ROGERS MIDDLE SCHOOL
OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
FROM THE INTERIM PRINCIPAL
Dear Rogers Families:
It is my great pleasure to serve as the interim, temporary principal at Rogers Middle School. Our Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Johnson, reports that many qualified educators have applied to be the permanent Rogers principal and that those interviews will begin next week. It is his hope to have the new principal ready to start working with students on January 2, 2024.
The first weeks of the school year have exceeded all of my expectations. I have found Rogers students to be funny, happy, bright, respectful and super polite. As an elementary principal for more than 24 years now, as well as a newcomer to this school community, these students absolutely warm my heart! Please continue to look out for my weekly updates via email. I do my very best to share concise, but timely reminders to help families stay involved and also support their childrens' busy school schedule.
I want to thank all the families who joined us for the annual Rogers Back to School Bash last week! Our PTSA did an incredible job putting together a night for everyone in our community to enjoy. Kudos to the many parent volunteers who shared their time last Friday night to make this evening truly memorable. I hope you enjoy a few pictures that I took as I wandered around all the action (see below).
Most sincerely,
Peter J. Hens
Interim Principal
CONTACT INFORMATION
Secretary: Ms. Maribel Maldonado - Maribel_Maldonado@westiron.monroe.edu
Address: 219 Northfield Road, Rochester, NY 14617
Main office: 585-336-4717 | Fax: 585-336-3097
Website: https://rg.westirondequoit.org/
Health Office: 585-336-3030
Transportation: 585-336-2992
District Office: 585-342-5500 and District website: westirondequoit.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
OCTOBER
5- Go Home Early Drill @ 2:50 p.m.
6-Supt. Conference Day- No School
9-NO SCHOOL- Indigenous People Day
11-Parent Curriculum Night @ 5:30 p.m.
24- Dialogue with Principal Hens
26- Dialogue with Principal Hens
NOVEMBER
3-School Picture Make-Up Day
8- End of 1st marking period
10- NO SCHOOL-VETERANS DAY
17-Grade 4-6 report card available
21-Locker Clean Out
Nov 22-24 NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING RECESS
DECEMBER
8-K-12 Parent Teacher Conference No School
19-Band Concert 5th and 6th grade @IHS 7:00 p.m.
25th - 29-NO SCHOOL HOLIDAY RECESS
For the Rogers School Calendar, click here: https://rg.westirondequoit.org/
LOST AND FOUND
Please have your students check the lost and found for any missing items.
ROGERS FUN NIGHT - SEPT. 22
Ensuring Youngest Learners Have It All: Humanities & CKLA Reading Instruction
Frederick Douglass said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” At its core, literacy instruction is Diversity Equity and Inclusion work; ensuring all students have access to engaging, rigorous, and research-based literacy instruction is of the utmost importance to fostering the success and growth of every student in West Irondequoit. To this end, our literacy instruction is constructed of three components:
- Explicit foundational literacy instruction
- Explicit language comprehension instruction
- Independent Reading
Over the last two years, we have worked diligently to build this as a vertically aligned structure across grades K-6, and this year, we are excited to see this work come to life in our classrooms.
K-4 students will have two separate opportunities for this instruction. One is a daily Foundational Literacy block informed by the CKLA Reading Program, which is dedicated to direct and systematic literacy instruction aligned with the science of reading instructional approach. In addition, students will also engage in a Humanities block, where they explore novels, build their understanding of the world around them and their place in it, and apply their knowledge and skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in authentic and relevant experiences.
Students in grades 5-6 will engage in a daily Humanities block. Those incorporate all components of literacy instruction, with a heavier emphasis on strengthening, applying, and expanding literacy skills through direct instruction and novel studies, building academic vocabulary, constructing historical and civic understanding, and engaging in opportunities for reading and writing interventions and extensions.
Additionally, all students will have time and space in their classes dedicated to independent reading. "Even a small amount of independent reading helps increase students’ reading comprehension, vocabulary growth, spelling facility, understanding of grammar, and knowledge of the world,” according to Bernice E. Cullinan, a former professor at Ohio State and New York University who is in the Reading Hall of Fame. Additionally, while LEARNING to read is dependent on systematic and explicit research-based instruction, LOVING to read is fueled by students finding their identity as a reader and connecting with books that ignite their passions and imagination. All together, we are excited to see our youngest eagles soar as readers, writers, and thinkers this year!
ROGERS LEO'S PIES FUNDRAISER
Free-and-Reduced Deadline Approaching
Eligible families must submit Free-and-Reduced Meal applications to West Irondequoit Food Services BEFORE OCT. 20, 2023 so students can continue receiving free meals. Last year's application will expire soon. Please do this ASAP. Learn more and get the application via this link: smore.com/7693x
The state-mandated Go Home Early safety drill is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5 - the start of a four-day weekend. All students are released 10 minutes early - at 2:55 p.m. for our school. If you pick up your children at school, please arrive 10 minutes early. Expect students who ride buses to arrive 10 minutes early. The K-6 Extension Childcare Program will open early and remain open until 6 PM. Crossing guard schedules also will accommodate. Note: There is no school on Friday, Oct. 6th (Supt. Conference Day) and Monday, Oct. 9th (Indigenous People’s Day).
IPD TO ALTER GUARD STRUCTURE IN WINTER
We wanted to give you plenty of time to plan for a Crossing Guard schedule change in early 2024 that will impact some families. The Irondequoit Police Dept. has informed us that it will eliminate crossing guards at the following locations from Tuesday, Jan. 2 through Friday, Feb. 16 because of a "low-to-no student count," during that time frame.
· St. Paul @ Pattonwood
· Lakeshore @ Washington
· St. Paul @ Westbourne
· Portland @ Coronado
“It is both safer and more practical to have those crossing guards redeployed to other posts where there is a need to cross students," IPD shared with us, adding that shifting those guards to higher traffic areas during that seven-week span, such as in front of Dake Jr. HS and IHS, will enhance student safety.
If you have questions, please email IPD Crossing Guard Coordinator, Mary Beth Egeling, at megeling@irondequoit.gov. If you or anyone you know would want to be a crossing guard, please also email her to obtain more information.
PLEASE CHECK/UPDATE EMERGENCY CONTACT INFO
Do you:
- Have a new cell phone number or switch carriers recently?
- Have a new email address or new work phone number?
- Need to update your emergency contacts?
Be sure to keep us informed of any changes to your numbers or emergency contact information. Update it directly on the Infinite Campus Portal, or send in a note with your child.
TO REACH THE PORTAL, Click here
WHY YOUR MOBILE NUMBER IS CRITICAL
You must have your mobile number in the MOBILE NUMBER field. Our system does NOT default even if you have just one field filled out (Home/Work/Mobile). If your mobile number is not in the correct field, you will NOT receive text messages from our school/district for emergencies (such as school closings in winter months).
Family-friendly events at HNC!
The 41st annual Fall Harvest is Sunday, Oct. 15th at Helmer Nature Center, 154 Pinegrove Ave.! Games, crafts, food, music and pony rides – yes, pony rides! New this year: An inflatable obstacle course. The kids will love it! Entry is free. All-inclusive wristbands are $20! Don’t forget to also check out the 3rd Thursday Series each month. Visit the Helmer Facebook page at this link: facebook.com/HelmerNatureCenter or website: bit.ly/HelmerNC.
ROGERS OCTOBER CALENDAR
Click above to learn more
October is Wellness Month in WICSD
October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month! During the month of October, we encourage students, staff and community to strengthen their healthy habits by trying new strategies. Your family is encouraged to use the attached Wellness Calendar (or see the graphic below) as a resource to start conversations and increase wellness strategies. Feel free to use the calendar in a way that makes sense for your family! See more at THIS LINK. Look for more from our new Substance Abuse and Prevention Counselor, Nicole Corcimiglia, on district social media channels!