October 28, 2025

The first quarter of the school year wrapped up on Friday! We are extremely proud of our students for the work they’ve done and the learning progress they’ve made these first few months of the school year.

The nine-week grading period provides our students opportunities to experience multiple exploratory courses while at the same time receiving more frequent feedback about their progress in year-long courses like Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Resource, and Music. We hope that more frequent information about your child’s progress will be valuable to you as a parent. As always, if you have questions about your child’s progress in learning, please reach out to us.

On Monday, November 3rd, you will receive an electronic notice from Riley Street Middle School asking you to sign up for parent-teacher conferences using a platform called SchoolBookings. Parent-teacher conferences will take place in-person on November 18th (3:30 PM - 7:30 PM) and November 20th (3:30 PM - 7:00 PM). If these dates don’t work for you or you find that a teacher doesn’t have availability, please contact the respective teacher(s) to set up an alternate time to meet. Click on this Link for access to teacher contact information.

On behalf of our entire staff, I’d like to thank our parents for partnering with us during these crucial middle school years. We pride ourselves on being a school that is responsive to both student and parent needs. I encourage you to reach out to me or any of our staff members to share an idea, suggestion, comment, concern, or praise.

-Matt Baer

Principal, Riley Street Middle School

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH

SUPPORT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

RMS has been given the opportunity to partner with local organizations to help support families during the holiday season. If you would benefit from support over the upcoming holidays, please complete the form found HERE. We will do our best to accommodate as many requests as possible.

Please complete this form by Monday, November 3rd.

Lost and Found

Missing Something??

We have MANY items on display in the cafeteria.

Any unclaimed items will be donated to charity on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

October 30 Dress Up Spirit Competition

Our student council Renaissance team has planned a class color day competition on October 30.

6th grade - PURPLE

7th grade - WHITE

8th grade - BLACK

Student participation will count towards our year-long spirit-day total.

Students choosing to wear costumes or Halloween attire to school on October 30th are reminded that it must be in compliance with our appearance policy and not interfere with instruction.

Yearbook Cover Contest Guidelines

Designs are due to the office by Monday, December 5, 2025

✴Your design should be on 8 1/2 x 11 white paper (not notebook paper).

✴The cover must say Riley Street Middle School and the year 2025-2026.

✴You may submit as many designs as you wish.

✴Must be original artwork of a current 6th, 7th, or 8th grader attending Riley Street Middle School.

✴You are encouraged to sign your name on the artwork but it will be covered during judging.

✴Make sure you put your NAME and GRADE on the back of your entry.

We will have a front cover and a back cover winner. First place winner will have their entry on the front cover and receive a $20 prize along with a free yearbook. Second place winner will have their entry on the back cover and receive a free yearbook.

RMS PBIS SOAR STORE

Over the past 12 years, we've used the framework of Josten's Renaissance to build a comprehensive system to recognize student achievement, improve staff morale, and create a thriving culture. Coupled with our district initiative of PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support), we aim to recognize students who "do what's right" through SOAR awards, Student of the Month, Renaissance Blue and Gold Level Rewards, and Student/Staff Competitions.

We'd like to expand some of the work we are doing and could use your help. Use this SOAR Store Donations link to select items to donate that will be given back to students through our PBIS system. If you would consider donating, we'd really appreciate it. You can sign up through the Sign up Genius link and then drop off items in our main office to Kailey Schrauben. If you'd like to make a gift card donation to Amazon or Meijer for us to use to purchase items, you can drop those off for Kailey Schrauben in the office.

We had enough donations to hold our first SOAR Store during lunch for all students last week Friday. We are encouraged to keep this going.

Thanks for partnering with us as we help all our students SOAR throughout the year.

RMS PARENT TEACHER ORGANZIATION (PTO)

We know it takes a village to support our students and we appreciate how our parents and families surround the work we do at RMS daily. We have a couple new initiatives we'd like to try out this year and would love your help. This year we'd like to formalize parent efforts around an official PTO at Riley Street to coordinate, celebrate, and enhance our school culture. If you'd be interested in being a part of the PTO, please contact our Admin Assistant Amanda McCreight for more information and sign up using our Parent Volunteer Form.

HOMEWORK HELP

6th grade students on Monday-Friday mornings from 7:20am-7:45am in Room 203.

7th & 8th grade students Monday-Friday from 7:20am-7:45am in Room 319.

These drop-in opportunities are quiet environments where all students may receive homework support, if needed, from instructional paraprofessionals, complete quizzes or test retakes, or study quietly on their own.

LUNCH & LEARN

is offered Monday-Friday in the Library/319.

Students may get their lunch, sign in, and complete homework, study, or take (or retake) tests or quizzes (with teacher permission). This quiet environment allows students to receive academic support or complete missing work from absences. This room is staffed by one RMS staff member.

AFTER SCHOOL HOMEWORK HELP

STARTING NOVEMBER 3, Homework Help will be offered to ALL grade levels

in the RMS library from 2:50 - 3:20 on Monday, Tuesday & Thursday.

One RMS teacher and other volunteers will be available to provide homework support,

to complete quizzes or test retakes, or to study quietly.

RMS EAST COAST TRIP

(June 6-12, 2026)

We had a fantastic turnout at the East Coast Trip Informational Meeting on October 13th.

We have one full bus, and there is currently a wait list. If enough students are put on the wait list, we could open up the trip with a second bus.

If your 8th grader is interested in this travel experience, please check out the trip online at: https://countrysidetours.com/product/riley-street-east-coast-trip-june-6-12/ or see Mr. Baer/Office for a brochure from Countryside Tours and an RMS Student Behavior Contract.

For those who have registered, your student should be watching their email and listening to announcements for an upcoming meeting.

EAGLE RENAISSANCE:

BLUE & GOLD LEVEL STUDENTS

In September, we announced the new Blue & Gold Level qualifiers for our RMS Eagle Renaissance Program. We had over 126 current 7th & 8th Graders qualify for Gold and another 88 qualify for Blue. That's almost 50% of our 7th and 8th graders with a GPA of 3.5 and better, minimal amounts of absences, life skills proficient or better, and no behavior referrals! Check out all the names, how to qualify, and rewards they receive on our Renaissance website.

We look forward to welcoming our 6th graders into this program once Quarter 1 grades have been stored, and we will highlight them in next month's Reminder.

GOLD RENAISSANCE:

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

Every Gold Level student will receive a Business of the Month Punchcard with their name on it on Tuesday, September 2. It is good for the next 9 months and entitles each student to something free or at a discount from our local Hudsonville area businesses.

Each month is different but we first and foremost want to thank these businesses for supporting and recognizing our students. You can check out all of these businesses on our Renaissance Website.

NOVEMBER

Hudsonville Lanes

One Free Game of Bowling w/ Shoes

Bring your ID & Punch Card

INFORMATION TO KNOW & UPCOMING EVENTS

WEEK AT A GLANCE

With six teachers and multiple schedules to try and juggle, we have found it easier to have one spot where you can find and locate what your child is responsible in the week ahead from all of their teachers. Each Grade Level has collaborated around a similar format that will be updated every week. Please check out the link in the navigation bar to see what's coming up for your child(ren).

PARENT PICK-UP

DROP-OFF LOOP

Please help us in keeping our morning and afternoon routine safe and efficient by using the Parent Loop for pick-up and drop-off for your child(ren). Our parking lot in the front is available if you need to come into the building but it shouldn't be used for pick-up or drop-off.

Thanks for you help and support.

TEACHER TEAM TIME (PLC) 2025-2026

(Students dismissed at 2:20pm on select Wednesdays)

We have been working diligently as a staff toward improving our Professional Learning Community (PLC) process with our teaching staff. This is a nationally recognized process that many schools around the country, and locally, have also been implementing for years. The process requires that teachers have time to work together to review student work, gauge progress, and have an opportunity to discuss instructional practice with one another to ensure that all students have the best possible experience. Our SOAR district strategic plan includes a goal around this PLC process, and for this upcoming school year we have built in time for teachers to engage in this work.

As a parent, you are welcome to pick up your child(ren) at this time in our parent loop or have your child walk/ride bike home. Bussing will be provided in the same manner as it would be at the end of the school day starting at 2:45 PM. Supervision between 2:20 PM and when buses are dismissed will be provided in common areas.

Upcoming Teacher Team Time Dates

Nov. 5 & 19

Dec. 3 & 17

Jan. 7 & 21

Annual Title I Parent Meeting

Riley Street Middle School utilizes federal Title I funds to support students who are failing or at-risk of failing. Students in need of support are identified through a variety of assessment measures. These identified students receive additional time and support with our paraprofessionals before school, during school, and after school. We invite the parents of these students to attend our Annual Title I Parent Meeting taking place at 7 PM on Thursday, November 20th in the media center. The meeting will provide parents with an overview of the Title I program and an opportunity to provide feedback.

UPCOMING DATES

District Calendar Link

Oct. 31 No School for Students - Professional Development

Nov. 14 Early Release Day (Students dismissed at 11:15 AM)

Nov. 18 Parent Teacher Conferences

Nov. 20 Parent Teacher Conferences

Nov. 26-28 Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 12 Early Release (Students dismissed at 11:15 AM)

Dec. 22 Holiday Break (Dec. 22 - Jan. 2)

Jan. 5 Classes Resume

HOLIDAY CONCERTS

(Band, Choir & Orchestra)

Dec. 3 6th Grade & Jazz Band at 6:30 PM

Dec. 3 7th/8th Grade Band at 8 PM

Dec. 8 7th Grade Orchestra at 6:30 PM

Dec. 8 6th/8th Orchestra at 8 PM

Dec. 16 6th/7th/8th Grade Choir at 6:30 PM

*All Concerts take place in the Hudsonville Fine Arts Auditorium - Freshman Campus

STUDENT ILLNESS:

We request that parents call the office (616) 896-1920 or email rmsattendance@hpseagles.net to report student absences. When leaving a message or emailing, parents are asked to leave the reason for their child's absence along with brief symptoms. Please reference the When to Keep Your Child Home From School document for guidelines regarding illnesses and school attendance. If a student becomes sick at school or begins to display symptoms of illness, a parent will be required to pick them up. Sick students will not be allowed to ride the bus home.

HAND TO HAND

Hand2Hand delivers nutritious food to students over the weekends (placed in students lockers on Fridays) and on extended school breaks.

Hand2Hand sign up is digital. If this is a resource your family would like to receive, please complete this Google form: Hand2Hand Permission Slip.

Feel free to reach out to Amanda McCreight amccreig@hpseagles.net with any questions.

EAGLES OF EXCELLENCE GALA – NOVEMBER 3

Presented by Gemmen’s, our annual gala returns to the Pinnacle Center with heartfelt celebrations. We’ll induct outstanding alumni into the HEF Hall of Fame and honor students who exemplify excellence in the classroom. Information about the evening, sponsorship packages, and individual tickets is available HERE.

ATHLETICS

FIre Up! Winter 1 Sports (Boys Basketball, Girls Swim & Dive and Girls Competitive Cheer) competitions will begin in the coming weeks. All Middle School athletic schedules can be found here.

Questions can be directed to:

Athletic Director: Josh Magley (jmagley@hpseagles.net) or Athletic Admin Assistant: Juli Smies (jsmies@hpseagles.net)

Hudsonville High School’s Theater Program presents the first show of the 2025-2026 season, Our Town. It is set in 1903 and follows the lives of love interests George and Emily from high school until Emily’s death. The pinnacle of the show occurs as Emily is given the opportunity to relive a portion of her life and is in anguish as realizes how much she missed by taking small moments for granted. The show is an important reminder to stay present and appreciate the small blessings.

Our Town @ Eagle Auditorium HHS, 5155 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, MI 49426

Thursday, Nov. 6th @ 7 PM

Friday, Nov. 7th @ 7 PM

Saturday, Nov. 8th @ 3 PM

Purchase tickets here! $10 (student and staff tickets $8) You can also call the HHS box office at 616-669-1510 or buy tickets at the door.

This is a great opportunity to support the Arts at Hudsonville and see all the talent and hard work in this program. We can’t wait to see you there!

(The play is family-friendly, but please be aware that it does address death and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended.)

TOYS FOR TOTS

Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve and was founded in 1947 by reservist Major Bill Hendricks to support families with holiday gifts. The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute toys as holiday gifts to the children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

To request a toy(s) please scan the QR code or click on this direct link to fill out the form by Monday, November 24. Please fill out one form/child.

Unwrapped toys will be available for pick up at Harley Davidson of Grand Rapids, 2977 Corporate Grove Dr, Hudsonville, MI 49426 on Saturday December 20.

Pick up times and any other communication will come to your email from the Harley Davidson of Grand Rapids Toys for Tots representatives.

* This holiday project is sponsored by the Harley Davidson of Grand Rapids and the GR HOG group. It is not affiliated with Hudsonville Public Schools.

Toys for Tots This holiday giving opportunity is available to any family/child attending Hudsonville Public Schools. Just Scan the QR code or click on the link below to register to receive a

The deadline to sign up is Monday, November 24th, 2025.

Here is the direct link to the registration form.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Food Service Menu

Hudsonville Athletics

Community Ed Information

Community Bulletin Board

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