Rockbrook Reminder
Rockbrook's Weekly Updates | 03-10-2023
Rockbrook Read-A-Thon Begins Monday, March 13th
The Rockbrook Community Club invites you to participate in our Annual Read-A-Thon: Put on
your shoes and get ready for some hoops. This year our goals are to raise money for new basketball hoops at the playground & have 100% participation! The BEST part of the Read-A-Thon is it will enhance and improve our students’ reading skills.
Students will be asked to collect Pledges/Sponsors between March 13-March 29. Students will keep track of their reading minutes with the attached Calendar. Starting the 13th of March, students should contact their Sponsors and collect their Pledge money. All Pledge money is due on Friday, March 31th. Checks should be made payable to RCC or Rockbrook Community Club. Venmo is an option @Rockbrook-CC, include child’s name. The winners will be announced on Friday, April 14 when we return from Spring Break. See below for Read-A-Thon Rules, Daily Prize information, and Grand Prize information.
District Wide Instrumental Music Festivals:
Fifth and Sixth grade Band and String students will be participating in district wide Instrumental music festivals. These concerts will feature students from fifth grade, sixth grade, Westside Middle School and Westside High School. Detailed information about our rehearsals and performances will be sent out through students, please mark you family calendar for the following events:
Westfest String Festival
5th and 6th grade String Students: violin, viola, cello and bass)
Monday, March 20, Westside High School, 7:00 pm*
*sixth grade parents will be able to attend the Outdoor Ed Meeting prior to the concert
Band-o-rama Extravaganza
5th and 6th grade Band Students: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone and percussion
Tuesday, March 21, Westside High School, 7:00 pm
District Wide Instrumental Music Festivals:
Fifth and Sixth grade Band and String students will be participating in district wide Instrumental music festivals. These concerts will feature students from fifth grade, sixth grade, Westside Middle School and Westside High School. Detailed information about our rehearsals and performances will be sent out through students, please mark you family calendar for the following events:
Westfest String Festival
5th and 6th grade String Students: violin, viola, cello and bass)
Monday, March 20, Westside High School, 7:00 pm*
*sixth grade parents will be able to attend the Outdoor Ed Meeting prior to the concert
Band-o-rama Extravaganza
5th and 6th grade Band Students: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone and percussion
Tuesday, March 21, Westside High School, 7:00 pm
Parents Night Out - A Get Together for the Parents!
The Rockbrook Community Club invites you to the spring Parent's Night Out on Thursday, March 16 from 6-9 pm. Learn more and RSVP https://tinyurl.com/PNO316.
Mr. Freeman will be at the following schools for conferences:
March 15 at Prairie Lane from 4:00-8:00 p.m.,
March 16 at Rockbrook 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.,
then at Paddock Road 12:30-4:00 p.m..
For further questions contact freeman.michael@westside66.net
Mrs. Matheson will be at the following schools for conferences:
March 15 at Paddock Road from 6:30-8:00
March 16 at Hillside 8:00-11:00am
Then at Loveland 12:30-4:00
For further questions contact matheson.viktoria@westside66.net
Ms. Wisniewski will be at:
Rockbrook: March 15, 4:00-8:00pm
and March 16, 8:00-4:00pm
For further questions contact wisniewski.allison@westside66.net
Ms. Brezina will be at:
Prairie Lane: March 15, 4:00-8:00pm
Rockbrook: March 16, 8:00-4:00pm
For further questions contact brezina.melisa@westside66.net
Mr. Steele will be at:
Prairie Lane: March 15, 4:00-8:00pm
Rockbrook: March 16, 8:00-4:00pm
For further questions contact steele.alexander@westside66.net
Ms. Henecke will be at:
Prairie Lane: March 15, 4:00-8:00pm
Rockbrook: March 16, 8:00-4:00pm
For further questions contact henecke.madeline@westside66.net
Rockbrook 4th Grader Recognized in Poison Control Poster Contest
We are pleased to share that Rockbrook 4th Grader Eliza W. was named the winner of the 2023 Nebraska Poison Prevention week Poster Contest for the 4th grade entries! The poster design will be used for local media (newspaper, social media) promoting Poison Prevention Week, March 19th
through the 25th. Eliza got to travel to the State Capitol for her recognition and meet Governor Jim Pillen.
Rockbrook Student to be Featured in Westside High School's Shrek the Musical!
What got you interested in being part of the musical?
My older sister is in it and they were looking for a Young Fiona. Ms. Henecke also said she thought it would be good for me.
What did you have to do in order to audition?
We had to sing a section of the ballad in the show and they took a video to help decide who would be in the part.
Tell us about your part. How do you get ready to play Young Fiona?
I am in the very first scene, the 6th scene, and like 2 more. I'm also a fairy tale creator, so I also play the Cheshire Cat.
What are the best parts and the hardest parts of rehearsing for the musical?
Best: I get to stomp off the stage :), Hardest: Remembering most of the notes and dancing.
What are you most looking forward to in performing at the High School?
Having fun and seeing my friends, family and teachers.
Believe it or not....You can go ahead and order 23/24 school supplies at the below link. School Supplies will be shipped to YOUR house at the end of July - just in time for the next school year.
NO FRUSTRATING SHOPPING TRIPS, ONE and DONE.
Class Placements for 2023-2024
We are fortunate at Rockbrook to have a high-quality, caring, and dedicated staff of educators who strive to meet the needs of every child. Our teams of teachers are insightful and qualified and put a great deal of care and effort to best fit each child’s educational needs with the right teacher.
During the last quarter of the year, our staff begins the challenging task of creating the class lists for the next school year. This task involves many people and a great deal of thought, as we do our best to:
Balance
When a classroom is balanced, the students are more successful, learning is easier, and the teacher is able to meet the needs of the learners in attendance. Teams of teachers go over criteria such as male/female ratio, academic needs and talents, and special programming to ensure classrooms have even and diverse representation.
Build Equity
We also work to see that all classrooms resemble each other in leadership abilities, social skills, peer relationships, individual learning styles and teaching styles, and classroom dynamics (behavior, social, emotional, and personality considerations among students).
Finding the Right Match
We recognize that parents are an important part of our team and a crucial advocate for their child’s success. With so many variables, granting every teacher request would not be possible and might not match with the careful planning teachers do in preparing suggested lists. In addition, children need to work in and with a variety of circumstances now and in the future, in terms of personnel, peers, and environment.
If there is a circumstance you feel we should consider, please do the following:
• Make a formal request in writing (by email to higginbotham.garret@westside66.net is acceptable) no later than March 16th, 2023
• Requests should reference your child’s learning style and type, not the specific teacher you wish them to have.
• If there has been a request made in a previous year that still applies, such as not placing your child with another particular student, please include this in writing to make sure we are aware of the necessary details again, for placement in the 2023-2024 school year.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. Class assignments will be mailed individually during the summer, prior to the start of school.
Navigating Screens and Social Media
Screen time and social media usage has become a favorite activity for kids, but as a parent how can you know how much is too much and how to practice safety in social media usage? Some parents are also seeing challenging behaviors in their kids, along with mental health concerns, and aren’t realizing these behaviors and concerns could be tied to screen time or the negative effects of social media. The following “Just Kids Health” podcast from Children’s Hospital - Navigating Screens and Social Media discusses healthy boundaries, recommended amounts of time, and negative effects of too much screen time. There is also an accompanying graphic that discusses some of the key points. The key with all screen time - BALANCE! If you are a parent wondering how you can create better balance and boundaries for your child, don’t hesitate to reach out to your school counselor for some great ideas.
Graphic: Tips for Parents.pdf
ROCKBROOK PBIS SKILLS MAR. 6TH - MAR. 10TH
Each week we focus on a Social Skill and a School-Wide Expectation as a part of PBIS (Positive Behavior in School) program. Reviewing these expectations and using similar language at home can help to reinforce your child making positive choices both at school and home.
Students and Cell Phones / Smart Devices
Medication at School
For you 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, medication should be administered at home.
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.
Email: rockbrook.66@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