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!