Jan 2 - Return to School

Jan 14 - Pep Band - 8th Grade Night 6:15 - 8:15

Jan 14 - 5th Grade Parent Meeting - 6pm in the LGI

Jan 16 - 5th Grade Parent Meeting - 8:15am in the LGI

Jan 16 - Freshman Preview Night - 6:15 at WHS

Jan 20 - No School - Teacher Work Day

Jan 24 - End Quarter 2

Dean Update:

Dear Riverside Middle School Families,

As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many successes we’ve seen in our school community this semester. It has been an exciting and eventful time for our students, and I’m proud to share some highlights with you as we look toward a well-deserved winter break.

Celebrating Our Students’ Successes:

We’ve seen tremendous achievements in both academic performance and school culture, and I am thrilled to share some outstanding statistics:

• 524 Students with Zero Office Referrals: A remarkable 524 of our students have earned the distinction of having zero office referrals this semester! This is a testament to their positive behavior, respect for one another, and commitment to creating a safe and supportive learning environment. We could not be prouder of these students for demonstrating responsibility, kindness, and self-discipline.

• 319 Students with a 3.0 GPA or Higher: We are also celebrating the academic success of 319 of our students who have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher. This achievement is a reflection of their hard work, dedication, and focus in the classroom. These students are setting an excellent example for their peers, and their academic perseverance is something we should all celebrate.

• 350+ Students participating in a RMS club or sport: As of December, over 350 students have joined the various athletics teams and extracurricular clubs at RMS this year! This remarkable number highlights the enthusiasm and commitment of our students to engage in diverse activities outside the classroom.

A Time for Reflection and Gratitude:

As we head into the holiday season, it’s important to pause and recognize the collective efforts of our entire school community—students, teachers, staff, and families. The positive atmosphere at Riverside Middle School is something that we all contribute to, and it’s this collaborative spirit that helps our students thrive. I encourage you to take time over the holidays to celebrate these accomplishments with your child and remind them how proud we are of their efforts.

Looking Ahead to 2024:

While we are excited to celebrate these achievements, we also look forward to the new opportunities and challenges that the new year will bring. Together, we will continue to focus on fostering a school environment where all students feel supported, respected, and encouraged to do their best.

Lastly, I want to wish each of you a joyful and restful holiday season. May this time be filled with peace, relaxation, and plenty of holiday cheer.

Warmest regards,

Mr. Barnett

New Year, New Adventures in the Library!

The Library of Things is up and running! Students have the ability to check out one item at a time for a two week duration. Items include: board games, Lego sets, a Bop-It!, a Lite-Brite, and much more!

Books featured during the month of January will focus on fresh starts, new perspectives and inspirations stories.

Some recommendations are:

• Wonder by R.J. Palacio

• Restart by Gordon Korman

• Front Desk by Kelly Yang

• Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

• The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez

Students can check out other titles on display in the library!

Encourage Reading at Home 📖

Start the year strong by encouraging regular reading habits. Even 20 minutes a day can make a big difference! Try setting family reading goals or enjoy a family book night together.

Students having a great time at Board Game Club with Ms. Benson!

Please remember to call your student in if they will be missing school, running late or have an appointment. That way we can make sure they are marked accordingly for attendance and we can have passes ready in advance for your student to leave on time. Let's have a great year!

The 2024 Free and Reduced Price School Meal form can be found on Skyward Family Access. Forms can be turned in to any of the district schools. A new form must be completed each school year.

Please remind your students to check the Lost & Found for anything they have lost. Currently the Lost & Found is overflowing from so much clothing that is lost. If the items do not get picked up, they will be donated. Thank you so much for help with keeping students responsible for their things.

Attention third through eighth grade parents!

Did you know that your child has the opportunity to submit their artwork or writing for possible publication in a book called the Southern Lakes Anthology?

Your child's elementary teacher, art teacher, or middle school ELA teacher has shared with them an opportunity to submit their own original artwork or writing to be evaluated by a panel of judges for possible inclusion in this year's Southern Lakes Anthology!

If you would like more information, please ask your child's elementary teacher (grades 3-5), their art teacher (grades 3-8), or their ELA or art teacher (grades 6-8). School librarians and counselors are also able to help clarify rules!

To learn more, visit https://sites.google.com/mylusd.org/wusd anthology/home. This is also where you can see an introductory video, get a copy of artwork templates, download entry forms, and see the rubric that will be used to evaluate your child's entry.

Please note that there are strict rules that the Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network requires entries to follow, and these rules can also be found on the website. Entries that do not follow these rules will not be evaluated.

All entries will be turned into your child's school library no later than January 3, 2025. All entries will be evaluated within WUSD, and the 24 highest scoring entries from WUSD will move on to the regional level to be evaluated for possible inclusion in the 2024 Southern Lakes Anthology book, entitled with this year's theme: "The Power Of..."

All entries that score high enough will be included in the book, and all published authors and artists will be invited to a reception ceremony at UW-Whitewater in May, where they will receive a copy of their book.

Please refer to the website for more information, or ask your child's teacher if you have further questions.

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¡Atención padres de tercer a octavo grado!

Sincerely,

Stacci Barganz, BA, MS, NBCT (pronunciation: "bargains")

Advanced Learning Coordinator

National Board Certified Teacher

Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network (SLALN) Membership Coordinator (& Former President)

920-341-1055

barganzs@mywusd.org

Riverside Middle School - 920-262-1480

Main Office - Ext 5801

Bookkeeper - Ext 5802

Attendance - Ext 5811

Student Services - Ext 5821

Fax - 920-262-1468

Riverside Middle School on Facebook at https://shorturl.at/HnSJA

Watertown Unified School District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WatertownUnifiedSD

Watertown Unified School District on Instagram at instagram.com/watertownusd