RTS Middle School News

Dear Families,

We are so thankful for you!

As we prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving break, we want to express our gratitude to everyone who has helped re-establish a routine of showing up for school and supporting our students and families. Daily routines are essential for reducing stress and creating a sense of security for both students and adults.

Please continue to keep your child healthy and send them to school unless they are truly ill. Every day in school provides valuable opportunities for learning and connecting with peers and teachers.

We are grateful for:

• Our students and their families who do their best to attend class every day, even when it's not easy.
• Our teachers, nurses, social workers, and school counselors, who go above and beyond to create a welcoming learning environment where students can thrive.
• Our many healers and helpers—support staff, office staff, cafeteria staff, custodians, and maintenance workers—who provide the extra care and attention for both our students and our school.

May these upcoming days off in late November be restful and rejuvenating for you and your family.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

Warm regards,

Laura Karlson

Principal, RTS Middle School

Hello RTS Families,

I’d like to send a friendly reminder about the importance of arriving at school on time. A timely arrival not only sets the tone for a productive day but also ensures students don’t miss any critical instruction at the start of each period. Our warning bell rings at 7:38 a.m., signaling students to make their way to class. The first period begins promptly at 7:40 a.m., so please encourage your child to be mindful of the time.

We appreciate your support in helping our students establish good habits around punctuality. Let’s work together to make every day a successful one!

Thank you,

Mr. Ed Swartwout
Assistant Principal, RTS

Susquehanna Valley CSD is taking social media threats seriously. If you see anything, please do not hesitate to report it to an administrator.

Each school year, TikTok challenges continue to sweep through school buildings across the nation, along with their collateral damage, far too often involving vandalism, theft, assault, injury and in some instances, even death.

New challenges for each month of the school year present ongoing safety concerns that need to be addressed by school staff and administrators.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀. 𝗜𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝘿𝙤?

𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗸𝗧𝗼𝗸 (𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮) 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. These challenges are being discussed in locker rooms and busses and lunch tables and text messages and everywhere in between.

𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲. Much like having explicit photos on your phone, any role they play in the “crime,” including being the “lookout,” filming the event or coordinating in any way, can put your child at risk for disciplinary or legal action. Many schools are taking these acts very seriously and are now looking beyond school disciplinary action, and instead, handing the matter over to local police. Your child needs to understand that if the damage exceeds a certain dollar amount, they could be committing a crime.

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. Many colleges, employers, and other organizations constantly scan social media accounts to monitor volatile or extreme behavior. It’s important for kids to understand that participating in these events could impact their college choice or future employment. Friendships may fade, but social media posts are forever, particularly when people save screenshots.

𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿. Many kids don’t want to be considered a tattle-tale or get bullied for ratting out another student. Provide your child with a few options on how to communicate to school administrators if they see something happening at their school. This could include an anonymous note or go through a trusted adult, such as the school’s social worker, school resource officer, or guidance counselor. At the minimum, encourage your child to tell you so you can report it to the administration either anonymously or directly.

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹. Clearly and concisely tell your child how disappointed you would be if you received a call from the school about their participation in these events. This in of itself is a powerful deterrent.

For more information and examples, please visit the Broome County Sheriff's app at: https://apps.myocv.com/share/a93313905

The first quarter marking period will end on Friday, November 8. Report cards will be mailed home on Friday, November 15.

Based on interim report progress, we have been meeting with students to ensure academic success by coming up with course goals and success plans.

If parents have questions or concerns regarding their student and their progress, they can reach out to their student's school counselor by calling the Guidance Office at 607-775-9132.

The RTS Halloween Dance on Friday, October 25th was a huge success!! Students and staff took part in a night of costumes, dancing, food, and fun!!

Students from the Decker School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Binghamton University visited Richard T. Stank Middle School for a Health Information Fair, where they presented health promotion projects in the library. The nursing students created displays on various health topics, including hand hygiene, the importance of sleep, bullying, the dangers of nicotine, physical and mental well-being, and physical safety. RTS visited each station, listened to presentations, and were encouraged to ask questions to engage with the topics.