RGMS Weekly 1/10/24

• 1/12 2nd Semester Schedule Change Requests Due
  

• 1/15 No School-MLK Jr Day

• 1/17 PTA Meeting, 6:30pm

• 1/18 Art Show, 6pm, Library

• 1/18 Music Performance, 6:30pm, Gym

• 1/24 Wells Forecasting

• 1/24 Music Performance, 6:30pm, Gym

• 1/26 Last Day of Q2

• 1/29 No School-Teacher Planning Day

• 2/7-8 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4:30-7:30pm

• Click here for the full RGMS calendar

Good Afternoon,

First, I want to express my serious and heartfelt condolences to the family of our beloved math teacher, Ms. Tanya Spring, who passed away from complications related to cancer last Friday. Ms. Spring was a mom, a friend, a stand-up professional, and an essential member of our school team and school community. She knew how to laugh and love, and in the wake of her passing, I hope to be just a little bit more like her every day.

I’ve got my storm journal all keyed up and ready for this weekend. Winter storms in the PNW are notoriously challenging to predict, and models have predicted anywhere between 3” and 23” are possible. Conditions can change quickly, and we will work closely with Portland Public Schools to ensure students get home safely Friday afternoon.

We ask that you stay close to your phones and emails Thursday and Friday in case we are required to adjust the start or end of school and / or transportation routes. Snow and inclement weather is often very exciting for students, but it can also be dangerous. Being from the Willamette Valley, I’ve seen my fair share of winter storms never materialize, but it can go the other way too, and it’s better to be over-prepared than to be surprised by inclement weather.

Visit THIS LINK for more information about how to best prepare for emergency weather or possible power outages.

Lastly, I want to give one more shout out to the Schedule Change Request Form. The deadline for making requests is Friday and the form will close at the end of the school day. Please use THIS FORM to make requests.

Have a wonderful, safe, and reflective weekend, and remember that schools will be closed Monday in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday.

Take care,

Jeff Waters

Assistant Principal

RGMS students and families can request schedule changes two times per school year: 1) in August when schedules are first released, and 2) before the start of 2nd semester.

If, when you review your student’s 2nd Semester schedule, you discover an essential scheduling error (a missing period, a duplicate period, a missing core class, that you were not scheduled into Health / PE, etc.), please complete the SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUEST FORM.

If you would like to request a different elective class or teacher, you can also use this form, but essential scheduling errors will be prioritized before other requests are considered.

Student scheduling is complex and space in some sections is limited, and not every request can be accommodated. We will review each request, look for possible solutions, and make schedule changes when able. Whether your request can or can not be accommodated, we will email you directly and let you know when your request is reviewed.

Completing this form is the only way to request a schedule change for 2nd semester. Requests made by email or made after the deadline will not be considered.

Requests are due by, 5pm 1/12/2024, and all requests will be processed and schedules finalized by 1/26/2024.

Robert Gray Middle School is seeking students to lead our community as members of Student Leadership; students who are responsible, caring, dedicated, and inspired to grow as leaders in our community. Robert Gray Middle School offers a Student Leadership elective class that teaches leadership skills, works to create a welcoming environment for all students, and builds a positive school spirit in our community. Applications will open Monday Jan 8th and will close at the end of day Jan 16th. Click here for more details on how students can apply.

We recognize the Middle School years are tricky and at times exhausting both for students and for the adults who lovingly care for them. If you have any questions, concerns or would like support or referrals, please contact us. We are here to help. -- Lisa Hyde (serving students A-K) and Laureen Held (serving students L-Z).

https://bit.ly/CounselorReferral23-24

Counselors from Ida B Wells HS will visit RGMS 8th graders on January 24th.

On the 24th students will meet individually with their counselor and go over the student's forecasting information.

Email Gray Attendance at grayattend@pps.net

If your student will be absent, please email their FULL NAME and reason for absence or tardy to grayattend@pps.net. Phones are really busy in the morning, so please email attendance if possible.

Attendance phone calls go out around 1pm & 5pm daily. If you have excused your student, you will not receive an attendance call.

The RGMS Foundation raises money to augment our elective options. The money raised is used at the principals discretion.

Robert Gray Foundation Auction-Save the date!
Gather for Gray
Saturday March 2, 2024

5-7 PM

Nordic Northwest At Nordia House
8800 SW Oleson Road, Portland, OR 97223
$50 per tickets including one drink and heavy appetizers
Silent auction, wine wall & more!
Details on ticket sales coming soon!

Want to help with the auction?

We are looking for someone who would be interested in coordinating some house/slot parties. Interested contact Melissa @grayschoolfoundation@gmail.com.

Interested in donating wine for the wine wall?
Bottle must be worth at least $15
Drop off at-2200 SW Sunset Drive
Questions-Contact Jennifer Podichetty-jenmullins@hotmail.com

Silent Auction items help?
Do you have one of the following to donate:
House stay
Unused Gift cards
Other items
Contact Kathleen Healy (kathleenohealy@yahoo.com),or Shannon Daley (shannon.Daley@acfwest.com)

Gather for Gray Music Nights at the Cider Mill 02/02

We will be hosting several music nights in the upcoming months featuring bands from Robert Gray teachers, parents and more. First music night will be Friday February 2 featuring one of CJ Mead's bands. More details soon!

BottleDrop Drive

We recently were able to donate $1,000 to the foundation from our account. Thank you so much for supporting the school via this program.

1. Get Blue bags from the following locations: RGMS office; Rieke area-1656 SW Sunset Blvd.; Hayhurst area: 5252 SW Idaho St.; Bridlemile area-4031 SW Jerald Way

2 Fill Your Bags!

3. Return Full Bags to any BottleDrop location or Burlingame Fred Meyer.

4 Scan the Barcode on the bag to unlock the self-service bag drop.

Questions: Melissa Light, grayschoolfoundation@gmail.com

Haven’t joined the PTA yet? Do so now using this link.

You will have to select “ROBERT GRAY MS PTA (PORTLAND)” as your “Local Unit”. The rest

is straightforward and takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Membership is $20 for the year.

Do you wish to make a one-time or recurring donation to PTA? You can do so here. Click “Donate” then enter your amount and indicate your intent to donate monthly if desired!

Robert Gray PTA Volunteer Opportunities

Looking for ways to get involved this year? Use the following form to sign up for the events you are interested in and you will receive a follow up email with additional information. The time and support of our volunteers is greatly appreciated. Without it we couldn't make special Gray events happen! Some of these events include Run for Gray, Teacher Appreciation Week, Bottle Drop Fundraiser, Sustainability and extra supervision during lunch time, and more. Please consider volunteering or donating as you are able.

RGMS Volunteer Sign-up

Thank you for your time and support! Looking forward to a great year!

RGMS PTA

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
Twitter: @notwitter