Panther Press
May 2014
Volume 10 Issue 10
The Super Important Monthly Newsletter of RMS
Follow us on twitter @RiverwatchMS for school reminders, sport
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From the Nurse
If your student has medication in the clinic it must be picked up by a parent or guardian by
May 23rd, 2014. If the medication is not picked up by this date, it will be destroyed in
accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines. Please call Nurse Katie with any
questions!
Katie Wiltsey, LPN
School Nurse
Riverwatch Middle School
678-455-7311 ext 300121
678-455-7316 Fax
8th Graders: Don’t miss the Semi-Formal Dance
Friday, May 16 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
RMS Cafeteria
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RMS Final Exam Schedule Spring 2014
6th Grade
Wednesday May 21 -7th Period Exam
Thursday May 22- 3rd and 4th Period Exams
Friday May 23- 1st and 2nd Period Exams
7th Grade
Wednesday May 21-7th Period Exam
Thursday May 22- 5th and 6th Period Exams
Friday May 23-1st and 2nd Period Exams
8th Grade
Wednesday May 21-7th Period Exam
Thursday May 22- 5th and 6th Period Exams
Friday May 23-3rd and 4th Period Exams
End of Year Media Center News:
Last Day for Check Outs – May 2
ALL BOOKS, including textbooks must be returned before
May 9.
If your book is lost or damaged, please see Mrs. Evans for
payment information.
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Girls
Rising 7th and 8th Grade girls interested in Basketball, make plans for the summer workouts and camps.
June 9th – 13th and June 16th – 20th
Cost is $60
Physicals are required to participate in any summer workouts or camps.
All information is available on the RMS website on the Girls Basketball Page or see Coach Viti.
Natalie Viti
Physical Education Teacher
8th Grade Girls Basketball Coach
Riverwatch Middle School
678-455-7311 ext. 300581
Attention PTSA Members:
Please click on the link below to fill out a short survey about where to spend PTSA
technology funds.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R58GWMX
Not a member of PTSA? We value your input too. Just remember to please join
PTSA in the Fall to support our programs.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Eighth Grade News
An annual tradition at Riverwatch Middle School (RMS) is the 8th Grade Picnic. This
event is a joint effort between RMS and your Parent-Teacher-Student-Association (PTSA).
A special Thanks goes to the Administrators and Teachers of Riverwatch Middle School
and their continued dedication to acknowledge the success of our students.
A special Thanks goes to all the parents who joined the PTA. A small portion of your
dues will help contribute to the success of this event. If you did not previously join this
organization I encourage you to consider joining next year. Plus, it’s never too late to
provide a donation to help us build these student events and provide Teacher Grants to
enhance our classrooms.
The Field Day event is May 9, 2014. As they break for lunch, a Chick-Fil-A meal will be
presented to each student with a canned drink. The students will then have the option to
select from a variety of fruits, snack bars, nutrition bars and Sno-Cone! They may also
replenish their water mugs from our cold dispensers before returning to field day activities.
We have also arranged for a D.J. at this event. As a huge treat, our Partner in Education –
Omega Learning Centers – has volunteered to provide their sno-cone machine, with the
flavoring, the cups and a supply of ice.
There are a few details remaining to finalize, however, we know from the beginning that
parent volunteers are crucial. We’ll have 2 hour time slots to fill. They begin at 8 am in
car pool, to allow parents to drop off donations of food and ice. Next we will set
up/decorate our tables with the fruit, snacks, sno-cones, DJ and Chick-Fil-A lunch. We
will need additional volunteers to help keep the kids, and the lines, moving. We will be
asking for a few extra tent toppers, along with coolers/ice, that we can use at the picnic.
Once the kids have moved back to field day we will need help cleaning up.
These are our 8th graders. They deserve this day and Riverwatch/PTSA are making sure
they get it. Over the next month you will begin to see “Sign Up Genius” requests for
snacks, fruit, a lot of ice, water jugs, coolers, etc. Please take a moment to consider what
you can do to help with this event.
If you have any questions concerning the 8th Grade Picnic, contact PTSA
vickiEckley@yahoo.com or the Co-Chairs of this event, Wendy Martin at
martinwm@rocketmail.com or Janet Lyons at Janet@lyonshome.com.
Information on the May 20 Bond for Schools referendum
Forsyth County Schools will hold a Bond for Schools referendum on Tuesday,
May 20, 2014. The Bond for Schools is an opportunity for Forsyth County
voters to address four areas:
 Improvements to existing schools
 School safety
 Technology
 Growth (includes a list of proposed projects for middle and high schools)
Forsyth County Schools is home to 40,821 students in 35 schools. As the third
fastest growing school district in the nation, Forsyth County Schools adds
1,700 new students a year. This year Forsyth County Schools moved from the
ninth to the seventh largest school district in Georgia, surpassing both Henry
and Cherokee county schools.
Given the fiscal challenges residents faced during the recession, the district has
not held a bond referendum since 2007 to generate funding for capital
improvements. Therefore, Forsyth County Schools spent a year building a new
Strategic Plan and an additional year completing a Facilities Plan, to identify
the current and future needs of students and staff.
If the Bond for Schools is approved, funds would be available fall, 2014 and
work would begin on proposed projects at existing schools continuing until
2018. The financing for this bond is structured to not increase the bond debt
millage rate as long as SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) is
extended by voters. If the Bond for Schools is not approved by voters the
proposed projects may not be completed.
Information concerning the Bond is located at www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/bond,
including the video and the Bond flyer. The last day to register to vote is April
21. Click here for registration information. Advance voting is on select days
from April 28 to May 20. For dates, times and locations, click here
Band
Saturday, April 12, the GMEA District 9 Solo & Ensemble festival was held here at Riverwatch. Over
500 students from around our district participated, with judges from around the state.
Students were judged in 8 categories, earning a letter rating in each category (A, B, C, D, F). Each judge
then awarded a final rating (Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor).
Congratulations to the following Riverwatch students for earning Superior ratings in the Solo portion of
the festival:
Anna O
Grant F
Caroline J
Yash S
Seo Hyun H
Sivasi M
Nithik B
Nilesh M
Kaitlyn S
Maxim V
Henry X
Tad K
Kyle P
Drew S
Shana Y
Cole D
Hannah L
Shaun M
Michael V
Stephanie O
Annie P
Patrick R
Olivia N
Alondra O
Nathan S
Katherine L
Jacob K
Jin N
Alex L
Winston L
Dialla J
Erin W
Adam S
Chris D
Congratulations to the following Riverwatch students for earning Superior ratings in the Ensemble
portion of the festival:
Srinidhi V
Carly M
Snigdha N
Yuna Y
Gloria R
Michelle K
Courtney T
Rachel L
Nithik B
Erin K
Ryan S
Sarah K
Annie L
Henry X
Nichole C
Sai M
Aaliyah M
Sahil J
Max Z
Annie P
Qi C
Hannah L
Paul K
Amulya R
Eric Xie
Melina W
Tanishk S
Alex K
Claire N
Kyle P
Amanda S
Cole D
Carly A
Dylan B
Abigail P
Nilesh M
Anna O
Ronit R
Caitlin O
Joseph O
Ashley W
Sivasai M
Morgan S
Edwin S
Olivia B
Nilesh M
Yash S
Grant F
Jacob K
Tad K
Hannah H
Annette P
Shruti C
Madeline S
Sahar J
Aravind N
Evan S
Zane R
William A
Braden K
Cole Z
Grant P
Jacob K
Nathan S
Geet B
Thomas R
Cole V
Shaun M
Stephanie O
Mary E
Katherine L
Rebecca K
Gabby H
Abbey H
Winston L
Asher M
Manas A
Congratulations to the following Riverwatch students for earning Excellent ratings in the Solo and/or
Ensemble portion of the festival:
Sara R
Aatish S
Sara K
Eric X
Alyssa K
Adith D
Irene B
Milind C
Mark E
Gorwav T
Zane R
Christian K
Mara H
Cole J
Hayley C
Zane R
Leanne
William A
Katie D
Shane A
Sydney E
Trenton D
Bella S
Michel B
Austin B
Noel B
Joey .
Sidarth C
Kaitlyn S
Michael M
Sharnitha S
Colin P
Tara V
Kashia S
Meena A
Kendall C
Lenny K
Also, thank you to Steve Graf, Miriam Reynolds, Abbigayle Williams, and all the administrators for their
assistance in making the event a success here at Riverwatch!
Matt Koperniak
Band Director
Riverwatch Middle School
Riverwatch Band Website
FCA
Special End of Year/May FCA Huddle All are
welcome after school Monday, May 19, 4:255:30 in the gym if bad weather or outside for
music, beach balls and hanging out before the
end of school year.
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Panther Paws for a Good Cause!
RMS and PTSA are looking for ways to enhance technology usage across our school. In an effort to
update technology for students, RMS is offering a unique way to show your Panther Pride!! Have you
noticed the freshly painted panther paws on the driveway this week? Well, you can purchase your own
pair of panther paws for a $50 donation! The paws can be personalized with a student signature, a
number of a sports team, special award recognition, or even a drawing. Your student will have a chance
to personalize his/her paws during Field Day*. It will be a really fun day!! If you are interested in
participating in this fundraiser, please complete the bottom of this form and send in a $50 donation made
out to the RMS PTSA. Thank you for your support!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Student’s Name: _________________________________________
Grade Level: _______
Parent’s Name: __________________________________________
Parent’s Email address: ___________________________________
*8th Grade field day is Friday, May 9th
*6th and 7th Grade field day is Friday, May 16th
For PTSA use only:
Check#
Cash:$
For questions or more information, please contact Kelli Crowder at kellicrowder@gmail.com
2014 Summer Debate Camp Registration
Riverwatch Middle School
Choose which week: July 14 – 18 _________ July 21 – 25 ________
Student’s name: ________________________________________ Male _____ Female ______
Home Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
Student’s Phone Number: _______________________ E-mail: _______________________________
School Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Rising grade level: _____________
Date of Birth ___ ___ / ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___
Primary Contact □ Mother □ Father □ Guardian
Name __________________________________________ Email:________________________________________
Daytime Phone (_______)________ - _____________Cell Phone (_______)________ - ______________
Secondary Contact □ Mother □ Father □ Guardian
Name: _________________________________Email:_______________________________________
Daytime Phone (______)_______ - _______________ Cell Phone (_______)________- ______________
Siblings:______________________________________________________________________________
Allergies:_____________________________________________________________________________
Debate Experience: _____________________________________________________________________
Parent’s signature: ________________________________________ Date: _______________________
Check Payable to: Ivy Bridge Academy. Write the students name on the check and
week of camp. Register online at www.ivydebate.org or mail check to:
Ivy Bridge Academy
11180 State Bridge Rd., Suite 205
Johns Creek, GA 30022
Ivybridgeacademy@gmail.com
Questions: Contact Mrs. Webster at 404-717-2078
PTSA
8th Grade Picnic
The 8th Grade Picnic is only days away, on May 9, 2014. We are looking forward to this
event and hope we can present them with a lunch, during field day, that shows how proud
we are of all of our 8th graders. This is another event of RMS that we are thrilled to
contribute to be a part of the overall celebration. Thank you to all of our PTSA supporters
and members, as we could offer these events without your support.
Reflections
Over the next few weeks we will begin bringing industry experts, during lunch, to speak to
students who are interested in pursuing arts as a future career. We’ll begin with a lead
singer of the Atlanta Band, RATL. It was in middle school that he began to write songs,
and as of now has written over 750 songs. He will talk to “how” this began, what he did
with it and where he is today. The lunch meeting is free and we hope to have many
attendees.
Our next guest is a professional photographer who has made her reputation with filming
rock bands performing in Atlanta as well professional sports. She’ll talk as to how she
makes the choices to balance her professional with her family life.
Our third guest will be a student of Lambert High School, who then went on to University
of Georgia, was celebrated as valedictorian and is now pursuing every opportunity to
become a film/tv director. She’s in the “limbo” as she tries to break through and offer her
talents in a very tight world of film production.
We’ll continue to have these sessions through the year, over the summer and into the next
school year through October. We will have some students who want to pursue the
National PTA reflections and others who would like to showcase their work and use a
silent auction to sell their work. We are heavily involved in the planning stage of this
event. Please contact VickiEckley@yahoo.com if you can offer up a couple of hours of
support in establishing this event
FUN OPPORTUNITY
RMS Families!! Please be on the look-out for an amazing opportunity to
"Leave your Mark" at Riverwatch!! In an effort to raise money for technology
updates for our students, RMS and the PTSA will be selling painted panther
paws, which will be painted on the main drive to Riverwatch at the beginning
of May. Each student/family will have the opportunity to purchase a painted
paw, which will be personalized during Field Day. Once you have purchased
your paw, your child will be able to personalize it during his/her grade level
field day!! It will be a great day for the kids!
More information will be sent on Monday, April 28th. For now, get ready to
"Leave your Mark" at Riverwatch!!! The paws will be sold for $50, and your
family will have a permanent place on the RMS main drive!
What’s Happening in May
May 1
Last Day to order Yearbook
6th and 7th Grade Band Concert
Savannah Trip
4:30-6:30pm SFMS Spring Football
May 2
Waiver Deadline for 2014-15 Classes - 5PM
Savannah Trip
4:30-6:30pm SFMS Spring Football
May 3
Band and Chorus Six Flags Festival
May 5
Return books to Media Center.
RMS Spring Football
Teacher Appreciation Week
9am EOCT Physical Science
4:15-5:00 Chess Club
4:30-6:30pm SFMS Spring Football
May 6
Return books to Media Center
Teacher Appreciation week
RMS Spring Football
9am EOCT Physical Science
4:30-6:30pm SFMS Spring Football
May 7
Return books to Media Center
Nurse Appreciation Day
Teacher Appreciation Week
RMS Spring Football
4:15-5:30 Jazz Combo
4:30-6:30 pm SFMS Spring Football
May 8
Return books to Media Center
Teacher Appreciation Week
4:15-5:00 Student Council Representative Meeting
4:15-5:30 Builders Club
4:15-5:15 Recycling Club
Academic Team – end of the year celebration Time TBA
4:30-6:30pm SFMS Spring Football
8th Grade Band Concert
RMS Spring Football
May 9
Teacher Appreciation Week
Final due date for all books and textbooks to be returned
8th Grade Field Day and Picnic
RMS Spring Football
4:30-6:30pm SFMS Spring Football
May 12
9:00am 8th Grade Acc. Math EOCT
4:15-5:30 FCA Leaders Meeting
RMS Spring Football
Golf Banquet
May 13
9:00am 8th Grade Acc. Math EOCT
4:15-5:30 Dance Club
RMS Spring Football
May 14
School Nutrition Employee Appreciation Day
RMS Spring Football
6:00-8:00pm Track and Field Banquet
4:15-5:00 Student Council Executive Board Meeting
4:15-5:30 Jazz Combo
4:15-5:15 Math Club
May 15
PTSA Meeting
RMS Spring Football
6:30 p.m. – 6th/7th Chorus Concert at Lambert
7:30 p.m. – 8th grade Chorus Concert at Lambert
May 16
9:00-12:00 8th Grade Career Day
6th and 7th Grade Field Days
RMS Spring Football
7-9:30 pm 8th Grade Dance
May 19
4:15-5:20 FCA End of the Year Huddle- Pick up by Gym
4:15-5:00 Chess Club
May 20
9:30-10:30am 6th Grade Awards- Recipients will receive an invitation
6:30-7:30pm 7th Grade Awards- Recipients will receive an invitation
May 21
7th Period Exams for All Grades
6:30-7:30 8th Grade Awards- Recipients will receive an invitation
May 22
6th Grade 3rd and 4th Period Exams
7th Grade 5th and 6th Period Exams
8th Grade 5th and 6th Period Exams
May 23
6th Grade 1st and 2nd Period Exams
7th Grade 1st and 2nd Period Exams
8th Grade 3rd and 4th Period Exams
END of Second Semester
Last Day of School
LOST AND FOUND Donated to Charity
We appreciate our Partners in Education