RILEY REMINDER - August 2025 (Back to School)

AUGUST 2025 BACK TO SCHOOL RILEY REMINDER

The kickoff of the 2025-26 school year is fast approaching. I look forward to welcoming our RMS students and their families in the coming days. Riley Street Middle School is a great place to grow academically, develop friendships, and prepare for the future. We’re glad you’ve chosen to learn with us!

As we prepare for starting school on August 20th, there are so many things that are important for students and parents to know. Let me highlight a few of those things below:

The first week is only half-days on Wednesday, August 20 and Thursday, August 21.
- Students will follow the EARLY RELEASE schedule for those days.
To help make sure all student information is correct, we are continuing our online PowerSchool Re-enrollment form. Parents, please be sure to complete the RMS STUDENT RE-ENROLLMENT FORM AND PAY THE CHROMEBOOK INSURANCE FEE prior to the start of school (instructions are on the “Back to School Links” page here.)
- - Students will not be able to see their schedule until the re-enrollment form is completed. (This does not apply to students who are new to our district and just completed the enrollment process).

A lot of the information normally handed out and completed at our Packet Pickup Day and Open House is digital. Please see the following Back to School Links Page for everything you need to get your child ready for the first day of school on Wednesday, August 20.
When you get a chance, please read our Parent News Letter 2025 with a number of reminders and updates about school procedures and practices.
We're also continuing our Instagram page @RileyStreetMS. Our goal is to post updates, photos, and happenings throughout the year.

If you have any questions about any of these items, feel free to call the office at 896-1920.

CONTINUING FOR 2025-26:

Teacher Team Time (PLC) (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. We will have approximately two Wednesdays each month that students will be dismissed at 2:20 p.m. Transportation 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.

Teacher Team Time Dates: Sept. 10 & 24, Oct. 8 & 22, Nov. 5 & 19, Dec. 3 & 17, Jan. 7 & 21, Feb. 4 & 18, Mar. 4 & 18, Apr. 22, May 13 & 27

1 TO 1 DEVICE INFORMATION

Tech Fee

There is a $25 tech fee for each middle and high school student. See this guide for more information about what the fee covers and how charges are assessed for breakage and repairs. There are two options for payment:

Pay fee online with credit or debit card
- directions for laptop or desktop
- directions for mobile devices
Pay fee with check or cash in person at your child’s school

You can also pay the $25 by check or cash during the Orientation/Open House Night or anytime the first couple of weeks of school in the main office.
Returning students should charge and start their devices before the first day so that updates can run.
If repairs are needed, students can bring devices to the media center during the first week.
New students and those who stored devices at the school will get their devices during the first week.
6th Grade Students will receive their Chromebooks during the second week of school.
Families only have to pay for 3 students ($75 max) in grades 6-12.

AUGUST ORIENTATION & OPEN HOUSE

We are very excited to welcome our families to RMS over the next couple of weeks. Our building will be open during the times below for students to re-enroll, pay tech fees, sign up for sports/clubs, get their schedule (once re-enrollment is completed), walk the halls, explore common spaces, practice opening lockers, and get a better overall feel for the building. During either of these times, you will have the opportunity to ask questions, pay class dues, and order your student’s RMS T-shirt, if desired.

To help make your transition to middle school smooth, we’ve also scheduled a special orientation meeting. This session is designed specifically for our incoming 6th graders and new students of any grade, along with their families. We understand that you might have more questions than our returning students, so this is a great opportunity to get all the information you need and start the year with confidence.

With both of these nights, we’ll make sure you’re well-prepared for your new journey with us. We can’t wait to meet you and make this school your new home!

August 14th ORIENTATION

2:00pm-6:00pm

Re-enroll, Pay Tech Fees, Sign up for Sports/Clubs, Get Schedule, Walk the Halls

6th Grade & New Family ONLY INFORMATIONAL MEETING at 6:00 pm in GYM

August 18th OPEN HOUSE

7th & 8th grade open format 5:30 pm-6:30 pm

6th grade ONLY 6:45 pm-7:45 pm walk-through schedule and meet teachers

On the evening of August 18th we will have our Open House. The format is the same as last year.

All 7th & 8th graders can come to the Open House from 5:30pm-6:30pm in an open format, walk through their schedule, meet some of their teachers, and try out their locker.
The 6th grade Open House session will be a formal class-to-class format, so be sure to have a copy of your student’s schedule with you when you come that night. Please be prepared to be in your 6th grader’s 1st hour class by 6:45pm.

RILEY PTA & STUDENT RECOGNITION

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. This year we'd like to formalize parent efforts around an official PTA at Riley Street to coordinate, celebrate, and enhance our school culture. If you'd be interested in being a part of the PTA, please contact Amanda McCreight for more information.

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. A Sign-Up Genius link will be created and shared soon, where you can select items to donate that will be given back to students through our Renaissance/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 Amanda McCreight. If you'd like to make a cash donation, you can drop that off to Amanda as well.

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

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