April Dolphin News…
Principal’s Corner
Rosa Parks Middle School
It’s spring time! This is a great
time of year when flowers
bloom, and the weather is
warmer. This is the season for
students to get active with
exercise and various extra curricular activities.
Earth Day is April Friday, April 22nd, and I’d like
to encourage the RPMS school community to
make a difference in our environment. On Saturday, April 16th, the RPMS Green Team would
like to invite parents and students for a fun active day of gardening on the RPMS grounds! SSL
hours are available!
PTA News…
All are invited and welcome to come: Rosa Parks PTA General Meeting
Date: Tuesday, April 12th, 2016
Meeting time: 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Location: Media Center
Focus of the Meeting: Ten Important Things to Know about Parenting Your Middle School Child; This presentation is designed for parents who want practical ideas
they can use immediately. We will talk about a variety of topics, such as how to
cultivate a love of reading, how to make writing less stressful, and what you can do
to help your child be more resilient in the face of a challenge. Dr. Henderson is a
child psychologist with over 20 years of experience to share. Don’t miss this dynamic and informative speaker!
Agenda
Introductions and Welcome: Helma Irving/Jay Graney
Nominating Committee: Jay Graney, VP: Present the nominated slate of officer
for the 2016-2017 school year
Treasurer’s report: Randall MacGill: Present a draft of the Budget for 2016-2017
Principal’s report: Jewel Sanders, Principal Report
MCCPTA Updates: Christie Berman
Upcoming Activities: Cultural Night, Basketball Tournament
Guest Speaker: Dr. Donna Henderson, from the Stixrud Group
Open to the Floor
This is also the time of year when schools prepare for testing . This month we will be administering the Measurement of Academic Progress
(MAP) testing for math and reading. MAP is a
computer-adaptive achievement test that quickly provides an assessment of a student's skill
level in the different math and reading achievement areas.
Enjoy the beautiful weather!!
Immunization Schedules: Check with your health care provider to make sure your child is up to date with their immunizations and properly
immunized. Current and Rising 7th graders are required by Maryland State law to have a Tdap booster (Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) and Meningococcal (MCV) vaccine. Please provide documentation of these immunizations as soon as possible, either this school year, or before August 29, 2016 at the latest.
Spring Cleaning: In addition to your regular Spring cleaning chores, consider adding some that will make your home a little safer for your kids,
such as cleaning out your medicine cabinet of expired medications, checking product recalls, and changing the batteries in your smoke detectors
if you haven’t already done this.
Sun Safety: Remember, the sun’s rays are strongest between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Use SPF 15 or higher, even on cloudy days. It is important to get a healthy dose of sunshine each day while also protecting your skin.
Asthma/Allergy Action Plans: Seasonal Allergy and Asthma Action Plans are important to review and update with your health care provider
and a copy should be on file at school, as well as a rescue inhaler, if needed. Learn what your child’s triggers are (pollen, grass, molds, temperature change, exercise, smoke, perfume, and pesticides) and please let us know.
Vision and Hearing Screening: Rosa Parks 8th grade students and any other students who may be referred by their teacher (because of possible
signs of vision or hearing problems), and those who are new to Montgomery County will be screened on Monday April 4 th, Tuesday April 5th and
Wednesday April 6th.
Mark your calendars…
April 5 & 6 - 8th Grade Hearing and Vision Screening
April 8 - 3rd Marking Period Ends
April 11 - 4th Marking Period Begins
April 15 - Career Day
April 18 - Spring Portraits
April 22 - Report Cards Distributed
April 26 - Holiday — Primary Election - Schools and Offices closed
April 27 - Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) Elections
April 28 - Take Your Child to Work Day
Order Your Yearbook Today!
You can purchase online from the
www.yearbookforever.com or pick up an order form
from your TAP teacher or in the main office. The cost
is $40 and we have less than 100 to sell. Get yours
before we run out!
The school is: Rosa Parks Middle School, and the
password is: dolphins.
Yearbooks hold tons of memories for students. They
have pictures of all their classmates, and kids can
even get their friends to sign the yearbooks!
*All pictures are previewed to ensure they are
appropriate
Seventh Grade News!
We’re here to help…
Counseling Office (301) 924-3190
With the extension of Quarter 3 due to inclement
weather earlier this winter, students have an opportunity to make sure they have completed all
work for their classes.
Grade 6 - Ms. Barbara Becker
Grade 7 - Ms. Denise Talley
Grade 8 - Mrs. Sara Watts, Resource Counselor,
and
Mrs. Michelle Ewers
Counseling Secretary - Mrs. Cathy Fordham
Our teachers would like to remind all students to
complete and submit any missing grades of “Z” as
soon as possible before they become zeroes. Make
sure to check with teachers about availability and
to make sure any questions regarding the work are
answered. Most lunch periods, students can work
with Mr. White or Mrs. Link to complete any outstanding work.
Change the date…
Hope everyone had a restful Spring Break!! One
more quarter to go before summer!!
A Celebration of Culture
Thursday Night
May 19th
We plan to celebrate with: artifacts, dancing, music,
poetry, cuisine and traditions from around the world
and in our neighborhood.
Please offer to volunteer your time, talents and/or treasures (for display).
E-Mail: [email protected]
Save the date…
Rosa Parks MS vs. Farquhar MS Staff Basketball Game!
PARCC testing coming soon...
PARCC testing is soon approaching and will begin on
May 9! Feel free to visit the MCPS PARCC website at
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/
parcc/ for information about the test.
It’s going to be a fun night for all when Rosa Parks MS faculty and staff
play basketball against Farquhar MS faculty and staff in the Rosa Parks
Middle School Gym.
Friday, May 6, 2016 6-8 p.m.
Tickets will be sold during lunchtimes the week of
May 2nd.
ALL tickets must be purchased in advance, as there
will be NO tickets sales at the game.
8th Grade Student
Service Learning Project
Sixth Grade News!
Our 6th graders had a wonderful time at Outdoor Ed. This was an opportunity to learn in an unconventional school environment. They
participated in activities such as, Predator and Prey; taking part in a
simulation that explained the nuances of the food chain.
They also got the opportunity to participate in several nature hikes
and study an ecosystem. A herpetologist gave a presentation on reptiles that was rather interesting, and students were able to socialize
and enjoy recreational activities in a different setting. This was a memorable experience that will stay with our students for a life time.
Currently, we are looking forward to a well-deserved Spring Break.
The eighth graders will be working with the
American Red Cross at Walter Reed National
Medical Center to collect items for their Wounded Warriors project. Each student will be responsible for spreading
the word about the project through either a poster, a collection box, a letter/email to family and friends, or a video
advertisement for the RPMS morning announcements.
Actual collections will take place from April 18th through
April 29th. A list of needed items will be sent home with
each eighth grade student, and these donations will be
taken directly to Walter Reed. If you do not have an
eighth grader but would like to donate, please check the
RPMS website after spring break for more information.
8th Grade News!
The Class of 2020 is excited for the Hersheypark trip on June 3, 2016. There is also a t-shirt design contest some students are participating
in. If your son/daughter is doing so they need to submit their design by April 15, 2016 in order for their drawing to be considered for the
design. The winner wins and all expense paid trip to Hersheypark (minus personal spending money  ). Please submit designs to Mrs.
Shephard or Mr. Swank. The 8th grade dance will take place June 4, 2016 at Sherwood.
Physical Education & Health
The fourth and final quarter is upon us! We have had a great sneak peek into the warm weather that will eventually be
here to stay. Make sure your son/daughter is prepared for the warmer temperatures. They can bring in a clear, plastic
water bottle with plain water only. Most of the remaining units will be held outside unless there is inclement weather.
Mr. Eastham’s classes will be taking health during the fourth quarter. Make sure they come prepared with a section in
their binder or a separate folder with a pen or pencil and paper each day. If you haven’t filled out the family life permission form, please sign and return it to Mr. Eastham.
Band
Hello everyone! Advanced ensembles are preparing our last few days of the festivals. Please wish us good luck! Here are updates for April:
Thursday April 7th is our fundraising party. It will be held immediately after school @ 3pm-4:15 in Gym. Activity bus will be
available.
In April 29th, Advanced ensembles are going to the Hershey competition as well. Please stay tuned for all details.
Rosa parks music department has launched a twitter at https://twitter.com/RPMSMUSIC/.
Many activities and pictures from the Music department will be shared through the page. Please follow us! Thank you!
Math
th
C2.0 Math- 6 - In 6 grade math the students are writing and
solving one step equations and inequalities. The students are
focusing on using inverse operations to determine the value of
the variable in the algebraic equations.
C2.0 Math- 7 - Students in Math 7.0 are exploring geometry;
finding area of figures and volume of prisms. Lots of hands on
work make this unit engaging and relevant.
C2.0 IM - Currently, students have been using the Laws of Exponents to simplify expressions. They are working with the magnitude of numbers as they learn about and solve problems using
scientific notation. In Topic 2, calculators will still be put to rest
and students will focus on Rational and Irrational Numbers.
Algebra Prep - Students in Algebra Prep are working to complete Unit 4 Topic 1 working with figures on the coordinate
plane. After Spring Break, we will begin Unit 4, Topic 2: Solid
Figures- Measurement, Area, and Volume.
English
6th Grade English: Students in 6th grade English have recently
finished a novel study. Students studied types of conflict and
the causes and effects of conflicts in text. They will be using
these concepts to write an original story about how a character
responds to a conflict. In addition, students have studied clauses, types of conjunctions and types of sentences. These skills
will help them construct well-developed sentences with varying
sentence structures.
7th Grade English: In seventh grade English, students have
been exploring many different perspectives centered around
the impact WWII had on many people. Student finished viewing
the movie "Swing Kids" and are working on a multi-paragraph
essay which explains at least two different perspectives on an
issue or problem of interest. Students will be developing a thesis and supporting this with text relevant details.
8th Grade English: In 8th grade English, students have recently
completed their novel study of The Pearl, by John Steinbeck,
and The Giver, by Lois Lowry, with the focus of secondary charC2.0 Algebra - We are currently completing Unit 4 Topic 2 which acters and their significance to the novel as a whole. Students
are now preparing for their next novel study where they will be
focused on the structure of quadratic relationships. We will
either reading Animal Farm, by George Orwell, or the tele-play
begin to work on Topic 3: Solving Quadratics making connec12 Angry Men, by Reginald Rose. Students will be studying Litertions to topic 1 & 2 after Spring Break.
ature in Context as a part of the 8B Semester, and focusing on
how literature often draws from historical events and periods.
C2.0 Geometry - Students are building on their work with the
Pythagorean Theorem to find distances. They will use a rectan- Digital Literacy: In Digital Literacy, students are focusing on
gular coordinate system to verify geometric relationships, indefining words in context. Students are learning to utilize six
cluding properties of special triangles and quadrilaterals and
context clue strategies that may assist them in determining the
slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines. Then, they will apply
meaning of an unfamiliar word. We are also gearing up for our
literature circles that will provide our students with an opportheir understanding of similarity and angle relationships from
tunity to focus on literary texts, i.e. elements, devices and strucprevious units to circles.
ture.
RPMS Dolphin Athletics
Congratulations to all of the students who made the RPMS Boys and Girls Soccer Team! We had over 80 students combined for both teams try out and it was a very strenuous try out. Below you will find the schedule for
the soccer season. Both teams will play the same days with the team listed first, playing at home:
Wednesday April 6th: Boys Soccer vs Banneker & Girls Soccer @ Banneker
Wednesday April 13th: Boys Soccer vs Parkland and Girls Soccer @ Parkland
Tuesday April 19th: Girls Soccer vs Argyle and Boys Soccer @ Argyle
Thursday April 21st: Girls Soccer vs Wood and Boys Soccer @ Wood
Wednesday May 4th: Boys Soccer vs Farquhar and Girls Soccer @ Farquhar
As always, if you have any questions with anything regarding RPMS Athletics, please contact Evan Miller at
[email protected]. Thank you!
Science
Student Government Association
The Science Department at RPMS is proud to announce
that on Saturday, April 9th Rosa Parks Middle School will
be participating in the “You Be the Chemist” State Challenge at Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County
Campus!
Hot Topics...
In February Rosa Parks Middle School had fifteen student representatives at the County Level Competition
and one of our eight grade students, Lauren Loebach,
will proudly be representing Rosa Parks at the state
chal-
The SGA will also plan a short Spirit Week before Spring Break
in honor of March Madness. Finally, they will begin brainstorming ideas for the upcoming 8th grade dance at the end of the
year.
In April, the SGA will be hard at work to ensure that the elections for Student Member of the Board (SMOB) will be conducted as smoothly as possible. Members of the SGA will be
volunteering at the voting stations to make sure all students
are included in the voting process.
Student Service Learning
Important dates to remember…
April 8, 2016: 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!)
Media Center Happenings…
The Book Wars competition will finally be here on April 22nd. Four
Rosa Parks’ teams have been preparing for this day all year and they
are ready to take on teams from Roberto Clemente, Rocky Hill and
Robert Frost.
The winner of the contest here at Rosa Parks will earn the title of
district 1 champion. Then our district champion will compete
via video conference against the district 2 champion (being the winning team from the contest between Lakelands, Neelsville,
Ridgeview, and Baker middle schools). The winner of the district
match-up will be named grand champion will have the honor of
housing the Book Wars Cup for the 2016-2017 school year.
Rosa Park won the competition two years ago, here is to hoping we
can win it again this year!
Systemwide SSL Award Timelines
Please turn in all documentation directly to Mrs. Lewis in
room B213 or email electronic documentation to
[email protected].
Due to spring break the deadline has been modified*
June 3, 2016: “First Friday in June”: Documentation of all
service performed during the second semester is due to
the school-based SSL coordinator.
Please turn in all documentation directly to Mrs. Lewis in
room B213 or email electronic documentation to
[email protected].
Please encourage students not to turn
their documentation in to other staff
members.
Rosa Parks Middle School Beautification Day
Saturday, April 16, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Participating students can earn up to 4 Student Service Learning Hours!
Come and join us as we celebrate Earth Day (which is Friday, April 22) with our annual Rosa Parks Beautification
Day Clean-Up on Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 to 2:00. The Green Team would like to invite parents and students for a fun active day of cleaning up litter, weeding, planting, pruning, and mulching around Rosa Parks
grounds. Students can earn up to 4 SSL hours. Students can sign up with Mr. Eastham beginning April 4 in the
lunch room or via email. We will take the first 50 students that sign up. If you plan on attending, a few reminders:
1. Make sure you wear old clothing and shoes as we will be dealing with dirt and mulch
2. Bring a pair of garden gloves
3. If you can please bring a few landscaping/garden tools such as a shovel, pruners, rake, hedgers – we
would appreciate it
4. Don’t forget to label any of your tools
Hopefully we will have a nice sunny day, however, we will have the event rain or shine. Look forward to seeing
you there.