2007-2008 School Year

             Mars Project

    Students in Mrs. Story’s sixth grade Science classes have spent the past two weeks exploring what it would be like to travel to and survive on Mars.  They have built either space ships for the three-month journey, habitats to live in once they arrive, or Martian rovers to get them around on the surface of the rocky-red planet.  The students had to account for how their astronauts would get oxygen, liquid water, and food.  They had to devise means for their astronauts to live and work for several months in low-gravity conditions without losing bone and muscle mass and in low atmospheric conditions that don’t easily allow for water to remain in its liquid state.  They also had to protect their crews from temperature extremes, radiation storms, and winds that can blow the scant Martian air at speeds approaching 300 miles per hour.

    Mrs. Story is completely “blown away” by the projects her students came up with.  She thinks this is the most fun and the most learning that has gone on in sixth grade Science all year.  She could not possibly be prouder of any group of students and their work. 

On Tuesday evening, May 13th, the Middle School held "A Night of Excellence" award ceremony to honor all the students in grades six through eight who had been selected by their teachers for doing superior work or displaying superior behavior during the school year. Individual Wildcats received awards for being on the straight-A honor roll, being the top student in a particular subject, showing improvement in athletics, being the most valuable player in certain sports, or placing in UIL or musical events. There were also many eight graders honored for receiving commended performance ratings on their Reading or Math TAKS tests. In addition, sixth graders, Katelyn Galbavi and Tommy Neal, were awarded the American Legion Medal, and the evening ended with the Richard V. Kelley Wildcat of the Year Award going to eighth graders,  Kelsey Cummins and Brayden Perky!

 

Way to go Wildcats! 

Headlines & Features

From the Desk of Richard Kelley

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Principal, River Road MS / 7600 Pavillard - Amarillo, TX 79108 / Phone: 383-8721 Fax: 381-7815 / richard.kelley@rrisd.net

 

May 30, 2008

 

Parents,

 Well, it’s hard to believe that the middle school made it through another year!  This was a fantastic year for students and faculty alike.  Below, you will find some information regarding next school year.

 

--    Registration for the ’08-’09 school year will take place on August 12th from 8:00am until 8:00pm and August 13th from 8:00am until 12:00pm. 

-- A parent will need to come in during one of those two days to register his/her child(ren). 

-- You will need to verify your residence when you register.

            -- Schedules should be ready to pick up when you register in August.  

-- School pictures will be taken during registration.

Even though you filled out pre-registration information last month, we will have other items that you will need to look at and/or fill out.  Those packets will be mailed out on August 1st to help expedite the process.  Please have the necessary paperwork filled out prior to registering your child.  The first day of classes will be Monday, August 25th.

 

--    School supply lists for next year will be faxed to area stores, posted on the River Road website (www.rrisd.net), or you can come by the office in August and obtain a copy.  Once again, our PTO will be selling supply bundles that you can purchase at registration.  Usually, you can purchase the bundles cheaper than buying it on your own!

 

--    Several parents have expressed an interest in knowing what the dress code will be for next year, so I have placed a copy of next year’s PROPOSED dress code on the back.  There are some minor changes to the dress code that everyone should be aware of.  The student handbook will go before the school board for approval in June.  As you shop for next year’s school clothes, please keep the listed guidelines in mind.

 

--    Your child’s TAKS scores have been included with the final report card.  Next year’s 6th, 7th and 8th grade students who were not successful on this year’s TAKS test will be placed in a TAKS remediation homeroom to get more assistance in problem areas.

 

--    Even though summertime is a time to relax and have fun, students should not stop learning because they are not in a classroom setting.  Parents can help by incorporating learning activities such as reading and exploration into day-to-day summertime activities and family trips.  Muscles get stronger by using them and making them work harder.  The same principle is applied to the brain as well.

 

--    The middle school campus will be closed during the month of July.  If you need any information during that time, don’t hesitate to call 381-7800.

 

--    We are going through a lot of changes as we rise to the expectations that the state has set for all Texas schools!  New houses are popping up in the district that will bring more families to our community.  River Road is an exciting place to be!

 

On behalf of the staff at River Road Middle School, I would like to say thank you for trusting us with your child’s education; furthermore, it is our wish that you and your family have a great summer break.

  

See you in August!

  

RRISD PROPOSED STUDENT DRESS CODE GUIDELINES

2008 - 2009

 

(1)        Hair should be of a natural color, clean, well groomed, and styled so that it is not a distraction in the classroom and vision will not be obstructed.  Beards and mustaches must be kept clean and neatly trimmed. 

     

(2)        School clothing is to be in good taste, clean, neat, and styled for school wear.

 

(3)        Dresses, skirts, shorts, and pants shall be of such length as not to be distracting.  Starting in the third grade, these items (when worn as the outer garment) shall extend at least to the tip of fingers when arms are held straight at the side.  Slits in outer garments must comply with required dress code length.

 

(4)        All shirts shall be of such length as to not be distracting.  All shirts when worn as the outer

            garment:

                    

                     a.   shall be of such a length that is capable of staying tucked while walking, sitting, or with both arms held directly overhead.  Exposed midriffs are not acceptable.

                     b.  shall be of a length that covers the shoulder from the base of the neck to

                          the tip of the shoulder.

                     c.  shall be such that when the palm of your hand is placed on your collarbone,

                          it also touches the shirt.

                     d.  shall be designed in such a manner as to cover all undergarments including

                          the sleeve line and neckline.

 

(5)        Some type of sandal or shoe must be worn at all times.

 

(6)        Hats or headgear shall not be worn inside the school building.

 

(7)        Experience indicates that the following types of apparel can be reasonably forecast to disrupt, interfere with, disturb, or detract from the learning environment and therefore River Road ISD students shall not wear the following to school or school-related activities: 

            athletic shorts          pajamas          cut-offs          tights        biker shorts  

            items made of see-through materials

            jeans or pants that have un-patched holes above the knee

            apparel or accessories with designs or writings with reference to drugs, alcoholic beverages,

            tobacco, sex, obscenity, suicide, death or violence, racist or ethnic slurs, bawdy, salacious or

            sexually suggestive messages

            apparel containing writing or images that brings unnecessary attention to a student’s backside.

 

(8)        Tank tops or “basketball jerseys” may be worn with a T-shirt underneath.

 

(9)        Wearing either identified gang apparel or wearing clothing in a gang-style (i.e. “sagging”) as identified by law enforcement agencies is prohibited.

 

(10)       All waistbands of dresses, skirts, shorts and pants must be secured at the waistline.

 

(11)       Jewelry for all students is prohibited if the jewelry is determined to be a distraction to the learning environment.

 

No set of guidelines can take into account every possibility.  The cooperation of parents and students is requested.  Each campus reserves the right to modify the dress code to allow for special events or circumstances (i.e. Hat Day, Jr/Sr Prom, organization dress or uniforms, etc.)