12-16-2022
RMS Messenger for December 16, 2022
Important Dates
December 21- End of 2nd Quarter
December 22- Winter Break Begins
January 6- Teacher Institute Day
January 9- Second Semester Starts
January 16- No School
January 18 – MAP Reading Test
January 20 – MAP Math Test
We’re hiring!
Check out our HR page for more information about open positions at RMS. We have part time and full time openings!
Caution at drop off
As we get into colder months, the ground can be a bit slippery when exiting cars in the drop off lane. We will continue to have maintenance out to ensure the sidewalks are salted, but please remind your students to use caution when exiting vehicles. The weather can affect drivers as well, please be safe when driving through the drop off lane.
Mutual Ground
Beginning second semester, Rotolo Middle School is once again partnering with Mutual Ground, Inc. to provide Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Prevention Education programming to our students. Mutual Ground has been providing programs to students for over 30 years. Additionally, legislation in our state called Erin’s Law requires all public schools in Illinois develop a comprehensive plan for sexual violence prevention education.
As a part of this plan, Mutual Ground’s Prevention Education Department will be presenting a Sexual Violence Prevention Program in your child’s classroom. This program will discuss sexual violence prevention at an age-appropriate level for our students as outlined below.
6th Grade (1/13, 1/26): Sexual Harassment Prevention – Topics covered include:
- Definition of sexual harassment and that school should be a safe, harassment-free environment
- Identify types of sexual harassment, including the use of technology
- Recognize the feelings associated with sexual harassment
- Safety planning and accessing resources
7th (1/26, 1/27) and 8th Grade (1/27, 3/6, 3/7): Sexual Violence Prevention – Topics covered include:
- Definitions of touch and non-touch sexual crimes
- Facts about sexual violence and situations in which it occurs
- Emphasizing the fact that sexual violence is NEVER THE VICTIM’S FAULT
- Risk reduction, prevention strategies, and safety planning
These programs are designed to Educate students regarding forms of sexual violence and harassment, Inform them on what to do if it happens to them, and Empower them by giving them permission to tell a trusted adult.
Mutual Ground also provides parent education through an online pre-recorded presentation on their website www.mutualgroundlearning.org. The pre-recording will cover a brief description of the presentation your child will be receiving. It will also be an excellent opportunity to learn about Erin’s Law and what we can do as parents and as a community to help prevent child sexual violence. This program is highly recommended for all parents.
Our school is committed to the safety and well-being of our students and that is why we feel that providing this programming is so important. If you have any further questions please feel free to call Tina Bleakley, Mutual Ground’s Prevention Education Manager, at (630) 897-0084 X137 or Carol Dopke, Assistant Principal, Rotolo Middle School (carol.dopke@bps101.net).
If you do not want your child to participate in these lessons, please complete this form ERIN’s LAW OPT-OUT. Rotolo Middle School. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in this program.
MAP Testing
All RMS students will be participating in MAP testing on January 18th (Reading) and 208th (Math). Please be sure your child comes to school with a fully charged Chromebook. You can refer to the MAP Guide for Parents on the BPS website or the NWEA Family Toolkit for more information on the MAP assessment.
DESSA
Starting January 9th, all students grades 6-8, will be assessed by current teachers utilizing the DESSA survey. The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) is a standardized, strength-based measure of the social and emotional competencies of students, completed by current teachers. Skills measured include: self-awareness, self-management, personal responsibility, decision making, goal-directed behavior, social awareness, relationship skills, and optimistic thinking. Teachers will complete this survey for all students three times per year. Please take a look at this information sheet for further information on the DESSA tool. Information from this survey will be utilized to determine effectiveness of our Advisory lessons as well as determine additional needs of our students. If you have questions or concerns regarding DESSA, please contact Catherine Murray, Assistant Principal of Student Services (catherine.murray@bps101.net).
National Junior Honor Society
RMS is excited to announce that we will be continuing our National Junior Honor Society program with the induction of new students this Spring. NJHS began in 1929, eight years after the start of the National Honor Society organization, to recognize students who excel in middle schools around the nation based on the five pillars: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Character, and Citizenship. All students are invited to fill out the student activity form and turn it in to the main office by January 24th, 2023 at the end of the school day (3:15 PM). To learn more about NJHS and find meeting dates, please see the parent letter and the NJHS Website. Once students are selected through the process of a faculty committee and inducted during the ceremony on April 4th, we will continue meeting until the end of the school year and pick up again in the fall. Please contact julia.thornton@bps101.net with any questions or for additional information.
Yearbooks:
Yearbook is looking for your photos! Please help support our yearbook by providing photos of our students or staff members at events for the 2022-23 school year through this form (https://bit.ly/2022YearbookPhotos). We are looking for sports, music, club, and field trip candids from all grade levels. Thank you for your help and email julia.thornton@bps101.net with any questions!
Yearbooks are for sale now through PowerSchool! When you log into PowerSchool, go to “payments” and hit the “pay now” button, from here select “add optional items” where you can add a yearbook to your student’s account. Yearbooks will be handed out the last week of school. This is your ONLY opportunity to purchase a yearbook, we will not be selling extras at the end of the year so make sure to buy your yearbook before December 21st, 2022
8th Grade Yearbook Ads
Who: All 8th Grade Parents
What: NEW THIS YEAR – Can purchase a best wishes ad for your student to be placed into the 2022-2023 yearbook – can include photo(s)/note(s)
How: Simply follow the link to design and submit your ad
Why: Help RMS fundraise in a way that your student can cherish forever! Price is $25 and all orders are due by 12/21/22.
Ski Trip
The downhill ski trip has been scheduled for Swiss Valley Ski Resort in Michigan. Students may ski or snowboard, and can bring their own equipment or rent skis or a snowboard. All grade levels are allowed to join us for the trip. Our trip will be on Saturday, January 21st. It will be an all day ski trip – we will leave at 6:45 in the morning from RMS and will be back about 7:00 pm. The form should be completed if your student can attend. This trip fills fast. You will receive notice if your student made the trip by Monday, December 19th and all payments will be required by Wednesday, December 21st to hold your students spot on the trip. If the form is not accepting responses, the trip may be full. Wait to hear from us before sending any money.
Please read the information linked here prior to signing up your student. Once notified of acceptance on the trip you need to send payment to hold your student’s spot.