Welcome to 8th Grade at River Ridge Middle School!

Welcome to the new school year, Class of 2029! We are excited to embark on this journey with you and your child as they enter 8th grade at River Ridge Middle School. This year promises to be filled with engaging learning experiences, personal growth, and the creation of lasting memories.

Academic Excellence and Support

Our dedicated team of teachers and staff are committed to providing a challenging and supportive educational environment. We aim to foster a love of learning, critical thinking skills, and a strong academic foundation to prepare our students for high school and beyond. Please encourage your child to take advantage of the resources and support available, and don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

Engagement and Involvement

We believe that parent and guardian involvement is key to student success. Throughout the year, we will be offering numerous opportunities for you to engage with our school community, from parent-teacher conferences to school events and volunteer opportunities. Your participation and support make a significant difference in your child's educational experience.

Communication

Effective communication is vital to ensuring a successful school year. We will be sending out regular updates through our weekly digital newsletter, emails through myStudent communication, the school's website, and social media pages. Please make sure your contact information in myStudent is up to date so you don't miss any important announcements. These updates can be made starting July 31st. Additionally, we encourage you to stay connected with your child's teachers and the grade-level student support team (Assistant Principal, School Counselor, Student Support Assistant).

Looking Ahead

As we begin this school year, we are filled with optimism and enthusiasm for the possibilities that lie ahead. Together, we can create a positive and enriching environment that supports the growth and success of every student. We aim to make their final year of middle school the very best!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to working with you and your child to make this an outstanding year!

Angie Murphy, Principal

Melina Brissey, 8th Grade Assistant Principal

Denise Doerrfeld, 8th Grade School Counselor

Jamie Sestokas, 8th Grade Student Support Assistant

The state mandate (F.S. 1003.4156) requires that middle school students complete a Language Arts, Math, Science, & Social Studies course each year with a minimum grade of “D” as well as a career component (Xello) to be promoted to high school. Middle School students must also sit for the State Civics Assessment.

District Finals: These finals will be given at the end of each year/semester for courses without state assessments. They will count as 10% of the student’s semester grade. The testing window is the last two weeks of the semester.

State Assessments & EOCs: These assessments will take place in April and May to measure student progress and proficiency of the grade level standards.

· FAST ELA Reading/Writing 6-8 (3x per year)

· FAST Math 6-8 (3x per year), Algebra I EOC (30% of year-long grade), Geometry EOC (30% of year-long grade)

· FCAT NGSSS Science Grade 8 (and students in Physical Science/Accl. Science Honors 7th Grade already took this assessment in 23-24)

· Civics EOC – 30% of the student’s year-long grade

Please take a moment to fill out this form regarding the 8th Grade PSAT, which will be offered to all 8th graders in October.

https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/mform/view.php?id=134188

It seems very early, but we will have a few deadlines that come up quickly at the start of the year. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Brissey at mdinamid@pasco.k12.fl.us.

Please check myStudent regularly to keep up with grades, attendance, and test history. To be promoted to high school, students must earn a D or higher in all Core classes (Math, Science, ELA, and Social Studies) for the semester and complete the career component.

However, for "On Track" events at RRMS, students must earn As, Bs, and Cs and have no referrals. Please encourage your student to take advantage of all the Royal Opportunities we offer to get academic help.

ACADEMIC SUPPORTS

1. Academic Lunch in the Media Center or with the teacher (daily)

2. Daily intervention time in class (71 minute rotating schedule)

3. Second Chance Learning Opportunities (work out with teacher as needed)

4. Course Recovery Lab & Opportunity Hall

5. Extended School Day (begins in October)

6. After School Tutoring by RRHS NHS (Tuesdays, Thursdays - begins in September)

We are excited to offer the district’s student information systems (SIS) myStudent to help parents and students check attendance and grades online. Attendance is posted and updated daily. Individual teachers update grades periodically. Their timeline for entering grades may be daily, weekly, or twice per grading period - depending on their course. Multiple students can be shown on one parent account, even if the students are attending different secondary schools within Pasco County. All progress reports and report cards will only be available through myStudent. All COMMUNICATION will come through myStudent this school year.

PARENTS - We want to highly encourage you to READ CAREFULLY all of the items in the Parent Bill of Rights Consent. During conversations, we are realizing a number of parents were not fully aware of what they were signing when they did so.

While parents have full rights to opt out/in of all items - and we realize how many words they have used - it is important to make informed decisions.

One example is the MEDIA RELEASE. Several parents opted out without realizing the last line of a lengthy page listed the fact that any student opting out will not be recognized if they play sports, or achieve any academic success, and will not be in the yearbook, among other restrictions. Again - if this opt out was done fully informed we absolutely respect that, but when the full details have been pointed out parents did reconsider.

Leaving the consent form blank is a NO for CLINIC SERVICES. If you would like your student to utilize the clinic if they are sick, or get hurt please consent to yes to illness care treatment and RN assessment. If you mark NO or DON'T FILL OUT THE FORMS your child can't be seen in the clinic. Your child will be asked to call you to inform you of the situation. If you do not have internet access at home or a computer, you may come to the school to fill out the consent forms online.

If you have questions about ANY item please do not hesitate to reach out to our administration so that we can clarify the options as much as possible as it is new procedure for everyone.

If you would like to request a parent teacher conference, please go to the RRMS website, and click the Parent Tab>Parent Teacher Conference Requests to complete the request form. All Parent Teacher Conferences will be held virtually through TEAMS after school at 1:40PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. A Student Services team member will be in contact with arrangements.

New 8th graders to RRMS are invited to attend Storm the Castle on Thursday, August 1st from 8:00AM-12PM. This day will provide an orientation to RRMS, give new students an opportunity to meet current RRMS students and teachers, learn about the campus, clubs, and sports. You will start in the CAFETERIA, and it is highly recommended to complete Parent Portal sign up in myStudent to access your schedule and pay fees. Students who attend do not need to attend the Open House on August 4th.

Tuesday, August 6th is Open House from 8AM-12PM for any returning 8th graders to RRMS. This event is intended for returning 7th and 8th Graders to walk their schedules and pick up any pre-purchased items. Schedules and Fees will only be available online before coming to campus. Please enter by the middle school front office. Maps will be available for the school nurse (TDaP Shot Records - 7th Grade), spirit wear, and PTSA. Staff will have QR Codes on their doors to introduce their class and themselves.

The list below contains most of the 8th grade year expenses but may not be limited to all expenses. Budgeting is the best way to manage these expenses as we have spread them throughout the year.

Required:

· General Course Fees: TBD based on courses

· Athletic Participation Fee: $60 1st sport, $40 2nd sport (Collected prior to playing the sport)

Optional:

· Class of 2029 T-shirt $15 (if you go to Gradventure this is included)

· Yearbook $30 (through Jan. 1), $35 (through May),

$40 (after arrival)

Order online at yearbookforever.com or cash/check to Ms. Baumaister.

· 8th Grade Yearbook Dedication $40

· School Pictures TBD

· Fall, Winter, and Spring Dances $10 each

· NASA Field Trip (Adv. Science)/Field Trip T-shirt $90

· Gradventure/8th Grade Gradventure T-shirt $185

· 8th Grade Activity Fee (8th grade dance, picnic) $40

General Fee $15

Art Fee $15

Band Program Fee $15

Chorus Program Fee $15

Career Technical Course Fees (per year) $10

Dance Fee $15

Instrument Tech & Instrument Ensemble $15

Physical Education Fee $5

Science Fees (per year) $10

Student Technology Service Fee $2

Theatre Fee $15

Spanish Workbook $20

Pre-AP World History Workbook $7

To use Student Fees – Rycor to make payments for your child(ren), you must first have an account set up in myStudent. If you do not have an account in myStudent, go to PascoSchools.org, go to the Parents Tab, and select Check Grades/Attendance or Pay Fees. Once your account is established in myStudent, you will have an account ready the following day to be activated in Student Fees – Rycor.

To activate your Parent Portal Account:

1. Go to https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/ 2. Select “Activate Account”

3. Enter the email address associated with your

myStudent account and select Send Email

4. This will generate an email to you to activate your account

5. Go to your email and select the link

6. Continue by creating your password and activating your account

7. Once this is completed, you will be able to see Fees and Other Items that can be purchased

We expect to have the following field trips available to 8th graders who are “on track” for promotion. These are tentative dates and prices but more information will be provided closer to the trips. Field trips are first come, first serve. Seats can be reserved by paying through GoFan.co. There will need to be two permission forms provided to the field trip coordinator.

· December 6: Physics Day @ Busch Gardens Tampa, FL (Physical Science Honors) Cost: TBD (Ziemba)

· December 13: Kennedy Space Center NASA, Cape Canaveral, FL $90 (Adv. Science) (Coller)

· May 9: Gradventure @ Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, Orlando, FL $185 (space limited to 250 students) (Coller)

Parents and community members can apply online to become an approved volunteer after July 1st. A new application must be completed each year. There is a $41.25 background/fingerprinting fee that must be paid with the application.

If you are interested in volunteering on campus at events (8th grade activities) or as a chaperone for a field trip (NASA, Busch Gardens), you must be an approved volunteer!

The application can be accessed on our district website http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us and must be renewed each year. The link is located on the main page, entitled “Volunteer Application.” Volunteers are still subject to a state criminal background check and a sexual predator/offender check. Our school’s volunteer coordinator, Ashley Pruneau can advise you of your approval status once you have submitted your application. You can contact her at apruneau@pasco.k12.fl.us or 774-7208.

8th graders wishing to participate in the end of year activities must meet eligibility requirements. Any 8th grade student who does not pass their current courses and/or fails to complete any course recovery from 6th or 7th grade will be ineligible to participate in any 8th grade end of year activities (4th quarter), because he/she would not have met the mandatory requirements for promotion to high school. All final decisions on academic eligibility for end of year activities will be determined by administration and will be based on students behavior and meeting promotion guidelines.

· May 9: Gradventure

· May 16: 8th Grade Dance (Location TBD)

· May 20: 8th Grade Celebration of Excellence Awards Night (Tentative)

· May 23: 8th Grade Promotion Practice/Video/Picnic

River Ridge Middle School will host a Promotion Ceremony for the Class of 2029 at 8:30AM on Tuesday, May 27th at River Ridge Middle/High School. This is a formal occasion to celebrate the accomplishments of our 8th graders being promoted to high school. We invite family and friends to join us to recognize our outstanding 8th grade class.

Here is the link for the titles of the READERS:

SSYRA (floridamediaed.org)

Copy of 6-8 2021-22 SSYRA Annotated List (floridamediaed.org)

For the questions, here is the link to the form.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aaJT4khSVE6bZ7duOoYiIGzhV6-kueFHuybw94qvR_pUQ0tTNUNEMUszQzNVUUhWTEdTT1BMOEpXNS4u

Yearbooks will be on sale during the school’s Storm the Castle/Open House through December 31st and will be available online or by contacting Ms. Baumaister at cbaumais@pasco.k12.fl.us for $30. From January – April 30, the price will increase to $35. When the books arrive in May, the price will increase to $40. We will also have a yearbook signing celebration exclusively for those students who purchased a yearbook in May. Yearbooks may be purchased online through Walsworth: www.yearbookforever.com. 8th Grade yearbook ads payment will be through GoFan.co for $40.

Celebrate your child’s birthday with a Birthday Song at lunch from the Administrative Team, balloons, confetti, and an ice cream treat. Complete the form in the front office and provide Mrs. Cace with $5. All proceeds go to student and staff recognition.

4-DAY WEEKENDS: There will be no school for students.

October 14-15

February 14, 17

April 18, 21

SEMESTER 2 EARLY RELEASE DAYS:

During the 2024-25 school year, Pasco County Schools will continue implementing a monthly, two-hour early release schedule starting semester 2. Early Release days will be on the following days: 1/29, 2/26, 3/26, 3/30. There will be no early release days in May. We will also run Enrichment Activity Schedule on these days. Students will select an area of interest for each semester to attend during this time. Early Release Days allow staff to engage in professional development aligned to student needs and district and school priorities. We are confident that this additional learning time for teachers will increase effective instruction and student achievement. Another benefit is that teachers will not have to complete professional development during student class time, decreasing the requirement for substitutes. Bus transportation will be provided two hours earlier than usual for students transported on regular school days. The same routes and stops will be used. School will be released at 11:30AM each early release day, and there will be no practice or after-school activities on these dates.

For the most up to date dress code, please review Page 27 in the Pasco County Schools Student Code of Conduct.

For the 24-25 school year, we will be transitioning to using digital positive behavior Knight Dollars (points) in myStudent Positive Behavior Awards. Students and families will be able to monitor student's behavior progress based on school wide expectations of Being Respectful, Being Responsible, and Being a Problem Solver. Students will be able to purchase items and privileges from the monthly Royal Merchant school store through a digital QR code and form that will be pushed out to them through myStudent/myLearning and posted in all classrooms. They may also purchase monthly Knight Dollar incentives such as tie-dye t-shirt making, slime making, holiday cookies, Talent Show, and Field Days.

Show Your Royal Spirit with your River Ridge SWAG... new items have been added for purchase on GoFan.co at our River Ridge Spirit Store. Items can be picked up at the front office… don't miss out sizes are limited and new designs are amazing! Go Knights! #WeAreRoyal #RoyalSpiritFridays

Mrs. Angie Murphy, Principal amurphy@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7208

Mrs. Melina Brissey, Assistant Principal (8th Grade) mdinamid@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7234

Mrs. Denise Doerrfeld, School Counselor (8th Grade) ddoerrfe@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7253

Mrs. Jamie Sestokas, Student Support Assistant (8th Grade) jsestoka@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7326

Mrs. April Addington, SSAP aaddingt@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7069

Mrs. Maria Costlow, School Social Worker mcostlow@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7259

Mrs. Kylie Owens, SBP Social Worker kowens@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7181

Ms. Hayleigh Theisen, School Nurse htheisen@pasco.k12.fl.us; Ms. Joanie Noe, Clinic Asst. jnoe@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7213

Mrs. Flo Cione, Bookkeeper fcione@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7216

Ms. Chrissy Brando, Athletic Director cbrando@asco.k12.fl.us 774-7187

Corporal Josh Peters, SRO jopeters@pasco.k12.fl.us 774-7223

Login to your Parent Portal and Complete the Forms Required for the New Year: https://pasco.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/index.php?skipSSO

Pay Student Fees: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/

Purchase Spirit Wear, Athletics, Dances, Field Trips, and Activity Fees: GoFan.co

School Public Calendar: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/0120328c89614936bba960f250bd1e60@pasco.k12.fl.us/ab1314af30da413fb329249b680fa84b16538542546199125556/calendar.html

Athletic Clearance: Upload athletic paperwork and physical for student to tryout for sports.

https://athleticclearance.fhsaahome.org/