Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year

Dear RMS Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I am excited to begin my first year as interim principal at Ritenour Middle School after having the privilege of serving the RMS community as an assistant principal for the past three years.

The first day of school for all students is Monday, Aug. 24 . Doors open at 7:10 a.m., and free breakfast is served daily. Classes begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. Dismissal is at 2:25 p.m.

I am pleased to welcome back Seneca Allen as assistant principal and to introduce two new members of our leadership team: Dr. Lori Craig, dean of students, and Taylor Johnson, interim assistant principal. Both are familiar faces within the Ritenour community. Dr. Craig joins us from Ritenour High School and brings extensive leadership experience. Ms. Johnson comes to RMS from Marvin Elementary, where she built strong relationships and made a positive impact on students and staff.  We also welcome a new Special School District (SSD) coordinator, Ms. Leigh Ann Shaffer.

While our leadership team has grown, our mission remains unchanged. At RMS, we are committed to fostering a sense of belonging, building strong community connections, and empowering every student with the support and agency needed to grow, learn and shape their future.

Our Back-to-School packet has important information. All forms must now be completed online through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. We encourage all families to check the Parent Portal for student schedules once they are finalized later this summer. If you need help accessing the portal, please contact our main office at (314) 493-6250.

We will once again host a Chromebook distribution event this year. Parents and students may visit the building on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 8–11 a.m. or Thursday, Aug. 13, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. During this event, you will receive your child’s Chromebook, pay (or waive) insurance, address any outstanding technology fees, and pick up your child’s schedule and school ID. We will also have community vendors on-site to add some food and fun to the event. Please be sure to complete registration ahead of time to streamline the process. 

The school year begins early for our sixth grade students with Sixth Grade Transition Day from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug 20, 2026. Doors open at 7:10 a.m. Ritenour buses will be running their routes for this event, so students who are eligible for transportation may ride the bus if a parent or guardian doesn’t plan to attend the event. Students will meet their teachers, connect with classmates, and get to know the building through a morning of fun, engaging activities. Parents and guardians are invited to stay from 7:30–8:30 a.m. for a welcome presentation by RMS administrators in the cafeteria.

Please also mark your calendars for our Ritenour Middle School Meet-the-Teacher Night from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20. This is a great opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, sign up for our PTO, and learn more about our extracurricular activities and athletics.

Lastly, a reminder for our eighth-grade families: students must have proof of receiving the Tdap vaccination to begin school. If you have any questions, please contact our school nurse, Kayla Dell, at (314) 493-6260.

Thank you in advance for helping us make this a fantastic year. We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

Warmly,

Mr. Sam Brotherton, Interim Principal