Weekly Dolphin Newsletter
Week of January 15 , 2023
Important Updates
MLK Day of Service - January 12th
On Friday our students participated in our MLK Day of Service. 6th and 7th graders had guest speakers talk about giving back to the community and online awareness, then 6th graders wrote letters of thanks and well wishes to veterans and Olney Help, while the 7th graders planned for painting ceiling tiles with messages of kindness to be displayed around Rosa Parks. The 8th graders went out to the elementary schools in the Sherwood cluster to help teachers and have fun with students! It was an OUTSTANDING and REWARDING experience for everyone!
Olney Help
Olney Help tells us how our food donations help our community
Reading to Students
STEAM Night - January 11th
Steam Night was an Amazing Success! Thank you to our STEAM Night Committee for planning such a fun and engaging event!
Cookie Dough PTA Fundraiser
Have you gotten some sweets for your sweet Valentines yet? Look no further, you can give your loved ones and best friends fresh baked cookies for Valentines or any other occasion. The RPMS PTA has teamed up with Bean Bag Bakery to sell delicious locally made cookie dough that you can bake at home and share (or keep for yourself). The PTA will receive a portion of the proceeds to benefit our school community too! Order now through February 2, 2024. Then pick up your dough on Friday February 9 or Monday February 12 after school at RPMS.
Scheduling for 24-25 School Year
It's hard to believe it is already time to start planning for next year! Here are some upcoming meetings parents should plan to attend, you only need to attend the meeting that applies to your student or students.
- Tuesday January 24th - 6:30 - 8:00 - Incoming 6th Grade Parent Information Night at Rosa Parks (in Person)
- Thursday February 1st - 6:30 - 8:00 Rising 7th and 8th Grade Parent Information Night (Virtual Only)
Home Basketball Games
The first basketball game of the year is Wed., Jan. 10th right after school. The RPMS girls’ team will be playing Loiederman MS at home. If students would like to go to the game, they will need to sign up during TAP on Tuesday, Jan. 9th. The first 50 students from each grade to sign up will be able to go. They will receive an email if they are one of the first 50 students to sign up. Cost of attending the game is $1.00 which can be paid at the door. Go Dolphins!
Supporting Math at Home
See the video below from Mrs. Conway, Math Content Specialist, about how you can help your student practice math skills by using the IXL Platform!
Baby Pics
RPMS needs your help to gather as many good pictures for the yearbook as possible. Below are the directions for submitting photos and the types of pictures we are looking for. EIGHT GRADE students and families read the whole message as the information for the 8th grade baby pictures is included.
“How to submit student life images to be featured in the yearbook”
- Visit Yearbookforever.com
- Type in our school's name and select "shop the store"
- Click on "Yearbook Snap" which is located at the top of the webpage
- Access code is: dolphins
- We could use some images of student life (before/after school, clubs, sports, spirit weeks, etc.)
- Please add a note that includes student names, grades, and a little blurb about the image
- We try our best to include all pictures submitted included in the yearbook, but it cannot be guaranteed.
“8th grade baby pictures”
- The baby picture spread in the yearbook is a special dedication page for just 8th graders
- Use Yearbook Snap to submit baby picture images (see direction above)
- Please add a note that includes the student’s name!
Sign Up to Present at the 2024 Rosa Parks Career Expo!
Rosa Parks Middle School will host its annual Career Expo on Friday, April 26th. We hope this event will provide an opportunity for our students to become familiar with the world of work and integrate what they learn with what they may want to do in the future. In order for the event to be a success, we need parents and community members to volunteer their time and expertise. We hope you will consider sharing about your profession with our students! If you are interested in participating, please complete the online Google form. If you have any questions about the event, please contact the Rosa Parks Middle School Counseling Office at 240-740-3310. Thank you!
Order Your Yearbook Now!
Yearbooks are $40 plus a small service fee. Click the picture to buy yours now!
Grade Level Assignments Summary
After School Activities
After School Clubs and Activities
After School Activities have started! This link will remain in the newsletter every week, and we will let you know as new clubs are added!
Activity Bus Routes and Stops
Click here to see our bus routes and stops, activity buses run every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Community Opportunities
Volleyball Clinic for 5-8th Grade Students
Session 1 January 5 - February 9 (no clinic 1/19)
Session 2 February 16 - March 15
Friday Sessions for 5th-8th graders. Five weeks from 6:15-7:30
GBTLA Saturday School - Registration is Open!
Saturday Schools Programs have physical locations at Wheaton, Northwest, Einstein, Montgomery Blair, Paint Branch, and Clarksburg High Schools. Each of these centers will serve students in grades 6-8 and includes breakfast and transportation over 23 Saturdays from September to May. The affordable cost for our Saturday School program is $40 for students that qualify for FARMS and $85 for all other students. This cost is for the entire year.
Saturday School serves MCPS as a strategic partner and provides mentoring and tutoring from 8:30 am - 11:00 am on Saturday mornings, which is what we consider the 6th Day of Learning. The middle school Saturday School curriculum allows students additional time with MCPS curriculum and is taught by MCPS teachers with the goal of extending and supporting the weekly grade-level learning outcomes.
Flyers, Schedules, and Registration Materials can be found here.
SSL Opportunities
Student Service Learning
Parents and families may review details about SSL hours here. Students joined the myMCPS Classroom/Canvas course titled "SSL-RPMS 2023-2024" that is also available to all individuals who hold a role as "Observer" on myMCPS Classroom/Canvas. The Canvas course is a place for students to learn more about SSL, research service opportunities, and submit verification forms.
Students and families are encouraged to submit SSL verification forms digitally using the Google Form on the SSL Canvas course. Digital submission allows the SSL coordinator, Mrs. Lewis, to process forms more rapidly and to communicate with students and families more efficiently if concerns arise. Students may see Mrs. Lewis at school during TAP with any questions about the program; families may reach Mrs. Lewis by email: sarah_f_lewis@mcpsmd.org.
Join the PTA
Click here to visit our Givebacks Store and join or make a donation to the PTA.
NEW - PTA Newsletter - Thanksgiving Edition Dolphin Digest
PTA Givebacks and Emails
Our PTA uses the online communication tool called Givebacks (formerly known as Memberhub). RPMS PTA uses Givebacks to bring you into our school community and keep you informed and engaged with what is happening. Within our Givebacks, you will find our e-store, newsletters, signup sheets, calendar events, files, photos, reminders, and much more all in one place!
To receive PTA emails and other communications, please click here to add you and your family to the RPMS Givebacks site.
We would love to have you and your family as PTA members. Please visit our e-store to join.
Thanks, and welcome to Givebacks!
Fundraisers
Flower Power Fundraiser
Rosa Parks Middle School PTA in Olney, MD, supports School Events, School Upgrades to technology and the building environment, Staff and Teacher Appreciation Days, and Student and Community Programming like Multicultural Night and the Sherwood Scholarship Fund. Purchase your Spring flowers and bulbs to support a great cause! Click here to participate and learn more.