Special 6th Grade Information

We make special efforts to support our 6th graders’ transition into middle school.

Special information for our 6th grade parents:
1. Students may rent lockers for $5. They will visit lockers at established times with teacher assistance. Hall lockers are not required.
2. Dressing out for P.E. is optional for 6 th grade students. They may rent a P.E. locker for $5 to secure items in the locker room.
3. 6th graders eat lunch at separate times from 7th and 8th graders. They sit with their 2nd period class at an
assigned table during lunch.
4. 6th graders wait for the morning bell in a separate location along the 100 and 500 building walkways.
5. Please make sure your 6th grader knows his/her address, parent phone number and student id number.

We love our 6th grade Hawks!

Bike Rider and Walker Safety
Safety reminders: you must have a lock and wear a bike helmet. There are designated bike parking areas on either side of the school. We recommend that students make at least one “practice run” for walking/riding bikes to school prior to August 10th.

The Sheriff’s Office posts Crossing Guards in front of RMS at both intersections. Please remind your children to be respectful and follow their directions. Open House on August 5th is an ideal time to practice walking or riding a bike to school as a family.

Bike Rider and Walker Safety
Safety reminders: you must have a lock and wear a bike helmet. There are designated bike parking areas on either side of the school. We recommend that students make at least one “practice run” for walking/riding bikes to school prior to August 10th.

The Sheriff’s Office posts Crossing Guards in front of RMS at both intersections. Please remind your children to be respectful and follow their directions. Open House on August 5th is an ideal time to practice walking or riding a bike to school as a family.

Dos and Don’ts for Car Rider Drop Off/Pick Up in the front loop at Randall:

* All parents/guardians who are arriving early for regular pick up time of 4:30 must pull to the side on the grass on the front loop and allow virtual pick up.
* Do pull all the way up to the front of the loop for drop off and pick up. It allows us to move cars more quickly.
* Do drive courteously when merging in the front loop.
* Do NOT drop off your child in an area requiring them to cross traffic. The painted crosswalk is not for student drop off.
* Do NOT drop your child off and drive across the grass to avoid waiting in the car line.
* Do NOT park in our staff parking lot or bus ramp area for drop off or pick up.
* Do NOT drop off students prior to 9:15 a.m.

The best tip for drop off in the morning is to allow plenty of time for traffic. The line will become more congested at 9:20 a.m.

Randall offers HOST supervision before and after school for students who need supervision prior to 9:10 a.m. or after school. (HOST drop off and pick up is the bus ramp.)

PLEASE make sure to communicate between family members and your child regarding their form of transportation each day.

Discuss your rainy day pick up plan with your child. Some parents are comfortable with their children walking or bike riding in the rain. We will not release when lightning is on the weather radar in our immediate area.

Bus Rider Instructions

The bus ramp is located on the side by Newsome High School. Buses park in designated spots for pick up. If a substitute bus is used, we inform students by announcement. If a bus is late, we supervise students on the ramp until all have been picked up.

When students arrive in the morning on the bus, they will go directly into the cafeteria for free breakfast. Students go directly to their grade level’s designated area after breakfast or when they arrive.

We are always available to help students locate their buses.

Bus safety is extremely important. If your child misbehaves on the bus, you will be contacted. They will jeopardize their bus privileges if they continue to act inappropriately on the bus.

The school district will notify students of their bus assignment and stop the week that school begins. We do not receive this information in advance.

Also, students MUST always ride their assigned bus.

Support for Military Families
At Randall, we realize there are many special needs that families face when a parent(s) serves in the military.  If you have concerns regarding your child’s adjustment to these challenges, please contact your child’s  School Counselor. Also, Randall Middle School is privileged to have Kaila McCarthy, Military & Family Life Counselor, with us Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, to help with the specific needs of military families.  Tuesdays and Thursdays, she serves the families of Barrington Middle School.  These services are free; there is no written record; and a parental consent form is required for military students to receive services.

• View and download informational brochure
• View and download parent consent form
• Questions?  Call 813-392-8737.

STEM Club
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

STEM Club is an organization of exciting activities at Randall that offer students in grades 6 through 8 the opportunity to accelerate their learning with exposure to science, technology and math through hands-on activities that challenge students to work to their highest potential. Activities include drones, Legos,  Robotics, Coding and other activities. There will be a STEM parent meeting coming soon. Watch for STEM information in parent emails.

For more information contact STEM Team Leader, Mrs. Stevie Hodgkins at stevie.hodgkins@hcps.net.

*NEW* School Arrival and Release Times
• School begins at 9:35 a.m. every day. Students may enter the campus at 9:15 a.m. There is no student supervision prior to 9:15 a.m. (With the exception of Host) The front office opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 4:45 p.m.
• School release is 4:30 p.m.
• Most Mondays are Early Release with student release at 3:30 p.m. (Check school calendar)
• It is very important that students are present and arrive on time each day.
• In event of bad weather, we hold the attendance bell to allow students to safely arrive on campus and get to their first period class.
• Families should discuss rainy day plans for bike riders and walkers.
• Bike riders or walkers must be signed out by a parent in the front office if they are checking out early. They must be accompanied off campus by their parent or guardian.

To call Randall Middle School, start with 813-740-3900, and use this helpful Randall Resource List to know the proper extensions:

Principal Ms. Claire Mawhinney, Ext. 222

Principal’s Administrative Secretary Ms. Tammie Ferger, Ext. 261
Assistant Principals

Assistant Principal Ms. Rebecca Smith, Ext. 238 6th Grade (all) and 7th Grade (Last name A-L)
Assistant Principal Mr. Colin Gerding, Ext. 226 7th Grade (Last name M-Z) and 8th Grade (all)

School Resource Officer HCSO Resource Deputy, Ext. 237

Office Clerical Staff
Ms. Kelly Portugue, Ext. 225
Ms. Frances Talkington, Ext. 225
Ms. Maritza Torres-Bonilla, Ext. 224 (Attendance)
Data Processor/Registrar
Ms. Beth Grossman, Ext. 228

School Counselors
Ms. Aaliyah Williams, Ext. 231, 6th Grade
Ms. Teresa Golston, Ext. 255, 7th Grade
Mr. Joseph Sandfrey, Ext. 233, 8th Grade
ESE Team Leader TBA, Ext. 242

School Nurses
Nurse Sara Huffman
Ext. 232 or 253

Social Worker
Ms. Karlisia Hinton, Ext. 234

Media Specialist
Ms. Cynde Hardy, Ext. 240

Technology Resource
Mr. Chris Negron, Ext. 243

Cafeteria Manager
Mr. Patrick Asher, Ext. 252

Head of Maintenance Crew
Mrs. Carolina Tumbajoy-Yepez

Students in all grades 6-8 may rent a hall locker this year for $5. Students will receive assistance with locks the first days of school. Lockers will begin being issued in homeroom on Monday, August 15th. It is not required to rent a locker. Students may also rent P.E. lockers. It is super important that students keep their lockers locked to prevent theft.