Originally delivered on 12/2/2021 6:01 am

SUBJECT: 'Tis the Season: RMS PTO Update

... The Season of Giving

RMS PTO update for December

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Please notice that many calendar items are hot-linked to the PTO calendar page so you can learn a bit more.  And you can sync your phone with the PTO calendar - read more here.

12/1-12/12 - MainPoint Books Holiday shopping event (see more below)

12/1-12/12 - Holiday Gift Card drive (see more below)

12/6, 12/9, 12/13 - Ski Club Registration (see more below)

12/10 - Multicultural Group Cookie Exchange (see more below)

12/13-12/17 - Winter Wonder Project (see more below)

12/15 - RMS STEM Night - previous registration required 

12/16 - RMS 7th/8th Grade Band Performance 7:30 pm

12/17 - Mini-THON Pajama Day (Donate $1.00 & wear PJs to school)

12/23- 12/31 - NO SCHOOL:  See you on January 3!


**BACK TO SCHOOL district webpage for more important dates

**See the full year RTSD District Instructional Calendar HERE

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
STEM NIGHT - Spots Still Available!

The registration for STEM Night (12/15 6:00-8:00 pm) opened last evening, but you can still register your student(s) here.

Each student should sign up for 3 sessions.  Session size will be limited to ensure social distancing, and students must wear masks.  Students are also asked to bring their Chromebook to the event.

This is the first time the PTO is sponsoring this event for RMS students. Thank you to our session presenters and room volunteers for helping to make this event possible.  

Ski Club Registration Opens by Grade

An informational parent/student meeting was held on 11/17 about RMS Ski Club.  If you were unable to attend, more detailed information can be found here.  

RMS Ski Club is open to all grades, however a rolling registration will start with the 8th grade and move down to 6th. 

The club can accommodate 104 skiers.  Experience is not necessary but is helpful.  Students without ski experience should enroll in the lesson package being offered.

There will be 3 dates for Ski Club, which are Fridays from ~ 2:00 pm - 11:00 pm

1/28 @ Bear Creek

2/11 @ Camelback Resort

2/25 @ Camelback Resort

To reserve a spot, students must commit to all 3 trips.

Safety is a priority - chaperones will be on the slopes and in the lodge.  Beginners should take a lesson - students should not be teaching beginners.

The cost varies based on need for rentals and lessons, but you can see more in the detailed information.

Registration opens by grade on the following dates at noon:

12/6 - 8th Grade

12/9 - 7th Grade

12/13 - 6th Grade

Ski Club Information and Registration Links here. 

Starting on 12/20, parents/guardians will be contacted via email with forms to be completed and returned with payment for the trips. Please make sure to only sign a child up one time and to make sure you are signing them up for the correct grade.

Once 104 slots have been filled, registration will close however your student is not guaranteed a spot until forms and payment have been received.  A wait list will be kept if needed.

The PTO has worked with local businesses and the school counselor's office to compile a number of ways for your to GIVE this Holiday Season (to your family or to others).  These are completely voluntary and optional, and the PTO thanks you in advance for helping to make the RMS community a place for everyone.

The gift of READING never goes out of style and always fits!

Shop for your students at Main Point Books in Wayne (and online) now throughDecember 12 and not only support a local business, but also the PTO.  When you order, 20% of the sale proceeds will go to the RMS PTO. If you are ordering online, please let them know your purchase is for Radnor Middle School in the comments field when you check out.  You can also use the comment field to indicate that you'd like to donate a book to a student in need.  They will work with the school counselor to distribute any donated books.  Thank you to the Radnor Memorial Library for their partnership in this event/

https://www.mainpointbooks.com/radnor-middle-school-holiday-book-fair

Shop & Support Local Families: Holiday Gift Card Fundraiser - Thru December 12

The RMS PTO fundraising committee has partnered with several local Radnor businesses to offer Holiday Gift Cards/Vouchers for purchase to use or give as holiday gifts.

Depending on the volume of Holiday Gift Cards/Vouchers sold, most local businesses will donate 10-20% of the profits to the RMS PTO.  

In addition,  you can help support local families in need this holiday season with the donation option on the purchase form.  The gift cards and cash will be utilized by the RMS Social Worker to provide Radnor families with items they need to have a happy, healthy holiday.  

Fill out the registration form and the PTO will do the shopping for you! Gift cards will be available for you to pick up at the RMS office the week of December 13.  More information will be sent once the cards are purchased and ready for pick up.

https://rtsdpto.wufoo.com/forms/zobgsr61kkyr8w/

Winter Wonder Holiday Drive

If you are looking to help support a family's holiday needs more specifically, the PTO has teamed up with the RMS social worker to provide giving opportunities that get a little more personal.  

You can review some family requests and choose to provide NEW and UNWRAPPED items from a family's wish list.  Items can be dropped off in the RMS vestibule the week of December 13.  

The generosity of Radnor families is overwhelming during any season, but this time of year is incredible.  Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.  Please see the sign up below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0549ADA729A3F85-holiday

'Tis the Season to Give Spirit Gear!

re-word:  Get a jump on your holiday shopping or just treat yourself with some newly designed Radnor Spirit Gear available through Anchors Aweigh.  The items have been flying off the website!  Get yours today.

Spirit Gear is a district-wide fundraiser for the PTO.

8th Grade Families - Winter Treat Bags

The PTO is putting together special take-home Holiday Treat Bags for the 8th Graders that will be given out on December 22nd, and we are looking for families to contribute items to include in the bags.

The 8th graders traditionally have had a winter breakfast, but it is not possible to accommodate eating in the pod/classrooms due to Covid, so the PTO is sponsoring Treat Bags instead.   

The PTO will provide Rice Krispie treats and packets of hot cocoa that will be included along with the donated items.  Please consider signing up here to contribute. 

The purchased items can be sent into school with the students or dropped off at the main office no later than December 17th.  

Raffle Donations Wanted!

The  RMS Mini-THON Hospitality Committee is in search of donations / items it can use for a Mini-THON Raffle Basket Fundraiser.  If you'd like to help the students fight childhood cancer, please consider donating items for a basket.  The deadline for the donations is December 22.  The basket raffle will be held during the planned Mini-THON event in March. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4aa8ab29a7fec34-mini

Join the 7th Grade Social Planning Team

The 7th Grade Social is tentatively scheduled to be held in person in the RMS Main Gym and Cafeteria in February 2022, and the PTO is looking for additional parents/guardians to join the planning committee chaired by 7th grade parent Mary Maran. If interested, please email Mary at marytmaran@yahoo.com.  


Deadline Approaching: Nominate an Outstanding RMS Teacher!

If any teachers should be nominated - it should be RMS teachers! 

As previously communicating, the Excellence In Teaching Award nominations are being accepted online through the December 17, 2021.  

Anyone can nominate a deserving teacher - read more here.  

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Cookie Exchange!

Please join the RMS Multicultural Social Group for the return of the Holiday Cookie Exchange!   This is an adults-only event, outdoors. Please sign up with the link here so we know how many are coming.

Cookie Exchange - please bring 24 cookies

Date/Time: 12.30 - 2.30pm Friday Dec 10, 2021

Location: Rogeria Kaisermann's back patio (507 Maplewood Ave Wayne PA 19087)

All RMS parents/guardians are welcome. Please forward to new and interested RMS families. 


And, after the cookies, comes the walking...

The walking group meets every Thurs 9:15am at the 'Friends of the Radnor Trail Park', contact Rogeria for more information.

RMS Strong!

Thanks to your support, RMS PTO has met its goal for the Family Sponsorship Campaign (FSC) of $8,000.  Thank you for your continued support - these funds are being judiciously used to enhance our students' experience and sense of school community at RMS.  

Please be sure to follow RMS PTO on Facebook and Instagram for real-time reminders of events as well as updates on how the PTO funds are used to support activities.  Since last newsletter, the PTO has:

  • Purchased spirit gear T-shirts for families in need for LM Week
  • Purchased Radnor Sweatshirts for families in need
  • Supported the 8th Grade "Hunger Day" with a grant
  • Supported the RMS Mini-thon with a grant
  • Hosted the Mayhem Poets for an all-school assembly
  • Hosted Veteran's Day Wall of Honor and ceremony
  • Hosted 3 "Tastes of the World" dining/fundraising events
  • Hosting STEM Night

Your continued support will help to provide the community and connection the PTO strives to achieve.  

If interested in donating to the FSC, you can visit the website here.

Grade Level Socials Still TBD

As it goes with an ever changing landscape, RMS will make the final decision on school grade-level socials which are tentatively planned in 2022, after winter break.   

More details to follow, but the tentative plans are:

February - 7th grade social

April - 6th grade social

May - 8th grade dance

MTSS Questions Answered

As an update, our RMS MTSS Parent/Guardian group met with Dr. Wiedlich on Thursday, November 18.  Dr. Wiedlich presented a brief overview of the RMS MTSS program and answered parent/guardian questions.  At this time, we are not planning further meetings with the RMS administration.  However, if you have any questions or would like to call a group meeting with Dr. Wiedlich, just let the PTO know.

CELL PHONE POLICY

A quick reminder about the RMS Cell Phone policy to remind your student.  Phones are permitted at school, but it should be turned off and placed in the student's locker and may not be carried or used throughout the day. 

If your child needs to contact a parent/guardian, he/she can use a school phone with a teacher’s permission.

Thank you...
  • Dr. Wiedlich for purchasing new notebooks and pencils for the first annual RMS STEM Night.  
  • Jannie Lau for donating 240 - 3" STEM Night stickers.
  • Radnor PAGE (Hadley Perkins) and Radnor Special Education Group (Kathy Mair) for guest speaking at our November General PTO meeting.
  • Veronica Bay and Kate Sanderson for hosting a Multicultural Friendsgiving on November 14.
  • Anna Humphrey and Katie Quigley for coordinating Staff Appreciation on November 17.
  • Evelyn Guo and Natasha Thomas for planning, "A Taste of the World" dining out fundraiser!  So far, the RMS PTO has raised $300.
  • Tara Bucci for helping to coordinate the District Wide, "Beat LM" t-shirt sales. 
  • Jen Unterberger and Keturah Duncan for planning the first Cultural Arts event at RMS in over 2 years!
  • Jannie Lau, Cindy Korenberg, Ms. Spindel and Mr. Urbina for honoring veterans during the Veterans Day ceremony on November 11 at the Radnor War Memorial.  
  • RMS student speakers: Jackson Evans, Bobby Santillo, and Cosimo Gaster, who shared their stories at the ceremony
  • Keturah Duncan for singing the National Anthem at the ceremony
  • YOU for making the RTSD Thanksgiving Basket Drive a success!
District-Wide News:

Thanksgiving Basket Drive Success!

Thank you to Community Outreach Coordinator Kristin Monty, the RTSD Social Workers, Ceire Evans and Christine Kulp, and our cadre of volunteers who made the RTSD PTOs Thanksgiving Basket Drive a success. 

Over 160 baskets were delivered to our families in need. The generosity of the community has allowed us to provide additional food support during the winter holiday break.  If you are still interested in supporting our families over this time the PayPal link is active and we are still accepting donations through December 10th. Thanks again for your generosity.

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