Rockbrook Reminder
Rockbrook Elementary School's Weekly Updates | 3-15-19
TAGG Challenge
Since Rockbrook registered, we've seen steady growth in the use of this easy way to raise money for the school. During the month of April, we'll be hosting our first Rockbrook TAGG Challenge. When families TAGG their purchases during April we'll keep track of the giving by class. What's more, the two classes with the top giving will receive a special surprise.
Spring Pictures - March 28th
Classroom Placements
We are fortunate at Rockbrook to have a high quality, caring, and dedicated staff of educators who strive to meet the needs of every child. Our teams of teachers are insightful and qualified and put a great deal of care and effort to best fit each child’s educational needs with the right teacher.
During the last quarter of the year, our staff begins the challenging task of creating the class lists for the next school year. This task involves many people and a great deal of thought, as we do our best to:
Balance
When a classroom is balanced, the students are more successful, learning is easier, and the teacher is able to meet the needs of the learners in attendance. Teams of teachers go over criteria such as male/female ratio, academic needs and talents, and special programming to ensure classrooms have even and diverse representation.
Build Equity
We also work to see that all classrooms resemble each other in leadership abilities, social skills, peer relationships, individual learning styles and teaching styles, and classroom dynamics (behavior, social, emotional, and personality considerations among students).
Finding the Right Match
We recognize that parents are an important part of our team and a crucial advocate for their child’s success. With so many variables, granting every teacher request would not be possible and might not match with the careful planning teachers do in preparing suggested lists. In addition, children need to work in and with a variety of circumstances now and in the future, in terms of personnel, peers, and environment.
If there is a circumstance you feel we should consider, please do the following:
• Make a formal request in writing (by email is acceptable) no later than April 5, 2019
• Requests should reference your child’s learning style and type, not the specific teacher you wish them to have.
• If there has been a request made in a previous year that still applies, such as not placing your child with another particular student, please include this in writing to make sure we are aware of the necessary details again, for placement in the 2019-2020 school year.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. Class assignments will be mailed individually in August, prior to the start of school.
PAWS for Change
During the week of March 25th through March 29th students will be collecting change in the classrooms. We would greatly appreciate your support in any amount possible.
National Geographic GeoBee
This school year, our ten elementary schools and Westside Middle School each held a Geography Bee for students in grades 4 - 8. The school-level competition is just the first round in the annual National Geographic GeoBee, a geography competition designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world. Questions cover not only geography, but also cultures, physical features, history and earth science. The second round required each school champion to take an online qualifying test in January to see if they could progress to the state competition. Up to 100 of the top test scorers throughout each state then become eligible to compete in their state's GeoBee.
Congratulations to the following students from Westside Community Schools, who are eligible to compete in Nebraska's State Geo Bee on March 29th, 2019:
Paddock Road: Piper Zatechka
Rockbrook: Caden Atwater
Swanson: Leo Konigsberg
Sunset: Sam Schafer
Loveland: Ethan Brooks
Westside Middle School: Owen Schafer
The winners of each State GeoBee receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C. in May to participate in the GeoBee National Championship, competing for cash prizes, scholarships and an all-expenses-paid Lindblad expedition to the Galápagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour ll. Learn more at www.natgeobee.org.
Movie Night Success!
If you weren't able to make it this time we hope you'll join us next year for this fun time together with friends and family.
6th Grade Elementary Speech Contest
The Kiwanis Elementary Speech Contest was held Friday, March 8th at the Westside Middle School Performing Arts Center. Sixth graders from across the district prepared speeches on the topic, "Tragedy and Triumph" and each school selected one student to attend the district contest. The first, second, and third place winners will attend a luncheon hosted by the Kiwanis on March 13th along with their classroom teacher and families. Congratulations to all students!
1st Place: Elaina K., Prairie Lane
2nd Place: Marina D., Oakdale
3rd Place: Joe Simon, Paddock Road
Bella G., Hillside
Violet C., Loveland
Cora S., Rockbrook
Alex I., Sunset Hills
Travis A., Swanson
Lisa F., Westbrook
Josie C., Westgate
Thank You For Your Support At Conferences!
The Rockbrook Read-A-Thon - Wrapping It Up
Thank You! to all who journeyed down the Yellow Brick Road with us during our Rockbrook Read-A-Thon. We are so excited to see how many minutes of reading students were able to record and to keep moving toward our Outdoor Classroom space through the pledges. In addition, students who turned in pledge slips received more than 175 books as part of our daily drawings.
When we return from Spring Break we'll be announcing our winners for top pledges and top minutes read in our K-2 and 3-6 grade ranges. Winners will receive Amazon Gift Cards!
We'll also be rewarding our top minutes read and top pledges raised students in both our K-2 and 3-6 grade ranges with Amazon Gift Cards!
If for any reason you weren't able to bring in your forms on Friday, March 15th. please do so on Monday, March 25th. Pledge money can also still be turned in or payments made online at http://tinyurl.com/RBReadAThon19
We Need Your Recycleables
Cardboard boxes (big and medium size)
Cereal boxes, granola bar boxes, Tissue boxes, paper towel tubes
Empty berry containers
Empty cupcake containers
Westside Community Schools Peer Model Pre-School
Information
Application
Battle of the Books Update
We are looking forward to seeing all of the teams on the morning of Saturday, March 30th at the Westside Middle School!
We have sent out a couple communications in the last few weeks. If you are a team parent and did not receive them, please be sure to check your spam folder and mark us as a "safe sender."
Wondering what the battle will be like? There is a lot of information on our website. We will be updating this information as the event gets closer. If you have a question that is not answered, please send us an email.
Next Community Club Meeting - April 16th @ 6:00pm
Band-O-Rama Is Coming
Dropping Off Your Child? Please Bring Them In & Sign Them In
March Dining Out for Education Events
Important Dates
March
12 Parent/Teacher Conferences (1st night)
12 Runza Dining Out for Education Night
14 Parent/Teacher Conferences (2nd night)
18-22 Spring Break
20 Don & Millie’s Dining Out for Education Night
21 Down Syndrome Awareness Day
29 Spring Community Breakfast 7:45 a.m.
28 Band-O-Rama, WHS 7:00 p.m.
29 Jones Bros Dining Out for Education Night
Safety Patrol
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 increase student engagement and achievement through Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports for social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs.
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