Dear Roth Families,

For as long as I can remember, one of the most telling and important ways that schools break down and analyze time is in five-week chunks. On Monday, we enter Week 5 at Roth Junior High, and as a district at large. Wow. The five-week point is an excellent opportunity to check in with your students. It is prime time to reach out to any teachers, counselors or administrators that have already contacted you. Here are some suggestions to ensure that families and students have a firm grasp of how school has gone so far:

• Check School Tool for current grades (Marking Period Average);
• Do this with your student, as this is a great reflective/check-in skill for students to develop;
• Use School Tool to look up your student’s teachers, and reach out to them if you have any questions or concerns;
• Talk with your student about the importance of daily attendance and being on time – we want our students to show up and learn, but first they must show up;
• Check Google Classroom to learn about the work our students are doing in each of their classes;
• And, please, review the Code of Conduct and Device sections below with your student.

Athletics Attendance Reminder: Especially as R-H Varsity Football prepares to host UPrep tonight at Kleemann Field, it’s important to review our expectations for student spectators. Junior high students should be accompanied by an adult at JV and varsity athletic events. Because these competitions take place in the evening, it is important that an adult is present to help monitor student behavior AND to give their student a timely ride home. Especially for our Friday night varsity football games, junior high students who do not behave appropriately or who do not exit the stadium immediately after the event’s completion may face suspension from future athletic events. This is meant to be a gentle reminder that spectators should participate in good-natured, productive and safe celebrations during our athletic competitions. 

Safety Week (September 30 - October 4): As part of our continuing efforts to make schools as safe as possible for all students and staff, the Rush-Henrietta Central School District will hold safety drills during the week of September 30 - October 4. These drills are designed to practice and assess emergency response procedures. During this week, the buildings will practice evacuation, medical emergency, and lockdown emergency response procedures.

Student Device Reminder: Students have been doing a nice job following our “Off and Away” device policy. When reminded and/or corrected, the most common response has been positive. However, I do ask that you continue to remind your students that our device policy is based on our commitment to their education and development. Students should continue to monitor their own device usage time outside of the school day. By requiring students to unplug at Roth JHS, we hope to give our students the time off they need to develop interpersonal communication skills – with their peers and adults. Please remind your students to store their devices in their lockers during the school day. Please continue to have open and honest conversations about the content that they are accessing, and please monitor this to the best of your ability.

Code of Conduct Reminder: Similar to our device policy, I am thankful to report that the majority of our students have upheld the expectations and standards of our District Code of Conduct. When a behavior is addressed, it is our expectation that students take accountability and corrective action. We are also aware that adolescents need reminders, and we are patient in this process. Roth JHS has been using a clear and consistent Behavioral Leadership system for minor disciplinary infractions. If you have any questions about the system or our practices, please email me or one of our assistant principals.

Important DC Trip Updates: Please read on for an important update from your advisors, Mrs. Flood and Mr. Mallaber. If we do not hear from you by October 1, we will assume you want to leave the payment as is. We have an update/change option for payments. After discussions with the travel company since our meeting, we have a new payment plan.

• 1st Payment: $134.44 due by November 1; 
• 2nd Payment: $219, due December 18 or the difference between fundraising and $219; 
• 3rd Payment: $220 due February 28 (with the medical order form) or the difference between fundraising and the balance due.

We hope this new plan can ease the financial stress that the original plan caused. If you have already sent in a check, you have two options. Option 1: Leave it as it is and pay $270 minus the fundraising by February 28. Option 2: Request the check be returned to you and you can follow the new payment plan.

Homecoming/Spirit Week: Rush-Henrietta Varsity Football will host Penfield at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 11. At Roth JHS, we will be building up the hype for Homecoming all week, by participating in Spirit Week dress-up days AND wrapping up the week with a Homecoming Pep Assembly in our big gym that Friday afternoon. Here are the Spirit Week themes: 

• Monday 10/7 - Jersey Day: Wear your favorite player or team jersey
• Tuesday 10/8 - Anything but a Backpack Day: Think outside of the box, and be school appropriate
• Wednesday 10/9 - Pajama Day
• Thursday 10/10 - Twin Day: Pick a friend or teacher to twin with
• Friday 10/11 - R-H Green and Gold Day: Show off your R-H PRIDE

Coffee with the Principal: This is a new opportunity for families to engage with each other, and with me. For this first offering, we will meet from 9 - 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 19. Please bring your own coffee or snack, but I will also make coffee, hot water and tea available to all who attend. This is a parent/guardian meeting. It is intended to provide an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and collaborate.

Yearbook Reminder: It is not too early to pre-order our Yearbook. Please check out the attached flyer for more information, including a pre-order discount if you place your order by September 30.

Best,