Paw Print Press

As we enter the holiday season, we’re proud of the academic growth our students have shown this year. Their efforts during the start of the year combined with your support at home continue to make a meaningful impact. Just looking at snapshots of events and daily happenings in our school reminds us that Rockland Woods is a special place where all are valued. Our teachers are dedicated to delivering the best instruction through clear learning routines, engaging and inclusive experiences, and go the extra mile to use student progress and data to determine next instructional steps.

We are incredibly grateful that you partner with your child's teacher to support their success, ask meaningful questions about their learning, and maintain positive relationships through regular communication. Thank you for making sure your child attends school each day and demonstrates the positive values that we embrace at Rockland Woods to maximize learning in the school community.

We hope the upcoming break provides time to rest and recharge. Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s journey of learning. We wish your family a wonderful holiday season and a positive start to a New Year ahead!

Congratulations to Lucas Rubeck, who was Rockland Woods’ top fundraiser for this year’s Books for Babies campaign and earned an impressive third place across all of Washington County! Lucas was recognized with a special prize package from the Washington County Free Library and an Amazon gift card for his outstanding efforts. His parents and our entire school community are incredibly proud of his commitment to helping others.

Our Rockland Woods ESP team is truly the heartbeat of our school. Their hard work, care, and unwavering commitment keep our building running smoothly and our students supported every single day. This week, we were thrilled to celebrate them with a well-deserved pizza lunch—a small token of appreciation for the big impact they make. Thank you, ESP staff, for all you do for our school community!

At Rockland Woods, our teachers continue to demonstrate their commitment to high-quality instruction by intentionally using the Danielson Framework to guide their planning, classroom environment, and daily practice. From purposeful learning experiences to meaningful student engagement, our staff ensures that every minute of the day is focused on excellence. Their dedication to continuous growth and instructional clarity is what helps our students thrive.

Our Lost and Found rack is filling up quickly! Are you or your student missing a jacket, water bottle, or backpack? Click the button below to view the items currently on the rack. If you recognize an item that belongs to your student, please email their classroom teacher with the item description and number. We’ll work together to ensure it’s returned promptly.

A big thank you to Mrs. Bayer and the team for organizing the Lost and Found!

Music and art are essential parts of a well-rounded education, and Ms. Hibbert has certainly brought that to life this month. She has been hard at work preparing our Grade 2 musical, Go Fish, while also supporting our All County Chorus students for their showcase at North High. To top it off, Ms. Hibbert directed the powerful final concert piece, Why We Sing. We are grateful for her creativity, dedication, and the joy she brings to our school community through the arts.

Our fifth graders wrapped up their latest writing unit with an exciting Poetry Slam, where students bravely shared their original work with peers and staff. The energy, creativity, and confidence they showed made the event both meaningful and fun. A big shout-out to our talented readers and the entire Grade 5 team for creating such a memorable celebration of student voice!

Our entire school enjoyed the annual Turkey Bowl, a beloved Rockland Woods tradition where staff face off against the fifth graders in a friendly game of flag football. The spirit was high as our cheerleaders, led by Ms. Bickers, energized the crowd and our players—coached by Ms. Bayer—took the field. Dylann Wetzel opened the event beautifully with a heartfelt performance of the National Anthem. Congratulations to our MVP, Mr. B, our outstanding FSU intern! A huge thanks to PE teachers Mr. Lambert and Mr. Waldon for organizing this fun and memorable event. A great time was had by all!

Earlier this month we had the pleasure of celebrating three of our incredible educators at Rockland Woods Elementary School. Congratulations to Ms. Shade, Mrs. Mullendore, and Mrs. Lague, who each earned a Certificate of Excellence in recognition of their outstanding contributions. We are thrilled to share that they have also been named SECAC Ambassadors. Well deserved!