Panther Post

Dear RNMS Families,

I hope this message finds you well! This week flew by, and it has been an exciting one at Rye Neck Middle School. On Tuesday, we had an outstanding presentation from the JCK Foundation for our 6th graders. JCK offers talks and programs in schools aimed at educating youth about mental wellness while connecting them with essential resources for their personal growth. Their mission is to prevent isolation and cultivate resilience and confidence among students. We’re looking forward to their sessions with our 7th and 8th graders later this year.

Additionally, we held our inaugural Middle School Principal's Advisory Committee meeting yesterday, Thursday, October 10. This meeting was a wonderful opportunity to engage with parents and establish a collaborative partnership for the remainder of the year. Together, we’ll work on ideas, initiatives, and priorities to support our students. Stay tuned for the minutes from this meeting, which will be posted on our website soon!

We are excited to share some highlights with you in this week’s newsletter. In this issue, you’ll find an 8th Grade Update with details on what those students have been working on in their classes. Be sure to check it out! In next week’s newsletter, we will spotlight our 7th Grade.

We are also thrilled to announce our Students of the Month below. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and leadership.

Looking ahead to next week, we have some exciting events! Our 6th graders will be participating in Buddy Day, where they will connect with a 12th-grade buddy for a fun day of games and relationship-building. It’s always a wonderful experience for both our youngest and oldest students on our campus.

Our 8th graders will also be heading off on their much-anticipated trip to Philadelphia. This is always a memorable adventure, and we know it will be a fantastic time for everyone involved.

Lastly, I’ve restructured some information in the newsletter to enhance readability. Many details have been moved to a new section titled "In Every Issue..." at the bottom of the newsletter. So, no need to worry—important items like the intramural schedule and our cell phone policy are still included; they’ve just been organized in this new section for easier access!

For those observing, have an easy fast and a meaningful Yom Kippur.

Hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend!

Best,

Jason Doerr

Principal

Next Week:

• October 14:
• Columbus Day - School Closed
• October 17:
  
• 6th Grade Link Up Day, Period 4
  

• ENL Parent Orientation Night, 6:00 PM-6:30 PM Library Community Room

• ONLY for ENL MS/HS parents who could not attend last month's Title I meeting. This orientation is an excellent opportunity to learn more about how our school supports your child as they learn English and grow academically.
• October 18:
• 8th Grade Trip to Philadelphia
  
• Senior Buddy Day

On the Horizon:

• October 22:
• Author Visit - Victoria Jamieson
• October 23:
• PD Early Release Day, 1:15 PM Dismissal
• October 25:
• Spooktacular, 6:30 PM Dining Hall

We are excited to announce our Students of the Month for September! Congratulations to:

6th Grade: Takuto Y. and Saran D.

7th Grade: Theo A. and Gabi M.

8th Grade: Senul S. and Rosie L.

We are so proud of them for their kindness, leadership, hard work and their contributions to our school community!

The Student of the Month Program aims to recognize students who make meaningful contributions to our school community, both inside and outside the classroom. This program celebrates those who demonstrate a love for learning and a commitment to personal growth, regardless of academic standing. Here are some of the reasons students are nominated:

• Classroom Progress
• Grade Improvement
• Leadership Qualities
• Strong Engagement
• Kindness and Consideration
• Outstanding Attitude
• Community Involvement
• Personal Growth
• Exemplary Character
• Individual Achievement

If you have not done so already, please complete the Middle School Family Survey Your input and feedback is important to us, and the data will help us enhance our practices at the middle school. The deadline for completing this survey is next Friday, October 18th. Thank you for your time and support!

Drill Notification: This is to inform you the week of October 14th we will be conducting a gas leak evacuation drill. The purpose of this drill is to ensure the safety and preparedness of our students and staff in case of an emergency. We conduct these drills regularly as part of our commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment. Please rest assured that this is only a drill and not an actual emergency. For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us.

Spooktacular: We invite your child to join us for a fun-filled evening on Friday, October 25th, from 6:30-8:30 PM in the MS/HS Dining Hall. There will be games, music, food, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate Halloween with friends—in costume, of course! Tickets are $15 per student, and you can purchase them here by Wednesday, October 23rd. We can’t wait to see everyone dressed up and ready for a great time!

Please take a moment to review what our 8th graders have been studying in their classes, as well as the exciting topics they will be exploring in the upcoming weeks:

English: In 8th Grade English, some classes have been exploring symbolism in The Difficult Path by Grace Lin.

They will soon shift their focus to mood and tone in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart.

Meanwhile, other classes are set to complete their short story unit by mid-October.

They will then dive into T.J. Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, a novel that fosters discussions around acceptance and inclusion. Across all classes, we continue to strengthen reading comprehension strategies and skills, while practicing essay writing on a weekly basis.

Math: In 8th Grade Math, students have just completed their first chapter on exponent laws and scientific notation.

Next, they will focus on simplifying algebraic expressions and solving multi-step algebraic equations.

In Algebra 1, students wrapped up a review of writing simple equations, solving multi-step equations, and evaluating functions.

Moving forward, they will tackle more complex problems, such as writing equations involving coins and consecutive integers. They'll also dive into literal equations, which require isolating a single variable without the use of numbers. Unit 2 will include a deeper exploration of exponent rules and dimensional analysis.

Social Studies: Social Studies classes have just completed their first unit on the Civil War, during which students analyzed historical documents for their first writing assignment of the year.

Next, they'll turn their focus to the Reconstruction Era, the period following the Civil War when the United States faced the immense challenge of rebuilding. Throughout this unit, students will explore the efforts made to reunify the nation and debate whether this pivotal time in American history was ultimately a success or a failure.

Science: In the Living Environment course, students have been actively engaged in hands-on learning through the design of experiments that explore key concepts in biology. They have practiced using various laboratory tools, such as microscopes, thermometers, and electric scales, to gather and analyze data. Along with developing practical lab skills, students have reviewed essential scientific principles, including lab safety, the scientific method, and engineering practices.

Looking ahead, the focus will shift to studying living organisms, particularly their essential life functions and the structure and function of cells. Students will explore various organelles and their roles within the cell, with special emphasis on the cell membrane and its crucial role in maintaining homeostasis. The course will also delve into body systems and their interactions, providing students with a deeper understanding of how these systems work together to support life processes.

World Language: To kick off the school year, 8th-grade Spanish and French classes were assigned various Spanish and French-speaking countries to research. Students explored each country's historical facts, typical recipes, national symbols, and more. After presenting their findings to the class, we now have a deeper appreciation for the richness of our target languages and the importance of celebrating the diverse cultures they represent.

In other Spanish classes, students have just completed a review covering key basics like introducing themselves, following classroom directions, using numbers, telling time, identifying body parts, and exchanging likes and dislikes. As we move forward, the focus will shift to learning about family culture and how different Hispanic cultures plan celebrations and parties.

In French, students are about to dive into learning the past tense and vocabulary for household items. As part of this, they will get creative by designing and presenting their own “dream house”, showcasing both their language skills and imagination.

Meanwhile, Italian students have been sharpening their skills by learning how to write high numbers and completing a review of essential 7th-grade topics such as dates, classroom objects, weather, seasons, colors, and time. In honor of Italian Heritage Month, they will soon choose a famous Italian figure who has made a significant impact on society. Students will research and present their findings, highlighting the contributions of these influential Italians in the coming weeks.

Future Updates: Please see the below schedule we will use to spotlight different grades and programs in upcoming newsletters:

• October 18th – 7th Grade
• October 25th – 6th Grade
• November 1st – Arts/Physical Education
• November 8th – 8th Grade

The students were highly engaged in the lesson, and enjoyed it a great deal!

#PantherProblemSolvers #

Intramurals: Please see the information/schedule for 6th grade intramural sports below:

6th grade intramural sessions will take place from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM on the dates below. Intramural sports:

• are run by Rye Neck Coaches.

• will consist of skill development and scrimmaging.
  

• require your child to be registered on FamilyID using this link: 6th Grade Intramurals

• only run on days when school is in session.
  

Please note that while attendance is not mandatory for participation, if you sign up we ask that you make every attempt to attend each day. A student may register for multiple sessions/sports.

Please see the schedule below:

Use of Library: Students have the opportunity to come to the Library before, during, and after school. Library hours are typically from 7:50 am until 4:00 pm and we try to give you advance notice if there is a change to the posted hours.

Cell Phones: Students have been doing great so far following our cell phone policy. Please continue to discuss with them that (as per our Student Handbook) cell phones and other electronic devices are not to be used in the school building during school hours unless authorized by a teacher for special classroom purposes. If electronic devices are used on the way to and from school, they are to be kept locked in students' lockers. Failure to follow this rule can result in confiscation of these items and they will be returned only to parents. Please make sure to send a lock in with your child so they may secure their cell phones and other devices in their lockers.

Important Documents (please review with your child!):

Student Handbook

Technology Acceptable Use Policy

Village of Mamaroneck Bicycle Safety Brochure

Ongoing Feedback: To gather more feedback from parents, we invite you to use this Google Form below to share your questions, comments, concerns, or ideas. While submissions can be made anonymously, please include your name and contact information if you would like a direct response.

Cheerleading Opportunities:

Booster Club Announcements: