ABRPTSO

Weekly Chatter

RJ Grey Junior High School

April 5, 2026

"Creating a community of thinkers, learners, and responsible citizens."

Table of Contents



  • Calendar of Events
  • PTSO Update
  • Food Drive
  • Recycling Competition
  • Project Graduation
  • Online Student Directory is Available!
  • Yearbook for Sale
  • Applying to Private School?
  • Clubs and Activities
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Community Education Classes
  • Kids Graphic Novel Festival at Silver Unicorn Book Store
  • Acton 250 Revolution
  • Danny's Place Programs
  • Work Permits
  • Process for Daily Announcement Sign Ups!
  • Late Bus
  • Absent, Tardy & Dismissals
  • AB Resource Center and Exchange

Calendar of Events


Friday, April 3rd - No school in observance of Good Friday


Monday, April 6 - The library will be closed after school.


Monday, April 13 - Early Release - RJG release at 1 pm


Monday, April 20 - April 24 No school / April Break


Monday, May 4h - Early Release - RJG release at 1 pm


Monday, May 25th - No school in observance of Memorial Day


Wednesday, May 27th - No school in observance of Eid al-Adha


Friday, June 19th - No school in observance of Juneteenth


Thursday, June 25th - Last day of School. Dismissal for RJG is at 11:10 am.




2025-2026 School Calendar

April Showers - of Giving!


If you haven't sent in a donation yet to the PTSO, please take the return of the spring rain as your signal to do so! Please don't leave us in a drought! The PTSO budgets to support student events and teacher initiatives at RJ Grey, as well as teacher appreciation activities. We donate to the school throughout the year using a grant process, to help supplement the amazing work done by our teachers and staff. Your donations make this possible!



Use the codes below to donate or contact secretary@abrptso.org to volunteer. Your donation matters and helps support students, teachers, and staff.


FOOD DRIVE


Please bring in donations for the food drive! 

You can drop items off in your homeroom through April 16th. 

Popular items to donate include cereal, dry noodles, mac n cheese, canned goods, and personal hygiene products. 


*Please check the expiration dates of the food before bringing it into school. We cannot accept expired items.


Acton Food Pantry counts on our community food drives to provide much-needed food and supplies for our neighbors. Anything you can contribute will make a difference!


The Green Team Recycling Competition


Bring aluminium cans and plastic bottles from home and school to your team’s homerooms from April 6th to April 17th! Make sure to rinse out any items before bringing them in.


The team that has collected the most cans and bottles by the end will win COOKIES for their team.


Project Graduation: Donation Communication


Thanks to this awesome community we are 86% of the way to our business donation goal! But we're only at 57% for parent donations. Can you help? Project Graduation is entirely volunteer-run and receives no funding from the school. Donate today to keep kids safe on commencement night! Costs are up on everything, so every little bit will help. 


We are also collecting gift cards (ideally in $5 and $10 amounts, but larger is OK, too!) to give out as prizes at the game and activity stations throughout the evening on Grad Night. Kids love it! Simply complete this form, and we will be in touch. Email kerrydlewis@gmail.com with any questions. 


Warmly,


The AB Project Graduation 2026 Team

abprojectgraduation@gmail.com

https://www.abprojectgrad.org

Online Student Directory 2025-2026 is now available!


Log in to your PowerSchool Portal today to access the directory.


All completely FREE—a gift from the ABRPTSO!

Stay connected and access your directory now.

Time to order the 2025-2026 RJ Grey Yearbook!

• Over 70 color pages to chronicle the school year! 

• Portraits of all students in both grades 

• Photos of clubs, sports, activities, events, and school productions

 

To Order & Pay Online: 

• Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com  

• Enter school code 13545


8th Grade Yearbook Tributes

Would you like to include a tribute to your graduating student in this year's yearbook? If so, here are the necessary details should you wish to participate:

 

1. For $40, you will receive a 1/8th-page space in our yearbook, which is room for 1-2 photos and a message of pride and congratulations to your child.

 

2. You will design, pay, and submit everything online. We have to submit these pages for printing as they are completed, so please be sure to proof your file very carefully. Unfortunately, changes aren't possible after it is submitted.

 

3. When you're ready, go to this link to begin, and scroll down to find the button that says "Start Your Ad": 

https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/job/13545 

We will keep the portal open until all the pages allocated to tributes have been filled.

 

Any questions should be directed to Mr. Lewis at MLewis@abschools.org

Applying to private school?


Please visit the Counseling Office's webpage for the required procedure as there are quite a few steps and important details. The first step is for a parent to complete this form at least 20 days before the school application is due. 


Questions? Email Kerry Lewis at klewis@abschools.org. 

Activity Fees and RJG Clubs/Activities



There is something for everyone! RJG Club Activities


If your child is joining one of our clubs, we now have a $50 Activity Fee that helps support the costs of running our extracurricular programs. If your child has already joined a club, you can send a check for $50 (made out to Acton-Boxborough Regional School District) that they can drop off at the Main Office. You can also pay online here. If your family is in need of financial assistance, please submit a request for financial assistance according to the instructions on our District's website.

Calling All Ultimate Frisbee Enthusiasts – No Experience Needed!

 

Acton-Boxborough Ultimate Frisbee welcomes all 7-12 graders to join in playing this fun and competitive team sport. All skill levels are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Spring'26 pre-season practice has kicked off, the formal start date is 04/25/2026


Learn more at https://www.abultimate.com/ or contact us at abrenegade@gmail.com.

Community Education Update


Community Education offers a variety of classes and programs, check out our on-line catalog. Contact us at ceregistrar@abschools.org with any questions. 

Fabrics, Draping & Pattern Making (Ages 7-14): April 7-28 *2 spots remaining!

Archery (Ages 8+): April 13-June 1

Youth Badminton - Beginner (Ages 9-18): April 16-June 18

Youth Badminton - Advanced Beginner (Ages 9-18): April 16-June 18

Asian Crispy Noodle Dish (Ages 10+): April 21

Creamy Meatball Stew (Ages 10+): April 23

Youth Badminton - Intensive (Ages 9-18): May 5-June 23 (6:00 PM)

Youth Badminton - Intensive (Ages 9-18): May 5-June 23 (7:30 PM)

Social Skills Workshop (Gr. 2-7): May 12

Netiquette: Pre-Teen Texting, Email & Social Media Workshop (Gr. 5-8): May 12

Home Alone (Gr. 3+): May 16


Registration is now open for two popular summer programs:

Crossman Speed & Agility Clinic (Entering Gr. 4-12); 

Summer Hoops Basketball (Entering Gr. 2-9).


Interested in volunteering as a teacher/instructor assistant this summer? Complete the Summer Escapades volunteer form (for students entering grades 9-12)

Click the program names to view the class details and session dates, and to register online.

Danny's Place Winter Programs start here!  


From preschoolers to high schoolers, Danny’s Place has something for everyone. Explore our programs and save your spot today!  www.dannys-place.org/winter

Work Permits

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Work Permits - Are you fourteen years old and thinking about a part-time job? Please see the  the Counseling website for more information regarding the student work permit process.  Questions? Check in with or email Mrs. Lewis (klewis@abschools.org).

Process for Daily Announcement Sign Ups!


The School invites any interested parent or guardian to sign up to receive our Daily Announcements email. The Daily Announcements email is exactly what it sounds like. Generally, in mid-morning, our Main Office will compile any of our ongoing or new announcements and send them to interested families. Examples of parts of our email would be: listing which clubs meet that week; sign ups for Ski Club; Jazz Band auditions; when the next Early Release is; and notification of a postponed athletic game or meet. We don't use the Daily Announcements to send emergency information. 


This year, we have moved to sending our Daily Announcements through Parent Square. Please click on the link below to sign up. If you're already registered with Parent Square, just sign in and got to Groups and add the Daily Announcements to your groups. If you are not yet registered, you will need to enter the email address that we have on file (the address where you are receiving this message).


Please click here to sign up to receive the Daily Announcements email!

LATE BUS

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The Late Bus will arrive at the Junior High at approximately 4:30pm each day (Monday through Friday), and then pick up students at the High School at approximately 4:40pm. The Late Bus will then depart the campus around 4:45pm and begin its route.  The Late Bus will not be in service on days when both the Junior High and High School have an early release schedule.

Absent, Tardy & Dismissals


Parent/Guardians: Please email the Main Office with all planned absences. You will receive a confirmation email.


rjgrey_main_office@abschools.org


(Please include your student's full name/grade and DATES of absence)


Main Office: 978-264-3350

Before 8am, ext. 3333

After 8am, ext. 3304


Please note: ALL dismissals are due by 8:00am RJ Grey website

The Weekly Chatter is distributed each Sunday. If you have a submission you'd like to include in the Chatter, please email it to chatter@abrptso.org by noon on Friday. The Chatter was created solely for the purpose of communicating school-related events, groups and forums to parents and students.
Acton-Boxborough Regional PTSO | chatter@abrptso.org | Website