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Navigating the River
#RMSGoodAsGold
April 10, 2024
Welcome to Navigating the River!
Each week, you will receive our newsletter containing important dates, events, and school news. Navigating the River is one of the best ways to stay up to date on what's happening at the River and ways to get involved to help make this school year the best yet! #RMSGoodAsGold
Currently Happening at the River!
Upcoming Events:
- April 9th -12th - Band trip to Orlando (Music for All)
- April 10th - Deadline for Submissions to Earth Day Poster Contest
- April 15th - Purple Up! For Military Kids (wear purple)
- April 16th - Sources of Strength: Mental Health Campaign Begins
- April 16th - 6th Grade Rising Night
- April 17th -19th - 6th Grade JA
- April 19th - 8th Grade Dance (6:00 PM)
- April 22nd - May 8th - Football Spring Practice
- Monday - Thursdays (4:30 PM - 7:00 PM)
- Fridays (7:00 AM - 8:30 AM)
- April 23rd - 8th Grade Rising Night
- April 25th - 7th and 8th Band Spring Concert
- April 26th - 28th - RMS Drama presents The Wizard of Oz (at Lambert HS)
- April 27th - Riverwatch Robotics Invitational Tournament and Banquet (8:30 AM - 2:00 PM)
- May 1st - 7th Grade Rising Night
- May 7th - 8th Grade Awards Night
- May 8th - Football Spring Scrimmage (6:00 PM)
- May 9th - PBIS Points-A-Palooza (during Connections periods)
- May 13th - 8th Grade Field Day
- May 14th - 6th & 7th Grade Field Day
- May 14th - 8th Grade Field Trip (Teams R & M)
- May 15th - 8th Grade Field Trip (Teams S & P)
- May 16th - 21st - Finals
- 16th - Social Studies
- 17th - ELA
- 20th - Science & Spanish
- 21st - Math
- May 22nd - 8th Grade Walk
- May 23rd - Last Day of School (Early Release)
Connect With Us On Social Media!
Get important information even faster by following us on Facebook and Twitter (X)!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/riverwatchms
An Important Note from Attendance and Nurse Brenda:
If your child is ill and does not check out through the clinic the absence will be recorded as unexcused. All students who need to check-out due to illness need to be seen by nurse Brenda prior to being picked up by their parent. In addition, if your child tests positive for COVID please notify nurse Brenda as soon as possible (f40674@forsyth.k12.ga.us).
A Note from Nurse Brenda:
As we continue to see illnesses spread, please keep these guidelines in mind when determining if a student should be at school or returning to school following an illness.
A Note from FCS Teaching & Learning:
Every Day Counts and Attendance Matters!
PTSO Volunteer Opportunities and Information:
8th Grade Dance - April 19th
PBIS Rewards Distribution - April 30th
Parents of 8th graders - Tickets to the 8th grade dance are still available for purchase. As of 4/1, ticket prices are now $30. Please see the flyer for the GoFan QR code, or visit this link to purchase tickets. Please note that this event is for Riverwatch Middle School 8th graders only!
Also available for sale are 8th Grade Yard Signs! Click here to order a sign that can be personalized with your student's high school and name.
8th Graders - Don't Miss Out!
Deadline to pay for the trip is April 15th!
PBIS Points-A-Palooza - Coming Soon!
Students will have their last purchase window next week to spend their Panther PRIDE points towards Student Rewards. Students can login to their PBIS Rewards App during the purchase window to buy a fun event and/or fun prizes. There are limited spaces and items, so shop early for the best selection.
Nominations Now Open - Teacher and Staff Member of the Month
Take a few minutes and let someone know you appreciate their hard work and dedication!
**In Case You Missed It**
RMS Good As Gold Spotlight:
Delta Community Credit Union has awarded the RMS Academic Bowl team $1500 to use towards their nationals entry fees and preparation!
Congratulations to our Academic Bowl for their progress and hard work throughout the season and a big THANK YOU to Delta Community Credit Union for their generosity and support of our students!
2024-2025 Yearbook - Applications Now Available!
Being part of the yearbook staff is an honor for which many students apply. I hope you will give serious consideration to becoming part of one of the most rewarding organizations at our school.
For the 2024-25 school year, the yearbook class will be a yearlong course; however, there MAY be times when staff members will be expected to cover events before and after school, which will require them to arrive early or stay late. There is also a yearbook camp in August that every staff member is expected to attend. The cost of the camp will be determined at a later date.
APPLICATION FOR 2024-2025 YEARBOOK STAFF
All applications must be completed by April 26th. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. The size of the staff must be limited; therefore, all yearbook staff members must meet certain criteria. Each staff member must:
1. Be in good academic standing.
2. Have two recommendations from two of your core class teachers from this year.
3. Complete the attached application.
4. Be willing to go the extra mile for each and every deadline!!
Being an RMS Yearbook Staff Member is a privileged. Applicants are chosen for their character, academic success, and work ethics. Applicants should know that I will review their present records including attendance, grades, and discipline. Also, the recommendation of their teachers plays a VERY important role in the selection. At no time will any of this information be made public, nor will any students ever see this information.
I appreciate your interest in the yearbook class, and I look forward to choosing an excellent staff.
Linda Scheaffer
Yearbook Advisor
RMS Panther News - New Episode Available!
Check out the newest episode of RMS Panther News!
The newest episode includes segments on Staff Member of the Month: Mr. Casey, Exceptional Child Week, Easter, the eSports Team, MLB Opening Day, the 8th Grade Field Trip, and Spring Break!
RMS Orchestra - FREE Community Event!
The RMS Orchestra is Collaborating with LHS, Alliance, Civil Air Patrol, and Cumming City Center for an AWESOME! EXCITING! FREE!! EVENT on Music and Aviation! Saturday, April 13, 10am-12pm!!
(This is made possible by an award from the National Aviation Hall of Fame)
Here are details:
WHO: Riverwatch MS & Lambert HS Orchestras, Alliance Academy, Civil Air Patrol, United Forsyth Orchestra, & Cumming City Center
WHAT: A Three-tiered experience featuring:
*Music & Storytelling (Willa Brown: Aviation Pioneer)
*Paper Airplane Contest (Aeronautic Design)
*Musical Petting Zoo (Discover strings--play a Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass!)
WHEN: Saturday, April 13
TIME: 10:00am- 12:00pm
WHERE: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd, Cumming, GA 30040
RMS Good As Gold Spotlight:
The E-Sports season has come to an end and RMS is so proud of these players and their dedicated coach, Ms. Beach! There have been several switches to players and teams all season but they persevered week after week!
Congratulations to our DKO Team! Noah Kim, Joshua Yoon and Ayaan Saaed brought home 1st place in the county!!!
Evan Doniphan, Justin Kadish and Vihann Tyagi earned us a second place county victory for Rocket League. They played two very tough matches yesterday!!!
And rounding out our competitions were Anthony Alteri and Russell Gibson with our third place county win in Brawlhalla!
Coach Beach and Riverwatch could not be any more proud and excited for this team to go from not placing in our region last year to being a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place County Winners!! Congratulations!!
Tickets available here!
RMS Good As Gold Spotlight:
The Forsyth County Schools College & Career Development department held their CTAE Excellence Awards Gala last night and Riverwatch was proud to have Panthers shining like gold by being awarded Middle School Students of the Year in their areas of study!
A/V Cluster - Sam Teater
Business and Computer Science Cluster - Krishna Budim
Healthcare Cluster - Prisha Karani
Engineering and Technology Cluster - Varun Heblikar
Marketing Cluster - Mahima Srikanth
Middle School District Student of the Year - Prisha Karani
Again, a big congratulations and job well done to these students who have worked hard to explore and excel in these areas of interest!
FCA Hoodies Still On Sale!
Available via SchoolPay!
The Parent Guide to Resilience
WhyTry, one of our district’s behavior intervention programs, offers this free Parent Guide to Resilience. Each section of the guide provides an audio overview, examples and analogies, discussion guidance, and even family meeting ideas.
Month of the Military Child - April 2024
The Month of the Military Child was established by former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger in
1986 to acknowledge the significant role military youth play in our communities. These youth face
many challenges that are unique to their situation, such as having a parent/guardian deployed,
frequent moves, new schools, and leaving friends. This month provides opportunity to recognize and
honor our youngest heroes, military children.
7th Grade Immunization Updates
From the Panther Pit Stop:
Important Information:
- Attendance (Excuses, Check-In/Check-Out), Attendance Update Letter from Ms. MacAllaster
- Transportation Changes
- Updated Exam Policy for 2023-2024
- Joining PTSO
- RMS Panther News
- Yearbook Ordering - Order #1287 (Riverwatch Middle School)
- Previous Editions of Navigating the River - January 31, January 24, January 17, January 10, December 20, December 13, December 6