The Rock Creek Parent Reader

Dear Rock Creek Families,

Happy New Year from Rock Creek! We hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season filled with rest, joy, and special moments together. As we return from break, we are excited to jump right back into the swing of school routines and set a positive tone for the months ahead.

We are so grateful for our caring students, supportive families, and dedicated staff who continue to make Rock Creek such a special place. Your partnership and involvement truly make a difference in our school community.

As winter weather continues, please be sure students are dressed appropriately for the cold. Coats, hats, gloves, and warm layers are important for keeping students safe and comfortable during recess and arrival/dismissal times. If your family needs assistance with winter clothing, please reach out. We are happy to help ensure every student has what they need.

We also encourage families to take a moment to check our Lost & Found. It is overflowing with jackets, sweatshirts, lunch boxes, and other items. Any unclaimed items left by the end of this week (Jan. 6-9) will be donated, so please stop by and take a look.

As always, thank you for your continued support and for working alongside us to help students succeed. We look forward to a great start to the new year and all that January has in store at Rock Creek!

Sincerely,

Principal Lisa Gebbie

Tuesday, Jan. 6th- School Resumes

Friday, Jan. 9th- Spirit Day 💚💙

Friday, Jan. 16th- Kindergarten's Hot Cocoa with Parents at 2:15-2:45 PM

Monday, Jan. 26th- Vertical Teaming

Feb. 2nd-6th- National School Counseling Week. A Huge THANK YOU to RC's very own school counselor, Mrs. Alexander!

Wednesday, Feb. 4th- World Read Aloud Day

Friday, Feb. 13th- Celebrate Valentine's Day (the office will not accept balloons and/or flowers to be delivered to classrooms)

Sunday, Feb. 15th- National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day

Monday, Feb. 16th- Presidents' Day (NO SCHOOL)

Tuesday, Feb. 17th- Teacher In-Service Day (NO SCHOOL)

Monday, Feb. 23rd- Vertical Teaming

Sunday, March 8th- Daylight Saving Time Begins

New Year, Fresh Routines: Learning at Home in January

As we begin the new year, reestablishing routines at home helps support learning and success at school. January is a great time for low-pressure practice that builds skills while strengthening family connections. Below are easy ways to support your child at home this month.

New Year Goal Chats: Help your child set 1–2 small, achievable goals (reading minutes, kindness goals, math facts) and check in weekly.
Routine Reset Reading: Establish a consistent after-school reading time to ease back into school routines.
Snowy (or Chilly) Math: Measure snowfall, track daily temperatures, or graph the weather for the week.
Winter Word Work: Create a “January Word Wall” at home with new vocabulary your child hears or reads.
Real-Life Writing: Have your child write lists, thank-you notes, or short reflections about their winter break.
Kitchen Math & Science: Follow a recipe together by measuring ingredients, predicting outcomes, and discussing changes.
Board Game Strategy: Play games that require turn-taking, planning, and math skills like Yahtzee, Connect Four, or card games.
Read & Reflect: After reading, ask simple questions: What was your favorite part? Why? What would you change?
Acts of Kindness Challenge: Create a weekly kindness goal and reflect on how it made others feel.
Indoor Observation Fun: Watch birds, clouds, or changing daylight and discuss patterns and seasons.

Healthy Habits & Helpful Reminders

With illness on the rise, we kindly remind students to practice healthy habits such as frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes. These simple steps go a long way in keeping our entire school community healthy.

Parents are encouraged to send a doctor’s note whenever their child is seen by a medical provider. Absences with a doctor’s note are excused and do not impact a student’s attendance record. If your child is not seen by a doctor, please contact your child’s teacher to verify the absence. Please note that verified absences still count toward a student’s total number of absences.

School Hours

Mondays (early release every Monday): 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Breakfast opens at 7:35 AM daily, and playground supervision also begins at 7:35 AM.
Safety First: For your child’s safety, please don’t drop off before 7:35 AM, and be sure to pick up students promptly at dismissal time.

Communication About Snow Days

How to find out if we have a weather-related delay/closing:

Check our Rock Creek website or the TFSD website
You will receive information from the school messaging system in the form of emails, texts and phone calls.
Please make sure your information is correct. If you are not receiving information, reach out to the school office.

We 💙 Volunteers!

We love and value our parent volunteers! Your support plays an important role in making Rock Creek a welcoming and successful place for students. At this time, parent volunteers are welcome in the building and on school property, but please remember to bring your ID and check in at the front office upon arrival. You are also required to wear visitors badge at all times. Thanks for helping us keep our students and staff members safe.

All parents who wish to volunteer, assist with Vertical Teaming, or chaperone field trips must complete a background check at least two weeks before the event.

Click the link below to get started: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjYyOmVuLVVT
Click HERE to Sign Up to be a lap counter for The Morning Mile!

We appreciate your time and partnership!

Volunteer Opportunity: Vertical Teaming Explained

Lunch is not free for all students at Rock Creek. The 2025–2026 Free and Reduced Meal Applications are now available and must be completed each year, even if you qualified last year. Submit your application promptly, as assistance only applies after approval.

Free & Reduced:

Apply online: Free & Reduced Application
Print an application: English | Spanish | Other Languages

Meal Prices at Regular Rate:

Breakfast: $1.65
Lunch: $3.00
Extra Milk: $0.75

Need Help? Contact Jennifer Hutton at 208-733-0134 or huttonje@tfsd.org for questions, assistance with the application, or your child’s student ID.

Pay online: https://www.tfsd.org/departments/federal-programs/food/

School Lunch & Breakfast Menus

Know an outstanding Rock Creek teacher who consistently goes above and beyond for students? Here’s your chance to give them the recognition they deserve! Nominations celebrate dedication, commitment, and the excellence that makes our school such a special place to learn.

🎉 Congratulations to Mr. Andrew Stark and Mrs. Megan O’Connor, our Teachers of the Month for November and December! Thank you for the incredible impact you make on our students and school community every day.

Already nominated a teacher who didn’t win the first time? No problem! Nominations can be submitted as often as you’d like. Let’s keep shining a spotlight on the amazing work happening every day at Rock Creek!

👉 Click HERE to nominate your favorite teacher!

Big News, Rock Creek Families!

This year marks a first in Rock Creek history! We’re creating our very first RC Yearbook. Capture the memories, smiles, and special moments from this unforgettable school year. Families can pre-order now to guarantee a copy for their student. Don’t miss out on this keepsake! CLICK HERE

With close to 600 students, it takes all of us working together to keep our school safe. Thank you to the many families who consistently follow our drop-off and pick-up procedures and help us maintain a safe, smooth, and respectful environment.

Important Reminder: Safety and Courtesy During Drop-Off and Pick-Up

We’ve recently seen an increase in traffic violations, unsafe behaviors, and even instances of unkind or rude conduct from adults during drop-off and pick-up. Please remember, we are all role models for our students, and they learn from the way we handle busy and stressful moments. Let’s work together to demonstrate patience, kindness, and respect.

To ensure everyone’s safety and keep traffic flowing smoothly, please follow these procedures:

Pull forward as far as possible in the drop-off/pick-up lane. If a staff member signals you to move forward, please follow their direction.
Always use the crosswalk for your safety and to model safe behavior for students.
Do not let students exit from the left lane—this is unsafe.
The side parking lot and bus lane are for buses only. Do not use this area for drop-off or pick-up.
Be respectful and courteous to others during busy times. Our children are watching!
Only park in handicap spaces if you have a valid permit. These spaces are reserved for those who truly need them.
Never leave your vehicle unattended in the drop-off lane.
Parents must remain outside the gate. You’re welcome to wait behind the fence and observe, but please do not enter the playground.
If someone else is dropping off or picking up your child, please share these procedures with them.

Thank you for helping us keep our school safe, positive, and welcoming for everyone. If you have any questions, please reach out to the school administration.

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Procedures