Open House

Thank you to all of our families who viewed our Virtual Open House and offered feedback by completing our survey. Although it may look and feel different, we hope you received some important information about this school year, as well as learned how your individual child is performing at the beginning of the year.

eFair Book Fair

Our school is hosting a Follett Book eFair!  Supporting a love for reading is critical to student success. Explore our online book fair and help your child find their next favorite book. Now everyone can participate! Encourage your child to create their online wish list and share with friends and family. Orders are due by Nov. 1st and will ship to the school after the eFair is complete. Click here to visit the eFair Book Fair. Enter our eFair code: MEEXW

Red Ribbon Week

Our school will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week, October 26 – October 30, 2020.  Red Ribbon Week is the longest running drug prevention campaign program in the nation! Join us as we celebrate being drug free!  

• Mon: 10/26 “Red”y to live a drug-free life! - Wear a Red shirt with uniform bottoms.
• Tues: 10/27 Put a Cap on Drugs! - Wear a hat with your uniform.
• Wed: 10/28 Sock it to Drugs! - Wear Crazy or mismatched socks with your uniform.
• Thurs: 10/29 Team up Against Drugs! - Wear your favorite team jersey/shirt with your uniform bottoms.
• Fri: 10/30 Say Peace out to Drugs! - Wear tie dye with jeans.

Kindergarten ABC Parade

Kindergarten is off and running! Our youngest learners celebrated their 1st 9 weeks learning with an ABC Parade on Oct. 16th. Letter names, sounds, and learning “Snap Words” are filling the minds of our eager kindergartners!

What's Ahead in October

• Oct. 21 - Early Release, 12:30pm
• Oct. 22 - End of the 1st 9 weeks
• Oct. 23 - Teacher Work Day, Student Holiday
• Oct. 26-30 - Red Ribbon Week (see information above)
• Nov. - Make-up fall picture day

Children's COVID Concerns

A document from the National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Nurses recommends when talking to children about the Coronovirus, parents consider the following:

• Remain calm and reassuring.
• Children will react to and follow your verbal and nonverbal reactions.
• What you say and do about COVID-19, current prevention efforts, and related events can either increase or decrease your children’s anxiety.
• If true, emphasize to your children that they and your family are fine.
• Remind them that you and the adults at their school are there to keep them safe and healthy.
• Let your children talk about their feelings and help reframe their concerns into the appropriate perspective.

E-School Tips for Students and Parents

Teachers are often providing “screen time breaks” for students to work independently on assignments, read, have a lunch break, etc. We are finding some students have difficulty returning to the next portion of the days’ instruction on Zoom at the time specified by the teacher. Tip: provide a timer for the student at home so an alarm will sound 2-5 minutes before the next “class time” so he/she will be on time and not miss any key instruction or directions. Thank you!

Did You Know?

Friday Oct. 2nd is National Custodial Workers’ Recognition Day. Did you know that our campus is maintained by a team of 6 custodians? Mr. T.J. is responsible for all of the yardwork, cleaning the cafeteria after breakfast and lunch, and all daytime custodial needs, and a team of five hard-working custodians cleans all classrooms and common spaces within our buildings every afternoon and evening. We have always been appreciative of the work done by this crew, and are especially grateful during this time of heightened health issues to have such a dedicated team!

Interims

Interims were distributed via the primary email address on file with the school on Wed., Sept. 23. If you didn’t receive the Interim, please communicate with your child’s teacher.

Library Books

With the abrupt closure of school in March, many students had library books checked out. We need these books returned so they can continue to be enjoyed by others. Every book counts! Please look carefully and return any school books as soon as possible. We are still missing 300 books valued at over $4,500.

Title 1 Annual Meeting & Open House

Please watch for information on how to participate in this year’s Title 1 Annual Meeting & Virtual Open House on Oct. 8th. Videos and information will be available through Oct. 16th.

Volunteer Status

Due to the limited volunteering on campus at the beginning of this year, the district is extending all volunteers’ validity period for an additional year. Volunteer approvals are usually good for five years, but all will be extended to six years. We look forward to having volunteers return to campus later in the year.

Special Recognitions

Congratulations to Ms. Marie Sheffield, Network Manager and Technology Specialist – 2020 Teacher of the Year and to Ms. Nancy Gipp, Paraprofessional – 2020 School-Related Employee of the Year.

Ms. Sheffield works tirelessly to keep our school technology functioning on campus. When Covid-19 struck, she transitioned to serve as our school technology help desk, helping families with virtual technology issues.

When she isn’t pulled to sub in a classroom, Ms. Gipp assists in our Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade classrooms. She knows many students by name, and is a kind, friendly face at the car line and in elementary lunch.

A Note from Mrs. Ward

What's Ahead in September

Thank You

Skate World, a local business, recently had a Facebook contest asking participants to post the name of their school. The school with the most posts would be the winner....and that school was Rochelle!!! Thank you, families, for this effort. Rochelle was presented with a $300 check from Skate World this week. Funds will be used to support activities for our students!

Special Note for Families of e-Learners

Schoology (pronounced “School – u – gee”) is the new district Learning Management program. Teachers have participated in several hours of tutorials to learn the basics and features of this program, and we appreciate your patience as we learn through experience what works best. For our students and their families: Schoology is the platform through which the teachers will give assignments and assessments. Sometimes students can do the work right in the Schoology system and submit directly from there. Other times, students may do work paper-pencil style and need to upload the assignment for the teacher to review. Please do this in Schoology, not through other programs like Remind, Class DoJo, or the teacher’s email. This enables the teacher to see all students’ submitted work in one location. Thank you for your assistance.

Notice to Building Occupants and Parents

Notification of Inspection for Asbestos Containing Materials in Public Schools

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule, 40 CFR Part 763, Asbestos Containing Material in schools, commonly referred to as AHERA. This rule requires all Local Education Agencies (LEA’s) to identify asbestos containing materials (ACM) in their school buildings and to take appropriate actions to control release of asbestos fibers. All inspections for Rochelle School of the Arts have been completed and a Management Plan describing the results of the inspection and the action plan to control any asbestos found during the inspection, where applicable, has been submitted to the Governor for approval. A copy of this plan is located in the administrative office of this school and at the District School Board of Polk County Maintenance Department and is available for review upon request.