RMS Messenger: April 8, 2022
April 8, 2022
It has been great having the kids back this week! Everyone seems refreshed and ready to finish the year strong!
New Information:
Scholastic Book Fair
The RMS Scholastic Book Fair is back April 21, 23, 25, and 26. Great books for summer reading! The fair will be open inside the RMS LRC from 7:40 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. each day. This fair will present only books, no toy or poster items. Also, you can shop online using this book fair link.
DESSA: Next week, all students grades 6-8, will be assessed by current teachers utilizing the DESSA survey for spring benchmarking. 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. Similar to math and reading benchmarks (MAP), teachers 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 for the upcoming school year. If you have questions or concerns regarding DESSA, please contact Catherine Murray, Assistant Principal of Student Services (catherine.murray@bps101.net)
Advisory: Our Advisory lessons for the month of April focus on skills related to all five competencies in the BPS Portrait of a Graduate framework. Students will learn and apply skills related to decision making, consequences for actions and perspective taking. We encourage you to have conversations with your child about how to apply these skills to real-life situations at home and at school.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)
We will once again be taking the Illinois Assessment for Readiness in April. Students will need to come to school with a fully charged Chromebook and plug in headphones if they have them. Wireless headphones should work, but using plug-ins will help avoid connectivity issues.
These assessments help us understand how our students are growing academically, compared to their peers across the state. The state uses this information to provide support and resources to the schools. All students will take the Math assessments on April 12th, 13th, and 14th and the Reading assessments on April 19th and 20th.
Color Fun Run at RMS
The Rotolo Middle School National Junior Honor Society is hosting a Color Fun Run on May 7th, 2022 at 9:00 AM. The proceeds of this event will go to Batavia United Way and to better the programs of National Junior Honor Society at Rotolo. We hope you can come support us and have fun doing our Color Fun Run. Please register by clicking here before April 22nd for a guaranteed t-shirt.
A Few Reminders:
8th Grade Yard Sign
Parents can purchase a window/yard sign for $7.25 that celebrates their 8th grader’s promotion to high school. If interested, go into your child’s PowerSchool account and locate “Payments”, click on the “Pay Now” button and then go to “Add Optional Items.” Scroll down to the Student section where you will find “8th grade signage,” add it to your cart and pay for it . All signs must be paid in full otherwise we cannot process your order. Orders will be taken from now until April 18. You will be able to pick up your sign at RMS the week of May 2nd.
Morning Drop-Off
If you are driving children to school, the main entrance off of Raddant Road is the primary drop-off location. However, we do realize that this can become very congested, so some alternatives to this are to drop off on Norcross Drive near the path that leads right to RMS. In addition, you can drop at the corner of Papermill Hill and Barkei Drive and students can walk up the sidewalk on Papermill to school. Please do not enter the large parking lot near the cafeteria/athletic entrance as this is where our buses drop off students. Cars dropping students in this lot impedes the bus drop-off and creates a safety hazard. Thanks for your cooperation with this!
Upcoming Important Dates (21-22 BPS Academic Calendar)
April 15th: No School–Institute Day for Teachers
May 26th: Last Day of Student Attendance; 8th Grade Dinner Dance at Lincoln Inn (6:00-8:30)
Information from BPS101:
Community Open House for Building Our Future Together
BPS101 has completed the Community Engagement Sessions for the Building Our Future Together plan. In those sessions we learned that people want to see our school buildings and learn about some of the key areas that need improvements. Please join us for an Open House at RMS and JBN on April 27th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at RMS or JBN, or BOTH! Volunteers and staff will be on hand at each location to show you around and answer questions about the buildings. Everyone is encouraged to attend even if you have been in the buildings before. Come see them in a new light. Additional information on the Building Our Future Together project can be found at bps101.net/boft.
Batavia Bulldog Booster Organization Spring Fling Fundraiser
After a two-year hiatus, the Booster Organization’s Spring fundraiser is back and in a new, casual format. Join us at the Batavia VFW Post for a Spring Fling on April 22 from 6:00-10:00 PM. This event will include an auction similar to previous year’s Dinner Dance. Tickets Sales will end at midnight April 15, 2022. For more info and to purchase tickets, please visit http://bataviabulldogboosters.org/
Clubs and Activities
A great way to keep students engaged in school is by participating in clubs and activities. There are many clubs and activities that are currently meeting and practicing. Find out more about RMS clubs and activities HERE and BHS clubs and activities HERE.