ERIC S. SMITH MIDDLE SCHOOL

RamFam! We are wearing red, white, and blue tomorrow to honor those who served our country.

What happens when you’re stranded on a deserted island with no rules or government? Our 7th grade civics students found out through a hands-on simulation! While some islands experienced a little Lord of the Flies-style chaos, others found ways to work together (with no cannibalism!) . Every group explored important questions about fairness, safety, freedom, and power, and discovered why a government shaped by shared values matters!

Congrats to Nour and Quinn! They were named November Students of the Month. These students were 'Caught Being Good' and went above and beyond in caring for their classmates, being helpful, being a leader, being a good friend, or being a hard worker. A special thank you to our Smith PTO, who provided the $10 Amazon gift cards each student received for this recognition. Keep up the great work!

Happy Monday, RamFam! We might be coming off of a four-day weekend dragging our feet to our first class this morning, but there is sill so much of November to experience! Check out all the amazing clubs that Smith School offers. Take notice of the specific dates and locations for each! As always, reach out to the club advisor if you have any questions!

Community service members recently painted pumpkins for seniors residing at the Woodlands at Ramsey. These decorations help brighten common areas and brought some fall cheer to the residents. There is still time to join the Smith Community Service Club! See Ms. Sausville for more information.

Tomorrow has been declared School Spirit Day! Please come to Smith wearing your blue and gold team colors! Remember, students will be called down at random during RAM, where extra points and a prize will be rewarded to those students who are wearing our spirit colors!

The Smith School Spanish teachers are celebrating Día de los Muertos today! 💀🌼🫔

Attention Smith students! The volleyball club kicks off their first session tomorrow after school! Open to boys and girls in grades 6-8, we can't wait to see you there! Please see Ms. Occhiuto if you have any questions.

Smith students and staff had a spooktacular morning! Our Halloween parade kicked off our weekend! Enjoy your weekend, RamFam and eat lots of candy!

Smith students rock! A big shout-out to Zach G. and Logan M. for placing in 1st and 2nd in the Lions Club Peace Poster Contest. Next up: Zach's poster will represent Smith School in the next round of judging. Good luck, Zach!

Each year, top music students from across Bergen County audition to earn spots in Bergen County Band & Chorus. Two Smith chorus students (Vita and Mackenzie) won their auditions and were accepted into the 2026 Bergen County Chorus! Smith School band students placed second overall in the county. There were 11 band students who won their auditions and were accepted in the 2026 Bergen County Band. The students will be rehearsing together throughout the month and performing in concert on Nov. 22 in Tenafly, NJ.

Congratulations to:
Vita P. – alto (chorus)
Mackenzie A. – alto (chorus)
Allison P. – second chair flute
Kayla W. – clarinet (second year in County Band)
Olivia Y. – clarinet
Poyraz K. – first chair bass clarinet (second year as first chair)
Nathaniel C. – first chair baritone sax
Jesse S. – horn
Carter M. – second chair trumpet
Adelina N. – trumpet
William S. – trumpet
Graeme S. – trumpet
Adam S. – percussion

Mrs. Murphy and Ms. Mahoney's ELA class took workshop to the carpet where they began to analyze characters from their book club novel, Ghost.

Save the Date! Do you love playing volleyball and are looking for a place to play after school? Please join us for our Nov. 2 Volleyball Club Interest Meeting with Ms. Occhiuto. Boys and girls in grades 6-8 are encouraged to attend.

Thank you to the Smith staff who wore pink today. Your donations will be put towards our school's Relay for Life team, Smith Walking Warriors.

Smith students have poured their hearts into the production of Puffs! They can’t wait for the house lights to dim, the curtains to draw, and the magic to begin. Please enjoy a sneak peek of tonight's 7 p.m. performance. Stay tuned for Sunday morning's InstaRam newsletter for more incredible pictures from the weekend! 🎭

Eighth grade families... let's talk athletics. 🐏

For years, conventional wisdom suggested that private programs had a monopoly on championship culture, collegiate pipelines, and elite development.

Ramsey High School begs to differ.

From state titles and conference dominance to student-athletes routinely competing at the highest collegiate levels, Ramsey continues to prove that exceptional athletic achievement, player development, and community pride don't require a tuition check.

The bar has been raised.

🐏 Blue and Gold standard.

Join us for The Power of Positive Sports Parenting!

The Ramsey High School Athletic Association (RHSAA) and the Ramsey Public Education Foundation (RPEF) along with Ramsey High School are proud announce they will host a Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) workshop this November.

🚨 All parents (not only coaches) in the District are encouraged to attend.

📍 Ramsey High School / Auditorium
🗓 Monday, November 2
⏰ 7:30 PM (🚨 Time change!)

What you’ll learn: The Power of Positive Sports Parenting offers practical strategies to help parents/caregivers contribute to a positive and welcoming sports experience for everyone involved. Parents who attend this workshop will be given tools to:

• Align their goals with those of their athletes
• Support their athlete’s mental wellness through empathy
• Model and reinforce a positive sports culture
• Build an effective coach-parent partnership
• Foster a sense of belonging amongst the team community

Why it matters: Sports are a powerful venue for building character, confidence, and community. Learn how we can all work together to keep competition healthy, supportive, and fun for our student-athletes.

Let's cheer on our Smith Volleyball Team as they take on Park Ridge today after school in their final season match! Good luck, Lady Rams!