Principal's Newsletter

Principal's Newsletter, 2018-2019

March 15, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Spotlight: This week’s spotlight shines on Sharry Sparks. RJH is fortunate to have her!

Talents by the Sea Artwork Judging! Tuesday, March 19th at the RES gym from 2:30-4:30. It only takes about 5 minutes.

Are you interested in reading and scoring the written work for Talents by the Sea? It is all done online. Please send Lauren Kalil and email at: lavinnk54@hotmail.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, March 20^th: Rye School Board Meeting @ 5pm

Friday, March 29^th: 2^nd trimester Report cards sent home

Friday, March 29^th: School Dance, 7-9pm

March 8, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Yearbooks for Sale: Have you ordered a yearbook yet? If not, click here for information on how to do so.

Show your Spirit: The Rye Riptides School Store is OPEN! If you are interested in purchasing Riptides spirit wear please visit our website (Riptides School Store). Once you decide on the items you would like to purchase please fill out our order form located on our website. All orders need to be placed by Wednesday March 20. Money (cash or checks only) needs to be sent in to Alison Dunn by FRIDAY MARCH 22 in order for your order to be placed.

Blizzard Bag or Remote Instruction Day: Just a reminder that if another day of school is canceled due to inclement weather, it will be used as a blizzard bag day. All information can be locatedon the RJH website. There is a tab under “For Students/Families” called “Blizzard Bags”. You can then choose the appropriate grade level for information and links to your child’s assignments. Feel free to reach out to myself or your child’s homeroom teacher with questions.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the New England Math League Contest:

Grade 8 Results:

3rd place: Brody

2nd place: Gigi and Maggie

1st place: James and Addie

Grade 7 Results:

3rd place: Tucker

2nd place: Cameron

1st place: Lucy

Grade 6 New England Math League Contest Results:

3rd place: Andrew

2nd place: Abby

1st place: Kamara

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, March 12^th: Teacher In-service day, no school for students

Wednesday, March 20^th: Rye School Board Meeting @ 5pm

Friday, March 29^th: School Dance, 7-9pm

February 22, 2019

Wishing you all a wonderful and restful break!

Best,

Marie Soucy

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Spotlight: This week’s spotlight shines on 8^th grade math teacher, Sarah Harrington!

February Students of the Month: Congratulations to Alexa, Georgia, Josie!

Parent University Presentation: See the attached link for an interactive workshop for parents on anxiety, slow processing speed, and lagging executive functioning skills. "In Their Shoes" is being sponsored by the SAU 50 Parent University.

NON SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENTS

SPARK: Registration for SPARK, a program at MIT for 7th/8th graders, opened this week at https://esp.mit.edu/learn/Spark/2019/studentreg. The program offers "a bunch of short classes on a huge variety of cool topics" during a two-day period on March 16th and March 17th. The fee is $40. Visit their website to learn more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 25^th – March 1^st: School vacation

Tuesday, March 12^th: no school for students

Wednesday, March 20^th: Rye School Board Meeting @ 5pm

February 15, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENTS

5^th Grade Transition Update: We are pleased to announce the teachers for next year’s 5^th grade class at RJH. Sheila Adams will be moving from 8^th grade to 5th grade and will be joined by Audrey Garcia and Doris Gianforte. These teachers will be a dynamic teaching team and will certainly provide a smooth transition for our students.

Spring Sports: It’s time to sign up for spring sports. Students who are interested can see Ms. Cronin to sign up.

We are still in need of a track coach and a softball coach. If you or anyone you know is interested please contact Piper Cronin at pcronin@sau50.org.

Save the date! SAU50 Parent University will be hosting "In Their Shoes", an interactive workshop facilitated by Northeast Passage, on April 2 @ 6pm in New Castle. You'll learn that characteristics such as shyness, defiance or laziness may be rooted in an underlying challenge your child is facing. Come and put yourself in their shoes! More details to follow soon.

PowerSchool: Just a reminder to check your child’s PowerSchool to stay informed with their academic progress. The 2^nd trimester ends on March 22^nd.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, February 15^th: RJH Dance, sponsored by the 6^th grade, 7-9PM

Friday, February 22^nd: Early Release Day for students

February 25 – March 1: School vacation

February 8, 20198

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Spotlight: Please see this week’s staff spotlight on our veteran teacher Becky Murphy.

Summer Opportunities at PHS: The link below offers details about upcoming summer learning opportunities at PHS for upcoming 7^th & 8^th grade students. They offer flexible opportunities for student to enjoy the summer and also have a positive learning experience that is right for them. Summer Learning Opportunities for Upcoming 7th and 8th Graders

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, February 12^th: Tom Thelen Presentation @ RJH, 6pm

Wednesday, February 13^th: RJH School Board Meeting @5pm

Friday, February 15^th: RJH Dance, sponsored by the 6^th grade

Friday, February 22^nd: Early Release Day for Students

February 1, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENTS

January Students of the Month: Congratulations Ariana, Brady, Eveland!

Change in School Calendar: Please note that the Teacher Work Day that was scheduled for March 22^nd has been moved to March 12^thto coincide with the town voting day. Students do not have school on March 12^th and do have school on March 22^nd.

Calling all football and physical fitness fans: If you want a fun way to add exercise to the big game on Sunday, join in the 4th Annual PE Push-ups 4 Points. Good Luck Patriots!

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

Hello Parents!

Please see the attached Bio on our upcoming speaker, Tom Thelen. Tom will be presenting to our 3rd-5th graders and again to our 6th-8th graders on Tuesday February 12th during the day. He will also provide a parent presentation in the evening to share advice and strategies for parents raising resilient and victim-proof kids! Join us on Tuesday February 12th at Rye Junior High from 6:15pm-7:30pm if you can!!

While this is intended to be a parent presentation, we understand that it may not be possible for you to attend without your children. Tom’s message is child-friendly, but definitely worth your FULL attention!

Stay warm!

Lori & Alison

Tom Thelen Bio

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, February 5^th: Rye Deliberative Session, 6:30pm @ RJH

Thursday, February 7^th: RJH Band Concert @ 7pm

Tuesday, February 12^th: Tom Thelen Presentation @ RJH, 6pm

Wednesday, February 13^th: RJH School Board Meeting @5pm

Friday, February 15^th: RJH Dance, sponsored by the 6^th grade

Friday, February 22^nd: Early Release Day

January 25, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to all of our students who participated in the Geography Bee and the Spelling Bee this week. Congratulations to the winners who are listed below. The 1^stplace winner will represent RJH in the state competition.

Spelling Bee

RJH Champion: Kamara W

1^st Runner up: Charlotte M

2^nd Runner up: Natalie D

Geography Bee

RJH Champion: Sophia C

1^st Runner up: Stella P

2^nd Runner up: Princeton D

Staff Spotlight: This week’s spotlight shines on one of our veteran teachers, Mrs. Ann Rafferty! Please take a few moments to read all about her and the fabulous things she does with students.

Dance, change of date: FYI, the RJH dance that was scheduled for February 8^th has been changed to February 15^th.

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

Hello Families!

In an effort to address the ongoing challenges our society faces with bullying behaviors and peer mistreatment, Rye School District, with the support of Rye PTA, has invited youth motivational speaker Tom Thelen to inspire our students and their families with a "fresh perspective on bullying prevention." Tom is the creator of the Victimproof Bullying Prevention Program and has spoken at over 500 schools and conferences. His message teaches students how to respond to bullying and how to “be the change.” We are excited to welcome him to Rye!

Tom will speak with our 3rd through 5th graders and our 6th through 8th graders at two separate presentations on February 12. Please join us that evening at 6:00pm to hear from Tom. His message gives practical tools for adults to help kids become more responsible and resilient.

For more information, don’t hesitate to contact Lori Arsenault or Alison Dunn. You can also visit Tom’s website at https://tomthelen.com.

We look forward to seeing you on February 12th.

Alison Dunn and Lori Arsenault

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, February 7^th: RJH Band Concert @ 7pm

Friday, February 15^th: RJH Dance, sponsored by the 6^th grade

Wednesday, February 20^th: RJH School Board Meeting @5pm

Friday, February 22^nd: Early Release for students

January 18, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENTS

8th Grade Fund Raising Calendar: The 8^th grade students are selling raffle calendars to raise money for their class trip to Montreal in May. If you are interested in buying one, see any 8^th grade student or print out thisCalendar and drop off at RJH. There are some great prizes that will be awarded each day throughout the month of February, for only $10. The 8^th grade students, parents and staff, led by Anne Gilbert have worked hard to put this together. Please show your support by purchasing a calendar.

2^nd Annual Storytelling Project: Save the date for a student performance at 3S in Portsmouth on April 11^th: Storytelling Night

NON SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENTS

Rye Civic League: See the attached flier for upcoming events

Rye Civic League

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, January 21st: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School

Tuesday, January 22nd: Geography Bee @ 2:10pm

Wednesday, January 23: 6^th grade field trip to PMA/Ice skating

Thursday, January 24th: Spelling Bee

Friday, February 8th: 6th grade dance

January 11, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Geography Bee: Congratulations to the Geography Bee finalists from each grade level (listed below). On Tuesday, January 22nd, we will hold the school-wide Geography Bee to determine a school winner.

6th grade: 7th grade: 8th grade:

Sofia Princeton Alyssa
Estella Nikko Lochlan
Charlie * Cade Brody
Charlotte*

Staff Spotlight: This week’s spotlight is on 6^th grade language arts teacher Erin Fleming.

Note from the School Nurse: Please read the attached memo from our school nurse, Janet Smith, regarding flu season. Influenza Information 2019

Story Slam: Last year Ms.Fleming worked with seven brave storytellers to produce a Story Slam- an amazing evening of live storytelling performed last spring at RJH.

This year, for our 2nd annual storytelling project, the Rye PTA is excited to announce a partnership with Long Story Short and 3S Artspace! 8-10 courageous storytellers are needed to perform AT 3S in Portsmouth in front of a LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE on April 11, 2019.

Ms. Fleming will work with you to create a compelling 5 minute story (either from scratch or using a piece already in development), and help you hone that story into a polished piece.
You can meet with her during times that work for you- during the school day, or after school!
The theme this year is You Can't Go Back.
Intrigued? Come to the informational meetings this Thursday or next Thursday! Details provided during morning announcements.

Parents! Please encourage any and all interested-but-reluctant storytellers to at least attend the info meetings... this will be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved!

Special thanks to the Rye PTA, who is funding this project!

NON SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENTS

Ice Skating: The Madden Group/ReMax Rising Tide and Voyager Insurance Services are sponsoring Free Skate every Tuesday Evenings from 5:30-6:45pm during the Winter Season. See the attached flyer for more information.

Free Skate Party!

In addition to Tuesday Evenings, the Sponsorship is providing a Free Skate Party this Saturday evening January 12th from 7:00 to 9:00pm. See the attached flyer for more information:

Tuesday Evening Free Skating!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, January 16^th @ 5pm: Rye School Board Meeting

Monday, January 21st: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School

Wednesday, January 23^rd: 6^th Grade PMA/Skating Field Trip

January 4, 2019

Happy New Year! It was wonderful to have our students return this week! I hope you all have a great weekend.

Best,
Marie Soucy

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to the December Students of the Month who were celebrate at a school wide assembly before break: Noah, Amelia, and Kaden!

Substitute Teachers Needed: RJH is looking for substitute teachers! If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Elizabeth Figliulo at efigliulo@sau50.org

Tardy or Absent - If your child is going to be tardy or absent from school, please ensure that you contact the front office by 8:30am on the day of the absence. You can call or email Mrs. Hogan at 603-964-5591 or thogan@sau50.org (Additionally, for missed assignments you can email your child’s teachers).

As a reminder, students are considered tardy if they are not in homeroom at 8:10am.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, January 8: 8^th grade shadow day @ PHS

Wednesday, January 16^th @ 5pm: Rye School Board Meeting

Monday, January 21st: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School

Wednesday, January 23^rd: 6^th Grade PMA/Skating Field Trip

December 21, 2018

Dear Parents,

I hope you all have a restful and relaxing break, filled with quality time with family and friends.

Happy Holidays!

Marie Soucy

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Highlight: Please see this week’s piece on one of our paraprofessionals, Ms. van Binsbergen

A “Coded” Christmas Carol: Our eighth grade students created a "Dickens' Village" after reading "A Christmas Carol". The students built interactive scenes from the book, after examining imagery from each stave (or chapter). Students wrote code that controls the motors and lights that make the scenes interactive.

The projects have been at the Rye Public Library for the community to enjoy this past week. Take a look at the following article about it: Rye Students Create Coded Christmas Carol Village Masterpiece

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 22nd thru January 1st: Winter Break

Wednesday, January 2: School Resumes

Tuesday, January 8: 8^th grade shadow day @ PHS

December 14, 2018

Dear Parents,

The 1^st Trimester Report Card was handed out to students today. You will see that the format and contents have changed slightly. In an effort to provide you with more information on your child’s progress, we are now assessing and reporting out on academics as well as habits of work and learning, or HOWLs. There is a key on the report card which gives a brief description of the HOWLs scores (1 - 4). For more detailed information on how students are assessed, please see the attached RJH Habits of Work and Learning (HOWLs) Rubric.

As a reminder, you can stay up to date with your child’s academic progress throughout the trimester by accessing assignment grades in PowerSchool.

Have a great weekend!

Best,
Marie Soucy

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A “Coded” Christmas Carol: Our eighth grade students have created a "Dickens' Village" after reading "A Christmas Carol". The students built interactive scenes from the book, after examining imagery from each stave (or chapter). Students wrote code that controls the motors and lights that make the scenes interactive.

The projects will be moved to the Rye Public Library for the community to enjoy on Monday, December 17 at 1:15, and the grand unveiling is Tuesday, December 18 from 10:00-11:30 at the Public Library. We hope you can join us at one of the many events celebrating the students' hard work! Please see the attached Invitation for more information.

See the following article written by 8^th grade student Gabriella to learn more about the project, Students recreate and program 'A Christmas Carol' scenes

Food Drive to support the program End 68 Hours of Hunger. Each grade has been assigned the following items to bring in:

6^th Graders – Peanut butter (no glass), oatmeal, canned or packaged tuna
7^th Graders – Cereal (small boxes) jelly (no glass), canned soup
8^th Graders – Granola bars or fruit snacks, mac n cheese (boxes/cups), canned fruit or veggies

Lost & Found: Please, please, please take a look at the attached pictures of the lost and found we have at school. We have many items that will be donated if they are not claimed when we leave for the holiday break . Lost & Found 1 and Lost & Found 2

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, 12/17 - Cookie Dough Delivery
December 22 thru January 1 - Winter Break

December 7, 2018

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Highlight: Please see this week’s piece on our wonderful 6^th grade teacher, Mrs. Miller!

Blizzard Bag Days: In the event a Blizzard Bag day is called, all information can be located on the RJH website. There is a tab under “For Students/Families” called “Blizzard Bags”. You can then choose the appropriate grade level for information and links to your child’s assignments. Feel free to reach out to myself or your child’s homeroom teacher with questions.

As a reminder, the first day will be a snow day, not a blizzard bag day. Superintendent Petralia’s message will announce when it is a blizzard bag day.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, 12/13 - Winter Chorus Concert @ 7pm

Friday, 12/14 - 1^st trimester report cards sent home

Friday, 12/14 – 8^th Grade Field Trip to North Shore Music Theatre

Monday, 12/17 - Cookie Dough Delivery

December 22 thru January 1 - Winter Break

November 30, 2018

October Students of the Month: Congratulations to Andrew, Tucker and Delaney! Students were recognized at a school wide assembly today.

SAU50 Parent University: Attached please find a flyer for SAU50 Parent University's first formal talk on December 4. This presentation will be hosted by Carrie Chiasson from Portsmouth Neuropsychology. We will be hosting forums periodically, and hope that parents can attend when convenient for their schedules.

SAU50 Parent University: Stress & Anxiety Talk

Bus Pass Protocol: Students must have a bus pass to give the bus driver in order for them to take a different bus or get off at another stop. If your child is going to be riding a different bus or is getting off at a different stop on their normal bus, please send your child in with a note, or call the main office with your request.

Cookie Dough Sales: If you have cookie dough orders and money please send them in to school on Monday. Thank you all for your support with this fundraiser!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, December 7 - 7^th Grade Field Trip to UNH Theater

Friday, December 7 - End of Trimester 1

Friday, December 7 - School Dance, 7-9pm

Thursday, 12/13 - Winter Band & Chorus Concert @ 7pm

Friday, 12/14 - 8th Grade Field Trip

Friday, 12/14 - 1^st Report card sent home

Monday, 12/17 - Cookie Dough Delivery

December 22 thru January 1 - Winter Break

November 16, 2018

Dear RJH Families,

During this time of Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude and thanks for sharing your children with us on a daily basis. This is a wonderful time of the year to get together with friends and family to celebrate and be thankful for all the wonderful people in our lives. During this time, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be a part of such a special community. On behalf of the RJH staff, I would like to thank you for your continued support and wish you all a safe and happy holiday next week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best,
Marie Soucy

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Highlight: Please see this week’s piece on our wonderful 6^th grade teacher, Mr. Scogin!

Composting: The compost program at RES is going strong and RJH is gearing up as well. We are in NEED of parent volunteers to help with our efforts though. We are looking for a few parents (at least 2) to pick up the compost on Wednesdays and Fridays. This is a quick drop off process to the transfer station. No need to worry about a big mess in your car, and the entire errand should take about 15 minutes. We have RES parents willing to help but we really need RJH parents to step up to show the kids our commitment to making this happen. Contact Carla Cole (carla.cole@comcast.net )for more information on how you can help.

Thanksgiving Baskets: It's that time of year again! We have Thanksgiving baskets that we would like to donate. If you or someone you know could use some help this holiday season please contact Alison Dunn at 964-5591 or adunn@sau50.org or Lori Arsenault at 436-4731 or larsenault@sau50.org

Reminder: Student Council is collecting gift cards from Market Basket and Walmart to support local families in need this holiday season. Please consider donating by sending in a gift card between now and November 19th. Any help goes a long way.

Help Wanted: RES is looking for someone to work as a Food Service Assistant. This 4hr/day position pays $10.30/hr and is perfect mother’s hours! If you are interested please send resume and references toLisa Furman at lfurman@sau50.org or call 603-436-4731

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

Our kids see and understand far more than we do when it comes to social dynamics and social interactions in the classrooms, on the bus and in the hallways. Throughout their education, we have set expectations for kind behavior and encouraged our children to have courage and speak up when they see something that doesn't feel right. We constantly assure them that we are here to help and support. However, we understand that students may feel uncomfortable or unsure about how to help if they have witnessed the mistreatment of another person. Students may worry that if they speak out against another person, they may be mistreated, too.

To address these barriers to reporting and being an upstander (a person who stands up for someone else and helps), we have created a reporting system that will make it very easy and confidential for students to report behaviors that are unkind, disrespectful, hurtful, or of a bullying nature. Beginning next week, we are implementing a new peer reporting system called STAND UP! SPEAK UP! This is a Google Form that students and parents will be able to use to report any instances of peer mistreatment in our schools. This form will allow us to collect information in a way that gives students a voice, and involves them in the resolution of conflicts or problems with their peers. By nature of it's accessibility outside of school, it also creates an opportunity for you to work with your child on discussing the problem and taking steps to create a plan for how to move forward.

The form can be found on your child's Symbaloo page. We will introduce this form to all students at RJH through Life Skills class beginning next week. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, 11/16 and Saturday 11/17: Drama Production, 7pm

Wednesday, 11/21 – Friday, 11/23: Thanksgiving Holiday, no school

Wednesday, 11/28 @ 5pm: RJH Open House for incoming students

Friday, December 7: School dance, 7-9pm

Friday, December 7: End of Trimester 1

November 9, 2018

ANNOUNCEMENTS

100 years ago, The Great War, also known as World War 1, came to an end on November 11th.

Ms. Adams' social studies class did an activity to recognize the event and to add to an exhibit in Reading, Massachusetts.The class received copies of newspaper articles from The Reading Chronicle from over 100 years ago. The newspaper (in 1917) asked service personnel to write letters back to be printed for the community to read.

In class, students recorded many letters. The audio recordings are located on a website for your listening pleasure. The link is http://tinyurl.com/readingwarletters

Cookie dough fundraiser: Below is more information on the cookie dough fundraiser that began on Monday. Checks can be made out to RJH.

Timeline:

· November 28^th: End sales / students return forms & money

· December 17^th: Delivery Date of cookie dough to RJH for students

Prize Overview:

Level 1 - 20 boxes sold - choice of either customized slide sandals OR the 1/4 zip pullover

Level 2 - 25 boxes sold - Choice of any one prize. Either customized Under Armor Backpack OR Custom heavy twill sweatshirt hoodie, OR choice of a Level 1 prize

Level 3 - 45 Boxes sold - Choice of any TWO prizes

Thanksgiving Baskets: It's that time of year again! We have Thanksgiving baskets that we would like to donate. If you or someone you know could use some help this holiday season please contact Alison Dunn at 964-5591 or adunn@sau50.org or Lori Arsenault at 436-4731 or larsenault@sau50.org

Thank you!

NON SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENTS

Check out the link below for information on Project Sparx

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cCu7Q7kh0GZFw0RMOReN7d_yHY1gryG3/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cCu7Q7kh0GZFw0RMOReN7d_yHY1gryG3/view

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, 11/12: Veteran’s Day Observed, no school

11/15 -11/17: Drama Production, 7pm

Wednesday, 11/21 – Friday, 11/23; Thanksgiving Holiday, no school

Wednesday, 11/28 @ 5pm; RJH Open House for incoming students

November 2, 2018

Dear Parents,

We have quite a bit of information in this week’s newsletter, including our students of the month and our staff highlight. Please take the time to read through it all.

I hope to see many of you for parent teacher conferences next week. Have a great weekend!

Best,

Marie Soucy

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Highlight: Please see this week’s piece on our wonderful 8^th grade language arts teacher, Anne Gilbert!

Congratulations to the October Students of the Month; Charley, Lucy and Bennett.

Veterans Photos Needed: Please send in photos of Veterans who are near and dear to you for our assembly. More information here.

Wounded Warrior Donations: We are collecting donations for the Wounded Warrior Project. Please consider making a donation. More information here.

Cookie Dough Fundraiser: We will be kicking off a school wide fundraising event next week. Please be on the lookout for materials that students will receive on Monday. We appreciate your help and support with this fundraiser!

Substitute Teachers Needed: RJH is looking for substitute teachers! If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Elizabeth Figliulo at efigliulo@sau50.org

Middle School Transition Update

5th Grade Transition sub-Committee Update

Clarification:

It was noted in yesterday's PTA update that next Friday's preliminary school budget planning session would begin with a regular school board meeting. As outlined in Superintendent Petralia's email, the regular school board meeting will occur after reviewing the preliminary budget. The regular school board meeting is estimated to begin around 2:30pm and may include a vote by the board regarding the recommended class configuration.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, 11/6: Parent Teacher Conferences, 4-7pm

Tuesday, 11/7: Parent Teacher Conferences, 8am – 12pm

Thursday, 11/8 @ 6pm: 5^th grade Transition Committee Readout

Friday, 11/9: Rye Budget and Board Meeting, 8:30am – 3pm

Thursday, 11/15, Friday, 11/16 & Saturday, 11/17: Drama Production, 7pm

October 19, 2018

Dear Parents,
It’s that time in the year when we could all benefit from a friendly reminder about the importance of being on time to school. As a reminder, supervision of students begins at 7:45am. At 8am, the first bell rings and students go in to the school where they have time to go to their lockers, organize themselves for the day, and go to homeroom. When the bell rings at 8:10am, students should be in their homeroom and be ready to start the day. Students are considered tardy if they are not in homeroom at 8:10am.

Did you know?

The likelihood of success in learning is strongly linked to participation in school, which is linked to arriving on time.
It is very important for children to develop habits of arriving on time at an early age, beginning from the time they start school.

Arriving on time for School:

Helps your child to learn about regular routines and develop positive lifelong habits.
Ensures your child doesn’t miss out on any important learning.
Gives your child time to prepare for the day and check in with teachers if needed.
Gives your child time to greet their friends before class, which can reduce the possibility of disruptions in the classroom.
Helps to minimize disruption to the entire class when walking in late.
Eliminates any discomfort your child may experience when walking in to class late.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Parent Teacher Conferences: are being held on the evening of November 5^th and the morning of November 6^th. Remember to sign up on the form that was sent to you by your child’s teachers.

Tardy or Absent - If your child is going to be tardy to school or absent from school, you must let the office know by 8:30am. You can call or email to Mrs. Hogan at 603-964-5591 or thogan@sau50.org. Students are considered tardy if they are not in homeroom at 8:10am.

5th Grade Transition sub-Committee Update

The Committee held its final meeting on October 25. Important highlights include:

After reviewing parent, teacher, Administration and Board feedback, the sub-Committee unanimously agreed to recommend a 3-person teaching team for the 5th Grade School Structure. Staff assignments will be announced in February.

Updates announced: 1) Debriefed on Berwick school tour 2) Rye Recreation has formed a sub-Committee to explore opportunities for school programming 3) Reviewed approved and proposed housing starts in Rye 4) Revisited implementation timeline and responsibilities

Please mark your calendars! The final sub-Committee read-out and panel of the school reconfiguration will take place on November 8, 2018 (see attached flyer). Free childcare will be offered. Parents must register in advance and may do so here. This is an important meeting for all community members and it is suggested that at least one parent/guardian attend.

The Committee has officially concluded its work, and this will be the final weekly email. However, please be on the lookout from principals regarding invitations for open houses, answers to your FAQs and other important information to ensure a smooth transition. Thank you for your support and engaging in this process.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, 10/31: Picture Retakes

Wednesday, 10/31: 6^th grade pumpkin launch 12:30 – 2:30

Friday, 11/2: 7^th grade Project Safeguard, 8:30am – 11:15am

Monday, 11/5: Parent Teacher Conferences, 4-7pm

Tuesday, 11/6: Parent Teacher Conferences, 8am – 12pm

Thursday, 11/8 @ 6pm; 5^th Grade Transition Committee Readout

Thursday, 11/9; Rye Budget and Board Meeting, 8:30am – 3pm

October 19, 2018

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Spotlight: Please see this week’s spotlight shine on our very fantastic nurse, Janet Smith!

Parent Teacher Conferences: Teachers at RJH will be offering times for parents to meet with them on Monday, November 5^th from 4-7pm and again Tuesday, November 6^th from 8-12pm. You should have received sign up forms from your child’s teachers. This is a great opportunity to connect with the teachers and get an update on your child’s progress.

Portsmouth High School Open House: On Thursday, 10/25 @ 6pm there is an open house at PHS for 8^th grade students and parents. There will be an introduction and then tables set up in the cafeteria for different departments to answer questions about specific classes. There are also students giving tours of the building.

Parent University: SAU50 joint school board recently formed “Parent University” to provide learning opportunities to parents as they navigate the social, emotional and academic challenges of their children’s development and to create a forum for parents of SAU50 communities to come together.

We invite you to participate in our first Parent University event: a parent discussion of the new film, “Eighth Grade,” debuting at the Music Hall from October 17-21. This coming of age “dramedy” has received rave reviews for its "poignant, sensitive exploration of the challenges of early adolescence in the age of social media and constant phone use." After you view the movie independently, Alison Dunn (Rye Junior High guidance counselor) and Anne Gilbert (RJH teacher) will facilitate a parent conversation elicited from the movie. Questions that might be addressed are:

What felt realistic about the movie, including young adult and parent behavior?
What elements of the movie were surprising or shocking?
What should we be doing as a community to help our kids navigate their middle school years?

Here are the details to join in this event:

Between October 17-21 go see “Eighth Grade” at the Music Hall in Portsmouth. Tickets are $12/per person. This movie is Rated R and intended for adult audiences. (it is also available to rent online).
Sign up here to attend the community talk. Deadline for registration is October 21. A minimum of 10 parents are required to hold this community talk. It is a parents-only evening.
When: Wednesday, October 24
Where: Rye Junior High Café
Time: 6:00-7:30p

We hope you are able to participate in this exciting community opportunity! Thank you,

5th Grade Transition Committee Update:

Thank you to the approximately 20 parents who attended our working sessions yesterday. Your feedback is appreciated. Please visit the "Middle School Transition" tab on RES's website for results to be posted shortly.

There is still time to weigh in on the middle school teaching models and other important topics for the school reconfiguration. As we have throughout the process, we are seeking input from parents of ALL students in our k-8 school district. From now until October 24, please participate in our online feedback system HERE. Please be respectful in your comments and posts. Disrespectful or insensitive comments will result in shutting the system down.

All of your input will be discussed at our final sub-committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, Oct 25 @ 7am @ RJH Café. We hope to arrive closer to our preferred configuration during this meeting. Please attend if you are able. Agenda will be posted shortly to website under "Middle School Transition" tab.

A final readout with take place on Thursday, November 8@ 6pm @ RJH Café (see attached invitation). Please mark your calendars. We are looking into providing childcare.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, 10/24, Parent University, 6:00 -7:30pm

Thursday, 10/25 @ 7am; 5^th grade Transition Committee meeting

Thursday, 10/25: PHS Open House @ 6pm

Friday, 10/26: School dance, 7-9pm

Thursday, 11/8 @ 6pm; 5^th grade Transition Committee Readout

October 12, 2018

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Check PowerSchool: At this point, we are well into the 1^st trimester. PowerSchool is a useful tool to see how your child is progressing in each of his/her classes. If you have questions or concerns regarding any of your child's grades, I would encourage you to reach out to your child's teacher as soon as possible

School Dance: Our 1^st dance for all students is being held on Friday, October 26^th. Just reminder that for a student to attend or participate in an extra-curricular activity, such as dances, he/she must be in school for at least four periods the day of the event. The cost of admission is $5 and snacks are sold there as well. All school rules apply at the dance, including cell phone usage, meaning students are not allowed to use cell phones during the dance.

Coaches: We are looking for some basketball coaches. We need the following:

A team girls, B team girls, B team boys, 6th grade girls, 6th grade boys, 5th grade girls , 5th grade boys

Practices typically run between 3:00 - 8:30pm every day and are varied depending on coach availability. Games typically start at 3:30 or 4:00. There are always back to back games - either B then A or Girls then Boys. So the time frame would be about 2 hours and then the trip back. Practices are between and hour to 1.5 hours.. The 5th and 6th graders practice during the week 2-3 times and have games on Saturday. Games and practices for 7/8 are during the week only - no weekends.

Stipends:

A team - $1500
B team - $900
6th grade - $500
5th grade - $350

If you know of anyone that may be interested please have them call or email the Athletic Director, Piper Cronin at pcronin@sau50.org.

5th Grade Transition/School Reconfiguration Announcement:

The 5th Grade Transition Committee is hard at work to ensure a smooth transition. Here are this week's updates:

The Committee held its second meeting on Fri, 10/5. Key discussion points included highlights from visits to Oyster River Middle School & York Middle School and an overview of preliminary configurations for moving the 5th grade to Rye Junior High. In no particular order, they are:
- Option A: 5th graders are taught by a 3-person teaching team, similar to current 6th graders (ie. a core teacher for Math, Science, ELA and each teacher instructs a unit of Social Studies; the cohort moves as a "pod" throughout the day)
- Option B: 5th graders are taught by one 2-person teaching team, similar to Oyster River Middle School (ie. teacher 1=Math/Science and teacher 2=Social Studies/ELA; Administration and teachers would decide which teacher instructs which subjects)
- Option C: Similar to Option B, 5th graders have one 2-person teaching team AND one self- contained classroom for students who perform better with a single teacher (similar to York Middle School)

We want your feedback! Next week you will get to evaluate the pros/cons of these models in our interactive working sessions. Please sign up here. Also, if you have questions or concerns about next fall's transition, please email Paula Tsetsilas at ptsetsilas@sau50.org by Tuesday, 11/16 so we are prepared to answer them. To date, there are approx. 20 parents who will be participating in the two sessions.
If you would like to watch video from last Friday's Committee meeting, click here.
A group of Committee members will be visiting Berwick Academy's Grades 5-8 Middle School on Tuesday 10/16.
Mark your calendars! Our formal committee readout is being held Nov 8 at 6pm. This is an opportunity for all current and former Rye School District parents (the insights of current junior high and high school parents are extremely valuable so please consider attending) and community members to learn about the committee's process, resulting opportunities for students and recommended RJH configuration. See flyer attached.

NON SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENTS

Coding opportunity for girls: Girls Who Code:

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, 10/17: Rye School Board Meeting @ 5pm

10/15 – 10/17: 6^th grade to Merrowvista

Thursday 10/18: Working Sessions for 5^th grade transition @ 10am and 6pm

Friday, 10/26: School dance

September 28, 2018

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thank you Rye PTA: for funding our field trip to The Music Hall to see “Pick of the Litter”. The students enjoyed the film and it was a great experience for all of us.

The Music Hall: The Music Hall is offering a 15% discount on adult tickets to The Ogunquit Playhouse at The Music Hall production of Elf The Musical, on stage from November 28-December 16. Use Promo code: 'Litter' when ordering tickets online.

Chromebooks: The registration deadline for Chromebook insurance is 9/30. If you haven’t registered for the Chromebook insurance yet, please do so at your earliest convenience. All students need to register every year. If you need financial assistance, please contact me (msoucy@sau50.org).

See the following link for more information: Optional Home Use of District Owned Chromebooks.

To sign up for insurance see here

5th Grade Transition Committee/School Reconfiguration Announcement:

The Committee has been hard at work moving through its task list. Here are this week's highlights:

Three committee members toured York Middle School on Fri, 9/21. It was an insightful visit. YMS houses all of their 140 5th graders in one section of the school and their activities are kept separate from 6, 7 and 8 graders. They have one self-contained classroom and two teacher teams for other students. Committee members will share their observations at the next committee meeting and notes will subsequently be posted online.
A visit to Oyster River Middle School is scheduled for this Fri, 9/28.
Suzanne Lull and Paula Tsetsilas held an initial meeting with Rye Recreation representatives to discuss leasing the majority of the lower level space at Rye Elementary School to Rye Recreation beginning July 2019. We discussed the benefits for Rye Recreation's existing after-care program and potential positive outcomes for summer camps and adult/senior programming. We also discussed the possibility of in-school cross-generational programming such as reading buddies, lunch buddies, and quilting with seniors. Our next meeting will be Fri, October 26.
Marie Soucy is working with Athletic Director, Piper Cronin, to determine if and how sports programming will be affected by the new configuration. An update will be provided at the next committee meeting.
We are excited for our upcoming interactive working sessions on October 18. These sessions will give parents and community members an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns while also weighing the pros/cons of the various teaching configurations being considered. To help us staff these sessions appropriately, please choose the morning OR evening session here.

Next committee meeting: Friday Oct 5, 2018 at 7am at Rye Junior High cafeteria. Agenda to be posted soon here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Grade 5 Transition Meeting: Friday, 10/5 @ 7am in RJH Cafe

Early Release for Students: Friday, 10/5

Columbus Day, No School: Monday, 10/8

September 21, 2018

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

This week, our devoted physical education teacher, Mrs. Piper Cronin, is certainly deserving of the RJH spotlight. Piper is not a typical physical education teacher, as she gives new meaning to the subject with her out-of-the-box approaches that ensure our students are exposed to modern and innovative ways to stay fit. It is clear with Piper’s lessons, she sees the health of the whole child in order to instill lifelong habits.

Piper has led a life dedicated to service. Before embarking on her journey as a teacher, Piper served in the armed forces as a translator and interrogator, which surely has equipped her with the skills necessary to handle a middle school population! As a member of the United States Army, Piper has been stationed abroad where she served our country with great honor. After the military, Piper transformed her passion for service by becoming an educator and has been a part of the RJH community for well over a decade.

As a seasoned physical educator, Piper understands the needs of the middle school child and creates meaningful lessons that both engage and excite our RJH students. In Piper’s classroom, students have the opportunity to learn about physical fitness in a unique way. She strengthens students’ understanding of themselves, as well as builds their confidence, by utilizing the rock climbing wall, exploring circus acts, and creating original dances. Piper takes physical education a step further by combining physical awareness with emotional understanding. She works closely with community organizations, such as New Heights, a youth group that offers experiential learning opportunities, to give students the experience of performing routine sports activities through the perspective of those who are physically challenged. Students walk away from her class with both emotionally and physically aware of their community.

With her passion for teaching, coaching, and mentoring, it is no wonder that Piper received the New Hampshire Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award. Her ability to create an environment of structure, wellness, and empathy make her a vital asset to our school.

HOWLs: This year, your child will have a HOWLs (Habits of Work and Learning) grade for each of the following categories: respect, responsibility, and perseverance in every content area. These new categories will be graded on a scale of 1-4, so PowerSchool will reflect that new grading system for HOWLS only.

As a school, we are currently working to have PowerSchool calculate this new grading system properly, so please bear with us. For now, we suggest that you look solely at the numbers in the grade book rather than the calculated percentages or letter grade. Our school-wide expectations are that students earn a 3 or better.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding a specific class, please feel free to reach out to a specific teacher.

Pick of the Litter: On Wednesday, September 26th, we will all be traveling to the Portsmouth Music Hall to see a showing of the documentary “Pick of the Litter”. RES students in 4th and 5th grade will also be joining us. We are excited to be able to have these students join us as they will be part of our school next year. Please remember to send your child’s permission slip in. Thank you to the PTA for funding this event!

5th Grade Transition/School Reconfiguration Announcement: This is the first of weekly announcements to keep the school community updated on weekly progress the Committee is making. These announcements are intended to be high-level so that you may stay informed throughout the process.

This week:
• Documents from the Committee's first meeting as well as relevant research have been posted to a new tab on the Rye Elementary's School website called, "Middle School Transition". Please check this tab periodically for updated information.
• The Committee has formed three groups to tour Grade 5-8 schools and develop best practices. Group 1 will visit York Middle School on Fri, 9/21. Group 2 will visit Oyster River Cooperative on Fri, 9/28. We are in the process of scheduling Group 3's tour to Berwick Academy's middle school.
• Principal Lull has been visiting 4th grade classrooms and hearing students' concerns and wishes about the transition first-hand. It's insightful to hear their suggestions for Rye Junior High's playground equipment and ideas for special year-end graduation celebrations.
• Co-chairs and junior high guidance have begun developing various middle school models, examining the pros/cons of each potential structure.

A full read-out of the weekly work will be presented at the Committee's next meeting on Fri, Oct 5 at 7am in the Rye Junior High Cafeteria. Please note change of location in order to record this meeting for those who wish to watch it live or at a later time.

UPCOMING EVENTS
7th grade trip to Browne Center: Friday, 9/28
Grade 5 Transition Meeting: Friday, 10/5 @ 7am in RJH Cafe
Early Release for Students: Friday, 10/5
Columbus Day, No School: Monday, 10/8

September 14, 2018

It was great to see so many of you last night at the open house. We’ve had a very successful start to our year and look forward to the great things your students will accomplish. As I mentioned, please feel free to reach out to any of us with questions or concerns as the year progresses.

Enjoy your weekend!

Best,

Marie Soucy

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Picture Day: Is Wednesday, September 19^th. School picture forms were sent home with students last week. Please be sure your child has his/her picture form on the 19^th, or place your order online at mylifetouch.com.

Yearbook Orders: When ordering school portraits on www.mylifetouch.com, you will be prompted to order a yearbook. You can also go to YBPay.lifetouch.com and enter your Yearbook ID Code 12642419.

Help Wanted: RJH is currently hiring for a part time kitchen help. Hours 10 AM to 1 PM, Monday – Friday. Contact Lisa Furman (lfurman@sau50.org ) for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Picture Day: Wednesday, 9/19

Rye School Board Meeting: Wednesday 9/19 @ 5pm

6^th grade trip to Mt. Agamenticus: Friday, 9/21

7^th grade trip to Browne Center: Friday, 9/28

September 7, 2018

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

As a regular addition to my weekly notes, I will be introducing you to our staff in the “staff spotlight”. This week, we are shining the RJH spotlight on a staff member who is an integral part of our community, Sheila Adams, 8th grade science teacher. She has been a part of the RJH family for 30+ years. During her time at RJH, she has taught science at all grade levels and always manages to make lessons engaging and exciting for our students. Sheila’s passion for science and technology extends beyond the classroom, as she travels the country during her personal time to stay up-to-date with the best practices in her field. Most recently, Sheila traveled to Chicago this past June to attend the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference. Sheila is a respected member of a variety of local and national science and technology committees where she is able to network with other educators across the country.

In the classroom, Sheila uses hands-on approaches
with the students to enrich learning. Whether she is working with NASA to bring in Moon Rocks, which are considered to be a national treasure, facilitating student participation in University of New Hampshire New England Astronomy Festival, hosting an international Earth Day student webcast, or allowing students to use technology in a meaningful and creative way during after school meetings in Technology Club, Sheila’s expertise and dedication affords students a unique opportunity to grow in the fields of science and technology.

Sheila is a proficient grant writer and is regularly awarded funding for her innovative projects. This past school year, Sheila was a recipient of a grant from The Clipper Foundation for an initiative where students will construct a small-scale sailboat, equipped with a GPS transmitter for tracking, that will be launched into the Atlantic Ocean. Students will observe data from the boat’s journey and learn about ocean waves, currents, and geography.

Her positive disposition towards students, immense knowledge of her content area, and her unwavering commitment to RJH, prove that Sheila Adams is an invaluable educator, and we look forward to her continued years of service.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Picture Day: Is Wednesday, September 19th. School picture forms were sent home with students yesterday. Please be sure your child has his/her picture form on the 19th, or place your order online at mylifetouch.com.

We are also looking for a few volunteers to help facilitate the picture taking on that morning. It typically lasts an hour. If you are willing, please email Elizabeth Figliulo @ efigliulo@sau50.org.

Open House: is being held on Thursday, September 13th from 6:00 – 7:30. We will begin in the gym for a short presentation.

PaySchools Central: We are pleased to announce a new online lunch payment system through PaySchools Central. This service, which is entirely optional, allows you to manage your child’s lunch account online. An email was sent out last week which provided the unique student ID and registration instructions. If you did not receive this email, or if you need assistance, please contact Database Administrator Lorraine Curtis at lcurtis@sau50.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

RJH Open House: Thursday, 9/13 6:00-7:30pm
Picture Day: Wednesday, 9/19
Rye School Board Meeting: Wednesday 9/19 @ 5pm

August 31, 2018
Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2018 – 2019 school year at Rye Junior High School!
Despite the heat wave that was endured, students and staff had a successful first week of
school. Time was spent over the course of the 3 days building community, setting
expectations and learning new routines. The week ended with a student assembly. Your child(ren) should have come home with the usual start of school paperwork. Please take some time to complete it and return to school on Tuesday. As some of you may have experienced, we are working through some bugs with our new entryway. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to improve it.
Have a great Labor Day Weekend!
Best,
Marie Soucy

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chromebooks:
Students should keep their laptop chargers at home. There isn’t a need to bring them from
school to home and back. We have extra charged computers in each classroom that students can
use if needed.
6 th grade students should be receiving chromebooks in the next week and will be able to bring
them home once the insurance has been purchased.

If you haven’t registered for the Chromebook insurance yet, please do so at your earliest
convenience. All students need to register every year. If you need financial assistance, please
contact me (msoucy@sau50.org).
(See the links in your email.)

RJH Play!!!

Auditions for this year’s play, “Schoolhouse Rock, Live”, will be held next Wednesday,
September 5, after school from 3:00-5:00. Online signups are now open. Please visit the
school's website for a link to the Audition information.

Auditions: Wednesday, Sep 5, 3pm-5pm
Performances: Nov 15,16, 17, 7:00pm
Below is the link to our Parent Website with all of the information about the play:
http://rjhperformingarts.weebly.com

ATHLETICS:
Fall sports begin on Tuesday next week.
Cross country has practice from 3:00 to 4:00.
Field Hockey has practice from 3:15 to 4:30.
Boys Soccer will practice from 3:15 to 4:30 @ Lang field at Rye Elementary School.
Volleyball has practice from 3:15 to 4:30 in the gym.
Girls Soccer has practice from 3:15 to 4:30.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Labor Day Recess: Friday, 8/31 and Monday, 9/3
RJH Open House: Thursday, 9/13 6:00-7:30pm
Rye School Board Meeting: Wednesday 9/19 @ 5pm

RYE RECREATION:
See the Fall Newsletter for fall program.

August 24, 2018

We are ready and eagerly awaiting the arrival of students on Tuesday. There are a few announcements and reminders for you as we begin the year. Drop off begins at 7:45 am daily. Students should not arrive prior to that unless they have a scheduled appointment with a staff member. Students will gather on the playground, or in the café during inclement weather. The bell rings at 8:00 am, at which time students will report to their homeroom. On the first day, staff will be out and about to direct students who need help finding their homeroom. Students are considered tardy if they arrive after 8:10 am. Please make every effort to have your children here on time as it helps set students up for a successful day.

The staff and I look forward to working with you and making it a great year for your child(ren).

Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have as we begin the year.

Have a great weekend,
Marie Soucy

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chromebook Insurance: The protocol for Chromebook use is the same as last year. Parents have the option to purchase insurance for any damage might occur throughout the year. Students with insurance are also able to bring computers home daily and keep it when they graduate from RJH. See the following link for more information: Optional Home Use of District Owned Chromebooks

To sign up for insurance see here

Morning Drop Off: At the request of the Rye PD, parents who are driving east on Washington should not turn left into the school parking lot. Rather, it is preferred that you drive past the school and loop around in Grange Park, which will allow you to turn right into the parking lot. This helps reduce the amount of congestion that can occur during this time.

UPCOMING EVENTS

First Day of School: Tuesday, 9/28
No School, Labor Day Recess: Friday, 8/31 and Monday, 9/3
RJH Open House: Thursday, 9/13 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Rye School Board Meeting: Wednesday, 9/19 @ 5 pm