Parks Press for Parents
Rosa Parks.Millbrook ISSDA
August 30-September 3, 2021
Week 3: Making Progress
As we continue to press through the next few weeks, we will engage in assessments and screening activities to help us determine how to best meet the needs of all of our scholars. As teachers make contact, please be as forthcoming as possible with information that will be useful for them when helping your scholar. We encourage you on a daily basis to review your student's agenda and check your dojo account for any important information or messages shared.
On last week we shared the RPM Student/Parent Handbook. Students also have a copy of their version of the handbook in the front of their agenda. Please review these documents with your student to help each other understand the expectations and operations at Rosa Parks.
As always, we thank you for teaming up with us as we continue the work of building children, character, and community everyday.
Morning Arrival
Breakfast begins at 7:30 and ends at 7:55a.m.
Instruction begins 8:00a.m.
MAP Assessments: Kinder-5th Grade
Masks Required
LancasterISD requires all individuals to wear a face mask inside all district campuses, building, and school buses.
Masks are required in the school building throughout the school day. Please help us by talking with your students about the importance off wearing their mask at all time with the exception of when they are eating. We also ask that you ensure that your child has on a properly fitted mask before exiting your vehicle each morning. Thank you for helping to keep each other healthy and safe.From the Desk of Nurse Tori
Operation Safe Tiger Return
Circumstances related to COVID-19 may change throughout the coming school year, as such, so with the response of our district. We encourage you to carefully read and review the plan regularly to remain up-to-date with changes as it relates to students, staff, and community stakeholders. Within the plan, you will find the district's expectations with regards to:
- Virus Prevention Strategies
- Health Reporting Procedures for students, staff, and visitors
- Quarantine and Return to Work Protocol
- Instructional Pivot Process (if needed)
See plan here: https://www.lancasterisd.org/domain/1545 or by clicking the OSTR image.
Word of the Week - Caring
Last week's Work of the Week was Caring. Students discussed and practiced use of the word caring throughout the week. As we introduce new character words each week, we ask you to review them with your scholar in an effect to build their social and emotional character vocabulary as well as academic.
Monday: verb
Tuesday: feeling or showing concern for or kindness to others
Wednesday: It is important to be kind and caring to others.
Thursday: acting out in kindness, using please and thank you
Friday: Encourage your student to use the word of the week in a sentence. Submit it to your child's teacher by Thursday, and it may be included on the morning announcements.
For tips on how to help your child with being a caring individual see the article linked below.
Helping Students Find Balance with Technology
One of the biggest challenges facing parents today is how—and how much—to reduce the amount of time their children spend on electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, video games, TV, and computers. It's an issue not just with older kids, many of whom are practically attached to a cell phone, but with younger children as well. It's not uncommon to see babies and toddlers starring at screens given to them by parents who are trying to find something that'll distract or calm a child, and often, that early tech use transitions right into constant screen time as kids get older. It's such a prominent problem that the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) issued new recommendations for kids' media use. Here's what they advise:
Kids 2 to 5 years: limited screen time to one hour a day of high-quality programs; parents should view with kids.
Kids 6 and older: consistent limits on screen time; limits on types of media; and making sure screen use does not interfere with kids getting enough exercise and sleep.
The AAP also recommends that parents establish screen-free times (such as during dinner) and no-screen areas in the home (such as in bedrooms). And in a nod to the dangers of cyberbullying and online safety, the AAP also suggests that parents talk to kids about online safety and being respectful to others online.
Important Things Kids Miss Out On When They’re Engaging With Screens
1. Reading Books. The best way to encourage kids to read and nurture a love of books is to read to them and with them, and setting an example by picking up some books you love and getting into them yourself. Make reading an integral part of your child’s bedtime routine and be sure your child spends as much time with a book as she does with a screen. If your child is on a screen instead of in a book, that’s a big learning loss.
2. Connecting With Parents and Siblings. Designating times and places in your home that are screen-free by banning tech devices from the family dinner table and talking to each other about your day and current events, for instance, is an important way to reconnect and really be with one another.
3. Socializing With Friends. Technology use means that free/play, fully engaged social interaction, and non-electronic games like board games, outdoor games, or just tossing a ball around outside, will tend to take a back seat.
4. Playing Outside. Physical activity is important for kids' health, and even if your child’s school has an excellent physical education program, it’s beneficial for kids’ mental, emotional, and physical health to go outside and run around and play.
Excerpts from the article, Reasons Why You Should Unplug Your Kids From Technology.
5th Grade Students Participate in L.E.A.D. Program
LancasterISD and Rosa Parks/Millbrook have once again partnered with the Law Enforcement Against Drugs leadership program for our 5th Grade scholars in an effort to ensure that law enforcement agencies have the means to partner with our educators, community leaders, and families. L.E.A.D. provides a proven and effective program to deter youth and adults from drug use, drug related crimes, bullying, and violence. We are thankful for this commitment to reinforcing mutual respect, goodwill, and relations between law enforcement and our school community.
Dismissal
Attendance Matters
If your child must be absent due to illness or other reason, a doctor's note or written excuse must be emailed to our attendance office at: anitawilson@lancasterisd.org. Excuse notices must be received within three days of the student absence.
College Wednesdays
Spirit Shirts/$1 Jean Fridays
Students are able to wear jeans for $1 with a regular school uniform shirt or school spirit shirt on Fridays. Jeans may not be ripped or torn. Parents of students not dressed according to district/campus policy will receive a call for a change of clothes. The money raised from our jean days is used to supply our Tiger Box. Students are earn Tiger Bucks each day for hard work or for demonstrating positive character. These Tiger Bucks may be spent to buy treats in our Tiger Box throughout the year. We encourage you to support this worthwhile initiative as we strive to celebrate students who are doing the right thing and moving in a positive direction.
RPM vs The GAP 2021-2022 Season Schedule
Aug. 30 Math Assessments
Aug. 31 Reading Assessments
Sept. 1 Science Assessments
Sept. 1 Hispanic Heritage Quiz Bowl Team Interest Meeting (Students only - 3:00pm)
Sept. 2 Language Usage Assessments
Sept. 6 Labor Day (No school)
Sept. 15 Hispanic Heritage Month begins
Sept. 20-24 College Go Get it Week
Sept. 24 1st Six Weeks ends
Sept. 27 2nd Six Weeks Begins
Oct. 4 Parent Teacher Conference (4:00-7:00pm)
Oct. 11 District Holiday
Oct. 15 Hispanic Heritage Month ends
Oct. 25 Staff Development (No school)
Yvonne M. Thornton, M.Ed.
Rosa Parks/Millbrook Information Systems & Software Design Academy
#BeRPM: Building Children, Character, And Community Everyday
“A hundred years from now it will not matter, what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove; but the world would be different because I was important in the life of a child.”
~Forest Whitcraft
Email: yvonnethornton@lancasterisd.org
Website: https://www.lancasterisd.org/Domain/16
Location: 630 Millbrook Drive, Lancaster, TX, USA
Phone: 972-218-1564
Facebook: facebook.com/RPMElementary
Twitter: @RPM_ISSD