Panther Tales

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Dear Ridgeview Families,

I hope this message finds you well and that your school year is off to a strong and positive start. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through September! As we settle into our routines, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible energy, effort, and enthusiasm our students and staff have brought to the first several weeks of school.

Over the past month, I’ve seen students embracing challenges, engaging in meaningful learning, and supporting one another as true members of the Ridgeview community. Whether in the classroom, in the arts, on the athletic fields, or through our clubs and activities, our students are demonstrating leadership, curiosity, and kindness—values we hold dear at Ridgeview Charter.

Looking ahead, we have several exciting events on the horizon, including assessment night, upcoming assessments, and fall extracurriculars. Please keep an eye on our weekly communications and website for important updates. Your partnership continues to be essential to your child’s success, and we thank you for your support, encouragement, and involvement.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can make this a year of growth, connection, and achievement for every student.

With gratitude,

Thomas Garrett
Principal
Ridgeview Charter Middle School

Please note these dates and deadlines coming up soon!

September 18th: Technology Night (Scroll for info)

September 19th: Fun Friday

September 23rd: Reading Bowl Interest Meeting - During lunch, students only. (Scroll for Info)

September 25th: Foundation Spirit Night (Scroll for info)

October 3rd: Parent Party & Auction; Purchase tickets HERE (Scroll for Info)

October 9th: Pantherpalooza; Purchase tickets HERE (Scroll for Info)

Find upcoming Panther athletics schedules HERE

Please note these important dates down the road...

October 13th-17th: Fall Break- No School

October 23rd: Hispanic Heritage Month Concert (All music programs)

Ridgeview Science Fair

The RCMS science fair is coming up soon! Projects are due December 1st but it is never too early to begin working. Please reach out to your child’s science teacher if your child is interested in participating!

Student Success Skills

This week, our middle school students will engage in grade-specific lessons designed to strengthen essential skills for academic and personal success. Each lesson is tailored to meet the developmental needs of students at their respective grade levels:

6th Grade: Focus at Home

7th Grade: Focus with Active Listening

8th Grade: Visualize Your Success

These lessons are part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the whole child. By focusing on practical, age-appropriate skills, we aim to equip students with tools they can use every day to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

September is Suicide Prevention Month

This month, counselors are teaching students how to recognize mental health concerns and seek help using the SOS Signs of Suicide program — a nationally recognized, evidence-based approach. Students will learn to identify the signs of depression and suicide risk, use the ACT method: (Acknowledge, Care, Tell a trusted adult) and know who to turn to for help at school.

Students will watch video clips, engage in discussion, and complete an exit slip indicating if they'd like to speak with a counselor. Follow-up will be provided to any student who requests it.

If you have questions about your child's participation, please reach out to our school counselors. For more resources, visit: www.mindwise.org/parents

Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Interest Meeting- Tues. Sept. 23rd

The Ridgeview Panthers will be participating in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl -a quiz bowl-style reading competition where students compete as a team to test their knowledge of selected books.

There will be an interest meeting for students next Tuesday, September 23rd in the Media Center during all lunch periods. Students interested in participating should bring their lunch with them to the Media Center that day to learn more.

Come On In!

Students are enjoying all of the activities and space our Media Center offers. Has your student answered the Question Of The Month? Taken advantage of the Maker Space? Enjoyed coloring a poster? Checked out some good books?! Ask them today!

Winter Sports Tryout Information

Tryout schedules for Tennis, Boys Volleyball, Tumbling and Basketball are available on the school athletic page .

Tennis (7th & 8th Only): Ongoing- Began September 11th

Boys Volleyball (7th & 8th Only): Ongoing- Began September 17th

Tumbling (7th & 8th Only): October 20th

Basketball (6th, 7th & 8th): Begins September 29th. Different days for different grades/genders. Click HERE for full schedule.

Concession Stand Is Open!

Our Concession Stand is open during all home indoor games. New this year- we have gone cashless! We can accept cards, tap and payment aps (Apple Pay, Cash Ap, Venmo, Zelle, etc.)

Parent & Student volunteers are needed - students volunteers receive one free drink and one free snack per full shift. Sign up to volunteer HERE. We can sign for service hours!

Fun Friday- Popcorn Volunteers Needed

Our first PBIS Fun Friday of the year is here! Our PTA needs volunteers to help pop and serve popcorn to our students! Sign up HERE if you can help.

Pantherpalooza Volunteers and Donations Needed

Pantherpalooza is October 9th and we need your help to make it the event of the year for our kids! Parents are NOT permitted to attend unless you volunteer - so save your spot today!

Sign up to volunteer HERE.

Can't volunteer in person? Contribute supplies by clicking HERE.

Support the Foundation: Parent Party & Auction - Friday, October 3rd

Buy your ticket for our Annual Parent Party & Auction Today! Tickets include admission, drink tickets, food and -most importantly- the chance to meet and mingle with the RCMS parent community while supporting our kids!

Capacity is limited! Purchase tickets by clicking HERE. Note: Foundation Members receive a discount on tickets.

Our incredible auction will be available online soon!!

Be a Part of the PTA!

Your PTA has been hard at work this quarter- providing meals for staff, executing the Spirit Wear shop, supporting Dress Down Days and organizing IB grants for our amazing teachers. There’s still time to be a part of this work! Consider joining online at www.ptarcms.org.

Your support is vital to our community’s success. We look forward to an outstanding year working with you to enhance the RCMS experience!

Buy your Pantherpalooza tickets today!

Tickets are $25 before October 5th (online only!), $30 day of the event.

Students who purchase tickets in advance will get early admission! Foundation Silver Members and above receive one free Pantherplaooza ticket.

Thank you to our amazing community partner - Karate Atlanta!

Special Dress Fridays to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!

Got Pics of our Panthers doing anything RCMS Related? Submit them to PanthertalesRCMS@gmail.com and you might just see them here!

Ridgeview AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students share what AVID has helped them accomplish. Way to go AVID students! Learn about the AVID program HERE.

Our 6th Grade Band is looking good and sounding even better!

Shanteona Keys and Andreona Keys, Sensei's former students - guest taught Japanese class! Shanteona is now teaching and coaching basketball at Cambridge High School. Andreona — played basketball at Purdue University and went on to play for European teams as a professional basketball player!

Girls Volleyball is off to a great start! Let's go Panthers!

The Jewish Heritage club learned how to blow the shofar and made a mini lulav and etrog for the upcoming Jewish Holidays. The club is run by Mitzvah House and meets once a month at 8AM in the Orchestra Room. Students can sign up HERE.

Cross Country Girls and Boys teams had a great second meet- placing first and second overall at the Galloway Invitational.

Information published in Panther Tales is limited to communications directly from RCMS, RCMS PTA, RCMS Foundation, Fulton County Schools or our feeder schools and can be submitted it to PanthertalesRCMS@gmail.com.

If you wish to share promotional material related to a local opportunity such as a camp, sports program or other business geared towards our students, you can learn how to distribute your materials through Peach Jar by clicking here.