Test September 2026 Newsletter
Some thoughts for the starting school year
A Note From the Principal
Wow! Those first weeks of school went by really quickly! We hope your child is settling in to the school year and ready to learn a lot.
Talk with your child about the friends they are making, and if they are struggling with anyone. Learning to navigate changing friendships is an important part of growing up. It's not always easy, but it comes with the age. As a school we are focused on teaching your child academics, but we also know students learn more if they are supported emotionally and socially. We are lucky to have our own school counselor, Mrs. DeDe Deloney, as well as community partners Centerstone and our RCS Family Liason, Mrs. Toni Johnson, in the building that can help.
In August, students completed IReady testing in Math and Reading. This helps teachers know their strengths and weaknesses academically, and it helps show educators and parents their progress over time (since all RCS students took the same test last year). Those reports will be coming home through Parent Square the first week of September. If you have questions, please reach out to your child's teacher.
We're having fun getting to know all our students! Thanks for sharing them with us!
Sincerely, Laura Ricca Brazil, Principal, lbrazil@rcs.k12.in.us
Each 9 weeks, our Reading and English Language Arts curriculum follows a theme. Students build knowledge about the theme while practicing writing and reading skills. Right now 5th graders are learning about Westward Expansion and will read Thunder Rolling in the Mountains, while 6th grade is studying the Great Depression with Bud, not Buddy and Out of the Dust. Check out the Tip Sheets for families to see more about what your student is learning, questions to ask at home, and extra book titles to explore. Students WILL have homework some days! Teachers work hard to send home assignments that students have the skills to complete independently (they save the most challenging work for during the school day). Please help your child build their capacity to be responsible and organized by asking about their homework. Study habits they develop now will help them as they progress throughout school.
ParentSquare
PowerSchool
You can download the app from the Apple store here
Or from the Google store here
Canvas
You can download the app from the Apple store here
Or from the Google store here
My Ride K-12
You're in the loop with direct communication channels and instant notifications. Receive updates on delays, route changes, and arrival times in real-time. Our easy-to-use platform ensures you're never left guessing. Bridge the gap between home and school effortlessly.
You can download the app from the Apple store here
Or from the Google store here
RCS Family Liaisons
"Liaison" is a fancy word that means "connector." (Say it lee-A-zahn-- it comes from French and means "to tie or bind together.") Our RCS Family Liaisons make sure that kids and families are connected to what they need for school success. Ms. Toni Johnson works at Test to make sure all kids have school supplies and extra help. She knows where to find extra clothes, hygiene items, and snacks. She can also connect families to resources for food or other social services. She works to make sure every kid has what they need to learn at school. She can be reached at tjohnson2@rcs.k12.in.us
Centerstone & Meridian
Some students are already connected to counselors through Centerstone and Meridian. We have Centerstone services in the school building every day for existing Centerstone clients, and Meridian counselors frequently stop by to check on their caseloads. If you believe your student needs mental health support, we are happy to help with a referral to one of these agencies. Please contact Ms. DeDe Wright, our Test School Counselor, who can assist with this. Email pwrightdeloney@rcs.k12.in.us or call 765-973-3412.
Please let us know!
Being present at school is super important for kids! But sometimes they have to miss. When that happens, please make sure you report your child's absence to the school office (765-973-3412) OR by responding to a ParentSquare message that your student was marked absent.
Mrs. Geres tracks our attendance and will communicate with families about student absences. Please help her out and report your child's absence! Her email is dgeres@rcs.k12.in.us.
Fall Athletics
Football, cross country, and volleyball are all in progress. Our school office stays up to date with with practice and game schedules, so you can call our front desk if you have general schedule questions. Coaches can be contacted via email:
Football: Coach Mario Simpson mariosimp123@gmail.com
Cross Country: Coach Brad Pitcher bradp@rcs.k12.in.us
Volleyball: Coach Taylor Kelley tkelley@rcs.k12.in.us
All students that plan to participate in RCS athletics must have a completed sports physical. The IHSAA physical form is available here. Lots of places will do them - the Reid urgent care is one location that is does them, no appointment necessary. The Meridian clinic at RHS can also help! Once you have the form, you can turn it in through Final Forms or the Athletic Office. Here' s the link for Final Forms.
Checking the Athletics Website is the best way to keep up with our teams. Please come support our students and be part of the fun!
Most of the money that funds Richmond Community Schools comes from the Indiana State Government. Local property taxes also contribute. Any money we get from the Federal Government comes through grants that supports specific goals. For example, federal money supports breakfast and lunch programs, so kids have access to food. Other programs specifically support technology (Title IV), special education (IDEA), and career education (Perkins). Title I is federal program that provides money to support academic success for students from low-income households.
Test Intermediate, like many RCS schools, receives Title I money. (Like lots of government programs, there are a lot of requirements we have to meet.) One Title I requirement is to make sure we are reaching out to parents and helping families be involved in their student's education. We would do this anyway, because it is such a good thing for kids when their adults and interested and involved in their school! So, throughout the year we will send home information about our academic programs, hold meetings where parents can give us feedback on our plans, and give suggestions about how parents can support kids learning.
Mission Statement
“Test Intermediate School provides a caring, challenging environment where dedicated educators strive to prepare students academically, physically, socially, and emotionally to be productive members of society.”