SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

It's hard to imagine we are already 6 weeks into the new school year. It's been an incredible privilege to get to know your child(ren) better this year as we continue to move forward in middle school.

We are continuing a number of additional learning opportunities for our students and we are excited to gauge their success. Our intervention program (Advisory) allows for 20 min at the end of every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for students to get help with assignments, study for upcoming tests/quizzes, and enrich their learning in multiple ways. Lunch and play (board games & cards), lunch and learn, and before-school Homework Help are also coming online to provide additional time and support to our students. Please encourage your child to take advantage of these opportunities throughout the year.

You can track your child’s progress in each course by checking the PowerSchool parent portal or by directly contacting your child’s teachers. The first grading period will end on October 24. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for November 18 & 20. You will receive a communication in early November explaining the process to sign up for conferences.

As we move into October, please continue to encourage your child to do their best, do what’s right, and treat others as they would like to be treated.

I appreciate you taking the time to read our monthly newsletter. Please know that we are here to serve and support you and your student(s).

-Matt Baer

Principal, Riley Street Middle School

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH

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 are hoping to have enough donations by late October to hold our first SOAR Store during lunch for all students.

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

PICTURE RETAKES

School Pictures were sent home with students on September12. Retakes will be taken on Friday, October 10. If you wish to have retakes, please send your original picture packet to school with your child on Friday, October 10. Retakes will begin at 7:50am. Geskus Photography will only print new pictures after the original packet is returned.

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.

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.

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.

Beginning September 29, Lunch and 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.

EAST COAST TRIP INFO MEETING

Those parents and students interested in hearing more about the 8th grade East Coast Trip (June 6-12, 2026) - please be aware of an upcoming informational meeting on Monday, October 13 at 7pm in the RMS cafeteria.

NEW STUDENTS AT RMS

We would like to welcome to Riley Street Middle School the following students who are new to our district and Riley Street Middle School this year:

6TH GRADE

AJ English

Arya Hawkins

Logan Kessler

Will Lambert

Madi Loveland

Jiwoo Paeng

Jasmine Phan

Dominick Swope

Ace Villa

7TH GRADE

Zander Holley

8TH GRADE

Rosalyn Mendez-Cole

Ariel Nauman

Juliana Silvas

Tyler Smith

Kade Stewart

Nitika Swope

Jackson Zlydaszyk

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).

EAGLE RENAISSANCE:

BLUE & GOLD LEVEL STUDENTS

Last month, 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 after Quarter 1 is complete.

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.

OCTOBER

Jimmy Johns

Free Sandwich (#1-6) w/ Purchase of Drink

Bring your ID & Punch Card

INFORMATION TO KNOW & UPCOMING EVENTS

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

Oct. 8 & 22

Nov. 5 & 19

Dec. 3 & 17

UPCOMING DATES

District Calendar Link

Oct. 10 Picture Retakes

Oct. 24 End of Quarter 1

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

FALL CONCERTS

(Band, Choir & Orchestra)

Oct. 7 6th Grade Band at 6:30 PM

Oct. 7 7th/8th Grade Band at 8 PM

Oct. 9 6th Grade Orchestra at 6:30 PM

Oct. 14 7th/8th Grade Orchestra at 6:30 PM

Oct. 21 7th/8th Grade Choir at 6:30 PM

Oct. 22 6th 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.

HUDSONVILLE EDUCATION FOUNDATION EVENT @ GVSU OCTOBER

The Hudsonville Education Foundation has partnered with GVSU for a tailgate and football game event on Saturday, October 18! It will be a BIG game as GVSU takes on Saginaw Valley. Each ticket purchased at gvsulakers.com/hef will send $5 to the foundation. Get your tickets early, this is sure to be a packed rivalry game! These funds have a direct impact on our classrooms, as the HEF fulfills many teacher grants and student scholarships each year. For more information, please visit this site, and check out this promotional video.

ATHLETICS

As we get into the last few weeks of Fall sports, we are looking ahead to our next sports season. The Winter 1 season begins October 20 and runs up to Christmas Break. The sports offered in Winter 1 are:

Boys Basketball (A and B)

Girls Swim and Dive

Competitive Cheer

Here is the link to sign up: Winter 1 Sign-Up Link

If you are interested in signing your student up for a Winter 1 Sport, please make sure the following is completed.

1. Completed Sports Physical Form (Must be dated after April 15, 2025 per MHSAA)

2. $75 Pay-to-play fee (This can be check, cash, or completed online here) (Type in "Pay 2 Play - Riley Middle School")

3. Signed Athletic Code Athletic Code Contract (This should pop up if you choose to pay online) or there are hard copies in the office.

Physicals can be scanned and emailed to Juli Smies - jsmies@hpseagles.net.

Forms must be printed, signed and brought into the office prior to the first day of Winter 1 sports tryouts or practices (10/20/25) . When all forms are signed and pay to participate is turned in, athletes will receive an entry ticket that must be brought to their coach on the first day of tryouts. Tickets will be handed out the week of October 13 at Lunches.

If your student played a Fall sport that was not Football or Sideline Cheer, they do not need to pay the Pay2Play Fee again. *Please note that MS Football and sideline cheer are club sports and are a $50 fee, not the $75 Pay 2 Play Fee.*

Informational flyers for sports will be available at Lunches and in the front office the week of 10/13/25. Coaches will also send out information emails by 10/15/25.

Questions can be directed to:

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

IMPORTANT LINKS

Food Service Menu

Hudsonville Athletics

Community Ed Information

Community Bulletin Board

Report abuse