Halloween is almost here, and this edition has treats for everyone. On Saturday, October 31, skip the cooking and order from MOD Pizza: a quarter of your bill comes back to RMS. On Monday, November 9, families can say thanks to our teachers and staff with a "Thanks a Latte" breakfast, and the sign-up is open now. For students, the deadlines are the real trick: Reflections entries and Quiz Bowl registration both close Friday, October 30. Also in this edition: a hygiene drive for RMS families, Unity Day, the Fall Social, and a call for chaperones.

At a glance:

• 🐻 Oct 20: PTSA Board Meeting, All Invited
• 🔬 Oct 21: National Science Bowl Selection Test
• 🎨 Oct 30: Reflections Entries Due
• 🧠 Oct 30: Quiz Bowl Registration Closes
• 🍕 Oct 31: MOD Pizza Halloween Dine Out
• 🧼 Nov 2-6: Hygiene Pantry Drive
• ☕ Nov 9: Thanks a Latte Staff Breakfast
• 🎁 School and Teacher Grants Drive
• 🌺 Choir Poinsettia and Wreath Sale
• 📅 Mark Your Calendar: Unity Day, Fall Social, Yearbook Photos
• 🎃 Community: Trunk or Treat, Writing Contest, Clothing Drive
• 💪 Volunteer Opportunities: Oct 23 Picture Retakes, Nov 13 Fall Social Chaperones
• 🐻 Join RMS PTSA

As always, remember to check out our PTSA website rmsptsa.org and RMS Facebook page for the latest news, programs, and information. Send email inquiries to board@rmsptsa.org. And now... on to the good stuff!

🇲🇽 Lea las traducciones al español de este boletín en nuestro sitio web en los archivos.

Every PTSA board meeting is open to all members. Come to listen, ask questions, or bring an idea.

• Tuesday, October 20, 6:30 to 7:30 PM, in the RMS Library or online on Teams
• Meeting details and how to join
• The next meeting is Tuesday, November 17.

Science Club students who signed up for National Science Bowl take the selection test on Wednesday, October 21 at RMS. It is a 90-minute online test of about 200 multiple-choice questions in math, physics, chemistry, biology, earth and space science, and energy. The results decide the two or three RMS teams that go on to the state rounds.

• Questions? scienceteam@rmsptsa.org
• RMS PTSA Science Team page

This is the last Bear Tracks before the deadline. Reflections is National PTA's student arts program, open to every RMS student, and this year's theme is "What My Culture Means to Me."

• Enter in any of six categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts (2D only). One piece per category.
• Due Friday, October 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Fill in the RMS Reflections entry form, then email the project to reflections@rmsptsa.org and copy sreerupab@rmsptsa.org.
• Keep the artist statement to 100 words or fewer and keep the student's name off the artwork.
• The drop-off date for physical artwork will be announced.
• The top 10 RMS entries move on to the Lake Washington PTSA Council round.
• RMS PTSA Reflections page: full rules, category guides and the consent form

Quiz Bowl is academic competition with a buzzer: two teams, questions from history to science to fine arts, and the first correct answer scores. It is open to 6th, 7th and 8th graders, as individuals or as teams, and current RHS players mentor RMS students.

• Register for Quiz Bowl by Friday, October 30. The fee is $100 per student and includes a year of prep material.
• No RMS student will be turned away for being unable to pay. The registration page has a scholarship option, or email quiz@rmsptsa.org.
• Parent volunteers are welcome to score, read questions and coach.

Keep Halloween dinner easy. Order from MOD Pizza on Saturday, October 31, open to close, and 25% of your bill goes to RMS.

• MOD Pizza, 8900 161st Ave NE, Suite 165, Redmond
• In the restaurant: mention Redmond Middle School and show the flyer at checkout.
• Ordering online or in the MOD app? Use the code MODGIVES25.

RMS is holding its first annual Hygiene Pantry Drive, and every student can help. The school's pantry gives students in need the hygiene items they ask for, and this drive aims to stock it for the rest of the year.

• Monday, November 2 to Friday, November 6. Bring items to the collection bins in the Great Hall.
• Our goal is 1,000 items, about one per student.
• Wanted: lip balm, bar soap, dish soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, men's and women's deodorant, period products, laundry soap, paper towels, toilet paper (6-packs), and brushes and combs for a variety of hair types.
• Questions? Amanda Howell, amandah@rmsptsa.org

Let's treat RMS teachers and staff to breakfast on Monday, November 9. The PTSA is collecting breakfast goodies, fresh fruit, tea and other treats. Homemade and store-bought are equally welcome.

• Sign up to bring something, and say in the comments whether you will drop it off Sunday or Monday.
• Sunday, November 8: drop off near RMS. Email don8ionst8tion@gmail.com for the location.
• Monday, November 9: bring it at morning drop-off to the donation cart at the front desk.
• Please bring food ready to serve, with baked goods sliced.
• Short on time? Give to Staff Appreciation online.

Our grants drive pays for what RMS classrooms need and the district budget does not cover: donate to the Grants Drive.

RMS Choirs are selling poinsettias, centerpieces and wreaths. The money pays for choral experiences that the district and ASB cannot fund.

• Order from the RMS Choirs fundraiser by Sunday, November 22.
• Pick up your order at RMS on Tuesday, December 8 at the choir concert, or arrange delivery with a choir student.

The short version of what's coming at RMS. The school posts full details on ParentSquare.

• Oct 20: Fall Band Concert, 7 PM.
• Oct 21: Unity Day. Wear orange to show that RMS stands together against bullying.
• Oct 21 and 28, Nov 4, 9 and 18: Realignment information sessions, noon, online, 30 minutes each. The district is studying school boundaries and capacity. Session links and recordings
• Oct 23: Picture make-up day, 8 to 11 AM, RMS Commons, for students who were absent or are new. Students who want a retake should bring their original photo pack.
• Nov 3: Last day of the first quarter.
• Nov 13: Fall Social, 6 to 8 PM: a DJ in the Commons, sports in the gym, karaoke, games and a photo booth. Tickets are sold at lunch Tuesday, November 10 to Friday, November 13: $5 with ASB, $7 without, and $10 on the day. Cash only, presale only, and students need their ID card. Pick-up is promptly at 8 PM. Questions? kamorris@lwsd.org
• Share photos for the yearbook. The yearbook staff wants first-day photos, fall sports, concerts, spirit week and 8th grade baby photos. Upload photos here.
• Honor a veteran in your family. Leadership is making a video for the Veterans Day assembly. Submit a photo with the service member's name and branch through the Veterans Day photo form. The form only works when signed in to a student's LWSD account. Questions? Ms. Morris, kamorris@lwsd.org
• Free tutoring from KCLS, 1 to 11 PM every day, by chat or audio, for math, writing, languages and more. On a school laptop, open ClassLink, then Library & Research Tools, then KCLS, then Brainfuse. The username is 414 followed by the student ID number (for example 4141234567), and the password is the last 4 digits of the student ID (for example 4567). Questions? RMS librarian Amy Fields, amfields@lwsd.org.

New to RMS? ParentSquare · Skyward Family Access · Daily Bell Schedules

A free Halloween afternoon for all ages: candy, games and snacks on Saturday, October 31, 1 to 3 PM, at Meadowbrook Church, 17944 NE 65th St, Redmond.

• Register at meadowbrookchurch.com

Washington students in grades 5 to 12 can enter Youth for History's America's 250th writing contest. It is free. Entries are due Saturday, October 31 at 11:59 PM, and cash prizes go to the top three.

• Contest details and entry

The district's Care & Share Closet is collecting new and gently used fall and winter clothing for LWSD students through Friday, October 30. Please give items in good shape, with no tears or stains, and sort them by size group.

• Drop off at the LWSD Resource Center, Eastlake HS, Lake Washington HS or Juanita HS.
• Questions? FamilySupports@lwsd.org

• Friday, October 23: Picture Retakes, 8 AM to noon, in two-hour shifts. Sign up for picture retakes
• Friday, November 13: Fall Social chaperones. The school needs at least 12 parents to help supervise. Arrive at 5:30 PM for check-in and a safety briefing; help with cleanup afterward is welcome. Sign up to chaperone
• Thank you to everyone who helped at the October 13 hearing and vision screening. School nurse Daryl Yao called it a major success.
• Find more RMS PTSA opportunities | Questions? volunteers@rmsptsa.org

Before you sign up, you need to be LWSD-Volunteer-Approved. This is for the safety of our students and staff; approval status is verified before every event. The online application takes 5 to 8 minutes and all you need is some personal info and an electronic copy or photo of your ID. Approval can take a week or more to come through, and it's valid for two years, so apply or renew now.

• Start or renew your LWSD volunteer application
• Volunteering in LWSD: application process, checking whether your approval is still valid, and other district opportunities

Bear Tracks Newsletter is produced by RMS PTSA as a benefit to the Redmond Middle School Community. Bear Tracks is edited by Neil C. Obremski. Please submit articles via the Bear Tracks Online Submission Form. Articles are due on Thursdays, by 5:00 PM for publication the following Sunday. Direct all inquiries to beartracks@rmsptsa.org.