4/23/25

• 4/30 - Parenting Information Workshop w/ Howard Hiton (see below for more info) at 6:00pm
• 5/5 - 7th Gr Field Trip (5th/7th/8th period Social Sciences)
• 5/7 - 7th Gr Field Trip (1st & 2nd period Social Sciences)
• 5/12 - 8th Grade Field Trip
• 5/13 - 8th Grade Field Trip
• 6/10 - 8th Grade Oaks Park Field Trip
• 6/11 - 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony @ Wells HS *****DATE CHANGE*****
• 6/12 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
• 6/17-8/11 - Office Closed for the Summer

• Click here for the full RGMS calendar

Hey Hey Robert Gray -

Happy Wednesday everyone! There has been a buzz at Robert Gray this week because it was FORECASTING week. Our current 6th and 7th graders have been forecasting the past 2 days. We will make sure EVERY student forecast this week. It is exciting for students to start thinking about next year. Ask our student how it went and what they forecasted for! We reminded students that we cannot honor all choices due to schedule constraints, but we do make our very best efforts.

OSAS testing begins next week in Language Arts classes. Make sure that your student brings their chromebook every day, and that it is fully changed. State testing can cause anxiety in students (and parents!), but we have been preparing our students for this all year. We know they will do their best, and we will support them through the testing sessions. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child's Language Arts teacher.

From Principal Newlyn

Over the past few weeks I've been out of the office off and on, attending to my Mom who was hospitalized, ultimately diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. This has been a bit of a shock, because at 91 years old, and never a smoker, we did not anticipate this turn of events. Hospice has been great, and we have had excellent care from her assisted living community. I've made the decision to attend to my Mom to support and care for her on Thursdays and Fridays for the foreseeable future. While I'm away Ms. Mauldin and our school team will keep RGMS running smoothly. I always have coverage and am never far away for consult. If you see my Out of Office reply, know that I am tracking and returning emails upon my return. Thank you for your understanding and support of me and my family.

There's lots more going on in the land of Robert Gray Middle School. Read on below for all the latest!

Lisa and Robin

The 7th Grade students will be traveling down to the University of Oregon in 2 weeks. It is an exciting field trip and we are excited to explore the university and the museum on campus. One of the things the students are MOST excited about is eating lunch in Carson Dining Hall.

You can pay for your student's lunch using SchoolPay and choose the 7th grade U of O field trip. The cost is $13.00 per student. We also have a generous donation from the PTA for students who are unable to pay at this time.

The Ida B. Wells Speech and Debate Club are hosting a fun summer program for incoming Wells freshman this summer. See the flyer for details.

Here is the link for more information.

There is still plenty of time to register!

With just a week away, planning for the April 30 Parent/caregiver led lobby day in Salem is getting squared away. A big thank you to the almost 60+ parents and community members that have already registered. There is still time to share this opportunity with your school community and neighbors!

As a reminder, the goal for the day will be to advocate for and raise awareness about the importance of fully funding schools, to urge lawmakers to prioritize coming up with a long term plan to fully fund Oregon’s public schools and vote for crucial school funding legislation this session.

To help prepare everyone for the day, the Oregon PTA and CPPS are hosting a virtual training this Wednesday, April 23 at 7:30 PM (see Zoom link below). The lobby day agenda and messaging will be shared, along with tips on what to expect. The same information will be offered the morning of the lobby day where we will all plan to meet before heading over to the capitol together. More information about those logistics will be shared next week but in the meantime please consider wearing red for solidarity.

This event is organized by Oregon PTA and Community and Parents for Public Schools (CPPS) with support from parent and community organizations statewide. If you’d like to join the Lobby Day planning or would like to list your organization as a supporting member, please email legislation@oregonpta.org and cpps@cppsportland.org.

RSVP here to stay updated! We hope you can join us in Salem!

Topic: 2025 Lobby Day Orientation Meeting

Time: Apr 23, 2025 07:00 PM Pacific Time

Join Zoom Meeting Link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81959739897

Meeting ID: 819 5973 9897

From the CPPS Board

Thank you so much to all of the parent volunteers who made the school dance a fun and safe experience for all. The students were all very well behaved and it was a great time!

The Photos from the dance have arrived!

Go to this link to log in with YOUR OWN email and this password Fun25

Enjoy!

Big thanks Amanda at Ambient Sky, DJ Josh and your Robert Gray Dance Committee for making this night happen!!!

Several of our students have art work in the Heart of Portland Art show at the Portland Art Museum that showcases artwork from Portland Public Schools. Harper Schwindt is our featured artist in the show. In addition many of our students are participating in the collaborative exhibition. Our students designed bumper stickers inspired by the Psychedelic Rock Posters and Fashion from the 1960's exhibit that is on display in the museum.

The following students have bumper sticker designs in the show: Chase Walter, Oliver Rice, Peter Hale, Tycho Enfield, Janessa Martinez, Harper Vaughn, Paige Darden, Dylan Kurtz, Sydney Mueller, Addie Gartland, Ava Molenkamp, Ella Myers, Jude Harkness, Lindsay Bernards, Onyx Skousen, Noah Heath, Larry Cordova, Marcus Donovan, Jack Abel, Jessica Nguyen, Elias Sweitzer, Maya Light, Max Glos, Roan O’Neil, and Gunnar Odman.

The art show runs through the 27th and there is a closing reception from 10am to 5pm on Sunday April 27th during the MIller Family Free Day. More information is linked here.

The Ida B. Wells Booster Club is hosting Spring into A(u)ction on April 25 at the Multnomah Athletic Club and we would like to invite all our rising Guardian families to attend. By attending the auction of your future Guardian, you are joining in on the fun, meeting others from our community and making a positive impact on our school!

The purpose of the Ida B. Wells Booster Club is to help student programs advance, foster community spirit and raise funds to complement the Ida B. Wells High School student body. Our Booster Club supports Athletics Teams, Organizations and Student Clubs by providing grant funds for critical needs not covered by the PPS budget. Booster Club grants have paid for needs such as camps, conferences, specialized training, equipment, student scholarships, tournaments fees and much more.

You can buy your tickets or donate here. Hope to see you there!

Students will begin taking their OSAS tests in a couple of weeks. Our tentative RGMS testing schedule is as follows:

• Reading OSAS- the week of April 28th
• Science 8 OSAS- May 14-16
• Math OSAS- the week of May 19th.

Student test results allow teachers and families to see student growth over time. Results are analyzed when determining opportunities for acceleration as well as to identify areas where students may need additional support.

Here is the link to the PPS page about testing opt outs.

“Many aspects of American schools are not sympathetic to boys.” said Eli Newberger, who wrote The Men They Will Become and is a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

“Their robust behavior, physicality and translation of anxiety into inattention is frequently pathologized and demonized.”

Nationally and locally boys make up two-thirds of those in special ed classes, they represent 70% of middle school and high school discipline referrals, and their dropping rates of graduation and college attendance are cause for concern. We know that relationships hold the key to improving boys’ health and academic performance. But how do we establish and maintain connections with boys?

Howard Hiton, a local expert on boys’ development, will lead this workshop which will explore biological, social, and cultural factors that affect boys’ development. Specific skills for communicating with boys will be presented. Howard will utilize power point, video clips, and interactive activities to engage participants in a lively and challenging look at boys.

April 30th at 6:00 in the RGMS Library.

Due to the snowstorm in February, the last day of school has been moved to June 12. The Promotion ceremony will be held on JUNE 11 at Wells High School.

Promotion is right around the corner and celebrations are in the works. The 8th grade promotion committee is looking for parents to submit TWO photos of their child; 1) A current photo from this year. 2) A baby/toddler photo.

You can email photos to the promotion committee at this email address: rgms8thgraders@gmail.com

If you can, please include the teens (or teen’s) name so we can do our best to make sure each 8th grader is represented.

Thank you!

Please remind your student to charge their Chromebook each night and bring it to school every day. There are not enough "loaners" for the amount of students that are leaving their Chromebooks at home. Students need their Chromebook for almost all of their classes.

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. It takes even longer if you come during lunchtimes. 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.

• Join us on Wednesday, April 30 in Salem to build community & advocate for our schools. RSVP Here

• You'll have the chance to:

• Connect with parents & community advocates

• Speak directly with your legislator

• Demand full & equitable funding for public schools.

• Have your voice heard!

• Our last PTA meeting of the year is Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 6:30pm. Join us in the library at RGMS or via Zoom. The standing zoom meeting info follows:

• Link to Zoom Meeting

• Meeting ID: 847 8223 9102

• Passcode: 368760

• On May 20, Portland voters will consider the 2025 School Bond, referred by the PPS Board of Education. If approved, the bond would fund:

• Repairs & Upgrades: Fix aging roofs, heating/cooling, plumbing, electrical systems, elevators, and more in elementary and middle schools.

• Safety Improvements: Enhance security systems, fencing, and seismic safety.

• Modern Learning Environments: Rebuild Cleveland and Ida B. Wells High Schools, update curriculum and tech, and upgrade classrooms.

• Expanded Extracurriculars: Improve athletic and performing arts facilities across several schools.

• If approved by voters, the tax rate would continue to be approximately $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, the level targeted by the 2017 bond.

• Our community, and kids, will directly benefit should the bond pass.

• To learn more, visit: https://www.pps.net/2025Bond

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

What is School Pay?

Throughout the year we will use School Pay as a way for families to pay for a variety of things. At the beginning of 2nd semester, we are asking families to consider making small donations to offset printing costs for student planners, handbooks, class supplies and other curricular tools.

Check ParentVue for you student's schedule and donate as you are able. Donation items are grouped by grade level.

School Pay is a convenient way to pay school donations with a debit card or credit card. Use this link, https://pps.schoolpay.com/, to enter the School Pay site. Set up an account if you don't already have one.

Dear Families,

Good oral health is vital to your child's overall well-being! Here are some easy steps to keep

your child's teeth in top shape:

✅ Brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.

✅ Floss daily to remove plaque between teeth.

✅ Limit sugary snacks and drinks to prevent cavities. Water is the best choice for your child’s

teeth!

✅ Visit the dentist regularly (every 6 months) for checkups and cleanings.

Untreated dental problems can lead to pain, missed school days, and difficulty concentrating.

If your child needs dental care resources, we are here to help! Feel free to reach out for more

information on affordable dental services, including:

● Free dental care through PCC

● OHP dental services

● Resources from the Oregon Dental Association

Message from the School Nurse

Jennifer Novack, RN, BSN, NCSN

School Nurse Resources on the Robert Gray Website

Our website’s "School Nurse" tab has helpful information to support your child’s health throughout the school year. Please visit the website regularly to stay updated on important health announcements.

Return-to-School Guidance:

• Fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication

• Vomiting and diarrhea symptoms should be improving for at least 24 hours

Other Tips:

• Consider wearing a face covering indoors during respiratory illness season

• Stay up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccinations

• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly

• Stay hydrated and eat balanced meals to support immune health

• Ensure your contact information in Synergy is current so we can reach you promptly if needed

Warmly,

Jennifer Novack, RN, BSN, NCSN

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

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