Message from Your PTA Board

• Join the PTA or contribute to our No Frills Fundraiser to help us meet our goals for fun, educational, community-building events. As little as $10 per student will allow us to fulfill all our planned activities.

• The staff appreciation on Friday, February 14th was a great success! Thank you to all the parents who donated delicious snacks and treats for the staff as well as volunteered their time to set up the buffet. Please consider helping us with our bus driver recognition day, this coming Friday.
• Friday, February 21st- please help us recognize and thank our RCMS bus driver fleet! We’re making gift bags for our wonderful drivers. We’re in need of donations and volunteers to fill the bags. Sign up here. Please note on the SUG- that we are asking for 40 pieces of each item- so if you are buying a box of 10 please sign up for 10 slots! Think about asking your child to write a thank you card or give your driver a small token of appreciation! 

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Questions? Please contact us at rcmspta@gmail.com

Public Speaking Workshop

“Reach your Highest Speak!”: A Super Fun & High-Energy Public Speaking Workshop for Middle Schoolers!

Thursday March 6th, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, RCMS library, Registration required

Middle school is a time when students become more self-conscious about how they present themselves—whether in class, with friends, or even online. That’s why public speaking skills are more important than ever! But don’t worry—this isn’t just another class. This is a high-energy, interactive, and seriously fun workshop designed to help students speak with confidence and feel good doing it!

In this FREE Workshop for students, led by **Sumedha Bahri—Master Public Speaking Coach, Founder of “Highest Speak”, Patent Attorney, and stand-up comic—**this workshop will give students a crash course on building confidence, speaking effectively, and managing anxiety in both academic and social settings.

What We’ll Cover (in the most fun way possible!):

Why public speaking and communication skills are game changers in school, friendships, and future careers. How to use your voice and presence to your advantage! Strategies to tackle speaking anxiety and feel more at ease. The best ways to practice and improve speaking skills (without it feeling like work!). A simple way to structure your thoughts—so you always know what to say. Easy tips & tricks for speaking up in class, group discussions, and beyond!

Expect games, challenges, and lots of laughs—this isn’t just about learning, it’s about having a blast while getting better at something truly important!

This will be an engaging, empowering, and unforgettable experience for middle schoolers—and even parents if they’d like to join the fun!

Please complete the registration form here.

Panther Prowl: 4/25 Save the Date!

To fund its many efforts, the PTA will be hosting a PANTHER PROWL 5K RUN/WALK on Friday, April 25th after school from 2:30pm - 4:30pm. This year the Panther Prowl will be held after school. The school will provide late buses for students. We’re hoping this will give more students the opportunity to participate.

There are lots of ways to get involved with this fun RCMS event!!

Students - Look for the T-Shirt Design Contest details coming soon  - To show our school spirit we are calling all Panthers to show your creativity by designing a T-shirt for the race! 

Sponsors Needed - Do you have a business that would like to sponsor the Panther Prowl and/or donate raffle prizes for the raffle? Please contact Robyn Bywater robynbywater@gmail.com by March 11th for more information.

Parents - We would love your help with the Panther Prowl, it’s such a fun way to get involved and help support our students and staff!! No major commitment required! 

Contact Jen Connor Naylor rachelcarsonfundraising@gmail.com to hear more.

Parent Teen Book Club

Are you looking for a way to connect with your teen? Would you like to get involved in the Carson community? Do you love to read? If you answered “YES” to any of the questions, please consider signing up to participate in Carson’s spring Parent Teen Book Club which includes a visit with author Jennifer Nielsen!

The Carson Library is thrilled to partner with the Carson PTA to announce our second Parent Teen Book Club on April 8, 2025 from 7-8:30pm, and we would love to see you there! After choosing one of the six book options, you and your child will be loaned a copy of the book to read. Then, on April 8, we will come together to talk about the book selection and have some light refreshments. 

This spring, the theme is Jennifer Nielsen, since all the books are written by this loved middle grade author. Ready for the best news? Ms. Nielsen will be at school April 8 speaking to all the Carson students, and she will attend the Parent Teen Book Club that evening!  CLICK HERE to learn more and to read about the book choices. Carson PTA members got early access to registration, and there are still a number of spots available. Sign-up now to ensure a spot with the best book for you and your child. Ready to sign up for a fun evening of literary conversations with your middle schooler, fill out the sign up form HERE!

Please reach out to librarians, Ellen Bickford (elbickford@fcps.edu) or Elizabeth Donovan (emdonovan1@fcps.edu) with any questions. 

No Frills Fundraiser

Thanks to all of our generous donors,

We have reached 23% of our goal for the school year! 

Please consider helping the PTA fund these great events. You can make a difference for our kids and their middle school experience—give today!

This year, rather than asking students to sell items (like cookie dough or wrapping paper) we are hoping you will participate in our no frills fundraiser! Please take time to read about what we have planned this year and consider making a donation to help make these plans a reality. Each donation we receive will ensure that the following programs can happen this school year.   

We’re gearing up fora  great public speaking workshop on March 6th. Your support of the PTA allows us to solicit great opportunities like this one for the Carson community. Come check it out and support the PTA today!

Any amount you can give will help us towards our goal of fully funding all of our PTA events that will enrich our children’s learning! 

Donate here or text '25PTA' to (919) 626-3277 to be redirected to our fundraising page. We are deeply grateful for all the donations and support we have gotten so far this year.

Attention Seventh Grade Parents!

Please consider joining us at our PTA meeting next week, Thursday, February 13th at 6 pm.

We’re looking to engage parents like you and asking you to take on a volunteer role in the PTA. Many in PTA leadership are 8th grade parents and we’d like to leave our legacy strong with a group of dedicated leaders. Good news: it’s only an 18 month commitment, and we have a strong framework to hand off and make sure that your child’s time at Carson is as positive and enriching as it can be. We are ready to mentor folks in all areas of leadership, YOU have something to offer and we’d love to have your input. Please reach out to rcmspta@gmail.com for more information. Many hands make light work and with your help we will achieve great things for Carson.       

Spirit Wear Available for Purchase

This winter, keep warm and show your school spirit with one of our popular pull-over hoodies. All hoodies are available in Adult sizes only.

Order yours today on the RCMS PTA Store website: https://rcmspta.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true