Drive Up Schedule Pick Up and Check-In 08/23 8:30am - 12:30pm
08/24 12:30pm - 4:30pm
08/28/21 Community Care Day
09/01 First Day of 2021-2022 School Year
Back to School Night 09/29/21 @6pm
School Pictures 10/04/21 RGMS
In this issue:
From Principal Newlyn Schedule Pick Up and Check-In
Supply List
Daily Bell Schedule
Bus Routes
Student Devices
Daily Breakfast Service
Lunch Service
From the Office
MS Cross Country
Safe Routes to School
Communications for 2021-2022
Contact the RGMS Office by emailing pbruce@pps.net
If you have not already opted to receive texts from PPS Communications, you can do so by texting “Yes” or “Y” to 68453. Please note that PPS Communications uses text messaging on a limited basis.
Robert Gray Middle School is proud to be Certified by the Anti Defamation League as a No Place for Hate School 2020-2021. Let's keep our community safe and inclusive!
From Lisa Newlyn, Principal
Lunch
Dear Parents and Families -
Welcome to the RGMS Weekly Newsletter Volume 1. It's been a busy week for us at Robert Gray, welcoming back our Counseling Team: Ms. Held and Ms. Hyde, and our Media Arts team, Ms. McMillan and Ms. Morgan. Teachers are coming in as they prepare for their full return on Thursday, 08/26.
Flexibility and adaptability are key for us as we navigate new information from the Centers for Disease Control, the Oregon Department of Education, and Portland Public Schools. Thank you for being positive and responsive to us as we make changes.
This Newsletter is meant to inform you of some key program pieces. Please make sure to read through each section. Thank you for staying close to all the latest from Robert Gray, both by email, FaceBook, Twitter, and Instagram.
I want to apologize for our oversight in the Picture Day schedule. We've rescheduled this for October so that it does not coincide with Yom Kippur. Thank you to those of you who called our attention to this. It's really important to us to be respectful of Holy Days in our community and were happy to make the change.
If you have any questions about life at Robert Gray, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly by email at lnewlyn@pps.net or call/text: (503) 953-0852
Our school newsletters come out weekly on Fridays. Look for another update this coming Friday, 08/20/21
Lisa Newlyn,
Class of '85 alum and Principal
COVID Safety
COVID 19 and the Delta Variant are at the forefront of our minds as we prepare for students to return to in-person learning. Please take a moment to check your email for important updates from PPS and bookmark this link: https://www.mkt-box.com/pps/backtoschool2021
We will be practicing the 3 W's:
Wear a mask at all times indoors
Watch your distance - 3' is as close as we get
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, especially before and after eating.
PPS has made the decision that all staff and essential visitors/volunteers show proof of vaccination before entering the building. Parents coming for Late Arrivals or Early Pick Up will be greeted at the door.
Schedule Pick Up and Check In
08/23 8:30am - 12:30pm
08/24 12:30pm - 4:30pm
NEW: Drive Through only. Drive-up through the bus lane with your first and last name on a piece of paper. We'll get your schedule for you.
Need a new device or swap out an old one? We'll check on out for you while you wait in your car.
Due to changes in COVID protocols, we are not able to offer parents and students to enter the building as we had planned.
Wanted a tour - not to worry! All students will enjoy Jump Start on the first day and will get all the help they need in those first moments on campus.
Want to stay home? Schedules will be available to view on Monday through Parent VUE, StudentVUE, and Canvas.
On Monday we will email parents a link to our Schedule Change Request Form. At that time we will address any issues coming up that we may have overlooked.
September 01, 2021
Breakfast at 8:45am
First Bell at 9:05am
Late Bell at 9:15am
Did you check out a Chromebook from PPS last year? Hold onto it for this Fall! Need to replace it? Bring it back 08/23 and 08/24 to swap it for a new one.
Rachel serves breakfast each day starting from 8:45 - 9:05am. Come eat something nutritious and delicious on your way to class!
Jump Start Day 09/01/21
Our Climate Team (Lammert, Wages, Hyde, Held, Hoffelt, McMillan, Waters, and myself) are planning a school-wide Jump Start Day on our first day of school. We recognize that many students haven't set foot on the RGMS campus for some time now, or ever. In order to honor the spirit of inclusivity and have fun, we are planning a half-day of activities for students to get to know our campus inside and out.
Lockers
Due to COVID safety, we won't be able to assign students lockers. If you have an extraordinary need for a locker, please contact the office for assistance.
What's Advisory?
You will notice "Advisory" on your students' schedule. This year we are offering a 25 minute time before or after lunch that will support students by building community, supporting AVID organizational skills, and providing some time for academic intervention. Many middle schools are offering an Advisory class for students to connect in a community outside of their academic coursework. Our goal for this time is to build equity and inclusion, reinforce our School Climate Standards, and put into place an environment where students feel connected.
What About Lunch?
This year we have two lunch sections. In order to maintain a 3' distance at both, we are setting up an outdoor eating area in the under-cover play court. 6th graders will have priority seating knowing most are not vaccinated.
First Lunch = 6th/7th graders
Second Lunch = 7th/8th graders
Free Breakfast Free Lunch For All!
IMPORTANT 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR INFORMATION: Students are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch per school day at no cost. Therefore, a meal application does not need to be submitted this school year. However, if eligible families would like other benefits, like a fee reduction or waiver for school-related fees, child care discount, and low-cost internet, they can submit a meal application. If approved, the approval letter is proof of free or reduced eligibility.
WE’RE BACK (Fall 2021)! The Ida B Wells Cross Country Program will be offering a Middle School Running team for local area middle school athletes (grades 6th- 8th). Our goals is to provide young people with an opportunity to develop and build confidence in their running skills while training and competing with other athletes of similar ages and abilities in a supportive and fun environment. The Middle School Program will be under the direct supervision of Ida B Wells Head Coach Thor Ebsensen and our Middle School Coordinator is Coach Mike Mitchell. Practices will be after school Mondays and Thursdays (times TBA), beginning in early September and ending in late October. Most middle school meets will be on Wednesdays afternoons. Please go to the link below for additional information and registration information:
Back to school will look different this fall. Due to hybrid and remote learning, many students have not traveled regularly to campus in over a year. Thinking ahead can help make our first days back less stressful.
Let us share some simple ideas for a fresh start to your 2021 school year, like packing bags the night before or making sure your bike tires have air! Signing up enters you into a raffle for grocery gift cards and other fun prizes.
(Grades PK-5) Parents and caregivers: text SCHOOL to 888-520-0526
(Grades 6-12) Students or caregivers: text BACKPACK to 888-520-0526
Expect one text a day as we prepare and jump into the school year, and you can opt out at any time.
Safe Routes to School is a City of Portland program working to support students and families in traveling safely to school. See website for more program details.
