We’re thrilled to welcome our new and returning RBS Bulldogs back to school! We hope you enjoyed the time away with family and friends and that you share in our excitement for another fantastic year of new experiences, exciting learning opportunities, and absolutely fun times at Richard Butler Middle School! We have to take the time to thank our summer staff for getting us ready for a successful school year: Mrs. Knox, custodians, maintenance, technology, and leadership team. Our teachers and staff have dedicated these last few weeks to preparing to deliver top-tier learning experiences to our students, and their passion will continue to support excellence in academics, character, and development for our students.
We’re delighted to announce several important updates to our middle school made possible by the recent referendum. First, we have installed new lockers to provide students with more updated storage options. We have also upgraded our security measures by adding a new security vestibule at our main entrance, ensuring a safer environment for our students and staff. In addition, we have renovated two sets of restrooms, significantly improving their functionality and comfort. These enhancements reflect our commitment to creating a safe and supportive learning environment for our community.
This first month back is dedicated to building relationships, setting expectations, and diving right into curricula. We are proud to implement our new master schedule, which integrates electives for students in grades 6-8 and a HALO period 5th grade. Our elective offerings include interesting courses, such as Makers to Marketers, Multimedia Storytelling, Sports by the Numbers, and Lights, Camera, Action: RBS Broadcasting; we are also excited to offer 8th Grade Choir as a dedicated elective course. HALO (Helping All Learners Optimally) is a transition course from ADS that we know will help guide and prepare our new 5th grade students as they acclimate to middle school. We will begin delivering our Character Strong and Purposefull People advisory sessions during homeroom this month as well, and students will be working on social and emotional skill building throughout the school year.
This year at RBS we’ll also be focusing on a theme of leadership to empower our students to gain ownership of and responsibility for their school community. We believe when students are trusted to take initiative, solve problems, and collaborate with their peers, they not only grow in confidence but also learn to make impactful decisions. By empowering our students with responsibilities, encouraging their voices, and valuing their contributions, we can help them develop crucial leadership skills that we know will contribute to their success.
We’re proud to introduce our new staff members, and we know they are elated to be part of the team at RBS:
Ms. Lindsay Masessa, LDTC
Ms. Heather Greenberg, ELA
Mr. Mark Henaghen, ELA
Ms. Emily Kretschmaier, Health & PE
Ms. Brianna McPartland, School Nurse
Dr. Ed Nishimura, Instrumental Music
Ms. Traci Tulipano, Paraprofessional
Ms. Alexa Wyszkowski, Special Education
We believe that the success of our school relies on a strong partnership between students, parents, and the community. Your involvement, whether through the PTA, volunteering, or attending events, is invaluable and greatly contributes to the vibrant spirit of Richard Butler Middle School. We encourage you to stay connected, so follow us on Twitter at @RBS_Bulldogs, Facebook at Richard Butler Middle School, and Instagram at @RBS_Bulldogs for news, announcements, and celebrations. Please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Molina at jmolina@butlerboe.org or Mrs. Papa at mpapa@butlerboe.org. Thank you for your continued support!
