RMS NEWSLETTER
Week of January 24 - 28, 2022
What's Inside the Newsletter
- Principal's Note
- Counseling Corner
- School Information
- Health Office Message
- Literacy Corner
- Flipside
- Classroom Update
- Family Resources
- Tech Tips
Weekly Reminders
- SAVE THE DATES
Thurs., January 27th - Quarter 2 Ends
Friday., January 28th - No School (Grading Day)
Principal's Note
Ramsey Families,
Thank you for your patience and understanding with all the communications you are getting regarding COVID cases and Virtual Learning updates. I know it is a lot, but necessary given our current reality.
I also wanted to remind families that the end of Quarter 2 and Semester 1 wraps up Thursday, January 27. Students should be working on getting late/missing assignments turned in as soon as possible. With our teachers covering for the substitute shortage we are experiencing, please feel free to email your student's teacher(s) if you have any questions regarding work submitted or for support in identifying assignments that will best help your student pass classes.
Again, thank you for all your patience, understanding and support. Our teachers and staff appreciate you!
Sincerely,
Teresa Vibar
Principal
Counseling Corner
End of Quarter 2/Semester 1
The end of Q2 grading period is on January 27th. Please continue to connect with your student to make sure any applicable missing assignments have been made up and students are preparing for any assessments, tests or final projects. Let’s make sure our students have a successful end of the quarter.
The end of Q2 also marks the end of semester one. With that, some (not all) students will see a change in their schedule. The start of Q3/semester 2 is on Monday, January 31st. As a result, students will receive a printed copy of their Q3 schedule during their foundations class on Wednesday 1/26 & Thursday 1/27.
Q2 Grades Reports: Submit grades request here
Final Q2 grades will be posted to transcripts and ready to review on Friday, February 11th.
Please complete this form by February 11th to let us know how you would like to receive your child’s grades.
School Information - Very Important
Field Trips: The district has canceled field trips, once we get more guidance from the district we will look to reschedule field trips. Foundations teachers will be returning any fees that were collected for the field trip on Monday and Tuesday. We are sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your flexibility and understanding.
Extra Masks: We are still accepting masks donations in the office. The paper disposable masks are most popular, however any size, shape, and material is welcome.
School Buses: School bus drivers are at a shortage again, the district will communicate as soon as they know when routes are delayed/canceled. Please use the MySPPS Bus App (download it on your phone) as a resource, drivers will use the app to keep the schools and families updated with routes.
- For canceled morning routes families will have to bring their students to school, for students who are unable to get to school, the school should excuse the absence.
- For canceled afternoon routes, families will be notified to pick their student up and/or transportation will work to try and organize other supports to get students home (e.g. other contract drivers including vans, district drivers, SPPS Security and Emergency Management).
We appreciate your flexibility and your continued understanding as we work together through these difficult times. If you have any questions, please call transportation at 651-696-9600.
Health Office Message
Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms?
If you or your child are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please keep your child home from school. Then, Go to the SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System Website: https://commedspps.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9G0WvcJlWfuqwlL & follow the instructions there, then Call the Ramsey Attendance Line at (651) 744-4750 to notify the school that you will be keeping your child home from school.
Literacy Corner
Greetings RMS Families,
I want to make everyone aware of the online resources that are available and how to access them. Here are a few links to some videos I made that will help your student get reading material for school work, enjoyment or both!
Libby is the St. Paul Public Library's online ebook app. Every St. Paul Public School student has access to a free library card that they can use to read books online. It also allows them to check out up to 10 books at a time from any St. Paul Public Library.
Here is a tutorial video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRuCroQknMQ
MackinVIA is Ramsey's app to access e-books. We have many popular titles and great non-fiction titles for research papers. Audiobooks are also available on MackinVIA. Here's a tutorial video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2hoHSY8zZI&t=38s
Finally, on MackinVIA we have a subscription to ComicsPlus, a database with over 9,000 graphic novels, manga, and comics. It' been a popular destionation.
Here's a tutorial video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzH4oWnQXic&t=46s
Happy reading!
Mr. Sheridan the Librarian
FLIPSIDE
Classes begin on Monday January 31st and run through May 12th. We are really excited to bring back our SPRING MUSICAL of the Lion King!!
Classroom Updates
MN Studies - Ms. Walter
We are starting a new project this week in Minnesota Studies. Students will be researching the life of a famous African American Minnesotan and then creating a children's book on that person. You can start brainstorming people that your child might be interested in learning more about. Here's also a starting list of people that students can choose from:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ozlwQTjubKMhTjRW1LT8JmGSDgNOUCwA5T0vQRbvs28/edit?usp=sharing
Individualized Math Instruction through iXL
Science 8
Athletics - Boys Basketball (Starting January 24th)
Boys basketball will be starting on Monday, January 24th. Practices are scheduled Monday-Friday from 3:00-4:30. All participants must have a ride set up for 4:30.
This is a reminder that anytime that we don't have school, including virtual learning, that there will not be any after school programs offered, which would include sports.
The boys' basketball coach is Daniel Wathum-Ocama. If you have any questions with boys' basketball please contact Dan. Daniel.Wathum-Ocama@spps.org
Family Resources
Mental Health & Well-Being Resources
Books:
- The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey
- Fourteen Talks by age Fourteen by Michelle Icard
Websites:
- https://childmind.org/article/best-childrens-books-about-mental-health/
- Ramsey County Mental Health Collaborative:
- https://www.rccmhc.org/product-page/mn-carepartner
Tutor Me
SPPS has formed a new partnership with TutorMe to give students free access to online tutoring services. TutorMe allows students to connect with a subject-level expert tutor at any time to get support in current classes. TutorMe is an external company SPPS is contracting with as an additional resource for students alongside the SPPS Academic Support Center and other student support opportunities in our schools.
The link below contains helpful information: