Rockbrook Reminder
Rockbrook's Weekly News | 04-21-2023
Building Skills of Independence and Empowerment
Our students have grown so much this year! As we continue to learn in our final months of school, this is a great time to support your child's continued independence, responsibility, and personal empowerment. Activities like having your child enter school independently, maintaining a homework routine and nightly backpack clean-out, and helping with chores at home are just three examples of many easy ways you can empower your child with skills of independence.
With the next grade level approaching it's a great time to set goals and work to accomplish them. Your child's teacher can also be a great partner in helping to determine how to best promote their success and develop habits that will serve them well in the year ahead.
State Testing - NSCAS
Dear Rockbrook 3rd-6th Grade Families,
Over the next couple of weeks your child will be taking part in the state of Nebraska's annual testing, NSCAS. These tests are very similar to tests they took in the fall and winter called the MAP as they are made by the same company. Your child's teacher will be communicating the exact dates of tests and we appreciate your help so that your child can do their best on these checks of student learning.
Tips for Good Test Taking
- Try to make sure your child is well rested
- Breakfast at home or at school before the test helps kids concentrate
- Have a discussion with your child about why it's important to give their best effort (teachers use the results of these tests to make decisions for the remainder of this year and next year, we want to make sure that they see each child's best performance).
- Discussion strategies for calming nerves or what to do when you aren't sure of an answer (eliminate answers you know are wrong).
- Remind your child that these tests have no time limits. Take their time and do their best. If needed tests can be finished on another day.
- Try to avoid appointments on the day of tests.
We're excited to see the growth each of our Bulldogs have made this year.
Helping Your Child With Test Anxiety
As the end of the school year approaches, many students will be participating in state testing, semester finals, etc. For many students preparing for and taking these tests can cause them to experience symptoms of anxiety. According to the National Institute of Health, anxiety disorders affect nearly 1 in 3 adolescents. It is common for symptoms of anxiety to begin in the early years of school, as children are transitioning to being in school, learning new challenging material, managing new friendships, etc. Parents can play an important role in helping students manage their anxiety using strategies, such as positive self-talk. You can encourage your student to say things like "this will be difficult but I can do it" or "I can take deep breaths and keep my body calm." You can also help your students challenge their thoughts by questioning if they are realistic or unrealistic, practicing flexible thinking with them, and modeling the adaptive ways that you cope with your stressors or anxiety. More information about anxiety and how to support your students can be found in this article from the National Association of School Psychologists: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:256cc252-fb7c-3579-ba94-523558809970
Another great win for Rockbrook's Math EY students
6th grade Math EY students participated in a nationwide Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl last week and earned an overall ranking of 10th place out of 133 teams!
Students worked as a team to answer 100 questions. They earned points based on how quickly the correct answer was given. The Rockbrook students answered all 100 questions correctly and earned a score of 1,350 points!
I'm so proud of them!
Lucy B.
Charlie P.
Clarissa K.
Whitney L.
Emerson N.
Eloise P.
Maxfield V.
Elijah B.
Visiting Author Rebecca Gomez
Rockbrook is excited to welcome visiting author Rebecca Gomez on May 8th and 15th, thanks to the support and sponsorship of our Community Club. Ms. Gomez will have books for sale and to be signed. If you are looking to order, please use the following google form link.
All book orders are due April 20th
2023/24 School Supplies
Hey Rockbrook Elementary parents! I am so excited that this year we've partnered with 1st Day School Supplies. They are going to save us up to 30% over shopping at big box stores like Target, Walmart and Amazon. Better yet, if we sell 50 kits in April, Rockbrook Elementary will be entered to win $2,500 in FREE school supplies! Buy early and save!
Order Now --> http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=63338
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 April 17th-21st
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