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  2025-2026 Weekly Parent/Guardian Phone Messages from the Principal

 

2/6/26

Hello Royal Families, this is Mrs. Murphy, Principal of River Ridge Middle School, with your weekly update for the week of February 9th through February 13th. Check out the weekly newsletter at https://app.smore.com/n/jqeh9-rrms-royal-update-knight-newsletter.

This week, our Book Fair continues every day in the Media Center, and we hope all students stop by to check out some great reads.

This is the Book Fair link, where you can purchase online or put money on an eWallet: https://shop.scholastic.com/stf/fund?orgUCN=623090086

Parents and guardians can purchase online, set up an eWallet for their child (a cashless option students can use at the Fair), and even donate to the school.

On Monday, February 9th:

  • Girls’ Soccer practice will be from 1:30 to 3:00 PM,
  • Boys’ Basketball plays at GMS at 6:00 PM.

On Tuesday, February 10th:

  • RRHS Academy Tours take place for 8th graders during Period 2,
  • Talent Show auditions begin in the Drama Room from 1:40 PM to 3:00 PM,
  • After School Tutoring is available from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM,
  • Girls’ Soccer plays at GMS (GHS) at 4:00 PM.

On Wednesday, February 11th:

  • We are proud to host our Special Olympics event,
  • Talent Show auditions continue this afternoon in the Drama Room from 1:40PM to 3PM,
  • And we welcome all families of rising Knights to our Incoming 6th Grade Family Night. The presentation begins at 6:00 PM in the Theater, followed by a campus tour, teacher meet‑and‑greet, and visits to the Book Fair and Royal Swag Shop from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

On Thursday, February 12th:

  • Progress Reports will be available on myStudent,
  • After School Tutoring continues from 1:30 to 2:30 PM,
  • Girls’ Soccer plays SSMS at 5:00 PM,
  • Boys’ Basketball plays SSMS at 6:00 PM.

Friday, February 13th and Monday, February 16th there is no school, enjoy the 4-day weekend!

NEW: RRMS Girls’ Flag Football League

We are excited to launch the River Ridge Middle School Girls’ Flag Football League!
Registration is open now through February 20th. The cost is $150, which includes a team t‑shirt.

  • Evaluation Day: February 24th
  • Practices: Begin February 26th, held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00–3:30 PM on the middle school fields
  • Games: Scheduled following team formation

To register, please complete the form at:
2026 River Ridge Middle School Flag Football League – Fill out form
If you have questions, contact Mr. Corley at jcorley@pasco.k12.fl.us.

Looking Ahead – Mark Your Calendars

  • Kindness Week: February 17th–20th
  • Talent Show: February 20th
  • PTSA Strawberry Pickup: February 20th in the MS Car Loop
  • FAME Showcase: February 27th

Thank you for your ongoing support of River Ridge Middle School. As always—Go Knights!

 

1/30/26

Hello Royal Families, this is Principal Murphy calling with your weekly River Ridge Update for February 2-6.  Please check out the Royal Update Knight Newsletter for 2.2-2.6 for the most up-to-date information. 

📚 Scholastic Winter Book Fair
Our Scholastic Winter Book Fair begins Friday, February 6th, and runs through February 12th. Students can visit during lunch, and classes will come throughout the week to preview and shop. Families may also purchase online or add funds to their child’s eWallet: https://shop.scholastic.com/stf/fund?orgUCN=623090086.

📝 Attendance Reporting
As we hit flu season, please ensure that all absences are submitted through the myStudent Parent Portal by completing the Absence Reporting Form in the Forms section. Resources and step‑by‑step instructions are available on the district attendance page. Attendance is the key to success!

📄 Course Selection Updates
Course selection is underway for all grade levels.

  • Current 6th & 7th graders: Course Cards and Applications are due Friday, February 6th.
  • Current 8th graders:
    • High School Rush Day is February 3rd, with a 9th Grade Parent Night at 6 PM in the RR Theater
    • High School Academy Tours are on February 10th
    • High School Course Cards are due February 17th to 8th Grade ELA teachers.
  • Incoming 6th Grade Families:
  • We will be visiting all feeder elementary schools this week to share course cards and middle school transition information. You can also access this on the RRMS website as well under Course Programs.
  • We invite all incoming 6th grade families to join us for Inside the Castle – Exploring Your Future Curriculum Night on Wednesday, February 11th from 6 PM–7:30 PM.
  • The incoming 6th grade course cards are due back to 5th grade teachers by Thursday, February 12th.

📘 Quarter 3 Beanstack Reading Challenge
Students are encouraged to participate by reading 750 minutes this quarter for a chance to win a donated book‑lover’s gift basket. Reading can be logged in the Beanstack app or website. Prizes will be awarded to top Royal readers!

📊 February IXL Math Challenge
All 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are invited to join February Frenzy, our Castle Quest IXL Math Challenge for the entire month. Students should level up and master their math skills… grade level winners will be announced at the end of the month! We are also competing against all other middle schools in Pasco County… let’s show them just how Royal we are!

🏅 RRMS Athletics & Ticket

This week in Knight Athletics, the Boys’ Basketball Team travels to BPMS on Monday and plays their first home game on Wednesday vs. PRSMS, both at 6 PM. The girls’ soccer team will play BPMS at FHS on Tuesday and kick off their home season on Wednesday vs. PRSMS, both at 6 PM.

🍓 PTSA Strawberry Fundraiser
The annual PTSA Strawberry Fundraiser is open through January 31st. Each flat sold supports RRMS classroom initiatives. Order at this link:  https://wishfarms.myshopify.com/products/river-ridge-middle-school-fundraiser-strawberries. They will be delivered either the first or second week of February.

📖 Yearbook Sales
Yearbooks are currently $35 through April 30 and can be purchased online through YearbookForever or by contacting Ms. Baumaister.

 Finally, we would like to congratulate the RRMS Thespian Troupe, who will be traveling to Orlando to participate and perform Beetlejuice Jr. on the Main Stage at the Florida State Thespians Competition in front of thousands of people. This is a huge honor that no school in Pasco County has ever received. Thank you to all of the Royal Families and staff members who have donated their time and resources to make this possible. Break a leg, Royal Knights!

 

Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education. Let’s make it a great River Ridge week!

1/23/26

Please check out the Royal Update Knight Newsletter for 1.26-1.30 for the most up-to-date information. 

We want to hear from you, Pasco families! Our Annual Family Feedback Survey is now open, and your voice helps shape a positive, supportive experience for every student. Please take 10–15 minutes to share your thoughts. We’ll share a summary of results and next steps so you can see how your feedback drives district planning. The survey closes on January 27th. Thank you for partnering with us!

https://tejoin.com/participate/517532408

Believe it or not, the 26-27 Course Selection and Articulation Process is underway! We will be hosting a special Parent Night for all current 6th and 7th grade families on Tuesday, January 27th, from 6PM-7:30PM. This night will give you the opportunity to visit elective classrooms and attend workshops on accelerated coursework, high school courses, and Civics EOC Prep. Students will view the new elective video this Friday and receive their course cards the following week. Course cards are due to Science teachers by Friday, February 6th. School counselors will be visiting Science classes to distribute course cards and articulation information. Current 6th and 7th grade course cards and applications for special programs are due to Science teachers on February 6th.

The course selection process for incoming 9th graders has also begun. High school counselors visited classrooms today to distribute course cards.  There will be a Welcome to High School Parent Informational Night at RRHS on February 3rd at 6PM. Students will also be able to participate in Rush Day that day to explore curricular and extracurricular opportunities. High school course cards are due to 8th grade ELA teachers by February 12th.

This Friday, the RRMS Thespians will present an encore performance of Beetlejuice Jr at 7PM on the River Ridge Center for the Arts. We are so proud that this show has been selected to be the Main Stage performance at the State Thespians Conference in Orlando in early February. Way to break a leg, Royal Thespians!

We will also be hosting Saturday School on January 31st from 9AM-12PM in the RRMS Media Center. Students will be invited to attend by their classroom teacher or administration if they are behind, have failed, or are failing a course. Please contact Mrs. Bourdon with any questions.

It’s that time of year again to enjoy the beautiful and delicious strawberries from Wish Farms in Plant City. The annual RRMS PTSA Strawberry Fundraiser is open and taking orders through January 31st at this link: https://wishfarms.myshopify.com/products/river-ridge-middle-school-fundraiser-strawberries. The flats of strawberries will be delivered to the school in early February. $8 dollars from every flat goes back to River Ridge classroom initiatives. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Hloska at riverridgemsptsa@gmail.com.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education. Let’s make it a great River Ridge week!

 

1/19/26

Royal Families,

Please check out the Royal Update Knight Newsletter for 1.19-1.23 for the most up-to-date information. 

We want to hear from you, Pasco families! Our Annual Family Feedback Survey is now open, and your voice helps shape a positive, supportive experience for every student. Please take 10–15 minutes to share your thoughts. We’ll share a summary of results and next steps so you can see how your feedback drives district planning. The survey closes on January 27th. Thank you for partnering with us!

https://tejoin.com/participate/517532408

Believe it or not, the 26-27 Course Selection and Articulation Process is about ready to begin! We will be hosting a special Parent Night for all current 6th and 7th grade families on Tuesday, January 27th, from 6PM-7:30PM. This night will give you the opportunity to visit elective classrooms and attend workshops on accelerated coursework, high school courses, and Civics EOC Prep. Students will view the new elective video this Friday and receive their course cards the following week. Course cards are due to Science teachers by Friday, February 6th.

This Friday, Student Council will host our Winter Pep Rally to celebrate successes thus far and recognize winter sports student-athletes. There will be a PM Activity Schedule, and students are encouraged to dress in their grade-level colors: 6th Grade: White, 7th Grade: Gray, and 8th Grade: Purple. If students would like to sign up for Pep Rally games, they should contact Mr. Corley or visit the survey in myLearning.

It’s that time of year again to enjoy the beautiful and delicious strawberries from Wish Farms in Plant City. The annual RRMS PTSA Strawberry Fundraiser is open and taking orders through January 31st at this link: https://wishfarms.myshopify.com/products/river-ridge-middle-school-fundraiser-strawberries. The flats of strawberries will be delivered to the school in early February. $8 dollars from every flat goes back to River Ridge classroom initiatives. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Hloska at riverridgemsptsa@gmail.com.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education. Let’s make it a great River Ridge week!

1/9/26

We had a great first week back, and ready to conquer the second semester! Please read the weekly newsletter for important information for the week at Royal Update – Knight News 1/12-1/16. 

8th Grade Families, the January 8th grade EOY newsletter went home with students today. It was also sent through myStudent Communication. Gradventure tickets sales are open and selling fast! 8th graders must be on track to be eligible to attend. Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co or check/cash to Mr. Coller. Permission forms were sent home as part of the 8th grade letter or are available online at this link: https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/?p=11733. 

Report Cards will be available for viewing in the Parent Portal on Monday. Students who did not earn at least a D in middle school coursework and at least a B in high school coursework will be placed in a course recovery.  To be promoted to high school, students must earn semester credit in all core classes (Math, Science, Social Studies, and ELA). If you are interested in a parent-teacher conference, please complete the link on the RRMS website or reach out to your child’s teacher. Please take advantage of after school tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Media Center from 1:30PM-2:30PM. 

It’s that time of year again to enjoy the beautiful and delicious strawberries from Wish Farms in Plant City. The annual RRMS PTSA Strawberry Fundraiser is open and taking orders through January 31st at this link: https://wishfarms.myshopify.com/products/river-ridge-middle-school-fundraiser-strawberries. The flats of strawberries will be delivered to the school in early February. $8 dollars from every flat goes back to River Ridge classroom initiatives. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Hloska at riverridgemsptsa@gmail.com.

There will be a PTSA General Meeting on Wednesday, January 16th at 6PM in the media center. Everyone is invited to attend. 

 Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! Let’s make this a great River Ridge week and a successful second semester!

 

12/13/25

Royal Families,

It’s the last week of the quarter/semester at River Ridge! State and district mid-year testing continues as we finish out the semester on a strong note. Please check your child’s myStudent and encourage them to contact their teachers, take advantage of second-chance learning opportunities, and seek academic assistance. Students need As, Bs, and Cs, no referrals, and no more than 3 days absent for the semester to be considered on track.

This week will also feature Royal Holiday Things Spirit Week, with holiday- and Stranger Things-inspired dress-up days and holiday activities. Students are encouraged to participate in our holiday celebration.

 

 

This week in sports, there will be Boys’ Basketball Tryouts on Monday for 6th graders, Tuesday for 7th and 8th graders, and callbacks on Wednesday from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM in the gym.  To try out, all athletic paperwork must be submitted via the Athletic Clearance website. 

On Friday, students can purchase $5 tickets via GoFan.co or at the front desk to attend the school production of Elf Jr. There will also be a community performance on Sunday, December 21 at 2PM at the River Ridge Center for the Arts. 

Let’s make it a festive River Ridge week! Winter Break for Pasco County Schools will be December 22-January 6, 2026. There will be no school due to teacher planning on January 6th.  Students return on January 7th for Semester 2. We wish all of our Royal Families a happy holidays and a Royal New Year!

 

12/5/25

Royal Family,

There are two weeks left in the quarter/semester to finish Royal Strong! Please check myStudent for your child’s progress with grades and testing. We are in the second week of state PM 2 testing and have seen significant growth from our students! Keep up the focus and drive… it is paying off with high scores and learning gains. These will set students up for success for the final end-of-year testing in May.  

Please check out the Royal Update – Knight Newsletter for 12.8-12.12, which is filled with important information for the upcoming week. 

Let’s show our Royal staff some holiday cheer! Check out the Amazon Wish List; items will be shipped directly to the school. Basket donations to the front office would also be appreciated by December 15th. Thank you so much for supporting RRMS!
 
This week in sports, the Boys’ Soccer Team finishes their season at Hudson Academy, played at HHS on Monday, December 8th at 6PM. The Girls’ Basketball Teams play at home on Monday versus SRK8 at 6PM. The 8th grade recognition night will be between the JV and Varsity games. Then the teams travel to HAC on Wednesday at 6PM to finish off their season.
 
Boys’ Basketball Tryouts will be on December 15th for 6th graders, December 16th for 7th and 8th graders, and callbacks on December 17th from 1:30PM-3:30PM in the gym. All athletic paperwork must be uploaded to athletic clearance before being eligible to try out. Please get in touch with Coach Koos or Coach Coller with questions.
 
Finally, we have two exciting holiday events coming up in the FAME program! Please mark your calendars for the FAME Winter Fine Arts Showcase on Tuesday, December 16th from 5PM-6:30PM in the courtyard and art rooms. There will be art galleries displaying students’ work from this semester. The dance team, theatre, and choral students will perform. There will also be light refreshments and hot cocoa. Following the showcase will be the RRMS music department’s Winter Concert at 6:30PM at the River Ridge Center for the Performing Arts. The community is welcome!
 
The RRMS Theatre Department will be performing the holiday classic, Elf Jr., on Friday, December 19th at 8:30AM for an in-school student performance. Tickets are on sale in the front office or on GoFan.co. for $5. There will be a community performance on Sunday, December 21st, at 2PM. Tickets can also be purchased on GoFan.co.
 
Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! We are so proud to be Royal!

11/30/25

There are three weeks left in the semester to finish ROYAL STRONG! Please check out the RRMS Week in Preview newsletter for 12/1-12/5 for essential information regarding weekly events and the upcoming December testing schedule.  Students return on Monday, December 1st, and mid-year testing will begin for 8th graders. ALL students must ATTEND to ACHIEVE! Let’s do this, Royal Knights!

 

11/14/25

There is one week until Thanksgiving Break, Royals! We will have a Thanksgiving Spirit Week with fall-themed dress-up days to celebrate the start of the holiday season!  Please check out the RRMS Week in Preview newsletter for 11/17-11/21 for very important information regarding weekly events and the upcoming December testing schedule.  There will be no school for the Thanksgiving holidays 11/24-11/28 with students returning on 12/1. Mid-year testing will begin for 8th graders, and ALL students must ATTEND so that they can ACHIEVE!

 

11/7/25

Please check out the RRMS Week in Preview for 11/10-11/14 newsletter. 

This week begins Student Success Data Chats through Social Studies classes. The Student Success Team (Administration, School Counselors, Student Support Assistants, and Graduation Enhancement Teacher) will meet with students as part of our Semester 1 Student Success Data Chats. The Quarter 1 Report Card, Student Data Sheet, and notes from the student-led data chat on academics, attendance, behavior, and FAST PM 2 coming up in December will be mailed home to parents/guardians. Together, we will review their academic progress and social-behavioral performance to develop goals and strategies for success as we reach the mid-point of the semester.

As a reminder, the state mandate (F.S.1003.4156) requires that middle school students complete a Language Arts, Math, Science, & Social Studies course each year with a minimum grade of ‘D’ for each semester to be promoted to high school.

Each student will be participating in FAST ELA, Math Progress Monitoring 2, NWEA 8th Grade Science, and Mock Civics EOC in December. It is imperative that each student makes learning gains and/or meets proficiency on each FAST PM 2 session, as well as showing what they know on the Mock 8th Grade Science, Civics, Algebra, and Geometry Exams.

This Friday, Quarter 2 Progress Reports will be available through myStudent. Please take advantage of all of the Royal opportunities to get academic help!

This week in sports… The Girls’ Basketball Team travels to BPMS on Monday and has a home game on Wednesday against PRSMS, JV starts at 6PM with Varsity to follow. The Boys’ Soccer Team also travels to BPMS, playing at FHS, on Monday at 6PM and has their first home game vs PRSMS on Wednesday at 6PM. Go Knights!

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together! Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! So Proud YOU are ROYAL!

10/31/25

Happy Halloween, Royals! We had an amazing Red Ribbon Week with awesome participation! Please check out the RRMS Week in Preview for 11/3-11/7 newsletter.

Also, don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour on Sunday morning! 

We are almost halfway through the 2nd quarter. Please take advantage of all of the Royal opportunities to improve your grades and learning. We offer tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 1:30PM-2:30PM. Both high school NHS students and RRMS teachers will be available for extra help!

On Wednesday, we have our first Early Act Club Meeting after school in the media center from 1:30PM-2:30PM. Please contact Mrs. Besic or Ms. Addington with questions. 

Thursday is Royal Dine Out Night at Blaze Pizza – Trinity from 4PM-7PM. Skip the cooking, come out, and support RRMS!

This week in Sports marks the start of the first half of the winter sports season… Girls’ Basketball travels to CLMS on Wednesday at 6PM, and Boys’ Soccer travels to CLMS, played at Angeline Sports Complex on Thursday at 6PM. We will host a pre-school pep rally on Friday morning to celebrate these student athletes. Wear your purple, black, and silver!

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together! Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! So Proud YOU are ROYAL!

10/25/25

Please take a moment to review the RRMS Week in Preview 10/27-10/31 newsletter.

As we continue to build momentum, let’s keep the spirit alive with Red Ribbon Week! The theme is Life is a Puzzle – Solve It Drug-Free! We encourage everyone to participate in the daily dress-up themes and get creative with their 4th period classes for the door decorating contest sponsored by Student Council. More information is at this link: https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/?p=11640. Let’s show our commitment to making healthy choices in the most colorful and engaging ways!

The RRMS Skate Night at Spin Nations has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 28th, from 6 PM-8 PM. All tickets will be honored or can be purchased at the event. The price is $10 for skating with skate rental and $5 for spectators. Proceeds go back to RRMS!

On Thursday, October 30th, all Algebra 1 and Geometry students will take the PSAT during Period 1-4 in the Media Center and Gym. Students have been provided their testing locations and should see their math teachers with any questions. 

This week in Sports… Boys’ Soccer Try Outs begin on Monday with 6th and 7th grade, Tuesday is 8th grade, and Wednesday is callbacks. Try-outs are on the middle school field from 1:40 PM-3:30 PM. Please contact Coach Rebholz if you have any questions.

On Wednesday at 6:30 PM, we will host SSMS in the final football game of the year at HOME! Come out and support our Royal Knights – wear PURPLE and show your Royal pride!

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together! Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! So Proud YOU are ROYAL!

10/18/25

Royal Families,

Report Cards were available online through myStudent Parent Portal yesterday. We encourage families to review their student’s progress together. Students should be earning As, Bs, and Cs to be on track for promotion. If you have a question or concern regarding your child’s progress, don’t hesitate to get in touch with their teacher, or you can set up a parent-teacher conference through our website.  We also offer tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30PM-2:30PM weekly and Saturday School every other Saturday for students to receive support! Please take advantage of all of these opportunities!

 

We have a big week coming up with the start of Red Ribbon Week, the premiere of Beetlejuice Jr., and the Halloween Dance on Friday!  Please take a moment to review the RRMS Week in Preview 10/20-10/24 newsletter. 

Let’s make it a great River Ridge week as we continue to Accelerate Excellence! Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education. So Proud YOU are Royal!

 

10/10/25

Royal Families,

Today is the final day of Quarter 1. There will be no school for students on Monday, October 13th and Tuesday, October 14th due to Teacher Planning and District Professional Development Day. Quarter 2 will begin on Wednesday, October 15th. Quarter 1 Report Cards will be available in myStudent on Friday, October 17th. Please take this opportunity to review your child’s progress in myStudent with them.

Please review the Royal Update-Knight Newsletter for 10.12-10.17.

🏈 This Week in Sports
Athletic Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. Let’s Slay, Royal Knights!

  • Football vs. SRK8 at HOME: October 16th | 6:30 PM – Wear black! We will be celebrating our 8th graders and their families at 5:45 PM before the game.

Girls’ Basketball Tryouts will take place on October 15th-17th in the gym from 1:30 PM-3:30 PM. October 15th will be for 7th and 8th graders, October 16th will be for 6th-8th graders, and October 17th will be for all callbacks for grades 6-8. Please see Coach Brando or Coach Newman for more information. Please upload all athletic paperwork to the Athletic Clearance portal before tryouts.

Mark your calendars:

On Friday, October 17th, from 6 PM-8 PM the River Ridge feeder pattern will be hosting Candy at the Castle. Families of all ages are encouraged to participate. Tickets can be purchased on River Ridge High School’s GoFan.co. 

School Picture Day will be on October 21st through ELA classes. Students will receive a flyer with instructions to purchase online through Gigante.

Get your tickets for Beetlejuice Jr., the RRMS Theatre Department’s Fall Musical, on October 24th and October 25th.  There will be an in-school show for $5 at 11 AM on Friday, then that evening 7 PM, and Saturday 2 PM and 7 PM. All tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. 

There will also be a Beetlejuice/Halloween-themed school dance on Friday, October 24th, from 2 PM-4 PM. Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co for $10 or at the front desk. Students should dress up in Halloween-themed attire. There will be a DJ, photo booth, and Kona Ice. For this dance, we have a special treat: a Creepy Crawler room, where students will learn about and interact with snakes, spiders, bearded dragons, and more. 

Finally, the RRMS Skate Night at Spin Nations has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 28th from 6 PM-8 PM. All tickets will be honored or can be purchased at the event. The price is $10 for skating with skate rental and $5 for spectators. Proceeds go back to RRMS!

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together! Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! So Proud YOU are ROYAL!

10/5/25

Royal Families,

This is the last week of Quarter 1. Please take this opportunity to check myStudent to monitor student grades and reach out to teachers for assistance. We offer after-school tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 PM-2:30 PM for students to get and stay on track. Students should earn As, Bs, and Cs, no referrals, and have fewer than 2 days of unexcused absences. 

There will be an NJHS meeting after school from 1:30 PM-2:30 PM in the media center to plan for Candy at the Castle.

We are extending the Step It Up Donation Drive through Sunday at 11:59 PM to meet our goal of $35,000 and to ensure all students are eligible for the Best Day Ever celebration. The link is still live: https://app.pop4kids.org/. Let’s do this, Royal Knights!

On Tuesday, October 7th, will be the Day of Awesome – Best Day Ever celebration from 8:30 AM-10 AM for all students who qualify with $50 in donations for the Step It Up Donation Drive.  Kona Ice will also be there for purchase. Thank you again for all of your support! We have the very best Royal Family!

🏈 This Week in Sports
Athletic Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. Let’s Slay, Royal Knights!

  • Football vs. CHK8 at HOME: October 7th | 6:30 PM – Wear pink! There will be no 5th quarter. There will be a JV scrimmage (white vs. purple) game immediately following the 4th quarter.
  • Volleyball @ HAC: October 6th | 6PM
Pink Out day is coming! 🎀 There are 20 extra Pink Out shirts available for $15 at the front desk. We anticipate that the shirts will be available for pickup on Monday.

Girls’ Basketball Tryouts will take place on October 15th-17th in the gym from 1:30 PM-3:30 PM. October 15th will be for 7th and 8th graders, October 16th will be for 6th-8th graders, and October 17th will be for all callbacks for grades 6-8. Please see Coach Brando or Coach Newman for more information.

Boys’ Soccer Tryouts will take place on October 27th-29th on the middle school football field from 1:30 PM-3:30PM. October 27th will be for 6th graders, October 28th will be for 7th graders and callbacks, and October 29th will be for 8th graders and callbacks.  

 Please upload all athletic paperwork to the Athletic Clearance portal before tryouts.

Mark your calendars:

There is no school on Monday, October 13th, for teacher planning day and Tuesday, October 14th, for district-wide staff professional development. Quarter 2 will begin on Wednesday, October 15th. 

On Friday, October 17th, from 6 PM-8 PM the River Ridge feeder pattern will be hosting Candy at the Castle. Families of all ages are encouraged to participate. Tickets can be purchased on River Ridge High School’s GoFan.co. 

School Picture Day will be on October 21st through ELA classes. Students will receive a flyer with instructions to purchase online through Gigante.

Get your tickets for Beetlejuice Jr., the RRMS Theatre Department’s Fall Musical, on October 24th and October 25th.  There will be an in-school show for $5 at 11 AM on Friday, then that evening 7 PM, and Saturday 2 PM and 7 PM. All tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. 

There will also be a Beetlejuice/Halloween-themed school dance on Friday, October 24th, from 2 PM-4 PM. Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co for $10 or at the front desk. Students should dress up in Halloween-themed attire. There will be a DJ, photo booth, and Kona Ice. For this dance, we have a special treat of a Creepy Crawler room, where students will learn about and interact with snakes, spiders, bearded dragons, and more. 

Finally, the RRMS Skate Night at Spin Nations has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 28th from 6 PM-8 PM. All tickets will be honored or can be purchased at the event. The price is $10 for skating with skate rental and $5 for spectators. Proceeds go back to RRMS!

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together! Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! So Proud YOU are ROYAL!

9/28/25

Royal Families,

We had an amazing Fall Spirit Week with tons of involvement and a lot of Royal Pride! Congratulations to the 7th graders for winning the Fall Spirit Stick at the Pep Rally on Friday. We would also like to congratulate the RRMS Teacher of the Year, Ms. Hoy, and SRP of the Year, Mrs. Cace! They are awesome representatives of what it means to be Royal!

This Week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter (9/29-10/3): https://secure.smore.com/n/ty3qa-rrms-royal-update-knight-newsletter

STEP IT UP! RRMS Annual Donation Drive UPDATE = Your SUPPORT is NEEDED!

We are so close to reaching our Knights fundraising goal! Thanks to your support, we’ve raised $28,000 toward our $30,000 goal. With just three days left, let’s make the final push to the finish line together!

Here’s what’s coming up for our students:

🔥 Weekend Challenge (Sept. 26-28):

The Top 10 students who bring in the most donations this weekend will earn a catered lunch next week.

🥧 Pie in the Face (Oct. 1):

Our top overall fundraiser students with the most donations will get to pie a teacher or administrator in the face—always a student favorite! Check out the leaderboard on our donation website!

🎉 The Best Day Ever (Oct. 7):

Any student who raises $50 or more by the deadline will earn their ticket to an epic celebration on campus featuring inflatables, obstacle courses, games, music, and tons of fun with friends. This will be an experience they don’t want to miss!

💡 Remember: Donations close at midnight on September 30th. Every dollar makes a difference, and every contribution helps us support our Knights.

Thank you for your incredible support—we can’t wait to celebrate with our students and hit that $30,000 milestone together!

Go Knights! ⚔️

Calling all students, parents, and friends! Join us on October 2nd from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM as we celebrate the Skate Night Party hosted by River Ridge Middle School! 🎉📚🛼
This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some quality time with your loved ones while supporting your school community. Not only will you have a fantastic evening of skating fun, but a portion of the proceeds will go directly to the school, helping to fund important educational initiatives. 🌟🙌
Event Details:
📅 Date: October 2, 2025
🕡 Time: 6:00-8:00pm
💵 Entry: $10 (includes skate rental), $5 Spectators

 

🏈 This Week in Sports
Athletic Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. Let’s Slay, Royal Knights!

  • Football vs. SSMS at HOME: September 30 | 6:30 PM – Wear purple!
  • Volleyball vs. CHK8: September 29 | 6PM
  • Volleyball vs. SRK8: October 1 | 6PM – 8th Grade Night celebration will be between the JV and Varsity games.
Pink Out day is coming ! 🎀 Grab your $15 shirt on GoFan and wear it for the football game Oct. 7—and all year to show your Royal Knight pride and support an amazing cause! Let’s fill the stands with PINK! 💗

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together! Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! So Proud YOU are ROYAL!

9/19/25

Royal Families,

Progress Reports are available today on the myStudent Parent Portal.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher(s).  After school tutoring is available every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30PM-2:30PM in the Media Center.  Individual teachers are also offering additional opportunities for students to get extra help. 

This Week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter (9/22-9/26): https://secure.smore.com/n/9ywt85-rrms-royal-update-knight-newsletter.

The week, September 22-26, will be our Fall Spirit Week, which will coincide with the high school’s Homecoming Week! Our theme is “Light Up The Week!” There will be dress-up days, the Glow Down Games, and Pep Rally. All of the events are included on the RRMS website. The Glow Down Games are on Wednesday, September 24th, during 6th period, tickets are $3 on Go Fan.co or cash at the front office. 

On Wednesday, we will have our first Enrichment Activity Day of the year. Students have signed up for their activity and can find the locations on the lists posted in the cafeteria and grade-level hallways. Please see Mrs. Brissey with any questions.

We’re thrilled to announce that we are one week in to our Step It Up Fundraiser to support River Ridge Middle School! This fun and easy program will raise funds for student and staff recognition and technology, directly benefiting our students and staff. Our goal is to earn $30,000! 

What to expect:

  • Quick & Easy: Participate in just 10 minutes by registering online and sharing your student’s donation page.
  • Awesome Rewards: Students earn Golden Ticket prizes just for participating—no money required!
  • Nationwide Reach: Share donation requests via email, text, or social media with friends and family anywhere in the country.

How to get started:

  • Students can still complete their Golden Ticket assignment through Monday to earn the automatic prizes and be entered into the prize drawing.
  • Click this link to register: https://app.pop4kids.org/reg/code/FAHTV
  • All families that enter at least 10 or more contacts will qualify for the Disney Family Vacation that will be awarded nationally!
  • They need to earn $50 to participate in the Day of Awesome!

Timeline:

Golden Ticket prizes will be give out at lunch on Sept. 17th-22nd (10emails, text entered.)

Day of Awesome Event: Tuesday, Oct. 7th (Any student with $50 or more donations.)

Donation Drive End Date: Tuesday, Sept. 30th

Together, we can make a big difference for River Ridge Middle School. Thank you for your support!

🏈 This Week in Sports
Athletic Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. Let’s Slay, Royal Knights!

  • Football vs. GMS at GHS: September 23 | 6:30 PM – Wear Tie Dye!
  • Volleyball @ GMS: September 22 | 6PM
  • Volleyball vs. SSMS: September 24 | 6PM

River Ridge Middle School is looking to launch Girls Intramural Flag Football — and we want to hear from YOU! We’re gauging interest as we plan this awesome opportunity, so if you’re in grades 6–8, fill out our quick digital interest survey—no experience needed.

https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/mform/manage_forms.php?id=177833 Questions? Reach out to Mr. Corley at jcorley@pasco.k12.fl.us

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together! Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! So Proud YOU are ROYAL!

9/12/25

Royal Families,

This Week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter (9/15-9/19):  https://secure.smore.com/n/nbjtd-rrms-royal-update-knight-newsletter

There will be PTSA General Meeting on Monday, September 15th at 6PM in the RRMS Media Center. Parents, students, and teachers are encouraged to get involved. For more information, contact RRMS PTSA at riverridgemsptsa@gmail.com.

We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming Step It Up Donation Drive to support River Ridge Middle School, which will kick off on Tuesday, September 16th-30th! This fun and easy program will raise funds for student and staff recognition and technology, directly benefiting our students and staff.

What to expect:

  • Quick & Easy: Participate in just 10 minutes by registering online and sharing your student’s donation page.
  • Awesome Rewards: Students earn Golden Ticket prizes just for participating—no money required!
  • Nationwide Reach: Share donation requests via email, text, or social media with friends and family anywhere in the country.

How to get started:

  • Save the date for our Launch Party next week, on Tuesday, September 16th, during 2nd period, where students will learn more and bring home details, including the Golden Tickets!
  • On Launch Party night, click this link to register: https://app.pop4kids.org/reg/code/FAHTV
  • Create your student’s donation page and share it with at least 10 friends & family to complete the Golden Ticket assignment by midnight that night.

Together, we can make a big difference for River Ridge Middle School. Thank you for your support!

On Wednesday, September 17th, during lunch, we will be sponsoring a Positive Behavior Knight Dollar event, where students can sign up through the myStudent link to tie-dye t-shirts for the upcoming Spirit Week. Space is limited as there are only 50 spots per grade level. Students can bring a white shirt to tie-dye or purchase one for $5 (cash or via GoFan.co).  This is an event that is sure to sell out!

There will also be a Thespian Meeting after school in the Drama Room from 1:30PM-3:30PM.

That evening, we will have another Royal Dine Out Night at Chipotle in Trinity from 4PM-8PM. Come out and support RRMS student recognition!

On Friday, September 19th, Quarter 1 Progress Reports will be available… that’s two weeks from today! Families are highly encouraged to check myStudent daily to ensure that students are maintaining high grades by keeping up with assignments, studying for tests and quizzes, and taking advantage of all of the Royal opportunities to support them academically. We will be offering Saturday School on September 20th for students to catch up on work and to receive additional support. 

🏈 This Week in Sports
Athletic Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. Let’s Slay, Royal Knights!

  • Football vs. PRSMS at HOME: September 16 | 6:30 PM – Wear Western!
  • Volleyball @ BPMS: September 15 | 6PM
  • Volleyball vs. PRSMS: September 17 | 6PM

 

River Ridge Middle School is looking to launch Girls Intramural Flag Football — and we want to hear from YOU! We’re gauging interest as we plan this awesome opportunity, so if you’re in grades 6–8, fill out our quick digital interest survey—no experience needed.

https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/mform/manage_forms.php?id=177833 Questions? Reach out to Mr. Corley at jcorley@pasco.k12.fl.us

 

Mark Your Calendars…

The following week, September 22-26, will be our Fall Spirit Week, which will coincide with the high school’s Homecoming Week! Our theme is “Light Up The Week!” There will be dress-up days, the Glow Down Games, and Pep Rally. All of the events are included on the RRMS website. The Glow Down Games are on Wednesday, September 24th, during 6th period, tickets are $3 on Go Fan.co or cash at the front office. 

 

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together! Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education! So Proud YOU are ROYAL!

9/5/25

This week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter for 9/8-9/12 is at this link. Make sure your Parent Portal information is up to date, and don’t forget—you can also pay course fees through Rycor.

🔗 This Week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter (9/8-9/12):  https://secure.smore.com/n/nbjtd-rrms-royal-update-knight-newsletter

PM 1 FAST Testing continues on Monday, with 7th grade ELA and make-up/small group the remainder of the week. See the schedule at this link: https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/?p=11561.

Students are highly encouraged to do their very best on the upcoming assessments. This assessment is adaptive; therefore, students start where they left off from PM 3 in May. Students must maintain or raise their PM 3 test score on each PM assessment this year. Students should DO THEIR VERY BEST the first time, as it will take more to score proficient (Level 3 or above)! Students and parents/guardians can review assessment results in myStudent under Test History.

There will be an NJHS meeting on Monday, September 8th from 1:40PM-2:30PM in the media center. 

There will be a Band Parent Meeting on Thursday, September 11th at 6PM in the band room. 

🏈 This Week in Sports
Good luck to our Fall Sports Teams as they kick off the season this week! Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. Let’s Slay, Royal Knights!

  • Football vs. BPMS at FHS: September 9 | 6:30 PM – Wear Camo!
  • Volleyball @ CLMS: September 10 | 6PM 
  • Knights Unite for River Ridge Community Night: September 12 | 7:30PM All Football, Volleyball, Cheerleaders, Dance Team, and Band members and their families are invited to the RRMHS Community Night on Friday, Sept. 12th at 7:30PM. All MS students will be recognized between the first and second quarters of the high school football game. The Dance Team and the Band will perform before kick off, and the cheer team will cheer with the HS team until halftime.  

 Mark your calendars…

There will be PTSA General Meeting on Monday, September 15th at 6PM in the RRMS Media Center. Parents, students, and teachers are encouraged to get involved. For more information, contact RRMS PTSA at riverridgemsptsa@gmail.com.

The Step It Up Donation Drive Kick Off on 9/16! More information is coming soon on how you can support RRMS!

On Friday, September 19th, Quarter 1 Progress Reports will be available… that’s two weeks from today! Families are highly encouraged to check myStudent daily to ensure that students are maintaining high grades by keeping up with assignments, studying for tests and quizzes, and taking advantage of all of the Royal opportunities to support them academically. We will be offering Saturday School on September 6th and September 20th for students to catch up on work and to receive additional support. 

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together!

8/29/25

This week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter for 9/1-9/5 is at this link. Make sure your Parent Portal information is up to date, and don’t forget—you can also pay course fees through Rycor.

🔗 This Week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter (9/1-9/5):  https://secure.smore.com/n/nbjtd-rrms-royal-update-knight-newsletter

There will be no school on Monday, September 1st, in observance of Labor Day! 

We return on Tuesday to our annual Royal Welcome Week, where we continue to build our royal culture of caring with dress-up days, school-wide ice breakers, and upstander activities sponsored by the Royal Ambassadors. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to participate in this great week!

PM 1 FAST Testing will begin on Wednesday, September 3rd, through September 12th. See the schedule at this link: https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/?p=11561.

Students are highly encouraged to do their very best on the upcoming assessments. This assessment is adaptive, therefore students start where they left off from PM 3 in May. Students must maintain or raise their PM 3 test score on each PM assessment this year. Students should DO THEIR VERY BEST the first time as it will take more to score proficient (Level 3 or above)!

6th Grade Student Council Elections will take place on Thursday and Friday this week online through myLearning. 

🏈 This Week in Sports
Good luck to our Fall Sports Teams as they kick off the season this week! Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. Let’s Slay, Royal Knights!

  • Football vs. CLMS @ Angeline in LOL: September 3 | 6:30 PM
  • Volleyball Practice: September 2-5 | 1:30–3:30 PM 
  • Dance Team Practice: September 4 | 1:30–3:00 PM 

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together!

8/22/25

📣 Stay Connected!
Communication is key to student success. We’ll be sending out a weekly digital newsletter via MyStudent (email, text, and social media) to keep our Royal Families informed. This week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter for 8/25-8/29 is at this link. Make sure your Parent Portal information is up to date, and don’t forget—you can also pay course fees through Rycor.

🔗 This Week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter (8/25-8/29):  https://secure.smore.com/n/nbjtd-rrms-royal-update-knight-newsletter

We will be kicking off our PBIS Royal Rewards School Store this SUNDAY-TUESDAY, where students can purchase items based on earning Knight Dollars for being respectful, responsible problem solvers. Help us reward our Royal Knights during our monthly school store with treats, items, gift cards, privileges, and so much more! You can donate to the RRMS Royal Rewards Amazon wish list, and it will be sent directly to RRMS for our students at this link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3N8GFXUYEB8WG?ref_=wl_share

PTSA is hosting the Royal Family BINGO Knight on 8/27 from 6PM-7PM in the Cafeteria. The event is free, but you can purchase pizza and drinks for a fee. There is also a pre-order available. Bring the whole family! 

There will be a Thespian meeting for current and interested members on Wednesday, 8/27 from 1:30PM -2:30PM in Mr. Bintz’s Drama Room.

 

🏈 This Week in Sports
To participate, students must have a current physical and upload all paperwork to www.athleticclearance.com.

  • Football Practice: August 25-29 | 1:30–4:00 PM
  • Cheerleading Practice: August 25 & 27 | 1:30–3:00 PM  
  • Volleyball Practice: August 25-29 | 1:30–3:30 PM 
  • Dance Team Practice: August 28 | 1:30–3:00 PM  
  • Volleyball Parent Meeting is August 27th at 3:40 PM in the Media Center

Mark your calendars for some upcoming events:

 PM 1 FAST Testing will begin on Wednesday, September 3rd, through September 12th. See the schedule at this link: https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/?p=11561.

There will be no school on Monday, September 1st, in observance of Labor Day! 

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together!

8/15/25

📣 Stay Connected!
Communication is key to student success. We’ll be sending out a weekly digital newsletter via MyStudent (email, text, and social media) to keep our Royal Families informed. This week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter for 8/18-8/22 is at this link. Make sure your Parent Portal information is up to date, and don’t forget—you can also pay course fees through Rycor.

🔗 This Week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter (8/18-8/22):  https://secure.smore.com/n/nbjtd-rrms-royal-update-knight-newsletter

This upcoming week, we will be holding Town Hall meetings with each grade level to review expectations, share ways to get involved, and discuss how to get the most out of the new school year! 

 On Wednesday, August 20th, at 6PM through TEAMS, we will be hosting a Math Informational Night for all families in Accelerated Math and Algebra 1 to discuss the math progression, curriculum, and provide ways to support your child in the course. The link will be sent out through myStudent Communication.

On Thursday, August 21st, we will host our first Royal Dine Out Night of the year at Blaze Pizza in Trinity from 5PM-8PM. 20% of proceeds will go back to RRMS student and staff recognition. 

On Friday, August 22nd from 5PM-8PM in the Cafeteria, we are excited to host the River Ridge Back to School Dance Party! Tickets are on sale at GoFan.co, at the front desk, and the door for $10.  There will be a DJ, photo booth, concession stand, and Kona Ice for purchase. 

🏈 This Week in Sports

  • Football Practice: August 18-22 | 1:30–4:00 PM
  • There will be a Parent Meeting on 8/20 at 4:15PM in the Media Center.
  • Cheerleading Practice: August 18 & 20 | 1:30–3:00 PM  
  • Volleyball Tryouts: August 18–20 | 1:30–3:30 PM | 📍 Gym

Mark your calendars for some upcoming events:

PTSA is hosting the Royal Family BINGO Knight on 8/27 from 6PM-7PM in the Cafeteria. The event is free, but you can purchase pizza and drinks for a fee. There is also a pre-order available.

 Finally, we will be kicking off our PBIS Royal Rewards School Store the last week of August, where students can purchase items based on earning Knight Dollars for being respectful, responsible problem solvers. Help us reward our Royal Knights during our monthly school store with treats, items, gift cards, privileges, and so much more! You can donate to the RRMS Royal Rewards Amazon wish list, and it will be sent directly to RRMS for our students at this link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3N8GFXUYEB8WG?ref_=wl_share

Let’s continue to make this year the best yet as we Accelerate Excellence—together!

8/8/25

Welcome Back, Royal Knights! Let’s Accelerate Excellence Together!

Dear Royal Families,

Welcome back to the Castle! We are thrilled to begin another incredible school year with our amazing Royal Knights. As we launch into the 2025-2026 school year, our theme is Accelerate Excellence—and we can’t wait to see our students soar!

📅 First Day of School: Monday, August 11th
🕖 Doors Open: 6:50 AM
🕢 School Begins: 7:10 AM

Students should check their schedules on MyStudent before arriving and report directly to their 1st period class. Don’t worry—our dedicated staff will be stationed throughout the building to help students find their way. In 1st period, students will receive their official schedule, planner, and an informational folder.

Throughout the day, students will participate in Bridge the Ridge, a school-wide initiative designed to build strong relationships and set clear expectations for a successful year. Two important videos—Castle Expectations and Safety/Student Code of Conduct—will be viewed and discussed. As a reminder due to recent state legislation, students must keep wireless communication devices including but not limited to cell phones, wireless airpods, laptops, ipads, tablets, etc. on silent and concealed in their backpacks before, during, and after school.  If a student does not follow this expectation, the device will be confiscated, and a parent/guardian will have to pick it up in the front office. We encourage families to discuss these new policies and to watch the videos together to strengthen our home-school partnership.

📣 Stay Connected!
Communication is key to student success. We’ll be sending out a weekly digital newsletter via MyStudent (email, text, and social media) to keep our Royal Families informed. This week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter for 8/11-8/15 is at this link. Make sure your Parent Portal information is up to date, and don’t forget—you can also pay course fees through Rycor.

🔗 This Week’s Royal Update – Knight Newsletter (8/11–8/15): https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/?p=11487

🎭 Fall Musical Auditions – Beetlejuice Jr.
Open to all students!
📅 Auditions: August 12 & 13 | 🕜 1:30–3:00 PM | 📍 Drama Room
🎬 Callbacks: August 14 & 15 (students will be notified by Mr. Bintz)
🎶 Audition materials are available on the RRMS website: https://rrms.pasco.k12.fl.us/?p=11487

🏈 This Week in Sports
To participate, students must have a current physical and upload all paperwork to www.athleticclearance.com.

  • Football Tryouts: August 11–15 | 1:30–4:00 PM
  • Cheerleading Tryouts: August 14 | 1:30–3:00 PM  Please come prepared, knowing the tryout material at this link.
  • Volleyball Tryouts: August 18–20 | 1:30–3:30 PM | 📍 Gym

We are so proud to welcome each and every one of you back. Let’s make this year unforgettable as we Accelerate Excellence—together!