RBHS Summer BRIDGE Communication
Rock Bridge High School Newsletter: July 2025
Dear Rock Bridge Families,
We are busy preparing for the 2025-26 school year and look forward to seeing you all soon! Please read the information in this BRIDGE Communication carefully as it includes lots of back to school information. Rock Bridge Families will not be receiving a physical mailer this summer. All of the necessary information for the start of our 2025-26 school year can be found right here.
Below you will find information about the following:
- Registration, Enrollment, and Bus Opt-in Information
- RBHS Counseling Welcome Newsletter
- RBHS General Information
- District High School Cell Phone Policy and Senate Bill 68
- Student and Visitor Entrance Procedures
- Student Supplies for Day 1
- RBHS Bell Schedule
- Bruin Connections Night
- Back to School Night - Save the Date
- Jump Start Day for Class of 2029
- School Pictures
- Homecoming and Court Warming - Save the Dates
- How To Drop Off and Pick Up Students at RBHS
- Student and Visitor Parking and Entrance Procedures
- Purchase a 2026 Parking Pass
- CPS Breakfast and Lunch Program Information and Forms
- Information from the RBHS Nurse's Office
- RBHS Student Activity Pass
- 2025-2026 RBHS Yearbook
- Information from the Nurse's Office
- 2026 RBHS PTSA Membership and Volunteer Form
- RBHS Booster Club
- CPS 2025 - 2026 School Year Calendar
- CPS 2025 - 2026 AB Calendar
- Some RBHS Social Media Accounts
- August RBHS Events Schedule
Wishing you all a wonderful finish to your summer!
Sincerely,
Jacob Sirna
On Tuesday, July 1st, you received email communication from Columbia Public Schools Communication Office regarding Back-To-School Registration & User ID and Password Information. Here are the directions for completing the required annual registration along with your Guardian ID. Below is the attachment that includes those instructions. Students who need transportation to and from school will need to Opt-in for that transportation by Friday, August 1st. A bus route for those eligible for bus transportation WILL NOT be secured for the first day of school unless the Enrollment & Registration process (including transportation Opt-in) is completed by Friday, August 1st. If you need additional support with transportation Opt-in, please do not hesitate to call Rock Bridge High School at 573-214-3100 where staff will be available to assist you.
We will offer Enrollment & Registration assistance during Bruin Connections on Tuesday, August 12th from 4:30-6:00 pm at RBHS. See below for more information about our Bruin Connections event. Please note, this August 12th date will be after transportation OPT IN, and families completing Enrollment & Registration at this event WILL NOT have secured transportation for their student on the first day of school. Students will not be given their schedule until their Annual Registration is complete. If you are needing additional assistance with registration and enrollment, please call Jennifer DiStefano (registrar) at 573-214-3112, or email her at JDistefano@cpsk12.org.
Dear Rock Bridge Family,
We are gearing up for the start of a new school year, and the Counseling Team is excited to have you all back soon :) We have two new counselors joining our team this year! Ms. Amy Lamm will be working as a School Counselor with students with last names beginning with L, M, P, and Q, and Ms. Sydney Ludwig will be serving as our Outreach Counselor.
We have some important reminders to share with you before we start the 25-26 school year, so please check out the Counseling Newsletter linked below to learn more about:
- Meet Your Counselor
- When you can see your schedule
- Schedule correction information
- COUNSELING NEWSLETTER
Rachel Reed, M.Ed
Director of School Counseling
AVID Counselor
Rock Bridge High School
573-214-3113
Click here for frequently requested general information. This includes phone numbers, email addresses, counselor and administrator alphabetic breakdowns, our bell schedule, and grade reporting dates.
On August 19, 2025 in accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 68, CPS will not allow the use of Personal Electronic Devices, such as cell phones, at any school at any time during the instructional day.
What will that mean?
All changes are consistent with Senate Bill 68 .
The act defines an "electronic personal communications device" as a portable device that is used to initiate, receive, store, or view communication, information, images, or data electronically.
From the beginning of the day to the end of the day, phone and personal electronic devices must be on silent and put away from the beginning until the end of the school day, including, but not limited to, during instructional time, meal times, breaks, time between classes and study halls.
Exceptions are allowed during emergency situations or when authorized under federal law for health or special education purposes.
How does this differ from 2024-25 procedure?
Missouri Senate Bill 68 includes K-5 students who were not included in previous district procedure.
This year students are not allowed to use personal electronic devices during any part of the day. This is a change from last year when secondary students in some schools were allowed to use personal electronic devices during non-instructional time, such as passing time and during lunch.
We wanted to share this information before the start of the 2025-26 school year so that students, families, and staff are aware of the updates of our Personal Electronic Device procedures.
We also invite our CPS families to join us in our efforts to minimize the use of Personal Electronic Devices by supporting our teachers and having conversations about this with their students at home. Our top priority has always been providing impactful learning opportunities for our students. In CPS, we believe part of that process includes more consistent and strict monitoring of cell phone and mobile device use.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your building principal. Questions may also be shared by calling the Executive Director of Elementary Education, Dr. Ryan Day, or the Executive Director of Secondary Education, Mr. Josh Johnson, or at the CPS District Office: 573-214-3400.
The safety of our students, staff, and visitors is our top priority. Last year, the Columbia Board of Education approved the purchase of a weapons detection system, and we are utilizing this system again for the 2025-2026 school year. This non-invasive system is designed to detect weapons either on a person or inside their bag or backpack without slowing the normal flow of foot traffic into our buildings. The weapons detection systems will be inside the east main entrance and the north entrance every day. Therefore, all RBHS students must enter through the east main entrance, located at the east circle drive OR the north, student-only entrance. Visitors must come in through the east entrance only. Students and visitors are still not able to enter through the South Doors (by the stadium) during school hours. All students entering Rock Bridge High School will pass through the weapon detection system at the start of each school day. It will be monitored by administrators and our safety and security team who will help ensure the process moves smoothly and creates minimal disruptions.
- Common items that set off the weapons detection systems include binders, umbrellas, laptops, and advanced calculators. Our security team will work with your student when false alarms occur to help them be better prepared for next time.
- When exiting the building, all students will be asked to exit through the east or north doors. Once school is dismissed students are able to exit through any entrance/exit door.
- The security system at the main entrance is open at 6:15 AM. The north entrance opens at 8:00 AM.
Additionally, we will continue using the “Raptor” visitor check in system. All visitors to our school will have to scan their driver’s license at the east, main entrance and pass through a weapons detection system. If you are only dropping something off for your student then leaving, you won’t need to go through this process. Instead, you’ll leave the items you’re dropping off for your student at the east desk along with your student’s name.
As a reminder, weapons are not permitted on any Columbia Public School campus. Any student who violates that will be subject to discipline according to District Policy up to and including suspension from school. We appreciate the combined efforts of the Board of Education, district safety and security staff, school administrators, staff and our community for working to make this system possible. It is one more layer of protection that will keep our students, staff, and visitors safe while on our campus.
Please reach out and let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or specific scenarios you’d like us to problem solve together.
Rock Bridge High School does not have a student supply list. All students should bring a pencil/pen along with a notebook so they can record important information for the first days of school. Students will learn what supplies each class requires directly from their teachers. All students will be issued a school laptop during the first day of school.
Tuesday, AUGUST 12th 4:30pm to 6:00pm
All Bruins and their families are invited to attend this annual event to kick off the 2025-26 school year.
Families will be able to:
Receive general information presentation and a chance to walk our building.
Important information for families about Rock Bridge High will be placed throughout the school.
Families will have the opportunity to meet and greet the Rock Bridge administration team and other key representatives of the RBHS community.
Receive technical support if they are unable to complete the online registration and bus opt-in process at home.
CPS staff members and computers will be available to assist families in this process.
Receive assistance with “Opting In” for bus transportation.
Purchase RBHS Spirit wear from our Booster Club
Visit the RBHS Media Center to learn more about laptop distribution and print and digital resources available for students.
Speak directly to representatives from Food Services, School Nurses, etc.
Attendees to this event should plan to enter RBHS through our south and main entrance. Most Bruin Connections resources will be in our Main Commons/Cafeteria area.
Monday AUGUST 18TH, 2025 8:55 to 1:30
RBHS 9th Graders, be sure you have this date on your calendar! You will have a chance to meet your teachers, counselors, administrators, walk your full schedule, check out your computer and be apart of the RBHS famous roller-coaster! This day is designed to allow you to learn about our building without upperclassmen present. THIS IS YOUR DAY, so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity!
School Picture Day August 27th, 2025
We will hold school photos on August 27th during the school day in the RBHS Auxiliary Gym from 9:00am-2:00pm. Wagner Photography will be our school picture vendor for the 2025-2026 school year. When we get closer to our photography date, we will send out a link to the web portal to order school photos. This year, we will not be sending home paper order forms for school photos. Please watch your email communications or the school website for this link once it becomes available.
Optional Senior Pictures July 23rd - 25th 2025
Incoming seniors can take optional senior pictures at RBHS on July 23rd, 24th, and 25th. Additional Information will come from Wagner Photography.
Getting onto and out of the Rock Bridge High School campus at the beginning or end of a school day can be a challenge and requires patience from all. Please read below and view the provided videos so you can assist in making this process as smooth as possible for all RBHS stakeholders.
Parent Drop-off
Morning drop off should occur at the East Circle Drive. This is the same location that bus drop off will be occurring. Parents dropping off their students should remain in the left lane of the circle drive. Busses will be asked to remain on the right at this time.
Parent Pick-up
Following the conclusion of the school day, parent pick up will occur at the South Parking Lot. It is common for there to be considerable congestion in all entries and exits at the end of our school day. Please consider picking up your child after our busses have exited the circle drive at 4:15. After 4:15 you can pick your child up at any location on the RBHS property.
Student & Visitor Parking/Entrance and Procedures
Almost all students who park at RBHS will park in our North Lot.
Because Columbia Area Career Center (CACC) construction is taking place this school year, the lot between our RBHS Baseball Field and CACC will be reserved exclusively for CACC Parking.
There will be approximately 50 student parking spaces in the South Parking Lot. Each is marked with a painted yellow Bruin head. These student spaces in the South Parking Lot will be available on a first come first serve basis each day. Students who park in the South Parking Lot will need to enter the school through the East Main Circle Drive Entrance.
Visitor Parking and Entrance
Visitors to Rock Bridge High School can park in the visitor parking spots near the circle drive or along the east side of our South Parking Lot. We recommend that visitors planning a short visit to our school refrain from parking in the circle drive between 3:30 and 4:15 as our circle drive will be prioritized for school busses at that time. Cars parked in the visitor spaces during this time will not be free to leave until the busses exit our campus. Visitors to RBHS during the day should plan to enter the building at the East Main Circle Drive Entrance.
RBHS Student Parking Pass for 2025-2026 cost $50.00. This pass allows RBHS students to park in the North lot and select spaces in the South lot that are designated with a Bruin Bear. The price of parking passes will be lowered to $25 at the start of January 2026.
Parking passes will be available for purchase to any student with a driver’s license and insurance. These documents will be collected by the activities office for review. Please print out the RBHS parking form that is available at the this link.
Directions for ONLINE Payments
The parking pass payment link will be available beginning July 28, 2025. From the RBHS website, scroll to the bottom of the page under “Helpful Information.” There is a tab labeled “Pay for parking Pass at RBHS.” This is a link that will direct you to SchoolPay to complete payment for the parking pass.
Remember, this link will not be active until August 4th. You will enter your parent portal login information to gain access to SchoolPay.
Checkmark the item(s) you want to pay for. Once you have selected the fee(s) you want to pay for, enter the student’s first name, last name, grade level, and ID number. Then select checkout.
On the following screen select Credit Card and enter your card and billing information. Click review order. On the final screen, hit submit and a receipt will be emailed to you.
PLEASE NOTE, the following transaction fees apply if using SchoolPay: $1.95 flat fee for transactions from $15 to $49.99. For transactions above $50 a 3.99% fee will apply.
RBHS Student Activity pass costs $50.00. A student activity pass allows RBHS student admittance into ALL HOME athletic games except for MSHSAA ticketed games and some fine art events. Activity passes will be printed on the student’s school IDs.
Directions for ONLINE Payments
Please note the Activity Pass link will be available beginning July 28, 2025. From the RBHS website, scroll to the bottom of the page under “Helpful Information.” There is a tab labeled “RBHS Activity Pass.” This is a link that will direct you to SchoolPay to complete payment for the activity pass .
Remember, this link will not be active until August 4th. You will enter your parent portal login information to gain access to SchoolPay. Checkmark the item(s) you want to pay for. Once you have selected the fee(s) you want to pay for, enter the student’s first name, last name, grade level, and ID number. Then select checkout. On the following screen select Credit Card and enter your card and billing information. Click review order. On the final screen, hit submit and a receipt will be emailed to you.
PLEASE NOTE the following transaction fees apply if using SchoolPay: $1.95 flat fee for transactions from $15 to $49.99. For transactions above $50 a 3.99% fee will apply.
The necessary documents for families regarding the purchase of breakfast and lunch for their CPS Students are located below.
Breakfast/Lunch Program Information and Meal Purchasing Procedures
2025-2026 Free and Reduced-Price School Meal Application & School Meals FAQ
