RMS Express
Monthly Update from the Principal's Desk - November 2022
November Updates
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE FOR OUR PODCAST with special guests, Betsy Freeman G&T/Enrichment Teacher at RMS and our student Eco-Ambassadors!
Hello RMS! I can't believe we are nearly through November! The first quarter of the school year went by in a flash. We have had a great few months of school. We have a lot to celebrate and talk about, so, read on!
We are the Champions!
Thanks to Chris Kober for being our guest last month. Great fall season, capped with Volleyball Girls Conference Championship Win. The Readington Middle School girls’ volleyball team finished out their season with a 12-1 record, earning them the top seed for the conference tournament. They played the conference championship game on Friday, October 28, 2022, against William Annin Middle School and beat them in two straight sets with a second set score of 29-27 to win the title. This is the first time in school history that Readington Middle School has won the CJJSVL - Central Jersey Junior Schools Volleyball League Conference. Great work to Coach Sperone & Coach Yunos. Looking forward to a great winter season.
RMS Halloween Spirit!
The RMS Halloween Bash was held on October 21, 2022, but the planning for this event happened many months prior. Our executive officers met with student council advisors and with administration to outline the night and what the core element would be. They helped to advertise the event over the morning announcements, put up posters in the hallways, and talk about the event during lunch. They helped to set up rules and parameters for the night, including how to bring as many people to the bash as possible in the safest possible way.
The Bash was a gigantic success and hit. The event was attended by 350 students, which is 71% of our student body. Students came in costume and a good time was had by all. The executive board and helpers transformed our cafetorium and hallways in a Halloween themed wonderland, which included a DJ to keep the hits going! The student council also had a bake sale that night, with proceeds also going to charity. Overall, the Student Council was able to raise over $2,100!
As principal of the school, I was so proud of what the RMS Student Council was able to do. They helped to build school spirit and unity, while also promoting our school mission, which is to take care of yourself, others, and the school. It was an event that will be talked about for years to come.
Field Trips - 8th Grade to YMCA Fairview Lakes and 7th Grade Walk in the Woods
Our 7th and 8th Grade Students embarked on a few field trips over the last few weeks. These trips brought them outside to explore all what nature has to offer. They were also bonding experiences that brought our students (and staff) closer together.
Read on to learn more about the following:
- Civics in Action
- Ancient History Dig
- Chef Day
- October Students of the Month
- Sustainable Jersey Silver Certificate
- Barnes and Noble RMS night
So, as we gear up for December and the upcoming Winter Break, I want to take a moment and say, as principal, how thankful I am for you all. I am thankful for our students, families and staff of RMS who come in each and every day focused on our mission and prepared to ensure all students get what they need to succeed.
So, from me to you: THANK YOU!
So, until next month, please be well and Go Vikings!
Mr. Charleston
Civics in Action @ RMS
Thanks to Mr. Will Daly for this write up.
As the nation prepares for the midterm elections, RMS welcomed various local, state and federal politicians. Hunterdon County Clerk Mary Melfi and Elections Administrator Beth Thompson educated students on how to register to vote and the importance of engaging in the democratic process. All students were able to meet the candidates in New Jersey’s hotly contested 7th Congressional district when both Congressman Tom Malinowski (D) and Senator Tom Kean Jr. (R) attended student-centered town hall meetings.
In Civics classes, students listened to presentations from Assemblyman and Minority Leader John DiMaio (R) and RMS-alum Vic Komosinski, who presented a project she worked on in her AP Government and Politics class about this year’s board of education candidates. This week, some students will visit Holland Brook to present civics-based lessons to the younger grades.
Civics students will also have the opportunity to meet NJ Gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli (R) as well as engage in mini lessons with Dr. Hart about civil discourse in and out of the classroom. Finally, in the second half of the semester-long course, students will move to take action by completing community service projects and working with lawmakers at the local and state level to propose research-based solutions to problems facing our town, state, and nation.
Assemblyman and Minority Leader John DiMaio (R)
Senator Tom Kean Jr. (R)
Congressman Tom Malinowski (D)
Readington Middle School Students of the Month for October 2022
Our winners were:
- Adwika Tripathi
- Rakeem Brown
- Ryland DeStasio
- Kaylee Mierzejwski
- Evan Schafranek
- Caroline Halsted
Congrats to all our winners! Dr. Moss, our counselors, the Viking, and myself were so happy to spend time with them celebrating them.
Do you want to be selected as a student of the month? Earn a Valuable Viking award or a Viking of the Week award during that month to qualify!
6th Grade Ancient History Dig!
Thanks to Mrs. Moor and Mr. Biancamano for this write up.
Students in Mr. Biancamano and Mrs. Moor’s 6th grade social studies classes spent time using hands-on learning activities to better understand the different jobs of social scientists. In school students learned about historians, geographers and archaeologists and how these types of scientists study the ancient past, which is the curriculum for the year. Part of the student’s in class activities involved them working in groups to “dig” for artifacts in a table top archaeologist’s pit constructed by Mr. Biancamano. (see photo) This activity was designed to simulate the type of work an archaeologist might do as they uncover a site that might contain ancient artifacts left by civilizations from long ago. Prior to the social scientist activities, the students learned that young teenagers are often the discoverers of prehistoric or ancient artifacts and sites. The prehistoric caves discovered in 1940 in France and a Clovis point arrowhead recently found in Point Pleasant, NJ are just a few examples of discoveries made by young people and really help students connect to the science of archaeology. “Our goal in social studies is to find ways for students to really connect with the sometimes hard to grasp concepts of the ancient world,” said Mr. Biancamano when asked about the hands-on lessons. Mrs. Moor added, “ We always try to make learning come alive which helps the students remember the material.”
RMS Cafe Chef Day!
The students selected BRUNCH DAY! Chef Joe Maida was onsite to prep, cook, and serve a Brunch Bar for all to enjoy. The students sampled the following:
French Toast & Waffles
Scrambled Eggs
Turkey Bacon & Breakfast Sausages
Hash Browns
Strawberries/Blueberries w/ Whipped Topping
100% Orange Juice
RMS Achieves Sustainable Jersey Silver Status
Readington Middle School has met the requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey for Schools Silver certification, bringing the total number of certified schools across New Jersey to 352. As leading examples of sustainability excellence, the certified schools provide outstanding learning opportunities for their students and join an established cohort of recognized schools across the state.
Sustainable Jersey for Schools developed the voluntary certification program in 2014 as a roadmap for pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade public schools to reach their fullest potential. Each school that is certified at the bronze-level must submit documentation to show it has completed a balanced portfolio of the program’s sustainability actions, attaining a minimum of 150 points. The more advanced silver-level requires a minimum of 350 points of sustainability actions.
We are so proud of our school, students, staff, and families who helped us achieve this milestone! Congrats!
Red Ribbon Poster Winners!
Without further ado, it is time to announce the winners of the 7th Annual RMS Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest. Thank you to all the students who put the effort to create some outstanding posters and make voting difficult for your fellow peers and teachers. Thank you again to all those who participated. We can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next year.
Drugs will Haunt
Bring out the Demons
Hocus Pocus
Remember these important dates:
11/23 - Early Dismissal
11/24-11/25 - Thanksgiving Break (Schools closed for staff/students)
RMS Viking Athletic Calendar
District School Calendar for 2022-2023
Readington Middle School
Website: https://www.readington.k12.nj.us/Domain/58
Location: 48 Readington Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-534-2113
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readingtonschools
Twitter: @RMS_VIKINGS