Rocken Dads' Club!

You and your children are invited to attend Rocken Dads' Breakfast this coming Thursday, November 1, at 7:00 a.m. in the Rockenbaugh Cafeteria. Head Football Coach, Hal Wasson, and Athletic Director, Kevin Ozee, will be speaking! Thank you to the Millicans, Foremans, and Penningtons for all of their work and preparation in organizing this event. Chick-Fil-A breakfast will be available. Please RSVP to the Millicans by Tuesday, October 30.

This week’s Young@Heart blog is dedicated to all of our Rocken Dads and all they do for their family and kids. Having the privilege to be a daughter, wife, and educator, I have a front row seat that allows me to witness the excellent love shown by dads to their kids. Many men I know read a daily article that teaches about family values and unconditional love which gives points as to what a dad can do to be the best dad. In the spirit of that daily article, I am sharing my thoughts about dads.

Upon occasion I have been asked to verbalize the things, attitudes, and actions that create a successful child and eventually a contributing and accomplished citizen. In my opinion, which is heavily influenced by statistics and research, the top five things that help a child develop into a successful adult include the following:

• Tell your child what you love about them. Say it. Often. Dads give directives or corrections statistically more than they tell their children what they love about them. Take time daily to share the love.
• Let your children know you. Kids love to hear stories about their parents’ childhood and adulthood. Tell your children about your successes and defeats.
• Get to know your children and listen to them. One strategy that works for us is to ask our sons each day to tell us what their high, medium, and low was for the day. I don’t know why it works, but it works. If we ask, “Tell me about your day.” Crickets. But, high/medium/low, we have words! I also recommend you follow your children on all social media. More about that in a future post.
• Show your child unconditional love. Your children will disappoint you. Gross negligence and mistakes on their part requires a consequence; through it all, make sure you express how your love has no limits.
• Have a fun-loving nickname for your child. I have done this since my first year of teaching. I found that having nicknames for children creates a unique bond. Many things annoy my teenage sons, but calling them by their nicknames seems to conjure up feelings of warmth and childhood. Yes, my Pookie and my Love Bug smile! If you don’t have one, try one of these that I have heard this week: Sweetie, Cool Breeze, T Man, Grahamster, Honey Bunch, or Boo.

I realize that parenting is no easy task! I have an 18 and 15 year old. I speak from experience! However, no matter your children’s ages, at the end of each day, if a child is loved for what and who he or she is, research says they will not only be successful in life but also as a future parent and leader!

Thank you for allowing me to love your kids with you!

Rock on you Rocken Dads! 

From your principal, a believer in your child, a mom, wife, daughter and fellow Dragon,

Mrs. Young

 Sources: National Fatherhood Initiative and Family First

Social Media Revolution

This has been a week of reflection for many of our students, staff members, and families. Many people told me they have given extra hugs and enjoyed the sweet moments of life a little more this week.

My desire is that each day is a special one for the students at Rockenbaugh, excited about school and learning. Our teachers have been working diligently to maintain the high standards of excellence while creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences. Below you will see a few updates on our educational programs.

SECOND CUP OF COFFEE

Wow! I enjoyed our conversation on Thursday at our Second Cup of Coffee. Thank you to the parents who attended. I feel it is good to learn about things prior to them becoming an integral part of life. For those that missed it, I recommend you watch the following videos and begin to have conversations with your elementary students about the power of social media: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_RU5OCYYYw&feature=youtu.be and this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JaDiBiAnv8

TO WHOM DO I ADDRESS MY QUESTIONS

If you have a question, this explanation may help guide you to whom the questions should be addressed. We are here to help. Let us know what you need!

Lisa Young, principal, will answer questions regarding the following: curriculum, school improvement, personnel, instruction, professional development, special education, and serious discipline issues.

Janet Blackwell, assistant principal, will answer any questions regarding the following topics: resources (textbooks, etc.), buses/car loop, discipline, facilities, preschool, and special education (shared with the principal).

Brittany Connolly, counselor, will answer any questions regarding the following topics: school guidance lessons, student planning, responsive services (these can be necessitated by events and conditions in students’ lives), and group counseling/lunch bunch.

SCIENCE EXPLORATION DAY

On Friday, October 19, all of Rockenbaugh will be participating in a fun-filled day of science.  Classes will rotate within their grade level to 5 or 6 science activities with parents helping the teachers.  The schedule is as follows:          

           Preschool – 8:30 – approximately 9:45

           Kindergarten – 8:30 – 10:35

           1st Grade – 8:30 – 10:35

           2nd Grade – 8:30 – 11:00

           3rd Grade – 8:30 – 11:00

           4th Grade – 8:30 – 11:30

In the afternoon the PTO will provide a program, Snake Encounters, for our students.  The assemblies are as follows:

·      12:45-1:35: Kindergarten, 1^st Grade, and 2^nd Grade (Hadwin, Villarreal, and Freden)

·      1:50-2:40: 2^nd Grade (Marshall and Wommack), 3^rd Grade, and 4^th Grade

We still need two liter bottles (clear or green, emptied and rinsed.) Please contact Ginger Jones at ginger.jones@southlakecarroll.edu if you can: prepare supplies at home, help with set-up the week of Oct. 14-18, or help with clean up Friday afternoon. This is an engaging and fun day for all!

RED RIBBON WEEK

Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 22-26. This is the largest drug prevention campaign in the country. If interested read more at http://drugfreetexas.org/red-ribbon/ .

OLD BOOKS NEEDED

Have your children outgrown some of their books you have bought at previous book fairs? Please consider donating them to Rockenbaugh! We have some new teachers that could use books to develop their classroom library. Thanks to the Silfies and the Moses families for donating big sacks of books!

TREE PLANTING CEREMONY

Please join Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Blackwell and other staff members at the Tree Planting Ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 3:15 p.m. Meet us in the Rockenbaugh Elementary Native Garden and Wildlife Sanctuary. We are so excited to plant 2 Bur oaks received from the People’s Garden Grant submitted by Bob Jones Nature Center to the Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees).  The Bur oaks will provide some much needed shade, food, and shelter in the bird sanctuary of our outdoor learning center. This area was actually shady a few years ago, but insects damaged the Western Soapberry trees and they had to be removed.

DRAGON TALE BOOK CHARACTER PARADE

Our annual Dragon Tale Book Parade is being held on Friday, Oct. 26 when students come dressed as their favorite book character. Ask your child what his/her favorite book character is and help them prepare a costume. Since the PTO made a bulletin board of me as Youngalicious, I will be dressing up like Pinkalicious, pigtails and all. Parents are invited on this special day. Elementary school days are the greatest of life! Come and take pictures of your special little one dressed up and proudly walking the halls.

BOOK FAIR

Our book fair is Oct. 29-Nov. 2, and our Book Fair Family Night is Nov. 1 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the library. Donuts with Dads is Friday, October 26 from 7:00-8:00 a.m.. The book fair closes on Friday, Nov. 2 at noon. Thank you to Mrs. Green and the PTO for bringing the book fair to RES!