The Weekly Ramsey Update
Week 10
Upcoming events
Nov. 16 & 17 - No Flipside
Nov. 17 - SCIT meeting, 5pm-6pm
Nov. 17 - PTO meeting, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Nov. 18 - NO SCHOOL
Nov. 23 - No Flipside
Nov. 24 & 25 - NO SCHOOL
MYP update of the week
This week, students watched the nation elect a new president, and they were able to participate in a mock democratic election of their own in social studies classes. It was a great model of how being open-minded is an important attribute to develop in our students. We also look to the mission statement of the IB, which states: "These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right." From a classroom debate to a community discussion to a national election, we want students to recognize that we can respect differences of opinions and learn from others as we strive to widen our perspectives and learn from one another.
This week at Ramsey
French Immersion 8 is reading "La Vie en Noir et Blanc" and we are now close to the conclusion of an amazing drama in South Africa. Please ask your student about what the story is about and check on Schoology for how well your student is doing on reading at school and at home. Any help to get missing work done by November 14 is very welcome. Help is available every day!
French Immersion 7 and Immersion 6 are putting the final words on a tv show on friendship. We must be proud of the efforts that have been put to this project. It is challenging to communicate accurately in French since everything has a gender! Masculin ou féminin? Ask your student to show you their work on their Google doc.
Exploring French sixth graders are also "exploring" that strange concept of gender: "un hamburger" is a masculin word but "une crêpe" is a feminine word. Ask your student how the "crêpe" taste. It was fun to cook in class!
In ELA Workshop 7 classes, we finished our narrative writing unit, and we are starting a unit on close analytical reading.
A note from our PTO and Parent Volunteers
PTO NEWS
Our next meeting is on Thursday, Nov 17th at 6:30. Please come to the dinner before starting at 6 pm! Our guest speaker will be Mr Haugen and he will talk about the Dare To Be Real Program and the DTBR class he is currently teaching. Overheard by a student in the class, “This class really makes me think”. Our guest speakers go first so please be sure to come on time!
We are wrapping up our Fall Fundraising Direct Donation drive next week. If you have already given, THANK YOU and if you are considering a donation to Ramsey, we would be grateful for any amount you contribute. You can drop it off in an enclosed envelope at the school office or send via the mail.
Hope to see on November 17th!
Ollie Muhammad and Ann Malm
Classroom Volunteer Program
Did you see the Villager? Classroom Volunteer Program
The Ramsey Classroom Volunteer Program was featured in an article this week in the Villager. Check it out!
The goal of this program is to help all students succeed and to support Ramsey’s dedicated teachers. We have a very diverse student body at Ramsey and it is important to us that the volunteers helping in the classroom represent that rich diversity.
A weekly commitment is needed. Reliability (and flexibility) is a key to the program’s success. An orientation is given to all new volunteers, so you can be prepared to walk into the classroom. Parents will not be placed in their student’s classroom.
If you feel called to help students succeed, please consider joining us one day a week for as little as one hour or for longer as your schedule allows.
To sign up to be a weekly classroom volunteer, complete the Volunteer Intake Form, https://airtable.com/shrIbWjrMDrgz2GmO
If you would like more information or have questions, send an email to kirstenfrost@comcast.net. Include your name, preferred phone number and a good time to reach you.
Thank you for your interest! We look forward to matching your availability to a need.
Classroom Volunteer Program Coordinators, Christine Danielson, Kirsten Frost & Amy Vargo
Want to help but not interested in working in a classroom?
Do you have 30 minutes to an hour right after morning drop off? The office staff, Sandy, and Dede would appreciate a volunteer to help in the office first thing in the morning, from 7:15 to 8:15. Do you have just 30 minutes? Come from 7:30 - 8:00. Send an email to lcdanielson@msn.com if you can help these hard-working ladies one day a week. Thank you!
Parent Academy
Seminar Title: Middle School and Transition - This seminar helps families understand the importance of middle school as a bridge to high school and future success. (Available in English and Spanish)
This Seminar is designed to provide parents with additional tools and resources on how to navigate the school system to build trustworthy and lasting partnerships between the school, parents, and the community. Parent Academy Seminars are FREE to all SPPS families. A light meal and childcare will be provided to families.
You may register online using the link provided or you may call Dede Hammond at 651-744-6825 to register over the phone.
Please consider attending this seminar to learn more about how you can help with your child's academic success.
To register, please follow this link http://www.spps.org/Page/28114.
NJHS - We Scare Hunger Drive
NJHS - We Scare Hunger Drive
Student Surveys at Ramsey
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Between November 7, 2016, and December 9, 2016, students in grades 6 through 12 will receive an anonymous survey that will ask questions about their experiences in school. The anonymous survey is called the 5Essentials School Effectiveness Survey.
You have the right to review the survey if you would like. You also have the right to opt-out
your child from participating. Please contact the school’s main office at 651-555-1234 if you have questions or concerns.
Thank you
Tardies at Ramsey
We do have a change taking place this week to decrease the number of tardies even further, and we want to share that with parents and guardians.
Starting Monday, students who are late to class will not be allowed into class without a pass. Students can receive a pass from one of our intervention specialists or administration who are out in the hallways. When the student receives their pass their name will be added to a list for lunch detention. Lunch detention will take place in the east gym and be monitored by one of our intervention specialists. Students who receive a tardy after they have attended lunch that day will be assigned lunch detention the following day.
Students who are really struggling with tardies have been, and will continue to be assigned to after school detention (hosted on Tues., Wed., and Thur.) or Saturday school (hosted at Ramsey from 9am-11am).
Please help us in our goal to have all students in class on time and prepared for class by reminding your student the importance of time management and getting to class before the bell rings.
A Note About Our iPads
A few students have been having issues with losing their iPads. We are longer "pinging" iPads using the "Find My iPhone" app. In the near future, we will be initiating a process (listed below) to be able to track iPads.
When a student’s iPad is missing, the student or their guardian should report the loss to the school. The school’s iPad support staff will then briefly turn on the iPad’s geolocation feature, identify the iPad’s current location, and turn the feature off. If the location is SPPS property, the bus, or the student’s primary address, the student will be directly informed. If it is any other location, the information will be given to parents by phone. The geolocation feature will not be used to see where students have been.
Important Notices
911 Calls - Over past few weeks there have been some phone calls made to 911 from the Ramsey building. The phone calls have come from students who are not supposed to be using the classroom phone, especially for 911 calls. We would greatly appreciate if you would take the time to speak with your student(s) this week about the severity of making those phone calls. Thanks!
A parents "How-to" for Schoology - Here is a link to learn more about how to navigate Schoology, a learning management system being used district-wide.
Math team - At Meet 2, Ramsey Math Team came in 3rd place out of 5 teams. Great job Ramsey Rams!
Not too late to join Math Team. Meet 3 will take place November 28th. Please see Ms. Hosfield for more information.
Athletics - Coed wrestling starts November 17th. Student athletes need to have their permission form, fees, and physical in to participate.
If students would like to attend a sporting event after school they need to make sure that they have an adult chaperone with them. If students do not have a chaperone accompanying them they will be asked to leave the building.
From the library -
Student Library Survey
We would like to hear from our students about their library and reading needs. This survey will be distributed to students in Foundations in the coming days. If you'd like to preview the survey or take the survey with your student now, please follow this link (https://goo.gl/forms/C0ziv5Z09me410hE2). No HIPPA protected data will be collected about students who participate; however if you would like your student to opt out, you may.
Parent Library Survey
Parents who haven't yet given their feedback about the RMS library may do so here: https://goo.gl/forms/EsL3l4PqJ8wu80p33
NJHS We Are Silent (Nov. 16) - Issues like child soldiers and access to water and education drown out the voices of kids across the globe. National Junior Honor Society students will take a vow of silence on Nov. 16th to help us understand what it’s like to have our voices go unheard. Quotes and statistics will be posted on classroom whiteboards to foster reflection and discussion amongst the other students as part of our campaign to give voice to the voiceless. Learn more at WE.org/wearesilent.
More from NJHS - NJHS students gave speeches and held an election during Flipside. Karina Malm is our new NJHS President and Jennifer Zou is our new Vice President.
From Our Social Workers - As cold weather is approaching it reminds us that there are students who are not fully outfitted with warm weather gear (and then there are those that refuse and only want to wear a hoodie, like mine!) and that some of us may have items we could donate. We are looking to set aside a small store of winter jackets and hoodies, hats, gloves, and mittens. If you have gently used items and care to donate please drop them off with Kris Knetsch or nurse Maureen, in the nurse's office. All sizes welcome! Thanks!
Support the science department - Science dept could use some vinegar, baking soda, dry yeast. Also, looking for someone who wants to tinker and repair some triple beam balances.
Yearbook Update: Yearbooks are now on sale for $21. Purchase yearbooks online at jostensyearbooks.com.
About Us
Website: ramsey.spps.org
Location: 1700 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, United States
Phone: (651) 293-8860