Rocky's Weekly Roundup!

Dear RES Families,

How is it possible that this is our last Rocky's Weekly Roundup! for the 2023-2024 school year?!

This year flew by and as we wrap up the school year we are reminded of the Mark Twain quote, "Find a job you enjoy doing and you will never have to work a day in your life." We could not have had such a successful school year without the continued support of our RES community. The end of the school year always brings bittersweet emotions, especially as we say goodbye to our amazing fourth graders who begin their next chapter of their educational journey in middle school.

We truly believe that it is very important to get to know each of our families whether you are new to RES and the district or are already part of our RES family. Please look out for a communication regarding days and times during the months of July and August when we will be available to schedule meetings to meet with parents and students. Of course meeting with us is completely optional.

Summer is a super busy time for us as planning for the 2024-2025 school year gets underway. Please make sure your PowerSchool portal is always up-to-date to not miss out on any summer communications. As an administrative team we are beyond excited to begin the 2024-2025 school year and be leading RES together!

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there - biological fathers, stepfathers, adoptive fathers, father figures, and those who may no longer be with us but live on in our hearts.

Wishing all of our RES families a wonderful summer filled with laughter, good health, and cherished memories.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Mrs. Melissa Labrosciano, Principal

Mrs. Kim Roy, Assistant Principal

On Tuesday, June 18th you were able to view your child's report card. If you are having trouble accessing your child's report card, directions for accessing the Parent Portal can be found at this link: How to View Online Report Cards in Parent Portal. Report card ratings can be confusing and that report card ratings can be explained in the following ways (in addition a report card sample can be found below):

• Grayed Out: Teachers will not report a rating and the area will be grayed out when a topic has not yet been taught or when teachers have limited data points from which to measure performance.
  
• 1: Teachers will use this rating if a student does not yet meet grade level expectations of the curriculum and benefits from additional support.
• 2: Teachers will use this rating if a student is showing progress towards meeting end-of-year expectations of the curriculum and grade level standard.
• 3: Teachers will use this rating if a student meets end-of-year expectations of the curriculum and grade level standard (please note a rating of 3 is our target area for each standard on our June report card and means your child is currently meeting grade level standards).
• 4: Teachers will use this rating if a student consistently exceeds end-of-year expectations of the curriculum and grade level standard.

Flag Day is on June 14th and RES students celebrated Flag Day all week long! During music class with Miss Baker students learned Flag Day songs. Some of the songs students learned include, America the Beautiful and You're a Grand Old Flag. Students also received an American Flag to take home. Part of our RES 12 Days Until Summer Countdown included making sure students wore red, white, and/or blue on June 14th!

If you are not returning to RES next year due to moving out of the area, changing schools, etc. Please reach out to Mrs. Mary Burritt, mburritt@er9.org in our main office for the appropriate withdrawal paperwork at your earliest convenience. It is helpful to know as we begin the class placement process.

It's hard to believe another school year is coming to a close, but here we are in the last couple days of another great year. Please read the important information below regarding medication pick up from the health office. We hope everyone has an amazing summer filled with lots of time with family and friends!

ALL MEDICATIONS must be picked up from the nurse in the health office. Unfortunately, we cannot send medications home with students and even if your child is attending ESY or summer academy the medication must be collected from us this week and then you will bring it back to the nurse for the week(s) your child is attending the summer program.

You may pick medication up from the nurse on Monday June 17th between 8:30am until 2:00pm or on Tuesday between 8:30am and 12:00pm or between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Please note these times avoid arrival and dismissal time as it gets very busy in the main office during these times. If you absolutely cannot make it during these times, please reach out to the nurse, Jen Connolly at jconnolly@er9.org or by phone 203-938-2519 ext. 309.

*I hope to be available outside for medication pick up before and after the 4th Grade Stepping Up Ceremony for those families to stop by to get medications.

*I will also be at RES on Wednesday June 19th and Thursday June 20th if you are unable to pick medications up prior to school getting out Tuesday.

If your child will need medications at school next year, please keep in mind we do need a medication administration form signed by the physician and parents to be turned in with the medication at the start of the school year. **One exception to this is epi pen/auvi Q allergy plans are valid for 12 months from time they are written.**

RES Medication Administration Form 2024-2025

• June 18th: Fourth Grade Stepping Up Ceremony @ 9:30 a.m. (RCC)

• June 18th: Last Day of School!

Visiting RES...

At RES we regularly discuss our safety protocols and procedures. The following protocols are implemented for visitors at RES:

• In order to enter the vestibule at the main entrance, anyone wishing to do so MUST present a photo identification. Identification will be held up to the outside camera and checked by our office staff before you are allowed to enter the vestibule. This procedure includes dropping off your child, picking up your child, etc. Please do not take offense if you feel the office staff should know you. There will not be an exception made to this rule. Office staff will also be asking visitors the purpose of their visit.

• Visitors will be allowed in the building by appointment only. Appointments could range from a specific meeting with a teacher, special education team, and/or administration. Appointments would also include any volunteer opportunities or visits in your child’s classroom. An appointment may also be a call from the nurse to pick up your child. All planned visits and appointments will be arranged for you by an RES staff member. In accordance with our volunteer guidelines, parents may not bring younger siblings to classroom celebrations, volunteer opportunities or on field trips.

• If you feel you need to enter the building and have not made previous arrangements. You must call RES to make arrangements prior to arriving. For example, access to our lost and found area.

• A drop-off table will be placed outside of the vestibule. The table will be clearly marked. Please make sure items are properly labeled before you arrive (child’s name and teacher). You do not need to ring the bell to tell the office an item is being dropped off. The table will be checked twice daily at 10:30 a.m. and at the end of each school day.

• Students are expected to be dropped off each morning by 8:05 a.m. If you are arriving at drop off after 8:05 a.m., please drop your child off by parking in the main parking lot, and have your child walk down the walkway to enter through the RES main entrance.

Morning Arrival Procedures...

A reminder that our doors open to students at 7:55 a.m. each morning and the official start of our school day begins at 8:05 a.m. Our goal is to have all students in the building and in their classrooms by this time, so that each classroom can begin their day together and can maximize their time with each other.

A challenge that we need your support with, if you are dropping your child off in the morning, is to ensure the following guidelines are being followed to help our car lines move quickly.

• parents and caregivers remain in vehicles

• backpacks on and ready

• students exit from the passenger side of the vehicle

• practice unbuckling seat belts and opening car doors

• do not stop in the middle of the car line, always pull forward closest to the dumpster

If your child needs support with unbuckling their seatbelts in the morning, we ask that you exit the car line as you approach the drop off and pull your vehicle into an available parking spot to assist with this process. This will help our car line move quickly. Once the student is out of the car, you may walk your child over to the sidewalk to be greeted by one of our staff members. From this point, students, only, will walk toward and enter the building. Of course, we want to foster independence in our youngest students and hope that most of our vehicles will remain in the line for dropping off.

Please be courteous, kind. Plan accordingly and expect to be running late if you need to be somewhere in the morning or afternoon at a certain time. If time is of the essence our recommendation is to have your child take the bus to school and home.

Peanut and Tree Nut Free Classrooms...

Due to the amount of students with life threatening peanut and tree nut allergies all classrooms at RES are designated as peanut and tree nut free areas. We are following the same practices as JRMS. Please do not pack classroom snacks that contain peanuts and/or tree nuts. Your child may still enjoy peanuts and/or tree nuts during his/her lunch period in the cafeteria. We only ask that snacks eaten in the classroom do not contain such products, as the cafeteria has additional procedures and special precautions to follow for children with food allergies. Students are encouraged to engage in safe practices in the cafeteria, which includes refraining from sharing or swapping meals and snacks. If food is being allowed at a classroom celebration, food products must be accompanied by the original packaging so that ingredients can be checked.

If you have been thinking of getting back into the working world, but needed something that works around your child(ren)'s schedule, RES has several part-time opportunities. We have positions as lunch and recess monitors, and kindergarten paraeducators. These positions allow you to have a little bit of flexibility, where you still have time to get your child(ren) on and off the bus each day. If you are interested in a position please go to the ER9 Website and complete an application online. Once you have completed an application feel free to call or email Bobbie Granskog or Rachel Saluzzi in the main office if you have additional questions.

Please check out the fliers below to see what is happening around Redding. Events may include town hall programs, Soccer, Park & Recreation, Mark Twain Library events, New Pond Farm, Redding Newcomers, Scouts, Easton/Redding Boys and Girls Club, etc. There is MUCH TO DO here in Redding!!

Website: www.reddingelementaryps.org
Location: 33 Lonetown Road, Redding, CT, USA
Phone: (203)938-2519

Office hours for Special Services is 7:30am - 3:00pm during the regular school year.

SPECIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Ms. Katherine Matz, Director, Special Services

kmatz@er9.org

Mrs. Jennifer Hankla, Supervisor, Special Services

jhankla@er9.org

Mrs. Marilyn Caruso, Secretary, Special Services

mcaruso@er9.org Ext. 312

Office hours for the main office is 7:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. during the normal 10-month / 180 day school year.

SUPPORT STAFF:

Miss Bobbie Granskog, School Secretary

bgranskog@er9.org Ext. 304

Budgets, Payroll, & Liaison for Rocky's Weekly Roundup!

Mrs. Mary Burritt, School Secretary

mburritt@er9.org Ext. 302

Registrar & Enrollment

Mrs. Rachel Saluzzi, School Secretary

rsaluzzi@er9.org Ext. 301

Assistant to School Principals

School Dismissal Manager & Substitutes

OTHER FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS:

Nurse Connolly — Ext. 309

Library— Ext. 343

Kitchen — Ext. 346

You will find a complete list of telephone extensions and email addresses for all central office and RES staff on the district's website, www.er9.org.