Arrival and Departure Times
School Ends: 4:00 pm - Walkers and Bike Riders are released at 3:55
Friday - First Bell: 8:50 am Tardy Bell: 8:55 am
School Ends: 2:00 pm
Supervision on Playground Before and After School
THERE WILL BE PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION BEGINNING AT 8:35 A.M. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE ON THE PLAYGROUND OR AT SCHOOL BEFORE THIS TIME - unless involved in Morning School, Lego League, or part of our Student Council or NEHS work crews.
If you need your child to arrive prior to 8:35 a.m., the Extended Hours Program begins each morning at 6:30 a.m. and is located in the modular behind the school. To register a child for Extended Hours please stop by the school and pick up a registration packet. If you have additional questions, you can call Sheryl Fisher at 241-3603 or visit the website at www.extendedhoursprogram.com.
THERE WILL NOT BE SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN PAST 4:00 P.M. IF YOU NEED YOUR CHILD TO STAY LATER THAN 4:00 P.M. THE EXTENDED HOURS PROGRAM SHOULD BE UTILIZED.
A problem arises when parents believe their child is in school and we believe that the child is at home ill. In an attempt to better monitor student attendance, we are asking parents to call the school between 8:00 - 9:15 a.m. any time your child will not be in school or will be arriving after 8:50 a.m. If you call before 7:45 a.m., please leave a message on the machine. If children are not in class and we have not heard from you, we will call your home and/or cell phone and leave a message if no one answers. Your student will be marked unexcused in the system until we hear from a parent/guardian via phone call or note.
Please contact us immediately if any of your telephone numbers (home, work, emergency) have changed! Please be sure to notify the office of changes and absences...do not rely on the teacher to get that message to us.
TARDIES & EARLY CHECK-OUTS:
All students arriving late to school need to check in at the front office to receive a Student’s Admit Slip before going to class. Tardies will be marked unexcused in the system until we receive parent/guardian contact via email, phone call, or in person.
Another issue that can be problematic is excessive early pick-ups/check-outs. Though some early pick-ups are unavoidable (ex. Doctor or dentist appointments), please avoid picking up your child early on a consistent basis. Early pick-ups can be disruptive to your child’s learning and the classroom environment.
If your child brings a cell phone or cell phone watch to school please ensure she/he is aware of the following:
1. Phone must be turned OFF and kept in a backpack during school hours.
2. Phone usage during school hours is not permitted.
3. School is not responsible for lost or missing phones.
4. School reserves the right to remove a phone being misused during the school day. If your child’s phone is removed, school personnel will inform you of this and you may pick it up from the principal.
5. On special permission from the principal, some circumstances for allowing cell phones and cell phone watches can be approved (ex. medical needs).
We want students to be comfortable, but at the same time, they need to dress in a manner that will not create a distraction for the other students.
Below are a few guidelines to follow:
• No clothing that displays inappropriate language, and/or advertises alcohol or tobacco.
• Shorts & skirts should be approximately to the end of the index finger, or longer when arms are held at the sides. For shorter-styled skirts, it is suggested that shorts be worn underneath.
• Shirts and tops should be long enough to meet the tops of pants and shorts. Crop tops are not appropriate.
• Spaghetti strap tops are inappropriate. Straps, at the minimum, should be approximately two finger widths.
• Skate-shoes or Heelies are not permitted at school. If worn, wheels need to be removed.
• On days your child has Physical Education class, appropriate shoes should be worn. (i.e. open-toed, slip-on shoes are not appropriate because they pose a safety risk for children involved in physical activity.)
• “Blowouts” on flip-flops/sandals are very common. If flip-flops or sandals are to be worn, please send additional back-up shoes.
• Hats/caps, bandanas, and sweatbands may be worn to school, however; it is the teacher’s discretion to allow students to wear indoors and during outdoor activities (i.e. recess), but they need to be removed when indoors. (Except during special events.) Hoodies cannot cover the face and limit vision. “Mask” versions are popular but cannot be entirely zipped up over the face.
Thank you for your help in ensuring your child dresses appropriately for school. When students dress in a manner that reflects the belief that school is important, a more focused atmosphere is created, which helps to improve achievement.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS, DELAYED OPENING, EARLY DISMISSAL
Inclement weather or other factors may result in school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissal. School closing will be announced over local radio stations. Close contact is maintained with the District Transportation office, Bus Company, Highway Department, Weather Bureau, and News Media.
Closing decisions are made as early as possible. On a questionable day, listen to the radio or check the District 51 website at www.d51schools.org rather than call the District office or the school.
In the event of an early school dismissal, parents will be notified. If parents cannot be reached, the emergency contact person will be called.
CURRENT PHONE NUMBERS AND NAMES ARE IMPORTANT - PLEASE KEEP THIS INFORMATION UP TO DATE.
Drills
We will have a fire drill once a month. In addition, we will have a shelter-in-place drill once a year and two, lock-down drills - one each semester.
In the event of an emergency, 911 will be called first and then the parent/guardian contact.
In case of serious injury or illness (but not an emergency) of any student at school, the home is called first. If a parent cannot be reached at the home or work number, the people listed as the emergency contacts are called next.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE EMERGENCY/ENROLLMENT FORM VERY CAREFULLY. COMPLETE, ACCURATE INFORMATION, INCLUDING HOME AND WORK PHONE NUMBERS, ARE VERY IMPORTANT!
IF THERE IS A CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER, INFORM THE SCHOOL PROMPTLY.
All students in Mesa County Valley School District 51 will have access to free healthy, nutritious school meals beginning in the 2023-24 school year thanks to the Healthy School Meals for All program approved by Colorado voters.
1. Just like in previous years, it’s important for families to still provide their household income information when requested by their district. While meals will be provided for free to all students in participating schools, it’s important for districts to continue gathering this information in order to receive full access to federal funding. This packet includes an application for meal benefits, and a set of detailed instructions. You can also find applications at all school locations, at the Nutrition Services office located at 2280 East Main St. Grand Junction or apply online at www.MySchoolApps.com. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process
2. We enjoy visitors for lunch. We ask that you wait until 2nd quarter to come and visit.
4. After the original free lunch - extra lunch costs: (subject to change) daily $3.25 - weekly $16.25 for students and $4.60 for adults. Extra milk or juice .90/day - $4.50/week.
5. Breakfast is free and is served between 8:35-8:50 a.m. Extra breakfast costs are $2.25 for students and $2.75 for adults.
Lunch Times
Kindergarten - 1:15 - 1:35
1st - 12:20 - 12:40
2nd - 12:40 - 1:00
3rd - 12:00 - 12:20
4th - 1:00 - 1:20
5th - 1:20 - 1:40
LUNCH ROOM ROAR EXPECTATIONS:
1. Walk and talk quietly while entering the cafeteria
2. Use quiet voices when talking with students at your table
3. Food should not be shared or traded for safety
4. Clean your area before you leave
5. Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat
6. All food and drink must remain in the cafeteria
You can find our menus, including nutritional values here: https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/RimRockElementary
Because of the number of medications given at school and the number of individuals who may be trained to dispense medication, no medication will be given at school unless the above criteria are met. Over The Counter medication such as aspirin, cough drops and cough syrup cannot be administered unless parents have signed a “Request for Medication to be Given at School” form, including exact dosage and time to administer the medication. OTC medications must be in their original container. These items must also be kept in the Health Assistant's Office - they cannot be carried by students.
School personnel shall provide the time and place for students to take properly prescribed and authorized medication.
Students should not carry/be in possession of any medications at any time - this includes cough drops, cough syrup, aspirin, etc.
Safety and Flow of Traffic in Our Parking Lot
Drop off is not as busy due to families coming at different times; however, we ask that you do not leave your car unattended at the curb at any time. If you need to run into the building, please park in one of the parking spots.
To keep students safe, help with the flow of cars and prevent staff and parents from being blocked in, we have the following expectations:
*Stay in your car if you stop along the curb. The curb is for PICK UP / DROP OFF ONLY.
*Avoid stopping in the areas marked in red or outlined with cones. Please do not block the curve at the end of the parking lot - pull forward, or park in a spot so we can keep traffic moving.
*If you are going into the building, please park in a parking space or along the road – not behind parked cars or along the curb or in the bus loop.
*For Safety reasons children are instructed to remain on the sidewalk until escorted by an adult to cars out in our parking lot. Please help us reinforce this procedure by discussing this procedure with your child and not waving them out to your vehicle.
*If you are parking on the dirt path along the fence, please park with your car facing South.
*Many families/students walk and ride to school together – please remember, for safety reasons, all bikes, scooters and skateboards need to be walked on campus – this includes adults as well as older and younger siblings.
*Please refrain from cell phone use in our parking lot.
*Please do not block the handicap designated spots or ramps.
In addition, you can park all along J 6/10 – you can also park along the west side of South Fremont Street – however, it is a no parking zone along the east side (the fence side).
Please do not pull into our bus loop at any time during the hours of 8:10 am to 4:30 pm.
Our district prohibits any dogs or cats on school grounds (except service animals). Our policy includes pets walking onto our grounds to and from school. Basically, our furry friends should not be on school grounds unless confined within a vehicle. As most of you know, I am an animal lover and enjoy seeing all of your pets; however, we need to follow the required State Health Departments guidelines (‘Rules and Regulations Governing Schools in the State of Colorado’, Regulation 3-402) and Board Policy IMC-R (Animals on School Premises).
Students are not to leave the playground without permission from an adult on duty. Students should not talk to strangers on or around school property. Students should notify an adult with a school ID if they see a stranger.
School ground rules before, during and after school:
⮚ Take turns, share kindly, and be respectful of others.
⮚ Pushing or pulling other students is not acceptable.
⮚ Tackle games are not permitted.
⮚ Running or standing on top of playground equipment is not permitted.
⮚ Leave rocks, sticks and snow on the ground.
⮚ The fence and backstop are not climbing areas.
⮚ Food and drink must stay in the cafeteria.
⮚ Inappropriate language is unacceptable.
⮚ Stay on the playground and in view of the adult on duty.
Specific Guidelines:
SWINGS
✔ One person at a time on the swing.
✔ Stay out of swing pit until it is your turn.
✔ No standing or swinging on your stomach.
✔ No twisting in the swing.
✔ Do not jump out of swing.
SLIDES
✔ One person on slide at a time.
✔ No gravel or toys on the slide.
✔ Go down feet first and on your bottom.
✔ No climbing up or out of slide.
BARS
✔ No jumping or flipping off the bars.
✔ No standing on the bars.
✔ No buddy stunts.
✔ No penny drops.
GROUND GAMES
✔ No tackle games.
✔ Only plastic bats, tennis balls and whiffle balls are allowed for baseball games.
✔ Establish rules before game is started.
BALLS
✔ No hard balls i.e. golf balls, baseballs, softballs.