Four Nests... One Family News

Mission:

Every Child, Every Day...We are Rockledge

Vision:

Every Eagle will soar! Together we will become resilient learners flying to new heights. We will discover and impact the world.

Website: rockledgees.pwcs.edu
Location: 2300 Mariner Drive, Woodbridge, VA, USA
Phone: (703)491-2108
Facebook: facebook.com/rockledge.elementary
Twitter: @RockledgePWCS

The doors of the school open at 8:55am daily. Staff will be outside to monitor arrival at that time.

If arrival is after 9:00am, families will need to sign their child in through the front office.

Hello Rockledge Families,

Happy New Year Rockledge Families! It has been an exciting couple of days welcoming everyone back to school. We are so excited about the many upcoming events and opportunities for learning on the horizon. We also wanted to remind you that this week's PTA meeting is cancelled, but make note of upcoming activities below.

#Every Child Every Day

Your Principal & Assistant Principal,

Mrs. Steptoe-Coleman

Mrs. Everett

January

1/06: Grade level Spelling Bees

1/09: NPFH Club 3:50 PM - 4:20 PM

1/11: SCA Meeting @ 8:00 AM

1/11: Green Team Club @ 3:50 PM - 4:45 PM

1/16: MLK Holiday (Schools & Offices Closed)

1/17: PTA Spirit Night @ Chipotle (Merchants Plaza)

1/20: PTA Family Bingo Night

1/27: School Half-Day/Family Conferences (Dismissal @ 12:20pm)

1/30: Professional Development Day (No School for Students)

1/31: Schoolwide Spelling Bee

February

2/1: Robotics Spirit Night @ Chipotle (Merchants Plaza)

2/8: Robotics Spirit Night @ Skate-N-Fun Zone (Manassas)

2/20: Presidents' Day (Schools & Offices Closed)

2/23: Family Literacy Night

Click on the picture to see the Year-At-A-Glance PWCS Calendar

On December 7th our Rockledge Gold Robotics Team had the opportunity to present their innovation project to Dr. LaTanya D. McDade today!

They traveled to James Madison University on December 10th for the Virginia & DC Championship FIRST Lego League Challenge. Our Golden Girls team took 3rd place in the State!

December 7th was the Winter Strings Concert! Our students showcased their growth and music journey so far this school year for families and friends. Thank you to all who came to support our Strings program!

On the last day before winter break students and staff were comfortable in their pajamas and had a fun winter sing-along. What great time our Eagles had together!

Mrs. Martin would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that donated, shopped, and promoted the Community Giveaway. We had a huge amount donated and a very good turnout of happy shoppers!

Absences & Tardies:

If your child is going to be absent or tardy, please call the office between 8am-9:10am. Under some circumstances, a doctor's note will be required. Parents must bring their students to the reception office and sign them in if they are tardy, the student will be given a tardy slip and sent to class.

Change in Dismissal Plan:

Please make sure your child knows how they are getting home each day.

If there is a change in your child's dismissal procedure, we require written notice from the parent/ guardian. If you email the teacher this notice, copy Mrs. Ayala (ayalaem@pwcs.edu)

and Mrs. Rodriguez (rodrigcn@pwcs.edu) to the email so that the front office is aware of the change in dismissal. There will be no changes in dismissal or student sign-outs made after 3:15pm daily, unless there is an emergency.

For full attendance guidelines of PWCS, click here.

Rockledge Elementary is participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Participation is optional.

If your student does wish to participate, below you will find the attached study lists for the grade levels. First and Second Grade will have two lists; please study both of them. Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade have three lists, please study all three.

Classroom spelling bees will be held on January 6th. The top grade level spellers will be invited to participate in the school-wide spelling bees held in the evening of January 31st. Please email Ms. Downer at DownerLB@pwcs.edu if you have any questions. Happy Spelling!

Here are the links:

1st and 2nd Grade Study Lists: 2023 1st-2nd Spelling List.pdf

3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Study Lists: 2023 3rd-5th Grade Spelling List.pdf

Students bringing home laptops daily is an integral part in supporting learning at home. If your family is in need of a hotspot in order to access WiFi at home, please reach out to our Technology Specialist for support. His name is Mr. Ronnie Russell, russelrl@pwcs.edu.

Physical education and recess guideline reminders for when temperatures are cold, with or without wind chill:

When outside during recess or physical education, all students shall wear appropriate clothing to remain warm and dry. Students shall be physically active with limited periods of inactivity. The following guidelines shall be applied by all schools when deciding whether physical education (PE) and recess will be held indoors or outdoors.

• At or above 32⁰F with or without wind chill: PE or recess activities may be held outdoors.

• Below 32⁰F to 20⁰F with or without wind chill: Principal discretion with the following considerations:

  • Outside Conditions:
    • Precipitation: Wet and icy surfaces should be evaluated for student safety.

    • Playground structures: The playground equipment and surfaces (i.e., icy conditions) should be evaluated for student safety.

    • Sun/ground: The sun is shining, and the grounds are safe for play.

    • Student preparation: Students have available jackets, gloves, and/or hats, as appropriate to the weather/temperatures.

  • Flexibility:

    • Availability to limit outdoor time.

• Below 20⁰F with or without wind chill: Recess and physical education activities shall be held indoors.

Please make sure your child comes to school daily with layers of clothing (labeled with names) to support continued physical activity outside.

Happy New Year Rockledge PTA!

There will be no PTA meeting this month. Our next membership meeting will be February 2nd. Here are some upcoming dates to mark on your calendars-

1/17-Spirit Night at Chipotle (Merchant Plaza)

1/20- Family Bingo Night (more details coming soon)

More details about bingo night are coming soon!

3rd Grade:

Thursday, January 12th: 3rd grade Reading

Thursday, January 19th: 3rd grade Math

4th Grade:

Wednesday, January 11th: 4th grade Reading

Wednesday, January 18th: 4th grade Math

5th Grade:

Tuesday January 10th: 5th grade Reading

Tuesday, January 17th: 5th grade Math

Did you know the PWCS Food and Nutrition Department offers unlimited fruits and vegetables for school lunch? Students may fill up their school lunch trays with produce from our Self-Serve Garden and Fruit Bar. They are available at every school on every lunch service line!

Self-serve increases the likelihood that students will try new fruits and vegetables. For example, they can try one celery stick instead of committing to an entire portion as one of their choices. When students try new fruits and vegetables, they incorporate greater variety into their diet, which ensures they get all the nutrition their body needs.