RMS Weekly Bulletin, Feb. 5, 2021

RMS Move to Hybrid

RMS will be moving to a hybrid learning model beginning the week of February 22. Here are a few things to be aware of:

• ALL hybrid students 6-8 will be in-person on Wednesdays beginning February 24. Please Note: This is different from the fall.
• Our current academic class schedule will stay the same with synchronous (live) classes being held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
• Students are not required to return. If your child was in the hybrid program in the fall, but you would prefer they remain in distance learning, please contact Maritza Zaldana in the main office by email or phone:
  • maritza.zaldana@rpsmn.org
  • 612-798-6404
• If your child was previously in the distance learning program, but you would like them enrolled in the hybrid program, please contact Maritza using the information above.
• If your child received school bus transportation this fall, look for additional communication in the next week with bus stop information.
• Specific class schedules and details will be sent to families in the coming week.

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RMS Spotlight on Equity:

Over the last few months, we have focused on the development and launch of our student affinity groups.  We are happy to announce that the groups are up and running! This week, we would like to highlight additional schoolwide activities and curriculum that demonstrates RMS’s commitment to providing ALL students with a safe, supportive school environment to thrive academically and developmentally.

• Staff Training: Teachers participate in monthly Racial Equity Training facilitated by Dr. Natalie Rassmusen from Minnesota Mankato University. Teachers are provided with opportunities to learn how to move their work from being anti-racist as a noun to anti-racist as a verb
   
• Advisory: It is essential that each student has at least one teacher that has a strong connection to them. This teacher provides guidance and supports students in navigating the middle school. Advisory serves as a soft landing spot for students as they start their school day.
   
• Academic Moves: Academic moves are lessons delivered through advisory that teaches students the contextual skills they need to master in order to be successful in the content area courses. These lessons break down the mental moves for manipulating information to bring forward new understanding and ideas.
   
• CCR: College and Career Readiness allows students to begin to dream about their future. The course exposes students to different career fields they may never heard of that are aligned to their interests. It also gives them a glimpse into what different college campuses look like.
   
• SEL: Social and emotional learning (SEL) provides a foundation for safe and positive learning, and enhances students’ ability to succeed in school, careers and life. By addressing competencies such as relationships skills and social awareness, we better prepare students to know and manage themselves, understand the perspective of others and relate effectively with them, and make sound choices about personal and social decisions.
   
• Affinity Groups: The purpose of the Racial Affinity Groups is to provide a safe space for honest discussions for students with the same racial affinity about their shared experiences and issues. These spaces are free from shame and embarrassment and staged to build students up to love who they are in the skin they are in. “By acknowledging that race plays a role in adolescent identity development and providing a safe and nurturing environment during middle school years, we hope that, when students reach upper school, they are more comfortable and better equipped to grapple with and continue to grow in their racial identity.” (Álvarez-Spychalski, Fall 2019) Álvarez-Spychalski, G. (2019, Fall). Middle School Affinity Groups. Independent Teacher: The eJournal for Independent School Educators. https://www.nais.org/magazine/independent-teacher/fall-2019/middle-school-affinity-groups/

 

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Black History Month!

• February is Black History Month. Check out the article below with great ideas as how to celebrate Black History Month with kids.
  How to Celebrate Black History Month With Kids (article from Parents.com)

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9th Grade Registration:

• Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month? Help us celebrate by nominating someone at RMS who has made a positive impact on their learning. This could be a teacher, coach, staff member, or even a peer!

Mentor Nomination Form

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Current 8th Grade Students/Families Save the Dates: 

Ask your 8th grader to show you their new Schoology course titled “Class of 2025: RHS Here We Come!”. This course is designed to be a “one-stop shop” for information regarding registration for Richfield High School.

Registration events:

• RHS held their high school registration parent night on Monday, February 1st.   
  • English Registration Parent Night Video
  • Spanish Registration Parent Night Video
• Richfield high school counselors spoke to all 8th advisory classes on February 3 about 9th grade registration, graduation requirements and RHS course offerings.
• On February 24, 8th graders will register for 9th grade during advisory classes. Each student will have a brief 1:1 meeting with an RHS counselor to review course selections prior to registration.
• Please feel free to bring any questions related to registration to your student’s advisory teacher during conferences next week or contact your student’s counselor:
• Mrs. Bergland: counselor for 8th graders with the last names A-L
  • toby.bergland@rpsmn.org
• Ms. Scott: counselor for 8th graders with the last names M-Z
  • karen.scott@rpsmn.org