ROCKY RIDGE NEWS

• OCTOBER 26: THIS MONDAY, INSTRUCTION BEGINS AT 9:30AM!
• October 23-29: Book Fair (Details below.)

• October 26-30: Conference Week (Dismissal at 12:00pm)

• October 26-30: SPIRIT WEEK! (Details below.)

• November 2, 9, 16, 30: Late Arrival at 10:15am.

• November 9: Evening Performance Honoring Veterans

• November 10: Day Veterans Assembly

• November 11: Veterans' Day --> NO SCHOOL

• November 18: Picture RETAKE Day

*ALL DAILY TRANSPORTATION CHANGES END AT 11:15AM*

Next week is Conference Week, and we look forward to welcoming our Rocky Ridge families! These conferences are such a valuable opportunity to connect, celebrate your child’s growth, talk through progress and goals, and work together to support their success.

When families and teachers work together, our students benefit! Thank you for taking the time to meet with your child’s teacher and for being an important part of our Rocky Ridge family. We look forward to seeing you all next week!

Questions? Please call our front office at 253-800-5000.

Get ready for a reading adventure, Raccoons! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to the Rocky Ridge Library, October 23–29! Students and families can explore exciting stories, discover new favorites, and help support our school library with every purchase.

📅 Book Fair Dates & Hours

Friday, October 23

• 9:45 AM–3:30 PM (Students Only)

Monday, October 26

• 9:35–11:30 AM (Students Only)
• 12:30–3:30 PM (Families Welcome)

Tuesday, October 27

• 9:35–11:30 AM (Students Only)
• 12:30–6:30 PM (Family Night!)

Wednesday, October 28

• 9:35–11:30 AM (Students Only)
• 12:30–3:30 PM (Families Welcome)

Thursday, October 29

• 9:35–11:30 AM (Students Only)
• 12:30–3:30 PM (Families Welcome)

Friday, October 30

• CLOSED

💳 Make Shopping Easy with Scholastic eWallet! Skip the cash! Set up a convenient digital eWallet so your child can shop independently. Click here to learn about eWallet.

We can't wait to see our Rocky Ridge families exploring books and celebrating the joy of reading together. Every book opens the door to a new adventure!

Happy reading!
Ms. Lamar
Librarian & Technology Teacher

Personal electronic devices, including cell phones and watches, should be used in line with school expectations. Devices may be used for instructional purposes at the teacher’s discretion and should be stored as directed by school staff.

If a device is used in a way that does not follow school expectations, a staff member may bring it to the front office for safekeeping. For a first offense, the student may pick up the device at the end of the day. For a second offense, a parent or guardian will need to pick it up. Additional offenses may result in progressive discipline.

The school/district is not responsible for personal electronic devices or other personal items that are lost, stolen, or damaged at school.

If your student reaches out to you with their phone or smartwatch during school hours, please connect with our front office rather than responding directly through their cell phone. We care deeply about our students and want every child to feel safe, supported, and cared for throughout the school day. By keeping communication connected through the front office, we can work together to address concerns, provide support, and ensure our students know there are trusted adults at Rocky Ridge ready to help whenever they need us!

To help us ensure a safe and smooth dismissal for all our Raccoons, please communicate any changes to your child’s transportation plans directly to the front office by phone or a written note. For student safety, we’re unable to accept transportation changes through text messages or phone calls to or from student cell phones.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our Raccoons safe, supported, and connected!

All Bethel School District families need to complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application—even if your child already receives free meals!

Completing this application helps keep free breakfast and lunch available for ALL students and may provide your family with additional benefits, including:

• 🍎 Free School Meals: Help continue free breakfast and lunch for all students.
• 💰 Reduced Fees: Qualifying households may receive reduced fees for school programs and activities.
• ☀️ Summer Grocery Benefits: Eligible children will automatically qualify for the 2027 Summer EBT card, worth $120 per student, to help purchase groceries during summer break.

👉 COMPLETE THE APPLICATION TODAY HERE

Please take a few minutes to complete this important form and help keep these benefits available to our students and families.

Thank you for supporting our Rocky Ridge Raccoons and ALL the students of Bethel Schools!

Would your student like to learn some Spanish while making new friends? We’re looking for students to join this year’s Spanish Club at Rocky Ridge!

Students will have the opportunity to:

• Learn basic Spanish words and phrases

• Practice interacting with each other in Spanish

• Build community while learning a new language and culture

• Have fun and work with students in other grades!

This club will be held once per week, and spots are limited! Please have your student(s) contact Mrs. Hooker ASAP if they are interested in getting a permission slip.

First Club Day will begin Thursday, November 5th, at 8:00 AM!

Drop-Off Instructions: Please drop off students as usual, following our safety rules, and have your child meet Mrs. Hooker at 8:00 AM. Since this is a before-school club, students must be on time. There won't be anyone available to open the door if your child arrives late.

Breakfast: If your child eats at home, please make sure they eat before club. Students who have school breakfast will be walked to the school cafeteria after our session to eat before school begins.

¡Nos vemos pronto!

JOIN TODAY BY CLICKING: HERE!

We’re excited to kick off our PTA Membership Drive for the 2026–27 school year! Every membership counts, and we would love to reach this goal together as a school community!

When families join the PTA, your membership helps strengthen our school community and gives RR PTA opportunities to apply for grants and awards that can provide additional support and resources for our students.

Thank you to all of the families and staff who have already joined and supported our PTA. A special shout-out to our 5th-grade teaching team! Every 5th grade teacher is already a paid PTA member, making them our first grade-level to all join!

We appreciate your partnership and hope you’ll consider becoming a member this year! Together, we can make a difference for our students!

JOIN TODAY BY CLICKING: HERE!

Contact our PTA at: rockyridgepta@gmail.com

Veterans Day is a special opportunity for us at Rocky Ridge to come together and show our gratitude to the brave men and women who have served our country. Our third-grade students are excited to honor our veterans with a special performance, and we would love to welcome all current and former service members to join us!

As we gather for this meaningful celebration, we kindly ask everyone to help us create a peaceful and respectful atmosphere for our veterans and students. Please silence cell phones, keep conversations to a minimum, and help little ones stay seated and attentive so everyone can enjoy the ceremony.

Thank you for helping us honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. We are so grateful for their sacrifices and proud to celebrate them as a Rocky Ridge family!

Your child may be entitled to participate in the Bethel School District Native American Education Program. For each child who is registered on a 506 Eligibility Certification Form, the district receives Federal Title VI funds to pay for academic assistance for Native American children. In order to be counted as part of this program, a 506 form must be filled out by a parent/guardian of the Native American child. When filling out the form, all parts must be completed. It is not required that a student be enrolled in a tribe if the parents or grandparents are registered.

This 506 Form needs to be filled out only one time as long as your child attends Bethel schools. We will keep all information confidential. Forms are available via the link below, on the Title VI website or by calling Rachael Barger at 253-800-2394 or Grace Leatham at 253-800-2393.

Title VI ED 506 Indian Student Eligibility Certification Form

⭐ PRESALE: August 26–October 31 --> $25

⭐ REGULAR SALE: November 1–April 30 --> $30

*** There Will Be A Limited Number of Yearbooks! ***

EVERYONE GETS FREE POPCORN ALL YEAR LONG!

September 11, October 2, November 6, December 4, January 8, February 5, March 5, April 16, May 7, June 11

A HUGE THANK YOU to our anonymous donor for making Popcorn Fridays possible for all of our Rocky Ridge Raccoons!

Currently available HERE .

November 18

January 13

March 10

May 12

Our district is continuing to provide one FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH to ALL RRE STUDENTS! Applications are NOT NEEDED; however, we DO ask that you complete the application. This application will help to continue our free meal program for 2027-2028 and also help our school to qualify for additional funding.

***Menus are subject to changes.***

School Board meetings begin at 7 p.m. and will be held at Bethel School District's Educational Service Center (ESC), 516 176th St. E., Spanaway 98387 unless otherwise noted. The public is welcome! To join via Zoom, visit https://bethelsd.diligent.community/portal/​

• October 27: Regular School Board Meeting

• November 17: Regular School Board Meeting
• December 15: Regular School Board Meeting

Rocky Ridge is awesome.

We are really cool!

We make good decisions

and stay safe at our school.

We solve problems

and show respect.

Raccoons are always kind.

Citizens at our best!

*** To purchase 2026/2027 Ridge Wear: CLICK HERE! ***

Bethel School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX Coordinator, Director of Athletics and Security: 253.800.4303; Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Executive Director of Special Education: 253.800.2300; Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Director of Equity and Achievement: 253.800.2019. All individuals may be reached at this address: 516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387. // El Distrito Escolar de Bethel no discrimina en sus programas o actividades por motivos de sexo, raza, credo, religión, color, nacionalidad, edad, condición de veterano de guerra o grado militar, orientación sexual, expresión de género o identidad, discapacidad o uso de perro guía entrenado o animal de servicio, además ofrece igualdad de acceso a los Boy Scouts y a otros grupos de jóvenes especificados. El empleado mencionado a continuación ha sido designado para atender consultas y quejas de supuesta discriminación: Coordinador del Título IX, Director de Atletismo y Seguridad: 253.800.4303; Coordinadora de Sección 504/ADA, Directora Ejecutiva de Educación Especial: 253.800.2300; Coordinadora de Cumplimiento de Derechos Civiles Directora de Equidad y Logro: 253.800.2019. Todas las personas pueden ser contactadas en esta dirección: 516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387.