Rockbrook Reminder

Rockbrook's Weekly Updates | 03-08-2024

Next Community Club Meeting, Monday, March 11 at 6:00pm

The Community Club will meet next at the school on Monday, March 11 at 6 p.m. Kids are welcome. We’d love to see you there

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Parent-Teacher Communication

Be sure to sign up for Parent-Teacher Communication. Signups will lock Monday at midnight. After that time please call the office at 402-390-6475 if you would need to make any changes to your conference time.

Conferences are March 13th from 4pm-8pm and March 14th from 8am-4pm
There is no school for students on March 14th or March 15th

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Kindergarten - Carlson

Kindergarten - Miller

1st Grade - Kasik-Meng

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4th Grade - Davenport

4th Grade - Nordquist

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5th Grade - Greenwald

Arriving After 8:30? Please Walk Your Child In & Check In at Office

A reminder for families that all students arriving after our 8:30 bell are asked to be walked into the school and checked in. This is to ensure that all students make it into our school safely and ready to start their day.

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Parent-Teacher Communication Days are a great opportunity to look through the school's lost and found. You might find a long lost item you have been wondering about.

Check our list of items here.

Inclusion Week at Rockbrook

This week students put an extra focus on intentional inclusion. The beginning of March is the annual time for Spread the Word Inclusion, a time when students learn about and commit to ensuring all students at our school know that they belong and to be an advocate for peers. Students learned about intellectual and developmental disabilities and pledged to speak up against hurtful and derogatory language. The Rockbrook Unified Club produced videos to share with their peers to help show what inclusion means to them!

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Sign Your Kid Up for a 2 Week After School Class (4 Lessons)

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Eclipse Permission Form

All families should have received an email from the district to provide permission for students to view the eclipse in April. All students must have parent permission in order to view the eclipse. Please complete this as soon as possible so we can make sure all students whose families want them to are able to take part. Students whose families do not want them to view outside will be provided the opportunity to view a video feed.

Eclipse Permission Form

Dear Parents and Guardians, We are excited to inform you about an upcoming hands-on educational opportunity for our students - a solar...

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Physical Education Newsletter

Physical Education Newsletter - Home to Rockbrook & Prairie Lane P.E. information! by Alexander Steele | This newsletter was created with Smore, an online tool for creating beautiful newsletters for educators, nonprofits, businesses and more

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Excellence in Youth

Excellence in Youth - Westside Community Schools by Megan Thompson | This newsletter was created with Smore, an online tool for creating beautiful newsletters for educators, nonprofits, businesses and more

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Meet the Rockbrook Team

This year we're excited to feature a staff member in each of our newsletters, to help our families get to know our school team a little better!

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Meet the Rockbrook Team - Miss Klein - 3rd Grade Teacher

If I am not spending time with my family I am outside or reading a book!

My passion in teaching began at a young age and never wavered. I love building relationships and having a positive impact in the community.

Fun Fact: I play hockey

KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT FOR 2024-25

Kindergarten enrollment for District residents for the 2024-25 school year begins approximately late February 2024. Please check our website at westside66.org to start your enrollment online.

Children entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before July 31, 2024. Parents may wait to enroll their child(ren) in kindergarten for an additional year. However, Nebraska law requires that child(ren) who reach the age of six prior to Jan 1st of the then current school year must be enrolled in school.

For questions about enrollment, please contact the Westside Welcome Center at 402-390-2100 or enrollment@westside66.net

KINDERGARTEN OPTION ENROLLMENT

If you live outside of the Westside district and have a child eligible for kindergarten in 2024-25 who has

a sibling attending our schools through the Option Enrollment program, you must submit an option application for your kindergartener. The deadline to apply for Option Enrollment is 4:00 pm on

March 15th.

In addition to kindergarten, you can apply for any other grade level by the same deadline, 4:00 pm on March 15th.

Option Enrollment forms can be completed using this link:

https://forms.gle/FvsmAEBqRpcePEKg9

Questions about Option Enrollment, please contact Student Services at 402-390-2107.

IN-DISTRICT TRANSFERS FOR 2024-2025

Are you a District resident and would like your K-6 grade child(ren) to attend an elementary school in Westside other than the area where you live? The deadline to submit an In-District Transfer request for the upcoming school year is 4:00 pm on March 15th.

An In-District Transfer request form must also be completed for any child starting kindergarten next year who has a sibling attending an elementary school outside of their home attendance area.. The deadline to submit this request is also 4:00 pm on March 15th.

In district transfer forms can be completed using this link: https://forms.gle/EHgruZWb9MH1UBtH8

Questions about In-District Transfers, please contact Student Services at 402-390-2107.

EARLY ADMISSION FOR KINDERGARTEN

Children of District residents who wish to be tested for early entrance to kindergarten must turn 5 years old between August 1 and October 15, 2024.

For further information regarding early entrance testing, please contact Early Admissions at 402-390-2142.

Class Placement 2024-2025

We are fortunate at Rockbrook to have a high-quality, caring, and dedicated staff of educators who strive to meet the needs of every child. Our teams of teachers are insightful and qualified and put a great deal of care and effort to best fit each child’s educational needs with the right teacher.

During the last quarter of the year, our staff begins the challenging task of creating the class lists for the next school year. This task involves many people and a great deal of thought, as we do our best to:

Balance

When a classroom is balanced, the students are more successful, learning is easier, and the teacher is able to meet the needs of the learners in attendance. Teams of teachers go over criteria such as male/female ratio, academic needs and talents, and special programming to ensure classrooms have even and diverse representation.

Build Equity

We also work to see that all classrooms resemble each other in leadership abilities, social skills, peer relationships, individual learning styles and teaching styles, and classroom dynamics (behavior, social, emotional, and personality considerations among students).

Finding the Right Match

We recognize that parents are an important part of our team and a crucial advocate for their child’s success. With so many variables, granting every teacher request would not be possible and might not match with the careful planning teachers do in preparing suggested lists. In addition, children need to work in and with a variety of circumstances now and in the future, in terms of personnel, peers, and environment.

If there is a circumstance you feel we should consider, please do the following:

• Make a formal request in writing (by email to higginbotham.garret@westside66.net is acceptable) no later than March 15th, 2024

• Requests should reference your child’s learning style and type, not the specific teacher you wish them to have.

• If there has been a request made in a previous year that still applies, such as not placing your child with another particular student, please include this in writing to make sure we are aware of the necessary details again, for placement in the 2024-2025 school year.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. Class assignments will be mailed individually during the summer, prior to the start of school.

Rockbrook Year Long Calendar

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Social Skills & Expectations

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Classroom Expectations

(Ask your child what Safe, Respectful, & Responsible looks like in their classroom)

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Staying on Task

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Tonight is the Night!

… Parents’ Night Out! Join your fellow Rockbrook parents from 6-8:30 p.m. at Public House. It’s not too late to RSVP! Let us know you’re coming so we can order enough snacks.

TAGG Madness

Rockbrook Elementary is excited to compete in this year’s TAGG Madness initiative! Schools across the metro are going head-to-head weekly to raise funds through TAGG. When we raise more than our opposite school, we’ll advance on the bracket towards the championship, where BIG prizes are up for grabs! Plus if we raise $250 we will earn our own school-wide incentive!

This week, we are taking on Westridge Elementary - help us make the Sweet Sixteen by TAGGing at all your neighborhood haunts. Go Bulldogs!

Staff Appreciation

We are still looking for volunteers to help us show our teachers and staff appreciation this month. Sign up to provide treats, meals, or gift cards, or jump in to help with decorations during our Olympics-themed Staff Appreciation Week. Thank you for your support!

We Want Your Feedback

What do you want to see more of? What do you think should ride off into the sunset? The Community Club is in the throes of planning our 2024-2025 year and we want your help! Our survey takes about 5 minutes to complete and will help us plan the year around your preferences.

Community Club Meeting

The Community Club will meet next at the school on Monday, March 11 at 6 p.m. Kids are welcome. We’d love to see you there

JR WARRIORS SPRING CLINIC

We are looking to build up our Jr. Warriors Football Program. We will be hosting a FREE clinic on Saturday, March 16th, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL MAIN GYM.

Please Save the Playground for Recess and Outside of School

We've recently had problems with kids accessing the playgrounds during drop-off & dismissal. Between 8:05 and 3:45 we ask that students not use the playground areas. Recess and outside school hours are great times to come play!

As a parent of a Rockbrook student, drop off and pickup are important routines to know about. Below is a list of procedures for parking, drop off, and dismissal. Following these procedures helps to promote safety and efficiency at these busy times of day.

Breakfast Drop Off: 8:05 at the North (Main) Entrance

School Day Drop Off: Staff supervision begins at both North and South Entrances at 8:10 please do not drop off before then.

Students Entry: 8:20

Start of School Day: 8:30 (students need to be in their classroom)

Dismissal: 3:30 (3:00 on Wednesdays)

Click here for further details.

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Rockbrook Traffic Safety Reminders

Please help us keep our drop off and pick up times safe and orderly. A few reminders to help us do so:

Please keep traffic moving in the north lot.
Parking is only permitted in marked parking spaces.
Our loop is 1 lane except at the split to loop or exit. Please do not attempt to pass other vehicles.
The front circle is reserved for busses and accessible drop off and pick up only.

For further details on our traffic routes, please see the information further down in this newsletter.

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Additional Details

Looking for further details about Drop-Off and Pick-Up? Check out our Rockbrook Arrival, Dismissal, and Parking Plan.

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Please Stay in Your Car If Possible

When picking up at either of our parking lots, we recommend parents stay in their car.

Staff will assist school-age students in getting into vehicles keeping our traffic moving smoothly.
Practice having your child put their backpack in and get in and close the door quickly.

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Avoid the Crowd

Want to avoid the traffic loop altogether? For families of students who are old enough to independently walk to meet you, we have several nearby locations we recommend. If using this option, please let your child's teacher know that they would be designated as a student that walks home.

WHS Life Complex & Parking Updates

Please help us as we prepare for some exciting construction to begin on the high school campus on March 4th. This will impact parking and we will need all hands on deck to help with this important transition.

As you may recall, the Westside Foundation announced its Impacting Excellence campaign in October 2023. This campaign’s goal is to fund the work for a new Life Complex at Westside High School through private donations. This innovative project will bring new, top-notch facilities for many of our academic programs and athletic programs, reaching the whole life of our students. You can learn more about the campaign and project HERE.

Construction work will begin on Monday, March 4, 2024. Knowing how vital the high school is to our community we have worked diligently to create as little impact as possible. For the safety of our young drivers, we are closing the parking lot between the football field and the baseball field as this is where the large, heavy construction equipment will be stationed and operational.

We have secured other locations for temporary parking while we have this athletic parking lot closed. You can find them on the map HERE. Westside Community Schools Administrative leaders and Westside High School team members will be on site to help students as we navigate the transition to these new parking locations.

We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we undergo temporary inconveniences in order to build a lasting impact for our students and community for many years to come.

Arrival and Dismissal Times and Procedures

Rockbrook Health and Wellbeing

Rockbrook Community Club Directory

Click here to access information on how to create or confirm your yearly access.

Lunch, Breakfast, Snacks, & Treats

Student Cell Phones and Smart Devices

Recess Equipment

Bus and Transportation Info

Visitors and School Day Deliveries

5th & 6th Grade iPad Take Home Release

Approved Snacks and Treats 2023-2024