March 27, 2026

Our last week before Spring Break is upon us and our shortened week of Monday-Wednesday will end with a Staff/Student Basketball game assembly.  We then look forward to welcoming your child(ren) back to school on April 13th. The final two months of the school year will allow students to learn new things and refine skills in preparation for their next grade level. A positive attitude about learning and “best” effort will help students find success during our final grading quarter. 

As a 21-year educator, I have discovered over the course of my career that in many cases “good” teaching practices are often interrelated to “good” parenting practices. The past several years our staff has engaged in professional learning centered on Restorative Practices and how we work "with" our students, not do things "to" or "for" our students. Promoting "withward" and providing opportunities for our children to learn and fail forward is also a fundamental parenting technique that will lead to the development of stronger, more resilient young men and women. 

Getting our students to buy into and believe that “effort” is critical in the learning process can be challenging with the 11-15 year olds that we serve. Middle school students often develop a fixed mindset about their own skills and abilities as learners. “I’m not a good math student” or “I’m not very artistic” are common statements made by our students. Both parents and educators can help students overcome a fixed mindset by getting them to believe in the power of effort. Educational researchers Marzano, Pickering, and Pollock bring to light “If you believe that effort is the most important factor in achievement, you have a motivational tool that can apply to any situation.”

Ultimately, parents and educators should work together to establish a culture of effort by encouraging every child to achieve their best. In some cases, a student’s personal best may be earning a “C” in every class or just passing every class. For other students, a personal best may include making Gold Level Renaissance by earning a 3.75 GPA or achieving Blue Renaissance status for improving their grade point average by a 1/2 point. For the achievement of any personal best, let’s be sure as educators and parents to provide authentic praise and recognition for the EFFORT put forth by our students. 

Enjoy your time off here in April.  We are looking forward to the last quarter of school with you and your child(ren), 

-Matt Baer

Principal, Riley Street Middle School