Calendar

Thursday/Friday Nov. 22/23 - Thanksgiving Break - No School Tuesday, Dec. 4 - Parent Education event - 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Redmond Middle School

School

SchoolPool A Success, RMS ASB To Receive $1500!

We did it! By participating in the October SchoolPool, RMS ASB will be awarded the maximum $1500! RMS students turned in 401 calendars, the most of all the other schools this season! A great big thanks goes to students, staff and parents for working together to make this happen. Students can expect to receive their prize in early December, to the email address provided on the back of the calendar. And remember, RMS will have another chance to receive $1500 again in May so let's see if we can beat our fall calendar collection!

Thanksgiving Break Food Boxes

Last year, our school community partnered with Redmond Nourishing Network School Break Food Box Program to provide over 25 supplemental food boxes to RMS families. The food boxes offer nutrition, sustenance, and hope for families struggling with food insecurity. With the holiday season just weeks away, we are partnering with Nourishing Network again to fill the hunger gap left when our school cafeteria doors close and free and reduced lunches are not available. The School Break Food Box Program not only provides important care and support for RMS families; it is a wonderful service opportunity for families looking for a meaningful way to serve the community this holiday season.  Consider shopping and packing a box as a family. Students can earn service hours by participating in the donation process. To defray the approximately $50 cost, consider encouraging your child to practice leadership skills by organizing family, friends, neighbors, or teams to share the cost of a box. To pledge your donation, please visit signup genius page here . The signup genius page also provides the food box drop-off location and a shopping list.  If your family could benefit from a food box, please contact  sblack@lwsd.org .

Parent Education Event &  PTSA Member Vote Regarding Marquee Sign Funding

Based on the interest expressed by our parents, PTSA (FACE) is happy to bring to RMS a Parent education presentation about internet safety. Our kids are digital natives which means that they’ve never known a world without technology at their fingertips. The internet is a powerful learning and social tool, but it can expose our kids to mature information and dangerous people. Parents need to have a plan on how to regulate their children on using the internet safely and responsibly. We will discuss ways to keep our children safe online, to limit and monitor internet use, and to teach responsible internet behavior. EVENT BEGINS AT 6:30 SHARP!  Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and light refreshments will be provided. Date - Tuesday, December 4th Time - 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Speaker  : Sheri Gazitt, Teen Wise We will also be briefly discussing and voting on funding options for the currently inoperable marquee sign in the front of the school.

PTSA

Student Directories Sent Home Last Week

Members should have received their directories via kid mail last week. If you haven't received yours, please check with your student first and then inquire with  membership@rmsptsa.org  as to the status of your copy.

Membership Earns Cookies for Classes & Discounts for You

Thank you to everyone who has signed up to support the  Cookies and Milk contest. Winners will be announced as they happen. In the meantime please enjoy some of the benefits of membership such as 10% off tickets to Pacific Northwest's Ballet Nutcracker or discounted tickets to Holiday With Lights at Wild Waves. Contact  membershi@rmsptsa.org  for discount codes if you can't find your membership letter.

NEW November and December volunteer opportunities

This one-stop shopping link is used to gain volunteers for November and December events such as Parent Education, Student recognition, sorting/distributing greenery from the wreath/garland fundraiser. Other opportunities may be added, so check back often! Thanks! Register here.

'The Snuggery'- RMS Initiative for students in need

Redmond Middle School is creating a food pantry/clothing closet for students in need of these extra resources during the school day or at home during the week. They have dubbed this room “The Snuggery”. The Snuggery is scheduled to open in November, but first we need to stock it with non-perishable food items and gently used (or new) clothing.  Redmond Middle School has asked us members if they'd like to help contribute to this initiative by donating items below so that they're available all throughout the year. Read More..

ASB

With the Holidays approaching, a reminder that purchases made on Amazon using this link help RMS ASB. Support the Grizzlies when you shop on Amazon!

Help RMS ASB by donating used clothing and shoes. The bin is located in the parking lot by the portables.

Fund the Grizzlies  –  Please donate to the Redmond Middle School Associated Student Body (ASB) to help fund student activities.

Community

Feed Washington Campaign - Volunteers needed for upcoming holiday fundraiser

Feed Washington, a non-profit organization that strives to feed hungry kids in our state, is holding its annual Holiday Campaign for Pantry Packs and we need your help! Pantry Packs provides weekend food to almost 900 kids in the Lake Washington School District every week and Feed Washington wants to help this very important cause. Our grassroots fundraising effort relies on Hunger Champions from each school to spread the word about our campaign. Feed Washington creates and prepares all the materials, enabling Hunger Champions to communicate the message to their individual schools and communities via newsletters, Peachjar, social media, bulletin boards, etc.   There is no need for Hunger Champions to create anything, only reach out to their school communities, making their jobs simple, yet super important! If you can volunteer for your school, please contact Maya Vidich at  maya@feedwashington.org

LWPTSA - Scholarship Basket Auction 2018

The LWPTSA Council cordially invites you to our 2018 Scholarship Basket Auction on Thursday, December 6 from 10-11 am at the LWSD Resource Center in Redmond. Auction baskets are currently on display in the Resource Center, and  you can bid now  - all of the proceeds go to scholarships. Bid on a lunch with our new superintendent, Dr. Jane Stavem! We have several spa and beauty experiences this year and lots of items by local artists and homegrown businesses - some well established like the Pro Club and Salish Lodge. Bidding must be done in person, although you can view the baskets here  .The morning of December 6 we host a festive event with complimentary coffee drinks, fantastic raffle items and a door prize for people who have invited and brought a friend! Do some holiday shopping, or just enjoy mingling with other people who value and support education. You don't have to be present to win, so swing by the district headquarters and bid when you are at Redmond Town Center. If you have questions, email  auction@lwptsa.net . Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you on December 6! LWPTSA Council Auction Co-Chairs, Colette Ulloa and Debbie Ohman

Bear Tracks weekly is produced by RMS PTSA as a benefit to the Redmond Middle School Community. Articles are due on Thursdays for publication the following Monday. Bear Tracks is edited by Ekta Vadlamudi and [YOUR NAME HERE - please email communications.vp@rmsptsa.org if interested in co-editing]. Please review our communication priorities and submit articles to weekly@rmsptsa.org .

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