RGMS Weekly 1/4/24
RGMS Weekly News 1/4/24
Community ~ Equity ~ Growth
Important Dates Ahead
1/4 2nd Semester Schedule Change Request Form Released
1/8 RGMS News w/Newlyn, 8am
1/10 Wells Forecasting Presentation
1/12 2nd Semester Schedule Change Requests Due
1/15 No School-MLK Jr Day
1/17 PTA Meeting, 6:30pm
1/18 Art Show, 6pm, Library
1/18 Music Performance, 6pm, Gym
1/24 Wells Forecasting
1/26 Last Day of Q2
1/29 No School-Teacher Planning Day
2/7-8 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4:30-7:30pm
Click here for the full RGMS calendar
From Principal Lisa Newlyn
Dear RGMS Community,
Happy 2024! I hope the Winter Break from school routines gave you all a welcome chance to refresh and connect with family and friends. The Newlygans enjoyed our family time for sure. I celebrated my 53rd birthday, and got some quality time playing Zelda TOTK. Looking ahead I'm looking forward to what 2024 has in store for the Robert Gray Community.
Please hold 2/7/2023 and 2/8/2023 4:30pm - 7:30pm for our Parent / Teacher Conference days. We will be implementing a new conference model this school year: Student Led Conferences. Our team believes that this model will support student ownership and accountability for their learning, provide the school with the ability to provide more conference slots, and give us and parents more points of contact and a better understanding of student progress.
What you need to know:
- conferences will be scheduled with grade level teams, 15 slots every 30 minutes.
- you will be provided a space to sit with your student as they lead you through their digital portfolio
- grade level team teachers will be in proximity to you and will be available should you have questions
- elective teachers will also be in proximity and available for consultation as needed
We will be working through priority scheduling this week and next before we release the schedule to all families.
Join me Monday morning 01/08, bright and early at 8am for the January edition of News with Newlyn. I'll have coffee and noshy bits and some RGMS updates to share.
There's lots more going on in the land of RGMS. Read on below for all the latest.
In community,
Lisa Newlyn
Principal
RGMS New & Timely
2nd Semester Schedule Change Request Forms
RGMS students and families can request schedule changes two times per school year: 1) in August when schedules are first released, and 2) before the start of 2nd semester.
If, when you review your student’s 2nd Semester schedule, you discover an essential scheduling error (a missing period, a duplicate period, a missing core class, that you were not scheduled into Health / PE, etc.), please complete the SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUEST FORM.
If you would like to request a different elective class or teacher, you can also use this form, but essential scheduling errors will be prioritized before other requests are considered.
Student scheduling is complex and space in some sections is limited, and not every request can be accommodated. We will review each request, look for possible solutions, and make schedule changes when able. Whether your request can or can not be accommodated, we will email you directly and let you know when your request is reviewed.
Completing this form is the only way to request a schedule change for 2nd semester. Requests made by email or made after the deadline will not be considered.
Requests are due by 1/12/2024, and all requests will be processed and schedules finalized by 1/26/2024.
Student Leadership Application
Robert Gray Middle School is seeking students to lead our community as members of Student Leadership; students who are responsible, caring, dedicated, and inspired to grow as leaders in our community. Robert Gray Middle School offers a Student Leadership elective class that teaches leadership skills, works to create a welcoming environment for all students, and builds a positive school spirit in our community. Applications will open Monday Jan 8th and will close at the end of day Jan 16th. Click here for more details on how students can apply.
RGMS Reminders and Weekly Announcements
From the RGMS Counselors
We recognize the Middle School years are tricky and at times exhausting both for students and for the adults who lovingly care for them. If you have any questions, concerns or would like support or referrals, please contact us. We are here to help. -- Lisa Hyde (serving students A-K) and Laureen Held (serving students L-Z).
8th Grade High School Forecasting
IBW High School
Counselors from Ida B Wells HS will visit RGMS 8th graders on January 10th and 24th.
On the 10th they give the students a presentation on how forecasting works.
On the 24th students will meet individually with their counselor and go over the student's forecasting information.
Student Absent?
Email Gray Attendance at grayattend@pps.net
If your student will be absent, please email their FULL NAME and reason for absence or tardy to grayattend@pps.net. Phones are really busy in the morning, so please email attendance if possible.
Attendance phone calls go out around 1pm & 5pm daily. If you have excused your student, you will not receive an attendance call.
RGMS Foundation News
RGMS Foundation Updates
The RGMS Foundation raises money to support a well rounded school experience for students by adding class options for students that are engaging and enhance student connections to RGMS. The money raised is used at the principals discretion.
BottleDrop Drive
We recently were able to donate $1,000 to the foundation from our account. Thank you so much for supporting the school via this program.
1. Get Blue bags from the following locations: RGMS office; Rieke area-1656 SW Sunset Blvd.; Hayhurst area: 5252 SW Idaho St.; Bridlemile area-4031 SW Jerald Way
2 Fill Your Bags!
3. Return Full Bags to any BottleDrop location or Burlingame Fred Meyer.
4 Scan the Barcode on the bag to unlock the self-service bag drop.
Questions: Melissa Light, grayschoolfoundation@gmail.com
RGMS PTA NEWS
PTA Update
Haven’t joined the PTA yet? Do so now using this link.
You will have to select “ROBERT GRAY MS PTA (PORTLAND)” as your “Local Unit”. The rest
is straightforward and takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Membership is $20 for the year.
Do you wish to make a one-time or recurring donation to PTA? You can do so here. Click “Donate” then enter your amount and indicate your intent to donate monthly if desired!
Robert Gray PTA Volunteer Opportunities
Looking for ways to get involved this year? Use the following form to sign up for the events you are interested in and you will receive a follow up email with additional information. The time and support of our volunteers is greatly appreciated. Without it we couldn't make special Gray events happen! Some of these events include Run for Gray, Teacher Appreciation Week, Bottle Drop Fundraiser, Sustainability and extra supervision during lunch time, and more. Please consider volunteering or donating as you are able.
Thank you for your time and support! Looking forward to a great year!
RGMS PTA
Get RGMS Text Alerts!
Get text alerts about school closures, delays, emergencies and school events:
Text YES to 68453
Fliers Approved for Distribution by PPS
Camps, Classes, & After School Programs:
Rec Tennis Maplewood Tennis Afterschool Zone (Jan. 16 - Mar. 5)
VIBE of Portland Art Camps & Classes
Preschool Programs:
Multnomah Early Childhood Program Free Preschool Classes
(Spanish) (Vietnamese)Portland Parks & Recreation Preschool 2023-2024
Community Events & Information:
PPS Supplemental Transportation Plan, Phase I Schools Flier
City of Portland 311 Non-Emergency Hotline
(Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Chinese) (Russian) (Somali)
Vaccinations, Health & Wellness:
Multnomah County Parkrose Student Health Center Winter Break Hours
Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment begins Nov. 1
Multnomah County Student Health Centers (fliers in English, Russian, Chinese, and Vietnamese):
Multnomah County Free Community Vaccination Clinic
(Spanish)
About Us
Email: lnewlyn@pps.net
Website: https://www.pps.net/gray
Location: 5505 Southwest 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 916-5676
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertgraymiddleschool
Twitter: @notwitter