Important Dates

Wednesday, April 24 - Coffee Talk 8:15-9:00 (playground and Septic updates)
Monday, May 6 - Teacher In-Service - No School
Monday, May 6 - Pre-K AND Kindergarten Orientation, time TBA
Wednesday, May 8th - Walk/Bike/Roll to School Day
Thursday, May 23 - Mayfest, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Wednesday, June 12 - Field Day 9:45pm- 1:45pm

Message from our Principal

Class Placement Family Survey

We had a fantastic week back from vacation.  Students reviewed our school expectations and quickly followed those expectations with ease.  I had the good fortune to spend time with the kindergarteners during their author’s celebration.  Each student wrote a book detailing how to accomplish a task.  They shared the well-written books to audience members.  I learned how to make cookies, fly on an airplane, and vacuum a house!   

We will soon be working to create class lists for the coming school year.  Much thought is put into placing students where they will be most successful.  We work to balance classes on many levels and also use this as an opportunity to place students with different peer groups.  One important part of the process is for us to solicit information from families.  You know your child the best and can share insights that will allow for successful placements.  You can give your input by completing the survey using the link above.  I do want to be transparent and share that we can often NOT grant all requests, but we will do our best!

Some of you have reached out about the last day of school for students.  With the latest snow day, the last student day of school is Monday, June 17th.  Since traditionally our last day of school is a half day and with this last day falling on a Monday, Dr. Badams has requested that the day be forgiven.  If that happens, I will keep you informed.  In the meantime, please keep your fingers and toes crossed that we do not have any other late season snow storms.

I look forward to each of the remaining 39 days remaining in this school year.  They will be filled with many classroom learning experiences, engaging field trips, and a few traditions such as Mayfest and Field Day. 

Enjoy the weekend,
Shawn

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Student Services Update
 

Did you know that all 4th, 5th and 6th graders will be taking VTCAP (the State-wide proficiency test) starting the week after break?  If you are interested in seeing what this test looks like, feel free to take a practice test.  All students will have a chance to take the practice test at school in order to become familiar with the testing interface, so please don’t ask them to take it.  Our goal with testing is to make it as normal as possible.

Have a great week,
Greg Bagnato
 

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Counselor's Corner

If you have eclipse glasses lying around and you are wondering what to do with them, you can either send them into school with your student or drop them off at the Montshire Museum. The Montshire Museum is a collection site for Astronomers Without Borders and all of the glasses collected at MCS will be dropped off at the Montshire on Monday April 22nd after school.

Check out New’s Crews March Edition

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School News and Information

Mark Your Calendars!  MAYFEST!

Dear MCS Community, please mark your calendars for our annual Mayfest celebration of song and dance.  It will take place on Thursday, May 23, on the green in front of the school, at 1:30 pm.  Bring your own picnic blanket/lawn chair.  Please also mark your calendar for Friday, May 24, which is our rain date. 

Lastly, adult musicians are invited to join our little band to accompany the children’s songs and dances.  We are always looking for people who can chord along with us on guitar/banjo/mandolin/uke/bass/etc., as well as fiddlers and flute or tin whistle players.  Please email Mr. Ramsey for more information.

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Did you lose some earrings?  We found a pair of earrings at the Norwich Congregational Church when we cleaned up after the chorus concert.  If they are yours, please visit Joy and identify them!  (We will send them over to the church in a few weeks if no one claims them.)

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PE NewsThank you to our amazing PTO, Kindergarten parent Elliot Harik, and our very own Disc Golf Coach Dylan Gelineau (Mr. G) for a fun first week of exploring Disc Golf during PE classes! Spring is here and all grade levels are excited for this new life long sport to grow at MCS!

Save the dates:

Thursday May 9th - Kids Heart Challenge Rep at 2:30 on the Green.

Some students have been continuously working on their jump rope skills since the beginning of February. They are preparing jump rope routines to perform at our whole school Kids Heart Challenge Rep. This assembly will give us a chance to celebrate all of our efforts as a community to save lives and gain the skills needed for  Hands- Only CPR.

Wednesday June 12 - Field Day 9:45- 1:45

Everything Sports Day will happen on the green with all MCS students! We will have many stations all around to show off all of the sportsmanship we have been practicing all year long. If you are interested in volunteering please be sure to complete our volunteer forms prior to June.

Let the fun begin,
Melanie Farwell

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PTO Bulletin Board

Spring Community Clean Up Day
Saturday, April 20th, 10 AM - meet at the MCS flagpole

Please join our amazing PE teacher, Melanie Farwell, to help get the Green and play areas ready for spring! We will need volunteers to help with the following:

• Painting 4 Square courts, hopscotch patterns, and basketball court lines
• Inflate kickballs, soccer balls, footballs, basketballs (we have supplies and pumps)
• Fill recess bins with jump ropes, soft frisbees, chalk, recess balls
• Hang game rules for GaGa Ball and 4 Square 
• Clean up the MCS garden (bring your own gardening gloves if you'd like to help with this)
• Clean up the Green (gloves and garbage bags will be provided)
• Other tasks, as time allows

Many hands will make light work. No sign up needed, just show up at 10 AM at MCS this Saturday!

Coffee Talk

Wednesday, April 24, 8:15 AM
 

Join Shawn & Greg as we hear from Jamie Teague and Tony Daigle about the plans for the septic system, playground, and heating system updates.

Richmond Middle School PTO Movie Night

Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 PM - Nugget Movie Theater

Need a “day off” after your April vacation? Come see the ultimate “I need a break from it all” movie – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off! Current and rising RMS students (and their families) are invited to the Nugget on Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30 PM for this RMS PTO fundraising event. Tickets are $20, or for $25 they’ll throw in popcorn and a drink! Tickets are limited, so we suggest purchasing them online here in advance. Join in the laughter and introduce your child to this comedy classic. We hope to see you there!

Note: This movie is rated PG-13. We leave it to parents to determine what is appropriate for their child. Anyone younger than 6^th grade must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Thank you for supporting the RMS PTO!

Save the Dates for Upcoming Events:

May 2nd (Thursday): PTO Annual Meeting, MCS Multi, 8:15 am - Officer Elections

May 8th (Wednesday): Walk/Bike/Roll to School Day

May 10th (Friday): Pie Day/National Teacher Appreciation Week, MCS Multi