february dolphin news… principal’s corner can you believe ...can you believe that it...
TRANSCRIPT
Principal’s Corner Can you believe that it’s
2nd semester already?
We’ve had our parent
information meeting for
rising 6th grade parents,
as well as a meeting for the rising 7th and 8th grade parents. These meetings are designed to provide all parents with specific details about courses and school requirements.
The entire school is supporting a fund-raiser for Pennies for Patients. Go Dol-phins!
Our school has participated in some amazing activities. We facilitated a MLK service project for students. They painted messages for the cafeteria and calm room: “Mirror mirror on the wall, words of encouragement for us all”. The school collaborated with PTA to host an infor-mational presentation on Vaping. The powerful session shared statistics, as well as the dangers of vapes. The school is working with MCPD to schedule a town hall for students.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!! Sending hugs to our RPMS community!
PTA News…
Dine-out Fundraisers: Please mark your calendars for our upcoming dine-out fundraisers
Wednesday, March 11 at Chipotle in Olney Monday, March 30 at Chick-Fil-A in Olney Thursday, April 23rd at Cafe Rio in Olney
February PTA meeting: Join us on Tuesday, February 11th at 6:30 in the RPMS Media Center for our monthly meeting. We may have a special guest speaker, details TBA!
Multicultural Night: The PTA is proud to again support this great event! Hope you can attend on Thursday February 27th from 6:30-8pm.
Membership: We need your support! Please join the PTA by visiting our website (http://rpmspta.org). We have a great year of activities planned and need fami-lies to join in order to support our programming. Thank you to those of you who have joined already! Contact us with any questions or problems.
Volunteers: We have many opportunities to volunteer! Please check out our website for different options, or email Jennifer Asbacher at [email protected]
Spirit Wear: Visit www.rosaparksspiritwear.org to order a range of apparel for your student!
Contact us: Feel free to get in touch with any concerns, questions or suggestions you may have: [email protected]
February Dolphin News…
Mark your calendars…
February 4—Report Card Distributed
February 17—Holiday, Schools and Offices Closed
February 21—Schoolwide Wellness Day
February 27—Multicultural Night, 6:30—8:00 p.m.
February 28—Early Release Day, Students dismissed at 12:30 p.m.
We’re here to help… Counseling Office: (240) 740-3310
Fax: (301) 924-3192
Grade 6 - Mrs. Sara Watts (Lef-Z), Resource Counselor
- Mrs. Michelle Ewers (A-Lee)
Grade 7 - Ms. Barbara Becker
Grade 8 - Ms. Jessica Scheffer
Counseling Secretary - Mrs. Cathy Fordham
Request for homework for long-term absence (3 day minimum)
Withdrawal from school
New registration
Request for transcripts
Seventh Grade News!
Time is flying this year! Semester one is over, and we are looking forward to a productive and engaging second semester. During the first semester, we proudly watched as our 7th graders exhibited great leadership in their classes and activities, and participated in effective discourse across their academic disciplines. In addition to researching for a variety of purposes, students prac-ticed their public speaking as they presented their findings to others to in-form, educate and persuade. Speaking in front of the classroom can be nerve-wracking, but it is an important skill to hone. It is amazing to watch them grow and participate in athletics, geography bees, team building activi-ties, talent shows, town hall meetings and a variety of after-school groups. Our seventh graders are the best!
As a reminder, we encourage our students to be pro-active and responsible with their learning. If a student has questions or is absent, please remind them it is important to come see us! Teachers are available for extra help at various times throughout the week. Please encourage your 7th graders to take advantage of the help that is offered by arranging time with their teach-ers as needed. In addition, Homework Club is offered after school on Tues-days and Wednesdays in the media center.
In addition, you can expect students to come home most weeknights with homework in at least one or two classes. A good way to keep track of this work is if your child uses an agenda book daily. Time is provided in every class to write homework down, it is posted in the classrooms daily, and it is also found on myMCPS parent and student portals. For the most part, students are expected to do homework at home to enhance, practice and reinforce the learning in the classroom. Most of the time, there are not really opportuni-ties during class to complete homework, and TAP class is not truly long enough to complete all homework assignments. If homework is not coming home, you may want to take a look at the homework completion scores on the portal for each class.
Eighth Grade News!
As we begin the 3rd Quarter of 8th grade we want to remind all students and families of the following expectations: 1. Please ensure your student is actively checking MyMCPS Portal and Google Classrooms for assignment due dates and missing assignments. 2. Please ensure your student is arriving to school on time and encourage them to arrive to their classes on time in order to engage in learning. 3. Please encourage and speak to your student about appro-priate use of their phone during the school. It should be off and out of sight.
The eighth grade Hershey Park fieldtrip is coming on Thurs-day, June 11, 2019! Please be on the lookout for information coming home with your students starting Friday, February 7th. The Hershey info will also be available online on the RPMS homepage starting on this day as well. We will be leaving at 7:30am and returning to school at approximately 7:30pm.
Please ensure your student signs the student agree-ment. Parents please complete the permission forms and have your student return them to their TAP teacher before Friday, March 6. The 8th grade team hopes all 8th grade students will join us for the fieldtrip!
If you have any questions, please email Ms. Cooper
([email protected]) or
Mr. Swank ([email protected]).
Geo Bee Results are In!
Congratulations to the RPMS Geography Bee Champions!
RPMS students recently participated in a school-wide Geography Bee competition through World Studies classes. Congratula-tions to the following winners!
6th Grade and RPMS Champion: Calum Jagannathan
6th Grade Winners: Gary Salidao , Madeline Berry, Toby Bang, Vincent Nazzaro, Eliana Weiss, Vivi Phan, Sadie Madison, Carter Mackinnon Safiyyah Herrod
7th Grade Champion: James Bang
7th Grade Winners: Naeem Colombowala, Oliver Sykora, Aidan Neukam, Jamil Sheikh, Owen Wood, Eddie Somakpo, Charles Galczynski , Eric Storms, Andrew Sarmiento-Hernandez
8th Grade Champion: Aidan Leclere
8th Grade Winners: Cameron Stewart , Sammy Joseph, Ben Christine, Mac Crismond, Noah Bair, Elan Joseph, Cooper Hawkins, John Robert, Mahoney, Fabrizio Vera
Congratulations to James Bang, who emerged as the RPMS Geography Bee Champion!
Sixth Grade News!
Sixth graders have successfully completed second quarter. On Friday, January 31, we will have our second town hall meeting. We will recognize many students for their efforts and academic achievements in quarter 2. We will also focus on behavioral expectations in a fun game format. Students began their electives for Quarter 3 on Tuesday Janu-ary 28th. We are looking forward to enjoyable and productive 3rd quarter.
Math
Learnzillion Math 6 – Learn Zillion 6 Students in math 6 will be adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing decimals using models and the standard algorithm. They use calculations with whole num-bers and decimals to solve problems set in real-world contexts.
Learnzillion Math 7 – Students solve equations and linear inequalities using rational numbers. They draw, interpret, and write equations in one varia-ble for balanced “hanger diagrams,” and write ex-pressions for sequences of instructions, e.g., “number puzzles.” Students will learn algebraic methods for solving equations.
C2.0 IM – Students in IM will be finishing applying formulas to two and three-dimensional figures to find missing measurements of the figure. Next, students will be exploring statistics and probability with number cubes, spinners and computer-based technology. The students will be identifying angle relationships to determine the measures of missing angles. The angle pairs we will study are adjacent, complementary, supplementary and vertical.
Learnzillion Math 8 - Students will use functions and function rules to write equations. They will also explore and relate geometric formulas for cylin-ders, cones and spheres using real world applica-tions. Students should bring their calculators to class every day throughout Unit 5.
C2.0 Geometry - In C2.0 Honors Geometry, we begin Unit 3 by extending students’ experience with two-dimensional and three-dimensional ob-jects to include informal explanations of circumfer-ence, area, volume, and density.
C2.0 Algebra I—Students in Algebra will begin Unit 4. In this unit, students extend their knowledge of linear and exponential functions to quadratic func-tions. Students will spend time comparing key char-acteristics of each type of function and through their work will better understand quadratic rela-tionships. Please ensure your students has an op-erational TI-83 with an extra set of new batteries to bring to class daily. We will be utilizing it for daily instruction.
English
6th Grade English: Time is flying this year! Semester one is over, and
we are looking forward to a productive and engaging second semes-ter. During the first semester, we proudly watched as our 7th graders exhibited great leadership in their classes and activities, and partici-pated in effective discourse across their academic disciplines. In addition to researching for a variety of purposes, students prac-ticed their public speaking as they presented their findings to others to inform, educate and persuade. Speaking in front of the classroom can be nerve-wracking, but it is an important skill to hone. It is amaz-ing to watch them grow and participate in athletics, geography bees, team building activities, talent shows, town hall meetings and a varie-ty of after-school groups. Our seventh graders are the best!
As a reminder, we encourage our students to be pro-active and responsible with their learning. If a student has questions or is absent, please remind them it is important to come see us! Teachers are available for extra help at various times throughout the week. Please encourage your 7th graders to take advantage of the help that is offered by arranging time with their teachers as needed. In addition, Homework Club is offered after school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the media center.
In addition, you can expect students to come home most weeknights with homework in at least one or two classes. A good way to keep track of this work is if your child uses an agenda book daily. Time is provided in every class to write homework down, it is posted in the classrooms daily, and it is also found on myMCPS parent and student portals. For the most part, students are expected to do homework at home to enhance, practice and reinforce the learning in the class-room. Most of the time, there are not really opportunities during class to complete homework, and TAP class is not truly long enough to complete all homework assignments. If homework is not coming home, you may want to take a look at the homework completion scores on the portal for each class.
And, as always, please contact your child’s teachers with any ques-tions.
7th Grade English: Third quarter brings with it a new unit, Perspec-
tives. During this unit, students will look at many ideas from multiple perspectives in order see beyond their own. Much of the text, both fiction and non-fiction, will center around events in the world during World War II. To start, students will write a narrative offering a differ-ent perspective by rewriting a scene from a text through the eyes of another character. In class, they will work collaboratively to analyze a novel and examine how writing narratively can influence one's under-standing of history.
8th Grade English: Students in English 8 will be entering Semester 8B
Literature and Language. Students will be entering their first Unit where they will be choosing a class novel and participating in litera-ture circle discussions analyzing how authors use various stylistic tech-niques in their writing. In our Reader’s Workshop, students should still be continuing to read their outside reading novels at home every day for 30 minutes. Students, at this point of the year, should have read around 15 books to be close to their reading goal of 30 books by the end of the school year.
Digital Literacy: : In Digital Literacy, students have been identifying
different audience types and author viewpoints. They have been ana-
lyzing all the ways that authors can create an effective persuasive
argument. Students will soon move into a fiction unit that asks them
to identify and analyze figurative language. They will think critically
about specific text details and will use their thoughts to participate in
literature circle discussions.
Tips from School Health Services…
When To Keep Your Child Home from School When your child is sick, they should stay home and not attend school. This not only benefits your child but other chil-dren and staff in the classroom at school.
What Are Important Signs of Illness? • Temperature of more than 100 ºF orally
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomachache
• Diarrhea
• Pale or flushed face
• Headache
• Persistent cough
• Earache
• Thick yellowish discharge from nose
• Sore throat
• Rash or infection of the skin
• Red or pink eyes
• Loss of energy or decrease in activity
If your child has any of these symptoms when it is time for school, it is best that they stay home. Most childhood illnesses are over soon and no cause for worry. But, if the symptoms are severe or persist for more than 24 hours, you should contact your private source of medical care.
When My Child Return to School After An Illness?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that individuals stay home at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (chills, feeling very warm, flushed appearance or sweating) without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
Generally, your child may return to school when there is no longer a sign of illness. However, there may be times when it is necessary for your child to see your source of medical care before returning to school. Please call your school nurse if you have any questions regarding a specific condition.
Physical Education & Health
Quarter 3 is upon us...crazy that we are already halfway through the school year. Please remind your child to continue to bring in warm weather gear. Sweats are necessary and gloves and hats are encouraged. As long as the weather is manageable, we will continue instruction outside.
Mr. Eastham, Mr. Foster, and Mrs. Collins classes will begin instruction in Health Education. As a reminder, Family Life forms only need to be returned if you are opting your child out of instruction. Health topics make for great conversa-tions at home. Ask your child what they are learning in health. As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
PE/Health, Arts, and World Language Resource Teacher Rosa Parks Middle School: 240-740-3300
Order Your Yearbook Today! Order Your Yearbook Today! Order today on the Rosa Parks Middle School Website. Only $35 now through April 1st. Price subject to change after April 1st. Use the link that looks like the picture below and follow the directions.
OR Complete an order form and bring it to Mrs. Woodward in room C208.
Order forms are in the main office. ORDER TODAY April 3rd prices go up to $40.00.
Student Service Learning Students may turn in verification forms and completed SSL forms to the designated folders located outside of Mrs. Lewis’ classroom, B116. Students may also pick up verification or pre-approval forms in this location. Please contact Mrs. Lewis di-rectly with any questions regarding SSL: [email protected]
SYSTEMWIDE DOCUMENTATION TIMELINES April 3, 2020: Documentation that qualifies middle school students for the Superintendent’s SSL Award is due to the school-based SSL coordinator. This award is given to students who meet the 75 hour graduation requirement during middle school (It is only awarded once).
SSL forms should be turned in to Mrs. Lewis in Room B116.
Media Center Happenings…
February in the library means it is “Blind-date with a Book” time! Students are invited to take a book on a blind date. A book date means that a student chooses a book that is wrapped in colorful paper and labeled with only a small hint about the book’s plot. After reading the book students are invited to complete a book review in the form of a “Rate Your Date” slip. This program is meant to encourage readers to try new and different genres, authors and topics. During the first week of December the library hosted a successful Scholastic Book Fair. RPMS parent volunteers covered the lion’s share of the book fair hours. A big thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers! We ended October in the library with the Spooky Story Contest. Our contest winner and RPMS Student Author of the Year is 8th grader Connor Pugh. Congrats Connor! Many thanks to all of the students who submitted spooky stories this year. E-book reminder: Every MCPS student has access to hundreds of free e-books through Sora. All students can easily access a wide-variety and a large number of e-books through soraapp.com It only takes a few simple steps for students to access free e-books and audio books. Students just need to go to soraapp.com or download the app and then select Rosa Parks as their school. Students login with their school id and password, check out an e-book and then read it on any device (Chromebook, computer, phone, tablet). Sora will sync to the last page read on whichever device used by the student.
RPMS Dolphin Athletics
The RPMS Athletic year is already half way over! It is time to start thinking about our Spring Sport season! Soccer will be starting March 3rd after school. If you have a child interested in trying out, please make sure they have all forms returned AND an updated physical ( within the last 2 years) on file in the health room. All forms can be found in the PE hallway, Main Office, RPMS Website, as well as the MCPS Athletic Website. As always if you have any questions, please contact me. Thanks!
Evan Miller, Athletic Coordinator [email protected]
February 3rd - 21st
Please help RPMS reach its goal of raising $10,000
for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during our 9th annual PENNIES FOR PATIENTS campaign!
Donate coins, bills, or checks (payable to LLS) via your child’s TAP class
A tax deductible donation can be made online at: https://events.lls.org/pages/nca/RosaMParksMiddleSchool-2020
Don’t forget to mention your child’s name and TAP class.
Eat out to benefit P4P
Wednesday, February 5th @ California Tortilla in Olney From 5-8PM, say “Dolphins Care” when placing your order, and 25% of
your order will benefit P4P
Tuesday and Wednesday, February 11th
& 12th
@ Papa John’s in Olney All day long, use the code “ROSA” when placing your order online, in person, or
over the phone, and 20% of the total will benefit P4P.
Monday, February 24th
@ Panera Bread in Olney
From 5-9PM, present a hard copy or an electronic copy of the flyer, and 20% of your order will benefit P4P. For rapid pick-up orders, use the code on the flyer when or-
dering online.
THANK YOU!