Panther Post

Dear RNMS Families,

I hope this message finds you well. It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner! As we approach the holiday, I wanted to share a few quick reminders and updates with you:

• 8th Grade Assembly – Tuesday, November 26: We are excited to welcome Sheila Arnold, who will perform as Madam CJ Walker, in a special assembly for our 8th graders. This program, brought to us by the PTSA STEAM Committee, highlights the inspiring story of Madam CJ Walker, the first African-American female millionaire in the early 1900s. Students will have the opportunity to learn about her life, the challenges she faced, and her fight against segregation.

• Report Cards: Last week, grades were released on the eSchool Parent Portal. Please take a moment to review your child’s report card if you have not done so already.

• Rapid Dismissal Drill/Early Release: Please note that Wednesday, November 27, is an early release day beginning at 10:45 a.m. Additional information can be found in the "Announcements/Reminders" section.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful weekend!

Best,

Jason Doerr
Principal

This week brought some much-needed rain, however that can certainly put a damper on a middle school student's day. Check out some ways we've made it through the last couple of rainy days:

Engineering Takes Flight… Indoors!
Rain couldn’t dampen the creativity in Ms. Rachiele's Introduction to Engineering class! Instead of heading outdoors, students took to the hallways to test their model planes. They explored concepts like lift, drag, and the impact of added weights on flight performance, learning what features contribute to better plane designs. Next week, the young engineers will tweak their designs and compete to see which plane can soar the farthest. Let the competition take flight!

No Outdoor Recess! This week, students could not go outside for recess due to rainy/cold weather. They made the most of it by hanging out with friends, visiting the Panther's Den, and playing board games in the dining hall. Even Mr. Gonzalez joined the fun and challenged students to some exciting games of chess! It was a great way to stay warm while staying connected.

Next Week:

• November 26:
• 8th Grade STEAM Assembly: Sheila Arnold as "Madam CJ Walker", 8th Period
• November 27:
• MS/HS Rapid Dismissal, beginning at 10:45 AM - see schedule below
• November 28 & 29:
• No School - Thanksgiving Recess

On the Horizon:

• December 2:
• Modified Winter Sports Begin
• December 3:
• Incoming 9th Grade Orientation, 6:00 pm, PAC
• December 4:
• Board of Ed Planning Session, 6:30 PM, CSC
• December 6:
• 6th Grade Stem Alliance presentations - Chemistry Chaos
• December 13:
• 7th Grade Stem Alliance presentations - Chemistry Chaos

Safety Drill: NYS has enacted a new law that requires schools to give communities warning about when SAFETY DRILLS will be happening. This is being done in an effort to mitigate potential anxiety for learners, parents and caregivers. There will be a rapid dismissal drill on November 27, 2024. Grades will be dismissed as follows:

• 6th Grade: 10:45 am
• 7th Grade: 10:50 am
• 8th Grade: 10:55 am

Student Advisory Committee: The first meeting of our Student Advisory Committee will be on Thursday, December 5, in room A31 (the art room) during period 1. All participating students will attend this initial meeting, and absences from first-period commitments, like band or chorus, will be excused. Future meetings will be held during grade-specific lunch periods to minimize conflicts.

When we return from Thanksgiving break, reminders will be sent to families of participating students. Please ensure your child joins us promptly at 7:50 a.m. in room A31. Please note that these meetings are only for students who have signed up.

Middle School Olympics – Coming Soon! Get ready for some fun and friendly competition! The Middle School Olympics will take place on Friday, December 20, in the high school gym. Students will be assigned to teams and will compete in exciting events like Awesome Ball, the 4-Legged Race, Balloon-Up, a Hula Hoop Contest, and more! This event is all about teamwork, good sportsmanship, and fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among our students. Stay tuned for pictures and updates about the event in a future newsletter!

English:

Sixth-grade English students have been reading Seedfolks, a novel exploring themes of friendship, community, and tolerance. They have been identifying character traits and supporting their observations with evidence from the text. Recently, students completed their first long-term project, the Mystery Book Puzzle Posters. Looking ahead, they will wrap up Seedfolks and prepare for their exam. Students will also dive into a new, student-driven nonfiction project titled “Teach Us a Lesson.”

Math: In math, both grade-level and advanced classes have been working on their unit about integers, including introducing negative numbers and applying integers to real-world scenarios. Students expanded their algebraic skills by simplifying multi-step expressions and adding the identity and associative properties to their "mental toolbox." After Thanksgiving, they will explore absolute value and learn how to graph points and calculate distances on a coordinate plane.

Social Studies: In social studies, students have been exploring Mesopotamia, the first civilization, and learning about Hammurabi’s Code, the first written set of laws. Hands-on activities included creating paper ziggurats filled with facts about Mesopotamian life and culture. Next, students will journey to Ancient Egypt to study powerful Pharaohs, the Nile River, pyramids, and mummification.

Science: Science students recently finished their unit on matter, culminating with a unit test, a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) written response, and reflections on their Driving Question Board. They are now starting a new unit on cyclic patterns in the sky and on Earth, focusing on how the movements of the Earth, sun, and moon create observable patterns. Through this unit, students will use historical data and indigenous stories to predict these patterns, including phenomena like last year’s solar eclipse.

Spanish: In Spanish class, students completed their first chapter on vocabulary, greetings, definite articles, and Spanish-speaking countries. They also presented projects on countries of their choice. The next topic is “La Familia,” where students will learn the plurals of nouns and adjectives. They will create and present a project describing ten family members in Spanish.

Italian: Italian students have been mastering “I Saluti” (greetings) and recently completed an assessment on Italian culture and geography after presenting projects on Italy’s regions. Next, students will study “La Famiglia” vocabulary and plurals of nouns and definite articles. They will also present a project describing ten family members in Italian.

Future Updates: The schedule below will spotlight different grades and programs in upcoming newsletters:

• November 27th – Arts/P.E.
• December 6th – 8th Grade
• December 13th – 7th Grade
• December 20th – 6th Grade

Goal #2 and the Social Emotional Screener: As part of our district’s Strategic Plan Goal #2, which focuses on creating an environment where empathy and connections are highly valued, we are offering a social emotional screener program for all middle and high school students. This program is designed to assess and support students' emotional and social health, helping us ensure they feel connected, understood, and supported in their academic and personal lives.

To learn more about this program and register your child to participate, we invite you to visit the Strategic Plan website and select Goal #2 to view information about the social emotional screener. The site provides comprehensive information on how the screener works, its benefits, and the steps for signing up.

How to register your child:

1. Visit the Strategic Plan Website.
2. Review the information provided under Goal #2.
3. See the sample screener.
4. Complete the registration form to enroll your child before 3:00 PM on December 1, 2024:

• Registration Form - English
• Registration Form - Japanese
• Registration Form - Spanish

Participation is voluntary, but we encourage all parents to consider this valuable resource as part of our collective effort to support the social and emotional development of our students. This program aligns directly with our goal of fostering a school culture that prioritizes empathy and strong connections among students and staff (#PantherVoices).

If you still have any questions or concerns after you have reviewed the information linked above, feel free to reach out to Wil Siegel at wsiegel@ryeneck.org.

Thank you for your attention to this important initiative and for your continued partnership in building a caring and supportive school community.

Important Documents (please review with your child!):

Student Handbook

Technology Acceptable Use Policy

Village of Mamaroneck Bicycle Safety Brochure

MS Club Offerings

Parent Square Coming in January: Watch this video to learn more and keep an eye on your email for more information later this fall!

Use of Library: Students have the opportunity to come to the library before, during, and after school. Library hours are typically from 7:50 am until 4:00 pm and we try to give you advance notice if there is a change to the posted hours.

Panther's Den: Located in the library near the Community Room, the Panther’s Den offers students a relaxing space during lunch to play games, enjoy activities, and meet new friends. Space is limited to 8-10 students per day, so a Google Form will be sent out every Thursday for sign-ups for the following week.

Recycle Your Old Eyeglasses and Make a Difference!: Our Student Senate is collecting gently used eyeglasses to help bring the gift of clear vision to low and middle-income communities worldwide. Please drop off your old eyewear in the donation box located in the main office. Thank you for your support!

ENL Homework Helpers: ENL Homework Helpers sessions take place every Monday from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and will run through January 27, 2025, with Mr. Martinez in room L214.

Crossing Hornidge Road: Students should only cross Hornidge Road at the designated crosswalk on Post Road. Please avoid cutting through private property or crossing the street outside of the crosswalk, as it can create unsafe situations.

Cell Phones: Cell phones and other electronic devices are not to be used in the school building during school hours. Failure to follow this rule can result in confiscation of these items and they will be returned only to parents. Please find additional information about our cell phone policy in our Student Handbook.

Ongoing Feedback: To gather more feedback from parents, we invite you to use this Google Form below to share your questions, comments, concerns, or ideas. While submissions can be made anonymously, please include your name and contact information if you would like a direct response.

Intramurals: 6th grade Intramurals are no longer running and will resume in April. If your child is interested in attending at that time, please see the information/schedule below:

6th grade intramural sessions will take place from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM on the dates below. Intramural sports:

• are run by Rye Neck Coaches.

• will consist of skill development and scrimmaging.
  

• require your child to be registered on FamilyID using this link: 6th Grade Intramurals

• only run on days when school is in session.
  

Please note that while attendance is not mandatory for participation, if you sign up we ask that you make every attempt to attend each day. A student may register for multiple sessions/sports.

Please see the schedule below:

I've noticed the newsletter has been growing in length as the year has progressed. This week, I made an effort to streamline it. How do you feel about the length of this week's edition?

RNSF Give Grant Impact: "The RNSF "Give, Grant, Impact" Appeal is here! Now through December 20th, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students. Each donation funds grants that bring innovative resources, programs, and experiences directly to Rye Neck students, providing them with opportunities to explore, create and excel. Visit the RNSF WEBSITE to donate today!"

Cell Phone Help for Parents: Please see the Rye Youth Council Events page for upcoming events that provide parents with help as they manage cell phone use for their families. These events include:

• Alternative Device Fair - November 23rd
• So Now You Have a Cell Phone... - January 13th

Excelsior Symphony Orchestra: Rye Neck 9th grader Immanuel Tan will be performing Saturday, November 23rd with the Excelsior Symphony Orchestra at their Fall Concert! Rye Neck has a long history of both student and parent performers participating in the Excelsior Symphony Orchestra, formerly the St. Thomas Orchestra. You can find more information about their Fall Concert through ArtsWestchester.