Rockbrook Reminder
Rockbrook's Weekly Updates - Sept 25, 2020
New District and School Website!
Community Club Room Parents Still Needed
- Teacher Support Gifts - We know that if we take care of our teachers they'll take care of our kids! This year we'd like to encourage families to donate gift cards, treats and other supports to help our teachers during these challenging times. Room parents are a key point of contact to help promote these efforts and come up with ideas for how we can support the hard working staff at our school.
- TAGG & Dining Out Reminders - Two ways our school can easily help raise money to support our kids is through TAGG and our Dining out Nights. Room Parents can help us be that reminder to their class's families to be a part of these efforts and also give families a chance to connect.
- PARTIES - COMING SOON WE HOPE! - We should know by the end of September what class parties and school-wide activities will look like. Our hope is that we will once again be able to have parents facilitating these in person, but if not, we will still need our Room Parents to help coordinate donations, planning that the teacher could implement, and ideas that can make these fun events possible for our kids. Room Parents fill an important role when it comes to contacting volunteers.
We hope you'll consider signing up as a Room Parent or a contributor for one or all of these ways that we can help to support our school. #BulldogStrong
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044FAFAC2FA4F85-rockbrook
Parent-Teacher Communication
Downloading Webex for Parent Use
At this time we would encourage families wanting to meet via Webex with their teacher to download the application to their personal device. It's available for a variety of devices and can be accessed with or without an account.
https://www.webex.com/downloads.html
Be sure to download the blue Meetings App, not Teams
Please Help Us With Safe Traffic at Drop Off & Pick Up
North Lot:
- If possible it is best to drop off or pick up your child in the traffic loop. Many of our traffic jams occur when students are needing to cross traffic or when cars need to pull out from parking spots.
- If your child needs assistance buckling in, this is one time that it is preferable to park in a parking spot rather than the traffic line.
- If your child is not in their pick-up location after school, please make a second loop using the left-hand lane. The right-hand lane is reserved for exiting.
- For older students, consider having them walk to an adjacent street (see diagram of recommended locations). Students can be picked up behind the school on 109th, cross at Castelar, or cross at Martha Street. In the past, some families have also picked up by parking at the north side of the field along Martha to wait for their child.
South Lot
- The South Lot is typically reserved for Kindergarten students and their siblings.
- For drop off, we ask that older siblings walk up to the north end if you want to drop them both off at the South Lot.
- For pick-up, older siblings will meet their kindergarten siblings at the South Lot to make pick up easier.
For either lot, if you do need to get out of your vehicle we ask that both children and adults 5 years and older wear masks if they will be closer than 6ft to students and staff at any time.
Remembering to Watch Our Distance
Student Health Screening
Dear Parents:
In compliance with Nebraska State Requirements (Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-248), Westside School District, will be providing a General Health Screening for new students and all students in grades K-4. This screening will include height, weight, vision and hearing. All data will be kept confidential. Our goal is to begin screenings September 21, and have them completed by December 18, 2020. We will adhere to COVID 19 guidelines with social distancing and cleaning of equipment. You will receive a letter from the District Nurses if the screening results are abnormal or any concerns arise with the results.
Sincerely,
Garret Higginbotham, Principal
CARES Act - Free Meals for Westside Students
Hello, Westside families,
We have great news! The USDA and NDE Nutrition Services have provided additional funding as an extension of the CARES act due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Until further notice all Westside current K-12 students will receive breakfast and lunch meals for FREE. This opportunity will run through the end of the calendar year 2020 or until directed by the NDE Nutrition Services. Meals included are all student meals served in Westside Community Schools as well as those meals taken home for extended campus learning. (Any extra servings, bottled water, or grab and go items above and beyond a complete breakfast and lunch will be charged accordingly.) We are hopeful this will help our students and families as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Nothing needs to be done to receive the benefits of this program.
Please note, while this program will run retroactively from September 1, we strongly encourage you, if you have not already, to fill out our Free/Reduced Meals Application. This could benefit your family when this extension ends. CLICK HERE to review: https://www.myschoolapps.com/. ALL STUDENTS at WESTBROOK and WESTGATE Elementary Schools receive FREE MEALS under the Nebraska Department of Education’s Community Eligibility Provision. This will stay in effect for the entire school year.
For all extended campus learning we will continue to provide take home meals. Pick-up will take place each Wednesday at your child’s school through the remainder of the first quarter. We will follow the same practices we have had in place since the start of the school year, and need all families who intend to use this service to sign up so we have enough meals available. CLICK HERE to sign up (this is anonymous, but will allow our Nutrition Services team to prepare as needed.) https://forms.gle/m8cEQawscdeWxe5b6
For meals taken for extended campus learning, please note the following:
- We will provide 1 day or 5 days worth of lunch or breakfast and lunch for each child in your household, depending on need.
- Pick-up times are 8:30 AM-12:30 PM each Wednesday at your child’s school. There is also a 4:00 PM-6:00 PM pick-up option for K-8 students at the WMS and WHS and West Campus students at WHS.
- When you arrive, please tell the front office you are there to pick-up meals, and a nutrition service member will bring the meals to you.
Finally, please know we have additional resources available at Westside Community Schools to ensure our students and families are supported. If you would like to access the Westside Food Pantry or the Westside Clothing Closet, please contact your child’s principal or Director of Student Services Robert Aranda at Aranda.robert@westside66.net. These resources are available to our families on an anonymous and private basis.
Thank you!
Westside Community Schools
Rockbrook Calendar
Emotional Wellbeing
In addition, this year we have expanded our curriculum, SecondStep, to include their Bullying prevention program.
If your child is experiencing particular difficulties (whether related to the pandemic or other life circumstances) and you would like to explore options for additional support we encourage you to contact our School Psychologist, Ms. Davis (davis.lisa@westside66.org) who can help in coordinating additional supports and resources.
Specials - September 28th - October 9th
Our specials are currently operating on a 2 week cycle to reduce the number of students they come in contact with during a typical week. For the next two week's Rockbrook's Specials will be Music and Art. The Specials website is still the place to go, but lesson swill be posted rather than live.
Visitors
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.
Rockbrook School Design Goal:
At Rockbrook we will support significant growth in student math skills through high-quality instruction and differentiation to promote student success on classroom, district, and state assessments.
Email: veldhuis.courtney@westside66.net
Website: www.westside66.org/rockbrook
Location: 2514 South 108th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 402-390-6475
Facebook: facebook.com/RockbrookElementary
Twitter: @Rockbrook66