.
Riders under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The flyer below has additional information and the QR code.
Harrows Gift Card Fundraiser
The PTO is offering you a $25 gift card for ONLY $20 -a great way to enjoy a delicious meal while supporting the RMHS PTO.
Orders Due By October 23, 2026 with pick up in the main office beginning October 28th.
Order forms are digital this year. (click below):
Reading Memorial High School
62 Oakland Road
Reading, MA 01867
781-944-8200
https://www.rmhs.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US
Principal Jessica B. Callanan
ext. 19801