Test April 2024 Newsletter
Two more months are going to fly by!
In this final stretch of the school year, there's still a lot of learning to do! We've been recognizing students each week that had perfect attendance for the week before. The students receive a special purple notice to hang on their locker. The week before Spring Break we had 216 students with perfect attendance. How many weeks in April will your student have perfect attendance?
Being present and on time matters. Let's make the most of the remainder of the school year.
6th Grade Field Trip to RCS's "The Wizard of Oz"
Friday, Apr 5, 2024, 09:30 AM
Dennis Middle School, Northwest 7th Street, Richmond, IN, USA
Solar Eclipse - Monday April 8
NO IN PERSON SCHOOL - This is a planned eLearning Day!
Teachers will have assignments posted in Canvas by 9 am. Your student should check the Canvas page for EACH of their classes and click on the eLearning button. They have practiced this at school with their teachers, so they should know what to do. Teachers will respond to messages throughout the day. Assignments will be due Friday, April 12.
Eclipse Resources
ILearn Testing
Starting Monday, April 15
The ILearn is Indiana's required test for all students. Each student will be tested in three areas: English, Math, and Science (6th grade) or Social Studies (5th grade). We want every student to do their best to show what they know!
On testing days, students will report to homeroom to make sure they've got breakfast and working computers, and then we will begin testing at 8:15. When testing wraps up at 10:15, we will follow an abbreviated school day schedule. All students will still have their regular lunch and recess time, so they will still have a break in their day!
For two weeks, starting April 15, we will test Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This lets us use Tuesday and Friday as a regular school day and a break from testing for students. It also allows any students that need additional time to finish their test sections before moving on to the next part.
For these testing days, we would really appreciate extra effort to make sure students are at school on time, well-rested and ready to go at 8 am. If your child has an appointment during these days, scheduling it after 10:15 ensures they do not have to make up missed tests.
Testing Schedule
Monday, April 15: English
Wednesday, April 17: English
Thursday, April 18: English
Monday, April 22: Math
Wednesday, April 24: Math
Thursday, April 25: 5th grade - Social Studies 6th grade - Science
Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions.
Dates for Spring Events
Want to plan ahead? Put these on your calendar!
May 6 & 7 - 6th grade "Day In the Life" - throughout the day. Volunteers needed!
May 16 - Behavior Incentive Field Trip to Miami Recreation Center
May 21 - 5th grade Recognition Ceremony - 1:15 pm - Test Gym (Parents invited)
May 22 - 6th grade Recognition Ceremony - 1:15 pm - Test Gym (Parents invited)
May 23 - Tiger Olympics (and the last day of school) Volunteers needed!
Lanyards and Student IDs
Most Test students received new red, RCS lanyards with their student ID cards. Please help them build a new habit - wearing their lanyard and ID every day!
If your student did not receive a lanyard and ID yet - we are working on it! Our system from replacing lanyards and IDs (either for those that didn't receive one OR kids that lost their first one) is now up and running. Every student will receive ONE free replacement; additional replacements are $3.
Remember, as we work through this new process, no one will be denied a bus ride or food if they don't have their id card yet. But, please help your student build the habit of wearing it. It's a new expectation for school. Thanks for your patience and support.
Last Month in Pictures
Engineering challenge in science
Making synonym snails...
...and homoynm hedgehogs
Planning for new students
Musicians travel to competition
The kindness chain
Small gym 3 v 3 play
Over 150 kids played
Staff and student game
Kindness Week and the Armstrong Classic
It's a Test School tradition to honor the memory of Mr. Anthony Armstrong, a Test teacher and basketball coach that died in 2017. We focus on acts of kindness all week, and then, on Friday, play a 3 v 3 basketball tournament open to all students, which culminates in the Armstrong Classic, a staff vs. students game. Thanks to RHS Boys Varsity Coach Billy Wright for coming to coach the student team and bringing some guest referees.
Music Class and Instrument Selection for 2024-2025
Joining a musical group is a great learning experience, but it does require some extra committment. Students that selected band for next year attended an instrument fitting night in March. (Orchestra instruments are handled in August.) Please reach out to besmith@rcs.k12.in.us or call the Test office if you have any questions.
PTO Update
Do you want to be involved with the PTO, but haven't been able to make a meeting? Let us know how you want to be involved! And you can always watch Parent Square for meeting reminders and requests for donations.
Volunteers needed - Make sure you have complete an RCS background check
We would love to have parent volunteers at our spring events, but you must have a background check on file with the district. Please complete the form and turn in to the Test Main Office.
More Than Words
April's Value: Patience
PATIENCE: waiting until later for what you want now. This one is tough for most of us, including me. Waiting in line, waiting for a delivery, waiting for a phone call, waiting for someone to arrive, waiting, waiting, waiting! In a fast-paced, on-demand world, this can be even more difficult.
According to research, it could be one of the most important skills in our lives. Author and speaker James Clear posts a great article about delaying gratification with links to a lot of research (https://jamesclear.com/delayed-gratification), including this as it relates to our impact on children:
"...the child's ability to delay gratification and display self-control was not a predetermined trait, but rather was impacted by the experiences and environment that surrounded them. In fact, the effects of the environment were almost instantaneous. Just a few minutes of reliable or unreliable experiences were enough to push the actions of each child in one direction or another."
and this advice we can apply in our adult lives:
"The studies above do make one thing clear: if you want to succeed at something, at some point
you will need to find the ability to be disciplined and take action instead of becoming distracted and doing what's easy. Success in nearly every field requires you to ignore doing something easier (delaying gratification) in favor of doing something harder..."
In other words, don't shrug this one off. Find a way to have conversations with kids about waiting, doing what's difficult, and creating new habits.
Lunch Menu
Athletics
Spring Sports & Conditioning
Checking the Athletics Website is the best way to keep up with our teams. Please come support our students and be part of the fun!
RCS has spring teams open to 5th and 6th graders for golf and track. Volleyball conditioning is continuing.
School Cancellation Information
If school were to be delayed or cancelled due to weather, families will be notified by text and phone call.
- 2-hour delays do not have to be made up - school just starts at 10 am instead of 8 am. If there is a 2-hour delay, school will end at 3:15 (even if it's a Tuesday).
- If we have another cancellation, students will complete Asynchronous eLearning Days. Assignments will be posted in Canvas by 9 am, and teachers will be available through out the day via Canvas inbox and email for questions.
Transportation Updates
Bus Route Tracking : It's live now!
RCS students have begun scanning on and off buses, and parents can follow their progress to school in real time through the BusBoss Parent Patrol app. This will let parents see estimated time of bus arrival, receive notification parents of route delays, and track more than one student.
You should have received information from your child's bus driver about setting up your parent account. Please contact transportation if you have questions: 765-973-3447
Mission Statement
“Test Intermediate School provides a caring, challenging environment where dedicated educators strive to prepare students academically, physically, socially, and emotionally to be productive members of society.”