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RAUC Learning Community Expectations
Our goal is for ALL students to have a safe and productive learning environment so that each student at our school can achieve academic excellence. In order for this to happen, we act in ways true to our core values: Reflect, Aim high, seek Unity, have Compassion. In addition, we have a few expectations for behavior in our learning community. On the first day of school students reviewed these expectations in advisory and during grade level assemblies. Please review them as well and then sign them –they are in student agenda books provided by the school. You can also find them here.
HW is in the Agenda!
To do well in school, students need to aim high to complete all homework--and staying organized is a big part of that. Every student has been given a RAUC agenda, which will be the central location for homework information. You can support your student in the following ways. DON’T ask if there is any homework--instead ASK TO SEE THE AGENDA. Then check it:
- Something should be written every day for every class.
 If there is no HW, it should say: NONE
- If hw directions are online, there should be a note, ie: See google classroom.
- Blank does NOT mean that there is no HW; it means your student wrote nothing.
- IF a class is blank, ask your student to reach out to a classmate, review notes or their binder, check any online classroom sites (not all classes have these) or get to school early to try to get the HW.
- If blank agendas are common, reflect with your student on what gets in the way of writing hw down. And of course, reach out to your student’s teachers.
Allergy Awareness
As many of you know, life threatening allergies are a serious concern in schools across the country. Although Cambridge does not support a school or district wide ban of any specific allergens, the Cambridge Public Schools recognizes that in keeping all children safe, an effective food allergy program depends on the cooperation of the entire school community. Our school nurse spoke at grade level assemblies on the first day of school about ways to stay allergy aware and safe. To build empathy and awareness, she read to all students a letter from a student with allergies sharing his perspective (read here).
At Rindge Avenue Upper Campus we have multiple students with various types of allergies, the most common being peanut and tree nut allergies. Some students when exposed to these allergens may require emergency medical treatment. Not sending in snacks that are intended to be consumed within the classroom which contain peanuts and tree nuts helps to reduce the risk of exposure for students with such allergies. A complete listing of CPS allergen avoidance procedures and guidelines can be found here.
Below are practices that support students with many types of allergies which we reviewed with students at grade level assemblies on the first day of school. Please review them yourself and encourage your student to practice them in support of our school’s healthy habits and our core values of unity and compassion.
- Encourage hand washing before and after eating as a means of avoiding contaminating other surfaces and as a healthy habit
- Food and drinks should never be shared at any time in the school setting
- IF sending a snack to share with classmates, popsicles are a fun, allergy-aware choice.
What Are Learning Previews?
Families are more effective partners in their children’s education when they know what is coming in the weeks ahead. They can engage their children in conversations about topics of study, proactively plan to support projects, and reinforce classroom learning strategies.
To support this partnership, we include Learning Previews in our weekly newsletters. Each week a different team provides a month preview that includes the topics of study, guiding questions and focused skills, general dates for important projects or tests, and suggestions for conversation starters with students. Teachers plan both proactively and reactively, so lessons may change based on student needs or other unexpected events. These previews should be seen as a resource for connecting to the classroom experience and not as an exact road map. Students are expected to keep track of specific assignments and dates in the agenda books given to all students on the first day of school.
First Tuesday of the month: 6th grade
Second Tuesday: 7th grade
Third Tuesday: 8th grade
Fourth Tuesday: Specials
6th Grade Intro to Middle School Course
Welcome to RAUC, 6th grade families! To get all 6th graders off on the right foot, Shanika Boadu, Guidance Counselor, and Sam Musher, Library Technology Teacher, teach a brief Introduction to Middle School class. Students learn to use Google Classroom, Aspen, email, and other online tools that will help them be a strong student, and practice positive communication skills. Intro to Middle School meets twice a week through Sept. 27. After that, students will switch to the World Language class on their schedule.
Staffing Update: Welcome to Our Newest Members!
 Doug Delaney is a Social Worker/Therapeutic Counselor split between RAUC and the Baldwin Chaline Thande, Nick Watters, and Ariana Diggs will be joining our RAUC team as paraprofessionals.
- Mr. Delaney has, almost literally, written the book on therapeutic programs. He joins us from Wediko Children's Services which both runs therapeutic schools and camps as well provides consultation support for schools and other programs. His wealth of experience and expertise will be a tremendous resource to our program.
- Ms. Thande comes with experience in tenancy advocacy with the Cambridge Housing Authority along with other community organizing and advocacy. Chaline also has connections to the Reservoir Church, a community church that sponsors activities many of our students and their families are involved with.
- Mr. Watters has been a teacher in California, certified to teach Social Science. He has developed and implemented lessons with particular focus on differentiating learning for all students and for supporting English language learners.
- Ms. Diggs has worked in schools and community centers as a para and an inclusion specialist and has also supported families and children around mental health through a community service organization. She also brings a range of other professional expertise that.
Science Club for Girls
Science Club for Girls’ STEMinistas program is a middle-school program for girls in grades 6-8 led by a teaching team of volunteer women in STEM and high school girls. The STEMinistas explore topics including engineering, biology and chemistry through a series of projects centered on the core concepts of engineering and the design process. This fall the STEMinistas will be building a new and improved toy and learning about ways to identify scientific misinformation. The Science Club for Girls is committed to serving young women from historically marginalized or under-represented groups, including young women of color, first generation college-bound, and from economically disadvantaged families.
Our Fall semester of STEMinistas will be taking place at the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House in Cambridge (71 Cherry St) from 10:15-11:30AM on Saturdays beginning on September 28th. For more information, please visit our website at scienceclubforgirls.org or email us at [email protected].
6th Grade Learning Previews
See what's happening in the 6th grade classrooms this week!
Read More >>
Out of School Opportunities
*All flyers and registration forms are available at RAUC. Students or families can contact Justin McNulty: [email protected]
Bay State Skating School (see flyer)
When: Saturdays, September 7th - October 12th
Where: Cambridge Simoni Rink
Age: 4 to 18
Time: 2PM
Cost: 6 classes for $135
Website: www.baystateskatingschool.org
Phone Number: 781.890.8480
Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker Auditions (see flyer)
When: Saturday, September 7
Where: 400 Harvard Street, Cambridge
Ages: 6-18
Time: Varies by age, see flyer
Cost: $25 Audition Fee
Website: Pre-Register @ https://www.ballettheatre.org/
Phone: 617.354.7467
MIT Volpe Block Party (see flyer)
When: Saturday, September 7
Where: Sennott Park, 305 Broadway Street, Cambridge
Ages: All
Time: 11AM-3PM
Cost: Free
Website: https://volpe.mit.edu/
Science Club for Girls: STEMinistas
When: Registration due by September 13. Begins Saturday, September 30.
Where: Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, 71 Cherry Street, Cambridge
Grades: 6-8
Time:10:15-11:30AM
Contact: Bonnie Bertolaet, Executive Director [email protected] 858.354.7570
Registration: https://www.tfaforms.com/4759573
Girlx Only Leadership Development (GOLD) Program (see flyer)
When: Tuesdays, 10/15/2019 - 05/05/2020
Where: 7 Temple Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Time: 5-7PM
Grades: 7 & 8
Register: http://bit.ly/GOLD2019-20
Contact: Amanda Okaka| GOLD Program Coordinator
T: 617.491.6050 x 3035 [email protected]
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