12/11/24

• 12/16 - News with Newlyn @ 8:30am, online and in person
• 12/17 - Beginning Band Concert, 6:30pm
• 12/18 - Early Release Wednesday; Progress Reports on Parent VUE
• 12/20 - Winter Celebration, Special Bell Schedule
• 12/21-1/5 - No School
• 1/6/25 - School Resumes

• Click here for the full RGMS calendar

Hey Hey Robert Gray,

We have had some cold and frosty mornings here in Hillsdale telling us that winter has arrived. Even with the cold, we have been thankful for the sunny days that allow students to go outside during lunch/recess. The PTA donated PE equipment earlier in the year and at recess you will see students playing ultimate frisbee, kickball, 4 square, volleyball and basketball. It fun to watch!

Here is the 2nd installment of Guess What?, our student created magazine produced by students in Mr. Camp's Leadership class. There are articles, short stories, and artwork all created by RGMS students! This is an impressive publication!

On December 20th, we have a special celebration planned for the entire school. The last hour of the day, students can choose from a menu of different activities hosted all over the school. It is a great way to celebrate before we do on our 2 week Winter Break. PLEASE NOTE, students are free to choose their activity and location. We will not be able to accommodate any student who needs to check out between 3:00 and 4:00. If your child needs to leave early, please check them out before 3:00 on that date.

Finally, we would love feedback from families on how fall conferences went for you. We are always trying to improve our family connection, and conferences are a big part of that. Please complete this feedback to share your thoughts.

In Community,

Lisa and Robin

Parents and Students: We need YOU to be part of a new committee that will help lead the distribution of philanthropic dollars raised through The Fund for PPS.

We are excited to announce the formation of the PPS Board of Education’s new Parent Advisory Committee (PAC): Distribution of Donations for Staffing. There is just over $1 million to allocate for 2025-2026 school year, and we need representatives from all PPS clusters to serve on the committee plus two high school students.

Apply before Dec. 21: You can learn more and apply at https://www.pps.net/Page/22782. Thank you!

Starting after Winter Break, all RGMS students will be required to wear an ID badge while they are at school. It is PPS policy for all high schools and middle schools to have them at all times when they are on PPS campuses. This is a large part of our school safety plan. Every person who is on our campus has an ID, even contractors and volunteers have to wear an ID.

Right now, we are introducing this idea during Advisory. Students will get their ID Badges (with lanyard) on the day we return from Winter break. We are taking our time to build this important habit for our students. But, we are hoping, by the end of January, that every student is wearing their ID, all day, every day.

Parents, we could use your help by talking to your students about why this important and reminding them before the leave for school in the morning to have it on.

The Board of Education of the Portland Public Schools has a vacancy in Zone 1 effective in January due to the resignation of Director Andrew Scott who was elected to serve through through June 30, 2027. The exact date of when the seat will be vacant is not known at this time.

The Board is seeking candidates for appointment to serve from appointment through June 30, 2025. The position will be placed on the May 2025 ballot for election to the remaining two years of the original term (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027). The person appointed by the Board would be eligible to run for the seat.

All interested candidates must reside within Zone 1 and submit a written application no later than December 20, 2024 at 12:00 pm. The application will be made available on November 25th on the PPS.net website. Further information may be obtained by emailing Rosanne Powell at rpowell@pps.net.

2024-2025 RGMS Family Handbook.

2024 RGMS Student Handbook

Parent Guide to Canvas

Parent Guide to the Remind App

Parent Guide to ParentVue

On Friday, 12/20, Gray will be having a Winter Celebration. We will be on a special bell schedule and students will choose activities to participate in beginning at 3:00pm. If you need to pick your student up any time after 3pm, we recommend you pick them up prior to 3pm. As students can choose different activities and move between activities it is extremely hard to find students for check out.

Remember to give plenty of time when picking up your student early. It takes them time to get from their classroom to their locker and then to the office. You can call the office, 503 916 5676, when you are on the way to give your student time to get all their things.

Only use ParentVue to report absences that are for the full day. That is all ParentVue will let you do. If your student will be absent part of the day or just tardy, please email grayattend@pps.net. Be sure to include your student's full name, date of absence and the reason for the absence.

Use this link to the School Nurse and Health Room Services Webpage for lot's of good information for parents.

Interested in having your student tested for COVID at school? Use this link to access the form. Fill out and return:

• Drop it off in the office
• Email a digital copy to Nurse Jennifer Novack at jnovack@mesd.k12.or.us

Buy your yearbook online by using https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/

Using the Yearbook ID code: 14931525

Yearbooks are just $20

Gray's counselors are Lisa Hyde, A-K & Laureen Held, L-Z.

Lisa Hyde - lhyde@pps.net

503-454-6829

Laureen Held - lheld@pps.net

971-231-4621

You can also contact them through this link: https://bit.ly/2024-25RGMSCounselorHelp

• Community and Parents for Public Schools, in partnership with the Portland Association of Teachers, is hosting an in-person advocacy training for anyone interested in learning more about how to effectively advocate on behalf of public schools and our students.

WHEN: Saturday, December 7 from 1-4pm

WHERE: In-person at the Portland Association of Teachers office - 45 NE 8th Ave, Portland, OR 97232

RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/DVQ30NY49wCqVR7S9

• If you have been considering upping your recycling game by signing up for Ridwell, please consider doing it now. When 10 families sign up for Ridwell doorstep pickup using the link below by December 15 2024, the school earns plastic film pickup all spring! When 20 join, the school earns a field trip to the Ridwell warehouse! Find out more at https://get.ridwell.com/rgms.

• We don’t have a PTA meeting during the month of December, but please mark your calendars for our next meeting on Wednesday, January 15 at 6:30pm in the library at RGMS or via Zoom. We hope to see you there! The standing zoom meeting info follows:

• Link to Zoom Meeting

• Meeting ID: 847 8223 9102

• Passcode: 368760

• We are always looking for parents interested in advocating for better funding for public schools to interface with PAT, Oregon PTA and Parents for public schools. Please reach out directly to Kirsten Carr if interested.

• If you’re able, please donate $25 to support our PTA here.

Get text alerts about school closures, delays, emergencies and school events:

Text YES to 68453

Email: lnewlyn@pps.net
Website: https://www.pps.net/gray
Location: 5505 Southwest 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 916-5676
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertgraymiddleschool
Attendance Reporting: grayattend@pps.net