Rocky's Weekly Roundup
March 27, 2022
A Message from the Leadership Team...
Dear RES Families,
We cannot believe we are heading into the last week of March! The month of April tends to be very busy with different types of day-to-day happenings. Just a gentle reminder that we have early release days on April 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th and RES will be closed for Spring Recess from April 11th through the 15th. We will welcome students back to RES on Monday, April 18th.
Our quote of the week goes perfectly with the beautiful artwork students have been engaged in during art class. Our very talented Mrs. Weiss and students have decorated one of the RES hallways with beautiful sunflowers 🌻 for all to enjoy and admire (see below)! The artwork is a reminder that even on the rainiest days our hallways are filled with sunshine and smiles.
Have a wonderful week ahead!
Mrs. Melissa Labrosciano, Principal
Mr. Joe Amodio, Assistant Principal
Gizmos & Gadgets
Many students are excited to share their toys at school with friends, however they are not allowed. Please note page 15 of our student handbook, which states, "Toys and stuffed animals can cause a disruption to learning and conflict on the bus, café or playground. Children should not bring them to school." We ask for your help in checking your child's backpack before they leave for school in the morning to avoid these items coming into the building. This does include Pokemon cards!
Recess News
Internet Safety & Digital Citizenship
April break is on the horizon, which may mean more time at home to read books (which we encourage!), watch TV, or play games. We know that kids are natural explorers and are instinctively intrigued by the world around them. We also know that many kids enjoy reading books, watching movies and playing video games and, at times, these forms of media introduce children to information about our world for the very first time. We encourage you to open up, or continue conversations at home about the shows, books and games your child(ren) may be engaged in. In many cases, what may appear to be cartoonish and innocent in nature may often promote content that is inappropriate for specific age groups. For ratings, reviews and helpful parent guides, check out this resource: Common Sense Media.
Summer Academy 2022
Parent Teacher Conferences
LINKS:
Instrumental Music - Donna Edwards
Library Media - Sarah Peronace
Class Placements
Heart of RES
RES administration and staff want to recognize students and faculty members who go above and beyond to make RES the greatest place in the world! Staff and students are being nominated for doing good deeds, and/or showing kindness to others in a spectacular way. Throughout the month students and staff are being recognized in a special way. Staff and students will receive a special Heart of RES certificate and students will get a special shoutout during our morning announcements!
Important Dates and Reminders
April 1: Interim Reports sent home with students
April 5-7: RES PTA Scholastic Book Fair
April 5-7: Parent Conferences - Early Dismissal (12:50 p.m. K-4; PreS at 12:15p)
April 6: RES PTA Meeting
April 5: Redding BOE Meeting (7:00 p.m. at JRMS)
April 8: Early Dismissal 12:50pm; PreSchool at 12:15pm
April 11-15: Spring Recess
April 18: Students return to school
TENTATIVE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Tuesday, June 21st
MORNING DROP OFF
A reminder that families with multiple children may now choose ONE drop off location in the morning. It is suggested that our youngest continue to be dropped off in the rear parking lot. Older siblings may also be dropped off here and can walk across the building to get to their classrooms. If you arrive to the drop off location and there are no adults present to welcome your children at the curb, or in the parking lot, please park in the big gym parking lot and walk your child to the school's main entrance vestibule.
MORNING BUS CIRCLE ACCESS
Please keep students and staff safe, and drop off LATE students at the big gym parking area, until ALL buses have cleared RES. As warmer weather prevails, it is safe to assume that on a regular school day, buses should have cleared the bus circle by 8:20am - UNLESS we have an exceptionally tough weather situation happening that morning.
CELL PHONES & ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Per our family handbook, laser pointers, electronic devices, and cell phones are also not allowed. With that said, we do understand as parents ourselves that there are times when it is a family's decision to allow their child(ren) to have a cell phone or smartwatch with cell phone capabilities in school. If this is the case, it is expected that the cell phone be turned off and in your child’s backpack at all times, including the duration of the bus ride.
Students are not to be making phone calls or sending text messages during the school day. Students can always come to the main office if a call needs to be made home. Similar to John Read Middle School’s handbook policy, if a cell phone or smartwatch is being used inappropriately or not consistent with our technology use policy, such device will be held in the main office for the remainder of the school day.
The use of a cell phone or other device can be a disruption to your child(ren)’s school day and negatively impact their learning environment. We appreciate your support and partnership regarding this matter.
COVID-19 BUS UPDATE
As many of you might be aware, bus mitigation strategies that were set in place due to COVID-19 have been lifted. Students will no longer have assigned seats on the bus, unless there is a specific need. Students are now permitted to ride an alternative bus to a friend’s house. Being parents ourselves, we understand that there are extenuating circumstances where a child may need to ride the bus to a friend’s house after school. This is a courtesy that we are happy to extend to families, but please be mindful of not taking advantage of this opportunity. Students should not be riding another bus home to a friend’s house for birthday parties or other large playdates or group gatherings. Please understand that with some of our buses being close to capacity and others needing to double up due to driver shortages, there will be times when it is not possible to accommodate every request. Parent pick-up is a wonderful option for inviting several students to your home.
If your child is riding to a friend's house, whether on their own bus or on a different bus, this exception needs to be noted in School Dismissal Manager under Alternate Bus. When using this exception, please be sure to note:
The bus number your child will be riding on
The full name of the student who he/she will be getting off of the bus with
Again, please include this information under the exception labeled Alternate Bus. If you select the exception labeled Bus, notifications will not be sent to the correct individual and you will risk your child not receiving a note for the bus.
WATER COOLER UPDATE
Water coolers are back out in the hallways. Students will be permitted to use these coolers to refill water bottles throughout the day, as needed and with teacher permission.
A Message from our School Nurses...
When to keep your child home:
· Fever greater than 100.0, vomiting, diarrhea. sore throat, significant cough or runny nose. Students need to be fever free without medication and without vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.
· Contact the nurse if you are in need of a rapid Covid test.
Please continue to report positive COVID-19 results and COVID-19 exposures to the school nurse at jconnolly@er9.org or 203-938-2519 ext 309. Also, please report any flu, strep throat, pink eye or other communicable illnesses to the nurse.
Continue to enter the reason for absence (i.e. sore throat, stomachache, headache, fever) into School Dismissal manager. If your child is taking one of their 2 allotted Mental Health Days, please state this specifically for absence reasons, so we can mark it accordingly in PowerSchool. Also, please note that these mental health days may not be used consecutively, one right after the other.
Nurse J. Connolly
Nurse D. Carley
Quote of the Week
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do."
- Helen Keller
RES PTA SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR IS HERE!
Please click on the flier below to take a peek at some of the titles that will be available.
District News & Information
REDDING COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES
Contact Us
Website: www.reddingelementaryps.org
Location: 33 Lonetown Road, Redding, CT, USA
Phone: (203)938-2519
Additional School Contacts
Office hours for Special Services is 7:30am - 3:00pm during the regular school year.
SPECIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Ms. Jennifer Del Conte, Director, Special Services
Ms. Michelle King, Administrative Assistant to Director of Special Services
mking@er9.org Ext. 313
Mrs. Jennifer Hankla, Supervisor, Special Services
Mrs. Marilyn Caruso, Secretary, Special Services
mcaruso@er9.org Ext. 312
Office hours for the main office is 7:30am - 3:45pm during the normal 10-month / 180 day school year.
SUPPORT STAFF:
Miss Bobbie Granskog, School Secretary
bgranskog@er9.org Ext. 304
Budgets, Payroll, & Information for Rocky's Weekly Roundup!
Mrs. Komal Kulkarni, School Secretary
kkulkarni@er9.org Ext. 302
Registrar & Enrollment
Mrs. Rachel Saluzzi, School Secretary
rsaluzzi@er9.org Ext. 301
Assistant to School Principals
School Dismissal Manager & Subs
OTHER FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS:
Nurse Connolly — Ext. 309
Library— Ext. 343
Kitchen — Ext. 346
You will find a complete list of telephone extensions and email addresses for our staff on our website www.reddingelementaryps.org