12/4/24

• 12/12 - SUN Drama Performance, 6pm
• 12/16 - News with Newlyn @ 8:30am, online and in person
• 12/17 - Beginning Band Concert, 6:30pm
• 12/18 - Early Release Wednesday; Progress Reports on Parent VUE
• 12/21-1/5 - No School
• 1/6/25 - School Resumes

• Click here for the full RGMS calendar

Hey Hey Robert Gray,

It's that time of year where we keep a lid on it with a focus on teaching and learning with a little fun sprinkled in. We know that the best way to keep kids who may be distracted by holidays and celebrations is to stay tight in our curriculum and celebrating successes. In our Late Opening Staff Meeting, we focused our attention on Engagement Strategies. Coming into classrooms we see lots of student engagement, different and personalized to each grade level, subject area and teacher preference. In Mr. Jonas-Closs's class, students were choosing corners to "agree" or "disagree" with statements based on their study of The Enlightenment. In Mr. Kapranos's class, students were examining and using academic vocabulary in their study of world religions. Mr. Nowland's students were using text references as they answered questions and prepared for their collaborative group work in the development of Mesopotamia. It's a joy and a privilege to watch our students and teachers learning together!

In preparation for Winter Break we are taking a moment to celebrate the season together with a late afternoon school event. Stay tuned for more information as our Leadership Class plans with Mr. Camp and Mr. Mead for some fun!

There's more to read so make sure to catch all the latest, below.

In Community,

Lisa and Robin

Starting after Winter Break, all RGMS students will be required to wear an ID badge while they are at school. It is PPS policy for all high schools and middle schools to have them at all times when they are on PPS campuses. This is a large part of our school safety plan. Every person who is on our campus has an ID, even contractors and volunteers have to wear an ID.

Right now, we are introducing this idea during Advisory. Students will get their ID Badges (with lanyard) on the day we return from Winter break. We are taking our time to build this important habit for our students. But, we are hoping, by the end of January, that every student is wearing their ID, all day, every day.

Parents, we could use your help by talking to your students about why this important and reminding them before the leave for school in the morning to have it on.

For the month of November, Portland Public Schools offers the annual Successful Schools Survey. The Successful Schools Survey is an opportunity for students, staff, and families to provide important feedback on their school environments, learning experiences, and sense of well-being and safety at school.

The survey is conducted once every school year to provide timely information to schools, district leadership, and the community, allowing us to make informed decisions about school climate and culture. This year, the survey window is open November 1 to December 6.

Portland Public Schools highly values the input and opinions of its families, and we welcome all PPS parents and guardians to complete this year’s survey. We use the data to help improve our schools, providing targeted feedback and training on how to create healthy school environments that are welcoming for all.

You can complete the Successful Schools Survey online using the link provided below. Please complete one survey per household. If you have more than one student at PPS, we ask that you complete the survey considering the experiences of your eldest child.

The survey will take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Somali, Vietnamese and Chinese.

https://surveys.panoramaed.com/portlandor/fall24family

For more information about the Successful Schools Survey, please go to pps.net/sss2024.

See the Well's newsletter for more information: https://secure.smore.com/n/w5z6s

2024-2025 RGMS Family Handbook.

2024 RGMS Student Handbook

Parent Guide to Canvas

Parent Guide to the Remind App

Parent Guide to ParentVue

Remember to give plenty of time when picking up your student early. It takes them time to get from their classroom to their locker and then to the office. You can call the office, 503 916 5676, when you are on the way to give your student time to get all their things.

Only use ParentVue to report absences that are for the full day. That is all ParentVue will let you do. If your student will be absent part of the day or just tardy, please email grayattend@pps.net. Be sure to include your student's full name, date of absence and the reason for the absence.

Use this link to the School Nurse and Health Room Services Webpage for lot's of good information for parents.

Interested in having your student tested for COVID at school? Use this link to access the form. Fill out and return:

• Drop it off in the office
• Email a digital copy to Nurse Jennifer Novack at jnovack@mesd.k12.or.us

Buy your yearbook online by using https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/

Using the Yearbook ID code: 14931525

Yearbooks are just $20

Gray's counselors are Lisa Hyde, A-K & Laureen Held, L-Z.

Lisa Hyde - lhyde@pps.net

503-454-6829

Laureen Held - lheld@pps.net

971-231-4621

You can also contact them through this link: https://bit.ly/2024-25RGMSCounselorHelp

• Community and Parents for Public Schools, in partnership with the Portland Association of Teachers, is hosting an in-person advocacy training for anyone interested in learning more about how to effectively advocate on behalf of public schools and our students.

WHEN: Saturday, December 7 from 1-4pm

WHERE: In-person at the Portland Association of Teachers office - 45 NE 8th Ave, Portland, OR 97232

RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/DVQ30NY49wCqVR7S9

• If you have been considering upping your recycling game by signing up for Ridwell, please consider doing it now. When 10 families sign up for Ridwell doorstep pickup using the link below by December 15 2024, the school earns plastic film pickup all spring! When 20 join, the school earns a field trip to the Ridwell warehouse! Find out more at https://get.ridwell.com/rgms.

• We don’t have a PTA meeting during the month of December, but please mark your calendars for our next meeting on Wednesday, January 15 at 6:30pm in the library at RGMS or via Zoom. We hope to see you there! The standing zoom meeting info follows:

• Link to Zoom Meeting

• Meeting ID: 847 8223 9102

• Passcode: 368760

• We are always looking for parents interested in advocating for better funding for public schools to interface with PAT, Oregon PTA and Parents for public schools. Please reach out directly to Kirsten Carr if interested.

• If you’re able, please donate $25 to support our PTA here.

Get text alerts about school closures, delays, emergencies and school events:

Text YES to 68453

Email: lnewlyn@pps.net
Website: https://www.pps.net/gray
Location: 5505 Southwest 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 916-5676
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertgraymiddleschool
Attendance Reporting: grayattend@pps.net