Rocketeer Newsletter
Rock Creek Elementary - Sep 19, 2019
Rock Creek is a candidate school for
the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme
Rock Creek School Hours- Monday thru Friday 8:30-3:00
Please Note: There is no early release this year.
Upcoming Events
9/24 Art Lit Training 7:00 pm in Portable # 1
9/25 Art Lit Training 9:00 am in Portable #1
9/25 Student Success Act Community Conversation Night 6:30 pm
9/27 Rocket Run Assembly for Students
10/4 Rocket Run!!!!
10/7 School Picture Day
10/8 CogAt Testing (TBD)
10/11 No School For Students/Staff Development Day
10/14 District Wide Earthquake Drill
10/16 Rock Creek Corner Dine In PTC Fundraiser
10/16- 10/24 Book Fair (TBD)
10/29 Art Lit Training 7 pm (Art Literacy Portable)
10/30 Art Lit Training 9:00 am (Art Literacy Portable)
10/31 Class Parties
Student Arrival Time- Doors open at 8:15 AM
A Message from the Principal
September is Attendance Awareness Month
Good attendance habits are developed in the first month of the school year, and when it comes to attendance, every day matters. According to the Oregon Department of Education, more than one in six students in chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism means a student misses 10% or more school days. That’s about two days per month.
Regular attendance will help children do well in elementary school, secondary school, college and at work. According to the Attendance Works Organization, by 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of school. By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
Attendance habits are set the very first week of the school year, so please start building good attendance habits early. As a parent, you can help by establishing a regular bedtime and morning routine. You can also avoid medical appointments during school hours, as well as extended trips when school is in session. We will be sharing more helpful tips and information throughout the school year.
Sock & Underwear Drive thru Sept. 24th
Speak Up 4 Student Success: HB 3427 - Student Success Act Community Conversations
The Oregon Legislature passed and the Governor signed the $2 billion Student Success Act (HB 3427) in Spring 2019. This is an historic and much needed investment in K-12 schools. The Beaverton School District could be able to access an estimated $34 million per year through a state application process.
School districts are required to apply for funds, and must engage their community in a needs assessment process prior to the application for funds. All Beaverton schools will be engaging their communities in these conversations during September and October. Rock Creek will be holding a Student Success Act Community Conversation on Wednesday, Sept 25th at 6:30 pm.
Please join us to talk about what student success looks like in our school and the Beaverton School District? What is going well in our schools? What areas/services/programs could we improve?
Your voice matters! We welcome your perspective and opinion.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Rocket Run
Rock Creek's biggest fundraiser of the year is during school hours on October 4th! We have many shifts available such as checking in volunteers, counting laps for individual classes, and set-up/clean-up. Please sign into Better Impact and schedule yourself for a shift or two and help make this year's event a huge success! We can do this Rock Creek! Contact rocketrun@rockcreekptc.org for any questions.
Art Literacy
There are still many classrooms without volunteers to lead this amazing program that unfortunately can't happen without you. Our kiddos need your help so please sign into Better Impact, click on your child's class, and let's make this happen! We promise that you will love helping all our Rock Creek budding artists create their masterpieces!
Art Literacy is a wonderful program that brings art education into the classroom while enhancing overall literacy. Volunteers will lead a project with a featured artist every other month. Time commitment is typically 1-2 hours per project. Please sign up!
Attend a training session on Tuesday, September 24th @ 7PM or Wednesday, September 25th @ 9AM in portable #1. For questions contact Amanda Rust rcartlit@gmail.com.
Classroom Parties
Parent volunteers are essential in order to help plan, purchase supplies and participate in the two room parties that our students will enjoy this school year. Please sign up!
Each group of class party volunteers will work together to plan each party. For some groups this may involve appointing one person to take the lead, while others may decide to evenly divide up the responsibilities (You will be provided with more information and a budget closer to each party date). Remember there is no right or wrong way to plan a party. Don’t over think it, and just have FUN!
We need volunteers to sign up for our upcoming classroom fall harvest parties! We will have the official date and time soon, but parties will be on or around October 31st!
The Room Party Coordinator will work with you regarding the next steps for the Harvest party planning. For questions contact rcroomparties@gmail.com
Library Help
Our wonderful Librarian Connie Hilger needs a volunteer or two to help shelve books in the library on Fridays any time after 10AM . Time commitment is about an hour and shift does not need to be a set time. Please contact Connie_Hilger@beaverton.k12.or.us if you are interested or have questions.
Welcome Back to School - Safe Routes to School
The new school year is the perfect time for students and families to start creating healthy, fun and safe habits. Safety is everyone’s responsibility! Here are some reminders as we travel to and from school:
- Keep your eyes and ears open for traffic all around.
- If driving, slow down to 20 mph or less in school zones and neighborhood streets.
- Check for safety at all intersections, in bike lanes and follow the directions from crossing guards.
- Remember to be alert and mindful of all road users (no texting; be aware of school zones) especially when we’re in a rush. We all want to get someplace fast, but safety for our children is our top priority — and takes all of our efforts.
TAG Testing Information
CogAT -
In October, all 3rd and 5th grade students in Beaverton will be administered the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Screener. This 30-minute test measures students’ learned reasoning abilities through verbal/picture analogies, number analogies and figure matrices.
Currently the main purpose for administering the CogAT is to identify students for TAG in the area of intellectual ability. Students who score at the 97th percentile or above on the CogAT screener will be invited to test with the full version of the CogAT that is used for potential TAG identification. The full version of the CogAT will be given in November. For more information about testing, your school’s TAG facilitator. When test results are returned, we will be sending you a copy with additional information about our TAG program.
Rock Creek students will be tested on Tuesday, October 8th.
TAG Testing -
Every year students are considered for Talented and Gifted services in Beaverton School District. These services are provided by your child's classroom teacher(s). If you think your child might qualify, you may wish to complete the Parent Information Form that is attached. Completing this form gives our school TAG committee more information about your child, but it is not required. All qualified students will be considered regardless of its completion.
Oregon law and District policy define gifted students as those who score at or above the 97th percentile on a standardized, nationally normed test of mental ability and/or academic achievement. Behavioral, learning, and/or performance information is also considered before a student is identified for TAG services.
The Parent Information Form must be completed and returned to our school’s TAG facilitator, classroom teacher or the school’s office by Friday, October 18th.
Nutrition Meal Benefits- Apply for Free & Reduced Meal Benefits Before Oct 15th
Nutrition Services information is easier to access this year, and we have lots of cool information to share!
Click on the link below to go to SchoolCafe, and see all the things that you can do:
https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/nutrition-services/meals/schoolcafe
All you need is your student’s ID number. If you don’t have that, you can call your school office
or the Meal Benefits line (503-356-3957). Here are some of your options in SchoolCafe:
- Create an account
- Apply for Meal Benefits- Must renew each year before Oct 15th!! Renew now!!
- View and print Meal Benefits letters
- See what items your student is getting in the cafeteria.
- Check your student’s account balance.
- View cafeteria menus
- Set up low balance alerts
- Set up auto-pay (when balance gets to an amount that YOU set, the account is replenished from your credit card)
SchoolCafe can provide amazing amounts of information!
If you do not have access to a computer, you can also apply for Meal Benefits on paper. Applications are available in every school office and cafeteria.
If you have questions or need help, please call Laurie Bishop at Meal Benefits, (503)356-3957 or email us at NS-MealBenefits@beaverton.k12.or.us.
PYP Corner
What is the status of IB PYP schools in Beaverton School District?
Great news! We are excited to be kicking off our 2019 - 2020 year as a PYP Candidate School. The PYP schools are all continuing their work with IB and we plan to have our verification visit at Rock Creek in the fall of 2020.
What does that mean for my child?
Your child will experience the full Programme of Inquiry (POI) this year. Our Programme of Inquiry are units designed by teachers through collaboration that include all of the elements of the PYP. In grades 1 through 5 students will experience six units, and Kindergarten will experience four play based units. During each 4 - 6 week unit students will be immersed in learning engagements that encourage them to take on both local and global perspectives.
What unit is your child focused on?
Kindergarten- Who we are: Rules and responsibilities help us work together
First Grade- Who we are: Actions affect relationship
Second Grade- Who we are: People may agree to work together in order to create a peaceful and productive community
Third Grade- How we organize ourselves: Citizens collaborate to organize themselves
Fourth Grade- Who we are: Individual identity and well being impact the community
Fifth Grade- Who we are: Our need to share our feelings and ideas drives us to find effective ways to communicate
Learning Options Application Process 2020-2021
The Beaverton School District is nationally recognized for high student achievement and innovative programs. Beaverton students in grades 6-12 have the opportunity to investigate learning options that best fit their academic needs. Students can choose their neighborhood school, or apply for one of a number of Learning Option Programs. Transportation is provided.
Applications for the 2020-2021 school year will be available starting Monday, October 14, 2019. Please do some early investigation of the Learning Options Programs online and plan to attend one or more of the open houses that are available. Students may only select one option on their application.
All applicants must reside within the Beaverton School District boundaries. Beginning October 14, current Beaverton School District students are able to apply online using their BSD student ID. Resident students not currently attending a Beaverton school will need to complete a paper application available online, or at any school office beginning October 14, 2019. Applicants who do not have Internet access may also complete a paper application available at any school office. Please give careful consideration to your choice of school. Once an application has been submitted, no changes will be allowed.
Applications must be received no later than Friday, December 6, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. (PST).
OFFICE OF LEARNING OPTIONS
Information Line: 503.356.4440 • FAX: 503.356.4415
Mon., October 14, 2019 ------- Applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be available.
Fri., December 6, 2019 ------- Applications due no later than 4:00 p.m. PST.
Wed., December 11, 2019 ------- Electronic Lottery conducted for the 2020-21 School Year.
Acceptance or wait pool notifications will be sent via email.
Students who are not selected via the lottery will be emailed a Second Consideration application for the school for which they applied where applicable.
Thurs., January 9, 2020 ------- Second Consideration applications due to schools.
Wed., January 29, 2020 ------- Deadline to accept/decline enrollment – by 4:00 p.m. PST
For online links to academic and extra-curricular activities offered in the community, please use this link: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/departments/communications-community-involvement/after-school-activitiesflyers
Rock Creek Elementary - School Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am to 3:00 pm (No early release)
4125 NW 185th Ave
Portland OR 97229
Main Office-503-356-2450
Attendance-503-356-2451
Fax- 503-356-2455
Principal: Tiffany Wiencken
SAFEOREGON TIP LINE
Keep Rock Creek safe: report any student safety threats to SafeOregon. Tips can be reported by phone or text (844-427-3367), email (tip@safeoregon.com), or online (safeoregon.com). For more information, visit safeoregon.com.