Parks Press for Parents
Rosa Parks/Millbrook ISSDA
December 7-11, 2020
Our Mission
Our Vision: Every Student a Success!
Be Courageous and Persevere
The holiday season is a season that makes it easy to dream. However we sometimes run into situations that make believing in our dreams difficult. I want to encourage you with a story I read this weekend by Coach Muller, written in January 6, 2016 about the Brooklyn Bridge. It reminds us to keep dreaming, keep believing, and keep pushing. I feel like this is a great time to share this story. Please read, reflect, share with your child, to come ready to tackle the challenges of the next two weeks.
There are many things that a person may endure in a lifetime that may require an incredible amount of courage and perseverance such as dealing with a disease, a health condition, a family tragedy, or a host of other circumstances. Throughout these times and down through the ages, two types of people usually emerge from these trying times: individuals that give up on life and become depressed, miserable, and despondent or, a person that shows strength, courage and perseverance who overcomes the adverse situation and becomes an encouragement and inspiration to others.
Today’s story is a tremendous illustration of astonishing courage and unbelievable commitment. It is my hope that it will serve as a reminder of the strength and power of the human spirit…one that we all might be able to use if needed.
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The Brooklyn Bridge that spans over the river tying Manhattan Island to Brooklyn is truly a miracle bridge. In 1863, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea for this spectacular bridge. However, bridge building experts throughout the world told him to forget it: it could not be done.
Roebling convinced his son, Washington, who was an up and coming engineer, that the bridge could be built. The two of them developed the concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With unharnessed excitement and inspiration, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project was only a few months under construction when a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling and severely injured his son, Washington. Washington was left with permanent brain damage and was unable to speak or walk. Everyone felt that the project would have to be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones that knew how the bridge could be built.
Even though Washington was unable to move or talk, his mind was as sharp as ever, and he still had a burning desire to complete the bridge. An idea hit him as he lay in his hospital bed, and he developed a code for communication. All he could move was one finger, so he touched the arm of his wife with that finger, tapping out the code to communicate to her what to tell the engineers who were building the bridge.
For thirteen years, Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger until the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge was finally completed!!!
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So, when things get tough and it seems like all hope is gone…BE PERSISTENT and have the COURAGE and you WILL PREVAIL!!!
#BeRPM
Hour of Code
12 Dayz of Holiday Craze @RPM!
#Be Spirited in Holiday Red and Green
Ready for Santa's HoHoHo Down!
RPM will conduct Safety Drills on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Be Preventive
with COVID-19. Parents should use these questions on the LANCASTER ISD COVID SCREENER FOR STUDENTS to screen their child daily.
Are you (student) lab-confirmed with COVID-19?
Have you recently been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting results?
Have you (student) recently begun experiencing any of the symptoms in a way that is not normal? (See form for list of symptoms.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ah-C_6gVfcTLe8YYiiY_FgpXiXUXSHkK/view?usp=sharing
Be Prepared
Help us help your child each school day by ensuring they are fully prepared for face-to-face instruction.
- Students must bring their devices fully charged each day.
- Students must bring their chargers each day.
- Students must bring the required materials (paper, pencil, journal, etc.) for their classes each day.
- Students must have on a clean mask (provided by parent).
- Students must wear a face shield (provided by the school).
These are the very basics that are required for your child to have a successful learning experience. When students aren't prepared it slows down learning for our virtual and face-to-face students. We are in a pandemic currently and do not have extra staff, space, nor materials for students who come unprepared. We are not sharing materials. Therefore it is each households responsibility to ensure students arrive at school fully prepared each day. Parents please help us help your child by making sure they prepare all materials nightly; then check their backpacks, and bring them to school daily.
Be Present
The Lancaster Independent School District attendance policy will be followed for both online and face-to face instruction. Students are expected to attend class meetings online AND complete assigned tasks to demonstrate engagement in learning and mastery of concepts. Student attendance in MANDATORY as absences may result in denial of credit. Attendance is taken daily during each synchronous class meeting (Reading, Math, Science, Writing, Social Studies).
Keep in contact with teachers and provide our attendance office with proper notice of absence. Students unable to attend face-to-face due to quarantine are still expected to complete assignments and attend synchronous class meetings when possible.
Be Wordwise: Courtesy
Last week we studied the word Courtesy. Please add this word to your daily vocabulary as you work with your child to help increase their working vocabulary.
Courtesy
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: good manners or politeness
Example: She had the courtesy to open the door for her grandmother.
Synonym: consideration, politeness, thoughtfulness
Check out our morning announcements "Live at 8:05" on FaceBook and YouTube. Be sure to follow and like our FB page and Subscribe on YouTube.
Be Connected
Information is shared through a number of mediums. Make sure you are connected, check your emails and dojo accounts regularly, and listen to the campus and district callouts.
Be sure to connect with us:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/RPMElementary
- Twitter: @RPM_ISSD
- Instagram: Rpmelementary
- Class dojo: Teachers have sent invites to their classes. Be sure to check email for steps connect to your child's teacher.
- Parks Press for Parents: published weekly
- School website: RPMElementary@lancasterisd.org
- District website: www.Lancasterisd.org
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for morning announcements https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Q6A-xIkX2gQ2Tc7BMYeZg
Be Served*
Please Note that Curbside Meal Service is only available at your child’s campus.
Distribution is from 10:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
- Free Breakfast and Lunch for LISD students only (Pre-K- 8th grade)
- Until further notice, the district will be operating on a cashless basis. Parents of 9th-12th graders who do not qualify for free lunch need to ensure funds have been added to their My School Bucks account.
- Distributing multiple meals two days a week (Monday and Wednesday)
- Must have identification card that was mailed or present online enrollment information from parent portal.
*Beginning Friday, December 11, our food services department will be sending weekend meals for all students at the end of day dismissal. There are no steps needed to be taken by parents. Each student will receive their weekend meal when departing the building for dismissal.
Be Up-to-Date
Dec. 7-11 Hour of Code (National Computer Science Week)
Dec. 8 Shot Clinic (3:30-6:00pm Lancaster High School)
Dec. 10 Hour of Code
Dec. 11 2nd 6 Weeks ends
Dec. 14 3rd 6 Weeks begins
Dec. 14 Round 3 of Face-to-Face Instruction (New Face-to-Face students begin)
Dec. 16 5th Grade WeatherMinds
Dec. 17 Report Card 2
Dec. 21-Jan. 4 Winter Break
Jan. 5 School Resumes
Jan. 18 MLK Day (District Closed)
Jan. 19 PreK Circle Assessments
Jan. 26-29 Benchmark Assessments
Yvonne M. Thornton, M.Ed.
Rosa Parks/Millbrook Information Systems & Software Design Academy
Email: yvonnethornton@lancasterisd.org
Website: rpm.lancasterisd.org
Location: 630 Millbrook Drive, Lancaster, TX, USA
Phone: 972-218-1564
Facebook: Facebook.com/RPMElementary
Twitter: @RPM_ISSD