RMS NEWSLETTER
Week of January 31 - February 4, 2022
What's Inside the Newsletter
- Principal's Note
- Testing Information
- Counseling Corner
- Student of the Month
- Yearbooks
- Literacy Corner
- Flipside
- Classroom Update
- Family Resources
- Health Office Message
Weekly Reminders
- SAVE THE DATES
Mon., January 31st - Quarter 3 & Semester 2 begin
Principal's Note
RMS Families,
We are at the half-way point in the school year! We are starting Quarter 3 and Semester 2 on Monday, which will come with some minor schedule changes. Students haven been notified of their schedule change and will receive new schedules, schedules can always be accessed through Campus portal or the app. Students will have the opportunity to select new seats in the lunchroom on Monday as well.
Again, thank you for all your patience, understanding and support. Our teachers and staff appreciate you!
Sincerely,
Teresa Vibar
Principal
Testing Update
The testing window goes from February to early May. Please inform yourself on the process by reading the fact sheets for your scholar's tests. Remember to make a place for students to get a full night's rest and a healthy breakfast before beginning testing.
For additional questions please contact Ramsey's testing coordinator, Grey Tison, at grey.tison@spps.org. Thank you.
Counseling Corner
End of Quarter 2/Semester 1
The end of Q2 grading period is on January 27th. Please continue to connect with your student to make sure any applicable missing assignments have been made up and students are preparing for any assessments, tests or final projects. Let’s make sure our students have a successful end of the quarter.
The end of Q2 also marks the end of semester one. With that, some (not all) students will see a change in their schedule. The start of Q3/semester 2 is on Monday, January 31st. As a result, students will receive a printed copy of their Q3 schedule during their foundations class on Wednesday 1/26 & Thursday 1/27.
Q2 Grades Reports: Submit grades request here
Final Q2 grades will be posted to transcripts and ready to review on Friday, February 11th.
Please complete this form by February 11th to let us know how you would like to receive your child’s grades.
January Student of the Month - Inquirer
Ilyas Mohamed
Marlisha Brown
Elias Caranicas
School Information - Very Important
Yearbook: Use the link or code to order, last day to order a yearbook is March 25th.
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/order/LookupJob?jobNumber=14553722 Code: 14553722
Extra Masks: We are still accepting masks donations in the office. The paper disposable masks are most popular, however any size, shape, and material is welcome.
School Buses: School bus drivers are at a shortage again, the district will communicate as soon as they know when routes are delayed/canceled. Please use the MySPPS Bus App (download it on your phone) as a resource, drivers will use the app to keep the schools and families updated with routes.
FLIPSIDE
Classes include: HOMEWORK HELP, HIP HOP DANCE, DRUMLINE, DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, CHESS AND BOARD GAMES!! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRahXXApo39hI4mtwh7sb1vehcfbD6eb2u8ZWypEeLeQ4vsg/viewform
Ramsey Newspaper - January Edition
**Bussing is not guaranteed for the 1st week of class to students who register after January 28th.
Want to Volunteer?
We have a new volunteering opportunity at Ramsey! Beginning February 7th, the afterschool program (Flipside) will host a "Homework Help" class. The session will be led by a Math Corps team member, but it would be great to have one or two extra adults in the room to help kids out!
"Homework Help" will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 - 5 PM. f you are interested or want more information, you can reach out to Ramsey's Flipside Coordinator, Teanna, at teanna.rouillard@spps.org. This position is very flexible! Can you only commit to Mondays? Can you only commit to Mondays in March? Or even just one Monday or Wednesday here or there? We can probably make that work. Just ask Teanna!
**Please note that volunteers will be required to pass a background check (the Ramsey PTO gladly covers the cost of this), as well as certifying with the district that they are either vaccianated against COVID or testing weekly for possible infection. Masks are required inside Ramsey.
Debate Team Tournament Winners!
Last Thursday, the Ramsey Debate Team participated in their first debate tournament of the year. This year’s debate is on whether the United States federal government should spend 2 trillion dollars over the next 10 years to repair and ‘green’ the United States’ water infrastructure system. During a tournament, each team must participate in 3 rounds and argue both the affirmative and the negative sides.
The debate team meets every Thursday as a part of the Flipside program and is coached by Katie Bannon (kathryn.bannon@spps.org), Melissa Hart (melissa.hart@spps.org) and high school coach Eleanor Johnson.
Literacy Corner
Greetings RMS Families,
I want to make everyone aware of the online resources that are available and how to access them. Here are a few links to some videos I made that will help your student get reading material for school work, enjoyment or both!
Libby is the St. Paul Public Library's online ebook app. Every St. Paul Public School student has access to a free library card that they can use to read books online. It also allows them to check out up to 10 books at a time from any St. Paul Public Library.
Here is a tutorial video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRuCroQknMQ
MackinVIA is Ramsey's app to access e-books. We have many popular titles and great non-fiction titles for research papers. Audiobooks are also available on MackinVIA. Here's a tutorial video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2hoHSY8zZI&t=38s
Finally, on MackinVIA we have a subscription to ComicsPlus, a database with over 9,000 graphic novels, manga, and comics. It' been a popular destionation.
Here's a tutorial video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzH4oWnQXic&t=46s
Happy reading!
Mr. Sheridan the Librarian
Classroom Updates
MN Studies - Minute To Win It celebration
Art
Hello! My name is Emma Stalker, I will be completing eight weeks of student teaching with Ms. King in the art room this semester. I’m currently working towards a Master of Education for Initial Licensure in K-12 Visual Arts and I’m so excited to meet and work with your families and students.
Last year I graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a Bachelor of Art degree in Visual Arts and have firsthand experience learning in a variety of environments ranging from asynchronous courses, hybrid experiences, and in-person classroom settings.
I did visit Ramsey Middle School in the fall of 2021 to complete observation hours and saw just how much energy and creativity the students bring to our community. I look forward to working with you!
Family Resources
Mental Health & Well-Being Resources
Books:
- The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey
- Fourteen Talks by age Fourteen by Michelle Icard
Websites:
- https://childmind.org/article/best-childrens-books-about-mental-health/
- Ramsey County Mental Health Collaborative:
- https://www.rccmhc.org/product-page/mn-carepartner
Tutor Me
SPPS has formed a new partnership with TutorMe to give students free access to online tutoring services. TutorMe allows students to connect with a subject-level expert tutor at any time to get support in current classes. TutorMe is an external company SPPS is contracting with as an additional resource for students alongside the SPPS Academic Support Center and other student support opportunities in our schools.
The link below contains helpful information:
Health Office Message
Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms?
If you or your child are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please keep your child home from school. Then, Go to the SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System Website: https://commedspps.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9G0WvcJlWfuqwlL & follow the instructions there, then Call the Ramsey Attendance Line at (651) 744-4750 to notify the school that you will be keeping your child home from school.