RES Rocket Weekly
September 2nd - September 6th
Message from Mrs. Batelka
Please send your photos to photos@smcps.org for inclusion in the St. Mary’s County Public School System’s online photo gallery and hkbatelka@smcps.org for inclusion on our website, Twitter Feed, and Rocket Weekly, and tag your social media posts #SMCPS.
We can’t wait to see the wonderful pictures of our Ridge Students!!!!
At the bottom of our Smore Flyer are links to critical documents (e.g.: SMCPS Calendar and Student Handbook). These documents will remained linked throughout the school year. As new documents are linked, we will be sure to make you aware.
Hoping everyone is enjoying their last official weekend of the summer.
Looking forward to seeing all of our students on Tuesday and we're excited for all of the great things coming as we begin the 2019-2020 School Year as a Ridge School Family!!!!
A Week
Character Education and Mindset
Mindset Focus: Everyone Can Learn
Every person has the potential to develop, grow and achieve in any given area
in our RES School Family!
Week at a Glance
Tuesday, September 3rd
10am - 11am Pre-K AM Orientation
2pm - 3pm Pre-K PM Orientation
Wednesday, September 4th
First day of school for our Pre-K students!
Upcoming Events
Save the Date!!!!
Tuesday, September 10th: FOR Meeting - Popsicles on the Playground!
Friday, September 27th: Family Movie Night!
Important Information Items/Reminders
This year there will continue to be no forms to sign permission for students' use of technology.
Parents/Guardians only need to contact the school for the following:
- Would like to opt out of your child's use of technology in school; or
- Would like to opt out of having your child's picture be used in school
"Opt-Out" Forms need to be completed on a yearly basis. Please contact Mrs. Goddard in the Main Office if a Form needs to be sent home with you child(ren).
The SMCPS Student Handbook, SMCPS Code of Conduct, and the Elementary Code of Conduct and Presentation are linked towards the bottom of the Smore Flyer. Please take the time to review these documents and discuss SMCPS and RES expectations.
Lunch Program
To ensure that our Food Service Staff are able to prepare enough meals, students are asked to select their lunch choice each morning. Students arriving after 9:15am need to check in with Mrs. Melissa, in the kitchen, after having been checked in by a parent/guardian in the main office.
Please review the lunch menu each week to check on choices available. There may be minor changes, based upon availability and classroom teachers will make students aware of changes as needed in the morning.
The on-line meal benefit application, as well as, the paper application are now available for families to use to submit an application for free and reduced meals. Please click here to access the on-line meal benefit application. Paper copies are also being sent home this week.
Parents/Guardians may also use "My School Bucks" to load funds directly in their child(ren)'s lunch account. Please click here to create an account or to access a current account.
Breakfast Program
Ridge Elementary will continue to participate in a school-wide breakfast program. This program offers breakfast, free of charge to each student every day.
We know that students perform better academically and behaviorally when they are not hungry. Students will be offered, but are not obligated to take breakfast.
Breakfast will conclude by 9:15 a.m. each day so that the instructional day may begin. Students who arrive after 9:15a.m. will not be able to get a breakfast.
Additional information about the breakfast program may be obtained by calling the Department of Food Services at 301-475-4256 Option 5.
Attendance
We recognize the link between consistent attendance and student achievement. Our overall attendance rate has increased and we need your continued help to have your child(ren) in school, on time, every day.
Missing instruction for even one day of school cannot be easily made up. The School Improvement Team has continued its recommendation that we review our attendance data and work with families in a supportive role.
Important Attendance Definitions to be aware of:
- Chronic Absenteeism: Chronically absent means a student is absent 10 percent or more school days during the school year and has been in membership at least ten days. For a student attending Ridge for one full calendar year, a student with 18 or more absences is considered Chronically Absent, regardless for any reason (e.g., illness, the need to care for a family member, vacation).
- Truant: A student is consider a truant student if he/she is unlawfully absent from school for more than 8 days in any marking period, or 15 days in a semester, or 20 days in a school year.
- Habitually Truant: A student is considered habitually truant if he/she meets all of the following criteria: is in Kindergarten through 12th grade, has been enrolled in school for 91 or more days, and is unlawfully absent for 20% or more of the days enrolled.
We recognize and appreciate your efforts in planning appointments around the school day and ensuring students are in school all day.
All absences must be reported. There are a number of ways to notify the school of an absence: the Ridge Elementary School Website Report a Student Absence tab, send a note or email to the teacher, or call the school office (301) 872-0200.
Please reference the SMCPS 2019-2020 Calendar and our school website for scheduled days off as you plan appointments and vacations.
Transportation
Bus Routes for the 2019-2020 School year are available through the SMCPS online look up feature. These routes and stops will be constantly updated between now and the start of school. Click here to access the link.
To ensure safety at the bus stop, a responsible person (1t least 13 years old) must be on time to meet the bus, at the bus door, at the assigned stop for all Head Start, Pre-K, and Kindergarten students. Please click here for additional information.
Events Across the County...
St. Mary's County Public School System County-Wide Presentations & Events
FOR (Friends of Ridge) for the Kids!
Volunteering Updates and News
Click on the site below to access the Friends of Ridge (FOR) the Kids Site for additional news and information.
Next Meeting - September 10th at 4:15pm
FOR meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the month with alternating times of 4:15pm and 5:30pm to accommodate the availability of parents and families.
SAVE THE DATE: Our "2019-2020 Kick-Off Meeting" will be on 9/10/2019 at 4:15pm - Popsicles on the Playground! Children will be supervised on the playground as the adults meet in the Media Center to discuss upcoming activities and committee groups for this school year. We're looking forward to seeing our families come together in support of our students and staff!
As many families may not be able to attend evening meetings, other options are available to support and participate in activities FOR the Kids. Meeting notes will be posted below for families unable to attend meetings and notifications of volunteer opportunities will be shared via our Rocket Weekly for Families and ClassDojo.
Previous Meetings are posted below:
- Stay tuned for our September Meeting Notes!
The St. Mary's County Public School System (SMCPS) believes volunteer service to our schools is an essential component of student success.
At Ridge Elementary School, we are continually striving to build opportunities for our families and community members to volunteer to support both students and staff. We understand, and believe, that the success of our students comes from the partnership we have between homes and school. Only working together, collaboratively and collectively, will our students SOAR to Great Heights!
As we encourage and foster opportunities for volunteers, we also need to ensure the safety and security of all of our students and your children. All volunteers (e.g..: field trips and assistance with small groups) must be a registered SMCPS Volunteer.
Please click here to begin the SMCPS Volunteer Registration Process if you're not a registered volunteer.
RES Students Soar to Great Heights!!!!
RES Spirit Webstore is OPEN!
Offering several different items to show your RES Pride all year!
Orders may be made at any time and most items come in a variety of color combinations.
If a paper copy is needed to place an order please contact the RES Main Office and one will be sent home.
Please click here to access the site.
RES Twitter
Please follow us: @res_smcps. We will be using Twitter for updates and reminders as well as a means of showcasing for everyone all of our Ridge Pride!