Rockbrook Reminder
Rockbrook's Weekly Updates - Sept 18, 2020
Its Been a Great First Couple of Days
Thank you for your support and patience both when we were operating in Yellow Status and now as we have moved into Green Status. It's great to see our classes with both our in-person and virtual learners providing great opportunities for our kids. We continue to be committed to being champions in the 3-W's: Wash Your Hands - Wear a Mask - Watch Your Distance. These help us to be able to provide the opportunity for students to be here in person.
Next week we have no school on Monday for Staff Professional Learning. We will have school Tuesday through Friday with Wednesday being a 3:30pm dismissal.
We hope that everyone enjoys the 3-day weekend and look forward to seeing your child(ren) back on Tuesday!
Sincerely,
Mr. Higginbotham
Parent-Teacher Communication
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. 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.
Mask Wearing Reminder
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 14th-25th
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 PE and Library. The Specials website is still the place to go, but lesson swill be posted rather than live.
Library Check-Out: We are excited to announce that our libraries will once again be able to check out books to students. Please see our safety practices for this listed below.
Visitors
Deliveries During the School Day
It happens to all of us. We forget something we needed for school or work at home. Fortunately, sometimes parents are able to drop items off for their child. To keep student focus on learning we would ask that such items be dropped off to the office. We are happy to deliver these to your child or have your child’s teacher pick them up at an appropriate time.
Student Illness
Office personnel will notify parents/guardian when a student needs to be sent home from school due to illness. Conditions requiring a student be sent home include: temperature greater than 100.0°F, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained rashes, or on determination by the school nurse that the child’s condition prevents meaningful participation in the educational program, presents a health risk to the child or others, or that medical consultation is warranted unless the condition resolves.
Parents should complete the online Annual Information Update each year to verify that emergency daytime phone numbers are current so that parents can be reached if their child becomes ill or is injured while at school. Parents should also inform the School Nurse or Health Assistant of health-related information they feel is important for each child’s safety and success at school.
When is My Child Too Sick for School
Send me to school if...
· I have a runny nose or just a little cough but no other symptoms.
· I haven't taken any fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours and I haven't had a fever during that time.
· I haven't thrown up or had any diarrhea for 24 hours
Keep me at home if...
· I have a temperature higher than 100 degrees even after taking medicine.
· I'm throwing up or have diarrhea.
· My eyes are pink and crusty.
Call the doctor if...
· I have a temperature higher than 100 degrees for more than two days.
· I have been throwing up or have diarrhea for more than two days
· I have the sniffles for more than a week and they aren't getting better.
· I still have asthma symptoms after using my asthma medicine (and call 911 if I'm having trouble breathing after using my inhaler.)
Rockbrook Recess Equipment
Each grade level at Rockbrook has a set of recess equipment. Having each grade level with their own equipment encourages students to be responsible with the equipment, ensures all classes have similar access, and offers greater variety for students to play. We ask that students not bring equipment from home.
What We Do in the Event of Weather
We are lucky in Nebraska to get to enjoy all 4 seasons. This also means that at times the weather gets in the way of our fun and plans. Below is a brief description of our procedures when the weather is not cooperating:
Cold Weather: So long as temperatures are 10° or warmer, students will be outside for recess, arrival, dismissal, safety patrol, and other outdoor activities.
Rain: When rain is heavy enough that students would get considerably wet, or when there is thunder or lightning, students will be kept inside or brought inside. In addition, if conditions have been such that fields are muddy, access to dirt and grass areas may be restricted as well as playground equipment if it is deemed too slick for safe play.
Severe Weather: If the National Weather Service issues a Thunderstorm Warning students are kept inside. In the event of a Tornado Warning, students are moved to our area of refuge at the south end of the building. Families coming to the school during this time are encouraged to take shelter with us until the warning has passed.
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: http://rockbrook.westside66.org
Location: 2514 South 108th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 402-390-6475
Facebook: facebook.com/RockbrookElementary
Twitter: @Rockbrook66