Rocketeer Newsletter
Rock Creek Elementary - March 12, 2020
Weekly Newsletter for Rock Creek Elementary School
Rock Creek is a candidate school for
the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme
"We empower all students to achieve post-high school success"
Time for Kindergarten 2020-2021 Registration! Call for Information!
Upcoming Events
The District has determined that the following school related events are canceled or may be canceled until further notice. We will keep you updated as we hear more.
3/19 -Birthday Lunches with the Principal
3/20 Conference link will close at Noon- Sign up before the deadline!
3/23--3/27-Spring Break- School Closed
3/31- Art Lit Training 7:00 pm (Art Lit Portable)- Canceled until further notice
4/1- Art Lit Training 9:00 am (Art Lit Portable)- Canceled until further notice
4/2- No School for Students- Parent/Teacher Conferences
4/3- No School for Students
4/6- Helm/Brandom Field Trip-Canceled until further notice
4/7-Dilworth/Peerenboom Field Trip- Canceled until further notice
4/9-3rd Grade Innovation Fair - May be Canceled
4/10- No School for Students (Grading Day)
4/17-Blast Off Benefit May be Canceled
4/21- Volunteer Dessert (11:10-1:20) May be Canceled
4/23-SEL Parent Night May be Canceled
4/24- No School for Students (Staff Development)
Rock Creek Cancellations and Important Information
Per District guidelines, we are canceling all Volunteer Activities and Parent visits at Rock Creek School until further notice.
Choir is canceled until further notice.
Science Matters is canceled until further notice.
Please also note,
Effective immediately, we will no longer be able to offer car pick-up at the end of the day dismissal. We can no longer accommodate the number of children that are picked up in this manner. The number has dramatically increased and has exceeded the capacity of the space.
If your student is on a bus route, we highly recommend the bus as your student's first option. If you must pick up your student, please park your car in the parking lot and pick them up from the gym by the undercover area. If your student was previously picked up in the car pick-up, please send a note or email your student's teacher with your new dismissal plan.
School ends at 3:05 pm and all students need to be picked up by 3:15 pm.
Thank you for your understanding.
Assistance for Families
- weekly take home food bags that are given to students on Thursdays to make sure they have food for the weekend
- help with clothes through our district clothes closet
- referrals to our social worker to connect families with outside agency resources that are available in our area
All of these resources can be accessed by contacting our counselor, Michelle Solberg. 503-356-2454 or Michelle_Solberg@beaverton.k12.or.us
Families can also directly contact The Pantry
Their hours are Tuesdays 9-12 & 4-7
They are located at 4470 NW 185th Ave
Portland, OR 97229
Mark Your Calendars – Oregon Experience Day Thursday, May 21st
One of the most memorable, educational and exciting units in the fourth grade is the study of Oregon from its beginning to the present day. Beaverton School District has implemented a curriculum that celebrates our geography, natural resources and inhabitants through the centuries.
To celebrate our combined Oregon heritage, Rock Creek is expanding what has been historically called Pioneer Day into Oregon Experience Day. In order to make the day successful, we need a LOT of volunteers. Volunteers plan, prepare and execute our celebration day. Parents and grandparents who have helped in the past have found the experience rewarding. Any time and talent you can donate is greatly appreciated! Please contact Kristina Cook (tkecook5@gmail.com) for more information or to volunteer.
Parent/Teacher Conferences - Sign Up Link Closes at Noon on 3/20!
Parent/Teacher Conferences are fast approaching and we use the Instant scheduling online program.
As a reminder, there will be no school for students on April 2nd & April 3rd due to Parent/Teacher Conferences. Please see the individual teacher conference schedules after you click on their name at the link shown below.
To schedule a conference please follow these steps:
1. Click the following link:
https://instant-scheduling.com/sch.php?kn=1919022
2. Click on Next Step.
3. Then select the teacher you want to schedule your conferences with.
4. Choose your preference date for conference (see available dates on calendar).
5. Choose your conference in the available time slots. Only available times will populate this screen.
6. Submit your request and complete the required fields (on the right-hand side of the screen). If you submit an email address, the system will send you a reminder email.
7. To schedule a conference for a second teacher for a sibling conference go back to #2 and repeat.
Thank you for participating in spring conferences. We look forward to seeing you.
Note: Unfortunately, our schedule does not allow us to hold separate conferences for separated families. Please inform the main office if there is a court order that mandates an exception to this policy. If two conferences for the same student are booked, the later of the two conferences will be canceled.
If this process is not working for you, please contact Jessica Vogel at 503-356-2452 or your child's teacherCamp Achieve 2020 -Save the Date!
Summer is coming, and the days away from a regular routine can set students back and take away learning gains from the school year. If students leave school in June and don't read or practice their math skills all summer, they can return in the fall at the skill level they were at back in January. Students then spend the first three months of the school year trying to regain what they had already learned the prior school year. This is called Summer Slide.
How can you stop Summer Slide from happening? One way is to sign up your incoming 1st grade thru incoming 5th grade for Camp Achieve this summer! An online application will be sent home soon, pending the approval of our Beaverton Education Foundation grant application.
Here’s how Camp Achieve will work:
Students will sign up for two 3-day minicamps: June 30, July 1, July 2 and August 4, 5, 6 from 9:30-2:30 daily plus one lunchtime meet-up at a park the week of July 14. Teachers will check in with students at home who are unable to meet up the week of July 14. Teachers will remain connected with their class via Seesaw from June 28 through August 21.
During the minicamps, students will engage in STEAM activities and prepare for time away from camp - which includes picking out books to take home with them, practicing Dreambox, and choosing a journal. While students are away from school, teachers will check in with them via Seesaw to encourage them to read, complete Dreambox lessons, and write in their journal.
This year, Camp Achieve will be held at Elmonica Elementary School. Students from Terra Linda, Rock Creek, Oak Hills, and Elmonica will be invited to attend. We will provide bus transportation to the two minicamps from a few specific bus stops. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to all students for free.
There will be a Family Meeting in early June, and a Parent/Guardian is expected to attend one of the available meetings dates. Dates will be sent out in May. At this meeting, we will explain the summer expectations and address any technology questions. We will also check out devices to families who need one over the summer. In order to participate in Camp Achieve, students must have signed Google Permission forms on file at their home school.
We hope you plan to reserve your spot in Camp Achieve! Applications should open after Spring Break. The first 150 students to apply from these four schools are guaranteed a spot (pending approval of our BEF application)! Your students will get the opportunity to have a summer-long connection with a teacher who is reminding them to read, write, and think mathematically, suggesting new book titles, and cheering for their progress. Please consider signing up!
It is Time for Square 1 Art!
CALLING ALL 5TH GRADE PARENTS!!!
5TH GRADE PARENTS!!!
A huge thank you to those of you who have been sending in photos for the yearbook!!!
For those of you who have not yet sent in photos, we are extending the FINAL submission date
to March 20th so please send in the following so all 5th graders can be represented:
Rocket Runs (all years), kindy egg drop, 1st grade winter music performance,
class parties (all years), field trips (all years), 3rd grade innovation fair, choir events, OBOB (all years), field day (all years), Pioneer Day.
We will also need a Kindergarten school photo of your 5th grader, if your child did NOT attend Rock Creek for Kindergarten.
Please also send a baby photo of your 5th grader. Photos submitted should be from school events only!!
Please label your photos with event/year/student name(s) if possible and send to:
If your photo files are large, feel free to send in multiple emails as needed.
THANK YOU Parents!!!!
OBOB Information
Congratulations to the Rock Creek OBOB champs - 3rd grade team The Spirit Readers: Manasvi, Jamie, Lia, and Revati! The final battle was extremely close with the fourth grade team - The CEOs. All the OBOB teams this year were amazing and worked so hard! We will celebrate with an ice pop party May 7th along with each participant receiving a book off next year's OBOB list!
Cell Phone, Smart Watch & Electronic Device Policy
As stated in the Rock Creek Parent-Student Handbook, cell phones and other electronic devices such as apple watches, are not to be brought to school. If a student needs a phone for safety, it must be turned off and put away as soon as students arrive at school. If they bring out their phone/apple watch to use during school hours, staff will take it to the office and a parent will need to come pick it up.
Health News- Coronavirus
The Beaverton School District continues to monitor and be in close communication with the Washington County Health Dept. We will follow their guidance and provide accurate information as it becomes available. Please see the link below for more information.
https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/public-safety/emergency-preparedness/coronavirus
During this season when the flu and other viruses are circulating, we advise students and staff to stay home if they have a fever or other flu-like symptoms. Consult your physician if you have concerns or questions.
Emergency Drill Information
All Beaverton School District students and staff are instructed on emergency procedures so that everyone can respond to an emergency without confusion or panic. All students and staff drill the emergency procedures several times each year. The following drills are conducted each school year:
- Monthly Fire Drills
- Two Earthquake Drills
- Two Lockdown Drills
- Two Lockout Drills
Smarter Balance Test Update
Last spring, students in grades 3 – 8 and 11 in the Beaverton School District and throughout Oregon took the state tests (Smarter Balanced) in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
In addition to content standards, these assessments are designed to measure critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills. The test results provide you, our schools, our district and the state with information about how well we are preparing our students for their next steps including college and career readiness.
Our students will take these tests once between January and June 2020. House Bill 2655 permits parents and adult students to annually opt-out of Oregon’s statewide summative tests in English Language Arts and Math by submitting a form to the school the student attends. The school shall provide any student who is exempted from a state test with supervised study time while other students are testing.
Rock Creek English Language Learners 3rd thru 5th grade will begin their ELPA testing beginning March 2nd.
5th grade students will begin their Science Smarter Balance testing beginning April 6th-9th, ELA CAT/PT on April 27th- May 1st and Math May 11th -15th.
4th grade students will begin their ELA CAT/PT Smarter Balance testing beginning April 27th- May 1st and Math May 11th -15th.
3rd grade students will begin their ELA CAT/PT Smarter Balance testing beginning April 27th- May 1st and Math May 11th -15th.
There are extended times if students do not finish in the time allotted.
Here is a link to additional information: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/educator-resources/assessment/Documents/Opt-Out_Form_2019-20.pdf
Blast Off Benefit Requests
Dear Rock Creek Families,
On Friday, April 17th, 2020, The Rock Creek Elementary School Parent Teacher Club is hosting its annual Blast Off Benefit. This is a fun community event and also our 2nd largest fundraiser. We will have a Silent Auction, Raffle, Bingo, Cake Walk and more! The funds raised will go to support various enrichment programs throughout the school year such as the Art Literacy program, field trips, additional classroom supplies, and special experiences for our “graduating” 5th graders.
If you own a business or are able to make a personal donation to Blast Off Benefit, the procurement team is looking for donations of items, services, or gift certificates. Some examples may include restaurant or store gift cards, tickets to shows or sporting events, a night's stay at a hotel or vacation home, or technology items such as iPads, Fitbit, Nintendo Switch, GoPro camera etc. We appreciate all donations! Please reach out to Kimberly or Erin at blastoffbenefit@rockcreekptc.org.
Your donation and business name will be on display at the event, making it a great way to gain exposure to the families in our community. The Rock Creek Elementary School PTC is a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization. A letter with our tax ID can be provided. The deadline for donations is April 1st, 2020.
Thank you for supporting the Rock Creek Elementary School PTC!
If you need to make weekly changes to your child's after-school plan, please email the teacher with all the dates and details. We ask that phone calls with change of plans be limited to emergencies only.
Please Send a Note. (Please Read)
Please be sure that your child knows what they are doing after school, before they leave in the morning.We cannot stress how important this is. Not knowing the daily pick up plan causes anxiety in many students. If there is a change to their normal dismissal plans, please send a note with your child. If we don’t have a note, students will be sent home per their normal plan.
If your child attends an after school class at Rock Creek, please send a note to their teacher letting them know the class name, time and dates.
We ask that phone calls with change of plans be limited to EMERGENCIES only. Urgent messages should not be left on teacher voice mails during the school day. Teachers pick up after school notes at their lunch time. Please call before noon. Calling to change plans after this time, is very disruptive to the class. We cannot guarantee that last minute changes will be delivered before dismissal. Thanks for helping us limit classroom disruptions.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Please see below for volunteer needs
Art Literacy
There are still many classrooms without volunteers to lead this amazing program that unfortunately can't happen without you. 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 sign up!
For questions contact Amanda Rust rcartlit@gmail.com.
Thank you for volunteering!
Katie & Nancy
Volunteer Coordinators
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
IB PYP Corner
As an IB PYP Candidate school Rock Creek students experience six inquiry units each year. Kindergarten students experience four units, allowing additional time for play-based learning. Here is a link to our Rock Creek Programme of Inquiry developed through a process of ongoing collaboration.
Our current units…
Kindergarten- How We Organize Ourselves - Community members help each other.
First Grade- How The World Works - Observing and exploring how light and sound patterns work can lead to new possibilities and can help solve problems.
Second Grade- How The World Works - Understanding properties of matter can help people interact with the world.
Third Grade- How The World Works: Curiosity inspires discovery.
Fourth Grade- Where We Are In Place And Time: Migration is a response to human circumstances and opportunities.
Fifth Grade- How The World Works - Humans manipulate matter in order to meet needs and wants.
Emergency School Closure Plan for your Student
Unforeseen Early Closure Plan completed by parents. Parents were asked to determine, at the
beginning of the school year, specific details and information about where children are to go in
the event of an emergency. Parents should also share this information with children to help
reduce anxiety, as it will be impossible to notify each parent by phone. If your child is on a bus route, we do encourage you to have them ride the bus if possible.
If you do not remember your student's emergency closure information, you can check in ParentVue. Once you open the app, click on your child’s name. Then select Student Info. At the very bottom of Student Info, in the purple border written in white letters it says, “Additional Information”, click on that. Then it should be listed under “Other Data”. If you want to change your plan, you should be able to update it through ParentVUE on the computer. If not, please email Jessica Vogel at Jessica_Vogel@beaverton.k12.or.us with an update request.
Middle School Boundary Adjustment
The Beaverton School District has held four (4) community meetings with the Middle School Boundary Adjustment (MSBA) advisory committee. Attendance boundaries for all of the middle schools are being considered for adjustment and the advisory committee is seeking community input from residents in the central and southern part of the District.
The City of Beaverton is planning for almost 7,000 new residential dwelling units in the Cooper Mountain area near Mountainside High School over the next 10-15 years. Which middle school(s) should serve these new developments? Do you have reasons why your neighborhood should attend a different middle school? Do you understand that changes to attendance boundaries in the north part of the District will impact other attendance boundaries? Are you concerned about the potential for the size of student enrollment at middle school?
If you are concerned about any of these questions, or if you have other questions about the MSBA project, please visit the District's MSBA web page (link). Read the materials, visit the advisory committee calendar, and/or submit written comment to the committee. Please come to an advisory committee meeting or watch the meeting live streamed in real time. The district wants and needs to hear from you.
Mar 12 2020- LIVE STREAM ONLY
Middle School Boundary Advisory Committee Meeting Subscribe to Alerts
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
- Meeting Packet
- Video
- 2/25/20 - 3/3/20 Comments
- 3/4/20 - 3/11/20 Comments
Check Out the New Rotation Day Calendar- It includes all days that school will be closed!
New Rock Creek Gear is Now Available!
Order Rock Creek gear anytime - pick up at their location on Cornelius Pass or have it sent directly to you. There are tons of fun options in adult and youth sizes too. Visit Gear Up Sports to order today - https://rockcreek.gearupsports.net/index.php?route=common/home.
Email customerservice@gearupsports.net with any questions.
Background Checks
Please be aware: For the safety of our students, we encourage all adults that are on school property during school hours 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
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.