R.J. Grey Junior High School

Good afternoon,

I hope you are enjoying the look of spring, even if the temperatures haven’t made it fully comfortable to be outside yet without some winter gear. I will be excited to feel some warmer temperatures in the coming days. Back in the fall, we partnered with the United Way to plant tulip bulbs in our cafeteria courtyard. The tulips are ready to pop and serve as a nice accompaniment to our outdoor seating in the cafeteria. This time of year is one of my favorites - I hope you get to enjoy the weekend.

On Wednesday night, we hosted 6th grade families for an info session about life at RJ Grey. The event was well att

We are gearing up for our continued MCAS testing. We’ll tackle Math, Science, and Civics tests for our students according to the schedule below. We ask you to remind students to plug in their Chromebooks the night before testing so that they have a full battery to last through the lengthy tests. Otherwise, we ask you to promote the right attitude about the test - it is one measurement tool for us to know how we’ve taught our students over the year. It is not something to lose sleep over, yet it does give us good feedback that we learn from. Thank you for your help with this.

Finally, if you’re thinking about the summer, like many of us are, I want to let you know about an opportunity to apply for a scholarship for summer programs. The Doli Atamian Campership Program provides scholarships to summer camp programs for children in Acton and Boxborough based on family income. The application process is simple, and each child may receive up to $300 towards a summer camp program or classes of the family’s choice. For more information about the Campership scholarship and an application form, go to www.doliatamiancampership.com or call (978) 515-3227.

Upcoming Dates

• Tues, April 30: Annual Town Election in RJ Grey Gym

• Tues, April 30: MCAS Math 8

• Wed, May 1: MCAS Math 8

• Thurs, May 2: MCAS Math 7

• Mon, May 6: MCAS Math 7

• Mon, May 6: Civics Field Test for 8 Gold students

• Mon, May 6: Library closed after school

• Tues, May 7: MCAS Science/Tech 8

• Wed, May 8: School Council, 7 pm

• Fri, May 10: Civics Field Test for 8 Gold students

• Mon, May 13: Civics Field Test for 8 Blue students

• Wed, May 15: Spring Band Concert

• Thurs, May 16: Civics Field Test for 8 Blue students

Take care and have a great weekend!
Jim

Good afternoon,

For most of Monday, I was the person at school who was not super enthused by the eclipse later that afternoon. At dismissal, with only a bit of the sun covered by the moon, a student leaving the building said it looked like a cookie with a bite taken out of it. Talking about something in the shape of a cookie is something I can usually get behind! Monday was a department meeting day for many of us, so when we pulled away from those meetings around 3:15, and I got to see the 150+ students in our front circle, I changed my tune. I’m sure like many of you, the effects of the eclipse took hold of me - the temperature change, the almost dusk-like feeling, and the joy from the onlookers made it feel like a special moment. I am grateful that our science department took the lead in teaching about the eclipse in classes and then hosting the viewing party for our students, complete with glasses. I think that for the students who participated, this event will be something they remember. We posted a few pictures of our watch party on Instagram if you’d like to take a look (@rjgreyjhs).

Our PTSO is hosting a fundraiser for RJ Grey in coordination with WECO. WECO will donate 10% of your dinner bill for orders placed between April 17th and April 24th. Your orders will be delivered between April 21st and April 27th. WECO offers a variety of delicious options, including dinners, appetizers, desserts, and kid-friendly meals. Plus, they'll deliver it hassle-free right to your door. To ensure your donation goes directly to RJ Grey, simply order at wecohospitality.com and use the promo code "RJGreyFundraiser" at checkout. Thank you for your support.

I hope you all have a nice April break next week. My family is staying close to home. A sure sign of spring for me is when I power wash the deck for the coming season. I am hoping to accomplish that task next week to be ready for spring! I wish you all a restful and safe week!

Upcoming Dates

• Mon, April 15 - Fri, April 19: School Closed for April Vacation

• Tues, April 23: Last day of PE and Health classes for Round 4

• Wed, April 24 : 6th Grade Family Info Night at RJ Grey, 6:45 pm

• Tues, April 30: Annual Town Election in RJ Grey Gym

• Tues, April 30: MCAS Math 8

• Wed, May 1: MCAS Math 8

• Thurs, May 2: MCAS Math 7

• Mon, May 6: MCAS Math 7

• Tues, May 7: MCAS Science/Tech 8

• Tues, May 7: School Council, 7 pm

Take care and have a great week!
Jim

Good afternoon,

Our staff and students were greeted by signs of spring when we returned to school on Monday. Our PTSO worked with us this year to install four beautiful planters at two of our main entrances. Special thanks to Kristina Rychlik for doing this beautiful work. Creating a welcoming, attractive setting to learn and work helps contribute to positive feelings about being members of this community. I am very grateful for the PTSO’s support. If you haven’t yet contributed to the PTSO this year, I hope you will consider making your annual donation. The PTSO’s work not only sponsors our beautiful garden baskets but will also help us to run our year-end field trips this spring. If you happen to have a special interest in gardening and want to continue the work

The cruel irony of the picture and paragraph above is that I write this message in my office, with no power, with the shades pulled way up, on borrowed time with our wifi. Spring will come soon enough! It seems that we just need to be a bit patient this year.

On Monday, I had the pleasure to observe several 7th grade social studies classes. Students from our A World of Difference club taught mini-lessons to all 7th graders. The AWOD student leaders designed lessons focused on bias, identity, and creating supportive communities. The students designed these lessons over the winter, with help from their Advisors, after being trained as peer leaders by the Anti-Defamation League. I was proud to see the work that our students put together for their peers, and I was happy to see the response from their “students” was positive and engaging. On April 25, we welcome back Mrs. Janet Applefield, who has visited RJ Grey many times before. She will talk with 7th graders about her experience living through the Holocaust. Both of these activities are in service of our work to create a safe and supportive community for all students and staff.

Upcoming Dates

• Thurs, April 4: Spring Play Performance, 7 pm

• Mon April 8: MCAS ELA Make-ups begin

• Mon, April 8: Solar Eclipse Viewing Party, 2:45 - 3:30

• Wed, April 10: No School for Eid-al-Fitr

• Mon, April 15:  Fri, April 19: School Closed for April Vacation

• Tues, April 23: Last day of PE and Health classes for Round 4

• Wed, April 24 : Welcome night for 6th grade families, 6:45 pm

• Tues, April 30: Annual Town Election in RJ Grey Gym

Take care and have a great weekend!
Jim