Rockbrook Express
Rockbrook's Monthly Newsletter - September 2020
Picture Day
Community Club Seeking Room Parents
- 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
MTSS - Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Westside Community Schools continues the implementation of MTSS, which stands for Multi-Tiered System of Supports. This year more than ever, due to the effects of COVID on education and instruction over these past 5 months, MTSS in Westside assures that we regularly monitor student skills and progress and follow-up with providing students what they need to be successful in learning. Right away in August and September this means that we first assess all students to determine their current skill levels, group students, and plan our instruction to meet their needs.
What is MTSS? MTSS is a framework for providing instruction and support to promote the academic and behavioral success of all children. Individual children’s progress & skills are measured, and these results are used to make decisions about further instruction and intervention. The MTSS process is flexible and allows for a continuum of supports designed to meet the needs of individual students. This support may be provided in a large or small group by the classroom teacher or other support staff, either within or outside the classroom.
What does this mean for my child? A key component of the MTSS process is that all children receive high quality instruction in their classroom. Universal screenings are brief tests used to measure the progress of all students and are given three times per year. As a result of the screenings, students may be identified as needing some degree of supplemental intervention in addition to the instruction they are receiving in their classroom. If your child is identified as needing intervention you will be notified. Please contact your child’s building principal with questions.
Nebraska Reading Improvement Act: The Nebraska Reading Improvement Act went into effect at the start of the 2019-2020 school year. The goal is that all Nebraska students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of third grade. This is accomplished by ensuring all students have access to high-quality instruction and for struggling readers to receive targeted support (intervention). Our current MTSS framework in Westside Community Schools already allows for us to meet these state requirements.
*We understand the disruption COVID has caused in the educational system. We continue to use research-based high quality instructional practices to meet the needs of all students to as great of an extent as the current pandemic situation allows. We are adapting as we progress throughout the year. The more students continue to read, review math facts, and write/journal each day at home, in addition to their instruction from school, the more secure their skills may become.
5th Grade Instrumental Music Sign Up
Second Step Social Emotional Learning
Dear Families,
Westside wants your student to be successful in school, and that means going beyond
the basics. Excelling in academic classes is important, but students also need to know
how to learn, make good decisions, handle strong emotions, and get along with others.
The Second Step social emotional learning program is implemented at each elementary building to teach these critical skills. Your student participates in weekly lessons using a multimedia format, with opportunities to role play and practice. Our kindergarten through fifth grade families will regularly receive Home Links with simple, fun activities for your student to practice strategies outside of school. Our sixth grade families have online access to expert advice and practical tools for dealing with real life stressors via ParenTeenConnect.org. If you have any questions about our new social emotional learning program, please do not hesitate to contact me for more information. Thank you for supporting your child in learning the skills and concepts that lead to success in school and in life.
Sincerely,
Mr. Higginbotham, Principal & Ms. Davis, School Psychologist
Rockbrook Calendar
What Does Yellow Mean? What Will Happen in Green?
The district will be sending out further information for the transition to Green so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox.
Health and Safety
The health and safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance. In using guidance from health officials throughout the metro and beyond, as well as District Guidelines and Policies, listed are measures we have developed in order to provide a safe and healthy educational environment for our Rockbrook students and staff. To view Westside’s full pandemic plan, including the information below, please see above. More information, expectations and procedures have been taught in these first few weeks at Rockbrook. As guidelines change, communication will be made from the District and/or the school.
Masks - Masks are required. There are mask breaks taken throughout the day. Masks are required upon arrival on campus and dismissal of the school day.
Social Distancing - With the wearing of masks, students and staff will maintain social distancing in the hallways and classroom seating to the greatest extent possible.
Hand Washing & Sanitizing - Hand washing and sanitizing procedures occur throughout the building and frequently throughout the day. Classrooms are stocked with hand sanitizer for students and staff to use.
Plexiglass - Plexiglass is used throughout the school, most specifically in the office area, tables in the classroom, and small group instruction tables.
Lunchroom - Students will eat lunch in the lunchroom with social distancing measures.
Specials - Specials are occurring for 2 weeks at a time to limit cross contact of buildings.
Water Bottles - Students should bring their own water bottles that are clearly labeled with their name. Students will fill up bottles in classroom sinks and touchless water-filling stations.
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 - Art, Music, Library, PE
As part of the District Pandemic Plan and to support our learners in school and at home, the Specials schedule has been adjusted.
- Students will have 30 minute specials daily
- Specials will be on a two week rotation ~ PE/Library will be at Rockbrook for 10 days, then Art/Music will be at Rockbrook for 10 days.
- Extended Campus learners are expected to tune in on Thursdays and Fridays during Yellow Status.
Visitors
Bus Information
Rockbrook has bus transportation available for students who live two miles or more from school. Please call Westside administration at 402-390-2107 to register for bus service or if you have any questions regarding where the bus stops are located or what time pick up and drop off times are.
Students riding on the bus will
-Wear a mask
-Sit in an assigned seat
Bus drivers will
-Wear a mask
-Clean bus before and after routes
-Assign student seats
CHIEF BUS COMPANY
392-2144
Lunch at Rockbrook
We have a computerized meal program in operation in our district that allows parents to maintain an account for their child’s meal charges. Each student has their own account. When students go through the food line, the price of the breakfast, lunch, or any extra items such as extra pizza or extra milk is subtracted from their account. Students on free lunch may keep money in their account to pay for extra food items which are not included in the free lunch program.
Lunch Costs
The cost for a school lunch this year is $2.50 (40¢ for reduced) and $4.10 for adults. Extra milk or bottled water can be purchased for 50¢ per bottle. Breakfast is $1.60 for students (30¢ for reduced) and $2.60 for adults.
To deposit money into your child’s account you may bring a check or cash to the office, or you may go to westside.getlunchtray.com and go to District Links. We do send a letter daily to any student whose account has become overdrawn. Please check your email, spam folder and MySchoolBucks account for your child's lunch balance. We need to have negative balances at zero or positive balances. This balance carries over to the next year. Start 2020-2021 year off right for your child's lunch account.
Running Late
Please let the office know if you are running late or have a morning appointment for your child. If your child plans on eating lunch from the cafeteria that day, PLEASE call and or email your child's lunch choice before 9 am.
Lunch Visitors - Currently Unavailable
Due to current health efforts lunch visitors will not currently be allowed.
Pizza Hut
Students may purchase extra slices from their lunch accounts when Pizza Hut is on the menu if they have a positive balance in their account. Extra slices cost $1.20. Parents, make sure you let your child know whether or not you want them to have an extra slice. Extra slices are not included with free or reduced lunch accounts. You need to make sure your child has the $1.20 for the extra slice.
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.
After School Plans
We understand that student pickup plans may occasionally change. To ensure all students are accounted for at the end of each day we ask that families make their best attempt to use a typical mode of pickup on most days. Once class placements are sent out at the beginning of August, please take a moment to fill out the form below to indicate your child's typical dismissal plan. In the event that you need to pick your child up via a different method, we ask that a parent call the office at least 30 minutes before the end of the school day. The office will notify the student and their teacher of this change of plan.
https://forms.gle/qGWwmbiwov2Br7qa7
Approving a Child to Go Home with Another Child's Parent:
In the event that you would like to approve your child to go home with another child's parent we need contact from both you and the other child's parent. This can be in the form of a note, email, or phone call to the office. Staff will not dismiss your child to another child's parent without prior contact, preferably to the main office so that this can be communicated to others (Classroom Teacher, Club66, etc).
Outdoor Education 2020-21
Rockbrook Elementary, Early Childhood, and Club66 - Safe and Welcoming Inside and Out
The safety of our students and families is our top priority at Rockbrook. The best security, however, is only as good as the practices we implement in using it. Please help us in adhering to policies regarding student Drop Off and Pick Up.
Both Early Childhood (ECC) and Club66 Policy requires that all students be checked in to these programs by an adult, by walking children to the south entrance. As ECC and Club66 staff operate from the south end of our building, we ask that all Early Childhood and Club66 attendees enter through the south end of our building unless stair access prohibits doing so.
All exterior doors at Rockbrook will remain locked except when being monitored by Rockbrook Staff during arrival and dismissal. School age students may be dropped off starting at 8:20 a.m. This year students will be asked to gather at de-densified locations where staff can monitor and support a staggered entry to the building.
Before 8:20 - All entrances are locked, students and families must use the buzzer to request entry.
8:20-8:30 - North and south entrances will be open and supervised by Rockbrook Staff.
8:30-3:25 (2:55 on Wednesdays) - All entrances are locked, students and families must use the buzzer to request entry.
3:25 (2:55W) - 3:45 (3:15W) - North and south entrances will be open and supervised by Rockbrook Staff.
3:45-6:00 - All entrances are locked, students and families must use the buzzer to request entry.
If you will be dropping your child off after 8:35 you will also need to walk them in to the office and sign them in for the day. If students arrive without an adult between 8:35 and 3:30, parents will be contacted to remind you of this expectation.
Visitors & Volunteers: At this time we will not be able to allow visitors and volunteers at the school. Please know that we greatly appreciate the help and company of our visitors, but are following health recommendations to reduce the number of individuals within the school. Should public health guidelines change in the future we will let families know if visiting and volunteering becomes available.
If your child has forgotten something at home and you are quickly dropping this off, we are happy to accept this at the office and deliver items to the classroom.
Thank you for your support to keep Rockbrook Safe and Welcoming Inside and Out.
Your Partners in Education,
Mr. Garret Higginbotham, Principal & Ms. Julie Kathol, Site Director RBECC and Club66
Cell Phones and Smart Devices in School
Our expecation is that all cell phones are turned off and placed in a student's backpack once they enter the building.
In the event students need to contact their parent, calls can be made from classroom or office phones.
Students use of smart devices such as watches, fitness bands, smart headphones, etc. are handled on a case by case basis. Typically students are allowed to have these devices so long as they are not a disruption to learning or used in a way that distracts the student or others. Note: During state testing and other assessments, students may be asked to store their smart devices at the teacher's desk to ensure they are not used as part of testing.
District Approved Snacks
be safe for all students to eat. When deciding what to send, please choose from the list attached and remember the following guidelines:
Click the Images Above to Download
Annual Updates
Note: Personal snacks for your child may include items not on this list, but are only for their consumption.
Medication at School
For your child’s safety and for the safety of others, all medication, even cough’s drops, must be kept locked in the health office, it must be in the original package. All medication, including cough drops, needs to be accompanied by a medication form signed by the parent or guardian, all prescription medication forms must be signed by the doctor. Whenever possible, the medication should be administered at home.
If your child has any additional health needs, please be sure to turn in the appropriate forms and action plans so we can best support your child.
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.
Dress Expectations
In order to ensure a positive learning environment where all feel comfortable and respected, please follow the following expectations regarding student dress. We expect students to wear clothing that:
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Is clean, safe, and in good condition.
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Is considerate of others.
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Is free of advertisements, graphics, or language related to drugs, alcohol,
tobacco, or violence.
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Is free of sexual or disrespectful comments or graphics.
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Covers appropriately. Halter tops, bare shoulders, and short shorts are not
allowed per district dress code.
Flip-Flops & Recess / Gym, A Dangerous Combination
While flip-flops are a very cute and popular item, they present some safety challenges for our students out at recess and on gym days. If your student likes to be active at recess, please consider sending safer shoes for those recess / gym feet.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Westside Community Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, marital/parental status, military/veteran status or any other category protected by law in its programs and activities or in admission or access to, or treatment in, hiring and employment, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
The following District personnel have been designated to coordinate compliance and can address inquiries about the District’s nondiscrimination policies and procedures:
For questions or concerns by students, parents or others:
• Coordinator of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator – ABC Bldg. 909 So. 76th St. Omaha (402) 390-2100 E-mail: titleixcoordinator@westside66.net
• Director of Special Services/ADA & 504 Coordinator (disability/accommodation) ABC Bldg. 909 So. 76th St. (402) 390-2100 E-mail: ADAcoordinator@westside66.net
For questions by District employees or applicants:
• Ass’t Supt. for Human Resources/Lead Title IX Coordinator - 909 So. 76th St. Omaha, NE (402) 390-2100
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