RGMS Weekly 11/29/23
RGMS Weekly News 11/29/23
Community ~ Equity ~ Growth
Important Dates Ahead
11/29 RGMS 5th Grade Info Night, 6-7:30pm
12/05 Wells 8th Gr Showcase, 6-8pm
12/18 - 12/22 Added days of Instruction (NEW)
12/23 - 01/01 Winter Break (UPDATED)
Click here for the full RGMS calendar
From Principal Lisa Newlyn
Dear RGMS Community,
Welcome Back! It's so good to hear the joyful sounds of students and staff teaching and learning together. THANK YOU for hanging in with us, showing grace and patience, advocacy and support as we lived through the strike together. Check out our Spotlight on the PPS Facebook Page HERE!
Now that we are back to business there is a flurry of information and some changes coming. I will highlight them with you briefly here:
Missed school days will be recovered, starting 12/18 - 12/22. If you are planning on taking your student out of school for a vacation, please email grayattend@pps.net. Curious about missed work? We do not arrange for school work to be done while student's are absent; check our Teach Systems Guide for information on how students can check their missed assignments.
Grades
Teachers have until 12/04 to input grades for Quarter 1. Families will see a printed report card in their mailbox by 12/08/23.
Quarter 2
We started Quarter 2 classes on Tuesday this week. In addition to changes in some electives that run only nine weeks, we are making changes to our Advisory classes. Read more on that in our "RGMS New and Timely" section, below.
There will be updates to come as the School Board works with District and Union leaders to settle out our return to school plans to make up lost days of instruction. Look for information to come from PPS and RGMS directly.
In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming our new crop of future 6th graders tonight at our 5th grade family night, tonight at 6pm!
There's lots more to catch up on in the land of Robert Gray Middle School. Read on below for all the latest.
With Gratitude,
Lisa Newlyn
Principal
RGMS New & Timely
ID Bages
Per the Superintendent's Safety Task Force, all High School and Middle School students are asked to wear and display a student ID card throughout their time on campus during the school day. Over the past few weeks we've finalized the preparation for our students and are ready to be shared with students! They will be distributed Friday, 12/1/2023, during Advisory. HERE IS A PREVIEW of the information we'll share with students this week.
What if a student isn't wearing a badge?
Our goal is to recognize the students and engage with students in a friendly way if we don't recognize them. If we see a student we know without a badge, they'll get a friendly reminder to wear theirs. If not, we'll check in with them and ask if we can help.
Students will not be excluded from instruction or receive disciplinary consequences for not having their ID badge. That said, they are expected to wear them while at school.
Q2 Advisory Class Changes
This year we have leveraged our Advisory block on two goals: Social Emotional Learning and Tier 3 academic support. We know that in order for our School Improvement goals in Math and English Language Arts to succeed we must provide quality grade level instruction in all classes. We call that Tier 1 support - what all kids need. Based on performance data, we know that some students need Tier 2 support while in class, and others need Tier 3 support outside of class.
We start each week with “WIN WIN” (What I Need), meaning that each Monday and Tuesday students go to their designated Advisory class for Tier 3 academic support. Most classes have a “study hall” model. As an AVID school, teachers leverage a variety of strategies with all students for executive functioning support: checking grades, due dates, planner use, etc. Some classes are designed for academic support using specific tools of support. There are seven classes that provide that support in either Math or English Language Arts.
After reviewing Fall MAP data, we made some decisions for students on which Advisory teacher they should have on so that on Mondays and Tuesdays they can get the extra scoop of academic learning they need.
You can view those changes now on Parent VUE. If your child is scheduled for Math support, they are rostered in a class called “I Ready Support”. If your child is scheduled for ELA support, they are rostered in a class called “Reading Support”.
We acknowledge that some students may perform well in class while also showing a pattern of lower scores in Reading or Math MAP testing. By offering this opportunity, we hope to build their foundational skills and confidence.
All students participate in Social Emotional Learning lessons Wednesday - Friday. No matter which class your student is scheduled for, know that all RGMS Students participate in the Advisory lessons that build our community and help our students grow in their emotional intelligence.
Feel free to reach out to Lisa Newlyn (lnewlyn@pps.net) and Lisa Lammert (llammert@pps.net) if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Now Accepting Gift Cards for our RGMS Winter Gifting.
If you can purchase $5, $10, $25, $50 gift cards - that would be amazing!
We want to shower our families with gift cards to support them this winter.
Your contributions will be greatly appreciated.
Please bring gift cards to the main office no later than December 15, 2023.
Suggested gift cards: Fred Meyers, Target, Restaurants, Jiffy Lube, Grocery stores, book stores etc. All places are appreciated.
THANK you for your consideration!
RGMS Reminders and Weekly Announcements
From the RGMS Counselors
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
8th Grade Parents - Save the Date 12/5, 6-8pm
Stephens Creek Homework Club
Stephens Creek Homework Club
Located in the Classroom below the Main Community Room
Mondays: 4:30 - 6:00pm
Thursdays: 5:00 - 6:30pm
NOTE: We will stay until 8:00pm if students are here and need more time
PLEASE NOTE:
● 3rd - 12th Grade Students Only Please
● Students must have homework to enter the room.
● Chromebooks, printer and supplies available
● Volunteers are available to help with homework if needed.
Want more info?
Please contact Austin (scchomeworkclub@gmail.com) or Fran (fbarth212@gmail.com
Student Absent?
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.
RGMS Foundation News
RGMS Foundation Updates
The RGMS Foundation raises money to support a well rounded school experience for students by adding class options for students that are engaging and enhance student connections to RGMS. The money raised is used at the principals discretion.
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
RGMS PTA NEWS
PTA Update
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.
Thank you for your time and support! Looking forward to a great year!
RGMS PTA
Fliers Approved for Distribution by PPS
Camps, Classes, After School:
VIBE of Portland Art Camps & Classes
Preschool Programs:
Multnomah Early Childhood Program Free Preschool Classes
(Spanish) (Vietnamese)Portland Parks & Recreation Preschool 2023-2024
Community Events & Information:
PPS Supplemental Transportation Plan, Phase I Schools Flier
City of Portland 311 Non-Emergency Hotline
(Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Chinese) (Russian) (Somali)
Vaccinations, Health & Wellness:
Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment begins Nov. 1
Multnomah County Student Health Centers (fliers in English, Russian, Chinese, and Vietnamese):
Multnomah County Free Community Vaccination Clinic
(Spanish)
Get RGMS Text Alerts!
Get text alerts about school closures, delays, emergencies and school events:
Text YES to 68453
About Us
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