The Ranger Report Raymond Park Middle School

8575 E. Raymond Street

Indianapolis, IN 46239

Phone – (317) 532-8900 fax – 532-8999

Principal – John Kleine September 2014

Vol. 20 Issue 2

The Future Starts Here

Important Dates to Remember:

Sept 1: Labor Day – No School

Sept 4: Fall Sports Pictures

Sept 6: Community Shred Day @ WCHS - 9—Noon

Sept 12: Homefest @ WCHS

Sept 22: Skating Party @ Rollercave—6:00 PM

Sept 23: Band (8th) & Orchestra Concert - 7:00 PM

Sept 24: SIC Meeting—3:00 PM

Sept 24: PTSA Meeting—4:00 PM

Sept 24: Community Dialogue @ WECC - 6:30 PM

Sept 24: Choir Concert - 7:00 PM

Sept 30: Student-Led Conferences – No School

Oct 3: Picture Absent Day

Oct 6—17: Fall Intersession — No School

Academically Directed,

Community Connected

Have You Joined PTSA?

Raymond Park MS PTSA is striving to increase

membership to help support the many great things we

sponsor. Please consider joining for $6.00 per person.

Your dollars help provide funding

for the following activities:

Advocating for children, Strengthen connection

between home and school, Participate annually in

Homefest (Sept. 12), Participate in Ranger Rally

(Nov. 13), Provide funding for 8th grade Celebration,

Teacher Appreciation, and Student Awards

PTSA is sponsoring a toiletry drive September 8 - 12

to benefit the Sonny Day Community Center. Items

may be turned in to the 1st period teacher or the office.

All donations would be greatly appreciated!

From the

Assistant Principal’s Desk…

Raymond Park Middle School works hard to maintain a for-

mal learning environment that puts the focus on academics

and achievement and de-emphasizes social influences that

serve to distract adolescent learners. The standardized wear

policy excludes clothing items, accessories, colors and styles

that may be acceptable in the community, but become a dis-

traction in the formal learning environment. RPMS is

committed to enforcing the standardized wear policy. A

progressive discipline approach is used to encourage full and

consistent compliance with the least amount of disciplinary

action. The same disciplinary actions applied to enforce other

school and district rules may be utilized. The most common

dress code ―mistakes‖ include the following:

Acceptable Pants, Skirts, Dresses and Bottoms – solid single

color, color matched stitching

Acceptable Shirts and Tops – solids, stripes, and plaid only

Items That Can Be Worn to School But Not In Classroom –

coats, jackets, hooded sweatshirts, scarves

You can help by ensuring your child comes to school dressed

appropriately each day. A full copy of student dress

expectations can be found on page 13 of the student agenda.

Please contact me at 532-8983 or jamones@warren.k12.in.us

with any questions.

Healthy Eating at RPMS

The breakfast and lunch prices are as follows:

Breakfast—$1.45, Reduced .30¢

Lunch—$2.10, $2.65, $2.90, and $3.35, Reduced .40¢

Please visit our web-site for the menu;

http://raymondpark.warren.k12.in.us/lunch-menu

Community Dialogue

As many of you know, the landscape of Indiana education and its curriculum has changed over the last couple of years. Although we believe that these changes will have a positive impact on all Indiana students, we are making sure that our students in Warren are prepared for the real world once they graduate high school. In an effort to share some of the recent changes in curriculum and how Warren teachers are preparing our students to be ready for college or their career, we invite you to attend the MSD Warren School Board sponsored Community Dialogue on Wednesday, September 24th at the Warren Education and Community Center, 975 N. Post Road at 6:30 PM. This community dialogue, "How to Help Your Child in the New Academic Environment" will provide a backdrop on the current Indiana College and Career Readiness Standards and information to help you and your child be successful with the new changes.

Important Information

The school day is from 7:30 a.m. until 2:50 p.m.

Students are tardy if they are not in the

classroom by the 7:30 a.m. bell.

(Students that are car-riders should arrive

between 7:15— 7:20 a.m.)

Please call our main line at 532-8900 (press 1)

prior to 8:00 a.m. to report a student

absent or for an early release.

Rose-Hulman Institute

of Technology—

Homework Hotline 1-877-ASK-ROSE

(1-877-275-7673)

Sunday-Thursday nights from

7 - 10:00 p.m. EST

http://www.askrose.org

Over 70 Rose-Hulman students are trained

and ready to assist your students with

math and science homework help.

The Warren Township Foodservice Department

"If your child is participating in the Free or Reduced Lunch

Program and you have not received a new approval letter for

the 2014/2015 school year, you must reapply by

September 5, 2014. Unless you resubmit an application

and are approved Free or Reduced Meal Assistance, your

child's status will change to Full Pay. You will also be

responsible for your child's textbook rental, which is

due October 31, 2014. Forms are available in the school

office, at the Warren Education and Community Center or

online at http://www.warren.k12.in.us/food-service. For any

questions or concerns, please contact the food service depart-

ment at 317-869-4381 or 317-869-4389. You may also

email us at mgallmey@warren.k12.in.us. Thank you!"

Release of Information

The occasion may arise when the school district wants to recognize your child or your

child‘s school. This might include your child‘s photo, your child‘s name, or your

child‘s work in district publications, newsletters, on school district websites, and in

electronic/social media or in staff training videos. We may also want to tell the media

(including newspapers, television and radio) about your child‘s achievements. We

never knowingly release information about a student to anyone who wants to use it

for commercial/political purposes. However, we will honor your request to not

include your child in these types of recognitions if you notify your child‘s school of-

fice in writing that you do not want this type of information released

Counselor’s Corner September 2014

Mrs. Hankley, 532-8900 ext. 8910

thankley@warren.k12.in.us

How do I pay for my student to attend college you’re

asking? Well, Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program

offers income-eligible students up to 4 years of paid

tuition at an eligible Indiana college or university upon

graduation from high school. In order to take advantage

of this great program, an application must be completed

by June 30th of your students, 8th grade year. You can

apply online at Scholars.IN.gov or complete an applica-

tion and return it to Mrs. Hankley at RPMS. Please feel

free to contact Mrs. Hankley with any questions.

Plan on attending HOMEFEST!!!!!

Mark your calendars for September 12, 2014 and join us

for our district wide celebration. Events include our

annual FunRun, carnival games for the kids, vendor

booths, and food. ***NEW FOR THIS YEAR*** Be a

part of the Human Peace Sign! In response to the

increased violence in our neighborhoods, the

WCHS Take-A-Stand organization would like to invite

anyone in the Warren Township Community interested in

sharing their support of ‗Peace in our Streets‘ to join us in

making a Human Peace Sign. Join us as we come

together as one community in supporting peace. This

event will take place on the practice football fields.

Tickets are required and can be picked up at your school‘s

main office. Tickets are FREE! Each person, no matter

the age, needs a ticket. A limited supply of tickets will be

available onsite. Please be at the practice football fields

by5:30pm. Help us surpass our goal of 2000 people.

7th Grade Social Studies News October 22nd from 6-7:30 will be Night in

Mesopotamia. Most projects can be completed with objects

found around the house, but some things may need to be

purchased depending on what project your student chooses. Both

7th grade classes will be completing this project. Stay tuned for

details that will be coming home with your student!

RAYMOND PARK ORCHESTRA BOOSTERS

The Orchestra Boosters are a parent-based organi-zation, which is designed to fill the specific needs of orchestra students. Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 16th from 6:00 - 7:00 pm in the RPMS orchestra room, C133. Please support your child in music by attending our Orchestra Boosters meetings.

“Whatever It Takes”

September 2, 2014

Ranger Parents,

I am pleased to report that the 2014-2015 school year is off to a good start. Teachers are

teaching, students are learning, the first round of assessments have passed, and the first

regrouping of academic success based on assessment data has taken place. The first reporting

of your student‘s efforts should have been delivered by your student on Thursday, August 28th,

in the form of Term 1 midterm reports. Parents are encouraged to make direct contact with

their student‘s teachers with questions connected to midterm reports. Parents are further

encouraged to monitor their student‘s academic progress online through the Parent Portal.

The September edition of the Ranger Report comes at a time when Raymond Park Middle

School is enjoying the fruits of a routine that has been quickly established during the opening

weeks of school. Academic achievement is at the forefront of everything we do. Following a

first day of school that was organized with a systematic approach of teaching the students the

rules and procedures of the school, students have since been engaged in the rigor of learning

concepts provided by Indiana Academic Standards.

As part of the Warren 8-Step Instructional Process, language arts and math classes follow an

instructional calendar directly linked to Indiana standards. Assessments in these classes are

given every three weeks to measure student learning. Based on assessment results, students are

regrouped in academic success into reteach, maintenance, or enrichment classes. The reteach

grouping allows students the opportunity to learn the material taught using a differentiated

approach; the maintenance grouping allows students an opportunity to deepen their

understanding of the standards taught during the window; and the enrichment grouping affords

students the opportunity to make advanced applications in the areas of math and language arts.

I look forward to your opportunity to learn first-hand of your student‘s performance at the

September 30th student-led conferences. Students will be bringing reservation sheets home

during the middle of September with conference scheduling information.

In the meantime, don‘t hesitate to contact the school with questions or concerns about your

student‘s performance!

Sincerely,

John Kleine

Principal

News From Nurse Walsh

Missing Emergency Forms - If you did not attend registration this year in July please

have your student come to the nurse‘s office or front office to pick up a new Emergency Medical Form to be

completed for the 2014/2015 school year. Also, if your student has updated immunizations, please turn those

in to the clinic as soon as possible.

Meningococcal Disease - Indiana State Law IC 20-30-5-18 requires that school systems provide important

information to parents and guardians of students about meningococcal disease and the vaccines available to

prevent this serious illness at the beginning of each school year. Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacte-

rium Neisseria meningitidis and generally affects children and young adults in two ways:

• meningitis (an inflammation of the tissues covering the brain and or spinal cord)

bloodstream infection (that usually leads to bleeding under the skin)

Symptoms of meningococcal disease can include a sudden onset of fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, and

confusion and in blood stream infections a rash will develop. This disease progresses rapidly and often results

in permanent hearing loss, mental retardation, limb amputations and even death. The bacteria spread through

air droplets or by means of direct contact with an infected person‘s saliva.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine vaccination with

the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra) for all students 11-12 years of age, or 13 –18 years of age if

not previously vaccinated. Children ages 2 -10, who have a disorder of the immune system or whose spleen

has been removed should also receive the Menactra vaccine as they are at higher risk for contracting this

disease. Many local health departments and private healthcare providers offer this vaccine. Please talk with

your child‘s healthcare provider about meningococcal vaccine and immunization.

Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is a contagious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It may

cause severe coughing fits that can interfere with breathing. The incubation period is from 6-20 days, but

almost always within 10 days. If you have any concerns, contact your doctor or the Marion County Health

Department at 317-221-2000.

The symptoms of pertussis occur in three stages:

1. During the first stage, symptoms are similar to a cold: slight fever, sneezing, runny nose, dry cough, loss of

appetite, and irritability.

2. During the second stage (about 1 to 2 weeks later), the cough becomes more intense. There may be short,

intense coughing spells followed by a long gasp for air (this is when the ―whoop‖ is heard). The coughing fits

may be followed by vomiting, nose bleeds, or bluish color to the face.

3. During the third stage, the cough is less intense and less frequent, and appetite begins to increase.

Eventually the cough stops, although this may take several months. Pertussis is spread by contact with nose or throat secretions from an infected person. This can happen when an

infected person coughs or sneezes. Without treatment, an infected person can spread the disease for up to three

weeks from the time the cough begins. However, after five days of treatment with the appropriate antibiotic, an

infected person cannot spread pertussis.

Children should be up-to-date on vaccinations, especially the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) series.

Adolescents and adults (ages 10 through 64) should also receive one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria,

pertussis) vaccine to provide further protection against pertussis. It is particularly important that anyone

having contact with an infant be fully vaccinated with the appropriate pertussis vaccine for their age.* See

your health care provider to determine if you need immunization against pertussis.