Rockbrook Express
Rockbrook Elementary School's Monthly Newsletter | 12-7-18
The Holiday Gift Shop
Fall Fundraiser
Rockbrook Winter Break Challenge, Reading and Math! - COMING SOON!
Building Skills of Independence and Empowerment
It's hard to believe we're nearly halfway through our school year and it's amazing to see the growth the children are making. Encouraging students to develop skills of independence, responsibility, and empowerment is an important part of their development and preparation for future experiences. Home chores, homework routines, school arrival practices and other habits can all help in growing these skills in your child. As we head into the second half of the year, consider how you and your child can continue to grow in their skills of independence. With the new year approaching it's a great time to set goals and work to accomplish them. Your child's teacher can also be a great partner in helping to determine how to best promote their success for the second half of the school year.
Upcoming Vocal Music Concerts
Hello Parents or Guardians!
This note is to remind you of our upcoming vocal music programs for our Rockbrook students.
Our 4 th – 6 th grade students will have their program on Monday, January 28 th at 6:30PM. Our 1 st – 3 rd grade students will have their program on Tuesday, February 19 th at 6:30PM. Both
performances will take place in the Westside Middle School auditorium and will last
approximately 45 minutes. We request all students attend this performance except in the
instance of illness or a family emergency. Our students have been working diligently in music
class to prepare for these performances and are looking forward to performing for you. If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Musically,
Mr. Pribnow
Rockbrook Student Featured at Miss Amazing
If your child has an amazing talent, skill, or accomplishment to share we encourage you to send it our way so we can celebrate the many great things our Rockbrook students do (higginbotham.garret@westside66.net).
Winter Grams
Wanted: Experts from our Community!
Rockbrook Elementary is seeking adults for our exciting enrichment cluster program.
If your child was at Rockbrook last spring you already know the exciting opportunity of our
student enrichment clusters. For our new families, we are excited to share this experience with
your family.
For six weeks beginning in February, students will have the opportunity to explore a topic of
interest in depth. Students will work together with like-minded students and an adult who will guide them. Enrichment clusters provide interest-based extensions to our curriculum and a real-
life connection to our learning standards.
We are looking for adults that would be willing to help with our clusters and share an area of
interest and/or expertise. This could be for the full six weeks as a cluster group leader, or for just a session or two as a guest speaker. The classes will run from 2:39-3:15 on Fridays in February and the first two weeks of March. Students will have a variety of classes to choose from. Once they choose their class, they will remain with the same group of students and will study the same topic, for the entire six weeks.
If leading a class or being a guest speaker is not of interest, we also welcome any help you can
offer. Extra hands go a long way as our students explore topics more freely.
Questions? Interested? Contact Mr. Higginbotham at Rockbrook. There will also be information
shared during our upcoming Parent Advisory and Community Club Meetings.
Winter Wear and Snow Gear
To ensure that students can both enjoy the snow and keep warm and dry once they come inside, we wanted to remind you of a few expectations for students wishing to play in the snow.
• Students need to wear proper coats, gloves, and hats. When temperatures are above 10º we will typically be going outside.
• If students wish to walk in deep snow, they will be expected to wear snow boots.
•For very deep snow or if students wish to roll and play in in the snow, students will need snow pants to ensure they stay warm and dry.
• If students wish to build with snow they must have gloves or mittens.
• When recess equipment is slick or wet, access may be restricted to promote student safety.
We appreciate your support in going over these expectations with your child. Teachers will do so as well so that students may have a fun and safe time during winter recess.
Information Change
Please let Ms. Veldhuis know if you have moved, changed your email or phone number since you completed your Back to School update.
Instrumental Music Reminders
Attention Fifth and Sixth Grade Band and String Parents - Mark your calendars because our concerts are coming! Concerts are a musicians reward for hard work and effort on their instrument. Please help reward your child by making their first concert a priority for your entire family! We can't wait to see you at these events to celebrate your child's accomplishments! The Instrumental Music Staff
6th grade String students: Tuesday, December 18
6:00 practice, 7:00 performance at the Westside High School Auditorium
5th grade String students: Thursday, December 20
6:00 practice, 7:00 performance at the Westside High School Auditorium
5th and 6th grade Band students: Monday, January 14
6:00 practice, 7:00 performance at the Westside Middle School Auditorium
Lunch Times
Lunch Times
Joining your child for lunch is a fun and enjoyable tradition that Rockbrook is pleased to support when your schedule allows. For this purpose we have designated a guest table during our lunch period where you and your child can share a meal and each other’s company. To ensure that there is enough space for our out-of-school guests we ask that families eat with their own children only. When room allows, guests may also sit at the regular lunch table with the class. If you would like a school lunch, please make your reservation with the office before 9 a.m.
Lunch Times
K-1 Lunch: 11:35-12:00 (11:24-11:48 on Wednesdays)
2-3 Lunch: 12:00-12:25 (11:48-12:12 on Wednesdays)
4-5 Lunch: 12:25-12:50 (12:12-12:36 on Wednesdays)
6 Lunch: 12:50-1:15 (12:36-1:00 on Wednesdays)
When is My Child Too Sick for School
Send me to school if...
- I have a runny nose or just a little cough but no other symptoms.
- I haven't taken any fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours and I haven't had a fever during that time.
- I haven't thrown up or had any diarrhea for 24 hours
Keep me at home if...
- I have a temperature higher than 100 degrees even after taking medicine.
- I'm throwing up or have diarrhea.
- My eyes are pink and crusty.
Call the doctor if...
- I have a temperature higher than 100 degrees for more than two days.
- I have been throwing up or have diarrhea for more than two days
- I have the sniffles for more than a week and they aren't getting better.
- I still have asthma symptoms after using my asthma medicine (and call 911 if I'm having trouble breathing after using my inhaler.)
Dropping Off Your Child? Please Bring Them In & Sign Them In
Students and Cell Phones / Smart Devices
Medication at School
Dining Out for Education
Our next Dining Out Event is tonight, 12/13 at Zios Pizza at 129th and Center.
Important Dates
December
10 All School Instrumental Concert, 2:45 pm
13 Zio's Dining Out Night
18 6th Grade Strings Concert @ WMS, 6:00 pm Rehearsal, 7:00 pm Performance
19 Don & Millie's Dining Out for Education Night
20 5th Grade Strings Concert @ WMS, 6:00 pm Rehearsal, 7:00 pm Performance
24 Winter Break Begins- NO SCHOOL
30 Jones Bros. Dining Out
Safety Patrol
Welcome to Rockbrook Elementary - Home of the Bulldogs
The mission of Rockbrook Elementary School, a diverse community of learners, is to foster learning by providing a quality educational experience within a secure and challenging environment.
Rockbrook School Design Goal:
At Rockbrook we will increase student engagement and achievement through Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports for social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs.
Email: veldhuis.courtney@westside66.net
Website: http://rockbrook.westside66.org
Location: 2514 South 108th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 402-390-6475
Facebook: facebook.com/RockbrookElementary
Twitter: @Rockbrook66
Hy-Vee Receipts
Please save your Hy-Vee receipts from September 1-December 31 to help Rockbrook School fund educational needs. Hy-Vee will donate $1.00 for every $200 Hy-Vee receives in receipts. This is not only for groceries but Hy-Vee gas receipts also. Every penny counts and can add up to thousands of dollars. So tell your friends, neighbors, relatives to save Hy-Vee receipts. It's simple and easy! Simply bring all Hy-Vee receipts to Rockbrook School and deposit them into the HyVee red bucket located in the school lobby. Please write your student's teachers name and grade on the receipt. The class who has collected the highest dollar amount in receipts will receive a special prize party. Thank you all for participating in this easy and simple fundraiser.