Strategic Plan Focus Groups - Monday, May 22 at 8:30 AM

RHAM has embarked on the process of updating the district’s strategic plan. An important part of the strategic planning process is to gather data from different stakeholders. We invite all parents and guardians of RHAM students to join us on Monday, May 22 from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at RHAM Middle School to participate in focus groups.

The focus groups will be facilitated by staff from EASTCONN, a non-profit agency that serves the needs of eastern Connecticut’s schools and communities. Please join us to be a part of this important process. Updated information related to the strategic planning process can be found on the district’s website.

Some conversations about important topics are tough to have with our children. How do you have those tough conversations productively and with compassion? Tough conversations can stir up strong emotions that we, as parents, get anxious about. Click here for a list of podcasts that spark these important conversations.

AMH Youth and Family services and the RHAM Middle School guidance team are happy to announce Mental Health Awareness Fridays. During Fridays in May, students are invited to participate in mental health awareness activities in the Middle School Team Room. Topics will include kindness, mindfulness, and positivity. Mental health resources will also be shared including school resources and mental health strategies for promoting kindness, mindfulness and positivity.

Attention 7th grade parents - This is a friendly reminder that every 7th grade student is required to have a physical during their 6th or 7th grade year. The physical must be dated between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2023. Please submit your child's physical to the school nurse as soon as possible. Link for a blank copy of health assessment is found below. Students can bring the paperwork to the nurse's office or you may email them to Lucy Bernier at lucy.bernier@rhamschools.org. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the nurses office.

It’s that time of the year when we need updated required health authorizations. Please click on the link and follow the instructions to update your student’s health information via your PowerSchool Parent Portal, so that we may better serve your child’s health needs. Thank you!

Health Update Instructions Link

RHAM Middle School Athletics Web page:

https://sites.google.com/view/rhamathletics/about-us/rham-middle-school-athletics

Family ID link:

https://www.rhamschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=290952&pageId=27794863

It is never too late to join a club or activity! Even if a club has already started, most clubs have the ability for you to jump right into the activities. Please see the office or club advisor for details.

Contact Club Advisor for current information or questions:

• Art Club - Meets every Tuesday from 2:15 - 3:15 pm in Room 237. Please contact Mrs. Gradie for more information.
• Home Economics Club - Meets every other Wednesday 2:15 - 3:30pm. Contact Mrs. Gonzalez or Mrs. Barber with questions.
• GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) - This all inclusive club plans different activities to help spread equality and inclusion for all. The club could paint murals, play games and engage in other school wide awareness activities. Meets every other Thursday from 2:10-3:15pm in the Team Room.
  
• Newspaper Club - Students help create & publish a school newspaper - See more info HERE. No need to be a member to submit articles. Send your article to Mrs. Lynch. Meets Thursdays 2:15-3:30pm in Room 142. Contact Mrs. Sue Lynch for more information.
• Math Club - Meets every other Wednesday from 2:15-3:30pm in Room 100. All grades, all levels of math abilities are welcome!
  
• Card Game Club - Meets alternate Thursdays from 2:15-3:45pm in Room 103. Card games and board games of all kinds are welcome and encouraged! Contact Mr. Conroy for more information.
• Environmental Club - The goal of the club is to work together to make our school and community a greener place to be. Students will decide what projects and activities they would like to undertake. Contact Mrs. Nipper for more details.
• Brass Band Meets every Wednesday from 2:25-3:00pm.
• Jazz Band - Meets every Tuesday from 2:15-3:30pm. Students should sign-up on the bulletin board in the Music Hallway.
  
• Yearbook Club - Please contact Ms. Sinosky or Mrs. Allard for more details.
• Drama Club (RMS) - Meetings continuing through the school year. Contact Ms. Filosa for more information.
  
• Lego Club - Meets every other Wednesday from 2:15-3:30 pm in Room 123. Come build with your friends where Everyone is a Master Builder! Contact Ms. Sinosky for more information.
• RHAM Race Team - (formally Alternative Energy Race Team) Meets every Thursday from 2:15-3:30 pm in Rm 122. Contact Ms. Sinosky for more information.
  
• Future Problem Solvers Club - Meets on Wednesday evenings at RHAM High School Room 115 from 6:45-8:00 pm. For more information, please contact Sherri Pelletier at sherri.pelletier@gmail.com.
• TSA/VEX - (Technology Student Association) If you are interested in Co2 Cars, Programming, Public Speaking, Problem Solving and/or VEX Robotics, this club is for you. Meets every other Wednesday from 2:20-3:30 pm in Room 123. Contact Ms. Sinosky for more information.
• RHAMblings - Student literary magazine. Meets once a month (dates TBD). Please contact Ms. Golas for more information and details.
• World Language/French Club - Meets every other Thursday after school in Room 201. Please contact Mr. Ndao for more information and details.

Ongoing After School Help:

• PM Study - Meets Tues/Wed/Thurs afternoon. Please contact school counselor for a PM Study Contract if interested.
• Math Lab - Meets every Tuesday in Room 208 or 217 with Mrs. Laccavole or Mrs. Ouellette and on Thursdays, Room 101 with Mrs. Kane
• Writing Lab - Meets every Wednesday, Room 203, Mrs. Banks

While all students are eligible for one free meal for both breakfast and lunch through the remainder of the school year, students will be charged for a la carte items or a second meal in accordance with school board policy. If students do not have adequate funds available in their MySchoolBucks account, they will not be permitted to charge items beyond the one free meal made available for breakfast and lunch.

Effective March 1, 2023, school breakfast and lunch meals will be available at no cost to all students through the remainder of the current school year. It is important to note the following information specific to free meals:

• Only one school breakfast meal and one lunch meal per day will be provided at no cost for each student. A complete breakfast meal will consist of two servings of grain and one serving of fruit, at minimal. A complete lunch must consist of between 3 and 5 meal components; one of which must be a fruit or vegetable. It is not mandatory that students select milk.

• Students will be charged for a la carte items or additional meals. A la carte items consist of secondary or partial meals as well as snack and beverage items, such as chips, cookies and ice cream. These range in price from $0.50 to $3.80. Second slices of pizza are always charged as a la carte.

Families are encouraged to ensure adequate funding is in their child’s My School Bucks account to cover the costs associated with additional meals and/or a la carte items. Funds can be deposited at the following link https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home

Please Note - Families are responsible for meals purchased between January 11 and February 28, and notices will be sent home to alert families of any negative balances.

Families who may qualify for free or reduced meals are encouraged to submit an application if that has not already been done. Applications can be completed by contacting Jen Choma at 860-228-9474 ext. 3401, or by going to the following link. https://rhs.rhamschools.org/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=67022564

The link below provides a video with instructions on how to complete an application for free and reduced price meals or free milk. https://vimeo.com/777367788

The link below provides information regarding information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/Nutrition/NSLP/Forms/FreeRed/AddendumC.pdf

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.