February 27, 2026

Our middle schoolers have been impressive this year in the classroom and across the extracurricular arena. We are proud of the academic success and growth of each student. Supporting our students in reaching their potential as learners is our #1 goal.

We look forward to connecting with you next week at our parent-teacher conferences on March 3rd and March 5th. Please know that parent-teacher conferences can take place outside of our designated conference dates. Simply call our office (616-896-1920), and we’ll get you in touch with your child’s respective teachers. Frequent, two-way communication with the educators who work with your child is most impactful.

The scheduling process for the 2026-27 school year is wrapping up for all students, regardless of grade-level. If your current 6th or 7th grader has not yet turned in their course selection form, please encourage them to turn it into the main office on Monday. We anticipate that our enrollment will be at or near 700 students again next year. The incoming 6th grade class from Forest Grove, South, and Jamestown projects to be slightly larger than our outgoing 8th grade class. No significant changes in courses/course requirements are planned at this time.

The middle school years can be very challenging both academically and socially. Let’s continue to work together, encouraging our kids at Riley Street Middle School to be the best student/person/learner they can be.

-Matt Baer

Principal, Riley Street Middle School

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH

PARENT PICK-UP & DROP-OFF LOOP

Our winter months get hectic with drive times and schedules as parents. And we know the morning routine can wear on all of us.

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 only if you need to come into the building, but it shouldn't be used for pick-up or drop-off before/after school.

Also, please refrain from parking in the Handicap Spots if you don't have a designated tag. We have several students in wheelchairs & w/ mobility situations that need these spots, and they've been unavailable.

Thanks for you help and support.

Social/Emotional Screener

As we continue to prioritize our students' social and emotional well-being this school year, we will once again be implementing a Social/Emotional/Behavioral Screener for the Spring. This tool will help us analyze data trends and identify students who may require additional support. Student-level responses will be connected to student email addresses and only be shared with staff and administrators who have an educational interest. The screener is HIPAA and FERPA compliant. A copy of the screener can be found on the HPS website (linked HERE).

If you already opted your child(ren) out of the fall screener, they are opted out of the spring screener as well.

Hudsonville Public Schools Annual Education Report

The Annual Education Report (AER) is designed to meet state and federal requirements for reporting to parents and communities. The report provides detailed data on state administered student assessment results, accountability results, teacher qualification information, and the state results for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

Parents and the community can access AER information for the district and individual schools by clicking

on the Annual Education Report tab on our website. If you have any questions regarding the AER information, please contact the office or your building's principal.

LOST & FOUND - Missing Something??

We have MANY items on display in the cafeteria.

Be sure to check the table and rack during parent teacher conferences.

**Any Lost and Found Items left after April 1

will be donated to charity.**

RMS PBIS SOAR STORE

We've already had four successful SOAR stores so far this year and we are so thankful for your help and support to make this new venture work. Students are excited and looking for ways to Be Safe, Own It, Act Responsibly, and Be Respectful.

This is a school wide iniative and we need community support. All of these donations go right back to students through our PBIS system.

If you would consider donating, we'd really appreciate it. Please drop off items in our main office for Kailey Schrauben (our EI Special Ed Teacher). 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 as well.

Here is the link to our SOAR Store Donation to keep the good times rolling.

Thanks for partnering with us as we help all our students at RMS SOAR!

PARENTS OF 6TH GRADE STUDENTS

Immunizations ~ Most 6th grade students need a couple of new immunizations (Meningitis and T-dap) after turning 11 and before entering 7th grade. Students are assessed as they enter 7th grade and must be up-to-date before they can start school for their 7th grade year. As your 6th grader has their well-child check-ups and receives the updated immunizations, please obtain a copy of their updated official immunization record and give a copy to the RMS office anytime this year. (We are required to have a copy of this official document in their file.)

Immunization Waivers ~ If you are a parent who chooses to waive immunizations for your child, please know that if you haven’t gotten a new waiver since your child turned 11, you will most likely need to get a new waiver which states Riley Street Middle School as the current school and also includes the new immunizations that were not previously required. Getting a new waiver requires making an appointment at the Ottawa County Department of Public Health 616.396.5266. Only waivers that are obtained this way are accepted as valid. If you have any questions or would like us to check on the current waiver, please contact Anne Erickson at 616.896.1920 or at aerickso@hpseagles.net.

RMS EAST COAST TRIP

(June 6-12, 2026)

East Coast Trip Parents ~ Mark your calendar for the Mandatory Meeting with Countryside Tour Company on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 pm in the Riley Street cafeteria. You and your child are required to attend to finalize documents for the trip and hear essential information - including a conversation with your child's chaperone. Contact Mr. Baer with any questions or concerns.

Your child also has an ECT meeting during lunch on Monday, March 16. The meeting is mandatory, and students need to attend. They have all been sent a calendar invite in their Gmail account.

EAGLE RENAISSANCE:

BLUE & GOLD LEVEL STUDENTS

We announced our Q2 Blue Level qualifiers for our RMS Eagle Renaissance Program a few weeks ago. We had over 217 6th, 7th , & 8th Graders qualify for Blue last quarter. That's almost 54% of our school population with a GPA of 3.5 and better (or .5 GPA increase from Q1), 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.

🔥⬆️🟢🦅

March

Arrows Restaurant

Free Burger/Wrap/Sandwich

w/ purchase of a Drink

Bring your ID & Punch Card

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.

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).

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

Monday-Friday in the Library, Room 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

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.

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

Mar. 4 & 18

April 22

May 13 & 27

UPCOMING DATES

District Calendar Link

Mar. 3 & 5 Parent Teacher Conferences

Mar. 20 Early Release (Students dismissed at 11:15 AM)

Mar. 20 End of Quarter 3

Apr. 2 Spring Break Begins

Apr. 13 Classes Resume

May 8 Early Release (Students dismissed at 11:15 AM)

May 22 No School (Unless snowday make-up is needed)

May 25 Memorial Day Break - No School for Students

June 4 8th Grade Recognition Program, 7pm

June 5 Student Last day - (Students dismissed at 11:15 AM)

CONCERTS

(Band, Choir & Orchestra)

May 6 Band (6th & 8th), 6:30pm

May 6 Band (7th & Jazz), 8:00pm

May 7 Orchestra Concert, 7:00pm

May 27 Choir Concert, 7:00pm

*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.

ATHLETICS

The Spring Sport Season for 7th and 8th graders begins March 16th an includes Girl's Tennis, Co-ed Track and Field, Girls Soccer, and Boy's Volleyball (Boys VB has a Club Fee).

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

If your student is interested in a Spring Sport, please make sure the following are completed:

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

2. $75 Pay2Play 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 main office (or completed online) prior to or on the first day of tryouts or practices (3/16/26). When all forms are signed and Pay2Play is turned in, athletes will receive an entry ticket that must be brought to their coach on the first day. Tickets will be handed out the week of March 9 at lunches and will also be available in the front office.

If your student played a Fall or Winter sport (that was not Football or Sideline Cheer), they do not need to pay the Pay2Play Fee again. *Please note~MS Football, Sideline Cheer, and Boys Volleyball are club sports with a $50 fee, not the $75 Pay2Play Fee.*

Informational flyers for sports will be available the week of 3/2/26. Coaches will also send out informational emails by 3/11/26.

Questions can be directed to:

Athletic Director: Josh Magley (jmagley@hpseagles.net)

Athletic Admin Assistant: Juli Smies (jsmies@hpseagles.net)

Here is an opportunity for 6th-8th grade students offered through Hudsonville Aquatics

IMPORTANT LINKS

Food Service Menu

Hudsonville Athletics

Community Ed Information

Community Bulletin Board

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