River Bend Middle School

20 Pages·2012·1.38 MB·English

December 2012
Volume 11 Issue 4

Sick Day Guidelines .......................................... 10
Holiday Coalition .............................................. 12
Contents
Raven’s Roost: A Message from the Principal ... 1 Parent Resource Center ................................... 13
Administrative Assistance .................................. 2 First Quarter Honor Roll .................................. 14
School Menu ...................................................... 2 December Calendar ......................................... 20
RBMS Administration ......................................... 3
RBMS Contact Information ................................ 3
Raven’s Roost: A Message from
School Hours ...................................................... 3
the Principal
Visitor, Volunteer, and Late Student Sign in
Procedure ........................................................... 3 Many students struggle with exams. With
semester exams just around the corner, I
Student Drop off Procedure ............................... 3
thought it would be beneficial to review
Early Dismissals .................................................. 3
strategies to help improve testing outcomes.
Students Tardy to School ................................... 4 Test taking is an often neglected, but beneficial
skill. In this excerpt by Dr. Ignatius E.!dio, a
Attendance ......................................................... 4
number of strategies are highlighted that may
School Work Requests ....................................... 4
assist students to succeed with high-stakes
Address and Phone Changes .............................. 4 assessments.
Lost and Found ................................................... 4
TEST TAKING STRATEGIES
Counselor’s Corner............................................. 5 In addition to learning the curricula
contents, students should learn test-
Parent Link ......................................................... 5
taking strategies. Teachers and
PTA ..................................................................... 6
instructors should not doubt the
Latin Club ........................................................... 6 importance of teaching students how to
take tests. When this author asked
Library News ...................................................... 6
several students in both primary grades
Inclement Weather Delays ................................ 8
and college who always scored in the
One Hour Delay .............................................. 8 upper quartile (90 -100%) on tests to
share their test taking strategies, they
One Hour Delay Lunch Schedule .................... 8
offered the following helpful strategies
Two Hour Delay .............................................. 8
for multiple choice tests. Students who
Two Hour Delay Lunch Schedule ................... 8 employ these strategies, often score
very high (90-100 percentile) on their
Weather Alerts ............................................... 8
tests. Students should always
Recycling Program.............................................. 9
River Bend Middle School December
2011-2012

Think about what they are On the contrary, poor test takers
supposed to do. (students who score 70 percentile and
below) also shared their test-taking
Read the test questions
errors. They are very likely to
carefully.
Spend too much time on
Look at the answer choices
difficult items.
carefully.
Misread a question.
Mark the best answer and
move on if they are The first strategy is always to learn the
absolutely sure. curriculum. The process of taking an exam
requires a different skill set. Hopefully, by
Look at the rest of the
implementing these strategies, your student’s
answer choices if they are
testing outcome will greatly improve.
not sure of the best
answer.
Administrative Assistance
Eliminate answer choices
If, due to a disability, you need assistance to
they know definitely to be enable you to participate meaningfully in a
wrong. meeting or conference, etc., please contact Mr.
Robert Phillips at 571-434-3220 at least five
Try each answer choice in working days prior to the meeting.
Servicios Especiales - Si por alguna razón de
the blank for fill-in-the-
salud usted necesitara asistencia (silla de
blank type questions.
ruedas, alguien que maneje hasta el colegio,
etc.) para poder atender una de las actividades,
Take their best guess when
sea una conferencia, reunión, evento, etc. por
they are uncertain about
favor contacte al Sr. Robert Phillips al 571-434-
the correct answer. 3220 con por lo menos 5 días anteriores al
evento. Si fuera necesario los servicios de un
Skip difficult items and intérprete para participar de actividades,
return to them later. conferencias, reuniones, eventos o algún
programa, por favor contacte a la escuela con la
Make sure they mark the misma anticipación.
correct spaces on the
answer document that
School Menu
align with the question
The Loudoun County Public Schools new
they are answering.
Secondary Lunch Menu is a three week
repeating menu. This menu may be viewed
Answer all of the
online at www.lcps.org by selecting lunch
questions.
menus.
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RBMS Administration after 8:00 a.m. are to go to their appropriate
grade level House. All students will report to
Principal ..........................................Bennett Lacy
Asst. Principal ...........................LaShanté Knight their first block classroom at the 8:15 a.m. bell.
Asst. Principal ...............................Robert Phillips
Attendance Secretary.......................Truus Foard
Secretary.....................................Dawn Mahoney Visitor, Volunteer, and Late
Bookkeeper..............................Stephanie Napert
Student Sign in Procedure
Parent Liaison.............................Tricia Anderson
All visitors need to stop by the main office upon
.

arrival. Each visitor, volunteer, and all late
House A (8th Grade)
Dean ..........................................Melissa Dober students will log into the computer located on
Counselor..................................Janae Gwizdala the table to your left as you enter the Main
Secretary.........................................Robin Byrd Office. A pass or name tag will automatically

print out. While at RBMS you will be required
House B (7th Grade)
Dean......................................Deborah Agunsday to wear a visitor’s name tag. Students will take
Lead Counselor……………..…………Sherri Robinson their late pass to their House office and sign in
Secretary.........................................Julie Bahun there as well. Please be prepared to show a

valid ID.
House C (6th Grade)
Dean ...........................................Kathryn Clark
Counselor ……………….……........Veronica Williams
Student Drop off Procedure
Secretary....................................Tamara Baldwin
We have signs to direct traffic through our

parking lot. The school’s front parking
lots should not to be used as a morning drop off
RBMS Contact Information
area. Please follow the “ravens” to the area
Main office: 571-434-3220 designated for student drop off located on the
side of River Bend. This area was created for
Absentee Line: 571-434-3222
the safety of our students. In order to maintain
a continuous flow of traffic, pull up as far as
Website: www.lcps.org/rbms
possible and allow your student to exit the
Address: River Bend Middle School vehicle at any point on the sidewalk. Be
46240 Algonkian Parkway,
considerate of others and move on once your
Sterling, VA 20165
child disembarks. If you would like to wait with
your child until the doors open at 8 o’clock,
School Hours please move to a parking space. Please do not
park in the designated student drop off area.
School hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:18 p.m. The
building will be open for students at 8:00 a.m.
Any student arriving before 8:00 a.m. may wait
Early Dismissals
in the cafeteria. Breakfast is served from 8:00
If at all possible, please send a note in with your
a.m. until 8:20 a.m. Students that are not
child the morning of an appointment. The
eating breakfast and all other students arriving
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River Bend Middle School December
2011-2012

student’s house secretary will write a pass to Counselor and the Attendance Secretary in the
excuse the student at the appropriate time. Main Office at: 571-434-3220.
This will alleviate the need to disrupt the
classroom and your child will be waiting in the
Address and Phone Changes
front office when you arrive.
Moving? New phone number? We need your
address and telephone updates.
Students Tardy to School If you are moving and your child will be
attending another school for 2012-13, please
All students must be in their classroom by the
notify your child’s counselor as soon as
8:30 a.m. bell. Any student arriving to class
possible.
after the 8:30 a.m. bell will be considered
“tardy” and must sign in at the main office to
If you have moved and are still within our
receive a “tardy” pass. A parent/guardian
attendance zone, please remember to stop by
should accompany their student to the office or
the school to fill out a change of address form.
send a note with the student when arriving late
We will need to see proof of your new
to school.
residence. This proof can be a lease, deed,
settlement papers or mortgage statement.
Attendance
To change a work or home telephone number,
River Bend parents: we need your help! When
parents/guardians need to contact the
your child is absent, please call the attendance
attendance secretary at 571-434-3220 or on
line at [phone] to notify the school. For
line at www.loudoun.k12.va.us.
your convenience, this is a 24-hour answering
machine. An absence will be unexcused if the
school does not receive a note or a phone Lost and Found
message from the parent or guardian. River Bend has several areas designated for lost
items such as lunch boxes, books, binders, and
clothing. Students that miss place their
School Work Requests
belongings can check in the Lost and Found that
When students are absent, the parent/guardian
is located in the short hallway next to the
should call the Absentee Line at 571-434-3222
counselor’s office in each House. Items of value
and inform the school of the reason for absence
or importance such as phones, ipods, agendas,
and when they will return to school. Please do
glasses, jewelry or keys are kept in the House
not request class work on the Absentee Line. If
secretary’s office. If your student has lost an
a student has missed three or more days, the
item, please encourage them to check in the
parent/guardian may request missed school
Lost and Found or with their House secretary.
work from their child’s house secretary. The
Items that go unclaimed will be
class work will be available for pick up on the
donated at the end of each quarter
following day. To make arrangements for an
extended absence, please contact your students to a local charity.
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River Bend Middle School December
2011-2012

Counselor’s Corner Students can complete Part 2 of the application
from home if applying to AOS. Only eighth
Janae Gwizdala, 8th Grade Counselor,
TJ and AOS graders can apply and they Must ask for
Sherri Robinson, 7th Grade Counselor recommendations from their 7th or 8th grade
Veronica Williams, 6th Grade Math and Science teacher. Friday, December
Counselor 17th at 11:59 p.m. is the absolute deadline to
It has been a very busy, but productive school
submit AOS applications online.
year. We have gotten to know our students
and we continue to support them regarding any Scheduling
academic or social concerns. The second In reference to scheduling for the 2012 -13
quarter of the school year began on November school year, teacher recommendations will be
7th. First quarter report cards were sent home made in the coming months for rising 7th, 8th,
with the students on Wednesday, November and 9th graders. Letters will be sent home later,
16th. If you have questions about specific which will explain the scheduling process.
grades on the report card, please contact your
child’s teacher directly. If you would like to
Parent Link
arrange a conference with all of your child’s
Tricia Anderson, Parent Liaison
teachers, please contact your child’s guidance
We hope that you all had a wonderful
counselor, who will assist you with setting up
Thanksgiving break. Thank you to those
the conference.
families who brought in their gently used
coats during the last two months. We have
November Happenings:
given them out to many students and their
During American Education Week, the
families. If you still have warm winter coats
Guidance Department sponsored a Parent you no longer wear, I am always happy to
Workshop that provided helpful information on take them off your hands.
Cyber-Bullying. Vanessa Mertz-Myers, School
Resource Officer and Loudoun County Sheriff, There are many families in our community
who are in need. If you are looking for
was the speaker, and she shared important tips
ways to help this holiday season, the
for parents to be aware of.
Holiday Coalition expects to assist a record
number of Loudoun residents this year. In
Upcoming Events:
2011, the Holiday Coalition served over
Thomas Jefferson School of Science and
1200 needy families (3100 individuals) at
Technology
their Holiday Store. Working with Interfaith
Eighth graders applying to Thomas Jefferson
Relief, the Coalition also helped feed more
School of Science and Technology will take the
than 1400 families for Thanksgiving. They
entrance exam on Saturday, December 1st at
rely on hundreds of volunteers to help set up
Harper Park Middle School. Students should and run the Holiday Store. They are also in
arrive at the school no later than 8 a.m. great need of donated gifts, new clothing
and personal care items. For more
Academy of Science information on the Holiday coalition visit
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River Bend Middle School December
2011-2012

www.loudoun.gov/holidaycoalition or call
them at 703-737-8367.

If you know of a family in need, or need
assistance yourself, please contact me at
571-434-3220 or by email,
[email protected]. All
information is held in strictest confidence.

Thanks for your generosity and have a
happy holiday season!
Classical Cottage Invitational Certamen and the
annual Virgina Junior Classical League's state
PTA convention.
Please congratulate the following students for
Mary Webb
participating in the Classical Cottage Certamen
PTA President
on Saturday, November 3.
River Bend Middle School
Dinneny, Thomas
Greenman, Lucy
Latin Club Greer, Johnnie
Jarquin, Frannie
Our Latin students rock! Several students
Macgoy, Julia
participated in a certamen on Saturday,
Mott, Aidan
October 20 in Alexandria. Certamen is Latin for
Rachamallu, Medhini
competition or struggle. Some students placed
Robles, Richard
in the top 10! Certamen is a bit like Jeopardy
Touve, Jessica
and It's Academic, but much, much cooler since

all the questions are based on Latin grammar,
Dorsey, Mackensie
Roman history, culture, and religion. Students
Schmid, Katrina
were quizzed on direct objects of Latin
Soccio-Mallon, Alexandra
sentences. They answered questions about

Roman generals and the Greco-Roman gods.
Thank you,
What did Arachne do to make Athena so angry?
Andrea Weiskopf
(Her weaving showed the gods misbehaving.)
(Answers: Sicily, Tithonus, The Amazing Race)
To whom did the Roman poet Horace address
his first book of odes?(Maecenas) What Roman
censor built the Appian way? (Appius Claudius Library News
Caecus)
Thank you to all our book fair volunteers,

especially Cynthia Son, Penny Henson, Barbara
Hoopes, Lisa Lee, Hope Linske-Rice, Tina Precht,
Libby Brauns, Karen Anderson, Gina DeCrisci-
Farmer, Irene Freeman, Lisa Jencks, Lisa
Gauffreau, Julie Pooley, Jennifer Kott, Afshan
Baqui, Maura Greenman, Karen Potter, Smita
Mahanty, Jennifer Badolato, Stacy Swarm, Ann
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River Bend Middle School December
2011-2012

Donie, Judy Schmid, and Robin Sylvester.
Thanks to Lynn Schneider and Risa Beach for
assisting with the set-up of the book fair.
Bluford Series

The books are available in the library as well as
the audio version is free from Audiobooks.com
to go
http://www.bluford.org/audiobooks/
You can find the link on the library page.
Over Due Books
Overdue Notices went home with report cards.
Remember all library materials have a 2week
due date, If you need to keep the book or
materials longer stop by the library to renew
them. Someone is waiting to read the book you
have.

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River Bend Middle School December
2011-2012

Inclement Weather Delays One Hour Delay
In the event that weather or other reasons 09:25 Warning Bell
09:30 – 10:47 1A/5B Block
require either closing or delaying the opening of
10:52 – 12:42 3A/7B Block
school before buses start on their routes,
12:47 – 2:00 2A/6B Block
announcements will be made over the radio
2:05 – 3:18 4A/8B Block
and TV stations listed below by 6:00 A.M.

These stations are notified by direct calls and
One Hour Delay Lunch Schedule
should be the primary stations that are
monitored. 10:52 – 11:22 LUNCH A
11:02 – 11:32 LUNCH B
When conditions require school closings or 11:27 – 11:57 LUNCH C
early dismissal of students, announcements will 11:37 – 12:07 LUNCH D
12:02 – 12:32 LUNCH E
be given to the following radio and TV stations:
12:12 – 12:42 LUNCH F
Radio: TV:
Two Hour Delay
WMAL 630 AM WRC TV 4
WTOP 1500 AND 103.5 FOX TV 5 10:25 Warning Bell
WINC 92.5 FM WJLA TV 7 10:30 – 11:28 1A/5B Block
WUSA TV 9 11:33 – 1:23 3A/7B Block
News Channel 8 1:28 – 2:15 2A/6B Block
2:20 – 3:18 4A/8B Block
If severe weather strikes while students are in
school, a decision to close school for the
Two Hour Delay Lunch Schedule
remainder of the day may be made. Activating
11:33 – 12:03 LUNCH A
the transportation system due to inclement
11:43 – 12:13 LUNCH B
weather takes time. In the event of a delayed
12:08 – 12:38 LUNCH C
opening, please stay tuned to the radio/TV 12:18 – 12:48 LUNCH D
stations in case some change in the weather 12:43 – 1:13 LUNCH E
causes schools to be closed for the day. 12:53 – 1:23 LUNCH F

All after-school activities requiring school bus
Weather Alerts
transportation are canceled. Other school
Register with Loudoun Alert to receive up-to-
activities not requiring transportation service
the-minute school status regarding closings,
are the discretion of the school principal. Please
delays, early dismissals, and special
check the district website, or your school’s
circumstances via automatic email updates at:
website, for specific information.
https://alert.loudoun.gov.

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River Bend Middle School December
2011-2012

Recycling Program
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River Bend Middle School December
2011-2012

Sick Day Guidelines
10