Rocketeer Newsletter
Rock Creek Elementary - Oct. 10, 2019
Rock Creek is a candidate school for
the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme
Rock Creek School Hours- Monday thru Friday 8:30-3:00
Please Note: There is no early release this year.
No School Tomorrow- October 11th
Upcoming Events
10/14 District Wide Earthquake Drill
10/16 Rock Creek Students attend Westview Play
10/16 Rock Creek Corner Dine In PTC Fundraiser
10/16- 10/24 Book Fair
10/18 Rocket Run Pledges Due
10/28 Hearing Screening K-2
10/29 Art Lit Training 7 pm (Art Literacy Portable)
10/30 Art Lit Training 9:00 am (Art Literacy Portable)
10/31 Class Parties
11/1 No School for students- Grading Day
11/7 No School for Rock Creek Students- Parent/Teacher Conferences
11/8 No School for Rock Creek Students
Thank You Rocket Run Coordinators!
Student Arrival Time- Doors open at 8:15 AM
Students should not arrive before 8:15 am. The doors are locked and there is no supervision for students. Please remind your students not to block the doorway. We ask that students sit on the benches outside the front doors until the door is unlocked. After 8:15 am, students can go to the cafeteria OR proceed to other supervised areas.
Background Checks
Please be aware: For the safety of our students, it is our policy that all adults that are on school property during school hours for events: Rocket Run, Class Parties, Pioneer Day etc. need to have an approved background check with the Beaverton School District. Please fill one out today, it may take 3 weeks to be approved:
https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/communications-community-involvement/volunteer
ROCK CREEK ATTENDING WESTVIEW PLAY
On Wednesday, October 16th, Rock Creek students will be attending a play at Westview High School (Junie B Jones is not a Crook). Students will be unavailable for pick-up between 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. If a student must be picked up, we ask that you pick them up by 12:30 pm. Please call the office with any questions, 503-356-2450.
Rocket Run Pledges
It is time to start collecting pledge money and returning it to school to your students teacher or the front office. Please return the pledge sheet and envelope with your pledge donations.
For Online Donations: Setup Pledge Star for collecting pledges online
- Go to http://pledgestar.com/rockcreek
- Follow the instructions on-screen
Pledge money is due by Friday, October 18th to qualify for prizes.
Fall Class Parties- Thursday, October 31st
Room party volunteers will be hosting the parties in classrooms on Thursday, October 31st. Our goal is for students to enjoy their classroom parties and socialize while demonstrating good citizenship and making good choices.
During the fall party, children have an option of wearing Halloween costumes. Please remember costumes should not be worn to school. Costumes should be brought in a bag and be easy for students to put on over their clothes. Costumes are taken off before leaving for the day. Please help your child use good judgment if they are bringing a costume to school. No gruesome or scary costumes, no masks and no pretend weapons of any kind, are allowed. Hair color or face paint may not be applied at school. Volunteers that choose to dress up for the parties are expected to follow the same guidelines for costumes.
Please be aware, only background cleared volunteers will be able to assist with the classroom parties. Visitors and younger siblings will not be able to attend the classroom parties. All volunteers must sign in on the volunteer computer and wear their badges.
Please let your child's teacher know if you do not want your child to participate in the party. You can pick them up early or they can go to an alternative setting during this time.
Recess Runners Information
Due to the lack of volunteers this year for Recess Runners, we will only be offering Recess Runners once a week during recess time on Wednesdays. In order to give students the best chance of achieving their goal of running a marathon, we are allowing students to run laps once a week (or 4 times per month) and have parents/guardians count and record them. Please fill out the form attached and submit it at least every two months so we can update our master tracking sheet. Students should also be participating in Recess Runners on Wednesdays during their lunch recess. This is to be supplemental, not a replacement to participating during recess. Students will earn a shoe token for every 50 laps completed and a marathon t-shirt once 262 laps have been completed. Only one t-shirt per school year will be awarded.
If you are interested in volunteering for Recess Runners on Wednesdays, please email Sarah Morriss at semorriss@gmail.com or show up for the first session on Wednesday, October 16th between 11:05 and 1:20.
Connect with your Parent Teacher Club!
Volunteer opportunities, events and fundraising, oh my! Get the latest news on all your favorite PTC activities by connecting with us.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockCreekElementarySchool/
Website: www.rockcreekptc.org
Text: text @rcptc to 81019
Calling all 5th grade parents
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Book Fair
The Rock Creek Arctic Adventure Book Fair starts next week and we need many volunteers! Shifts include set-up on October 15th from 3-4:30pm, cashier and help during the afternoon and after school October 16th - 24th and clean-up October 24th from 3-4pm. Please CLICK HERE to sign up for a shift. Our wonderful book fair happens once a year and is not possible with the help from our volunteers!
Art Literacy
There are still many classrooms without volunteers to lead this amazing program. Our kiddos need your help so please sign into Better Impact, click on your child's class, and let's make this happen! We promise that you will love helping all our Rock Creek budding artists create their masterpieces!
Art Literacy is a wonderful program that brings art education into the classroom while enhancing overall literacy. Volunteers will lead a project with a featured artist every other month. Time commitment is typically 1-2 hours per project. Please CLICK HERE to sign up!
For questions contact Amanda Rust rcartlit@gmail.com.
Recess Runners
We need volunteers for our Recess Runners program! Sadly, this awesome program is in jeopardy of not happening this year if we don't have volunteers to help!
Join our students during their lunch recess to help count and record their laps. This is a super fun activity that happens twice a week rain or shine! Our little runners love earning a t-shirt once they run 26.2 miles (262 laps of the track)! This program can't run without the help of our awesome volunteers!
Email semorriss@gmail.com for questions. Time commitment is about 1-2 hours per week.
Thank you for volunteering!
Katie & Nancy
Volunteer Coordinators
A Book Blizzard is Heading Our Way.
The Rock Creek Arctic Adventure Book Fair is starting on the 16th of October and running through the 24th. A book fair flier will be coming home shortly. Look for a new way to buy using eWallet, Scholastic's new digital payment option. You can also choose to shop online starting the 11th of October through the 24th.
Shopping Hours: 10: 50 -1:20 students may come down during lunch recess if they have money with them to purchase items.
3:10 - 4:00 after school except the 24th
Thursday the 17th and Monday the 21st open until 4:30
So come down and chill out with some great books that you can add to your own library.
Connie Hilger
Rock Creek LMA
3rd thru 5th Grade Students-OBOB is starting!
Information about Oregon Battle of the Books should be coming home sometime this week with your child. It is an exciting reading competition to exercise the mind! Completed team forms are due by Halloween. Please email any questions to KatieEMurry@hotmail.com. I am excited for the games to begin!!
Rock Creek Apparel Information
TAG Testing Information
TAG Testing -
Every year students are considered for Talented and Gifted services in Beaverton School District. These services are provided by your child's classroom teacher(s). If you think your child might qualify, you may wish to complete the Parent Information Form that is attached. Completing this form gives our school TAG committee more information about your child, but it is not required. All qualified students will be considered regardless of its completion.
Oregon law and District policy define gifted students as those who score at or above the 97th percentile on a standardized, nationally normed test of mental ability and/or academic achievement. Behavioral, learning, and/or performance information is also considered before a student is identified for TAG services.
The Parent Information Form must be completed and returned to our school’s TAG facilitator, classroom teacher or the school’s office by Friday, October 18th.
Nutrition Meal Benefits- Apply for Free & Reduced Meal Benefits Before Oct 15th
October 15th, 2019 is the last day students will receive free meals from last year’s benefits.
Every family must re-apply for Meal Benefits every school year. If you’ve already received a letter that says your students are Approved for Benefits, you do not need to do anything further.
Go to www.schoolcafe.com to apply today! Or pick up a paper application at any school and turn it in quickly.
As a parent or guardian, you are responsible to pay for all meals received at school. If your application is not processed before October 15th, your students will go into “Paid” status and you will be responsible to pay for all meals they receive at school.
Avoid a gap in your student’s benefits – apply today!
Applying is confidential and easy. If you need help, please call Meal Benefits at (503)356-3957.
Questions? Call Laurie Bishop
Meal Benefits Specialist
Nutrition Services information is easier to access this year, and we have lots of cool information to share!
Click on the link below to go to SchoolCafe, and see all the things that you can do:
https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/nutrition-services/meals/schoolcafe
All you need is your student’s ID number. If you don’t have that, you can call your school office
or the Meal Benefits line (503-356-3957). Here are some of your options in SchoolCafe:
- Create an account
- Apply for Meal Benefits- Must renew each year before Oct 15th!! Renew now!!
- View and print Meal Benefits letters
- See what items your student is getting in the cafeteria.
- Check your student’s account balance.
- View cafeteria menus
- Set up low balance alerts
- Set up auto-pay (when balance gets to an amount that YOU set, the account is replenished from your credit card)
SchoolCafe can provide amazing amounts of information!
If you do not have access to a computer, you can also apply for Meal Benefits on paper. Applications are available in every school office and cafeteria.
If you have questions or need help, please call Laurie Bishop at Meal Benefits, (503)356-3957 or email us at NS-MealBenefits@beaverton.k12.or.us.
PYP Corner
What is the status of IB PYP schools in Beaverton School District?
Great news! We are excited to be kicking off our 2019 - 2020 year as a PYP Candidate School. The PYP schools are all continuing their work with IB and we plan to have our verification visit at Rock Creek in the fall of 2020.
What does that mean for my child?
Your child will experience the full Programme of Inquiry (POI) this year. Our Programme of Inquiry are units designed by teachers through collaboration that include all of the elements of the PYP. In grades 1 through 5 students will experience six units, and Kindergarten will experience four play based units. During each 4 - 6 week unit students will be immersed in learning engagements that encourage them to take on both local and global perspectives.
What unit is your child focused on?
Kindergarten- Who we are: Rules and responsibilities help us work together
First Grade- Who we are: Actions affect relationship
Second Grade- Who we are: People may agree to work together in order to create a peaceful and productive community
Third Grade- How we organize ourselves: Citizens collaborate to organize themselves
Fourth Grade- Who we are: Individual identity and well being impact the community
Fifth Grade- Who we are: Our need to share our feelings and ideas drives us to find effective ways to communicate
BEF Phone-a-thon
The 21st Beaverton Education Foundation Phone-a-thon takes place October 9-17, 2019. This annual dialing tradition provides critical funds that support innovative educational programs for students in the Beaverton community. During the five-fun-filled nights, more than 350 student volunteers make over 30,000 phone calls, dedicating their time, energy and enthusiasm to supporting BEF programs.
Last year, BEF served over 27,000 Beaverton students in grades K-12, funding 124 academic programs or projects. Through this funding from our supporters and community engagement, $390,603 was invested back into our schools.
This year our goal is to fund 130 projects impacting 30,000 students. Together, we will make it happen.
The Phone campaign and the associated mailings are the Foundations largest fundraising activity of the year. Funds raised are reinvested in a wide variety of after and summer school programs for students at all of Beaverton public schools. Please Answer the Call for our students!
El vigésimo Anual de la Fundación para la Educación de Beaverton, Phone-a-thon, llegará pronto, del 9 al 17 de octubre de 2019. Esta tradición de marcado anual proporciona fondos críticos que apoyan programas educativos innovadores para estudiantes en la comunidad de Beaverton. Durante las cinco noches llenas de diversión, más de 350 estudiantes voluntarios hacen más de 30,000 llamadas telefónicas, dedicando su tiempo, energía y entusiasmo a apoyar los programas BEF.
El año pasado, BEF financió 124 proyectos académicos, sirviendo a más de 27,000 estudiantes de Beaverton en los grados K-12. A través de estos fondos de nuestros partidarios y el compromiso de la comunidad, se invirtieron $ 390,603 en nuestras escuelas. Este año, nuestro objetivo es financiar 130 proyectos que impactan a 30,000 estudiantes.
La campaña telefónica y las reuniones asociadas son las actividades de recaudación de fondos más grandes del año. Los fondos recaudados se reinvierten en una amplia variedad de programas de después y verano para estudiantes en todas las escuelas públicas de Beaverton. Por favor, conteste la llamada para nuestros niños!
Join us Wednesday, October 16 (4– 9pm) at Rock Creek Corner to earn money for your PTC.
Dine-In Only. No To-Go Orders.
November Dine in Fundraiser- It’s Pizza Time Rock Creek!
RSVP here - https://www.groupraise.com/events/113791.
Learning Options Application Process 2020-2021
The Beaverton School District is nationally recognized for high student achievement and innovative programs. Beaverton students in grades 6-12 have the opportunity to investigate learning options that best fit their academic needs. Students can choose their neighborhood school, or apply for one of a number of Learning Option Programs. Transportation is provided.
Applications for the 2020-2021 school year will be available starting Monday, October 14, 2019. Please do some early investigation of the Learning Options Programs online and plan to attend one or more of the open houses that are available. Students may only select one option on their application.
All applicants must reside within the Beaverton School District boundaries. Beginning October 14, current Beaverton School District students are able to apply online using their BSD student ID. Resident students not currently attending a Beaverton school will need to complete a paper application available online, or at any school office beginning October 14, 2019. Applicants who do not have Internet access may also complete a paper application available at any school office. Please give careful consideration to your choice of school. Once an application has been submitted, no changes will be allowed.
Applications must be received no later than Friday, December 6, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. (PST).
OFFICE OF LEARNING OPTIONS
Information Line: 503.356.4440 • FAX: 503.356.4415
Mon., October 14, 2019 ------- Applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be available.
Fri., December 6, 2019 ------- Applications due no later than 4:00 p.m. PST.
Wed., December 11, 2019 ------- Electronic Lottery conducted for the 2020-21 School Year.
Acceptance or wait pool notifications will be sent via email.
Students who are not selected via the lottery will be emailed a Second Consideration application for the school for which they applied where applicable.
Thurs., January 9, 2020 ------- Second Consideration applications due to schools.
Wed., January 29, 2020 ------- Deadline to accept/decline enrollment – by 4:00 p.m. PST
For online links to academic and extra-curricular activities offered in the community, please use this link: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/communications-community-involvement/after-school-activitiesflyers
Rock Creek School Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
No Early Release this year
4125 NW 185th Ave
Portland OR 97229
Main Office-503-356-2450
Attendance-503-356-2451
Fax- 503-356-2455
Principal: Tiffany Wiencken
SAFEOREGON TIP LINE
Keep Rock Creek safe: report any student safety threats to SafeOregon. Tips can be reported by phone or text (844-427-3367), email (tip@safeoregon.com), or online (safeoregon.com). For more information, visit safeoregon.com.