RMS January 2025 Newsletter

January 3, 2025

Welcoming students back from winter break was great! Again, we saw many smiling faces and eager energy to be back with peers and get into their learning routines. Students joked that they haven’t seen staff since last year which made me laugh. The wit and humor of a middle school student are just a couple of the many unique characteristics they bring to our RMS community. In short, middle school students are fun and they bring great enthusiasm to the everyday routines at Roosevelt. Starting up again after some time away only magnifies these gifts of our students.

Speaking on gifts, I wish to highlight how incredible our Roosevelt stakeholders are to this community. We asked the community to contribute to support for families in need over the holidays. By simply asking we were able to provide over $2400 dollars in gift cards or household items/supplies/food to over 30 RMS families. Thank you donors, the generosity was incredible.

As students shift to a new year with 365 blank pages of stories yet to be written, RMS staff continue to commit to building strong relationships with students so they have a solid sense of belonging. We care deeply that their stories at RMS reflect them as an active participant in their learning, where they are pushed to grow both socially and academically, all the while making note of their successes along the way.

In closing, we are entering the busy season of registration. Below is a brief update on what families can expect regarding registration next week. More details will be shared on Monday regarding the registration process. I wish you all a wonderful start to 2025 and thank you for your continued partnership.

2025-2026 Registration

Next Monday, January 6th, RMS students will receive information about registering for next school year during their English Language Arts classes. The following Monday, January 13th during their ELA class, students will complete the registration process by submitting course requests in StudentVue.

Please visit our website for more information.

Registration information for virtual conferences on January 23rd and for our grade-level field trips on February 14th will be shared soon.

As a reminder, all attendance-related matters should be reported through the ParentVue app or on the absence line.

To report a student absence or late arrival via phone, please dial 763-506-5800 and press #1 to leave a message. The absence line is monitored regularly throughout the day, with a strong focus in the morning hours.

Going forward, if one bypasses the option (#1) to leave a message about attendance, the staff member who answers your call will transfer your call to the absence line for you to leave a message.

Thank you for reviewing this process. We are often supporting students in the morning and working to help them get off to a great start. Families utilizing the attendance line helps us be more efficient and be available to best support the students in front of us on a daily basis.

If there is an urgent attendance matter and you need to speak to a staff member, please press "0". The direct attendance line is 763-506-5806 if one wishes to bypass the prompts.

Thank you to all the families who have been diligently following our early pick-up procedures that we highlighted in our December 2024 newsletter! We have noticed a significant increase in compliance.

We encourage all families to continue adhering to these procedures. For those who have yet to implement them, we kindly request your cooperation in making early pick-up smoother for everyone.

For your convenience, we have included the 'Procedural Expectations for Early Student Pick-up' section from our December eNews further in this newsletter. This serves as a refresher for existing families and a helpful guide for those new to Roosevelt. These procedures are designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of early student dismissal.

Here are the current volunteer needs at RMS.

Thanks for supporting our students & staff.

Book Fair February 3-7

• shifts are 8-9 am, 9-11 am, 11 am-1 pm and 1-3 pm

• please only sign up for up to 2 shifts to give everyone a chance to volunteer

• no experience is needed, directions and support will provided during your shift

All Grade Field Trips February 14

• 6th grade is going to Maple Grove Community Center

• 7th grade is going to Elm Creek for snow tubing

• 8th grade is going to Nickelodeon Universe

• all chaperones will need to drive/carpool themselves to the field trip location

Activity Night Wristbands Sales February 19-20

• we need two volunteers in the morning before school from 7:45-8:30 am

• we need one volunteer during lunches from 11:15 am-1:30 pm

• volunteers will support students from Kindness Council as they sell wristbands to their peers

Activity Night February 20

• volunteers are needed from 2:45-5:15 pm

• volunteers will sell concessions and supervise students

• this is our only activity night this school year

We are requesting donations of tissue boxes for staff and students Donation of Tissue

To become an RMS volunteer, please complete/update your RMS Volunteer Application & Background Check Permission. Current RMS volunteers log into MyVolunteerPage.com to sign up. For questions about volunteering, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Jenny Johnson: JenniferA.Johnson@ahschools.us or 763-506-5970.

Happy New Year from Roosevelt Community Ed! We have some new classes starting in the next several weeks for fun and enrichment. I hope you find something your middle school student would enjoy!

Performance Cheer

Performance cheer is an athletic event that involves cheering, stunting, tumbling and dancing. The performance cheer squad will participate in an Anoka-Hennepin Schools middle school show at the completion of the season. Student athletes will need black shorts, mostly white tennis shoes and to come to each practice with athletic attire. The district cheer show is Tuesday, March 4 at Coon Rapids Middle School at 6:30 p.m. Parents/Guardians are responsible for transporting students to the district cheer show.

Chess Club

Get into the game you love to play! Our focus is on developing competitor’s chess skills, knowledge, analytical abilities and intellectual strength through lessons, puzzles and practice. Our team will compete against other teams at team meets and local and state tournaments. Create a checkmate today.

Dungeons and Dragons Epic Adventure

Dungeons and Dragons Epic One-Shot Adventure.

Join a professional Game Masters for a memorable D&D One-Shot Adventure. This epic four hour quest will give experienced players a chance to test out new characters and experience a brand new D&D journey. You need nothing to play. Simply register and we’ll take care of the rest.

Adventure Description: It is a time of war and destruction. Resistance fighters, striking from the walled city of Kalegari, have won their first battle against the vile Phoenix King. During the battle, the Resistance managed to steal ancient texts that mention a weapon powerful enough to destroy the Phoenix King once and for all. Under attack from the King's forces, Queen Suraiya of Kalegari gathers together heroes from across the Lands to find this weapon and return peace to the world. Will you answer the call?

Dungeons and Dragons Tabletop Gaming

Join a professional Game Master as you learn how to build a Dungeons and Dragons character, and then set out on your adventures! Students will go on adventures guided by their imagination and their instructor while learning critical thinking, teamwork, roleplay, and puzzle-solving skills.

Dance Team

In this competitive dance team league, dancers will learn the skills of dance with an emphasis on participation, teamwork and safety. Based on registration numbers, A and B level teams will be formed based on each dancer’s skill level. Dancers practice after school and compete against other Anoka-Hennepin middle schools. Due to enrollment numbers and transportation scheduling, there may be times when parents/guardians will be asked to transport their students. Competitions will be on Thursdays: April 3, 10 starting at 4:30pm. District Dance Competition will be on Wednesday, April 16 at Anoka High School at 7:00pm.

Babysitter Training

Parents are looking for certified babysitters! Get a leg up on the competition with this American Red Cross class that prepares you for a wide variety of babysitting situations. Through hands-on activities, you’ll learn about the basic care of young children including safety and responsibility, age-appropriate activities and first aid. Boys and girls at least 11 years of age are welcome to participate. Class includes a comprehensive babysitting manual. Must complete the entire class to receive certification.

LEGO© Robotics Challenge: Masterpiece

Design, build, program and test your robot's ability to accomplish challenge missions on the playing field. Learn and demonstrate your skills and knowledge about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) principles as you design, construct and program a robot that navigates itself within a playing field filled with obstacles. This year's theme will be MASTERPIECE℠ and teams will imagine and innovate new ways to create and communicate art across the globe. Join your teammates and challenge other Anoka-Hennepin middle school teams on Saturday, April 12 at Oak View Middle School, 15400 Hanson Blvd. Andover, MN.

Ping Pong

In this ping pong league, players will learn the skills and strategies of ping pong with an emphasis on participation, teamwork and safety. Players practice after school and compete against other Anoka-Hennepin middle schools. Due to enrollment numbers and transportation scheduling, there may be times when parents/guardians will be asked to transport their students. Competitions on Wednesdays: February 12 and 26 starting at 4:15pm. Ping Pong Showcase Wednesday, March 5 at Roosevelt Middle School starting at 6:15pm.

The book fair is coming to Roosevelt! RMS Library will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair from February 3rd to 7th, open daily from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Here's how your student can explore the Book Fair:

• Class Visits: Students will visit the fair during their ELA class time.
• Before-School Shopping: Encourage your child to stop by the fair before school starts!

Looking for a cashless option?

Scholastic offers a safe and convenient way for students to shop using eWallet. To learn more and set up your child's eWallet, visit scholastic.com/fair.

Every purchase benefits our school library! By supporting the Book Fair, you're helping stock our shelves with amazing books for all students to enjoy.

We can't wait to see our Royal Readers at the Book Fair!

Following RMS's student pick-up procedure helps the office prepare for your arrival and helps you get to your destination on time.

Pre-Notify the school by

• Calling and leaving a message on the attendance line; 763-506-5806
• Enter the pick-up time and reason in ParentVue early in the day.
• Have your student bring a note to the attendance office in the morning

We request a half days notice whenever possible if you are picking up your student

• The cut-off time to pick up your student is 2:30 p.m.

• Parking in front of the school to pick up your student ends at 2:30 p.m.

• If we are not notified prior, it will take longer to get your student out of lunch or class

Signing out your student

• Students must be signed out by a parent/guardian at the time of pick-up, unless other arrangements have been made with the Attendance Secretary.
• Enter door #1, put your ID into the scanner and press the button to notify the office that you have arrived.
• After you enter into the school, head to the attendance window to sign out your student

A huge thank you to those of you that have been following these procedures! If you are unclear of our procedural expectations please feel free to call us.

Minnesota weather is shifting gears, and the Anoka-Hennepin School District has plans in place for when extreme winter weather arrives.

The safety of all students is the first priority when determining if schools should stay open in adverse weather. If a determination is made to close school due to extreme winter weather, the district will alert families in a variety of ways, including:

• Phone, text or email message from AHlert system (for Anoka-Hennepin parents/guardians only).

• District and school websites.

• District and school social media pages (e.g. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).

• Media outlets including WCCO, KSTP, FOX 9, KARE 11, CCX Media, WCCO radio and Star Tribune newspaper.

Those responsible for activities scheduled in schools over the weekend will determine if adverse weather conditions necessitate a cancellation.

Read more about the district’s policies on extreme winter weather at ahschools.us/weather.

Our August 16 Back to School enewsletter contains important Roosevelt Middle School (RMS) information that can be helpful to you year-round. Click on the Back to School logo to take you directly to that newsletter.

January

• 1/17 - Staff Development, No School
• 1/20 - District Closed, Holiday
• 1/23 - School Conferences: Virtual (a separate communication will be sent on signing up for conferences)

February

• 2/3-2/7 - Scholastic Book Fair, during school hours
• 2/14- All School Field Trips (Information to come)
• 2/17- District Closed, Holiday
• 2/18 - Staff Development, No School

• 2/27 - Grade 8, Combined Band, Orchestra & Choir Concert

March

• 3/6 - End of Trimester two
• 3/7 - Staff Planning, No School
• 3/10-3/17 - Spring Break, No School

Complete 2024-25 School Calendar

Roosevelt Middle School's Activities Calendar.

• Main Office: 763-506-5800
  
• Absence Line: 763-506-5806
• Student Services & Registration: 763-506-5960
• Community Education: 763-506-5812
• Child Nutrition: 763-506-5811
• Health Office: 763-506-5804
• Volunteer Services: 763-506-5970
• Help Desk: 763-506-HELP (4357)