December 6, 2024

Dear Parents/Guardians,

December ushered in the cold weather and our first snow day! Snow days are always a fun surprise, especially when they happen so early in the season. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the time off last week and the snow day yesterday.

For future delays or cancellations, information will be available on the following media sources:

• Television Stations: WFSB Channel 3, WTNH, Channel 8, WVIT Channel 30, FOX Channel 61

• Radio Stations: 93.7 FM, 96.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 102.9 FM, 1080 AM, 1360 AM.

• It can also be accessed through www.ctweather.com.

• You can also sign up with one of the local news stations to get text messages sent to your phone. Please be aware to look for Region 8 School District.

Morning Buses will run consistent with the delayed opening schedule. For a two hour delay, the warning bell rings at 9:13 a.m. and school begins at 9:17 a.m.

With Thanksgiving being so late in the month, there are only a couple of weeks until our winter break. Just a reminder that next Wednesday, December 11th, is an Early release day for students. There are a few other important dates and reminders below, including the link for the winter sports calendar.

Please reach out with any questions and have a wonderful weekend!

Michael Seroussi

Principal

Winter sports are underway!

The link below provides practice and competition

schedules for the four winter teams.

It will update as changes occur.

https://arbiterlive.com/School/Calendar/44800

December 2024

• December 7- CMEA Eastern Regional Auditions
• December 8- Poinsettias Ready For Pickup
• December 10- MANDATORY Ski/Snowboard Safety Meeting: 2:15-3:00 Please see details below
• December 11- Early Dismissal: 11:45 AM
• December 13- CCMC's Pajama Day
• December 13- AHM Gift Card Drive Ends

• December 20- Band to Bushnell Performing Arts Center

• December 20- Early Dismissal: 11:45 AM
• December 23-31- NO SCHOOL; School Recess

January 2025

• January 1- NO SCHOOL; New Years Day
• January 2- School Resumes
• January 6- Three Kings Day
• January 6- Inquiry Information Parent Night; 6:00 PM
• January 7- Ski/Snowboard Club; Ski Sundown
• January 8- Inquiry Team Roadshow to Elementary Schools
• January 14- Ski/Snowboard Club; Ski Sundown
• January 17- Midterms - Early Dismissal; 11:45 AM
• January 20- NO SCHOOL; MLK Jr. Day
• January 21- Ski/Snowboard Club; Ski Sundown; ½ day of school
• January 21- Midterms - Early Dismissal; 11:45 AM
• January 22- Midterms - Early Dismissal; 11:45 AM
• January 23- Midterms - Early Dismissal; 11:45 AM
• January 23- End of Quarter 2
• January 24- Quarter 3 Begins (Semester 2)
• January 28- Ski/Snowboard Club; Ski Sundown

*Please note dates are subject to change due to unexpected winter weather.

Ski Club will be holding a MANDATORY safety meeting Tuesday, December 10th, from 2:15-3:00 in the Lecture Hall. At this time a Ski Sundown rep will speak with our club members about mountain rules and safety expectations on the slopes.

If you cannot attend, you must give a parent note to Mr. Stein or Mrs. Belanger prior to the meeting.

Grade 7:: The Defining Harassment and Students Rights lesson has been taught to all 7th grade teams. Please check in with your child to make sure they don't have additional questions regarding what they learned.

Grade 8: We're hoping that by now everyone has had a chance to sit down with their 8th graders to create a College Board account. If you have an issue, please let your child's School Counselor know. Students will need to have these accounts created before School Counselors meet with students to explain their score reports.

Join SOAR Youth Leadership Group for some winter crafting and cocoa at the next SOAR meeting, set to take place on Tuesday, December 17th, from 2:15-3:15pm at the RHAM Fishbowl! RHAM Middle and High School students that plan to attend, please email ashleep@ahmyouth.org

AHM’s Coalition for a Healthy Empowered Community (CHEC) is seeking new members! Since 1986 the Coalition has worked together to minimize the impact of drug and alcohol use and abuse in the regional community. The Coalition has evolved over the years to incorporate community wellness with an emphasis on helping to keep youth drug-free through education of youth and parents/caregivers around substance use and abuse, as well as mental health. Monthly meetings will take place via zoom on the 4th Monday of each month from 4-5pm.

If you are interested in joining CHEC please contact AHM’s Prevention Coordinator Ashlee Parks at ashleep@ahmyouth.org. For more information, visit our website at: https://ow.ly/L7wR50T6GfZ

Dr. Colin McNamara continues his goal to meet as many parents and community members as possible. To help in this effort, he has added new opportunities this school year for "Coffee and Conversation" with community members at the dates listed below. We hope you are able to attend one of the listed times. Please make sure to bring a photo ID, and watch for any updates due to weather or other circumstances.

Middle School Media Center - Small Conference Room

All dates listed below are from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Thursday, September 26th

Thursday, November 14th

Wednesday, January 15th

Wednesday, March 19th

Wednesday, May 21st

High School Media Center

All dates listed below are from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Thursday, October 24th

Thursday, December 12th

Thursday, February 6th

Thursday, April 10th

Here at RHAM Middle School we offer a large variety of clubs and activities for students to get involved in. This is a great way to meet new people and try new things of interest. Please click the picture above to see the most up to date list of clubs, descriptions, dates and times. The full list is also available on the Middle School website.

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES 24/25

Attention Parents!

If you would like your child to be able to receive Tylenol, Motrin, cough drops or lotion during the school day, please make sure you have logged onto Power School and updated your child's Consent to Treat form for this school year.

Access the form on the RHAM Middle School Website under the PARENTS tab:

• Parent Portal
• Forms
• Enrollment
• Health Authorization

Attendance - Absence/Late Arrival/Early Dismissal

FRIENDLY REMINDER - If your child is going to be absent from school, arriving late, or dismissing early, you must report to the school by either filling out the Nurse's Office Form or calling (860)228-9423 X4008 by 8:30 A.M. (Please note that a phone call will need to be followed up with written notification.) The link to the Attendance Form can also be found on the RHAM Middle School website under the “Parents” tab. Additionally, you can scan the QR code located on the RHAM Schools website to access the Attendance Form.

Attention 8th grade parents - This is a reminder that every 8th grade student is required to have a physical form submitted to the school. If your child does not have a current physical on file, you will have been notified, and this needs to be handed in ASAP. The physical needs to be dated July 1, 2022 or later to be accepted.

Attention 7th grade parents - This is a reminder that every 7th grade student is required to have a physical during their 6th or 7th grade year. The physical must be dated between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025. Please submit your child's physical, along with their most current immunization record to the school nurse as soon as possible.

Please click on the link below for a blank copy of the health assessment form.

Students can bring the paperwork to the nurse's office or you may email it to mshealthoffice@rhamschools.org . Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the health office.

https://sites.google.com/rhamschools.org/healthoffice/required-physicals

We have two lunch waves at RHAM Middle School. The first wave starts at 10:35am and the second wave starts at 11:20am. We know that students often get hungry before and after lunch, so they may bring a snack to keep in their locker. We would like to remind everyone that because of allergies, no nut products are allowed in school.

Shannon Nemethy, General Manager

Email: Shannon.Nemethy@rhamschools.org

Office: 860-228-9474 ext. 3710

Where Can I Find the Menu?

https://www.fdmealplanner.com/

There are times when families find themselves in need of support to ensure that their children are able to get lunch at school. If you are in need of assistance, please see the Free/Reduced information under the parent tab and then click on food service.

• Late buses run Monday - Thursday (No Fridays).

• Students are picked up at the Middle School around 4:00pm.

• There is 1 bus per town.

• Bus routes are determined at the time of pickup, based upon how many students are on the bus and student locations. The length of time it takes to get home will vary. You might not be dropped off at your actual home, you could be dropped off up to 1 mile away.

• You will report to the library after your activity or event and wait there doing school work, etc. until the late bus arrives.

• You must be staying after school for an event or activity.

• You cannot leave the school grounds then come back to take the late bus.

You can follow your child's bus in real time through the My Ride K-12 app or website. Instructions to set up your account can be found through the linked picture to the right.

Bus Traffic

All buses will enter RHAM from Route 85 and RHAM Road. The buses will proceed along the bus lane between the schools and the middle school baseball and high school softball fields. All middle and high school students will be dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon at the high school drop off area and the buses will then leave RHAM through the main high school exit onto Wall Street. All students will enter through the High School main entrance. No parent vehicles will be permitted to enter the bus lane leading to the high school and staff parking area.

Morning Drop Off Directions

High school parents dropping their children off must enter the high school drop-off loop off of Wall Street and drop their children off at the drop-off area that is across from the weight room and Central office (See map). Parents must then exit back onto Wall Street. Parents dropping off students will not be allowed to enter any of the parking areas.

Middle school parents dropping their children off may enter from Wall Street through the high school entrance adjacent to the Wall Street practice fields or from RHAM road. Parents entering from Wall Street must proceed along the access road adjacent to the tennis courts and drop their children off in front of the middle school main entrance (See map for drop off/pickup areas). Parents must then take a left at the stop sign and exit onto Route 85 via RHAM Road.

Parents entering from RHAM Road must take a right into the student drop off loop, and then follow the signs that will lead you to the drop-off point in front of the middle school main entrance. Parents must then take a left at the stop sign and exit onto Route 85 via RHAM Road. Parents are not allowed to enter the main staff parking area.

Parents with both middle and high school students must make one drop-off and enter the high school drop-off loop off of Wall Street and drop their children off at the drop-off area that is across from the weight room and Central office (See map). Parents must then exit back onto Wall Street. Middle school students dropped off at the high school will walk through the high school and proceed to the middle school.

Afternoon Pick Up Directions

High school parents picking their children up must enter through the main high school entrance on Wall Street and pick their children up at the pick up/drop off area immediately in front of the weight room. Parents must then exit back onto Wall Street from the exit adjacent to the Wall Street practice fields. Parents picking up students will not be allowed to enter any of the parking areas.

Middle school parents picking their children up must enter from Wall Street through the high school entrance adjacent to the Wall Street practice fields or enter from RHAM road. Parents entering from Wall Street must proceed along the access road adjacent to the tennis courts and pick up their children in front of the middle school main entrance. Parents entering from RHAM Road must take a right into the Parent Drop-off loop and then follow the signs that will lead you to the Pick-up point in front of the middle school main entrance. Parents picking up at the end of the day may wait along the right side of the access road in front of RHAM Middle School. Please do not double park on the left side of the access road. Parents are not allowed to enter the main staff parking area. Parents must then take a left at the stop sign and exit onto Route 85 via RHAM Road.

Parents with both middle and high school students can either pick up both students using either the high school or middle school pick-up area or pick up first at the high school and then proceed down to the middle school pick-up area.

Student Directions

High school students parking in the upper or lower student parking lots must enter and exit through the Wall Street student entrance (see map) adjacent to the Wall Street fields.

Link to MS Maps

Link to HS Map