March 7, 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians,

It was fun seeing parents and students last evening for student-led conferences!

I was very impressed to see how well students reflected on their own work, and how they were progressing this year.

Exciting news for all of our current 7th graders; next Monday, information will go to all 7th grade students about how to pick some of their 8th grade Unified Arts electives. This is the first stepping stone for them in becoming an 8th grader! Please find information and a link below.

March also brings the start of our spring sports programs. The middle school offers baseball, softball and track & field. Informational meetings will be held soon.

That’s all I have for now.

Enjoy the weekend,

Michael Seroussi

Current 7th grade students -

For the 2025-2026 school year, 7th grade students have the chance to choose a few electives in Art, CTE (Career Technical Education) and Music. A note - students can still sign up for Band and Chorus if they did not take band or chorus in their 7th grade year. The google form will be emailed out to students on Monday morning. This form is DUE by Wednesday March 19, 2025. For information on these elective classes please check out the MS Guide to Programs 25-26.

Starting the day with breakfast is crucial for students to stay healthy, focused and energized throughout their school day. Eating a balanced breakfast helps prevent headaches and stomach aches, which often occur when students skip this important meal. For those with little time or no desire to eat in the morning sending your child to school with easy grab-and-go snacks like yogurt cups, fruit cups, granola bars, protein bars, breakfast crackers, etc. will provide them with the fuel they need, when they need it, to remain in class for a successful day of learning. Breakfast options are also available for purchase in the Cafeteria during advisory, please encourage your child to utilize that option as well if you have set up an account. Thank you!

Courtney Roy, BSN, RN

RHAM Middle School Nurse

Regional School District 8
P: 860-228-9423 Ext 4009

F: 860-228-5316

courtney.roy@rhamschools.org

Grades 7 & 8: We're about halfway through quarter 3, so this is a great time to check in on your child's grades and academic progress. Set aside some time to have a conversation with your child about their grades and how they feel their year is going. If you have any questions or concerns after talking with them, please reach out to your child's teacher or School Counselor.

Grade 8: School Counselors just finished up teaching a Career Cluster lesson where students learned the differences between a job and a career, what their post-secondary options are, and what a career cluster is. 8th graders then took a brief assessment in Naviance called Career Cluster Finder. The Naviance Career Cluster Finder helps students find career clusters that match their interests, strengths and personal qualities. The results show the top three clusters based on how the students answered questions. Check in with your child and hear which clusters were the top three for them!

Grade 7: In March, School Counselors will be in the classroom teaching a Career Interest Profiler lesson. In this lesson, students will learn the differences between a job and career, what their post secondary options are, and why their interests matter in choosing a career. Students will then take the Naviance Career Interest Profiler, which will ask them questions about their interests, match them with potential careers and majors, help them identify their Holland Code and provide them with information about their personality traits and how they relate to career planning.

March 2025

• March 13-15- Drama Production of Matilda
• March 14- AHM's Kids vs. Cops Basketball Game/RHAM HS Gym; 6:30-7:30
• March 18- Inquiry Field Trip: NYC
• March 21- NO SCHOOL; Staff Development Day
• March 21-22- CMEA Eastern Region Music Festival @ Coventry
• March 25- Smarter Balance Testing
• March 28- 7th & 8th Grade Dance - MS Cafe; 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

April 2025

• April 1- End of Quarter 3
• April 2- Quarter 4 Begins
• April 4- Multiply Your Options Field Trip; UCONN
• April 7- Marlborough/Andover/Hebron Incoming 7th Grade Student Orientation (Students visit)
• April 8- Incoming 7th Grade Parent Orientation; 6:00 - 7:00 PM
• April 8- NGSS Testing; Grade 8 ONLY
• April 9- Invited Band Students to Glastonbury Middle School; 3:30 PM
• April 10- Coffeehouse Tour; MS Band
• April 10- Music & Arts Coffeehouse Night; 6:00 - 8:00 PM
• April 11- Early Dismissal; 11:45 AM
• April 14-18- NO SCHOOL; School Recess
• April 18- NO SCHOOL; Good Friday
• April 29- Smarter Balance Testing
• April 30- All Town Jazz Concert; 7:00 PM

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

AHM Youth and Family Services in collaboration with RHAM High School and the CT State Police are excited to invite you to the second annual Kids vs Cops Basketball Game set to take place Friday March 14th from 6:30-7:30pm at the RHAM High School gym (doors will open at 6pm). This is a FREE event open to the community! Help us fill the stands and cheer on the RHAM High school students and local law enforcement as they face off in a friendly game of basketball!

Parents & families are able to monitor the progress of the bus that transports their child(ren) to and from school in real time using a computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Please note that the monitoring of bus progress is restricted to the families of students riding their assigned bus.

Please use this link for more detailed information and to register: Transportation Information

Registration for Spring Athletics is now open. For Middle School, we offer Baseball, Softball, and Track and Field. Coaching contacts and scheduling information for tryouts and start of season will be published at a later date.

Students must be in full compliance with all Interscholastic Athletic Requirements to be eligible for participation. See registration requirements below.

Coaching contacts and scheduling information for tryouts and start of season will be published at a later date.

Students must be in full compliance with all Interscholastic Athletic Requirements to be eligible for participation. See registration requirements below.

RHAM Student-Athlete Pre-Season Participation Checklist

1.) Complete and submit registration via FINAL FORMS

• If you have an account already, log in and use previous information to register for current season.
• If this is you or your family’s first time registering for athletic participation through Final Forms, create a new account and register for the current season. Your information is now saved and will make future registrations easy.

2.) Submit a valid State of CT School Health Assessment Record Form to the Athletic Director’s Office or electronically via Final Forms.

• Page 1-Completed and signed by parents.
• Page 2-Completed and signed by medical provider.

Link: CT Health Assessment Record Form

***YOUR PHYSICAL EXAM FOR ATHLETICS EXPIRES AFTER 13 MONTHS. AN EXPIRED PHYSICAL WILL RESULT IN INELIGIBILITY***

3.) Complete an ImPACT concussion baseline test. (Click Link)

• These expire every two years. If you do not have an up to date concussion baseline test, you will not be able to participate. Upon registering on Final Forms, you will be able to check the expiration status. If no information is listed, email daniel.trudeau@rhamschools.org to notify.
• If your test is expired you may retake it at home by following the instructions provided in the appropriate link below.

-HIGH SCHOOL AT-HOME CONCUSSION BASELINE TEST INSTRUCTIONS

-MIDDLE SCHOOL AT-HOME CONCUSSION BASELINE TEST INSTRUCTIONS

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

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

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.

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.

Catheann Torneo <catheann.torneo@rhamschools.org>

860-228-2115 ext. 3710

• 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