Rockbrook Reminder
Rockbrook Elementary School's Weekly Updates | 01-29-2021
Finishing Up Our Great Kindness Challenge
Checklist for Younger Students
Kindness Spirit Week
Team Day Moved to Tuesday, Feb 2nd
Checklist for Older Students
Dismissal Traffic
We need your help to make sure our dismissal time is safe for all. We know that especially in the winter months the traffic can back up and take a while to clear. We ask for your patience, and when at all possible, to remain in the pick-up lane and in your car. While we do have a limited number of parking spaces available during dismissal, crossing traffic on foot can cause our line to move slowly. Teachers will help make sure students get to the vehicles quickly. We also want to remind families not to pass in the traffic line. Cars should stay in line until they pass the dumpsters where we do have a lane to exit and a lane to loop.
For parents of older students not wanting to drive through the north lot, many families have found it a successful approach to designate a spot to park in the neighborhood and have your child walk to meet you there. These can be on the north side of the field or along Martha and Castelar streets.
When using these strategies we have often found it possible for all students at our school to safely dismiss in 15 minutes, often less. Thank you for your help to make our end of day dismissal safe for all.
Sincerely,
Garret Higginbotham, Principal
Rockbrook Community Club
- We will not be meeting in person during the month of February due to district guidelines.
- Last month, the executive committee met virtually and notes can be viewed HERE.
- Room parents should be reaching out to their classrooms regarding Valentines Day party preparations.
- Questions? Email rockbrook66communityclub@gmail.com
Godfather's Slice of the Pie Night - Feb 4th
SAVE THE DATE - Rockbrook Read-A-Thon Feb 8th - 19th
Be sure to watch for your child's Read-A-Thon Packet that will come home at the beginning of our two-week event. Help instill a love for reading in your child and support their future success!
Valentines Parties, Friday February 12th
- Students may bring valentines and boxes. These will not be opened in class, but sent home for parents to determine an appropriate time for opening.
- Treats or Crafts being sent to school for use during the parties need to be delivered by February 11th before lunch. This is to allow for an appropriate quarantine of any items that will be given to students and handled during the party.
- As in prior years, the district will be providing each student a cookie treat. Teachers will use our school procedures for students to enjoy this safely or send home with your child.
Thank you for your support with providing students a little fun given the limitations of these unprecedented times.
WE-SIDE Contests in February
One of the primary goals of Westside Community Schools is to be open and honest about doing all we can to make sure every student, staff member, and visitor feels welcome, appreciated, and supported throughout our school district. WE-SIDE has a staff advisory council that has been established to help work on this important initiative.
We look forward to getting past COVID-19 and being able to engage many others, including students, more staff, parents, and community. We look forward to various committees working on a curriculum audit to ensure cultural awareness and fairness, more professional development, more inclusive practices, more grade level programming for students about the importance of respect of all others, and much more as we plan for our exciting future. With that, we encourage you and your family to take a look at the flyer included below with details on some great contests taking place throughout our District in February!
We are sponsoring poetry, photography, and creative video contests with prizes for winners!
Bottom line, we want EVERYONE within our organization, regardless of age, skin color, religion, home address, socio-economic status, gender, beliefs, etc., to feel great about being part of Westside Community Schools.
A mindset of “WE” is the key!
Drop Off and Pick Up Times
Breakfast: Students may enter at 8:05am
Drop Off: Students may arrive at 8:10am
(Please do not drop students off before this time unless they are coming in to eat breakfast.)
School Entry: Teachers bring students in at 8:20am
Our School Day Begins at 8:30
Dismissal: Regular Dismissal is at 3:30pm, 3:00 on Wednesdays (During Green Status)
Kindergarten Enrollment for District Residents: February 1st - March 5th
Do you live in the District and have a child who will be ready for Kindergarten this fall? Do you know of other Westside residents with children who will be ready to start school in August?
Kindergarten enrollment for 2021-22 begins February 1. Parents of eligible students should go to westside66.org to begin the enrollment process as early as possible on or after February 1st.
Students entering kindergarten for 2021-22 must be five years old by July 31, 2021. Parents may opt to hold their children out of kindergarten for an additional year. However, Nebraska state law mandates that a child who reaches six years of age prior to January 1 of the then-current school year must be enrolled in school.
If you have questions, you may call the Westside Welcome Center at 402-390-2100.
Kindergarten Enrollment for Non-District Residents
If you live outside the District and have a child eligible for kindergarten who has a sibling currently attending a Westside elementary school through the Option Enrollment program, you must submit an Option Enrollment Application. Westside’s Office of Student Services must receive Option Enrollment Applications no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 15. The application form is available at the ABC Building (909 S. 76th Street) and our district website.
Click here to complete the form electronically.
Under Option Enrollment statutes, first priority for admission is given to siblings who seek to attend in the District where an older sibling is already enrolled, provided an Option Enrollment form is submitted by March 15 and provided that there is space available in a requested building and grade level. If you have questions, you may call Julie at 402-390-2107.
Requirements for Early Admission to Kindergarten
In accordance with Nebraska Statute 79-214, the Westside Community Schools allows for admission of children residing in the District as early entrance kindergarteners through a locally designed testing program. Children of District residents who wish to be tested for early entrance must turn five between August 1 and October 15, 2021. For further information regarding early entrance to kindergarten, please call 402-390-3303.
Student In-District Transfer Request for the 2021-2022 School Year
If you are a District resident who would like your K-6 child(ren) to attend an elementary school other than the school that serves your attendance area for next school year, you must submit a completed In-District Transfer (IDT) Request form to the Office of Student Services for review.
The District gives priority to families living within the District prior to placing Option Enrollment applicants who reside outside the District. We must receive a Student In-District Transfer Request form no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 15 for your request to be considered prior to our placement of Option Enrollment students.
IDT forms are available at the ABC Building and our District website. Click here to complete the form electronically. An IDT request form must be completed for any child starting kindergarten next year who has one or more siblings currently attending a school outside their home attendance area. Transfers are approved or denied based on available space and other resources. If you have questions about the in- district transfer process, please call 402-390-2107.
Symptom Screener
iPad Chargers and Cables
As we move to Yellow Status, please help us out with iPad chargers and cables. Westside had to purchase more than 600 chargers and cables following last spring due to loss and damage. If you already have an Apple (lightning) style charger and cable at home, please have your child use this to charge their iPad. We will request that families pay for lost or damaged hardware, with chargers costing $20 and cables costing $10.
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.
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