Dear RMS Families,

As we have fallen back an hour this past weekend, we are moving forward at Ridgeview! We are currently in the 2nd Nine Weeks of the school year. This a great time to recalibrate as a family.

First, I encourage each family to review their child’s first nine weeks grades on Infinite Campus and to stay abreast of the in-progress grades as well. Also, take time to set academic and/or behavior goals with your child to help them to focus and make needed improvements.

Additionally, I am requesting that each family review our PBIS Behavior Expectations – Be RMS as well as the CCS/Ridgeview Dress Code (on pages 7 and 8 of the 2024-2025 Student Handbook). Both are followed at Ridgeview and can be found on our website.

Finally, in this season of “thanks” let’s all take a moment to reflect on the things both big and small for which we are thankful for!

With Gratitude,

Natalie M. James

Principal

Ridgeview Middle School

Intelligence plus character- that is the true goal of education.

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ridgeview's Assistant Principal, Mr. Reese, offers these words of advice from Sonia Maria Sotomayor (born June 25, 1954)[2] is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 26, 2009, and has served since August 8, 2009. She is the third woman, first woman of color, the first Hispanic and the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court.

Sotomayor was born in the Bronx, New York City, to Puerto Rican-born parents. Her father died when she was nine, and she was subsequently raised by her mother. Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1976 and received her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1979, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. To learn more about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Maria, click HERE.

• November: PTA Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser (watch for more details)
• 11.5, Tues: Professional Development Day - No Students
• 11.7, Thurs: PTA Meeting on Zoom -

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83610318134?pwd=5uzHiGt7NEHhjJtqDpy0oqTpa9Npmv.1

Meeting ID: 836 1031 8134

Passcode: 5C5JcK

• 11.14, Thurs from 5:30 - 7:00 pm: Fall Family Fest Mix & Mingle & PTA Raffle at RMS
• 11.25-29, Mon- Fri: Wellness Week - No School
• 12.5, Thurs: PTA Meeting on Zoom

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83610318134?pwd=5uzHiGt7NEHhjJtqDpy0oqTpa9Npmv.1

Meeting ID: 836 1031 8134

Passcode: 5C5JcK

• 12.10, Tues at 6:00 pm: RMS Instrumental Music Concert (orchestra and band)
• 12.17, Tues at 6:00 pm: RMS Choir Concert
• 12.20, Fri: School is Dismissed 30 Minutes Early
• 12.23.2024 - 1.3.2025: Winter Break
• January 2025: PTA Candy Bars Fundraiser (watch for more details)
• 1.9, Thurs: PTA Meeting on Zoom

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83610318134?pwd=5uzHiGt7NEHhjJtqDpy0oqTpa9Npmv.1


Meeting ID: 836 1031 8134

Passcode: 5C5JcK

• 1.17.2025, Fri: End of Quarter 2
• 1.20.2025, Mon: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - No School
• 1.21.2025, Tues: Professional Development Day - No Students

On October 11th, Ridgeview Middle School joined the global community in celebrating International Day of the Girl. It is a day of recognizing the power of girls globally.

This year Eryn PiNK of Columbus, ICE Mentors, Inc., The Columbus City Council, and AWS came together for a day of empowering and inspiring activities for over 150 RMS girls and more girls in the city. During this time our girls learned that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) can be fun. Some of our girls learned the science of making lotion, while some learned the science of making lip gloss from college students and professors from HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) institutions. Each and every girl learned the importance of finding her voice and presenting it with bravery in all aspects of her life. Remember Girls Will!

Click on Councilwoman Lourdes Barroso de Padilla's picture below to hear her Welcome!

Ridgeview is kicking off the second grading period with a new i-Ready incentive using punch cards for math and reading. This will begin the week of October 28th and last until the end of the second quarter.

All reading and math teachers will have punch cards for every student. Each card will have 10 numbered circles that CORE Enrichment teachers can either hole punch or initial once a lesson is completed at 80% or higher. Once students have a completed card, they will turn it into the office where their completed cards will be tracked for the appropriate rewards. All scholars have the opportunity to request a new card so that they can work on earning the next reward.

Each student scholar will earn having their name on the board in the cafeteria, and will earn various treats once the cards are completed. All completed cards will be entered into a pizza party drawing that will be held at the end of the grading period.

Rewards will be distributed in the cafeteria on either Mondays or Fridays.

Families, please read about how you can support your child at home using i-Ready.

Greetings RMS Families,

As your school counselor, I am in the unique position to support students with issues related to both school and home life. As a result, I thought it would be helpful to provide you with positive quotes from famous people so that you can motivate your scholar to be successful today and the future.

Quotes for Academic Challenges

“We live in the kind of society where, in almost all cases, hard work is rewarded.”

— Neil deGrasse Tyson

“It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t stop.”
— Confucius

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
— Christopher Robin to Pooh, A.A. Milne

“A person who never made mistakes never tried anything new.”
— Albert Einstein

Quotes About Going to College

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
— Nelson Mandela

“Hitch your wagon to a star.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go."
— Dr. Seuss

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
— Malcolm X

Quotes for Social Problems/Bullying

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
— J.K. Rowling

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
— Plato

“Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it. Right is right even if no one is doing it.”
— St. Augustine

“Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”
— Theodore Roosevelt

“Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.”
— Lady Gaga

Quotes About Creativity

“I am not afraid. . . I was born to do this.”
— Joan of Arc

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try.”
— Dr. Seuss

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
— Helen Keller

Quotes About Building Good Habits

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
— Maya Angelou

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
— Mother Teresa

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
— Winston Churchill

Lastly, to see the source of these quotes, click on the link below.

Sincerely,

Julie Thomas

Your RMS Counselor

Greetings!

November in the month to focus on the following three important topics:

• American Diabetes Month: Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body has high blood sugar levels due to an inability to produce or use insulin properly. Click on the link below to learn more.

• National Epilepsy Awareness Month: Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease that causes seizures, which are episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can cause a range of symptoms, including loss of consciousness, loss of bladder or bowel control, and disturbed movements. They can also cause brief lapses in attention or muscle jerks, or severe convulsions. Click on the link below to learn more about epilepsy.

• Let’s Talk About Influenza: Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses. Flu can be more dangerous than the common cold for children. Each year, flu places a large burden on the health and well-being of children and their families. Annual flu vaccination offers the best protection against flu and its potentially serious complications in children. Parents can help children fight flu by getting themselves and their children vaccinated against flu each year. To learn more about how you can protect your children against influenza, please click on the link below.

Fondly,

Gina Rancitelli, RN, MEd, BSN, LSN

Licensed School Nurse

Ridgeview Middle School

office: 380-997-7600 | email: grancitelli@columbus.k12.oh.us

In November all RMS teachers will celebrate college, career and service month.

Beginning November 1st, each staff member will have a sign on the classroom door listing where the staff member went to college, trade school, or military.

Every Friday during November, each staff member will wear their college attire and spend one minute sharing about the college/university attended and the degree(s) earned.

Additionally, during the week of November 18th, there will be activities in the lunchroom for students to participate in and earn prizes!

Columbus City Schools has an official link for the English as a Second Language program. Here you will find useful information about Columbus City Schools and program, as well as links to other sites that will be helpful to parents, teachers, students, and others.

Address 3700 S. High St. Columbus, Ohio 43207

Phone: 614 365 8802 - Fax: 614 365 8786

Click on the link below to learn more.

The Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA) is the state summative test that districts administer to students identified as English learners in grades K-12 to determine an English learner's progress to English language proficiency and readiness to exit from the English language development program.

Last month RMS conducted a special meeting for ESL families to help prepare them for the upcoming OELPA testings and to inform parents of the status of the student at it relates to the testing. This meeting was conducted by Mrs. Thomas, RMS Counselor.

If you were unable to attend or you have questions regarding OELPA,

please contact Mrs. Thomas at 614.365.5506.

Columbus City Schools Mission: Each student is highly educated, prepared for leadership and service, and empowered for success as a citizen in a global community.

2024-25 School Year Theme: Dream Big. Achieve More!

The Vision: Each student at Ridgeview Middle School will show a year's worth of growth or more in reading and math as measured by District and/or state assessments by the end of each school year.

Our Mission: We exist to create an environment where students are educated through a lens of culturally responsive teaching, mindfulness, and the use of high-quality data. Collectively, we aim to advocate, challenge, and support student growth in all areas of development.

Our 4 Core Values: 1. Create a safe, encouraging, inclusive, and supportive environment. 2. Maintain high expectations. 3. Inspire student success. 4. Demonstrate respect through empathy and inclusivity

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based three-tiered framework to improve and integrate all of the data, systems, and practices affecting student outcomes every day. PBIS creates schools where all students succeed.

Ridgeview Middle School has three behavior expectations. Students are expected to be RESPONSIBLE, be a MEMBER, and be SAFE at all times.

• In the Hall
• In the Classroom
• In the Restroom
• In the Cafeteria
• In the Auditorium
• On the Bus
• At Recess
• At Entry and Dismissal
• Against Bullying

Won't you help your child to Be Responsible, a Member, and be Safe?

Sincerely,

Julie Thomas

our RMS Counselor

It is imperative to encourage our scholars to see differences as something that makes people interesting.

As a parent you can held your child to understand that just because somebody looks or sounds different, or does things in a different way, doesn't mean that this person is any less worthy of respect or friendship

Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness"

- Ola Joseph

The link below can be used in a family setting. As a parent you are your child's very first educator!

Do you need academic support for tutoring for your student?

Click on the links below.

Also, help your child get a library card and make trips to the library a family fun activity.

• Academic Support - https://www.ccsoh.us/search?query=academic+support&referrerPageUrl=https://www.ccsoh.us/

The Ridgeview PTA requests your support.

WAYS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT: Here are two no cost efforts to support the PTA:

-Download the Box Tops app, add Ridgeview PTA as your school and scan all your receipts.

• If this is your first-time registering be sure to use our code: HXSC8XH4 – we receive a little bonus
• https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=HXSC8XH4
• No cost to you and RMS PTA does not receive copies of your receipts.

-Make RMS PTA your organization on the Kroger Community Rewards program.

• At Kroger.com or on your Kroger App, under Rewards, then Community Rewards, add our organization number 84721
• No cost to you and RMS PTA does not receive your personal information.

STAY INFORMED: If you haven’t done so already, get added to our mailing list! Send an email to us at RidgeviewMSPTA@gmail.com and ask to be added to the list to make sure that you are aware of upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.

Facebook: Join our Facebook by searching "Ridgeview MS PTA".

Mark your calendar to attend our meeting via Zoom from 6 to 7 PM.

Nov 7, 2024, Thursday

Dec 5, 2024, Thursday

Jan 9, 2025, Thursday

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83610318134?pwd=5uzHiGt7NEHhjJtqDpy0oqTpa9Npmv.1

Meeting ID: 836 1031 8134

Passcode: 5C5JcKJoin Zoom Meeting

Attention all RMS Families,

Everyone (i.e. all visitors, including parents) is required to enter the building via the Attendance Office.

This is the "check in" point that enables the school to manage

the safety and security for our students and staff.

Thank you for your Support!

Lockers are the property of the Board of Education.

The Contents of all lockers

ARE SUBJECT TO RANDOM SEARCH AT ANY TIME.

Ohio Revised Code section 33.13.20(B)(1)(b)

Here's a list of Columbus City School Partners providing assistance.

• LSS 211 offers services from homeless shelters to senior living. Call 211.

• City of Columbus CARES Act offers assistance with utilities.

• Cap4Kids provides resources for families in the areas of meals, housing, utilities, mental health, and lots more!

• Charity Newsies offers clothing assistance & winter coats.

• Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio offers pharmacy services and medicines, counseling on proper medication usage, health screenings, wellness education, and social program assistance for those who cannot afford them. (614) 227-0301.

• Clintonville Resource Center serving all of Central Ohio by providing assistance through the food pantry, child and youth programs, senior services, and kinship care program.

• Franklin County Children Services 2022 Guide provides information on local emergency or non-emergency assistance to families.

• Mid Ohio Food Bank provides food locations by zip code.

• OhioKAN ensures every kinship and adoptive family who wants support navigating the resources available to them can get it.

• Project Connect provides help to families living in shelter, car, motel, campground, and doubled-up families.

• Emergency Broadband Benefit provides relief for broadband services and a laptop, computer, or tablet.

Ridgeview Attendance email: attendance.ridgeview@columbus.k12.oh.us

Ridgeview Attendance phone number: 380.997.6994

FACTline Email: factline@columbus.k12.oh.us

FACTline Phone Number: 614.221.FACT (614.221.3228)

Customer Relations Phone Number: 614.365.8888

Customer Relations Email: customerrelations@columbus.k12.oh.us

PTA: RidgeviewMSPTA@gmail.com

Family Ambassador Debora Myles: 614.365.5506 and dmyles@columbus.k12.oh.us

Email: ridgeviewms@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/RidgeviewMS
Location: 4241 Rudy Rd, Columbus, OH 43214, USA
Phone: 614.365.5506
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RidgeviewProud