Navigating the River
Wednesday, October 21
#RMSBettertogether
What's Happening on The River?
Upcoming Dates (See more details below)
October 1 - 29: Dream Dinners Fundraising
October 12-25: Virtual Book Fair
October 22: Spirit Day at Culver's
October 22: Free Flu Shot Clinic
October 22-23: Early Release (Parent Conferences) - please note: this is a change from the original calendar
October 26- 30: Red Ribbon Week
October 28: Academic Bowl tryouts- info below
November 2: Deadline to complete Second Semester Learning Environment Form for all students
November 3: No School (Election Day)
Learning Environment Choice for Second Semester - VERY IMPORTANT
Last week, an email message was sent to all Riverwatch families containing the link to the Google Form used to make your second semester learning environment choice.
ALL FAMILIES MUST COMPLETE THIS FORM. Even if you are planning to continue with your child's current learning environment (virtual or in person), you must complete the form. The due date for all submissions is November 2.
It is vital that this form be completed for every child by the due date, even if you choose to continue your child's current environment for learning. Due date is NOV. 2nd
Please note that extensions will not be granted. This is so that we may effectively plan for instruction and scheduling.
After November 2nd, we will not be able to accept requests to change learning environments. Please be thoughtful in making this decision. Whichever learning environment is selected in the survey form will be the environment for your child's learning for the entire second semester (January - May). Contact your child's counselor with questions.
Your Input Matters!
Questions, Celebrations, and Ideas
Athletic News
Cross Country State Meet
- Varsity Girls placed 9th out of 28 teams
- Varsity Boys placed 6th out of 24 teams
- JV Girls placed 9th out of 9 teams
- JV Boys placed 3rd out of 14 teams
The following runners had individual achievements:
- Nicolas Daimiel - 3rd on JV
- Maxx Steckel - 23rd on JV
- Braddock Baker - 24th on JV
- Alaiya James - 19th on Varsity
- Jackson Hogsed - 1st on Varsity
Help us congratulate Jackson Hogsed as the STATE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMP!
Football . . . .the Panthers make us Proud!
Our Panthers had a fantastic 5 and 2 season! Every single player put his heart and soul into the game this year, and not only grew as an athlete, but as a young man. Congratulate these boys on all they accomplished.
We are thankful to our amazing RMS Coaches!
Brian Sudderth- Head Coach
Caleb Skinner - Running Backs/ Defensive Backs
David Thrasher - Offensive/Defensive Line
Ezra Namkoong- Defensive Coordinator
Chad Warner- Defensive Line/ Receivers
Basketball Tryouts
Attention all parents of 7th and 8th graders interested in trying out for basketball! Tryouts for girls start on Monday, October 26 and boys start on Wednesday, October 28. Tryouts will take place after school in the gym.
In order to tryout, you MUST complete this sign up form PRIOR to the tryout date. A current physical must also be on file by the first day of tryouts.
Physical Form - These forms MUST be completed in their entirety and signed by a physician or an urgent care facility
School Insurance Form - (If you do not have health care coverage)
Please contact cmcginley@forsyth.k12.ga.us if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you! Go Panthers!!
Club Update
School Events and Information
Virtual students interested in participating in the science fair should contact Ms. Poole.
A donation bin is also located outside the front door of the school.
Online Book Fair - Now thru Oct 25
Online book fair is OPEN for business!
• Hundreds of books hand-selected by our book fair vendor Junior Library Guild for quality content and ultra-readability
• Teacher wish lists for gifting books to classroom libraries
• Detailed information about each book, including synopsis, reading level, genre, reviews, awards, potentially sensitive content areas, and more.
• Hard-cover, first-edition books starting at $5—with FREE shipping for orders over $30
• Direct-to-home delivery
Start shopping now for the best children’s and young adult books available!
Red Ribbon Week - Oct 26-30
Panther Pit Stop (School Store) - Gone Virtual
LAST WEEK TO ORDER - Boo Grams & Spiritwear!
Having trouble with My Payments Plus? May try to switch to the ‘old’ version of MPP in the “Dashboard” or contact Melissa Roth in the front office.
COVID 19 Reminders
Covid-19 Procedures and Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for helping us keep everyone healthy!
To assist us, please do the following:
· Take your child’s temperature each morning before coming to school.
· Check your email each morning before your child leaves home for messages from the school regarding any direct exposure and quarantine requirements.
· Wear a mask and maintain distance from others if you need to enter the school.
PLEASE DO NOT send your child to school if they have COVID-19 symptoms or are awaiting a COVID-19 test result.
Your decisions and actions impact others, so please act responsibly to keep our schools healthy and safe. COVID-19 symptoms include:
What to do if your child has symptoms of COVID-19 …
COVID-19 has a wide range of symptoms such as:
· Fever or chills
· Cough
· Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
· Fatigue
· Muscle or body aches
· Headache
· New loss of taste or smell
· Sore throat
· Congestion or runny nose
· Nausea or vomiting
· Diarrhea
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms in the 24 hours leading up to the school day, you must keep them at home. If you are keeping your child at home due to symptoms, please email the school nurse (kvarner@forsyth.k12.ga.us) to let her know. Students staying at home may continue working via ItsLearning if the child feels well enough.
What to do if someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19 …
You are required to keep your child at home for 14 days from their most recent exposure if someone in the household tests positive for COVID-19. Students quarantining will not be marked as absent as long as they feel well enough to continue learning from home. Please email the school nurse (kvarner@forsyth.k12.ga.us) to make them aware if someone in your household has tested positive for COVID-19.
What to do if your child tests positive for COVID-19 …
If your child tests positive, whether they are symptomatic or not, they must remain quarantined for a minimum of 14 days. Please email the school nurse (kvarner@forsyth.k12.ga.us) immediately when someone in your home tests positive for COVID-19. Watch for symptoms during the quarantine. If your child becomes symptomatic after the 14 days of quarantine, they must remain at home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours without medication. Note, that when a positive case is reported to FCS, it is confirmed by the DPH.
If a student receives a positive COVID-19 result AFTER school hours, including weekends, contact your school principal or assistant principal by email.
How FCS Will Communicate COVID-19 Information with Parents/Guardians?
Our main method of communication will be email. We will be using emails listed in Parent Portal accounts. All parents/guardians MUST have a Parent Portal account.
· If you DO NOT have a Parent Portal account, view directions here.
· If you DO have a Parent Portal account, learn how to update your email addresses and phone numbers.
All parents/guardians MUST check their email frequently for updates. Direct exposure emails will be sent between 5-10 pm and by 6:05 am.
Similar to inclement weather/school closures, parents/guardians MUST have a plan in case their child is transitioned temporarily or for an extended period of time to virtual learning from home.
What happens when a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 …
Once we receive notification of a positive test, we determine which students or staff members may have received direct exposure. Direct exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of the affected person for 15 minutes or longer. We complete a report that communicates this information to the Georgia Department of Health so that they may complete contact tracing steps. At the same time, an email message is generated to the email address on record at school which states:
Dear Parent or Guardian,
You are receiving this email because your child has had direct exposure to an individual that has tested positive for COVID-19. Your child must stay home and transition to virtual learning using itslearning for 14 days starting from (date), the date of direct exposure. The Georgia Department of Public Health has been notified and will be in contact with you. Please monitor your child for any symptoms and access resources provided at www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/restartforsyth. Please contact your physician for health questions and contact your child’s teacher for questions related to school/itslearning.
It is vital that all parents check their email each morning before the child leaves for school. Students quarantining due to exposure are not counted as absent unless they become ill and are unable to continue learning online.
What happens if a student develops symptoms while at school ...
If a child develops symptoms during the school day, the child goes directly to the school nurse. The school nurse will immediately contact the parent for the child to be picked up. We have created areas that will allow us to keep the symptomatic child away from others while waiting to be picked up by the parent.
If everyone does their part, we all benefit!
Thank you for helping us keep everyone healthy!
Reference Information
Click On the Links Below
2020 Cross Country Tentative Schedule
Check In and Check Out ProceduresPanther News - Broadcasting Team
RMS News Link (Daily School Announcements)
Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) News
Order Your Dream Dinners Today
Riverwatch Middle School PTSO is fundraising with Dream Dinners in October and we need you!
It's an easy way to have 3 dinners handled AND help support teachers and students at RMS by placing a fundraiser order at Dream Dinners this month. You get three medium meals from the five selections listed on the Special Event Menu for $50. Dream Dinners puts the meals together and you pick it up. they will even bring it out to your car! www.dreamdinners.com/cummingga
Fundraiser pick up sessions this month:
Saturday, October 24th @ 10:30 am https://dreamdinners.com/session/860504
Wednesday, October 28th @11:30 am https://dreamdinners.com/session/862994
Thursday, October 29th @ 3:00 pm https://dreamdinners.com/session/860505
Thursday, October 29th @ 5:30 pm https://dreamdinners.com/session/860506
Thank you for you support!
RMS PTSO
Please share your appreciation!!
Our teachers and staff have worked extremely long hours trying to keep up with students and procedures for both face-to-face and virtual over the past few weeks. With lots of rapid changes and requests, our teachers and staff NEED to hear how AWESOME and appreciative we are that they are supporting our RMS students. Please (students and parents) write a personal note, send it in to the school, mail it, etc. or you may use click on this link to show that our Panther Community Cares!
Join us now!!
A heartfelt thank you to all our Parents and Staff Members who have joined the PTSO! Whether you are virtual or face to face, we are #RMSBetterTogether. We are working to provide webcams for virtual learning and umbrellas for some shade at the new outdoor picnic tables.
It's NEVER too late to join!!