F.C. Reed Middle School -Newsletter

WHAT'S TO BEE???

Calendar of Events  

October

2008/2009 MEAP TESTING DATES

Once again, our kids are going to have the chance to “show their stuff” as compared to other schools.  However, this year there is one big change:  grades 3 through 8 will all be taking the same tests on the same days.

The schedule is:

                  Tuesday, October 14 – Math

                  Thursday, October 16 – English Language Arts, Session 1

                  Monday, October 20 – Math make-ups

                  Tuesday, October 21 – English Language Arts, Session 2

                  Wednesday, October 22 – English Language Arts, Session 1 make-ups

                  Thursday, October 23 – Science (grades 5 and 8), Social Studies (grade 6)

                  Monday, October 27 – English Language Arts, Session 2 make-ups

                  Tuesday, October 28 – Science and Social Studies make-ups

Remember these can be a demanding task for these young scholars.  You can help out by:

• Ensuring that your son or daughter has a good night’s sleep and a full breakfast.
• Being clear about the importance of the test.
• Expressing confidence in your child’s ability to do his or her best.

In other words – work to make each day as positive as possible.

Thanks!  Working together, we’ll show what Bridgman kids can do.

  - Bob Wagner, Counselor

Principal Notes….

The first month of school is now complete, and we are off to a good start to the school year.  Students have made a smooth adjustment back to school.  The fifth graders have jumped right into their new surroundings.  They are well-prepared for their classes, have met new friends, and are getting involved in extra-curricular opportunities.  The sixth and seventh graders have shown a strong academic focus and motivation in their classes already.  And the eighth graders have grown in size and maturity over the summer, and are now getting used to the role as the elders of the school.  We look forward to a promising year for all of our students.

The parents have also made a nice transition to middle school, both for our first time middle school parents and for those returning to RMS.  It has been a pleasure to meet so many of you at the recent Back-To-School Open House.  Having a strong partnership with the school and your child’s teachers as well as other parents is so important during these years of adolescence.  One veteran parent recently described it to me as her “underground communication network” to know what was really happening with her uncommunicative child!  There are a number of events planned for parents in the fall, and the Friends of RMS and the Band Boosters have several needs for volunteers.  Please email them from the link on our homepage for more information.

Fundraising……sometimes viewed as frightening word, but also something needed in order to offer extra opportunities for our students.  This year RMS will not be participating in a scheduled product fundraiser.  Instead, we are encouraging you to participate in our ongoing Scrip program.  This program allows you to purchase gift certificates/cards at many retailers and a percent of the card goes directly back to RMS.  For the list of retailers, and ordering information, click on the Scrip link on the RMS homepage.  In addition to the gift cards, please sign up for the Hardings eScrip card and use it each time you shop at Hardings.  RMS receives 4% of your purchase totals!  You can pick up an application at RMS.  All of the money earned from these programs goes directly to the teachers to be used for field trips, activities, and classroom needs.

Enjoy the fall weather, fall sports, and fall harvest,

Mrs. Graves

Instant Alert Reminder

Parents:  if you have not registered for the Honeywell Instant Alert system, please take a minute to do so.  Log on to:  https://instantalert.honeywell.com

If you need further assistance, contact Beth Jones at 465-5410.

This system allows us to notify you within minutes of an emergency, school closing or delay due to inclement weather, or other notifications such as picture day and parent teacher conferences.

 School of Choice Parents….Interested in carpooling from the St. Joe/ Benton Harbor Area?  Contact:  dravitch@ravitron.com

DETENTION REMINDERS

Just a reminder, per the Student Handbook, page 7, "It is the student's responsibility to obtain a parent/guardian signature on an assigned detention slip.  Failure to return the signed slip to the office by 9:00 a.m. the next day will result in an additional detention being assigned." This applies to warning slips also.

5th GRADE

5th Grade Meteorologist from Mr. Stemm's class.

6th GRADE

Mrs. Hawn’s 6th grade Science class share some things they learned about the Rock Cycle

1. I learned that all minerals are the building blocks of rocks. Elizabeth Graves
2. I learned that igneous rocks crystallize.  Megan Adams
3. I learned that rocks have their own cycle (like the water cycle has its own cycle).  Alex Pawluk
4. I learned how rocks form.  Elisha Dryden
5. I learned that there are two ways each rock type is formed.  I found it interesting.  Kyle Zielke
6. Minerals can take many different forms.  Ryan McCoy
7. I learned that one rock can be turned into another rock.  Brianna Thomas
8. I learned that metamorphic rock can become any type of rock.  Edward Shaver
9. I learned that different rocks don’t have to look like they do in the book.  Madison Stubbs
10. Oh wow, you’re asking the wrong person.  I learned a whole lot.  I can’t even keep my head on right.  I didn’t know there were rocks called igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.  Does that show you how much I learned yet?  Jordan Jones

Our PowerPoint wasn’t bad it was awesome.  Especially the part when we took pictures of rocks. My next awesome part was designing the background.  The best part of all was making the words to your pictures and rocks move.  It was awesome.  And that’s why I liked to do the PowerPoint of the rock cycle.  Alex Pawluk

Mrs. Hawn’s science class just finished studying igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.  We also studied the rock cycle.  On September 15, 2008, Mrs. Hawn’s science class began a PowerPoint presentation about the different rock types and the rock cycle.  We had to take pictures with a digital camera and draw using a program called Tux Paint.  We inserted the pictures from that program and the digital camera.  The students had to include information about how the different rocks formed and included a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the different rocks.  In the end the PowerPoint projects turned out excellent.  Madison Stubbs

7th GRADE

Want to "Help" the 7th grade with a great fundraiser? Purchase a coupon booklet for Elder Beerman Community Day, Saturday, November 15, 2008. Each coupon booklet includes a $10 off coupon to use on a single regular or sale price merchandise item. You're getting paid back twice the amount of your $5 donation! Also included are eight merchandise coupons to save on an incredible selection of items throughout the store. 100% of the $5 coupon booklet price for each one sold is ours to keep! Please contact any 7th grade teacher for your booklet, Mrs. Carr 400-0347, Mr. Milligan 466-0339, Ms. O'Shea 466-0349 or Ms. Rynkiewica 466-0372. Let us know how many you wish to purchase or sell, send in $5.00 per booklet and we will send the booklet(s) home with your student. The proceeds will be used for video conferences and field trips. Thank you

ART

A Big THANK YOU to Jon Kelly, Allison Graves, Tianna Zindler and Elizabeth Graves for donating art supplies.

Pinwheels for Peace (held on September 19, 2008)

This is by Patrick Feole:
Pinwheels for Peace is awesome! We made pictures first on the computer that showed what peace is or is not. Then we wrote little essays about peace. Then we made the pinwheel formation. We put them on pencils. Friday, Sept 19th, we stuck them in the ground outside the front door. We took pictures with us and our pinwheels. It was to show peace.

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

We have been busy improving the campus by assembling picnic tables, and returning them to the courtyard after Zach Lowery and Derek Wise cleaned and refinished them. We also put another coat of finish on the benches that go out in front of the school.

ENCORE STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Industrial Technology

It was impossible to select one student of the month for Industrial Technology since there is a group of dedicated hard working students who volunteered to help assemble picnic tables for the courtyard and put another coat of finish on the benches that are out in front of the school. These eighth grade students have helped make the school a better place for all. Thanks!

In the Photo are : Casey Bicker, Charles Richoz, Austin Swietlick, Sam Ravitch, Monika Ansinn, Cooper Gast, Garett Goodwin, Dustin Hays, Derek Wheeler, Dustin Zebell, Molly Meyer, Katie Long and Matt Englund.

Absent from the Photo are: Brandon Mensinger and Austin Cox.

Music Appreciation

Justin Kiewel-8th grade

Justin has been a great discussion generator in music appreciation. He always has insightful thoughts and ideas that stir up our discussions.

Art
Shelby Krumrie, Kali Haygood and Henry Lockman are the September Students of the Month for Visual Art class. Henry is new to this school, he started out making some excellent drawings and has finished with a fine chess set design. All three students have been helpful, willing and fun to be with. Shelby and Kali created the "RMS" bulletin board, the "Peace" displays and did well in their classwork.

P.E.-Girls
Stevi Simon is the September Student of the Month for Mrs. Rantz's Physcal Education class. Stevi gives her all in everything she does! She's very conscious of herself and others. In just this short time I've seen much improvement in her level of physical fitness.

Foreign Language
Ryan Bicker and Lindsey Koth are the September Students of the Month for Mrs. Nevil's Spanish Encore. They are always prepared, attentive, active in class, and are a great contribution to the learning environment.

P.E.-Boys
Blake Murphy is the September student of the month for Mr. Hahaj's P.E. Encore. Blake displays a positive attitude and tries his hardest. He is on e of the hardest workers I have in class.

Health
Rachel King is Student of the Month for Mr. Schadler's Health Encore. Rachel leads the class with her winning smile and her all "A's" attitude, way to go Rachel!

STAR OF RMS AWARD

The following students were nominated by Mrs. Bredice, Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Milano for positive behaviors during their lunch/recess times:

5th gr.: Mary Wheeler

6th gr. Shivam Patel
7th gr. Colleen Ferguson

8th gr. Zachary Bauer

AROUND THE WORLD-SCARECROWS ON PARADE

The Office-Mexico   Reppart-Honduras  Noll-Narnia         Hahja-China    Nevil-Germany/Spain/France

Horvath-Jamaica       Heil-Germany     Bender-Engluand     Pagel-Greece      Stemm-Canada

Barnes-Spain    Knowlton-Peru     Schaeffer-USA       Payne-Brazil          Hawn-Chile

O'Shea-Ireland      deBest-Bahamas  Rynkiewicz-Australia   Milligan-Scotland  Carr-Japan

Reuss-USA       Sanden-Egypt          Schadler-Russia    Wagner-Saudi Arabia  Hart-Austria

STUDENT COUNCIL

Congratulations to the following students for being nominated to represent the student body in our Student Council for the 2008-2009 school year: 

President-McKenzie Rathgeb

Vice President-Corianne Rasor

Treasurer-Derek Wise

Secretary-April Pliley

Friends of RMS Representatives-Zach Lowery and Dominic Milano

Watch for upcoming information on two Student Council sponsored events this month. October 17 is a trip to a local Corn Maze and October 30 is a 7/8th grade costume dance from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 

MEDIA CENTER

-Collecting ink cartridges in the library. Inkjet and laser. Thank you from your friendly library staff.

-Knowledge is free at the library. Just bring your own container. - Author Unknown

COMMUNITY EVENTS

*BECOMING A LOVE & LOGIC PARENT-This program offers parents and caregivers easy-to-use practical techniques that help adults achieve respectful and healthy relationships with children.  Your family will be able to immediately use the practical skills taught in this program to:  prevent misbehavior, avoid power struggles while setting limits, develop healthy problem solving skills, stay calm in stressful parenting situations, prepare children to resist drugs, alcohol, and violence, and teach character and responsibility through modeling.  To sign up call the Samaritan Counseling Center at 269-926-6199 or Harbert Community Church at 269-426-4321.  The sessions will be held Oct. 14-Nov. 25, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Harbert Community Church (corner of Three Oaks Rd. & Harbert Rd.).  Childcare will be provided. Cost is $50 for two individuals with a 10% rebate being offered by the Friends of RMS for RMS families.  The facilitator:  Diane J. Kopp, MA, LPC, NCC. 

*ITEMS FOR OUR SOLDIERS=AMERICAN LEGION- The local American Legion is collecting items to be sent to the soldiers overseas in care packages.  They are collecting food & snack items, personal hygiene, and entertainment items.  For a complete list of items stop outside the RMS Office where there is a collection box.  Do NOT send any pork or chocolate items. Aerosol products or alcohol based products are not allowed. 

STUDENTS 1ST CREDIT UNION

The Students’ 1st Credit Union branch office at RMS is again open for business and we need savers!  Business has been slow so we are offering an incentive to deposit.  Students making deposits in October will have their name entered in a drawing for $ 20 in pizza gift certificates.  The more deposits you make, the better your chances to win.  The hours are 7:25- 7:40 Thursday mornings and it is located outside the cafeteria.     

If you haven’t opened an account yet, stop by the branch and pick up information and forms to get started.  If you have an account, start using it! Making regular deposits can really add up.    Take responsibility for your own savings account and future.  Someday you’ll be very glad you did.  During tough times is when you realize how important saving is.  One of our first student savers is now in college and said how he wished he would have taken saving more seriously when he was young!

The Student’s First Credit Union is a partnership between RMS and Berrien Teachers Credit Union.  All balances pay interest and fees are waived until age 22.  We also offer youth Certificates of Deposit at great rates.  For more information please or to have an account packet mailed to your home, please contact Bob Clark at Berrien Teachers CU 269-985-2730.