RMS Weekly Review V1:I15

RMS Weekly Review

Volume 1 Issue 15
March 16, 2012



Can someone, please, point me towards a golf course?!?!?  This has been some awesome weather.  Unfortunately, with spring comes Spring Fever.  It has been a bit rambunctious around here but we are pushing through.

Last week, I was in Grand Rapids for the MACUL Conference. During the three day conference, I was able to attend many sessions that focused on integrating technology, especially iPads, into the classroom.  The networking opportunities that I had with fellow administrators and superintendents were priceless.  It was intriguing finding out what other schools are doing within their districts.  As a district team, we have many ideas to bring to the table on incorporating more 1 on 1, BYOD (Bring Your on Devices), and technology enriched instruction to our students.

This week was a week of intense brain power.  We have instituted end of the trimester exams for all grade levels.  Wednesday and Thursday, students were assessed on content presented during the second trimester.  Today, teachers were frantically submitting grades and tabulating data from the pre-tests that students took back in  December looking for that student “GROWTH”.  With that being said, there have been a lot of happy staff members walking into my office today to share the positive results for this trimester.  I am enjoying the fact that we are starting to take a serious look at our data and making appropriate decisions on the direction that we need to move our instruction and show positive gains.

Speaking of positive gain.  Allacor was here today working on the windows.  They were filling the gaps under the windows on the East wall.  See before and after pictures below.














On Wednesday and Thursday this week, 6th grade had the traveling field trip from the Metro Parks visit the school.  During their enrichment hour, students went out to the trainer and listened to a presentation on predatory birds in Michigan.

Next Week:
Monday: Title Informational Night 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 8th grade Explore Test
Wednesday: 7th grade Explore Test
Friday and Saturday: Drama Production “C.S.I. Neverland” 6:00 p.m. both nights.



In February, I received a letter from Lu Ann (Albers) Deming, Class of ‘75 Riverside High School.  The letter explained how that summer they held their 50th Anniversary Celebration; and in the process of collecting funds to cover the cost of the event, they ended up with a surplus of money.  Attached to the letter was a check to Riverside Middle School for $2064.44.  The letter went on to state “...there are absolutely no strings or conditions to this gift, if there is a particular need at the school that this can be applied to, it would be nice to be able to tell our alumni that the gift was used for that.”  So, for two months I have been sitting on this check trying to find a “need” for our students here at RMS.  Then it came to me during one of our beautiful spring days, “I wish we could go out to the courtyard with some of our PBiS students and eat lunch with them. We need a door that exits out the cafeteria and into the courtyard!”  With that being said, I talked with Tim and Ron.  Ron was able to get me a quote to put a door in the southeast corner of the cafeteria, by the vending machines. The quote came to $3, 582.  I would use the $2064.44 from the Riverside High School which would leave us a balance of $1517.56.  I talked with Eva Lopinski, our cafeteria supervisor, and she thinks we have enough funds from the Fuel Up to play 60 grant to cover the remaining balance of the operation. I am asking for the Board’s approval to allow us to install a door at the cost of $3582 in the southeast corner of our cafeteria so students may go into the courtyard during lunches. At the completion of the project, I will look into getting a plaque to hang above the door recognizing the Alumni group.

Thank you for your consideration of this project and look forward to hearing back from you.


Have a great weekend.


Respectfully submitted on this 16nd day of March, 2012.


Jason C. Gribble
Educational Leader
Riverside Middle School


“Teachers will Teach
Students will Learn
The Data will prove that what we are doing is Right.”