Sunday, February 09, 2025

 

Hello Roth Families and Friends,

It feels like we have been in a pattern of breaks since mid-November. Truthfully, we have. As much as I appreciate the time off, I feel it is important to again acknowledge the impact disrupted schedules/routines can have on our students. We came back from Winter Recess and wrapped up the first semester. Winter athletics are coming to an end, and our production of Shrek the Musical Jr. was a huge success. Our counselors are in the final stages of meeting with students for next year’s course selection process. Roth Junior High hosted its first 7th-9th dance in years this past Friday. And tomorrow, we will welcome district leaders into our classrooms to see some of the great things that are happening throughout the building. In so many ways, Roth is on the rise.

We have these next five days, and then another full week of vacation before a long stretch that leads to our Spring Recess. Especially as I consider that uninterrupted stretch from February Break to Spring Break, I want to revisit some of our look-fors and ask-fors to ensure student success.

Look-Fors and Ask-Fors (Unplug to Connect, Seat Time, and Roth 360)

Unplug to Connect: Roth faculty and staff continue to prioritize interpersonal connections and problem-solving in an effort to help our students become better learners, classmates, and citizens. Our expectation for student devices is that they are stored in student lockers throughout the day. This applies to all personal devices, including tablets and phones. For the most part, we are seeing students rise to the expectation. Still, there is an opportunity to continue our growth. At home, please consider regular check-ins regarding your child’s use of social media and any group messages/chats. I believe that any opportunity to educate today’s teens on appropriate and civil social media activity should be addressed appropriately, both at school and at home. 

Seat Time: Daily attendance is critical for students to receive the support that our school can provide. For so many students and families, daily attendance is already a non-negotiable. We appreciate your support in communicating the importance of being attentive and disciplined learners. We also have students whose absenteeism and tardiness is at a chronic level. For those students, it is important that they receive the same message at home as they will while in their classrooms: seat time is directly connected to academic achievement, and the identification of school-based supports (as needed). Access to our faculty and resources – including our counselors and social workers – cannot truly be maximized without regular attendance. If you or your child need assistance getting to school (and getting to school on time), please contact our counseling team. Our district motto is “You Belong Here.” We want our students to feel that sense of belonging, and we need them present to build that connection. 

• 7th Grade Counselor, Mrs. LaPlaca
• 8th Grade Counselor, Mrs. Hernandez
• 9th Grade Counselor, Ms. Prinzi
• Social Worker, Ms. Sewruk
• Social Worker, Mr. Maney

Roth 360: Another reminder about respect. On the Friday morning of our musical’s opening night performance, we successfully and safely hosted our entire student body in the auditorium for a preview. Our students were a fantastic audience for their on-stage peers. It was one of my proudest moments this school year. I have seen many examples of what our students are capable of on a daily basis. Roth Junior High students are capable of greatness. It is our responsibility, as their educators and families, to encourage them to want to achieve that greatness. Please remind your child to respond appropriately in peer-to-peer and student-to-adult interactions. Please continue to emphasize the importance of respect. No matter the location, context, or participants, Roth 360 asks for unconditional respect. Oftentimes we talk to students about self-esteem. I believe that our self-esteem is directly related to the esteemable things that we do. Starting with respect.

News from the Roth Library: Please check out this month’s newsletter from Mrs. Leader and Ms. Thomas. They spend a lot of time putting together resources to develop a passion for learning (and reading) for our students. And they include resources that families can use at home to keep students engaged in healthy and productive ways. In honor of Black History Month, this month’s newsletter includes resources to help students and families celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of pioneers and living legends. Click here to access this month’s newsletter.

At Roth Junior High, we will continue to do right by and for our students. We are committed to helping our students build habits, routines, and expectations that promote that feeling of belonging. My hope is that our students feel the same way about coming to school that I do on my short commute each morning: encouraged, supported, and committed to excellence. 

District Parent Satisfaction Survey: Our annual parent survey is open! This is an opportunity for parents and guardians to let us know what we are doing well, and what we can do differently. All responses are anonymous; participation is voluntary but encouraged. The survey will be open through Sunday, February 16, and is available in a number of languages. Simply choose your preferred language from the dropdown. Visit www.rhnet.org/survey2025 to participate. Because each child is unique, we ask that families complete one survey for each of their K-12 students attending school in R-H. We appreciate your time and insight! 

Click here for previous E-News communications.

Sincerely,