ABRPTSO

Weekly Chatter

RJ Grey Junior High School

December 7, 2025

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

Table of Contents



  • Calendar of Events
  • PTSO Update
  • Coat Drive
  • Cooking Club
  • Applying to Private School?
  • AB Forward updates
  • Project Graduation
  • Clubs and Activities
  • Community Education Classes
  • Yearbook for sale
  • Danny's Place Winter Programs
  • Work Permits
  • Process for Daily Announcement Sign Ups!
  • Late Bus
  • Absent, Tardy & Dismissals
  • AB Resource Center and Exchange

Calendar of Events

Monday, December 15th - Early Release - RJG release at 1 pm.

Tuesday, December 23rd - Half-day - RJG release at 11:10 a.m.

Wednesday, December 24th - January 2nd - No school for winter break

Monday, January 5th - Welcome back to school!

Winter Staff Appreciation Luncheon - Donations Needed!


It may feel like the new school year has just begun, but believe it or not, we're almost halfway through! As always, our dedicated teachers and staff have hit the ground running, providing the energy, support, and care our kids need to thrive. The work they do is invaluable, and as a token of our appreciation, the PTSO is planning our Annual Mid-Year Special Staff Appreciation Luncheon as a gesture of thanks for their dedication as we close out 2025. The PTSO is providing them a delicious lunch from local favorite Oscar's Burritos.


We’re inviting parents who would like to contribute to make a donation to fund the event. If you’d like to support, please submit your donations by Monday, December 22nd, 2025. 


Donations can be made through the following links:


Venmo: @ABRPTSO (Please mention "ABRJH" for RJ Grey in the Venmo payment description)


Jr High Paypal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=JN2R2SVRTMSD4


If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help, please contact Nikita Pendharkar at jhhositality@abrptso.org


Thank you so much for your continued support! Let's show our teachers and staff how much they mean to us!!


COAT DRIVE

Beginning Monday, December 2, the student council will collect coats to donate to the AB Resource Center. Please bring gently used coats to drop off in the container in the lobby. 


The coat drive will end on Friday, December 12

Cooking Club

Do you like to cook, or do you want to learn how to cook? Then this is the Club for you!

Come and join the RJ Grey Cooking Club.


This club will meet in the cafeteria’s kitchen after school. We are offering two different sessions. Each session will meet 4 afternoons and will begin in January. One session will meet on Wednesdays, and the other on Thursdays.


Each session is limited to 12 students. You must commit to attending all 4 afternoons.


There is no additional fee for the club beyond the $50 Activities Fee for any club membership!


Sign-up forms can be picked up at the front office, and completed forms need to be returned to the front office by Friday, December 12th.

Applying to private school?

Applying to private school for the next school year? 


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. 

AB Forward Updates


The Steering Committee made its recommendations to the School Committee on December 4th. Over the next month the School Committee will discuss and hold a public hearing. Stay informed and follow the progress, please visit the School Committee page https://abschools.diligent.community/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx or the dedicated AB Forward page: https://www.abschools.org/read-the-plan

Project Graduation: Who Doesn't Love a Tax Deduction 


As the calendar year winds down, it is a good time to make a donation to Project Graduation to help us host the biggest, best, substance-free graduation party! Here are two easy ways to do it: 

Thank you for your consideration! We live in interesting times indeed, but our commitment to the kids will never waiver. 


Warmly, 

The AB Project Graduation 2026 Team

abprojectgraduation@gmail.com

https://www.abprojectgrad.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.

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 

• Order by December 23 to receive your yearbook for $37 


To Order & Pay Online: 

• Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com  

• Enter school code 13545



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

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 Counseling Office 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