RAMS Raider's Den for Aug 29, 2024

Dear Roseville Area Middle School Staff, Students, and Families,

What an awesome evening yesterday at the Open House! It was so fabulous to meet families and students, as well as see so many familiar faces. As I was walking through out the building I heard so much joy from students, families, and staff. It was such a testimony of the positive school culture that exists at RAMS.

If you or your child are feeling a little nervous for the start of middle school please know you are not alone. It is completely normal to have these "big" feelings around the start of school. As a result we are ready to support you starting on the first day of school and beyond. Some of these intentional scaffolds include spending time the first week of school engaging in getting to know each other, building relationships and fostering community during the school day. It also includes but is not limited to staff ensuring everyone has someone to eat lunch with in the cafeteria.

We are so excited to see our 7th graders on Tuesday, September 3rd and our 8th graders on Wednesday, September 4th.

Learning for ALL,

Heidi George

Thank you to all families that joined us for the RAMS Back to School Open House last night! It was so fun to see students and families in the halls getting ready for school to start next week! We hope everyone has a fantastic final weekend of summer. We look forward to having your student at RAMS this year! It's going to ROCK!!!

• 7th Grade - Tuesday, September 3, 2024
• 8th Grade - Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

This will allow our 7th grade students to familiarize themselves with their classes and the building prior to the 8th grade students starting.

SEPTEMBER

• Tuesday, September 3 - First Day of School - 7th Grade Only
• Wednesday, September 4 - First Day of School - 8th Graders join 7th graders
• Monday, September 9 - School Picture Make-up Day
• Thursday, September 26 - RAMS Family Connections Night - 5:30-7:30pm

All students will have access to a complete breakfast, lunch, and afterschool super snack at no cost. We ask ALL families to fill out the Application for Educational Benefits form (previously called Free/Reduced Meal Application) EVERY year. This form determines funding for your child’s school and provides direct benefits for your child if you qualify. Benefits include funding for:

• Waived fees for athletics, testing, and transportation for your child

• Reduced internet fees

• Social workers, paraprofessionals, and counselors

• Decreased student-to-instructor ratios

• Increased technology

• Early childhood education

To apply today, CLICK HERE!

RAMS sent out a Back to School email the past two weeks that had a lot of great school information. If you missed those emails please CLICK HERE to find the most recent email.

Lifetouch will be at our Back to School Open House on Wednesday, August 28 from 4:00-7:00pm. All students are required to have their picture taken for identification purposes. Families are NOT required to purchase picture packages. If you would like to order school pictures you can order your pictures online directly from Lifetouch - my.lifetouch.com
School code: EVT362RT9 or fill out a form at the Back to School Night

Will you miss the Open House? There will be additional opportunities for your student to get their photos taken in September or October.

• Monday, September 9 - School Picture Make-up Day
• Wednesday, September 9 - School Picture Retake Day - during all lunches

Pre-order your RAMS 2024-25 yearbook online directly from JOSTENS.

Questions about Yearbook? Reach out to our Yearbook Coordinator Kelly Rogers.

Each summer RAMS will fill binders for students in need for the coming school year. We are always needing the basic supplies: pens, pencils, rulers, binders, highlighters, etc. You can find our RAMS Amazon wishlist here if you wish to donate: RAMS Amazon Wish List.

Every student at RAMS receives an iPad for academic use. By receiving an iPad you and your student are agreeing to follow the district’s expectations for student iPad use as found in the 1:1 iPad Program Family & Student Guide. Program goals and other information can be found at www.isd623.org/digitallearn. You can also find this information by going to the RAMS web page and clicking on 1:1 iPad Program under the “Families” tab.

Please complete the following steps by the first day of school:

1. Review the 1:1 Family & Student Guide with your student(s) at https://tinyurl.com/iPadProgramFamilyStudentGuide

2. Sign up for iPad insurance each year for each student at www.isd623.org/payonline

Technology support can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ramsipadsupport, and questions about the 1:1 iPad Program can be directed to the 1:1 iPad Program Coordinator by completing the form at www.isd623.org/digitallearn. Students who leave RAMS during the school year MUST return the iPad and school issued charger before leaving or the family will be charged for the full replacement value. If the iPad is not returned and/or the value is not paid within two weeks of leaving RAMS, formal charges will be filed.

7th Grade students and new 8th grade students will receive their iPads the first week of school.

Returning 8th grade students, please check that your school iPad is in working order and if there are issues contact the RAMS media tech staff at 📨 ramstechsupport@isd623.org.

RAMS Health Office is staffed from 7:30-3:30 daily (starting 8/26/2024)

P: 651-482-5291

F: 651-288-5034

RAMS School Nurse - Joan Tighe: 📨 joan.tighe@isd623.org

RAMS Health Assistant - Linsey Saxon: 📨 linsey.saxton@isd623.org

Register for RAMS Fall Sports Now!

All students must have a sports physical on file and registration is online. If you need your students school ID to register please contact the Athletics Office at 651-482-5290 or email RAMS Activities Director 📨 Tanysha Scott

FALL SPORTS

• 7/8 Football (Practices start Monday, August 5th)

• 7/8 Boys & Girls Soccer
• 7/8 Girls Volleyball
• 7/8 Girls Tennis
• 7-12 Boys & Girls Cross Country*

• 7-12 Girls Swimming/Diving*

• 7-12 Cheerleading*

• 7-12 Dance Team*

*7-12th sports in the district are run by the RAHS coaches and activities office. More information can be found at www.rosevilleraiders.org. RAHS fall sports start Monday, August 12th.

RAHS activities office contacts:

📨 Natalie Crosby or 📨 Andrea Schmidt

7-8 Athletics/Activities page

• Sports Physical Form (Found here in English, Spanish Hmong & Somali)
• Online Registration
• Activity Bus Routes
• Information on Free Sports Physicals at Twin Cities Orthopedics

AD Office Contacts: 📨 Tanysha Scott and 📨 Susan Garland or call 651-482-5290

Roseville Area Schools will continue to offer free meals for all students during the school day, including healthy breakfasts, lunches, and after-school "super" snacks. To ensure our meal programs remain effective and equitable, we are implementing some changes to our procedures, specifically regarding second meals and additional lunch servings.

Changes to Meal Procedures

Elementary Schools:

• Elementary students will no longer be able to purchase additional items such as entrées or sides. However, milk may still be purchased separately.
• We encourage students to make the most of our meal offerings by eating breakfast, utilizing the share cart, and enjoying the "all-you-care-to-eat" fresh fruit and vegetable options available with their lunch serving.

Secondary Schools:

• Secondary students may purchase additional entrées, sides, or milk if they have money in their meal account.
• To purchase additional items, students must check in at the designated cashier, receive a food tray, return to the serving line for the additional items, and check out at the designated register.
• Students with negative meal balances will not be permitted to purchase additional items.

We encourage all students to take advantage of the free breakfast and lunch offerings, which include unlimited fruits and vegetables and access to the share cart. Secondary students also have the opportunity to enjoy free super snacks at the end of each school day.

Thank you for your understanding as we make these adjustments to better serve our students.

Menus at the secondary level will no longer be provide for each month in a calendar format. Please click on the grey button below to access the menus online. Make sure you change the school to be Roseville Area Middle School and check that you are in the week you would like to look at the menus.

🕐 7:00pm

📍 RAMS Team Office (next to Media Center)

📅 Thursday, October 3

📅 Thursday, November 7

📅 Thursday, December 5

📅 Thursday, February 6

📅 Thursday, March 6

📅 Thursday, April 3

📅 Thursday, May 8

Roseville Area Schools has implemented a new transportation routing system to improve the efficiency of our bus schedules for picking up and dropping off students. While this system is designed to enhance our transportation services, we ask for your patience as we address and resolve any initial issues.

If you need to request a change to a bus stop or if you no longer require transportation services, please email us at transportation@isd623.org or call us at 651-635-1638. Please be prepared to provide the following information:

• Student Name
• Student ID
• Reason for the request (for example, relocation, change in transportation needs)

Please note that we are processing requests as quickly as possible; however, any changes to existing bus stops will not take effect until after the first week of school.

You will receive updates and information about any changes via email, so please ensure that your contact details are current. This includes verifying that your most recent telephone number and email address are on file to ensure you receive all necessary communications promptly.

The safety of our students is our highest priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this transition.

Important RAMS Phone Numbers and Email addresses (click on any staff members name below to send an email)

• Main Office - 651-482-5280
• 📨 Attendance Email or leave a message at 651-482-5281
  
• Principal - 📨 Heidi George - 651-482-5284
• Assoc. Principal Grade 7 - 📨 Garin Bogenholm - 651-482-5287
• Assoc. Principal Grade 8 - 📨 Joseph Bue - 651-482-5297
• Building/Administrative Support Staff - 📨 Linsey Owen - 651-482-5284
• Registrar / Student Records Support Staff - 📨 Rebecca Thompson - 651-482-5288

• Athletics/Activities - 651-482-5290
• 📨 Tanysha Scott - Activities Director
• 📨 Susan Garland - Activities Clerical
• Student Support Services Office - 651-482-5289
• 📨 Julie Gabos - Grade 7 - Counselor
• 📨 Todd Richter - Grade 8 - Counselor
• 📨 Amy Grengs - School Psychologist
• 📨 Lisa Valerius - School Psychologist
• 📨 Angie Feigal - Social Worker
• 📨 Duane Woeste - Social Worker
• 📨 Melanie Cogan - Student Services Support Staff
• Health Office - 651-482-5291
• 📨 Joan Tighe - School Nurse
• 📨 Linsey Saxton - Health Assistant
• Special Education - 651-288-5000
• 📨 Jodi Walker - Special Education Lead Teacher
• 📨 Nancy Boulay - Special Education Clerical
• Centerline Bus - 651-482-1794
• District Transportation - 📨 Kristen Donaldson - 651-635-1638
• Tech Support - 651-288-5001
• 📨 Kathryn O'Brien - Media Specialist
• 📨 Kaolee Yang - District Tech Integrationist
• School Fax - 651-482-5299
• Spanish Liaison - 📨 Cecilia Martino - 651-235-3426
• American Indian Liaison - 📨 Savannah Rojas - 651-332-6513
• Somali Liaison - 📨 Kowthar Ismail - 651-322-0468

• Karen Liaison - 📨 Hsar Htoo - 651-332-6929
• Bhutanese/Nepali Liaison - 📨 Indira Kharel - 651-307-7471
• Hmong Liaison - 📨 Maider Lee - 651-210-7821
• African American Liaison - 📨 K’Lynn Lewis - 651-239-2826

Has any of your contact information changed over the summer? Address, phone numbers, emergency contact information, etc? If so, please contact the office by calling 651-482-5288 or email

📨 rebecca.thompson@isd623.org and we will update our records