Rocky Ford Schools Newsletter

State Testing

State Testing is just around the corner. Next week we will start with students in JrSr High, then Elementary students the following week. Studies show students are much more successful when they eat well and get plenty of rest! Arriving to school on time (7:40am is first bell - the official start of the school day for ALL grades) helps reduce anxiety.

** Does your student have "smart glasses"? Please make sure to send them with traditional glasses for testing! State rules are quite rigid. "Smart glasses" are not allowed in testing rooms. Thank you!

Field Trips

Field trips will start out soon and the Elementary A.R. Mystery Trip is in May - Keep reading!!

FBLA

First up is FBLA. We had a number of students and teams qualify for State. They will be heading north this weekend!

Science Fair

We have one individual, Acalia Baca, who qualified for state with her Science Fair Project! Way to go!! State competitions are from April 9 -11

Destination Imagination

Also on the weekend of April 11 is State Destination Imagination. We have teams from Elementary, Junior High and High School heading up!!

We can't wait for all the pictures and mentions of all our competitors and winners!!

We are capturing every event between now and the end of the school year! Events in bold include our heartfelt invitation to family and friends!!

What are rules for graduation attire?

🎓 Graduation will be here before we know it! 🎓

Caps and gowns have been ordered, celebrations are being planned, and the countdown to the Class of 2026 graduation has begun! As the big day gets closer, we know families often have questions about what students may wear during the ceremony, so we wanted to share a quick update.

✨ Graduation Cap & Stole Guidelines
Students may adorn their caps with traditional tribal regalia and/or items of cultural or religious significance. Students may also wear stoles representing tribal, cultural, or religious significance—something that has not been allowed in the past.

🎓 Honoring the Tradition of Graduation
The graduation ceremony is a meaningful tradition celebrated in schools around the world, and it is our goal to honor the dignity and significance of this special occasion. As part of the traditional cap and gown attire, students are recognized for their achievements through school-sponsored honors such as cords, drapes, and stoles, which reflect academic accomplishments and other notable contributions. To help maintain the dignity and focus of the ceremony, words, letters, or numbers on either the cap or stole are limited to the student’s name and our graduating year – 2026. No other words, letters, or numerals may appear.

🎓 Special Adornment Requests
If your student wishes to wear an adornment other than those provided by the school or a school-sponsored organization, that is traditional to their culture, permission must be requested from the Principal by April 30.

📸 Helpful tip: Including a photo of the adornment with the request will help speed up the approval process.

We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 and making graduation a memorable and meaningful day for our students and families! 🎉

Click on the "School Lunch" image to see the full menu options!!

We are hoping to expand this section soon! We want to share highlights from the past week.

We have been sharing information about the ways cell phones can create barriers to student learning during the school day. At this time, we are formally introducing our updated Cell Phone and Personal Device Policy, which applies to all students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

While full implementation will begin in the 2026–2027 school year, we will begin consistently reinforcing expectations with students now. It is important to note that the expectation of no cell phone use during class time has already been in place, so this aspect of the policy is not new.

We appreciate your partnership in supporting student success. Please take time to review this policy with your student to ensure a smooth transition.

Thank you for your continued support.

Click on the image to read the policy.

School Day Hours:

The school day starts at 7:40a. The tardy bell rings at 7:45a.

The school day ends at 4:00p.

These times are for both Rocky Ford Elementary and Rocky Ford Jr/Sr High School

Protective Covers for Chromebooks

All student-issued Chromebooks now include a protective outer shell designed to reduce damage to the device. This protective cover is required and is part of the Chromebook insurance plan. If a student removes the protective cover, the insurance coverage is voided. In the event that damage occurs while the cover has been removed, parents/guardians may be responsible for the cost of repair or replacement. Please talk with your student about the importance of keeping the protective cover on their Chromebook at all times. Your support helps us ensure devices remain in good condition for student learning.